Indian news round-up

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at its annual general meeting (AGM) at Chennai on September 29 will ratify a proposal for zonal cricket academies. National Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur talking to reporters in Bangalore said that "the proposal has been finalised and it will be sent for the Board's approval during the AGM." Dungarpur added "The five zonal academies will be functional in April 2001. The zonal academies will select players from under-18 and the players may be inducted into NCA from them."

Dungarpur also said that the coaches' seminar will be held at Bangalore in February next year. He said every association would be asked to send two coaches besides a psychologist and a physical trainer. The 5-6 day seminar aims to standardise coaching in India and Australian specialists are likely to be invited for the programme. The NCA committee meeting, held on September 6 and 7, was attended by Raj Singh Dungarpur, Gnaneshwar Agashe, Sunil Gavaskar, Polly Umrigar, Brijesh Patel and Rodney Marsh. BCCI representative Sharad Diwadkar was also present at the meeting.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the match-fixing scandal in India said the agency has started working on the interim report and will submit it by this month end. Sources close to the agency said the report is likely to point fingers at several national and overseas cricketers.

The sources, talking to AFP, said "the report is to be submitted by September end and it will contain an exhaustive picture of corruption in the game. We have also zeroed down on some of our boys as well but since the interim report is under preparation it would be inappropriate to elaborate."

Meanwhile Kapil Dev, who was questioned by the CBI on Thursday, said "I have told them all they wanted to know and I will be able to sleep well tonight." Talking to reporters, he added "let the government do its job. I will be the happiest person when the report comes out."

On the recommendations of the India junior coach Roger Binny, the NCA committee has selected Hyderabad's AT Rayudu for the Southport School scholarship based in Gold Coast, Brisbane. The Australian school has offered an Indian under-15 player this scholarship.

NCA chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur said "AT Rayudu is our first choice. Our junior coach Roger Binny has recommended him. The programme is from January 27 to April 7, 2001. Though Rayudu's father is a bit apprehensive about the tenth standard examination, the decision is almost through."