Indian news round-up

There is good news on world's premier batsman Sachin Tendulkar's toe injury. Dr Mark Fergusson, who treated Tendulkar at the Johannesburg Sports Clinic over the past four days, said some adjustments had been made to his boots and the cricketer was feeling comfortable. He confirmed that Tendulkar will have "no problems" once he starts playing again, reports the Press Trust of India.

"We have made adjustments to the boots he will be wearing and already he has shown no signs of pain," Fergusson said. Fergusson, an arthroscopic surgeon who has earlier successfully treated Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, said the boots which are manufactured in South Africa, have been approved by Tendulkar's doctors in Mumbai.

"With the changes to his boots he will have no problems. The right toe will not be troubled," he said. Tendulkar should be able to practice and play some matches in a couple of days and would be able to participate in a charity match in London scheduled for September 18, Fergusson said.

"By the time the tour to South Africa starts, he would be ready to play in all Tests," he said. However, Tendulkar may have to undergo regular tests to ensure that he was in a fit condition, the doctor said.

According to a PTI report on Friday, Tendulkar sounded positive about his rehabilitation, "my injury does not need treatment as such. But that part (right toe) has to be rested for some more time. Now the pain has reduced but I will have to continue wearing the newlyprescribed shoes which cushions the injured part."

Pakistan's cricket celebrity Imran Khan turned politician today demanded India be penalsied for withdrawing from the Asian Test championship, reports the Press Trust of India.

"Once a country agrees to play it must honour its commitment or else should be fined by the International Cricket Council," Khan told AFP on Thursday.

"Pakistan should boycott India until they come and play against us in Pakistan," said Khan, who is a former skipper of the national cricket team and now heads his own political party, Movement for Justice.

India were to play Pakistan in Lahore in September in what would have been the first Test match in Pakistan between the two rivals for more than a decade.

Imran Khan said"We toured India in 1999 and allowed India to mint millions of dollars and now they have deprived us of huge money."

India competed in the inaugural Asian championship in 1999-2000, which was won by Pakistan. "I was thinking that both countries would move forward after the summit and cricket was one front from where they could have moved forward," Khan said referring to the talks between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Agra last month.

The MRF Buchi Babu Tournament winners New Zealand 'A' are amongst the twenty two teams that would participate in the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup Cricket tournament here from September 2 to 16. Shivlal Yadav, the Hon. Secretary, Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), revealed this to the reporters in Hyderabad on Friday.

The tournament, to be played on a league-cum-knock out basis, has attracted Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) led by Test star Ajit Agarkar, New Zealand 'A', besides newcomers Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and others, reports the Press Trust of India.

The teams would be divided into four groups and two toppers from each group would enter the quarter finals knock-out pace. The semi-finals would be played on September 14, while the finals would be a day and night affair on September 16.

The winner would be richer by Rupees One Lakh besides the coveted Gold Cup, while the runner-up would get Rupees 50,000. The event is being sponsored by Coromandal King, Yadav added.

Teams: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) XI, Karnataka, Chemplast, All India Association of Bankers (AIAB), Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), India Cements, Railways, Canara Bank, District-XI, Goa, Hyderabad, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Indian Bank, Vidarbha and Indian Airlines (IA) are among the teams to take part in the tournament.