Tuesday, June 11, 2013

DECCAN HERALD 17

Sport
Cricket

Nadal relishes his eighth French Open. P 18

BCCI initiates Operation Clean-Up

Board bans cheerleaders, after-match parties in an effort to cleanse the game
From Pragya Tiwari NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday took a decisive step to cleanse Indian cricket of the spot-fixing and betting scandals, broke out during the IPL VI.

I am being made a scapegoat

Suspended Royals co-owner Kundra to fight BCCI decision
NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra called his suspension a unilateral decision by the BCCI and said he would fight the verdict.

BCCIs interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya produced a blue print -- Operation Clean-Up -that contained some strong measures. The points in the blueprint will be discussed with the IPL captains and team owners before being finalised. The primary points of the blueprint were banning cheerleaders and late night parties. Since they were already banned by the BCCI, Dalmiya said they intend to ensure there were no excesses. There would be restriction in movement of the franchise owners near dugouts and dressing room. The financial interests of players with other persons and organisations would also need to be disclosed to the BCCI so that it can ensure the agreement with BCCI or code of conduct had not been flouted. Franchises would also need to furnish the details of payment made by them to their supporting staff and players. There would be no gift policy for players and their phone numbers would have to be disclosed to the BCCI before the event. The cellphones at grounds would be banned and so would be the usage of earplugs and microphones during the matches by players. There would be adequate number of officials from the BCCI's Anti Corruption and Security Unit at grounds and at hotels during the tournament. The proposals also include jam-

ming of cell phone towers at the ground during matches. The security and control policies around the team would be soon formulated. There would be emphasis on educating programme like making the players aware about the consequences of fixing. Dalmiya said no national selector could get associated with any franchise and organisation and that IPL should be in tune with the ICC standard of Twenty20 match playing conditions. He, however, said: All these points need to be elaborated. There are many other points I need to discuss with players and team owners. The blueprint is almost ready and we would soon be discussing it, he said. Dalmiya also said the Board would look into Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhonis alleged conflict of interest after the team returns from the Champions Trophy being held in England and Wales. I dont want to disturb the team during the Champions Trophy. I gain nothing by doing NO HAPPY TIMES: BCCI on Monday has decided to ban cheerleaders from the Indian Premier League. FILE PHOTO that. We have taken a note of HIGHLIGHTS OF BCCIS OPERATION CLEAN-UP the (Dhoni) issue, we are lookheld in order to get more ing into it but we are not going Removal of sleaze; no to hound someone, said cheerleaders, no after-match suggestions. parties. No national selector will Dalmiya. BCCI to plead for time The BCCI in all likelihood will plead before the Supreme Court to give them more time to file a comprehensive investigative report on the scandals during the sixth edition of IPL. Our legal counsel will request the SC to provide with some more time as the investigations havent yet reached its logical conclusion. We still need some more time before we can submit the report, said a senior BCCI official.
DH News Service
Strict code of conduct to be followed by players, support staff and team owners. Restriction of movement in dug-out and dressing room for owners. All players and support staff need to furnish their telephone numbers with the BCCI before the start of IPL. Adequate number of ACSU officials in the team hotel as well as the ground. Jamming cellphone towers at the ground during matches. Captains meeting to be be allowed to get associated with any team in any capacity. All the players need to disclose every financial transaction they are carrying out with any particular organisation or person. Franchises need to furnish details of the remunerations and contractual obligations of players and support staff. Players from now on will be prohibited from using ear plugs and microphones. Security control policy will be formulated soon.

BIGWIGS BCCI interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya (right) and secretary Sanjay Patel address the media on Monday. PTI

Kundra said he was shocked and upset by the decision, which he insisted was taken without proofs. All sorts of accusations were made against me without proof, by people in powerful positions. It is sad that without accurate facts, I am being made a scapegoat and put under trial by the media based on unproved claims, Kundra said in a statement on Monday. "I am shocked and upset at the unilateral decision taken today by the BCCI and will fight the grounds of suspension. Kundra said he had been among the few to have taken initiatives in sports development in India and therefore hurt to find his integrity questioned. I own a minority 11.7% share in Rajasthan Royals as well as a majority share of the Super Fight League in India which has become the largest MMA league in Asia within a year of its launch. I have singlehandedly provided job opportunities and training to 200 Indian fighters who were doing nothing but misusing their strength on the streets or in underground illegal fight clubs. I am currently working on football to develop its popularity amongst youngsters and also to provide better infrastructure and training to them, he said. It shocks, saddens and hurts me when my integrity to- DH News Service

wards Sport is questioned, especially knowing that there are very few who have taken the initiative and been successful in the development of sport in India. Kundra said being a British national he could have bet on any betting website legally if he wanted. I am afraid that rampant corruption at different levels would serve a deterrent for foreign investors who may otherwise be willing to invest in India. People need to realise that as a British national and NRI, If I wanted to bet I could have done so off-shore on any betting website legally. However, I did not do so as the IPL contract as per ACSU rules clearly states that owners cannot bet on the IPL. The 37-year-old businessman said the team owners should be involved in decision making. In many BCCI meetings I have often suggested that team-owners be given a seat on the IPL governing board so that owners are involved in decision making, as in many international sports bodies. Us owners are the ones to have heavily invested in the IPL and should have a voice in its functioning, however till date no team owners body has been welcomed. "I close by saying I trust in Justice and India!" Earlier, Rajasthan Royals had distanced themselves from Kundra saying that the British national who marriedBollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was only a minor shareholder in the franchise with no powers in running the team.

Astha surges ahead

BANGALORE: Astha Madan

upstaged her much fancied rivals despite going through a turbulent ride in the opening round of the Usha-IGU Southern India Ladies and Junior Girls Golf Championship here on Monday. On a wind-swept day at the Karnataka Golf Association where most of the players struggled to come to terms with the tricky greens, the 17year-old teenager from Gurgaon shot a level-par 72 to open up a one-shot lead. Amrita Anand and Gauri Monga are tied for second while the troika of Tvesa Malik, Gursimar Badwal and Raksha Phadke are bunched together at 74. Favourite Gurbani Singh, who emerged champion in the two events held so far this season, started with a disappointing 75 while local hope and strong title contender Aditi Ashok stumbled to a 76. Asthas round was of two parts. While the 17-year-old dotted her opening nine with birdies, she went kaput on the inward journey that ruined her card. A 10th tee starter, Astha launched herself with a hattrick of birdies -- 10th, 11th, 12th. She nearly holed a fourth only to see the ball lip out on the 13th. She picked up her fourth shot of the day on the 15th before dropping her first bogey

Miami Heat trounce BCCI approves five Indian tours listless San Antonio
NEW DELHI, DHNS: The BCCI MIAMI: The Miami Heat re-

IN CONTROL Astha Madan watches her shot during the opening round of the Junior Girls tourney on Monday. DH photo

on the 18th hole when things began to go awry for the teenager. A hat-trick of bogeys from the fifth hole cut short her lead drastically.
DH News Service
Leading scores (after 18 holes): Ladies: 72: Astha Madan; 73: Amrita Anand, Gauri Monga; 74: Tvesa Malik, Gursimar Badwal, Raksha Phadke;

75: Gaurika Bishnoi, Vidusha Sinha, Gurbani Singh; 76: Aditi Ashok. Category A: 72: Astha Madan; 74: Tvesa Malik; 75: Gaurika Bishnoi, Vidusha Sinha, Gurbani Singh; 76: Aditi Ashok; 77: Trisha Sunil, Ridhima Dilawari, Vrishali Sinha, Millie Saroha. Category B: 73: Amrita Anand; 80: Sachika Singh; 81: Suchitra Ramesh. Category C: 83: Sifat Sagoo; 87: Sahana Paravantavida; 88: Esha Sharma.

bounded from their NBA Finals opening game loss in emphatic style on Sunday, crushing the San Antonio Spurs 103-84 in Game Two to square the best-of-seven series. It was a total team effort from Miami, and they needed it with LeBron James (17 points) not at his explosive best. Four other Heat players stepped up to reach double figures Mario Chalmers top scoring with 19. San Antonio's 'Big Three' of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan combined were just 10 for 33, with Duncan's 3-13 shooting his worst in an NBA Finals game. "They outplayed us," said Duncan, "We didn't play well, we didn't shoot well and I know I played awfully." After a first half that mirrored the tight nature of Game One, with San Antonio's Danny Green scoring four of four three-pointers, Miami broke away in the third and headed into the final quarter with a 75-65 lead. League MVP James was strangely ineffective on offensive, however, managing just eight points on three of 13 shooting through three quarters and missing a couple of routine lay-ups. However, he came alive late

in the third and carried a more aggressive approach through the fourth as Miami finally produced the offensive power that was the hallmark of their form until the Finals. "When I was struggling offensively, my team-mates continued to keep it in range and we even had the lead," said James. "I think Rio (Chalmers) more than anybody kept us aggressive... it allowed me to sit back and wait for my time," he added. Miami's devastating 335 run put the game well beyond San Antonio, whose coach Gregg Popovich opted to play the final portion of the fourth quarter with reserves on the court. Ray Allen and Mike Miller each chipped in a trio of three pointers for the Heat while Chris Andersen went three of three shooting for nine points. James, who like Miami's other starters also sat out the latter minutes, finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but before taking his rest, he brought the crowd to their feet with a stunning block on a Tiago Splitter dunk. San Antonio's Game One standout Tony Parker was handled superbly by Chalmers and limited to 13 points on 5-14 shooting.
Reuters

emergency working also confirmed five Indian tours this years including that of West Indies in June-July. The West Indian tour would be a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, and would take place shortly after the ongoing Champions Trophy. India would also be touring Zimbabwe in July-August after

the tri-series which ends on travelling to Australia in JuneJuly 11. July, and then Sri Lanka in AuThe tour to Zimbabwe was gust. put on hold by the BCCI. The Itinerary: a. Indian teams tour of the Board then had cited fatigue as West Indies in June-July 2013. the primary reason for with- b. Indian teams tour of Zimbabwe in olding the approval for the July-August 2013. c. India As tour of South Africa in Autour. gust 2013. The working committee d. India under-19 teams tour of Ausalso confirmed that India A tralia in June-July 2013. would tour South Africa in Au- e. India under-19 teams tour of Sri gust. India Under-19s would be Lanka in August, 2013.

In familiar terrain

Im the Happy One: Mourinho

LONDON, REUTERS: Jose

Mourinho returned to Chelsea on Monday and the smiling 'Special One' said he was now the 'Happy One' on his second coming as manager of the Premier League club he has always loved. "If I have to choose a nickname for this period, I would choose 'the Happy One'," he declared. "I am very happy. "Time flies. It looks like it was a couple of days but it was nine years ago when I first became manager," he said. "I have the same nature, I am the same person," the title-winning former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager assured reporters. "I would describe myself as a ELATED Jose Mourinho, new coach of Chelsea, attends a meet very happy person. It is the first time I arrive in a club the press programme in London on Sunday. REUTERS

where I already love the club. Before I had to build an emotional relationship and I only came to love the club a little later, he added. Mourinho won the 2005 and 2006 Premier League titles in his first spell with the west London club but departed in 2007. It was widely reported that he had suffered a breakdown in his relationship with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, a claim the Portuguese was keen to play down. "I read and I kept listening I was fired, I was sacked, we had a complete break of relationships," he said. "That was not true. Many people didn't believe in that, but it was mutual agreement. "Now, I have a contract for

four years. I hope to go the last day of that contract. If the club then wants me to stay, I'll be more than happy, he added. Mourinho inherits a side who again qualified for the Champions League, after finishing third in the Premier League last season. He expects the pressure to be to greater, however, second time around. "I didn't choose for my career a comfortable position because I'm returning to a house where I was happy and successful and where the fans love me," he said. "No. I'm coming with exactly the opposite perspective. I have more responsibility because of that. The expectations are higher because people know what I can deliver, the Portuguese added.