Dear All

Aussies are now crossing their limit ... they have thrown egg on Top
Spinner Murali face ... read full article

http://cri-cket.blogspot.com/

The behind-the-scene efforts of the Indian Cricket Board officials
and their Australian counterparts played a big part in the withdrawal
of the racial abuse charge against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

The push towards an amicable solution happened when the two parties
signed on a joint statement which stated that Harbhajan had indeed
made an offensive statement but it was not a racial attack.

Importantly, Australians, on their part, agreed that they were okay
with the assertion of Indians.

During the hearing, both the parties were made to give their
statements in private, as well as in front of each other.

The statement also highlighted -- and accepted by Andrew Symonds --
that the Australian allrounder had indeed provoked the Indian in
using an offensive language.

The statement was signed by both parties, including Sachin Tendulkar
and Ricky Ponting, and it cleared the decks for settlement.

The video as well as the audio transcript of the incident was played
and listened in front of the judge which was no different to what was
presented at the time of hearing in Sydney.

Indians had no problem with Harbhajan being charged with section 2.8
of Code of Conduct which, in essence, amounted to a player 'using
offensive language' against a fellow player or official on the field
of play.

It was the same stance which the Indians had offered to accept in
Sydney but which was thrown out of hand by the Australians. PTI

India's Test captain Anil Kumble today welcomed the decision to drop
the racial-abuse charges against Harbhajan Singh and said it was
important for the game of cricket that "we move on".
"I would like to express my thanks to all those who have supported
our cause -- the Australian cricket team, Cricket Australia -- for
coming together with us to ensure we move on," Kumble said.

"This matter was lingering on for last two weeks although we played
cricket. I am happy and relieved not only for Harbhajan but also for
cricket... It's been a fantastic result and I am sure cricket would
be the winner," he said when repeatedly asked why India did not press
the charge against Andrew Symonds for provoking Harbhajan and whether
he should also have been similarly fined.

ICC-appointed Appeals Commissioner Justice John Hansen today
overturned the racial-abuse case against Harbhajan but held him
guilty of using offensive language against Australia's Symonds,
ending a bitter controversy which had posed a threat to the remainder
of Indian cricket team's tour of Australia.

The 38-year-old Kumble, who will return home before the start of the
tri-series, wished luck to the team under ODI skipper Mahendra Singh
Dhoni and advised them to hold the country's honour at the top.

"I take the opportunity to wish everyone in the Indian one-day team --
  skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni and his young team -- best of luck and
I am sure they would play the game in the spirit of the game, and the
prestige and honour of our country will be upheld." PTI

By Monday night, a few hours before the ICC-appointed Appeals
Commissioner, Judge John Hansen, will begin Harbhajan Singh's appeal
hearing in an Adelaide Federal Court on Tuesday (from 6 am India
time), one thing was clear: There is a very real possibility that the
repercussions of the Sydney controversy could still split world
cricket.

On the record, the BCCI maintains that there was no move to pull out
of the triangular one-day series involving India, Australia and Sri
Lanka if Harbhajan lost the appeal. "The charges of racism are
unacceptable but we are bound by ICC rules," BCCI vice-president
Rajeev Shukla said in New Delhi on Monday. "We can't open a Pandora's
box. There will be anarchy (if we withdraw from the tri-series)."

The intriguing part though, was his last line: "…but the racism
charges are unacceptable". This line is in sync with what various
BCCI officials told Hindustan Times in private over Monday.

"At the moment, we haven't discussed the matter in detail since we
are optimistic that Harbhajan will be freed of the racial abuse
charge," said a top BCCI official. "But, if he is not, the team
management has left the decision up to the Board and we will do
whatever is in the best interest of the team and Indian cricket."

`BCCI can afford a pullout'

Significantly, he added that the BCCI could afford a pullout as they
could make up for the losses through the Indian Premier League. "I
don't think CA can afford calling off the tour," he added. "We can."

The Board is upset on two grounds. First, about the introduction of
new evidence in the form of transcripts from the stump microphone,
evidence that Judge Hansen told the media in Adelaide was not
available to Mike Procter.

"How has this evidence suddenly come to light three weeks after the
Sydney Test and the hearing?" asked a top BCCI official. "We have
strongly objected to this new evidence because it has come out of
nowhere and in the time since, tampering is a definite possibility.
This is ridiculous."

Asked what would happen if the evidence was admitted and made a vital
difference to the case, the official said, "It is likely to lead to a
flashpoint and a massive crisis in cricket. We can't accept anything
unfair."
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?
id=1b17a29f-5dda-40be-92be-
16cd11adfa79IndiainAustralia_Special&&IsCricket=true&Headline=Bhajji+h
earing+today%2c+world+cricket+at+stake

All signs pointed towards an amicable solution to the hearing on
Harbhajan Singh's appeal against a three-Test ban at the Federal
Court here this morning.

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar came out of the hotel with Cricket
Australia Chairman Craigh O'Connor in tow. Both then took a car for
the Federal Court which was a clear signal that the hosts were now
siding with the Indians in order to salvage the tour.

Fifteen minutes before, Harbhajan had come out with Indian team's
media manager MV Sridhar, appearing confident of holding his ground
in the all-important hearing.

Earlier in the day, the Indians made an announcement of their intent
by asking its one-day players, present in Melbourne, to reach here
and be together in this moment of crisis.

Along with this move, other members of the one-day squad here,
including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his deputy Yuvraj Singh
were also asked to stay put.

The hearing began a little later than the appointed 11 a.M local
time, with the Indians being represented by Harbhajan, Tendulkar and
Sridhar while the Australians had Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke,
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

Only at the cross-examination stage of the hearing, would the
managers of the two sides, Sridhar and Steve Bernard, be allowed to
join in the hearing. PTI

(PTI) After the truce in Perth, the Indian and Australian cricket
teams resumed their war of words today with the visitors saying that
the home side was playing defensively as it was "scared" of losing
the current fourth Test here and the Aussies hitting back by accusing
Indian bowlers of adopting "wide tactics".
Australia, overnight 62 for no loss, made 260 runs in the course of
the third day's play, which is well below their usual scoring rate of
300-plus. The home side ended the day at 322 for three wickets, still
204 runs behind India's first innings score of 526.

At the end of the day's play, Indians fielded opening batsman
Virender Sehwag at the customary media briefing at which he took a
swipe at the world champions' slow scoring and said Ricky Ponting's
men were scared of losing the match.

"They are scared and playing very defensively. It's not like
Australia (of old). Last time we played them here they made 400 runs
in a day," Sehwag said.

"They are worried about defeat, they are scared. It was definitely a
surprise considering they lost only three wickets and yet batted
defensively on a flat wicket." PTI

Having just bagged the bid for the Kolkata team, actor Shah Rukh Khan
said he would like to see former India captain Sourav Ganguly leading
the outfit in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Shah Rukh, along with fellow actor Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, won the
bid for the Kolkata team for a whopping USD 75.09 million and said he
would seek suggestions of experts before putting together a winning
combination.

"I have already decided on the entertainment part but we have not
decided on the core and content of the team. We want to put together
a winning combination, for which I would definitely seek advice of
the experts.

"I don't have anyone in mind right now but we would seek expert view
on that," he told CNN-IBN.

And the Prince of Kolkata would be the obvious choice for leading the
side, he said.

"I hope Ganguly leads my team," he said.

Dwelling on the venture, the actor said, "It's not about money. The
idea is to nurture youngsters and give them more platform for playing
cricket.

"I have a huge passion for game and I want to be part of every sport.

"I guess I would have to make more films to ensure we can run the
team," he quipped.

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Jan. 24 Glamour, sport and business made for a heady cocktail
at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where franchise bids for the
Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL) were won by diverse
personalities such as film actor Shah Rukh Khan and industrialists Mr
Mukesh Ambani and Mr Vijay Mallya.

IPL, promoted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
said the bids amounted to $723.6 million (over Rs 2,800 crore).

Each bid to own teams in any of eight of the 12 cities where the T20
matches will be played.

The highest winning bid, at $111.9 million, was made by Mr Mukesh
Ambani of Reliance Industries, who got the Mumbai rights.

On his heels came the UB Group, headed by Mr Vijay Mallya who won the
bid for his home city, Bangalore, at $111.6 million. He narrowly
missed winning Mumbai with the same bid amount as in Bangalore, but
Mr Ambani pipped him with a marginally higher bid.

Deccan Chronicle bagged the rights for Hyderabad at $107.01 million
while Mr N. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director on behalf
of India Cements, won the bid for Chennai while GMR Holdings won
Delhi.

Bombay Dyeing scion Mr Ness Wadia and actor Ms Preity Zinta, Mr Karan
Paul and Mr Mohit Burman (of the Dabur family) formed a consortium to
win the bid for Mohali. The `Bollywood' team of Mr Shah Rukh Khan, Ms
Juhi Chawla and her husband Mr Jay Mehta won Kolkata and Emerging
Media bagged Jaipur. Announcing the bids, Mr Lalit Modi, Vice-
President of BCCI and Chairman & Commisioner of IPL, said, "It is a
historic day as corporates are convinced about the product and have
shown their appetite and passion for the game of cricket."

The IPL franchisees will be paying their bid amounts over a period of
10 years.

In addition, they would get "central revenues" comprising 80 per cent
of the amount paid for the global media rights (to BCCI) in the first
five years and another 60 per cent for the remaining five years.

The bidders would also get 60 per cent of the sponsorship revenues
garnered over the 10-year period.

"The bidding for each of the eight official franchisees has been fair
and transparent and is indicative of the revenue earning potential
that the Indian Premier League represents," said Mr Modi.

Speaking to Business Line after winning the Chennai bid, Mr
Srinivasan said India Cements viewed its winning bid as a "good
investment." ICL, he said, had always been a supporter of sport,
particularly cricket, and the bid reaffirms its commitment to
cricket. "We expect to build this into a viable and vibrant
franchise," he said.

Interestingly Mr Anil Ambani also bid for the teams through his
company, Emeralds Telecom, and there were others such as DLF and
Deutsche Bank who did not win the bids, said sources close to the
bidding process. The other bidders who were disqualified due to their
late entry were Sahara India, Future Group and ICICI Ventures.

Mr Modi claimed that IPL is a brand on which one of the highest
expenditure commitments have been made in the country. The IPL media
rights were sold for $1.026 billion (for a 10-year period) to Sony
and WSG.

O&M would be the creative agency while Mindshare would take care of
the media buying rights.

Sachin Tendulkar's productive tour of Australia continued during the
fourth Test, with the Little Master scoring his first Adelaide ton.
Five wickets to Australia on the first day has honours even, though
Tendulkar remained unbeaten at stumps. Click through to read the
commentary archive!

For Cricket Videos :
http://www.crix.in/searchVideo.html?search=Sachin+Ton

As the Australian tabloids commented, the era of Australian
dominance has started fading. Having a win from the third test, and
a controversial second test, the pyschological advantage will remain
with India.
On the other hand, the Australians are notable for their never-say-
die spirit and will come back on India with full force. Mathew
Hayden's return might boost his teammates confidence, nevertheless,
India have the upper hand.

--- In streetcricket@yahoogroups.com, "rajeshjain155"
<rajeshjain155@...> wrote:
>
> Adelaide, Jan 22 (PTI) After losing in what was a cordial third
> cricket Test, Australia would be back to its fiercely competitive
and
> aggressive ways, albeit without crossing the limit, in the fourth
and
> final Test beginning Thursday, said opener Phil Jacques.
> "We would be fiercely competitive and as aggressive as possible.
We
> will approach it as we always approach a game, that is to play it
> hard. We will be trying to be as aggressive as possible without
> crossing the line," he said.
>
> Jacques, done in by left-arm swing bowler Irfan Pathan in both the
> innings at Perth, said he wanted to "get him" in the next match.
>
> "He bowled really tight lines (in Perth). He bowled a couple of
good
> balls. That happens in cricket, hopefully, I can get him next
time,"
> Jacques said.
>
> Jacques said Australia looked for a change in fortune with Matthew
> Hayden returning to the fold.
>
> "Matt coming back into the side will make a difference to our team
> and give us a whole lot of confidence. He's a fine player with a
fine
> record.
>
> "He's fantastic, has a wealth of knowledge. My mindset did not
change
> too much not having Matt there but having him there will give the
> side what we need at the top of the order," he said.
>
> Jacques so far in his short career has had a good standing going
with
> Hayden.
>
> "Every Test we get a little more understanding of the way the
other
> plays. We are starting to work out when we're having our low and
high
> periods. It's definitely good to have a regular player there
that's
> for sure...". PTI
>

Adelaide, Jan 22 (PTI) After losing in what was a cordial third
cricket Test, Australia would be back to its fiercely competitive and
aggressive ways, albeit without crossing the limit, in the fourth and
final Test beginning Thursday, said opener Phil Jacques.
"We would be fiercely competitive and as aggressive as possible. We
will approach it as we always approach a game, that is to play it
hard. We will be trying to be as aggressive as possible without
crossing the line," he said.

Jacques, done in by left-arm swing bowler Irfan Pathan in both the
innings at Perth, said he wanted to "get him" in the next match.

"He bowled really tight lines (in Perth). He bowled a couple of good
balls. That happens in cricket, hopefully, I can get him next time,"
Jacques said.

Jacques said Australia looked for a change in fortune with Matthew
Hayden returning to the fold.

"Matt coming back into the side will make a difference to our team
and give us a whole lot of confidence. He's a fine player with a fine
record.

"He's fantastic, has a wealth of knowledge. My mindset did not change
too much not having Matt there but having him there will give the
side what we need at the top of the order," he said.

Jacques so far in his short career has had a good standing going with
Hayden.

"Every Test we get a little more understanding of the way the other
plays. We are starting to work out when we're having our low and high
periods. It's definitely good to have a regular player there that's
for sure...". PTI

Adelaide, Jan 22 (PTI) Indian vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today
dismissed any notion of disquiet in the dressing room over the furore
which has followed the team in the wake of Sourav Ganguly's omission
from the one-day squad.

"I think it has affected journalists more than it has us. We are back
in the practice session, we trained in the morning, it has not
affected us anyway," said a defiant Dhoni on whether the team's
preparation for the crucial fourth and final Test had been disrupted
by the supposed disharmony after the Ganguly ouster.

Dhoni did not want to field any question on Ganguly as he said the
Adelaide Test was the team's priority and the one-dayers could wait.
He gave enough indications on the kind of leader he wants to be, as
well as the batsman and wicketkeeper he was hoping to be in his yet
fledgling career of 25 Tests.

"What Anil (Kumble) has stressed is that there should be a lot of
communication between us. If somebody hasn't been picked for the side
you have to go there and convey it to him," he said.

Dhoni said there should not be any communication gap between the
player and the captain.

"As a captain, I believe and go by instinct. It isn't as if I don't
plan, I make it very clear to the bowlers because it's ultimately
they who would bowl according to the field." PTI

Please visit an excellent football group
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/soccerholics-anonymous/ .

--- In streetcricket@yahoogroups.com, "pravinskolhe"
<pravinskolhe@...> wrote:
>
> i m requesting to give the forecast of soccer(football) and result
of
> EPL/FA Cup/Champions leage
>                              thanks you.
>

i m requesting to give the forecast of soccer(football) and result of
EPL/FA Cup/Champions leage
                              thanks you.

Next match: Jan 21, 2008, 06:00 GMT Onwards:
1st ODI: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Karachi

Next match: Jan 24-28, 2008, 00:00 GMT Onwards:
4th Test: Australia v India at Adelaide

   Next match: Jan 24, 2008, 04:30 GMT Onwards:
2nd ODI: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Hyderabad (Sind)


   Watch  live cricket match





---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

Perth, Jan 20 (PTI) Australian skipper Ricky Ponting today said that
they failed to execute their plans apart from misreading the pitch,
which largely resulted in their 72-run defeat against India in the
Perth Test.
"We all got this one wrong. It hasn't been a bad wicket, but it
hasn't been what we expected it to be," Ponting said.

"The whole game hasn't panned out the way we would have liked. In the
first innings, we got our ends mixed up, the way the breeze was all
over the place on the first morning," he was quoted as saying in 'The
Australian'.

Ponting had warned India ahead of third Test that he would unleash
the wicket-taking machine --Shaun Tait-- but admitted his own mistake
in not utilising his resources to the optimum level.

"I haven't been able to use him the way I wanted to. He didn't come
on until late and only bowled a couple of overs before lunch."
Ponting let Tait bowl 21 overs in the match and the speedsters went
wicket less in the match.

However, the skipper still exuded confidence that Tait would do well
at Adeliade, venue for the fourth and deciding Test, beginning on
January 24.

"Adelaide is usually pretty predictable. It's usually a good batting
wicket for the first few days and then a bit up and down for the last
day or so.

"If Tait's bowling at 150km/h and there's variable bounce, quite
often it is the variable bounce which gets players out, not just the
speed of the delivery.

"Tait also has the ability to bowl reverse-swing in Adelaide," he
said. PTI

Perth, Jan 20 (PTI) As news filtered in about Sourav Ganguly's
omission from the one-day squad for the forthcoming triangular
series, the mood in the Indian camp today turned somber with the team
wondering what destiny had in store for one of the greatest one-day
cricketers in the world.
Ganguly staged one of the most dramatic comebacks last year by
returning to the team after 16 months in wilderness.

The pugnacious left-hander did not stop at that and has been the
team's second most consistent one-day batsman with 1240 runs from 32
matches with no less than 12 fifties.

His overall career average of 41.02 is better than when he was left
out in September 2005.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 1425 runs from 33 games, has done better
than him.

The issue among cricketers is not only the omission of Ganguly but
also the manner in which selectors have chosen to go about it.

Ganguly deserved to be forewarned about his fate for a graceful exit
if that is how the selectors were planning the future.

His stature and form deserved this decency. As cricketers filtered in
and out of each other's rooms, the two selectors present in
Australia, Ranjib Biswal and Venkatapathy Raju, locked themselves in
their rooms. PTI

Thank you dear members for voting for our group.
Please visit http://in.promos.yahoo.com/groups/bestofyahoo/ and click
on Sports and Games Category to view our groups in the best 3.
Chirag
Moderator

SOURAV GANGULY joined Rahul Dravid on the one-day sidelines after he
was axed from the squad for the forthcoming triseries in Australia.
Dravid's return wasn't even mentioned at the selection meeting, but
Ganguly's dropping was a shock.

The Indian selectors have chosen the squad with transition and a
declared intention of a "future team" in mind. Which is fine, but in
the process, they might just have forgotten the present.

India's top five ODI batsmen since January 2007 are Sachin Tendulkar
(1,425 runs at 47.50), Yuvraj Singh (1,253 at 44.

75), Ganguly (1,120 at 43.07), Dhoni (931 at 38.

79) and Dravid (823 at 37.40).

What is also interesting is that three players in the squad - Robin
Uthappa, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik (who stays on) - have done
nothing of note recently, either in ODIs or in domestic cricket (the
selectors have said they are also rewarding domestic performances).
Uthappa has 529 runs in 20 ODIs last year at 29.

94, while Karthik has 303 in 16 at 26.09.

Both Uthappa and Sharma have had below-par Ranji seasons too.
Uthappa had 188 runs in five games at 26.

85, while Sharma had 191 at 27.28.

Interestingly, Dravid tops the Ranji averages this season with 375
runs at 125 apiece in two games. There has also been talk about
fitness and fielding being an issue with the seniors.

They obviously aren't talking about Dravid here - close in, he's
outstanding. Ganguly's fielding is a concern, but that would
probably be offset by his value with the bat.

Finally, a question: In all this talk about age, how can it be
forgotten that the men who've made the runs in Australia, have all
been 30-plus?.

SOURAV GANGULY joined Rahul Dravid on the one-day sidelines after he
was axed from the squad for the forthcoming triseries in Australia.
Dravid's return wasn't even mentioned at the selection meeting, but
Ganguly's dropping was a shock.

The Indian selectors have chosen the squad with transition and a
declared intention of a "future team" in mind. Which is fine, but in
the process, they might just have forgotten the present.

India's top five ODI batsmen since January 2007 are Sachin Tendulkar
(1,425 runs at 47.50), Yuvraj Singh (1,253 at 44.

75), Ganguly (1,120 at 43.07), Dhoni (931 at 38.

79) and Dravid (823 at 37.40).

What is also interesting is that three players in the squad - Robin
Uthappa, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik (who stays on) - have done
nothing of note recently, either in ODIs or in domestic cricket (the
selectors have said they are also rewarding domestic performances).
Uthappa has 529 runs in 20 ODIs last year at 29.

94, while Karthik has 303 in 16 at 26.09.

Both Uthappa and Sharma have had below-par Ranji seasons too.
Uthappa had 188 runs in five games at 26.

85, while Sharma had 191 at 27.28.

Interestingly, Dravid tops the Ranji averages this season with 375
runs at 125 apiece in two games. There has also been talk about
fitness and fielding being an issue with the seniors.

They obviously aren't talking about Dravid here - close in, he's
outstanding. Ganguly's fielding is a concern, but that would
probably be offset by his value with the bat.

Finally, a question: In all this talk about age, how can it be
forgotten that the men who've made the runs in Australia, have all
been 30-plus?.

Lunch Scorecard(Day 4)
Austalia are 142/3 after a well-fought 39 from Mr. Cricket - Mike
Hussey. Ishaant bowled beautifully during the first session not before
Ricky Ponting and Hussey rescued Aussies from an evident loss.
More after some time.

Thanks Johan for the scorecard!!
Cheers
Chirag

--- In streetcricket@yahoogroups.com, "johan_ariam" <johan_ariam@...>
wrote:
>
> Australia struck back with the ball early on the third day of the
> third Test against India at the WACA Ground in Perth, Australia
> Stuart Clarke's consistency and Bret Lee's pace had the visitors
> scrambling for cover as wickets fell on regular intervals
>
>
>
>
> LUNCH SCOREBOARD(DAY 3)
>
> India 1st innings: 330 (R. Dravid 93, S. Tendulkar 71; Lee 3-24)
>
> Australia 1st innings: 212 (A. Symonds 66, A. Gilchrist 55;
> R.P.Singh 4-68)
>
> India 2nd innings:
>
> W. Jaffer         c Hussey b Clark    11
> V. Sehwag       b Clark                    43
> I. Pathan         not out                     45
> R. Dravid         c Gilchrist b Lee      3
> S. Tendulkar    lbw b Lee                 13
> S. Ganguly        c Clarke b Johnson 0
> VVS. Laxman   not out                      18
>
> Extras 2lb, 6nb, 2w                        25
> Total for 5 wkts 158
> Fall of wkts: 1-45, 2-79, 3-82, 4-116, 5-125
>
> Bowling:
> Lee 12-2-36-2 (1w, 4nb)
> Johnson 7-0-53-1
> Clark 9-1-32-2 (1w)
> Tait 5-0-124-0 (2w, 4nb)
> Overs: 33
>

(PTI) Leaving the acrimonious Sydney Test behind, India and
Australia kept their promise of showing sportsman spirit on the
opening day of the third cricket Test at the WACA ground here today.
The Sydney Test was replete with controversies including serious
umpiring errors, allegations of racial abuse against Harbhajan Singh
and debatable catch appeals by the hosts.

The unpleasant episodes on the field had prompted Indian captain
Anil Kumble to declare that only one team played the game in true
spirit.

However, after the intervention of ICC-appointed facilitator Ranjan
Madugalle, both Kumble and Ricky Ponting had decided to carry on the
series in good spirit.

The pledge made by the captains was shown on the field today as
players of both the sides tried to maintain camaraderie among
themselves though minor incidents due to competitive spill-over were
also witnessed.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid, who scored a well-knit 93, gave a
thumbs up to the Australian behaviour.

"They played it tough like they usually do. They ran in hard right
through the day. They were competitive but it was played in very
good spirit," Dravid said. PTI

The racial controversy involving Harbhjab Singh came up before the
Supreme Court today with a cricket buff seeking direction to the
BCCI to call its team back from Australia as it allegedly failed to
protect the dignity of the country in recent controversy on
playground.
The PIL in this regard was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief
Justice K G Balakrishnan which refused to give it urgent hearing and
decided to hear it as scheduled on January 28.

Prince Lenin, a Lucknow-based advocate, who filed the PIL,
submitted "BCCI should discontinue the ongoing Indian Cricket team's
tour to Australian Continent, as they have failed to defend and
protect the dignity, prestige and respect of the nation from being
humiliated in front of entire world." The advocate also contended
that BCCI should be restrained from using the name 'INDIA' for its
team as it did not represent the nation in any tournament.

Further, it said that non-sporting persons should be debarred from
holding posts in Sports Organisation like BCCI.

Referring to the incident of involving Harbhajan Singh and
Australian player Andrew Symonds, the PIL said BCCI failed to take
immediate measures so as to prevent persons from causing damages to
the respect and dignity attached with each and every player
representing India. PTI

Watch online match
http://www.cricpoint.com

Controversial Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh will be able to play
through the acrimonious four-Test series with Australia as his appeal
against a three-match ban was on Monday set for after the final ball
has been bowled.

However, the 27-year-old will face Appeals Commissioner Justice John
Hansen on January 29 and 30 ahead of the Twenty20 series and the
Tri-Nations one-day series - Sri Lanka being the other participants.

While International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said
it was regrettable that the appeal could not be heard before the end
of the Test series but it proved impossible to organise.

"An allegation was made against Harbhajan under the ICC Code of
Conduct and he was found guilty by the Match Referee," said Speed, who
has come under fire for relieving experienced umpire Steve Bucknor
from the remainder of the series after the Indians complained about
his performance in the second Test.

"As is his right under the code, Harbhajan has chosen to have the
evidence tested at an appeal before an independent Code of Conduct
Commissioner. "The ICC Members put this appeals process in place in
2002 in order to ensure that an aggrieved player has every opportunity
to argue his case.

"We would have preferred the appeal to be held earlier but it was not
possible. Both Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) have requested the hearing to be held after
the Test series for logistical reasons and, following due
consideration, Justice Hansen agreed.

"The reality is that it is likely to go into a second day as lawyers
will be involved so we needed to have two clear days to assign to it.
"With just three full days between the third and fourth Tests, we were
conscious of the teams' travel arrangements and preparations for the
match," he added.

Harbhajan was found guilty under the ICC's Code of Conduct following
the clash with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds on the third day
of the acrimonious second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground which
Australia won by 122 runs.

The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor
after Australia captain Ricky Ponting had accused Harbhajan of making
a `monkey' comment at Symonds, the only black player in the home team.

Perth, Jan 15 (PTI) The bouncy track at the WACA will serve as a
litmus test for India's experienced batsmen as they go into the third
cricket Test against Australia here tomorrow seeking to stop the
hosts from securing a world record 17th consecutive win.

With both teams willing to put the acrimonious Sydney Test behind
them, the spotlight will be back on cricket but the Indians have
their tasks cut on a track which is regarded as the fastest in the
world.

The pitch appears to be the quickest the Western Australian venue has
produced in over two decades and the home team has opted to go in
with an all-pace bowling attack to rattle the visitors.

The Indians, on their part, have decided to include opener Virender
Sehwag, who marked his return to form with a blistering century
against ACT XI in a practice game, in place of an out-of-form Yuvraj
Singh.

With Sehwag coming back into the team, Rahul Dravid, who had donned
the openers role in the first two Tests, will return to his customary
no. 3 slot while V V S Laxman will be back at no. 6 position.

The Indians may also leave out Harbhajan Singh, who finds himself at
the centre of a race row, as the WACA pitch would have hardly
anything for the spinners. Paceman Irfan Pathan is likely to take
Harbhajan's place in the team. PTI

Perth, Jan 15 (PTI) Under-fire Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar
today said he never called Mike Procter a racist and the word has
been wrongly attributed to him in his column back home.
Gavaskar has been receiving mails and phone calls where critics have
taken a shot at him on the basis of his column in which he came after
Procter.

"Please do not go by the sensationalist headlines. I would ask my
detractors to please read the piece carefully and tell me if I,
personally, have called Mr Mike Procter a racist," says Gavaskar.

"That is a complete lie," he said ahead of the third Test beginning
here tomorrow.

All hell broke loose since Gavaskar's piece was published close on
the heels of Procter's verdict against Harbhajan Singh for an alleged
racist remark against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan, on the basis of hearsay, was banned for three Test matches.

Gavaskar in his piece has wondered why the other umpire in the Sydney
Test, Mark Benson of England, was spared the rod.

"I never called Procter a racist. People who say so haven't read the
piece. It's the headlines which have been ascribed to me," Gavaskar
said.

Former New Zealand captain John Reid said after criticising a Match
Referee, Gavaskar has no business heading the ICC Cricket Committee.

South African great Barry Richards also criticised the former India
captain, accusing him of playing the racism card. PTI

Ya, Definetely It will going to  happen . But I still Believe in
yuvi.he is a master of indian team.I know his  form is poor because of
Dipika Padukone.he can come back , dont forget his performence in 2007 .