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MS Dhoni's name in secret IPL inquiry statement submitted to Supreme Court: reports

February 15, 2014

MS_DhoniFeb 15: A few days after it emerged that six current Indian cricket players could be part of the Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting scandal that hit the sport last year, Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly been accused of being involved in 'illegal activity' in the IPL, if a police statement included in Supreme Court-instituted Justice Mukul Mudgal committee's report, which investigated the matter, is to be believed.

Former Tamil Nadu Superintendent of Police (internal security) G Sampath Kumar wrote in a signed statement that a bookie named Kitty claimed Dhoni and former Chennai Super Kings team principal Gurunath Meiyappan had taken part in a deal that pertained to illegal activity in the IPL. Dhoni's name reportedly figures in a sealed envelope submitted to the Supreme Court by the inquiry panel.

"We were investigating a fake passport case when we came across information related to betting. We interrogated a man called Kitty, who talked about Dhoni and Meiyappan," Kumar told Hindustan Times. Interestingly, Kumar was transferred soon after he questioned Kitty.

"The sealed cover contains unverified information that we wanted to share with the court only and contains statements of people who wanted to stay anonymous," Justice Mudgal said when contacted by the newspaper. When asked specifically about Kumar's statement, the former judge said, "I cannot say anything about a matter that is confidential."

Interestingly, Nilay Dutta, one of the three members of the Mudgal committee, had in his supplementary report confirmed part of Kumar's deposition but omitted Dhoni's name.

Dutta's report says: "It is in the record of the Committee, through the deposition of Mr. G Sampath Kumar... (that), one Mr Utham Jain @ Kitty had been interrogated by Q branch in his presence and the said Kitty had disclosed, in course of his interrogation on 23.05.2013, that pursuant to a plan to fix the match between IPL teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, scheduled on 12.05.2013, he was informed by one Mr Vikram Agarwal on 27.04.2013 at a dinner party that a deal had been worked out."

"He was also informed the same day by Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan that one senior member in the IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, had agreed to play as per plan and the team will score 140 runs. This plan was communicated to one Sanjay in Jaipur over phone by Mr Vikram Agarwal in presence of Kitty."

Meanwhile, Dhoni's agent Arun Pandey requested people to refrain from any sort of speculation since the matter was still sub-judice. "I haven't seen the report yet. The matter is sub-judice and scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court on March 7, so till then I would like to request people to refrain from speculating," said Pandey.

In Wellington on Thursday, Dhoni skipped the press conference ahead of India's second Test match against New Zealand. Dhoni, who indirectly faces charges of conflict of interest, has been silent over IPL scandals ever since the spot-fixing and betting reports broke last year.

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News Network
April 14,2020

Melbourne, Apr 14: As all sporting action across the world has come to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australian bowlers are pondering as to how Indian skipper Virat Kohli might play in front of no spectators.

India and Australia are scheduled to play a four-match Test series later this year, and it is being speculated that the series might end up taking place without any crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday said that it would be interesting to see how Kohli goes about it if he does not get a chance to get the audience behind him.

"He is probably good enough to adapt to any scenario. But I was talking to Mitch Starc the other day and we actually said that if we are playing with no crowd, it'll be quite amazing to see Virat trying to rev up the empty seats," cricket.com.au quoted Lyon as saying.

"It is going to be a little bit different, but Virat is a superstar. He will be able to adapt to any climate that we are able to play in," he added.
During the 2018-19 series, India managed to defeat Australia in Australia for the first time in a Test series.

Australia, at that time were without the services of David Warner and Steve Smith. However, the series later this year promises to be a mouth-watering prospect.

"I am excited about the prospect of India coming out to Australia, it's up there with the biggest series alongside the Ashes. They are an absolute powerhouse of the cricket world, and to have those guys out here is going to be fantastic. Playing in front of crowds or no crowds is out of our control, we have got to follow the advice of all the amazing medical people around the world," Lyon said.

"I have not thought about no crowds or massive crowds, it is just about the opportunity of playing against India again. They had the wood over us last time they came over here but we are a much stronger Australian cricket side at the moment, and I am just unbelievably excited about playing them here at home," he added.

Lyon was slated to represent Hampshire in County Championship this year, however, his stint was called off last week due to COVID-19.
He is Australia's third-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game as he has total of 390 wickets in Test cricket.

Lyon was last seen in action in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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Agencies
February 13,2020

New Delhi, Feb 13: Sanjiv Chawla, a key accused in the match-fixing scandal involving former South African cricket team captain Hansie Cronje in 2000, was extradited from the UK on Thursday, Delhi Police said.

The 50-year-old British national, accompanied by a crime branch team from London, reached IGI Airport this morning, a senior officer said.

He is likely to be taken to the crime branch office for questioning, he added.

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