CWG financial scandal widens as CAG investigates 60 bids

It’s not just the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) that is being investigated for financial irregularities. For the first time, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has named Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennel and CEO Mike Hooper, besides OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, as party to a dubious selection process for consultants for international broadcasting rights.

This, the national auditor says in its internal report, led to a loss of R24.6 crore for the OC. It has also come across fresh cases of financial wrongdoings by the OC, resulting in a total loss of R66.49 crore.

Dubious appointment

The CAG report, based on a February-April audit, says the OC skipped a detailed technical evaluation of bidders before picking a consultant for international broadcast rights. “The OC executive board in principal approved M/s Fast Track Sales Ltd only on the basis of suggestions made by the CGF president and CEO and the OC chairman,” it says.
  
Not only did the OC pay Fast Track a higher commission than the other bidders, resulting in a loss of R5.20 crore, the firm’s failure to finalise a broadcasting rights agreement on time led to a further loss of R19 crore.

Hooper, however, told HT: “We recommended Fast Track on the basis of its record. They have also performed and brought revenue for the Games. OC was the agency that decided on the deal, not us. Fast Track also exceeded the revenue target. We stand by the decision.”

Security arrangements for CWG still missing

Delhi might fail to handle any eventuality during the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games as the security arrangements at the venues are lacking co-ordination, fears an Australian security official.

Justin Bowden, whose company Beltin Group would provide advisory and protection services to Australian media during the Games, recently visited the CWG venues in Delhi but was far from satisfied with the security arrangements there.

"Everyone's into rhetoric mode, I'm afraid," said Bowden who delivered similar services during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and was working on 2012 London Games also.

During the trip to Delhi, Bowden had interacted with the security managers at different city hotels, former Deputy Commissioners of Police and some government officials, the Australian Associated Press reported on Thursday.

Munaf to join Indian pace attack in tri-series

India have called medium pacer Munaf Patel into their squad for the tri-series with Sri Lanka and New Zealand in a bid to bolster the side's bowling attack.

Injury problems had already blighted India before they left for a three-Test series in Sri Lanka, with seamers Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth being ruled out.

Ishant Sharma then picked up an ankle problem, making him unavailable for the first match of the three-way 50-over series against the Black Caps, a contest India would go on to lose by 200 runs.

Abhimanyu Mithun was brought in as a replacement but had to leave the field after bowling only four overs due to heat stroke.

Leading spinner Harbhajan Singh has been rested for the tri-series and India have turned to Patel, who has played in 43 one-day internationals, due to a dearth of specialist bowlers.

"Munaf Patel is joining the Indian team in Sri Lanka as an additional member of the squad. He will reach Dambulla tomorrow," Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary N Srinivasan stated.

CWG OC defends on Broadcast rights issue

Stung by the CAG's interim report which has found discrepancies in some deals, the CWG Organising Committee on Thursday defended its broadcasting rights deal with Fast Track despite a high commission paid to them, saying the UK company had doubled the revenue target. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its interim inspection report has pointed out that Fast Track was preferred over Sports  Marketing and Management (SMAM) despite a high comission and thus OC lost on revenue generation.

SMAM had offered its services for 12.5 per cent while OC gave 15 per cent to Fast Track.

OC secretary generalLalit Bhanot said it was a well thought out decision to award the deal to Fast Track as they did not want to give too many contracts to SMAM, which already had bagged the sponsorship contract.

CWG financial report irregular -- CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its interim inspection report on Thursday, has found that some large scale of financial irregularities in deals handled by the Suresh Kalmadi led-Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

The report found discrepancies in choosing consultants for broadcasting rights and sponsorship deal with the Melbourne-based firm, Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM), which was awarded the deal at a very cheap price.

2nd edition of Champions league launched

The second edition of the multi-million dollar Champions League Twenty20 was launched here in a glittering function attended by top officials of Cricket South Africa and star players including retired spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

CSA president Dr. Nyoka, secretary Gerald Majola and CLT20 CEO Sundar Raman unveiled the glittering trophy at a city hotel on Tuesday night.

South African players Jean-Paul Duminy, Alviro Petersen, Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Makhya Ntini were also present. Mr. Raman said India will continue to be represented in future by three teams while two teams from Australia and South Africa, the two other founder members, will take part.

“We have a 10-year contract with ESPN Star Sports. The number of matches will remain 23 but regarding the increase in number of teams that is the decision of CLT20 council. Three teams from India, two each from South SAfrica and Australia will take part in future tournaments also. The other teams were on invitational basis,” he said.

Murali named Vice Captain for first test against India

Sri Lanka on Friday named retiring spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as the vice-captain and brought back seamer Lasith Malinga for the first Test against India starting on July 18 at Galle.

Muralitharan will be Kumar Sangakkara's deputy in the Galle Test before he quits the longer version of the game.

The selectors also brought back the pace duo of Malinga and Dilhara Fernando, naming them in the 16-member squad, which includes uncapped batsman Lahiru Thirimanne.

The 26-year-old Malinga has played 28 Tests so far, the last being against England in December 2007.

On the other hand, 30-year-old Fernando, a veteran of 33 Tests, is making a comeback since the tour of Pakistan last year.

Sri Lanka squad:
Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranawithana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Anjelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardena, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Dhammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka Welagedara and Lahiru Thirimanna.

Harbhajan denied entry into airport in Chennai

India spinner Harbhajan Singh was denied entry into the Anna International Airport for not having a ticket and had to wait for about 45 minutes outside the entry area before finally getting in.

The tweaker arrived at the domestic airport from Mumbai and was taken to International airport from where the Indian cricket team was scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka.

Most of the team members had already arrived in the city, on Thursday.

Instead of joining teammates at a city hotel, Harbhajan preferred to go straight to the International airport and wait for the team.

India restricts Zim to 111 in 1st T20

Shaking off the tri-series rust, Indian bowlers showed discipline and restricted Zimbabwe to a meager 111 for nine in the first Twenty20 International at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

India, who had their reputation at stake after the mauling in the tri-series, gave them a chance to redeem their pride with their bowlers, pacers as well as spinners, at last coming to the party.

Paceman R Vinay Kumar (3/24) was the most successful bowler with three wickets while Ashok Dinda (2/27) and Pragyan Ojha (2/11) accounted for two victims apiece.

Rohit Sharma & Kohli makes victory over SriLanka Look easy; Dinda shines

What stood out was the ease with which India overhauled Sri Lanka's 242, with nearly seven overs to spare. Virat Kohli played a matured hand and Rohit Sharma overcame moments of impetuousness to hit a delightful hundred, his second successive effort of the tournament, as the pair sparkled in a 154-run partnership to charge India to a facile win.

It has to be said, though, that it was a good toss to win. Overnight rain had left enough moisture on the pitch in the first half of the day to offer assistance to the seamers and also to the spinners. And Sri Lanka were forced to adopt a brand of cricket that smelt of 80s: Start slowly, build momentum in the middle overs, reach a run-rate of four by the 40th, and try to hit out in the end. They ended up on 242, which wasn't a bad effort, but the conditions eased up in the afternoon and the Indians played very sensibly to overhaul the target with ease.

Bharti & Sahara bids for Indian Cricket team Sponsorship

Sahara India Parivar and Bharti Airtel have lined up for the Indian team's sponsorship for the next three-and-half years.

According to sources in the Indian cricket board (BCCI), the two groups submitted the eligibility documents and security deposits on Saturday.

The bid will be submitted on Monday and thereafter, BCCI's marketing committee will decide on the new sponsor of Team India.

Micro'max' title sponsors of Indian cricketing seasons this Year

Micromax, an Indian telecom company, has taken up the title sponsorship for the entire Indian cricketing season from May 2010.

Micromax made its debut in sports marketing at a time when Sachin Tendulkar made history by scoring an ODI double century.

Dual SIM handsets catching rising consumer attention

Micromax has taken the title sponsorship rights for the India, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series– 2010, India , Zimbabwe T20 Series, Asia Cup 2010, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand ODI Tri-Series– 2010, and India , Sri Lanka Test Series starting from May till July 2010.

India to rest senior players in Tri series in Zimbabwe

A second-string Indian team left for Zimbabwe to play a tri-series, hoping to convince the selectors they were ready for the big league.

The 15-man-squad, led by Suresh Raina, will play Sri Lanka and the hosts in a double-leg tri-series that opens in Bulawayo on Friday and ends with the final in Harare on June 9.

The selectors have rested eight top stars -- captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra -- from the tournament.

Don Wales broke the world land speed record for a lawnmower

To most people a lawnmower conjures up the monotonous back-and-forth across a suburban garden. But for one man, a souped-up, custom-built gardening machine has landed him a place in the Guinness record book after racing it to speeds in excess of 87mph.

Don Wales broke the world land speed record for a lawnmower twice this weekend at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, hitting 86.069mph on Saturday then 87.833mph yesterday. The record had been 80.792mph, set in 2006 at Bonneville flats in America.

"We are very excited and very pleased to have beaten our own record today," said Clare Hansley-Boyd, a spokeswoman for the British team. "We have finished the weekend as world record holders and have improved on yesterday's speed – so we are happy with that."

For the record attempt to qualify, challengers have to use a machine that is certified to be built primarily from lawn mower parts. Proof that it is a mower also has to be produced before the speed attempt, with a public grass cutting demonstration.

The team had hoped to break 100mph, but in the end settled for 87mph. "They're very tired after the efforts they put in over the weekend," Hansley-Boyd said. "It's a bit early to say where we'll be going from here, but I think the 100mph target is something everyone will be aiming at for the future."

Wales is the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who broke the world land speed record driving a car at the same spot in 1924.

Drastic change in IPL for season 4

The Indian Premier League (IPL) looks set for a drastic change in format next season, with teams likely to be divided into two groups to prevent cramming too many matches in too few days.

With 10 teams instead of the current eight, continuing with the current format would have meant playing 94 matches instead of the current 60, a prospect that was giving organisers the jitters, given the fact that the tournament would still have to be restricted to about seven weeks.

To get over this problem, BCCI bigwigs have informally discussed two alternative two-group formats for the league stage in their last meeting on May 17 and sources said the board would discuss the issue with the IPL's governing council in June.

ECB warns County members to keep away from suspended BCCI officials

With the controversy surrounding a meeting that Lalit Modi had with three English cricket counties and IMG, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has warned its counties to not enter into any dialogue with 'suspended' Indian Cricket Board officials.

In a statement, the ECB said that the BCCI has asked it to avoid contact with suspended officials. "The BCCI has further reminded ECB that it does not authourise any discussions with suspended officials of its Board and should any person involved in English cricket receive any contact from a suspended official then ECB has been asked to immediately report this matter to BCCI."

Don't criticise Dhoni for just ONE bad Tournament - Muralitharan

India's Twenty20 World Cup flop show notwithstanding, Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains one of the best skippers in international cricket and it is unfair to criticise him on the basis of just one bad tournament, said Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan.

World's highest Test wicket-taker both in Tests and ODIs, who plays under Dhoni in the Indian Premier League champion side Chennai Super Kings, said he was amused to see the outrage that greeted India's early exit from the showpiece event in the West Indies.

BCCI issues one more notice to Modi

The Indian Cricket Board on Thursday slapped suspended IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi with one more show-cause notice for activities "detrimental to Indian Cricket, English Cricket and World cricket at large".

In a rather cryptic statement which did not reveal details, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said the board acted on an e-mail from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke.

Clarke wrote a mail to BCCI President Shashank Manohar and informed him about the activities of Modi that he found detrimental to the game of cricket.

Praveen Kumar out of India's T20 world Cup squad

India's World Twenty20 campaign has been dealt a huge blow after pacer Praveen Kumar was ruled out of the championship with an abdominal injury on Thursday.

Vidarbha pacer Umesh Yadav will be flying to the Caribbean as his replacement.

Praveen had sustained the injury during a practice session at the 3Ws Oval and the Indian team management sent him for an MRI which revealed a tear in abdomen muscle.

His injury happened just a day before India play their first Super Eight match with Australia.

Yadav also plays for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. The 22-year old bowler has so far played 11 first-class matches and has picked 42 wickets

India win by 7 wickets in their first encounter in ICCworld T20 2010

A clinical performance by India enabled them to beat Afghanistan in their opening match in the Twenty20 World Cup against Afghanistan. Ashish Nehra won the man-of-the-match for his three wicket haul

India galloped to a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in their Group C World Twenty20 opener but not before the team from the war-ravaged nation showed promise as if it belonged to the top league.

Chasing a winning target of of 116 runs, India made it in 14.5 overs with Murali Vijay (48) and Yuvraj Singh (23 not out) doing the bulk of the scoring. Skipper Mahendra singh Dhoni (15) struck two sixes to finish the match in a jiffy.