Indian news round-up

Portals have to approach Prasar Bharati for coverage: The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), AC Muthiah said in Chennai on Thursday that web portals seeking accreditation for matches conducted by the BCCI, including the Zimbabwe-India series, should approach the Prasar Bharti. "These portals have to approach DD instead of BCCI", he stated.

Speaking to Press Trust of India (PTI) Muthiah said that the BCCI could accredit only the print media (reporters and photographers) for the matches as per the telecast agreement signed by the BCCI with Prasar Bharti.

When it was pointed out that writers from cricket portals were accredited by the International Cricket Council (ICC) during the recently concluded KnockOut tournament in Nairobi, Muthiah said ``the Board is not in a position to help in the matter as the contract was signed sometime in October 1999.''

The Chairman of the national selection committee, Chandu Borde said in Indore on Wednesday that Sourav Ganguly has been retained captain of the national side for the Zimbabwe series.

Announcing the decision during Zimbabwe's ongoing tour opener against National Cricket Academy (NCA), Borde said that the decision to retain the skipper was taken in "five minutes". He however added that the final team for the first Test is to be picked on November 14 in New Delhi.

On the issue of India's proposed winter tour to Pakistan in January next year, BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele said that it would be decided on November 15.

Saurashtra and Baroda registered easy wins in their West Zone Bal Mahadalkar Trophy matches at Pune on Wednesday. Saurashtra handed Gujarat their third straight loss of the tourney, by 7 wickets, while Baroda registered their first win, beating Mumbai by a handsome 60 run margin.

Opting to bat, Gujarat scored 159 runs in their alloted 40 overs. Chirag Desai (43) was the top scorer. He shared a 43 run fifth wicket stand with Mrunal Patel (39). In reply Saurashtra were guided home by a fine 79 from opener Cheteshwar Pujar.

In the other match at Deccan Gymkhana, skipper Kamran Shaikh (5 for 28) ran through the Mumbai line up to help Baroda register a facile win. Earlier, Baroda scored 174 runs thanks to some useful contributions from stumper Pinal Shah (34) and Kuldip Bhosale (21).

Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak, who stayed back in Harare in order to get his tooth extracted, joined his team at Indore on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking to the agency as soon as he landed, Streak said ``I am feeling fine and look forward to the series'' and added ``I feel it will be an interesting series.'' Meanwhile his teammate Brian Murphy is yet to land in India. Murphy had also stayed back in Zimbabwe in view of his final exams.