Spot fixing: Court grants bail to Sreesanth, 17 others

June 11, 2013

Sreesanth_gets_bailIn a major setback to the Delhi police, a court indicted them for slapping the stringent provisions of MCOCA on cricketers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and 17 others and granted the accused bail in the IPL spot-fixing case.

“There is no reason for believing that the accused are guilty under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) at this stage,” additional sessions judge Vinay Kumar Khanna said.

Besides the 19 accused in the spot-fixing scandal who were granted bail by the court, six others are in judicial custody till June 18 while one of the alleged bookies, Ramesh Vyas, is in police custody till June 18. Chandila and six others have not yet applied for bail. “After probing into the matter deeply and going into the materials placed before the court, this court finds that there is no sufficient material on record to establish that there is a nexus of accused with the organised crime syndicate,” the judge said.

The police failed to satisfy the court and place on record evidence to justify its decision to slap charges under MCOCA for being involved in organised crime syndicate operated by don Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel. “I have to examine the evidence and then only, I will be able to decide the matter and whether these people have nexus with underworld people sitting outside,” the judge said.

The remarks by the judge came when the police said it would not be in a position to place before it the documents and evidence before June 18 as the probe was in an initial stage.

“It will be misuse of provisions of MCOCA, so you will have to give relevant documents. If you have booked them under MCOCA, it means you must be having proper sanction and sufficient evidence against each of them,” the court said.

During the late evening hearing, additional public prosecutor Rajeev Mohan said Dawood, Shakeel, Javed Churani and Salman were in constant touch with the bookies including Ramesh Vyas.

When the court wanted evidence for slapping MCOCA, the prosecutor said investigators have the transcripts of the intercepted conversations between Dawood and Vyas, which were read out in the court. The transcripts referred to a conversation about a deal in which Rs. 10 million and Rs. 9 million were mentioned which was finally settled at Rs. 7 million, the police said but added the purpose of the deal was not clear.

To this, the court asked the police to clarify. “Do you have direct evidence that Sreesanth and any of the players were in direct touch with Dawood?” The prosecutor replied in the negative but said they have got the transcripts of conversations in which Sreesanth’s friend Jiju Janardan, a bookie, was in touch with Vyas. “We have conversations of Dawood Ibrahim with bookies and bookies used to fix the players, in which Sreesanth was found talking to one bookie Jiju Janardhan about the amount he will accept for favouring them,” the prosecutor said.

The court, while granting bail to the 19 accused, said it is prima facie not satisfied with the allegation that offences punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC are made out against the accused at this stage.

The judge said the accused persons are not “habitual offenders” and have clean antecedents and they are not likely to flee from justice. The court directed the accused to submit their passports before it and asked them not go out of India without its prior permission.

The court said there is prima facie “no sufficient material” against the accused to establish their “nexus” with organised crime syndicate. The police had earlier admitted that they had no proof to establish that Sreesanth was in direct contact with the gang of Dawood Ibrahim.

Besides the two cricketers, the court also granted the relief to 17 accused, including 14 bookies, on a personal bond of 50,000 with one surety of the like amount.

Two member probe panel to investigate Kundra

Meanwhile, the committee adhered to the same action for Kundra as initiated against Chennai Super Kings team principal Gurunath Meiyappan, under investigation for betting in IPL-6.

Kundra, who the Delhi Police claim has confessed to betting in this year’s IPL, will face a probe by a two-member commission comprising Justice T Jayaram Chouta and Justice R Balasubramanian.

The same panel is also investigating Meiyappan’s alleged involvement in betting practices.

“The working committee decided to suspend Raj Kundra on allegations of gambling on IPL-6 matches till the pendency of inquiry,” BCCI’s interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said after the meeting.

Both cases are strikingly similar but Dalmiya said the two cannot be compared and the board does not want to frighten anybody by taking tough decisions without a probe.

“We are not comparing the two. We have got the report. Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar grilled Kundra for 11 hours and admitted that Kundra was involved in betting. IPL CEO Sundar Raman has also got a complaint from one person.

“The Rajasthan Royals’ role in the issue is being looked into but without getting hold of the facts, we don’t want to frighten anybody,” Dalmiya said in response to a question on why the franchise were not suspended.

The BCCI’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit head Ravi Sawani submitted his report on the spot-fixing scandal before the committee which was forwarded to the disciplinary committee of the board, comprising Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah.

The two member panel will hear the players’ side of the story before framing the charges. Sidelined BCCI president N Srinivasan ceded to be a member of the committee after stepping aside from BCCI top post.

Sanjay Patel and Ravi Sawant to don roles of BCCI secretary and Treasurer respectively

Among other decisions, the working committee ratified the election of Sanjay Patel as its honorary secretary and also named Mumbai Cricket Association president Ravi Sawant as the new treasurer. As far as the operation clean-up is concerned, the board will convene another meeting of the working committee to take the proposal forward.

Sources revealed that the meeting got off to a stormy start with Punjab Cricket Association president I S Bindra questioning the authority of the interim chief in calling up a such a meeting. Bindra, however, could not keep up the tempo of his protest after he was shown a rule which allowed Dalmiya to do so when he is backed by at least five members of the board.

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News Network
April 8,2020

New Delhi, Apr 8: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on Wednesday proposed a three-match ODI series against arch-rivals India to raise funds for the fight against the Covid19 pandemic in both the countries.

The two nations have not played a full-series since 2007 due to the terrorist attacks on India by Pakistan-based outfits and the resultant diplomatic tension. They only play each other in ICC events and Asia Cup.

"In this time of crisis, I want to propose a three-match series in which for the first time, the people of neither country would be upset at the outcome of the games," Akhtar told PTI from Islamabad.

"If Virat (Kohli) scores a hundred, we will be happy, if Babar Azam scores a hundred, you will be happy. Both teams will be winners irrespective of whatever happens on the field," he said.

"You are bound to get massive viewership for the games. For the first time, both countries will play for each other. And whatever funds are generated through this can be donated equally to the government of India and Pakistan to fight this pandemic," added the 44-year-old.

No idea of logistics

With both countries in a lockdown amid the fast-spreading pandemic, the games can only be organised when things improve. However, Akhtar feels the sooner they are held, the better it would be but could not tell how the logistics of such an initiative would be worked out.

"Everyone is sitting at home at the moment, so there will be a massive following for the games. May be not now, when things start improving, the games could be organised at a neutral location like Dubai. Chartered flights could be arranged and the matches could he held.

"The whole world will tune into it, so much money can be raised to deal with this crisis. In difficult times, the character of the nation comes forward."

Start of a new era?

"It could even lead to resumption of bilateral cricketing ties and relations of both countries improve diplomatically. You never know," said the 'Rawalpindi Express'.

In these extraordinary times, Akhtar feels both countries should help each other. "We can only propose the matches. The rest is up to the authorities (to decide)."

India cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were recently trolled for asking their social media followers to donate to Shahid Afridi's charity foundation which is doing its bit in Pakistan's fight against the deadly virus.

"It was inhuman to criticise them. It is not about countries or religion at the moment, it is about humanity," he opined.

India memories

Akhtar has spent a lot of time in India as a commentator. He fondly recalled his days in Mumbai during the World T20 in 2016, the last time he came to India for work.

"I am forever grateful about the love I have received from the people of India. For the first time I am revealing this, whatever I used to earn from India, I made a significant amount there, thirty percent of it, I used to distribute among the low income staff who used to work with me in the TV," he remembered.

Akhtar used to visit the city's slum areas with his face covered to hand out financial help to elder women there.

"From drivers, runners to my security guys. I took care of a lot of people. I was like if am earning from this country, I have to help my colleagues also.

"I also remember visiting slums of Dharavi and Sion in the wee hours to meet people I worked with," added Akhtar.

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News Network
May 4,2020

May 4: Yuzvendra Chahal is among the best leg-spinners in international cricket right now but he can be more effective with better use of the crease, says former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Ahmed picked Chahal, Australia's Adam Zampa and Pakistan's Shadab Khan among the top leg-spinners in white-ball cricket.

"Chahal as been impressive. He is definitely among the top leg-spinners of the world. And I feel he would be more effective if he uses the crease a lot more," Ahmed said.

Ahmed, who has coached all around the world and is currently a consultant for his native team, said India's ability to take wickets in the middle-overs in the limited overs format through Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has been a game-changer for them.

Both the wrist-spinners were brought into India's limited overs set-up following the 2017 Champions Trophy. Though, of late, both Chahal and Kuldeep havn't been playing together.

"He (Chahal) can go wide of the crease at times. You got to be smart enough to understand pitches. If it is a flat pitch, you can bowl stump to stump," said Ahmed, one of the best leg-spinners Pakistan has produced.

"If the ball is gripping, you can go wide of the crease because you can trouble even the best of batsmen with that angle. That way your googly also doesn't turn as much as the batsman expects and you end up taking a wicket."

Chahal has taken 91 wickets in 52 ODIs at 25.83 and 55 wickets in 42 T20s at 24.34. He is not a huge turner of the ball but uses his variations very effectively.

Ahmed also feels the likes of Chahal and Kuldeep have benefitted immensely from former captain M S Dhoni's advice from behind the stumps.

"You have got to be one step ahead of the batsman. You should know your field position as per the batsman's strength. I always say attack with fielders not with the ball. If you understand that theory, you will always be successful," the 49-year-old, who played 52 Tests and 144 ODIs, said.

"India has become a force to reckon with in all three formats as it uses its bowlers really well. Dhoni was a master at getting the best out of his bowlers in limited overs cricket and now you have Virat Kohli."

He also said the art of leg-spin remains relevant more than ever.

"You need leg-spinners and mystery spinners in your team as they have the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game. I see a lot of them coming through in the next 10-15 years.

"Most batsmen now like playing express pace but with a good leg-spinner in the team, you are always in the game," added member of the 1992 World Cup-winning squad.

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News Network
June 15,2020

Melbourne, Jun 15: Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is the best fielder in the game right now, according to Australian batting star Steve Smith, who also rated KL Rahul as the most impressive among the younger crop.

Smith, who answered questions sent in by his fans on Instagram on Sunday, also said the Indian Premier League is his favourite tournament to play in.

Jadeja known for his quick and sharp fielding tactics has earned praise from several former players and respect from the current stars and Smith is no different.

Asked who the best fielder in the current lot of players Smith simply replied stating it was Jadeja.

When quizzed about which Indian player has impressed him the most, the Australian batting mainstay said: "KL Rahul. Very good player!"

Rahul, who has played 36 Tests, 32 ODIs and 42 T20Is for Indian, has become a regular member of the national team in white-ball cricket. Besides showcasing his skills with the willow, Rahul also bears the responsibility of being the wicketkeeper in the limited overs format.

Asked Mahnedra Singh Dhoni, Smith responded saying the former Indian skipper is a "Legend! Mr Cool". While he called the current captain Virat Kohli a "freak" when it comes to batting ability.

The Rajasthan Royals batsman, who rated his first innings his 144 at Birmingham in the first Ashes Test last year as his favourite Test knock till date, said the Indian Premier League (IPL) is his favourite tournament.

"Tough to beat the IPL. Playing with and against the best players from around the world."

India is scheduled to travel to Australian for a full series later the year and the 31-year-old said : "Can''t wait. Going to be awesome."

Asked about his opinion on India batting great Rahul Dravid, Smith said "what a lovely gentleman and seriously good player."

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