Indian news round-up

Bangladesh on Sunday named Naimur Rahman as skipper for the Asian Test Championship starting in September. Mainul Haq, chief selector for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, announced a 14-man squad, including promising young paceman Mohammad Sharif, who has recovered from a shoulder injury. Sharif was hurt during a recent practice session at the team's training camp.

The second Asian Test Championship will be held from September 2001 to January 2002. Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India are also scheduled to take part.

The squad: Naimur Rahman (capt), Khaled Masud, Javed Omer Belim, Mehrab Hossain, Mohammad Ashraful, Al Shariar, Aminul Islam, Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Enamul Haque, Hasibul Hossain, Monjorul Islam, Bikas Ranjan Das and Mohammad Sharif.

Shashank V Manohar was elected president of the Vidarbha Cricket Association at the annual general meeting at Nagpur on Sunday. He polled 662 votes while his rival GK Kelkar got 249 votes.

Vijay D Chitley, with 537 votes, was elected secretary. He defeated his rival Sanjay Deshpande who got 364 votes.

Other office bearers: Vice Presidents: MN Dorairajan and Ashok Bhagwat. Joint secrataries: Shishir Sudame and Prakash Dixit. Treasurer: Sudhir Dabir. Executive committee: Satish Salpekar, Jaideo Kale, PT Luley, Suresh Karandikar, Vinay Amrite, KY Pradhan, Shiraza J Gimi, Sharad Desphande, Sharad Padhye, Sunil Mujumdar, AS Karlekar and Sharad Bhake.

Along the lines of the National Cricket Academy, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association will start state level centres at five venues. According to KC Sampathkumar, assistant secretary, TNCA, four centres will be in the districts and one in Chennai.

Each of the district centres will also have residential coaching camps which will be held during summer and winter vacations. The duration of the camp will be about 45 days during summer and 20 days during winter. About 20 boys, below 18 years of age, will be selected for each centre from the seven districts allotted for that particular centre. Two or three coaches will be appointed to each centres. Former Test cricketer Bharath Reddy will be the director and former State player Peter Fernandez from Coimbatore will be a co-opted member of the academy.