Controversy over lord’s overhaul
london: The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the lord’s Cricket Ground, has become embroiled in allegations of “high-handedness” over a planned overhaul of the london-based stadium. A group of disaffected MCC members were unable to force the club to hold an independent inquiry into the collapsed “Vision for lord’s” at a special general meeting here on Sunday. The committee, bolstered by a postal vote earlier in the week, were supported by 6,191 votes against 1,556, ‘The Times’ newspaper reported. The “Vision”, a 400-million pound overhaul of lord’s, was terminated in 2011 by MCC chairman Oliver Stocken and treasurer Justin Dowley, supported by a majority of the committee in favour of a scaled-down plan set to commence next year. But members calling themselves the MCC Reform Group were unhappy over the manner in which this decision was reached and the governance of the club.
Younis surprised to get dropped
Dubai: Pakistan batsman Younis Khan was surprised Monday after selectors dropped him for the five-match one-day series against South Africa. The 35-year-old Khan said he’s fitter than he was at 24 and was not happy about being left off the team for the 50-over format of the game. “It was shocking news for me,” Khan said. Khan is a veteran of 253 one-day internationals and has scored 7,014 runs, but was also ignored for the last ODI series against Zimbabwe. He retired from the shortest format of cricket in 2009 after leading Pakistan to victory at the World Twenty20 in England. “These kinds of things have not happened to me for the first time,” Khan said. “I am happy that someone has replaced me and if he performs ... I will be the first happy person.”
Aaron returns to fitness
Jamshedpur: Young speedster Varun Aaron, who was out of action for 16 months because of a back injury which needed surgery, is now fit and raring to go against Delhi in the Ranji trophy opener commencing here from October 27. “I am completely fit and will put up my best against Delhi in the four-day Ranji match,” Aaron said. “I am feeling great and facing no problem while bowling,” said 23-year-old, who last played in IPl in 2012 after missing the tour of Australia in December 2011 due to stress reaction in the back.
KCA apologises to Tharoor
Kochi: Bowing to pressure from Youth Congress activists for its statements against Union Minister Shashi Tharoor over the Duleep Trophy final match here, the Kerala Cricket Association tendered an apology to him for “hurting his sentiments”. The move came after agitated Youth Congress workers barged into its office today and forced them to give a written apology for their statement against Tharoor, who had criticised KCA after rain washed out the fourth day’s play of the Duleep Trophy final between North Zone and South Zone on Sunday. The activists also broke a clock in the premises, KCA sources said. KCA Joint Secretary Jayesh George told PTI that he gave an apology in writing stating that “we are sorry for hurting the sentiments of the minister”.
‘Great honour to host Tendulkar’
Chandigarh: With Sachin Tendulkar set to play his last Ranji Trophy tie for Mumbai, former BCCI chief Ranbir Mahendra on Monday said it’s a great honour for Haryana and the state’s cricket association to play host to someone who has been the game’s legend. “It’s definitely a great honour for Haryana and Haryana Cricket Association that Sachin is set to play in our state, barely days before he retires,” Mahendra, also a former Congress MlA from the state, said.
PNS/Agencies