Indian news round-up

PCB chief for firm ICC stand on allegations

The President of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt. General Tauqir Zia said on Wednesday that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take a stern stand against the UCBSA chief Ali Bacher for alleging that the India-Pakistan match during the 1999 World Cup was fixed.

Speaking to a news agency in Karachi, Zia said ``I think the coming ICC meeting would be a stormy one and we will definitely ask the governing body to take strong actions.'' He said ``Bacher has alleged this earlier but retracted, and now he has come up with the allegations once again without any solid evidence.''

Zia who is to represent the PCB in the forthcoming ICC meeting added ``It's sad that our own Majid Khan conveyed that to him and when we asked Majid about this, he said he has no evidence.''

Zee-TWI merge to bid for television rights

Transworld International (TWI) and Zee Telefilms are to bid jointly for the telecast rights for the next two World Cups to be held in South Africa in 2003 and West Indies in 2007. The merger comes in the wake of the ICC demanding fresh bids for the rights after allegations over mishandling of the issue by the ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya surfaced.

Zee and TWI announced that they would be making a compound bid, which makes it now a straight fight between the World Sports Consortium and the TWI-Zee combine. Speaking to an Indian newspaper, Peter Hutton, head of production, TWI, said ``It's not a decision on an impulse. We have been working together for quite some time as we had helped Zee in producing some of their musical nights in connection with the Millennium bash.''

The fresh bids are to be presented in Paris on Saturday and the ICC management board will take a final decision on Sunday. The fresh bids for the television rights are now expected to be to the tune of 600 million-650 million US dollars.

Indians star in county victories

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, in a fine display of his all round capabilities, ensured a thumping ten wicket win for Lancashire in the third round of the NatWest Trophy one day match against Lincolnshire at Cleethorpes on Wednesday.

Put in to bat, Lincolnshire were reduced to 190 in 50 overs thanks to some disciplined bowling by Lancashire. Ganguly was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 26 after Lancashire's Glenn Chapple, Ian Austin and Mike Smithurst reduced Lincolnshire to 115 for four. Then opening the innings, Ganguly powered his way to a well compiled century. In the company of former England captain Mike Atherton, who scored 52 off 84 balls, Ganguly thrashed the Lincolnshire bowling to all parts of the ground and ensured a well deserved victory for Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid (54 runs off 96 balls) and Anil Kumble (5 for 27) starred for their respective counties Kent and Leicestershire who beat Cumberland and Northumberland. While Dravid batted sedately to guide Kent past Cumberland, Kumble ensured that Leicestershire thrashed Northumberland by 226 runs.