Indian news round-up

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, JY Lele, on Saturday gave a clean chit to the Indian cricketers regarding the recent allegations that have surfaced against them.

Speaking to an Indian television channel in New Delhi, he said ``Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Mohd Azharuddin and Sourav Ganguly are making Rs 50 to 60 lakhs from cricket every year. Why should they engage in match-fixing.''

Lele stated ``these are all allegations at the moment, Nothing has been proved at any stage, I don't see any reason to believe the charges.''

Former India off-spinner Shivlal Yadav was on Sunday elected as the secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) in Hyderabad.

The HCA in a press release said that Former Test spinner and coach of the present Hyderabad Ranji team Arshad Ayub and M Ranga Reddy were elected vice-presidents of the association for a two year term. Former Hyderabad Ranji skipper MV Sridhar was elected as joint secretary.

The office-bearers: President: GP Surana, vice-presidents: M Ranga Reddy, Arshad Ayub, G Vinod. Secretary: Shivlal Yadav, Joint secretary: MV Sridhar, Treasurer: P Yadagiri.

Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble (3 for 26) laid the platform for a Leicestershire victory in their National League Division one-day match against Kent at Grace Road in Leicester on Sunday but his Karnataka teammate Rahul Dravid scored just 10 for the opponents.

Set to score 142 for victory, Leicestershire started with a hiccup. Kent seamer K Adams (4 for 19) ran through the top order picking up the wickets of DI Stevens, VJ Wells and BF Smith, all of whom failed to open their account. But TR Ward (53) and A Habib (28) steadied the innings with 53 run fifth wicket partnership. Then it was left to CC Lewis (26) and JM Dakin (17) to guide them to victory.

Earlier, Kent surrendered the advantage of a good start and managed to put up only 141 in the alloted 45 overs. Kumble ran through the middle-order as Kent could not capitalise on the platform laid by opener M Walker (48). Kumble first got through the defences of MA Ealham and then had PA Nixon caught by Burns. Almost immediately he trapped MV Fleming leg before.