'BCCI arm-twisted SL to withdraw corruption report in 2010'

June 2, 2013

I_S_BindraChandigarh, Jun 2: Even as the spot-fixing scandal rages on, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) President I S Bindra has created a fresh controversy by claiming that a BCCI official had arm-twisted the Sri Lankan board to withdraw a report which violated the anti corruption regulations during India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2010.

Bindra, in an article on his website, made three points in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal and recounted an incident involving corruption during India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2010.

"On India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2010, due to the LTTE operation, a retired general of Sri Lankan army was given charge of the Indian team's security and he ensured the tightest security arrangements, including installing CCTV cameras on every floor and the lobby of the hotels where the Indian team was staying.

"At night an official travelling with the team had taken a girl into the room of an Indian player who is also a prominent member of CSK team for last six seasons. It was observed on the footage that the girl spent the night prior to a game. It was so alleged that girl was sent by an individual on ICC's list of suspected bookies. This incidence was in gross violation of security as well as anti corruption regulations," Bindra claimed.

"On the basis of General's report, the Sri Lankan Board reported these sordid details in writing to the team Manager along with documentary evidence and also informed anti corruption official of ICC. It is understood that under pressure from an official of Indian Board, the Sri Lanka board was made to withdraw the report.

Mihir Bose filed this story in The Sunday Times, which was rubbished by the BCCI spokesperson, and Sri Lanka Cricket Board was arm-twisted into denying the whole episode," he said.

Bindra said, "The above narrative leads me to the second major point that could this incidence have nipped an emerging malfeasance in the bud and are we paying the price now?"

Interestingly, Bindra chose to make this claim on the eve of the Emergency Working Committee meeting of the BCCI where members are likely to push for N Srinivasan's resignation.

Bindra, who is a member of the anti-Srinivasan group, had demanded the BCCI president's resignation immediately after the arrest of his son-in-law and CSK Team Principal Gurunath Maiyappan over charges of betting.

The former BCCI president said, "Looking at the immediate issue at hand, the breaking news on television that the ICC had warned Gurunath Meiyappan of the company he was keeping. I have three important points to make."

"First, if the ICC did warn Meiyappan it is obvious and apparent that they must have informed the BCCI about it. Therefore, who were the officials in the BCCI who were informed by the ICC and how did they handle this key input? If they did nothing with the information from the ICC, the BCCI is guilty of gross misconduct and the ICC needs to confirm this claim.

Bindra said, "In the last eight years since present President took over, an employee from India Cements has invariably been posted with the Indian team at home and abroad. Now think of this, it means that these people are outsiders and are not subject to the ICC Code of Conduct. They are also out of the BCCI's purview.

"These people are privy to the Indian team's strategy meetings and dressing room deliberations and they have access to all classified information. India Cement nominees are not BCCI officials/employees. The precedent of a private company involved in intimate cricket insider information is highly controversial and has some serious and thought provoking implications," he added.

Bindra "fervently hoped that the game of cricket is cleansed and restored to its pristine heritage in the wake of the present cricket detritus and rightful resignations."

"The pubic deserves and demands it, and most of all, the gentleman's game cries for it. We must bring back the credibility and love for the game," he said.

"The shenanigans of the recent times run the risk of bringing ignominy to the game of cricket which was built brick by brick by many. After decades of being a part of the great game of cricket, and having served Indian cricket in various positions, I believe that this is the worst crisis faced by Indian Cricket.

"My central postulate is that the sanctity and credibility of the game should be our focus and be preserved at all costs. The game is bigger than any individual," the PCA Chief added.

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News Network
January 10,2020

Jan 10: Australian cricketer Shane Warne’s prized 'baggy green' cap raised more than A$1 million ($686,000) on Friday for bushfire relief efforts after the former leg-spinner donated it for auction.

Twenty-seven people have been killed and thousands made homeless in recent months as huge fires scorched through more than 25.5 million acres of land, an area the size of South Korea.

The baggy green is presented to Australian players when they make their Test debut and they receive just one for their entire career. The Aussie cricketer donated the cap to an online auction site on Monday. The auction closed at 10 a.m. on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday) with a final public bid of A$1,007,500.

"Unbelievable … so generous from everyone. Totally blown away," Warne said on Twitter shortly before the auction closed.

The auction attracted global interest and the price eclipsed the A$425,000 achieved by the late Don Bradman's baggy green when it was sold in 2003.

"We have been overwhelmed and it is a fantastic result," Marc Cheah, head of marketing for auctioneers Pickles, said.

"Other baggy greens have been auctioned and Don Bradman’s got $425,000 about 15 years ago, but the Don is the Don. He’s the greatest cricketer that ever lived," Cheah said in relation to the widely held recognition Bradman was the best batsman the game has produced.

"But Shane is also right up there and that drove a lot of traffic and momentum, while the cause is also very worthwhile."

Warne, 50, is one of many local and international athletes to support the fundraising for bushfire victims with several cricketers promising to donate a sum based on the number of sixes they hit in Australia’s Big Bash Twenty20 competition.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Mumbai, Mar 5: Former India spinner Sunil Joshi was on Wednesday named chairman of the national selection panel by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which also picked ex-pacer Harvinder Singh to the five-member group.

The CAC, comprising Madan Lal, R P Singh and Sulakshana Naik, picked the two selectors with Joshi replacing South Zone representative MSK Prasad.

In an unprecedented decision, the BCCI said the CAC will review the panel's performance after one year and make recommendations accordingly.

"The committee recommended Sunil Joshi for the role of chairman of the senior men's selection committee. The CAC will review the candidates after a one-year period and make the recommendations to the BCCI," read a statement from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

Harvinder was chosen from central zone and replaces Gagan Khoda in the panel.

The existing members of the selection panel are Jatain Paranjpe, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh.

"We have picked the best guys for the job," Lal told news agency.

The CAC had shortlisted five candidates for interviews -- Joshi, Harvinder, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Chauhan and L S Sivaramakrishnan -- from a list of 40 applicants.

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News Network
March 4,2020

Mar 4: The BCCI has decided to implement strict cost cutting measures with the notable decision being IPL 2020 champions' prize money will be halved as compared to 2019. In a circular sent to all IPL franchises, the BCCI has notified that instead of a whopping Rs 20 crore, the IPL champion team will now receive Rs 10 crore only. "The financial rewards have been reworked as a part of the cost cutting measures. The champions will get Rs 10 crore instead of Rs 20 crore. The runners-up will get Rs 6.25 crore from earlier Rs 12.5 crore," a BCCI notification, in possession of news agency, read.

The two losing qualifiers will now get Rs 4.375 crore each.

"The franchises are all in good health. They also have multiple ways like sponsorships to bolster their income. Hence the decision on prize money taken," a senior BCCI source said.

However, a state association hosting IPL games will get Rs 1 crore each with franchises and BCCI contributing Rs 50 lakh each.

It has also been learnt that mid-level BCCI employees won't be allowed to avail business class flights like earlier times for flying to the Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE) where the flying time is less than eight hours.

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