Indian news round-up

Sourav Ganguly, who is captaining India for the first time in Tests, said in Calcutta on Monday that he was not taking his opponents lightly. The one-off Test against Bangladesh is to be played at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka from November 10 to 14.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ganguly said ``It's going to be a big match for Bangladesh and another Test for us, but we are not taking them lightly.'' Asked whether the team was sufficiently motivated after the disastrous Champions Trophy final against Sri Lanka, he simply added ``I'm the skipper, so I have to ensure that the team is not short on that account.''

The 14-member Indian team will congregate in Calcutta and proceed to Dhaka on Tuesday.

The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, SS Dhindsa has said that the unveiling of the new sports policy has been delayed and is expected to be tabled during the budget session of Parliament early next year.

Quoting the Sports Minister, India Abroad News Service (IANS) reported that the new sports policy would have been tabled during the winter session but for the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) match fixing inquiry and India's poor show in the recently concluded Sydney Olympics.

Dhindsa added ``"It will now be tabled in the budget session of Parliament.'' The new policy is expected to make various sports federations in the country more accountable and transparent in their working.

Maharashtra and Saurashtra registered facile wins against Gujarat (by 59 runs) and Baroda (by 13 runs) in the West Zone League Bal Mahaddalkar Trophy Under-14 tournament in Pune on Monday.

In the first match of the day at the SP College ground, Saurashtra in their 40 overs made 137 for 8. Varun Rajan (46) who came in at the fall of the second wicket forged two good partnerships. First he added 43 runs for the third wicket with Cheteshwar Pujar (4) and thereafter for the fourth wicket he added 37 runs with Pratik Patel (25). Baroda were all out for 124 falling short by 13 runs.

In the other match at the Deccan Gymkhana, overnight rain prevented play until one o'clock. Maharashtra opted to bat and scored 166 off their 32 overs. Nikhil Paradkar (49) topscored while opener Gaurav Chavan (29) and Chetan Yadav (37 not out) made some useful contributions. In reply Gujarat were reduced to 107 in 26.2 overs. Stumper Kuldip Ghadvi (27) was topscorer as A Joshi (4 for 10) ran through the middle and lower order.