Vindoo, Dara Singh’s son, arrested in spot-fixing scandal
Category: Cricket News,IPL,IPL 2013 News
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Vindoo Randhawa, son of late wrestler-actor Dara Singh, was on Tuesday arrested in connection with the IPL spot-fixing scandal, a Mumbai Crime Branch official said.
“Vindoo was questioned after he was found to be in contact with the bookies and subsequently arrested on Tuesday,” the official told without revealing further details.
Forty-nine-year-old Vindoo, winner of reality television show Bigg Boss season 3, was on many occasions spotted watching IPL matches and attending post-match parties.
His arrest is the first from Bollywood in connection with the latest scandal to hit Indian cricket.
It is not yet known if he was a link between IPL players and the bookies or was just into betting.
The crime branch, which is also probing the scandal apart from Special Cell of Delhi Police, had on Monday questioned a casting director who sent photographs of models to S Sreesanth and summoned a Telugu film producer having business links with the tainted India pacer.
Never indulged in spot-fixing, says Sreesanth
Category: IPLNew Delhi, May 21: “I am innocent and have done no wrong. I have never indulged in any spot fixing,” suspended pacer S Sreesanth, who is an accused in the IPL spot-fixing case, on Tuesday said.
In a statement emailed to the media by his lawyer Rebecca John, the cricketer said “I have never indulged in any spot fixing and I have always played cricket in the spirit of the game”.
Sreesanth, who was on Tuesday remanded to further five-day police custody by Metropolitan Magistrate Soumya Chauhan, said “as a cricketer, I have learnt to take knocks along with accolades, in my stride. I recognise that I am going through a tough period in my life.
“I have utmost faith in our judicial process and I am confident that with time I will be proved innocent, and my honour and dignity will be vindicated and restored,” the statement said.
Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hydrabad – Eliminator mmatch 74 Preview – IPL 2013 IPL 6
Category: IPL,IPL 2013 News,IPL Rajasthan RoyalsNew Delhi, May 21: It will be a real test of character for the beleaguered Rajasthan Royals when they face an upbeat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ‘Eliminator’ of the Pepsi Indian Premier League here on Wednesday (May 22).
Since the ugly revelations of the spot-fixing Scandal followed by the arrests of three of its players, including India international S Sreesanth, cricketing matters have taken a backseat for the champions of the first edition of the IPL.
One can expect the Sunrisers to be overwhelming favourites as they don’t have to deal with the demons of an ugly controversy that has shaken the cricketing establishment.
For Rajasthan Royals and especially their skipper Rahul Dravid, it will be a challenge to go out in the field shedding inhibitions and perform to the best of their abilities.
For the Royals and their loyal band of supporters, a good performance at least can help them deflect the unwanted attention that is on them for the time being.
But there is no denying the fact that the team is under immense pressure. The two foundations of a good team: self belief and confidence in each other’s abilities has been hit badly after the controversy.
Game Over: Pune Warriors pull out of IPL
Category: Cricket News,IPL,IPL 2013 News,IPL Pune WarriorsMumbai, May 21: Already reeling under the spot-fixing scandal, Indian Premier League received another jolt on Tuesday evening as Sahara-owned Pune Warriors pulled out of the cash-rich Twenty20 league.
With Pune Warriors’ owners failing to pay the full franchise fee for the year 2013, BCCI had decided to encash the bank guarantee.
Sahara also decided to end Team India sponsorship at the end of this year. However, it added that there was “very strong urge” to withdraw sponsorship “from today only.”
“There is a very strong urge in us to withdraw from the Indian Cricket Team Sponsorship from today only. But, interest of the players will suffer if we do so. We share an excellent relationship with the players and will not want such dedicated and good human beings who serve the country so committed to get harmed financially due to unsporting attitude of BCCI. So we have given time to BCCI to get the new sponsorship in place from January 2014, as we will continue the national team’s sponsorship only up to December 2013 that’s the expiry date of the present agreement,” Sahara said in a statement.
This is the second time in as many years that Sahara has withdrawn its team from the league. Last year, just before the players’ auction, they had exited but later rejoined.
Sahara had bought the team in 2010 for Rs 1,702 crore becoming the most expensive franchise in the league.
IPL 2013: Pune Warriors franchise in trouble
Category: Cricket News,IPL,IPL 2013 News,IPL Pune WarriorsNew Delhi, May 21: The troubles regarding Indian Premier League doesn’t seem to end as Sahara Pune Warriors failed to pay the full franchise fee for the current year which resulted in BCCI encashing the bank guarantee casting a shadow on its future in the cash-rich league in coming years.
“Yes, the BCCI has initiated procedure to encash the bank guarantee that has been deposited in order to procure Pune Warriors’ franchise fee for the current year,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday.
Sahara bought Pune franchise for a record Rs 1702 crore for 10 years. But they currently have a dispute regarding the reduction of the franchise fee as initially there were 94 matches which was later reduced to 74 matches. The issue hasn’t been resolved yet.
“In January this year, Sahara paid around 20 percent of the year franchisee fee which is approximately Rs 170 crore. The BCCI was told that they will pay the remaining amount by May 19 but they failed. The IPL governing council then decided to encash the bank guarantee.”
However, BCCI’s decision to go ahead and encash the bank guarantee does raise a question-mark whether the franchise will be a part of the seventh edition of Indian Premier League next year.
IPL 2013: Reasons for KKR’s debacle
Category: Cricket News,IPL,IPL 2013 News,IPL Kolkata Knight RidersBangalore, May 21: “Cricket is a man’s game and not played by the boys. It’s played the hard way and with the hard ball and these things happen in the heat of the moment,” Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir said after an ugly on-field spat with Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. But unfortunately for Gambhir and his team, “the hard way” did not take them to the playoffs in IPL 2013.
From defending champions to 7th this year, KKR’s downward journey was not the best gift for their loyal fans. Gambhir might have emphasises on playing “the hard way” but that is not the only route to the top. If that was the case, KKR should have been in the playoffs.
In IPL 6, captain Gambhir will be best remembered for his spat with Kohli and also his shocking sledging of Rahul Dravid. Other than these two ugly incidents, people will not talk much about Gambhir and KKR.
Based on last year’s title win, Kolkata got the right to host the final in 2013. But the Eden Gardens will have to find another team to cheer in the final on May 26.
3 reasons for KKR’s failure to seal playoff spot
Misfiring Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan has the ability to smash the cricket ball long and destroy attacks. But his talent did not translate into runs in IPL 6. He found his touch towards the end but it was too late. And added to that, he became the first batsman in IPL history to be given out for obstructing the field – kicking the ball deliberately!