Indian news round-up

The 2001 edition of the ICC/ACC Under-17 Asia Cup featuring ten nations is to be held in Bangladesh from February 15 to 24. The participating teams include India, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nepal and Kuwait.

The ten countries are split into two groups. Group A includes India, Sri Lanka, UAE, Malaysia and Oman. Group B comprises Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Nepal and Kuwait.

India take on UAE on the opening day, February 15. India then meet Malaysia on February 16, Oman on February 19 and Sri Lanka on February 20. The matches are to be held in Dhaka. The semifinals and final are to be played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas is of the opinion that cricket and politics should not be mixed. Talking to Gulf News in Dubai on Tuesday, the stylish right hander said he was sad to see the strain in the relationship between the two countries and called for the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.

Zaheer said "The concerned authorities should keep politics out of the sport, we should keep the game healthy." Zaheer who is in Dubai to open his wife's furniture shop came down heavily on on those involved in match-fixing though he favoured legalisation of betting. The former Pakistani middle-oder batsman said "match-fixing is gaddari (betrayal) and was tantamount to betraying the nation. It is a shame if a cricketer indulges in match-fixing. "(But) betting is legal in so many countries, why can't it be legalised in Asia?"

Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Tuesday that the former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja made his presence felt in the earthquake affected Bhuj and that he was contemplating on organising an event to raise funds for the relief work that is being carried on.

Speaking to PTI, Jadeja said "I would like to do something for the children who have been orphaned in the quake," and added "I want to start when others have stopped." Jadeja's ancestral palace in Jamnagar was also badly damaged in the quake.

On his plans of organising an event, Jadeja said "I know a lot of industrialists, musicians and cricketers who will come here if an event is organised, keeping in mind the devastation."

Karnataka XI scored a three wicket win over Rest of India in a star studded 38-overs-a-side benefit match for senior coaches Salus Nazareth and Keki Tarapore in Raichur on Tuesday. The proceeds of the match would also be utilised for construction of a stadium in Raichur.

Opting to bat, Rest of India scored a massive 327 for 8 in the 38 overs. Skipper Sourav Ganguly (98) and VVS Laxman (70) were the top scorers. Ganguly set the ground alight hitting eight sixes and eight fours. Javagal Srinath and Yere Goud took two wickets each.

In response, Karnataka reached the target in 37.3 overs losing seven wickets. Yere Goud (108), Vijay Bharadwaj (51) and Rahul Dravid (49) were the main run getters for Karnataka. During his stay at the crease Goud hit 15 fours and four sixes.

Sree Rekha of South Central Railway has been named the skipper of the Andhra Pradesh women's team for the forthcoming South Zone Senior Women's Cricket Championship scheduled to be played in Chennai from February 12 to 16.

Apart from Andhra Pradesh, four teams namely Air-India, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala will also participate in the championship which is to be played on league basis.

The team: Sree Rekha (captain), Sudha Rani, Anna Maria, Monica Preeti, Swarnalakshmi, Savita Nirala, Priyadarshini, Kusumlata, Deepa, Savita Kumari, Maria Clare, Revathi, Sangeeta, Ghousia Begum and DS Geeta.