Indian news round-up

Selection Committee meeting put off by a day

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary JY Lele on Tuesday said that the selection committee meeting to select the team for the forthcoming Asia Cup tournament to be played at Dhaka from May 28 to June 7 has been postponed by a day and is to be held in Pune on May 23.

Speaking to a news agency in Baroda, he said ``The meeting has been postponed by a day on Indian captain Sourav Ganguly's request. He is to reach Pune only on May 22 evening after reaching Mumbai earlier in the day'' and added ``Ganguly telephoned from England and said he would proceed homewards only after finishing a county game on May 20. He also requested to put off the meeting by a day as he would be reaching Pune by May 22 evening only.''

Lele added that Ganguly would attend only on the last two days of the preparatory camp for the cup probables. Apart from the Indian captain, team mates Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble have also been exempted because of their commitments to their respective English counties - Kent and Leicestershire.

Intikhab suspects Indian hand

Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam on Tuesday said that he suspected the Indian lobby of creating an atmosphere of suspicion in the cricketing world. He was reacting to ex-West Indian captain Viv Richards' allegations of match fixing by Pakistani's even in the Seventies.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Intikhab said ``A man of Richards stature can't issue such an statement, but if he has said this I will not spare him and sue him. I can easily drag anybody in this but I have a character.''

Intikhab said that he suspected the Indian lobby for creating such a situation. He said ``I suspect because Indian players names have been dragged so they want to involve Pakistan also. If there was something of this nature why didn't Lloyd say this and why it has come after 26 years.''

Bedi pledges support for Kapil

Former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi in a signed article has reacted strongly reacted to the various unsubstantiated allegations flung at cricketers.

Assuring all support to the Indian coach Kapil Dev, Bedi wrote ``Kapil will now live with this guilt until proved innocent, which is an enormous tragedy really." He added as a former international, I would like to assure Kapil of all moral backing of cricketers, who must come on a common platform and get rid of non-cricketing entities from the game.''

Former president of the BCCI IS Bindra said in a TV interview that Prabhakar had revealed to him that it was Kapil Dev who had offered him the bribe during a match in 1994.

Lancashire to miss Ganguly's presence

Lancashire would miss the services of the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for their semifinals on May 28 against Gloucestershire. Ganguly is to return to India on May 22 in view of the Asia Cup from May 28 to June 7.

Ganguly has already indicated to the BCCI that he would make his presence on the last two days of the preparatory camp for the Asia Cup in Pune which concludes on May 24.

In the semi final of the Benson and Hedges Cup in the English county season, Glamorgan are to meet Surrey on May 27 in Cardiff and Lancashire would be playing Gloucestershire on May 28 in Bristol.