Karthik fined 5% of match fee
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians’ Dinesh Karthik was fined five per cent of his match fee for breaching the Indian Premier league Code of Conduct in the first qualifier against Chennai Super Kings here. Karthik admitted to the level 1 offence (Article 2.1.3) of showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during the match at Feroze shah Kotla Ground on Tuesday evening. For level 1 breaches of the IPl Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding. In the 11th over of Mumbai Indians innings, Karthik missed the ball while he was looking to sweep Ravindra Jadeja. The ball hit the pads and he was given lbw. Karthik expressed his displeasure by showing his bat to the umpire.
‘goodwill opportunity’ for trio
New Delhi: Even as S Sreesanth and two other cricketers are being probed for their role in spot-fixing in IPl, an animal rights group has offered an opportunity to the tainted trio to generate “public goodwill” by featuring in an ad campaign promoting sterilisation of dogs and cats. “We would like to offer you an opportunity to generate public goodwill towards yourselves while helping to take the spotlight off this controversy: star in a PETA ad promoting a different kind of ‘fixing’ – sterilising dogs and cats. No one would call you ‘out’ about that,” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in its request to the Rajasthan Royals players S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan. “... Because of unchecked breeding and a lack of good homes, millions of dogs and cats all over the world languish in animal shelters or are euthanised every year,” it added. The players are currently being questioned by the Delhi Police for their role in spot-fixing in some of the IPl matches.
I-T probe in hawala, illegal cash
New Delhi: In more trouble for the arrested cricketers and bookies in the IPl spot-fixing scandal, the Income Tax department has begun a probe into alleged hawala and illegal cash transactions and will question them. The I-T department has got in touch with the investigators of the Delhi police and initiated “tax evasion and suspected hawala dealings” related probe into the latest allegations of spot-fixing. The department, according to official sources on Wednesday, will question and record statements of all those who have been booked by special units of both the Delhi and Mumbai police. The department “will move” for questioning the players and bookies arrested so far in the case and will work in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies working on this case, a department official said. The department had already probed suspected spot-fixing instances last year after a TV news channel sting accused five players of indulging in the malpractice. “The department had recorded some statements then (last year). Some information was being worked upon and now the I-T has initiated fresh investigations into the clandestine and unreported payments and cash as found out by the police departments in the IPl,” an official privy to the development said.
ICC’s new official data provider
Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has roped in Opta, the world’s leading sports information provider, as its official data provider for the next two years. It means Opta will receive exclusive access to the stadia for all major ICC events as well as the exclusive distribution rights for live data. Opta will also supply live detailed ball-by-ball data, squad statistics and scorecards to all ICC media platforms, ICC official partners, third parties and global media. The presence of Opta’s statisticians at venue to score the matches of ICC events will ensure that the scoring services they offer are the fastest, accurate and most comprehensive. “Opta has a proven record in the sports industry and we are delighted to have them as our data provider for the next two years,” ICC General Manager — Commercial, Campbell Jamieson, said in a statement. “Besides next month’s ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC will be staging the ICC World Twenty20 and the ICC Cricket World Cup, along with the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier over the next two years. PNS/Agencies