* Opportunity for youngsters to prove themselves: Borde

Sachin Tendulkar's absence in the ongoing triangular series in Sri Lanka, due to a hairline fracture to his right toe, will give greater opportunity to youngsters to perform and prove themselves, the chairman of the selection committee Chandu Borde said on Thursday. Talking to PTI over phone from Pune, Borde said "of course, no one can replace Tendulkar but at the same time it will be a great opportunity for the youngsters to show their true mettle. They (youngsters) should grab this opportunity with both the hands and score runs to establish themselves," he added.

"There is a ten-day gap between the tri-series and three Test matches and I only hope that Sachin will be fit in time for the Tests," Borde said.

Meanwhile, Dr Anant Joshi, who has been treating Tendulkar's injured foot, said another bone scan would be taken in a couple of weeks time to judge the healing progress. "We are trying to reduce the load on the injured area and he has been advised not to run and walk as less as possible for speedy recovery," he added.

* India pulled out due to heavy schedule, says Muthiah

A heavy schedule and the unofficial status of the three-match limited overs series were the reasons for India opting out of a trip to Australia in September, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India AC Muthiah said in Chennai on Thursday.

"I discussed with all the players of the Indian team. They had explained to me that after their return from Sri Lanka, the team is to go to Pakistan for the Asian Test Championship and then on a full tour to South Africa. After playing England at home, the team would be leaving for the West Indies," Muthiah said in a statement. Meanwhile, he said, the team is to visit England for a benefit match for the Surrey County Cricket Club, to be organised by former Prime Minister John Major.

The Board President said "The players' feeling that they are under heavy load of cricket was considered and then I had explained to David Rogers, chief of the Australian Cricket Board, about our inability to confirm participation in the three game series. Considering the number of official tours, the BCCI decided against the players' participation in the Super Challenge series, which is an unofficial one," Muthiah added.

* Azhar's case adjourned to Aug 2 as BCCI gets interim stay

A Hyderabad civil court on Thursday adjourned to August 2 the hearing of the main petition of former Indian cricket captain Md Azharuddin, challenging the life ban imposed on him by the Cricket Board.

The second additional chief judge of city civil court J Shyam Sunder Rao posted the hearing to the next date in view of the interim stay granted by the High Court on further proceedings of the case, based on a revision petition filed by the BCCI in the High Court on Wednesday.

Justice Sudarshan Reddy of AP High Court granted interim stay on further proceedings of the main petition filed by Azharuddin after the lower court rejected a BCCI plea for more time to file a written statement on the match fixing scandal.

The BCCI also filed an interlocutory petition in the lower court before Shyam Sunder Rao seeking the striking down of certain averments in Azhar's main petition and sought more time to file the written statement but the lower court insisted on filing the statement by July 19. Aggrieved by the lower court, the BCCI filed the revision petition for an interim order.

* BCCI observers meet Laloo Yadav

A three-member panel of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) observers, headed by executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar on Thursday met the Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and the president of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) Laloo Prasad Yadav to discuss the renewal of the BCA registration and infrastructure available in Patna.

The Chief Minister assured the delegation that her government would provide all possible help for promoting cricket in the state. She also demanded relocation of the one-day international between Zimbabwe and India from Jamshedpur to Patna, a match which has already been allocated to Bihar by the BCCI. She said efforts were on to set up flood-lights at the Moin-ul-Haq stadium in Patna for day-night international cricket matches.

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