Indian news round-up

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) selection committee meeting to pick the Indian team for the first Test against Australia which was scheduled to be held in Nagpur on February 19 has been deferred and will now be held on February 20 in Mumbai.

Speaking to Press Trust of India in Nagpur, the North Zone selector and former Indian all rounder Madan Lal said "The meeting scheduled to be held here on the last day (February 19) of the ongoing three-day tie between India A and Australians, will now be held in Mumbai on February 20."

Madan Lal said "We are forced to postpone the meeting as both the Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly and coach Wright will not be able to make it to Nagpur." Both Wright and Ganguly would be present at the nets at the Wankhede Stadium before the start of the first Test on February 27.

The chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Raj Singh Dungarpur said in Jaipur on Friday that the former Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad is likely to be the new director of the National Cricket Acadmey (NCA) in Bangalore.

Speaking to Press Trust of India (PTI), Dungarpur said "Gaekwad is the most suitable candidate for the coveted post. He came to help the BCCI when Kapil Dev had resigned as Indian coach and many noted personalities had refused to accept the post of coach as there were lot of talk about bringing in a foreign coach."

Dungarpur said "Gaekwad came in to shoulder the responsibility for a few months and saved the BCCI from an embarassing position. The BCCI then had thought of giving back something to Gaekwad and I think that the NCA director's post will be a just reward for him." However on the finalisation of Gaekwad's appointment, Dungarpur said "I believe he will be selected."

Visakhapatnam won the 21st edition of the All-India Major Ports cricket championship defeating holders Mumbai by four wickets in the final at Paradip in Orissa on Saturday.

Batting first, Mumbai could muster only 159 in 39.1 overs. Sanjay Jamshendikar was the top scorer with 40 as N Shyam Sundar reaped a rich harvest of four for 13. In response, Visakhapatnam scored the required runs in 39.2 overs. KNV Krishnamohan (53) and P Jayakumar (48 not out) were the top scorers.

Earlier in the semifinals, Visakhapatnam defeated Kolkota by 33 runs while Mumbai crushed Marmagao by 159 runs.

Delhi, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh schools teams continued their winning spree on the second day of 46th National Under-19 School Games cricket tournament in Vijayawada on Saturday.

While hosts Andhra Pradesh defeated Assam by 23 runs, Chandigarh beat Punjab by 83 runs. On the other hand Delhi boys defeated Haryana by seven wickets and Madhya Pradesh defeated West Bengal by 76 runs in a 30-overs a side match.