Indian news round-up

CBI rejects Prabhakar's suggestion
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which was to have submitted its interim report on the match-fixing scandal by this month-end has postponed its release to the first week of October. According to PTI, sources close to the agency said the report which is likely to contain the names of some Indian players will be submitted to Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa. Sources however denied media reports that the report contained names of some foreign players.

The report is now with the investigation agency's legal cell which will give its opinion on whether the evidence in possession with the agency is sufficient enough to file a chargesheet against the players.

Meanwhile, the CBI rejected former Indian all rounder Manoj Prabhakar's suggestion that players whom he named also be called to take the lie-detector test. The agency had earlier asked Prabhakar to undergo the test. The sources clarified that CBI will not ask others who deposed before the agency to take the test but will ask only Prabhakar to undergo it.

Simpson for Wright as coach
Former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson in an article written for an Indian sports magazine has expressed his views that former New Zealand captain John Wright is the right man to coach India. In the article, Simpson writes "I have been asked my views on a suitable coach and I would have no hesitation in recommending former New Zealand opener, John Wright. He is a passionate, caring but tough operator, who has a great knowledge."

Commenting on Wright's personality, Simpson writes "His natural skills has provided a perfect background for coaching. He is a self made cricketer and was not blessed with the natural skills of a Tendulkar or Ganguly." He adds "as he has known the ups and downs and limitations of his own game, he is able to identify quickly what is needed in others. His love for cricket and kindliness should not be mistaken for softness."

Former Indian captain and international umpire of repute Srinivas Venkataraghavan has been named in the list of six umpires to officiate in the ICC Knock Out Tournament starting on October 3 in Nairobi. The others are West Indies' Steve Bucknor, England's David Shepherd and Peter Willey, South African Dave Orchard and Australia's Darryl Hair. The match referees named are Raman Subba Row, Ranjan Madugalle and Cammie Smith.

The line-up of officials for the league round are:

October 3: India vs Kenya (Orchard and Bucknor with Madugalle as match referee.) October 4: Sri Lanka vs West Indies (Venkataraghavan and Willey with Subba Row as referee.) October 5: England vs Bangladesh (Hair and Orchard with Smith as referee.) October 7: Australia vs winner of India-Kenya match (Bucknor and Shepherd with Madugalle as referee.) October 8: Pakistan vs winner of Sri Lanka-W.Indies (Hair and Willey with Subba Row as referee.) October 9: New Zealand vs Zimbabwe (Venkataraghavan and Shepherd with Smith as referee.) October 10: South Africa vs winner of England-Bangladesh match (Bucknor and Hair with Madugalle as referee.)

India to play two warm-up games in Nairobi
India play Sri Lanka on September 29 and West Indies on October 1 in Nairobi as warm-up games before their first match against Kenya on October 3 in the ICC knock out tourney.

Before the team's departure from New Delhi on Wednesday, Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad talking to a website said "These warm-up games will be crucial for us. Match practice will reveal the exact form of the players." The matches will also go some way in testing out the many youngsters in the squad.