Chetan Chauhan named Indian team manager for Australia's tour

Former Indian opening batsman and the vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, Chetan Chauhan has been made the administrative manager of the Indian cricket team for the three-Test and five one-day international series against Australia.

Quoting Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) sources, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Sunday that Chauhan would travel with the Indian team throughout its 40-day tour against the Australians. The news agency also added that the appointment of Chauhan will be ratified at the BCCI Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

The 53-year-old Chauhan played in 40 Tests between 1969 and 1981, scoring 2084 runs at an average of 31.57. He had 16 fifties, with a highest score of 97.

BCCI announces umpires for India-Australia series

The joint secretory of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jyoti Bajpai said in New Delhi on Sunday that Srinivas Venkataraghavan will officiate in the first India-Australia Test in Mumbai from February 27 to March 3.

Speaking to the media after the umpires committee meeting in the capital, Bajpai, who is also the convenor of the umpires committee, said AV Jayaprakash will officiate the second Test in Chennai from March 11 to 15, while SK Bansal will stand at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta for the third Test from March 18 to 22. He added that all the officials for the five-match one-day series has also been finalised.

The International Cricket Council is yet to appoint its umpire for the series while the final itinerary of the Australian Tour along with the list of umpires will be ratified at the BCCI Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

Bishen Singh Bedi granted bail in defamation case

The judicial magistrate of the Patiala court granted bail to the former Indian skipper Bishen Singh Bedi in connection with the defamation suit filed by the Punjab Cricket Association secretary MP Pandove.

Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Bedi, who appeared before the court in person, furnished a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety of a like amount following which the court adjourned the case till April 28.

Pandove had filed a defamation suit against Bedi for an article written by the legendary spinner in some newspapers.

Amit Pathak hits ton as IOB crush India Pistons

Andhra Ranji Trophy team opener Amit Pathak scored a strokefilled 107 to guide IOB to a nine wicket win over India Pistons in the PC Garmax Trophy limited overs tourney in Chennai on Saturday. His IOB team mate and Kerala Ranji Trophy team left armer Sreekumar Nair scored a fine unbeaten 52.

Results: India Pistons 180 for 9 lost to IOB 184 for 1; Central Excise 325 for 7 beat Mots Swanton 232 for 9; ICF 181 lost to Chemplast 185 for 4; Southern Railway 170 lost India Cements 171 for 3.

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