BCCI rubbishes talks of 'understanding' with Lalit Modi

After turning down Lalit Modi's plea of reconstituting the disciplinary panel, the BCCI on Thursday refuted reports that it had reached an "understanding" with the suspended IPL Commissioner in the ongoing probe into charges of financial irregularities against him.

http://stbjp.msn.com/i/E5/897180815DB3E9945D5B7877C0CC12.jpg


Reports in the media, quoting Modi's counsel Mohd Abdi, stated that probe panel member Arun Jaitley and another of Modi's lawyers Ram Jethmalani met last night to work out an understanding.

The BCCI said while the two did meet, no peace formula was on the agenda.

"Mr Arun Jaitley and Mr Ram Jethmalani met yesterday night for some other matter not connected to the BCCI. The statement made by Mr Mohd Abdi, General Counsel and Constituted Attorney of Mr L K Modi, regarding some understanding being reached is totally false and BCCI denies the same," BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Prof R S Shetty said in a statement issued on Thursday.

http://stbjp.msn.com/i/4B/6A253D8083F558ABAFCE4738D7331.jpg
Yesterday, BCCI had turned down the Modi's plea saying that the probe was in an "advanced stage".

"It is a fact-finding and an internal committee. We cannot have external members in it," BCCI's counsel and senior advocate C S Sundaram told a Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justices J M Panchal and Gyan Sudha Mishra, which wanted the Board to explore the possibility of reconstituting the disciplinary committee.

The Bench put out the question when Modi's Jethmalani repeatedly argued that there was a reasonable apprehension that the suspended IPL chief will not get a fair deal before the present committee which was biased against him.

Jethmalani said the people who had participated in the decision to issue showcause notices to Modi should not be a part of the disciplinary committee.

http://stbjp.msn.com/i/B9/51AC4898586948846AAA257741B410.jpg

"I want people with a clean slate," he submitted and contended that the Chirayu Amin, who was involved in the decision to issue showcause notices and later replaced Modi as the IPL Commissioner, cannot be a member of the disciplinary committee.

Modi has approached the apex court challenging the July 15 judgement of the Bombay High Court which dismissed his plea to stay the proceedings by a BCCI-appointed disciplinary committee probing allegations of financial irregularities against him.

He has sought the removal of Arun Jaitley and Amin from the three-member committee, which also has Jyotiraditya Scindia in it, contending that they are likely to be biased against him.

Source: Indian Express

I will slap any bookie who approaches me: Harbhajan

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he has never been approached by a bookie in his career and would slap anybody who dares to approach him to fix games.



"I will slap any bookie who will come near me, big time," said Harbhajan when asked what he will do in case a bookie approaches him to fix games.

"I have never been approached by a bookie and I have not also seen these things happen in my career. I never feel that any one can do such things," he told NDTV at 'Walk the Talk' programme.



He said it would be a "shame" if the 'spot-fixing' allegations against Pakistani players turned out to be true after the investigations.

"I don't know the details of what happened in England. I read in the newspapers but I don't know how true are these allegations. Investigation is going on and let us see if these allegations are true or not," Harbhajan said.



"When I play for my country I am very proud of representing my country. I don't know how people can do like this. It is a shame if these things are happening," he said.

Harbhajan said if the allegations are true, harsh punishment should be handed to the players.



"Well, as Imran Khan has said if these allegations are true there should be punishment to set an example so that it is not repeated. ICC and the (Pakistan) Cricket Board should take necessary steps," said the feisty Indian off-spinner.

Reminded that his first captain Mohammad Azharuddin was banned by the Indian Cricket Board on match-fixing charges, Harbhajan simply said, "saja uske liye".



"I don't know what happened then. I was young, in and out of the team. I don't know what they were doing at that time.

If they were guilty 'saja uske liye'," he said.

Source: The Indian Express

It is something one would like to erase by Sachin Tendulkar

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar said people bringing disgrace to the game makes him sad as it leaves a bad impression on cricket, which should always head in the right direction. After staying quiet, Sachin Tendulkar finally spoke on cricket's biggest scandal.

"Yes. It doesn't leave a good impression about cricket and cricketers. It is something one would like to erase and make sure cricket heads in the right direction so that it helps cricket to grow across the globe," Tendulkar said on Tuesday.



The sport has recently being marred by a spot-fixing scandal after British tabloid News of the World exposed London-based bookie Mazhar Majeed predicting no-balls bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir for taking cash on camera.

'It is something one would like to erase'

In an interview to television channel Times Now on the occasion of 'joy of giving', Tendulkar said his father has always been the most influential figure in his life.

"My biggest influence has been my father. He has left a huge impact on my life. As a child I learnt a lot just by observing him. The culture and values of my family have made me what I am," he said.

'It is something one would like to erase'

Tendulkar said the 1999 Cricket World Cup, when his father Ramesh Tendulkar died, was the most difficult phase of his life but it was the strength of his family that helped him to ride over that emotional crisis.

"It was the most difficult moment of my life. I came back from England midway through the World Cup. But my mom, wife, brother, everybody told me that my father would have wanted me to go back and play and so I did," Tendulkar said.

'It is something one would like to erase'

Asked about his retirement plans, Tendulkar said he has not thought of it yet.

"I have not thought about it. There are no retirement plans, I will tell you when I decide," he said.

Tendulkar said cricket has always been the centre stage of his life right from the childhood days as he had always dreamt of playing for India.

'It is something one would like to erase'

"Right from school days, I had the love and passion for the game. Playing for India was the ultimate dream. Whatever happened in my life happened around cricket. It has always been at the centre stage. Cricket helped me to grow," he said.

Asked about how his mentor Ramakant Achrekar, who used to place a coin on his stumps while coaching, Tendulkar said those coins are as good as gold medals for him.

'It is something one would like to erase'

"Those coins are gold medals for me. It was a huge challenge for me to survive when he used to make me bat after playing the whole day. He used to play coins on stumps and I had to survive with around 40-50 fielders around.

'It is something one would like to erase'

"Any one caught the ball and I was out, so I had to play carefully. At that time I was feeling tired but today when I look back I realise how those things made me what I am," he said.