BCCI chief's son-in-law in spot-fixing tangle

May 23, 2013

BCCI_chiefs_son-in-law

Mumbai, May 23: The investigation into the spot-fixing scandal took another turn on Wednesday, with the name of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) chief executive officer Gurunath Meiyappan, who also happens to be Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N Srinivasan’s son-in-law, cropping up in reports from Mumbai Police’s investigation cells.

While television channels were agog with speculation about probable, if tenuous, links between Meiyappan and Vindoo Dara Singh Randhawa, who was taken into police custody on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal, Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy clarified that it was too “premature to say with any finality that Meiyappan has links or is involved with any betting syndicate.”

He said Vindoo (in custody for placing bets) had made calls to Meiyappan, and that’s that. “So we may or may not call Meiyappan in person to ascertain as to why these calls were made so frequently,” he said.

“Meiyappan's family is into film production, and Vindoo says he met him five-six years ago at a party and they hit off. But then, Vindoo says Meriyappan does not have much knowledge of cricket. Of course this has to be verified,” said Roy.

The Juhu house of the 49-year-old actor, who specialises in playing bit-parts in television serials and films, was also searched and police claimed to have chanced upon a mobile phone reportedly belonging to a bookie who goes by the name of Pawan. The police also confiscated tablet PCs and laptops from the residence.

However, while briefing the media, Mumbai police stayed away from making any definite statements, both officially and unofficially, with regard to Vindoo being active in the spot-fixing scandal.

According to Roy, Vindoo has admitted that he had facilitated the getaway of two bookies last week when the heat was turned on bookmakers in Mumbai. He also admitted to raking in around Rs 17 lakh in the last match and to having a betting account in the name of Jack.

Vindoo got addicted to betting seven-eight years ago after a chance meeting with a bookie and since then he had been betting not just on IPL matches but on other cricket matches as well. In fact, he has also confessed that his addiction is so intense that he has been placing bets for others also. For this, he used to get a commission for winning, police said.

On the issue of Vindoo naming Bollywood celebrities, Roy pointed out that the son of wrestler-actor Dara Singh “is a part of the film industry, and it is natural that his phone book will contain numbers of people from show-business. So far, we have not come across any evidence pointing to the film fraternity indulging in betting or spot-fixing.”

Interestingly, police also evaded answering questions related to cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wife, Sakshi, who was photographed cheering for CSK along with Vindoo.

Meanwhile, the police custody of six bookies arrested in connection with the spot-fixing scandal was extended till June 5, with the court slamming the crime branch for conducting a “deficient probe in the case”.

Additional Metropolitan Magistrate M N Saleem said, “Despite ample opportunities provided, the investigating officer has not pointed out who has been cheated and why.” The magistrate was referring to the cheating and forgery charges slapped on the accused.

After the Supreme Court reprimanded the BCCI on Tuesday for its “lackadaisical approach in dealing with irregularities,” the Income-Tax Department in Delhi on Wednesday announced that it would carry out a probe into the alleged hawala and illegal cash transactions of unaccounted monies.

The revenue department has already got into touch with the Delhi Police and has started procedures for tax evasion probes against the arrested IPL players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, as well as Vindoo.

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Agencies
January 25,2020

Headingley, Jan 25: England have become the first team in the world to score 500,000 runs in Test cricket. They achieved the feat during the ongoing fourth and final Test against South Africa being played at The Wanderers.

On Friday - the opening day of the Test match -- England captain Joe Root's single through the covers took the Three Lions to a landmark 500,000 run-mark in the longest format of the game. They achieved the feat in their 1022nd Test match.

Australia comes second in the list, with 432,706 runs in 830 Tests. India, meanwhile, are third, with 273,518 runs in 540 Tests, followed by West Indies (270,441 runs in 545 Tests).

In the third Test played at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, England had become the first team to play 500 Test matches on foreign soil. Australia are the second team to play the most away Test with 404 matches they have played so far.

India have played 268 Tests on foreign soil in which they have won 51, lost 113 and 104 have ended in a draw.

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News Network
April 4,2020

New Delhi, April 4: India skipper Virat Kohli has said that the 2014 Test series against England was the lowest point of his career.

He made the revelation during a candid Instagram Live session with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

To date, the 2014 Test series in England remains one of the worst Test series for Kohli as he averaged just 13.40 from 10 ten innings with his highest score being 39.

"I felt like as a batsman, you know you are going to get out in the morning as soon as you wake up. That was the time I felt like that there is no chance I am getting runs. And still to get out of bed and just get dressed for the game and to go out there and go through that, knowing that you will fail, was something that ate me up," Kohli told Pietersen.

However, just four years later, Kohli made a triumphant return to England as he scored a century in the opening Test of the 2018 series and finished as the highest run-getter in the series.

Kohli told Pietersen that the performance in 2014 came because he was just thinking about his own batting.

"2014 series happened, for all the younger guys listening, because I was too focused on doing well from a personal point of view. I wanted to get runs. I could never think of what does the team want me to do in this situation," Kohli said.

"I just got too engulfed with England tour - if I perform here, Test cricket, in my mind I am going to feel established and all that crap on the outside, which is not important at all," he added.
During the chat, Kohli talked about his favourite format in cricket and he also revealed the main reason for turning into a vegan.

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News Network
June 10,2020

Kingston, Jun 10: "Enough is enough", said West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he opened up on the raging issue of racism and called for "respect and equality" for black people, who have faced discrimination for years.

Bravo joined the likes of his former captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle in denouncing racism in the wake of African-American George Floyd's killing at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.

"It's sad to see what's going on around the world. As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That's it," Bravo told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live chat on Tuesday.

"We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? Now enough is enough. We just want equality. We don't want revenge, war.

"We just want respect. We share love and appreciate people for who they are. That's what is most important."

The 36-year-old, who has played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 71 T20Is for West Indies, said he wants the world to know that they are powerful and beautiful people and gave the example of greats such as Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan.

"I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful. And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us," he said.

Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Sammy had earlier alleged that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad and demanded an apology.

Sammy said he was called 'Kalu' while he was in India. 'Kalu' is a derogatory word to describe black people.

Gayle, who too plays in the IPL, took to Twitter to back Sammy, saying that racism does exist in cricket.

"It's never too late to fight for the right cause or what you've experienced over the years! So much more to your story, @darensammy88. Like I said, it's in the game!!," Gayle tweeted.

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