CRICKET BRIEFlY

Focus is on good show: Mithali

bengaluru: Indian women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj today said they were focussed on producing a good performance in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand rather than thinking about qualification for the 2017 World Cup. Wins in the first three games of the series will ensure World Cup qualification for the Indians. “We are thinking about performing well, not thinking about the results. Of course, we know if we win all first three games we will be right up there and qualify. I think girls are confident because we are playing in home condition,” she told reporters on Saturday. Replying to a query, Raj said batting is the strong point of the visitors, but they also have a couple of slow spinners who could pose problems for Indian batters on the turning track here. This New Zealand team relatively have new faces and some of them are visiting India for the first time, she said, adding, "Some of them are experienced but probably touring India for the first time. Their batting is the strong point because they have very attacking players," Raj said.

MCA still in dark

mumbai: It has been more than two months since the issue cropped up, but Mumbai Cricket Association officials are still in the dark about the identities of their two Ranji Trophy players, both the whistleblower and the alleged culprit, who were involved in another IPl-related corruption attempt. “We have not got any information from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India, which conducts the cash-rich Indian Premier league) on this issue. No, we have not asked them. They must have either investigated the thing or are still pursuing the case,” MCA’s joint secretary Dr P V Shetty said on Saturday. According to the news report, a Mumbai-based Rajasthan Royals player was approached by his Ranji teammate, not part of the Royals’ outfit, with an offer of money. The player declined the offer and reported the incident to the BCCI’s ACSU which launched an investigation. On Saturday a news report has claimed that it was Royals’ leg spinner Pravin Tambe, who is also a Mumbai Ranji Trophy cricketer, who was the whistleblower and had reported the approach made to him to the ACSU.

WICB lauds Zaheer’s appointment

bridgetown (barbados): The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron has hailed the appointment of new International Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas, labelling the former Pakistan captain “one of the true greats of the game”. “On behalf of the WICB and cricket lovers of the West Indies I want to congratulate Zaheer on his elevation to the post of President of the ICC,” Cameron said. “He is one of the true greats of the game. He played his part on the field with some masterful performances and now we believe he will fit in perfectly as one of the key leadership positions in world cricket. “Zaheer has worked at many levels in the development of the game and this new post is recognition of his hard work around the world.” 

GCA election set to be unopposed 

panaji: In an anti-climax, the panel headed by Dr Shekhar Salkar has withdrawn from what was supposed to be a bitterly-fought election of the Goa Cricket Association. The election committee received letter of withdrawal on Saturday, paving way for unopposed election of Chetan Desai-led group. Following this, the committee cancelled tomorrow’s election process.

After the controversy surrounding the election reached the Goa bench of Bombay HC, it allowed election with the condition that results should not be announced until further orders. The court, which appointed ‘election committee' headed by Justice A lawande to oversee process, also pulled up the Salkar group for resorting to unfair means.