BCCI says MS Dhoni didn’t lie before the probe panel, seeks tapes

April 10, 2014

New Delhi, Apr 10: Having questioned the indictment of Indian captain M S Dhoni for allegedly lying before the IPL probe panel, the BCCI on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, seeking access to the audio transcripts of the statements made by Dhoni and ousted chief N Srinivasan before the panel.

BCCI_MS_DhoniThe panel, while holding Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan guilty of betting in IPL, had trashed the statements made before it by the beleaguered BCCI president and Dhoni that he had nothing to do with the cricketing affairs of the Chennai Super Kings. As per the panel, both Dhoni and Srinivasan claimed that Meiyappan was just a “cricket enthusiast” supporting the team.

However, refuting the allegations against Dhoni, the BCCI had later told a bench led by Justice A K Patnaik that Dhoni had never made the statement that Meiyappan was only a cricket enthusiast.

Seeking an urgent listing of their application, BCCI counsel C A Sundaram mentioned the matter before the bench on Wednesday. “We are seeking audio transcripts of all the interviews conducted by the probe panel during its inquiry. Various statements are being attributed to Srinivasan, Dhoni and Sunder Rajan that should not have been made,” Sundaram told the bench.

Accepting the plea on Friday, the court asked the BCCI to serve a copy of the application also on the petitioner, Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB). CAB’s counsel Harish Salve had accused the skipper of lying and indulging in “corrupt practices” by seeking to cover-up. It was also asserted that neither the BCCI nor any person in individual capacity has challenged the findings of the panel and the BCCI had rather accepted the report and hence they cannot challenge the findings now.

On March 28, the court had allowed IPL-7 to go on with participation of all eight teams, including Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals — the two sides linked to corruption scandal, but shunted out Srinivasan from all the affairs of the board.

The bench had replaced him with former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar as the Board’s interim President for managing the affairs of the seventh edition of the IPL, starting April 16 in the UAE, till the court delivers its judgement in the IPL betting and spot-fixing case.

For the rest of the work of the BCCI, senior-most vice president Shivlal Yadav will discharge the functions of the president of the board. “We also direct that till we deliver the judgment, none of the employees of India Cement Limited or its associate companies (except for cricket players or commentators) will perform any of the duties assigned to them by the BCCI and the Interim President, Sunil Gavaskar, will have power to engage the services of such persons on whom he has confidence for work in connection with the IPL 2014,” the bench had said.

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News Network
January 8,2020

Indore, Jan 8: Skipper Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 30 as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Indore on Tuesday.

The hosts rode a 71-run opening stand between KL Rahul, who hit 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, who made 32, to chase down their target of 143 in 17.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first match was rained off.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took the wickets of the Indian openers but Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 before falling to paceman Lahiru Kumara, and Kohli, who hit the winning six, got the team home.

The third match is on Friday in Pune.

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Agencies
June 23,2020

Belgrade, June 23: Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.

The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia.

His wife also tested positive. “The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena's, while the results of our children are negative," Djokovic said in a statement.

Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Viktor Troicki said Tuesday that he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus, while Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive.

Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive. There were no social distancing measures observed at the matches in either country and Djokovic and other players were seen hugging each other and partying in night clubs and restaurants after the matches.

 “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions,” Djokovic said.

“Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.” Djokovic, who has previously said he was against taking a vaccine for the virus even if it became mandatory to travel, was the face behind the Adria Tour, a series of exhibition events that started in the Serbian capital and then moved to Zadar.

He left Croatia after the final was canceled and was tested in Belgrade. The statement said Djokovic was showing no symptoms.

Despite the positive test, Djokovic defended the exhibition series. “It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this,” Djokovic said.

"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met. “Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.”

Djokovic said he will remain in self-isolation for 14 days and also apologized to anyone who became infected as a result of the series. Organizers of the Adria Tour said the third stage of the event, scheduled to held next week in Bosnia, has been cancelled.

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Agencies
March 6,2020

Mumbai, Mar 6: Former India batsman Virender Sehwag expressed excitement over the upcoming Road Safety World Series and said he is looking forward to playing with Sachin Tendulkar again.

"I am very excited about this tournament because I will get another chance to play with Sachin. We have played many international matches together and there was a gap and then we played an All-Star match and now again getting a chance. I am looking forward to playing with Tendulkar," Sehwag told media persons.

In the opening match of the Road Safety World Series, India Legends will play against West Indies Legends on March 7. The main aim of the Series is to create awareness about road safety and change people's mindset towards their behaviour on the roads.

Sehwag hailed the initiative of Road Safety World Series and said: "I think it is a very good initiative by the government that they are working towards creating awareness regarding road safety. Awareness regarding road safety is important for everyone."

Road Safety World Series, a five-nation T20 cricket tournament, will showcase some of the biggest names in cricket from India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and South Africa.

Players who will feature in this series include Tendulkar, Sehwag, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brett Lee, Brad Hodge, Jonty Rhodes, Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and many more. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is the Commissioner of the Series.

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