Indian news round-up

Indian stumper Syed Saba Karim, who was hit while keeping wickets during India's opening game against Bangladesh in Dhaka on May 30, had to undergo an operation on his right eye at Shankar Netralaya in Chennai on Wednesday.

The need to have the operation cropped up suddenly, according to Lingam Gopal, the doctor attending on him. But he said that ``it was nothing major. He is back to his bed and the operation has gone off well.'' He added that a decision when to discharge Karim will be taken in a couple of days.

The vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Assosiation (DDCA) Chetan Chauhan said on Wednesday that the association would not initiate any action against the Delhi Ranji Trophy captain Ajay Sharma untill he is formally chargesheeted in the match-fixing case.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Chauhan said that the DDCA had so far not recieved any complaint against Sharma and said that the association could not initiate action based on hearsay. He said ``presently Sharma is being tried only by the media. But we are careful and watching the developments.''

Chauhan said that the DDCA would decide on Sharma's future as and when they recieve any complaint or a chargesheet is filed against him and added that the decision would be taken according to the rules of the DDCA and the law of the land.

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), JY Lele on Wednesday denied reports of Kapil Dev being replaced as the coach of the Indian team. He said ``no decision has been taken to replace Kapil Dev as coach and nothing has been thought of right now on this matter.''

Speaking to a Gulf newspaper, Lele negated reports that Kapil Dev might be replaced by Madan Lal as the coach. He said ``Madan Lal is a selector and I don't know how he can be made the coach when he is already holding a selectorial post.''

Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid missed his second century of the season even as Kent put up 261 on the first day of their PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match against Somerset at the Recreation Ground in Bath on Tuesday.

Winning the toss, Kent piled up runs thanks to Rahul Dravid (90 runs off 167 balls). Returning from a lacklustre campaign in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Dravid plundered 14 boundaries during the course of his innings but when in sight of his century he was caught by wicketkeeper RJ Turner off medium-pacer Graham Rose. England fast bowler Andrew Caddick ran through the Kent line up claiming six wickets for 57 runs in 25 overs.

The other two Indian featured in the on-going English county season Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly are yet to resume their duties with their respective counties Leicestershire and Lancashire.