Alleged ticket scam: Goa Cricket Association president arrested

The former Goa deputy chief minister and president of the Goan Cricket Association (GCA) Dayanand Nervekar was arrested on Monday for his alleged involvement in the ticket scam during the fifth and final one-day international between India and Australia played at the Nehru Stadium on April 6. A senior police official told PTI that Nervekar had been charged under section 420, 468, 471 and 120 (B) of the IPC. Talking to reporters in Panaji, DIG Karnal Singh said that the GCA president was picked up from his residence at Dona Paula, Panaji, at 3.45 pm.

Nervekar was evading arrest by filing petitions before different courts for anticipatory bail. Finally, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court granted him anticipatory bail for a month or till the charge sheet was filed, whichever was earlier. The state government challenged the High Court's decision before the Supreme Court in the first week of May. The apex court bench, consisting of Justice Quadri and Justice Raju, in their ruling, had given anticipatory bail to Nervekar only for a month, Singh said. Following this interpretation of the apex court's ruling, Nervekar was arrested. Police teams have also been dispatched to Mapusa in north Goa to arrest GCA secretary Vinod Phadke, as both the president and the general secretary were on bail. During the ODI, a large number of people with genuine tickets were denied entry into the ground while bogus ticket holders had entered the stadium.

My immediate target is to take 100 Test wickets: Prasad

Test discard Venkatesh Prasad has admitted he was disappointed for not finding a place in the Indian side for the tour of Zimbabwe. In an interview to the Times of India, Prasad said "I am disappointed at not being able to find a place even among the 25 probables." On the criticism that he has slowed down considerably over the years, the 31-year-old Karnataka medium pacer said "I have been hearing about this for sometime now, but I was never a fast bowler as such. I am neither quick through the air, and the purchase I get is off the wicket because of my height and high arm action."

Commenting on the emergence of young fast bowlers, Prasad said that it was healthy competition and he did not see them as a threat. He said "As far as I am concerned, I am bowling the same. And if you ask me, this is the right age for a medium pace bowler." He said he had played the game for over five years but added "What's the use of all the experience if you are dropped frequently."

On his future plans, Prasad said he was hoping he would make it to the ODI squad against Zimbabwe later this month. He added that his immediate target was to complete 100 Test and 200 ODI wickets. He also said he was looking forward to represent the country in the 2003 edition of the World Cup.

Bihar government fully committed to promote cricket: Laloo Prasad

The former Bihar chief minister and president of the Bihar Cricket Association Laloo Prasad Yadav said on Monday that the Bihar Government headed by Rabri Devi is fully committed to promote sports, especially cricket in the state. Addressing the BCA committee meeting, Yadav said his first task was to create infrastructure including laying turf wickets in 15 districts and organise coaching and training camps for budding players by National Institute of Sports (NIS) experts to prepare them for national and international level.

The committee unanimously resolved that the Bihar government would be requested to allot the Swarn Jayanti Pavilion to accommodate the office of the BCA and hand over the stadium for its maintenance and upgradation for hosting international matches.

Earlier, the committee nominated the following office bearers of the BCA: Joint Secretaries: Neeraj Kumar and Ramashankar Prasad, Assistant Treasurer: Pravin Kumar Pranvir, Assitant Secretaries: Gopal Bohra, Bijoy Narain Chunnu, Jayant Kumar Sinha, Sanjay Mishra and Ranjan Kumar.

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