Indian news round-up

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) JY Lele on Thursday expressed surprise over media reports that certain senior cricketers in the Indian team were not comfortable with coach Kapil Dev and were inclined to having a foreign coach.

Speaking to an Indian news agency in Baroda, Lele said ``I have also read the reports in the papers, but am not aware of anything more on the subject. Anyway, the choice of the coach is entirely the board members' and the matter can be taken up only at the AGM in September.'' Kapil Dev was appointed coach last year for a two-year term and is to complete his first year in the job this September.

Lele also said that the BCCI's programmes and fixtures committee is scheduled to meet in Mumbai on June 13 and 14 to finalise the domestic schedule for the 2000-2001 season.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Tauqir Zia, said in Dhaka during the Asia Cup that the reciprocal Indian tour of Pakistan later this year would certainly take place.

Speaking to a news agency, Tauqir Zia said ''I have spoken to them (BCCI officials) and they have said that the tour to Pakistan is on. They have even confirmed their participation for the Sahara Cup in Toronto in September.''

Zia said ''I have no reason to believe as to why our sporting ties should not be resumed again. I am very hopeful India will come to Pakistan and we are looking forward to their visit.''

Indian middle order batsman Rahul Dravid was dismissed cheaply as Kent were reduced to 223 in the second innings in the PPP Healthcare County Championship Division One match against Somerset at the Recreation Ground in Bath on Thursday.

Dravid, after his face saving knock for Kent in the first innings was dismissed for 17 runs off 41 balls. Then Kent's innings was held together by a 99 run fifth wicket stand between Matthew Walker and Mark Ealham after being reduced to 60-4.

The wrecker-in-chief in Kent's first innings Andy Caddick returned to torment the visitors as he picked up four wickets for 40 runs. He ended with match figures of 10 for 97.