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India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to set up a new unit called the Sports Frauds Investigation Unit (SFIO) to specifically investigate corruption in sports, including match-fixing, the has reported

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2014India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to set up a new unit called the Sports Frauds Investigation Unit (SFIO) to specifically investigate corruption in sports, including match-fixing, the has reported. The formation of the unit is likely to be formally announced on April 15, a day before the start of the IPL 2014.One of the primary roles of the SFIO will be to build capabilities to tackle corruption in sports by liaising with law-enforcement agencies, sports federations and local police from around the world. The unit will also help in training and educating other agencies by acting as a resource base. It will engage with the sports ministry, which is in the process of finalising a bill – the Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill, 2013 – that criminalises sports fraud, and help it in the framing of policies that deter instances of corruption.IPL 2013 was first hit by allegations of spot-fixing on May 16, in relation to which three Rajasthan Royals players were detained by Delhi Police. Then, on May 24, Gurunath Meiyappan, an official of Chennai Super Kings franchise and son-in-law of the BCCI president N Srinivasan, was arrested in Mumbai on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud following which he was suspended by the BCCI.

Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia after being given permission to deal with a “personal matter” by the WICB

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2014Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh in St Lucia after being given permission to deal with a “personal matter” by the WICB.His place in the squad has been taken by Leon Johnson, the 27-year-old Guyana batsman, who is uncapped at Test level but has played three ODIs. Johnson has a first-class average of 33.18 from fifty matches with two hundreds.Gayle made 64 and 9 not out in the first Test, which West Indies won by 10 wickets, and bowled 17 overs in the second innings to claim 1 for 50.Other than the absence of Gayle there are no other changes in a 13-man squad. Shane Shillingford and Jason Holder are the two players who did not appear in the first Test in St Vincent.The match will mark West Indies’ 500th Test.Squad Denesh Ramdin (capt), Sulieman Benn, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford, Jerome Taylor

A mix of results saw an evenly spread XI named with two apiece from Liverpool, Everton, Leicester City, Bournemouth and Huddersfield

Getty ImagesJordan Pickford | EvertonPickford made five saves in preserving Everton's clean sheet at home to Chelsea.AdvertisementGetty ImagesSeamus Coleman | EvertonColeman made two key passes and two interceptions in Everton's home win over Chelsea.Getty ImagesWes Morgan | Leicester CityIn addition to scoring the winning goal for Leicester, Morgan made eight clearances against Burnley.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesNathan Ake | BournemouthThe Dutch defender made two blocks and four clearances for Bournemouth against Newcastle.

Pakistan’s T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez has said players from his country are missing out on a “great learning experience” by not being allowed to play in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2014Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez has said players from his country are missing out on a “great learning experience” by not being allowed to play in the IPL. The PCB, he said, should look into the matter and resolve it so that Pakistan players get a chance to work with other international players.”It is strange that for years now Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in the IPL because it is a world-class league and there is so much to learn from it,” Hafeez told newspaper. “I played in the first season of the IPL and I got a chance to share the dressing room with greats like Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting and it was a great learning experience. I believe that what our players are missing out the most is this aspect of playing in the IPL.”Hafeez represented Kolkata Knights Riders in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, but Pakistan players have not been allowed in the tournament since the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 which strained relations between the two nations.”It is no use taking interest in a thing you are not part of,” he said. “But this IPL problem is something that our cricket board should look into and resolve. Because it is a world-class event and every player wants to take part in such an event where the big crowds only add to the fun and excitement.”

Leicestershire allrounder Shiv Thakor is set to be out of action until the end of June after undergoing a second operation in two months to fix a troublesome broken finger

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Feb-2014Leicestershire allrounder Shiv Thakor is set to be out of action until the end of June after undergoing a second operation in two months to fix a troublesome broken finger which he played with throughout the 2013 season.Thakor initially broke the middle finger of his left hand in the opening game of the England Under-19 tour of South Africa in January of last year, with the ECB insisting he return to the UK to have an operation as soon as possible.But Leicestershire asked him to delay surgery so that he would not miss the start of the summer. As a result, the middle finger set in a position overlapping his ring finger, meaning he could barely grip his top hand onto the bat. Fielding was almost impossible, with Thakor having to go for almost everything with his right hand.ESPNcricinfo understands Thakor wanted to undergo surgery straightaway, which would have meant missing the beginning of the summer. After consulting with specialists, Leicestershire advised against an operation, telling Thakor to manage the injury throughout the season, before seeking further help at the end of the year.Despite the appearance of his finger and the pain he was suffering, he was not offered the option of a mid-season operation, despite consultations with a hand surgeon in London who felt the finger needed treatment straight away.Eventually, almost 11 months after the break occurred, he went for surgery in Leeds, by which time complications had arisen. The first operation last December was supposed to correct the shape of the finger and allow it to bend, but the bone graft dissolved and the main joint was allowed to slide back into a bad position, making matters worse.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, director of cricket Phil Whitticase admitted the decision to play on with the injury had not worked: “It’s a shame because ourselves and Shiv decided to go into the season and manage the injury and it hasn’t worked out. He played through the pain and perhaps it affected his performance. The hope is that this second operation fixes things up and Shiv is able to make a full recovery.”Thakor is currently in the last year of his current deal with Leicestershire and Whitticase confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that an offer of an extension has been turned down. Talks are ongoing, with both parties keen to progress, but the feeling from those close to the player is that Leicestershire have not managed him well over the last 12 months. Despite this, Thakor is keen to contribute all he can to his home county in 2014 upon successfully completing his rehab.Last season was a disappointing season for both himself and Leicestershire who finished bottom of the County Championship without a victory. Thakor, however, managed to play 35 matches in all three competitions and registered a maiden Championship century against Kent in April.The whole affair has been a major setback for Thakor, a level-headed individual who has been touted for international honours after an impressive start to his professional career. In 2011, he became the first Leicestershire-born player to score a century on first-class debut (134 against Loughborough MCCU). A surprise omission from the Under-19 World Cup squad in 2012, he was appointed captain of the side at the beginning of 2013.

A round-up of the Group A matches of the Ranji Trophy that took place on December 8, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2013
ScorecardJiwanjot Sigh scored an unbeaten 188•ESPNcricinfo LtdWith Vidarbha holding a lead of 148 runs overnight, and still with three wickets in hand, it was imperative that their tail wagged as long as possible. That, however was put to rest quickly in the first over of the day itself when Amol Jungade failed to add to his 59, getting caught behind off the bowling of seamer Sandeep Sharma.Punjab struck again four overs later when the No. 10 Sandeep Singh was dismissed for 8. Ravi Thakur, the last man, scored 8 himself as Vidarbha were dismissed for 360, holding a lead of 176 runs. Sandeep finished with 5 for 90, his sixth five-for in first-class cricket. VRV Singh, in his comeback season, continued his fine form with 4 for 89.Punjab started brightly, with openers Manan Vohra and Jiwanjot Singh adding 94 for the first wicket. Vohra fell soon after passing his fifty, getting run out in the 21st over. The wicketkeeper, Uday Kaul, came in at No. 3 and the pair batted till the end of the day, finishing on 330 for 1, and with a lead of 154 runs. Jiwanjot was not out on a massive 188, while Kaul was unbeaten on 88.
ScorecardParvinder Awana 10th five-for in first-class cricket helped Delhi secure a crucial first-innings lead. Odisha began the day on 121 for 3, still trailing Delhi’s first innings effort by 321 runs. Opener Natraj Behera, who was unbeaten on 53, helped add another 36 runs with Biplab Samantray, before Samantray was bowled on 48 by Awana. This brought Abhilash Mallick to the crease, and with Natraj, the pair helped double the score with a 157-run stand, before Mallick was caught behind on 71. Natraj crossed three figures, bringing up his fourth first-class century, and finished on 158, matching Rajat Bhatia’s effort in Delhi’s first innings. Odisha reached 379, with Awana picking up a five-wicket haul, and Varun Sood supporting him with 3 for 67. Delhi still had a 63-run lead going into their second innings. However, both openers perished with just 25 on the board, as Delhi finished at stumps on 49 for 2.
ScorecardKarnataka were bundled early on the third day to finish on 256, with Haryana’s Harshal Patel taking 6 for 55. Trailing by just nine runs, Haryana knew a strong effort would be required to create a sizable challenge for Karnataka. This notion, however, was tested early when opener Avi Barot was run out in the second over. Wickets continued to tumble at a regular rate, as Haryana’s batsmen failed to put on meaningful scores. Rahul Dewan, the captain, was the highest scorer with 31 as Haryana were bundled for 105, with seamer Ronit More inflicting the most damage with 5 for 20 in 14 overs. The target for Karnataka was set at 97, and despite losing four wickets to get to 62 at stumps, the visitors will still fancy themselves to get the 35 runs needed for victory on day four.

A disciplined effort from the Pakistan Women seamers ensured their team got off to a winning start against Ireland Women in Doha, securing a 110-run victory in the process

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2014A disciplined effort from the Pakistan Women seamers ensured their team got off to a winning start against Ireland Women in Doha, securing a 110-run victory in the process.Pakistan batted first, but continually lost wickets throughout the innings. Nahida Khan was one of only two batsmen to score more than 20 runs, as Ireland delivered 51 extras to bolster their score to 183 for 9 after 50 overs. Jennifer Gray was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 40.The Pakistan seamers made light work of the Ireland top and middle order, as only three batsmen crossed into double figures. Opener Clare Shillington top-scored with 29 as Ireland were routed for just 73 in 31 overs. Sadia Yousuf took best figures of 3 for 16.

The PCB has sought advice from the Queen’s Counsel in England, with regards to getting Mohammad Amir’s five-year ban reduced

Umar Farooq21-Sep-2013The PCB has sought advice from the Queen’s Counsel in England, with regards to getting Mohammad Amir’s five-year ban reduced. The interim PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, is intent on having Amir back in domestic cricket as soon as possible.ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC has no clause in their procedure to reduce Amir’s ban, but the PCB want to seek legal opinion – an attempt to find a way for the cricketer to return to competitive cricket ahead of schedule. The PCB want to ensure Amir is completely ready to make a comeback as soon as his ban ends, instead of beginning training only after it ends and further delaying his return. It was understood that a reduction was not possible as a five-year penalty is the minimum sentence under the ICC code.The PCB, during this year’s annual conference, had already requested the ICC to consider a few concessions, especially with regard to Amir using the board’s facilities for training. There is a five-member ICC sub-committee, which was set up in July to review the anti-corruption code, looking into relaxing certain conditions of the five-year ban imposed on Amir. The sub-committee is yet to meet, but the most stringent stipulations of the ban will remain . The Pakistan board was looking to get permission from the ICC for Amir to train and play club cricket, rather than first-class or List A cricket. This is just one of the recommendations the sub-committee will look into, but there is no guarantee the committee will reach any consensus to offer relief.Any recommendation, if made, is only likely to be granted in the final six to eight months of his ban. The current recommendations ensure that he is not allowed to train alongside his former, national team-mates.

With less than a month to go for the board elections, N Srinivasan, the BCCI’s sidelined president, is working to strengthen his support base in the east zone, a region that could be important in the forthcoming election

Amol Karhadkar27-Oct-2014With less than a month to go for the board elections, N Srinivasan, the BCCI’s sidelined president, is working to strengthen his support base in the east zone, a region that could be important in the forthcoming election. During a personal visit to Guwahati and Kolkata on October 26, Srinivasan met with top officials from the Assam Cricket Association [ACA] and Cricket Association of Bengal [CAB].India’s Supreme Court had asked Srinivasan to step aside as BCCI president until the Justice Mukul Mudgal panel’s investigation into allegations of corruption in the IPL 2013 were complete. Despite the court-imposed rider that he could not announce his candidacy until the end of the investigation, Srinivasan first visited the new Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati and promised to work towards allotting Test status to the ground. Before attending a charity event in Kolkata, Srinivasan also had a long meeting with CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya.The developments are significant given that the east zone’s role may be decisive in the BCCI presidential election. According to the BCCI rules, each of the five zones nominate a president by rotation and this year, it is the east zone’s turn to nominate a candidate for three years starting with next month’s AGM. Following an amendment of BCCI rules in 2012, an individual who is not from a specified zone can contest for the president’s post with official support from two member organisations of that zone.Srinivasan has thus been trying hard to ensure that all six members from the east zone are on his side to seal an unopposed election, despite their presence in a show of strength last month. While the Jharkhand State Cricket Association and Orissa Cricket Association are Srinivasan’s trusted allies, Tripura Cricket Association has also assured its support.This leaves Assam and the two votes of CAB and the National Cricket Club, which are both headed by Dalmiya. It is believed that Dalmiya, who has had a topsy-turvy relationship with Srinivasan, may have asked for a plum position for himself in order to support Srinivasan’s candidacy.Following the corruption scandal in the IPL last year, Dalmiya had stepped in to run the daily affairs of the board in place of Srinivasan for a short period. In the build-up to last year’s AGM, he was also in the running for the post of IPL chairman, a position that was eventually allotted to Ranjib Biswal of Orissa, who does not share a rapport with Dalmiya. The position of the chief of new area development committee was seen as a consolation for Dalmiya.Interestingly, while Dalmiya isn’t fond of Srinivasan, the rest of CAB is backing the ICC chairman. This was evident when nearly every club affiliated with CAB felicitated Srinivasan during a charity event held for an NGO run by association treasurer Biswarup Dey.A CAB insider confided that Dalmiya’s role in the coming years may have been discussed during Sunday’s meeting. Biswal and Amitabh Chaudhary, the Jharkhand association chief who heads the board’s marketing sub-committee, have emerged as contenders for the secretary’s post, and one of their vacated positions may be offered to CAB. The equations depend entirely on the Supreme Court allowing Srinivasan to contest the election.Earlier on Sunday, Srinivasan praised the stadium in Guwahati and, in his capacity as the ICC chairman, assured ACA officials that he would do his best to help the ground get Test status. According to ACA secretary Bikash Baruah, Srinivasan also assured that he would impress upon the BCCI to allot a few IPL games to Guwahati.”The ICC chairman is very impressed by the quality of the stadium we are building and described it as one of the best in the world. He inspected almost every nook and corner of the infrastructure, including the dressing rooms, water-treatment plant, back-up generator, galleries, pitch and practice ground,” Baruah said. “Srinivasan also appreciated the location of the stadium and other requirements for a Test venue as well as IPL matches.”The last international game in Guwahati was held in November 2010 at the Nehru Stadium, when India took on New Zealand in an ODI.

Sohag Gazi has highlighted Bangladesh’s self-belief after they defended 247 in Mirpur

Mohammad Isam01-Nov-2013Sohag Gazi, the Man of the Match in Bangladesh’s 40-run win over New Zealand on Thursday, has highlighted the team’s self-belief after they defended 247 in Mirpur.After New Zealand had slipped to 45 for 3 in their chase, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson added 61 before the latter guided the ball towards slip, only to see wicketkeepr Mushfiqur Rahim dive across to his left and grab the half-chance. Gazi attributed his wicket to the patience that Bangladesh had developed as a result of their new-found confidence.”The turning point was when we broke that partnership,” Gazi said. “We didn’t give up, thinking that a stand like that is inevitable. We tried to build on dot balls, and made them commit a mistake.”We could win today because we believed that it was possible to defend 247. The coach [Shane Jurgensen] and captain [Mushfiqur] told us before we went out on to the field that everything is possible today. We had to give 100% to make it possible.”Before the 61-run stand, Bangladesh had grabbed the initiative early on in the New Zealand innings. Mashrafe Mortaza quickly removed Hamish Rutherford, before Gazi made way for Rubel Hossain after bowling one over. Gazi came back in the ninth over, and shortly afterwards, caught Anton Devcich’s simple offering off his own bowling. Abdur Razzak worked on that opening by dismissing Grant Elliott.”I am accustomed to bowl with the new ball,” Gazi said. “That is how I started my career and I remember Saqlain [Mushtaq] telling me at the time that all spinners are hammered but I should bowl to my strength. I do the same with the new ball, and I hardly have any trouble.”The Bangladesh spinners got less turn than is expected from typical sub-continental tracks, as the pitches on this tour have been generally slow, and offer low bounce. New Zealand have often said that it was a challenge to bat on these surfaces, but Gazi believes that the Bangladesh spinners did well despite the conditions, rather than because of it.”If we took home advantage, the ball would have turned miles. We could have taken it in the Test series, but as you have seen, it didn’t help us.”We have to play on any wicket we are asked to do so, whether it is a turning wicket or a flat one. The toss is a matter of luck, because we have to be prepared for any kind of situation.”Gazi was adjudged Man of the Match for picking up three scalps, as well as scoring a vital 26 when Bangladesh had lost quick wickets and slipped to 173 for 6.”The team needed me to score today, and because I could do something substantial, I was chosen the best in the match,” he said. “I think this team has players who will do their respective jobs very well. Rubel did well in the last game. Nobody relies on one person. We have to go ahead like this, so that someone or the other stands up when needed.”