Indian news round-up

Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, chairman of the Cricket Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) said in Sharjah on Thursday that he has started a programme called Hercules to propagate the game in Morocco. Zahid Noorani is looking after administrative affairs, while Mohinder Amarnath along with his brother Surinder Amarnath and former Baroda Ranji player Narayan Satham is taking care of inducting and coaching local boys and preparing the grounds. On Morocco as a cricketing centre, Bukhatir said "Morocco is an ideal place, weather wise, geographically and people of that country are great athletes built naturally to play games." He added "We are not talking of taking international cricket to Morocco now, we are introducing cricket to the Moroccans as it was a French colony."

On the inclusion of Mohinder Amarnath into the CBFS, Bukhatir said in a lighter vein "We are getting old so new people have to inject new ideas." He explained that since the organisation was getting bigger, a need was felt to include more people and since Mohinder was an associate with him in Morocco, he was inducted to the CBFS team. The original CBFS team comprised of Bukhatir, Qassim Noorani and Asif Iqbal. Noorani's son Zahid has taken over the chief executive's responsibilities while Mohinder will help Asif as a co-ordinator. Dismissing speculations, Bukhatir confirmed that "Asif will continue as he has been for the last 19 years."

On reports that the stadium would be shifted, Bukhatir said he aimed to keep Sharjah Stadium with the team of new and old and said "The stadium will stay here only," thereby ending all speculation that there was a plan to move the stadium to a new location.

After quitting cricket on an emotional note, former Indian captain and coach Kapil Dev said he is now available for marketing football in the country. The Chief Executive Officer of Studio 2000, Henna Juneja, who is also the organiser of the Millennium Super Soccer Cup, talking to reporters in Mumbai on Thursday said that along with Kapil famous Cameroon footballer of yesteryear Roger Milla would also be on the board of directors of the event. Henna added that Kapil will advise on conceptualizing and managing the event.

The mega soccer event with $350,000 ($150,000 for the title) prize money has attracted teams from all over the world. Four of the group matches will be played at Calcutta, Kochi and Goa while Calcutta will stage the final on January 25. The cup kicks off at Calcutta on January 10.

In a surprise move, the Andhra selectors have dropped former India wicketkeeper MSK Prasad from the Ranji squad of 14 members though he has been included in the list of standbyes. Amit Pathak will lead the Andhra team in the coming season. LN Prasada Reddy will keep wickets for the team. Andhra begins its campaign against Kerala in Vijaywada from November 1 to 4.

The team: Amit Pathak (captain), N Madhukar (vice-captain), RVC Prasad, KST Sai, VS Ranganath, T Srinivas, LN Prasada Reddy (wicketkeeper), KS Shabuddin, Y Venugopala Rao, Noor Md Khan, VJT Rammohan, KA Fayaz Ahmed, Y Gnaneswara Rao and H Watekar. Standbyes: MSK Prasad, GM Srinivas, TS Prasad, VV Balasaraswathi Reddy and ASK Varma. Coach: KS Bhaskararama Murthy.

Karachi's pre-partition cricketer Ghanshyam R Wadhwaney died in Bangalore on Thursday. He was 78. Wadhwaney, a contemporary of former India captain GS Ramchand represented AMIL Institute as a left-arm spinner.

A widower, Wadhwaney is survived by two sons. His body will be laid to rest by the side of his wife's in Bangalore tomorrow, according to his younger brother and veteran sports scribe Kishen Wadhwaney.