Gavaskar's issue was not on the agenda, says Agashe

The vice-chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Dyaneshwar Agashe said on Tuesday that the issue of former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar's resignation was not at all discussed at the NCA meeting, held in Mumbai.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Agashe said "We only discussed the financial aspect and about setting up of the zonal cricket academies on the lines of NCA." He said "The Gavaskar issue is an internal matter and I think it will be settled in course of time while the resignations (for personal reasons) of Hanumant Singh and Vasu Paranjpe, the NCA director and coach respectively, has been accepted as their term was for just six months."

On the setting up of the zonal academies, Agashe said "As far as these are concerned, we have asked the two advisors and committee members, Brijesh Patel and Polly Umrigar to visit all the possible centres and submit a report after which we will take a decision." The BCCI secretary, Jaywant Lele, was a special invitee for the meeting which was attended by Umrigar, Agashe and executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar. Patel did not attend the meeting.

Nikhil Chopra to meet BCCI committee on January 16

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested the Indian off spinner Nikhil Chopra to appear before the disciplinary committee panel on January 16 as part of the internal inquiry into the match fixing issue.

Speaking to a news agency, the BCCI president AC Muthiah said "We have given him an opportunity to be heard," while declining to comment on the findings of the committee. Muthiah said that BCCI investigator K. Madhavan has been asked to meet the two former Indian skippers and coaches, Kapil Dev and Ajit Wadekar, later this week. Muthiah added that Kapil Dev is yet to confirm whether he is willing to meet Madhavan.

It may be recalled that Chopra was dropped from the Indian One-day squad for the last two internationals against Zimbabwe in December after the board decided that he must clear his name. Chopra was one of the players questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during its probe into match-fixing allegations, and his house was searched by tax officials. The CBI said it did not find any evidence of wrong-doing against Chopra.

Ganguly's presence made the difference, feels Mohanty

He might be down but not necessarily out. Debasish Mohanty may have been handed a raw deal by the Indian selectors but nothing can stop him from taking the red cherry and sending down a fiery spell when the opposition boasts of good batting line, which includes Sourav Ganguly. The presence of the Indian captain in fact pepped up the Orissa paceman.

Speaking to the press soon after his match winning bowling analysis of 11 for 93 against Bengal in the East Zone Ranji Trophy league match at the Eden Gardens on Monday, Mohanty said "you cannot bowl any bad ball when you are bowling to the likes of Ganguly or Tendulkar." and added "I was just sticking to the basics and giving the batsmen very little width." He however added that the presence of Ganguly charged him up.

Mohanty said "I was not bowling too quick on this slow wicket. I bowled within my limitations and concentrated on line and length. As the batsmen made mistakes, my task became easier."

Orissa-Assam Ranji Trophy league match postponed

The last round match of the East Zone Ranji Trophy league involving Assam and Orissa, which was originally scheduled to be played from January 3 to 6 has been postponed by a day. The match will now be played from January 4 to 7.

The postponement comes in the wake of the non arrival of the Orissa team at Tinsukia in time due to the cancellation of the flight. The team arrived at Guwahati late on Wednesday morning by road. The BCCI has given the necessary permission to reschedule the match to the new dates.

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