'Dirty cricketers' might face criminal complaint from BCCI

May 18, 2013

N_Srinivasan

New Delhi, May 18: His back against the wall after the IPL spot-fixing scandal, BCCI President N Srinivasan has not ruled out filing a criminal complaint against the arrested "dirty cricketers", insisting that no one is hurting more than him because of the crisis.

"If permitted, we will file a criminal case against them," said Srinivasan on being asked whether the BCCI would file a case against the arrested players.

"The person who is hurting the most is me. We are hurting like anything...No punishment is too little for them," Srinivasan told Karan Thapar in 'Devil's Advocate' programme on CNN-IBN channel.

A special cell of the Delhi police arrested India pacer S Sreesanth and his Rajasthan Royals teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- for indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad.

The players, who have been suspended by the BCCI, have been brought to Delhi and charged under section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

Facing criticism for not keeping a check on the menace of fixing despite warnings from various quarters, the defiant BCCI chief insisted that it is the greed of individual players that has created the ongoing crisis.

"IPL has not let down people, it is the dirty cricketers who have let down people. We feel bad that such a thing has happened. But I don't have to personally apologise as long as people can see that we are acting against the problem," he said.

"We are really shocked. I have no words to condemn what has happened. We want it never to happen again. We are an honest organisation," he added.

Srinivasan defended the league which, according to some experts of the game, has created fertile ground for fixing and manipulation.

Srinivasan also brushed aside sacked IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's recent statements that his warnings of corruption in the IPL were ignored by the Board.

"I do not give credibility to what Modi says. He is under enquiry for some very serious acts which he has committed against the BCCI. I do not want to comment on what Mr Modi says," he said.

When asked whether the BCCI also ignored warnings from the ICC Srinivasan said the governing body was supposed to act on the menace and not warn of it.

"Excuse me, ICC is in charge of it (IPL) and they are supposed take steps to prevent fixing. Whatever has been specifically requested has been dealt with by the BCCI. We are not going to keep quiet," he said.

Srinivasan, who also own the IPL team Chennai Super Kings, rebutted accusations of conflict of interest.

"This matter is before the Supreme Court. I cannot comment on it. I do not own the team, I happen to be a shareholder in the company which owns the team," he said.

The BCCI boss promised a fair enquiry into the matter, insisting that nothing would be brushed under the carpet.

"If there is a fault and something that has been overlooked we will not cover it up. We will get to the bottom of it," he assured.

He backed the idea of having tough legislation to cub fixing and betting in Indian sports.

"We will take whatever steps necessary to eradicate this. I believe that the regulation must be so tight that nobody gets even a quarter," he said.

"That's a very big generalisation. We have to admit that three players have been arrested. Their lawyers are saying they are innocent. We have to wait for the Delhi Police to substantiate these allegations," Srinivasan said.

Asked whether the Board is in a state of denial given that corruption was exposed in the league even last season, a defiant Srinivasan said, "I am not in a state of denial. There was some evidence, police have made their statement fine...all I am saying is the players are innocent till proven guilty.

"The BCCI has issued a showcause notice to them but I concede that it is a shock. I never expected that a Test player like Sreesanth and others would be accused of such wrongdoing," he added.

Srinivasan, in fact, lost his composure when he was repeatedly questioned on the IPL's credibility and asserted that some players going haywire should not be seen as evidence of the entire league being fixed.

"For the last two days, everybody has asked me the same question but I would say, it is the biggest tournament in the world, we should be proud of.

"The point I am making is that everybody is berating IPL saying that IPL is finished. But I am saying that yes players have been arrested and naturally it will have some impact," he added.

"Not only does it worry me but I have to sit here and listen that IPL finished. Three players have done something is wrong but the entire IPL is not bad."

Asked how would the BCCI react if the speculation of more players being involved comes out to be true, Srinivasan said, "If that evidence comes out, we will deal with it. The BCCI is very concerned but I cannot go out and tell what our committee will do."

"No one can say nothing has happened when three players have been arrested. But we have to focus what we we have to do. BCCI will look into it in great detail."

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News Network
May 27,2020

Bengaluru, May 27: Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that he was never able to dismiss Inzamam-ul-Haq in the nets.

The Rawalpindi Express praised the former Pakistan skipper and said Inzamam could see the ball one second earlier than the rest of the batsmen could.

"Honestly, I don't think I could ever get him (Inzamam) out, he had the time and I always felt he saw the ball a second earlier than the rest of the batsmen because I had a complicated action unlike Brett Lee, I felt I could never dismiss Inzamam-ul-Haq," Akhtar told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

"I couldn't get him out in the nets, I think he could see the ball a second before anyone else," he added.

Inzamam played 120 Tests and 378 ODIs for Pakistan.

He finished his career with 20,569 runs across all formats.

The right-handed batsman called time on his career in 2007 and he played his last Test against South Africa in Lahore.

On the other hand, Akhtar played 224 matches for Pakistan in international cricket and took 444 wickets across all formats.

The Rawalpindi Express last played an ODI in 2011 as he played against New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Karachi, May 18: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes it is at least five years too early to compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as the Indian skipper has proven himself in "every kind of situation" and the latter has not.

"Virat Kohli is far more experienced than Babar. He has at least five years more experience of top cricket and he is at the peak of his career," said Younis, Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests.

"Kohli has far more exposure than Babar and he has been in every kind of situation and proven himself. No one gets 70 international centuries like that and this are proof of his class and abilities. He has scored runs in every situation and all opposition."

Younis said said Babar still has a long way to go.

"Babar has been in top cricket for just around five years. He has got a very impressive batting average across all three formats and he is getting better by the day.

"You see him batting and you can see he has got the same qualities that Kohli had at the start of his career."

Besides amassing 70 international hundreds, 31-year-old Kohli averages more than 50 in all three formats. The India skipper has scored more than 20,000 runs while 25-year-old Babar has 6680 runs across formats though the Pakistan limited overs skipper has played significantly lesser number of games.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Milan, Mar 28: Juventus star Paulo Dybala revealed how he "struggled to breathe" after contracting coronavirus which has killed over 9,000 people in Italy.

The Argentine international announced last Saturday he was one of three Juventus players to catch the virus along with Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi, who both had no symptoms.

"I feel better now after some strong symptoms," the 26-year-old Dybala told JTV channel.

"A couple of days ago I was not well, I felt heavy and after five minutes of movement I had to stop because I was struggling to breathe.

"Now I can move and walk to start trying to train, because when I tried in the past few days I started to shake too much.

"I gasped for air and as a result I couldn't do anything, after five minutes I was already very tired, I felt the body heavy and my muscles hurt.

"Now I'm fine. My fiancee Oriana (Sabatini) has also overcome the symptoms."

Dybala has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, including in league leader's Juventus's last game against Inter Milan before Serie A and all sport in Italy was suspended.

"The goal against Inter was the greatest emotion, (Aaron) Ramsey provided the perfect assist - it's a pity that there was no public," added Dybala.

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