Indian news round-up

Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime) KK Paul said on Wednesday to a newsagency that they were yet to receive any official request from the South African authorities to hand over the tapes containing the alleged conversations between the former South African captain Hansie Cronje and an Indian bookie.

Paul was referring to earlier reports that the South African inquiry commission, headed by retired judge Edwin King, had made a request to hand over the tapes. The South African sports ministry official Graham Abrahams said the request has come through its foreign office from the commission. "A decision on providing a voice sample (of Hansie Cronje) to the Interpol will only be taken once the tapes are made available to us. We are expecting the Indians to respond to the request," he said.

The unseasonal rains in Pune on Wednesday proved to be a dampener on the third day of the ongoing Asia Cup probables camp soon after the players finished their morning training session. Of the four practice pitches only two of them are being covered. With the other two practice pitches being left open, the possibility of extending the practice sessions is now remote.

The Indian team coach Kapil Dev had said on the first day that after three days they might have two sessions in a day. The chairman of the selection committee Chandu Borde said that so far there has been no intimation in this regard. The 10-day long Asia Cup camp started on May 14 and the final selection of the team is set for May 22.

Hampshire ended the first day at 227 for 9 after being pegged on the back foot when Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble struck twice in two balls to leave them at 61 for 4 in their PPP healthcare County Championship Division One match at Grace Road in Leicester. Kumble ended the day with figures of 2 for 53 in 27 overs.

Former England fast bowler Philip DeFreitas in an impressive opening spell of bowling made the early breakthroughs for Leicestershire. He bowled JS Laney and then caught Kendall in front of the wicket.

Then at 61 for 2, Kumble pegged Hampshire further on the back foot when he had Kendall caught by Darren Maddy. The very next ball he had GW White leg before. But Leicestershire lost the initiative as Hampshire recovered thanks to AN Aymes (74 runs off 196 balls).