Indian news round-up

Sports Minister SS Dhindsa informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to review its code of conduct for the players and try and bring in more stringent measures.

Dhindsa while answering repeated questions on match-fixing, said that after the detailed deliberations with the board officials and players, the government had now decided to entrust the inquiry to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Answering a question, the Minister of State for Sports Chaoba Singh replied that the CBI would look after all related issues in the scandal and assured that further action would be taken as per the outcome of the inquiry and added that during the meeting that the Government convened on April 27, a suggestion was made to the effect that cricketers and officials should declare their assets as part of the BCCI's code of conduct for the players.

Former India all-rounder Madan Lal has expressed willingness to assist in coaching the trainees at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. `'I don`t mind chipping in my mite if the board desires to utilise my experience,`` Madan Lal said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Madan Lal, speaking of the grade three level clinic for coaches that he had attended in Adelaide along with India junior team coach Roger Binny, said ``It truly was an eye-opener. The course has widened my perception of the game. There is a scientific approach to coaching. Whatever I imbibed will help me run my academy (in New Delhi) more professionally and impart better quality of coaching.''

The former India coach said ''It was worth ever penny I spent. It has enriched my knowledge and outlook on the game. I am richer with the experience and am confident of shaping the careers of youngsters.''