BCCI vs IPL

The head of India’s $4 billion cricket league was suspended from his post on Monday following graft allegations in a growing scandal that has ensnared politicians and strained the ruling coalition.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed an interim chief and has said it will cooperate with tax authorities probing the three-year-old Indian Premier League (IPL).

Here are some questions and answers about the future of Modi and the league, the game’s most lucrative tournament.

What steps has the BCCI taken?

The BCCI suspended Modi minutes after the final of the third edition of the tournament on Sunday, pending inquiry.

Modi has 15 days to respond to the board’s questions on various activities of the IPL, BCCI president Shashank Manohar told reporters.

The board will drop its probe if Modi convinced them of his innocence, Manohar said.

BCCI has appointed board member Chirayu Amin as interim president of the IPL and asked the board’s secretary Ratnakar Shetty to look into all the records of the IPL, many of which are missing from the office, Manohar said. The BCCI was “fully cooperating” with the government, Amin told NDTV news channel on Tuesday.

What are the charges?

“The BCCI is looking into allegations related to initial bids for two of the franchises, charges of rigging of bids this year for two new IPL franchises, broadcast deals, and the ‘behavioural pattern of Lalit Modi’,” Manohar said.

“IPL has a telecast deal with Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd (MSM) backed by Sony Entertainment Television, and a broadcast deal with Google’s You Tube,” Shetty said.

Malik and Sania wished to Afridi

Newly married star sports couple Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik met Pakistan T20 skipper Shahid Afridi at the National Cricket Academy and wished him luck for the upcoming ICC World T20 Championship which would be played in the West Indies from April 30 to May 16.

According to a news channel, Afridi said the couple wished him success and expressed the hope that Pakistan would retain the T20 title.

“I congratulated Shoaib-Sania on getting married and wished them a happy life in future,” Afridi said.

Afridi said that during the brief meeting Shoaib told him that he was eagerly waiting for a comeback in the national squad.

Afridi said he had a brief meeting with Shoaib and Sania and will present kurta to Shoaib and scarf to Sania on the wish of Shoaib.

Afridi said Pakistan team will put their best efforts for the success. On the other hand, Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said we will not take any match easy and put best efforts to achieve the target.

Source(The Nation)

Cricket News in brief

ICC scraps new travel plans for WT20

The ICC has scrapped plans to fly up to seven teams from Dubai to the World Twenty20 in West Indies, after restrictions on flights were eased across Europe after a volcanic ash cloud decreased considerably. The International Cricket Council had made contingency plans for Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa and Bangladesh to transit through Dubai on Sunday or Monday before being flown to West Indies on a charter flight. The seven teams along with England will now fly directly to the West Indies as originally scheduled.

England to fly direct to West Indies

English cricket chiefs breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday after it was confirmed that their World Twenty20 squad will be able to fly directly to the West Indies this weekend. The end of a shutdown of much of Europe?s airspace because of volcanic ash emanating from Iceland means the England squad will not now have to undergo a lengthy detour via Dubai in order to get to the tournament. Instead, they will fly out of London on Sunday on a scheduled flight which will leave them with a few days to acclimatise before their first warm-up match, against Bangladesh in Barbados on April 28.

 IPL should be banned, says Bal Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has said the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be banned to save the game of cricket. It is now necessary to save the ?gentleman?s game. The Government should immediately ban the cash-rich tournament,? he said in a statement on Tuesday. ?The ongoing controversy involving IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has damaged the image of the game,? he said.

Hyderabad win in T20 tourney


Hyderabad Forte (PAK)qualified for the semifinals when they crushed Tando Allah Yar by 148 runs in their match of the All Sindh Inter-District Twenty20 Cricket Championship held at Hyderabad. Batting first, Hyderabad Forte scored 245 in the allotted 20 overs. Faisal Athar top-scored with 137 off 59 balls. In reply, Tando Allahyar were dismissed for only 97 with Shaukat Ali scoring 37. Naeem-ur-Rehman grabbed three while Rizwan Ahmed picked up two wickets.

No Cricket in Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out the return of international cricket in Pakistan in the near future, saying it would have to continue playing its ‘home’ series at neutral venues for the time being.

The ICC taskforce, which was formed to look into the possibility of holding international matches in Pakistan, has submitted its report in this regard.

The report, which was tabled during the recent ICC executive board meeting in Dubai, stated that Pakistan would have to continue playing its matches at neutral venues, as the situation in the country is not conducive to host international tournaments.

The ICC board also noted the importance of a resumption of bilateral fixtures between Indian and Pakistan as soon as possible as scheduled in the Future Tours Programme.

Shoaib Malik night life;party life with indian girl

At last, Shoaib Malik get married with Sania Mirza.. he had a scandal with Ayesha Siddiqui but that matter was resolved after big drama....
but who is this girl.. and what Shoiab Malik is doing? is there another back story? CRICKETINGSPOT has exclusively showing his night & party time photos with an Indian party girl..

Michael Clarke wins Wisden award

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke has been named as one of the Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year in the 2010 edition of cricket’s ‘bible’.

The stylish batsman, 29, was Australia’s leading run scorer in last year’s Ashes with 448 runs at 64 but suffered the disappointment of finishing on the losing side as hosts England triumphed 2-1 in an intriguing series.

Clarke is joined in winning the accolade this year, an award a player can only receive once in his career and which is in the sole gift of the Wisden editor, by England Ashes heroes Stuart Broad, Graham Onions, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann.

Meanwhile India batsman Virender Sehwag becomes the first player to retain Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World award since it was inaugurated six years ago.

“In 2009, Sehwag broke Test cricket’s sound barrier by scoring at more than a run a ball,” explained Wisden editor Scyld Berry.

Sehwag also opens in Wisden’s 2009 Test XI, led by his India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a side also containing five players who featured in the 2009 Ashes. But Australia captain Ricky Ponting, England batsman Kevin Pietersen and South Africa skipper Graeme Smith were among those ‘dropped’ from the Wisden XI.

This year marks the 147th edition of Wisden which has been published continuously since 1864.

Muhammad Asif and Veena Malik scandal

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif might have landed himself in serious trouble after allegedly sending threatening emails and text messages to his ex-girlfriend Veena Malik.

Sources told that Veena has been receiving threatening messages from Asif, which the actress is planning to use as evidence in her ugly spat with the cricketer.

According to sources, Veena may even ask the country’s cricket authorities to make Asif go through another dope test as she believes that the player is still using banned substances.

“Veena has told people close to her that Asif still spends a lot of his earnings on drugs and that he would fail a dope test again,” said a source.

Asif, regarded among the best fast bowlers on the international circuit, was suspended for a year after testing positive for banned steroid nandrolone while featuring in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008. He was also arrested at the Dubai airport and later detained in the desert Emirate after being caught in possession of a small quantity of opium. He was later released following efforts by the then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf but has been barred from entering UAE in the future.

Asif is counted among their key players by Pakistan, who are hoping to defend the ICC World twenty20 title in the Caribbean next month.

Meanwhile, Asif is also facing a major problem because of a bounced cheque affair with Veena.

A local court in Lahore has now asked the authorities to register a case against the player at the behest of Veena, who had said in court that Asif had given her a fake check and wanted to get her money back from him.

Veena has claimed that she gave Asif more than Rs10 million when he was in trouble with the authorities, and now, she had received only fake checks in return for the same.

Veena had also said that she had supported the cricketer financially and emotionally during his bad times. Asif had, in return, said that they he had already returned back whatever money he had taken from Veena.

Danish Kaneria investigate by Police-betting Scandal

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria woke up to the news that he will be investigated by British police for a betting scandal involving his county team — Essex.

Kaneria, 29, was identified by a section of the British press as one of the two Essex players involved in ‘spot fixing’ which is different from match-fixing and just fixes the outcome of a minor aspect of a game.

The Karachi-based player, who has been one of biggest stars for Essex in recent times, has vehemently denied any kind of wrongdoing, saying he has an ‘unstained career’. He also said that he would consider taking legal action against people trying to tarnish his image.

“I’ve always been an honest cricketer and my entire career is in front of you to judge,” he told ‘The News’ on Saturday. “It was actually a huge shock for me when I woke up today and learnt about this news. To accuse me of match-fixing is simply unbelievable. I don’t know where it came from. I mean I’ve been in touch with Essex officials in the recent past and am looking forward to play for them later this season.”

Kaneria, who is Pakistan’s most successful spinner with 254 wickets from 58 Tests, said that he was deeply hurt by the allegations. “I’ve learnt that it’s a British tabloid that has written about my involvement in match-fixing. Everybody knows how credible that tabloid is itself but even then I’m really very hurt by the allegation. I’ve played for Pakistan and for Essex for a long time and has a completely clean slate,” he stressed.

It was the Sun newspaper that has alleged that Kaneria is the key suspect in the Essex betting scandal and the leggie says that he would seek legal advice over whether to sue the paper for defaming him.

“I’ll discuss the matter with my lawyer,” he said.

According to a report, the investigations are thought to centre upon a televised one-day forty-over match at the end of last season.

While other papers have refrained from naming the players involved, Sun alleged that Kaneria and another Essex player are to be probed adding that the Pakistani star’s future at Essex is now in doubt.

The paper has also questioned Kaneria’s absence from the county season that got underway this month though the player announced last week that he would join Essex later in the season as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked him to feature in the Pentangular Cup one-day tournament to be played in Lahore from April 17-27.

“I was scheduled to join Essex on April 7 but had to change my plans after being asked by the PCB to stay on in Pakistan and play in the Pentangular Cup,” said Kaneria.

According to the Sun, televised matches in the Twenty20 Cup and the 40-over competition attract millions of pounds worth of gambling money because they are normally shown in India — regarded as the hub of betting in the cricket world.

Meanwhile, according to reports, Essex have known about the allegations for a month but were shocked when they became public.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that two Essex county cricketers are at the centre of a police investigation, following allegations of “match irregularities”. With the investigation still underway, the ECB added that they would be making no comment on the matter, but quoted a statement they had received from Essex Police: “Following allegations received about two Essex County Cricket players involved in match irregularities we have initiated an investigation,” read the statement, “and are working closely with Essex County Cricket Club and the English Cricket Board.”

The Essex team was called into the dressing-room at the close of play on the opening day of their County Championship fixture against Hampshire at Chelmsford, where they were given a briefing from the county chief executive, David East. It is understood that the allegations first came to light a month ago, but Paul Grayson, the head coach, told reporters: “I am not allowed to comment on the matter.”

Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza-Ayesha Siddiqui triangle

Indian police have seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who is to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza later this month.

They questioned Malik over allegations that he is already married. Police say they are conducting a preliminary investigation after the family of another Indian woman said he married her in 2002.

Malik says he was deceived and that the marriage certificate presented by the family was a fake. The latest developments have cast a shadow over an usual cross-border romance that has captivated the people of India and Pakistan.

Malik is in Mirza’s home city of Hyderabad in southern India ahead of the wedding planned for April 15. Police questioned him in the tennis star’s house for almost two hours over charges filed against him by another woman from Hyderabad, Ayesha Siddiqui, who says she is already married to him.

A police spokesman said that the cricketer had been asked to remain in India while the investigation is carried out. Malik and Mirza later held an open-air news conference at which he said he was ready to co-operate with the Indian authorities.

“I am here to clear my name, and for that I am not leaving the country,” he told reporters. Mirza gave her support and backed the police investigation. “I know, we know what the truth is and it will come out and we believe in justice,” she said.

In newspaper interviews over the weekend, Malik admitted that he had developed a friendship over the internet with an Indian woman eight years ago and then married her over the telephone after they exchanged photographs.

But he says he eventually discovered that the photographs sent to him were of someone else. “I was made to believe the girl in the photograph was the one I was speaking to,” he said in a statement. “The truth is, I haven’t, to this day, met the girl in the photographs Ayesha sent me.”

It is still not clear if his marriage is legally valid even under Islamic law. Mirza, 23, and Malik, 28, announced their wedding last week. While celebrations will be held in both countries, the couple plan to live in Dubai and will continue to represent their respective countries in international sporting ties.

They questioned Malik over allegations that he is already married. Police say they are conducting a preliminary investigation after the family of another Indian woman said he married her in 2002.

Malik says he was deceived and that the marriage certificate presented by the family was a fake. The latest developments have cast a shadow over an usual cross-border romance that has captivated the people of India and Pakistan.

Malik is in Mirza’s home city of Hyderabad in southern India ahead of the wedding planned for April 15. Police questioned him in the tennis star’s house for almost two hours over charges filed against him by another woman from Hyderabad, Ayesha Siddiqui, who says she is already married to him.

A police spokesman said that the cricketer had been asked to remain in India while the investigation is carried out. Malik and Mirza later held an open-air news conference at which he said he was ready to co-operate with the Indian authorities.

“I am here to clear my name, and for that I am not leaving the country,” he told reporters. Mirza gave her support and backed the police investigation. “I know, we know what the truth is and it will come out and we believe in justice,” she said.

In newspaper interviews over the weekend, Malik admitted that he had developed a friendship over the internet with an Indian woman eight years ago and then married her over the telephone after they exchanged photographs.

But he says he eventually discovered that the photographs sent to him were of someone else. “I was made to believe the girl in the photograph was the one I was speaking to,” he said in a statement. “The truth is, I haven’t, to this day, met the girl in the photographs Ayesha sent me.”

It is still not clear if his marriage is legally valid even under Islamic law. Mirza, 23, and Malik, 28, announced their wedding last week. While celebrations will be held in both countries, the couple plan to live in Dubai and will continue to represent their respective countries in international sporting ties.

Nasir Jamshed caught cheating while examination

In another rather embarrassing episode for Pakistan cricket, national team’s opening batsman Nasir Jamshed has landed up in police custody after being caught cheating in his secondary school examinations on Monday.

Officials said that Nasir was caught red handed while cheating in the English paper of the class nine examinations with the help of three of his friends, Habibullah, Ghulam Mustafa and Zia-ul-Haq.

“The invigilator at the examination centre on Lawrence road immediately informed the police who have registered a case against Nasir for cheating under sections 3 and 420,” a police official said. Nasir, 20, has played 12 ODIs for Pakistan and has been dropped from the team due to fitness and form issues.

“He was cheating and I caught him and this is something we discourage strongly no matter who the person is,” examiner Tahir Mehmood said. He said Nasir had been taken by the police to the Civil Lines police station for interrogation and was detained there.

But Nasir denied having cheated in the exams. “In the first place I was not appearing in the English paper my friends were appearing in it and I was there helping them which is my mistake. I immediately apologised to the examiner but he didn’t listen to me and called the police,” Nasir said. Nasir said he was terribly embarrassed by the whole affair and, “I should have avoided the whole episode.”

Sania Mirza will be Shoaib's 2nd wife?

The matrimonial alliance of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and banned Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik seems to be heading for legal trouble.

Just when the families of the two sports personalities are getting down to making arrangements for the April 15 marriage, the family of Ayesha Siddiqui, allegedly Shoiab's first wife, in Hyderabad, has threatened to legal action.

Ayesha's father Ahmad, a Saudi Arabia-based businessman told the media in Hyderabad that he is unable to understand how Sania's family agreed to the proposal when Shoaib had cheated another girl from Hyderabad.

"Does he deserve a girl like Sania?" he asked, adding that even if the marriage takes place, Sania will be Shoaib's second wife, as he had already married his daughter Ayesha.

Siddique said Sania is like his daughter.

"Sania's parents are our good friends, but I have not talked to them about this issue. They are well-educated people and they should think about it. Whey should I give them advise?" he said, in reply to a question.

He said he and his family had gone through hell ever since Shoaib allegedly cheated his daughter.

"How can anybody tolerate this? Can you tolerate?" he asked.

He said he wants nothing from Shoaib but divorce papers. "Because without Shoaib divorcing her, my daughter cannot marry again under Islamic law."

Siddiqui said if Shoaib does not meet his demand, he will file a suit against him.

"I am consulting the top-most lawyers to take legal action."

On Shoaib's denial that he did not marry Ayesha, Siddiqui said he has a recording of the India-Pakistan match in Hyderabad, in 2005, during which Shoaib declared on television that Hyderabad is the hometown of his wife Ayesha Siddiqui, adding, "when the commentator, Arun Lal, congratulated him, Shoaib acknowledged that Ayesha was his wife".

It may be recalled that when Shoiab came to Hyderabad along with the Pakistan team, he and some team members visited the Siddiqui family in Banjara Hills and attended a reception.

The Siddiquis say that after meeting Ayesha in Dubai, he married her over telephone from Pakistan.

Asked about the controversy, Sania declared that both she and Shoaib believe in living in the present.

Ayesha's father threatens to sue Shoaib Malik

Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib Malik's first wife has finally hit out at the cricketer.

The Siddiqui family is said to be in a state of shock over the reports of Shoaib-Sania impending marriage in April.

Ayesha’s father, Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui has threatened to sue Shoaib if he does not divorce his daughter. "I want divorce for my daughter. According to Islamic law, my daughter cannot remarry if she doesn't have the divorce paper," he said in an interview to a news channel. He also said that Sania Mirza will be Shoaib's second wife.

Flashback:

Mohammed Ahmed Siddiqui claimed in February 2008 that Shoaib had married his daughter in June 2002 through a telephonic nikah after having an online affair.

However, Shoaib claims that he was only engaged to her and the marriage was called off because of problems between the families.

If sources are to be believed, Ayesha met Shoaib in a Dubai restaurant in 2001 along with her friend, Maha. While Ayesha is a little plump, Maha was pretty and Shoaib fell for her. On returning to Hyderabad, Ayesha, posing as Maha, started chatting with Shoaib.

Ayesha apparently fell in love with the cricketer and convinced her parents to contact his parents and arrange for a telephonic nikah.

In 2005, when the Pakistan cricket team was in Hyderabad, the Siddiquis hosted a reception for the cricket team. A website quotes a source as saying, "Shoaib became suspicious when he expressed his desire to meet Ayesha and her parents said she was out of town."

Ayesha was reportedly working as a school teacher in Dubai and apparently sent her actual photograph to Shoaib. This made the player snap all ties with her. He said the Siddiquis he had been duped.

source:
www.hindustantimes.com