Navjot Sidhu granted bail

Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former Indian opener, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court on the basis of a Rs 25,000 bond after he surrendered to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 11. He was sent to prison yesterday following his surrender. The hearing for the stay of his conviction is on January 17.

Sidhu, who resigned as Member of Parliament on December 1, was convicted last month of a charge similar to manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison, but was released on temporary bail. The charges related to an incident in 1988 when he dragged an elderly man out of his car and showered him with blows after a road accident.

Sidhu, who played 51 Tests and 136 one-day internationals between 1983 and 1999 before becoming a cricket commentator, said he would appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court on Friday, telling reporters: "We have faith in the highest court of the land and so we are appealing tomorrow."