Pragyan Ojha picked up an impressive five-wicket haul as India A bowled out Australia A for 268 before extending their lead to 154 runs by the end of third day’s play in the first unofficial cricket Test on Friday.
At the close of play, the hosts were steadily placed at 121 for three in their second innings at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.
Back in the mix after 18 months, the 28-year-old left-arm spinner Ojha, bowling with a remodelled action, picked up five for 85, while leg spinner Amit Mishra managed three for 55.
There was a wicket, too, for medium pacer Abhimanyu Mithun.
Meanwhile, Ojha got injured and had to be carried off the field.
Ojha’s scalp included the well-set Marcus Stoinis and Gurinder Sandhu, while Mishra picked up the important wicket of Peter Handscomb when he had the batsman stumped, besides sending back Matthew Wade and Andrew Fekete.
In reply, India A were served in their second essay by Abhinav Mukund (40) and skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (42). Mukund and Pujara hit four and five boundaries each, respectively, before getting out towards the fag end of the day’s play. Both the wickets were taken by fast medium bowler Sandhu (2/13), who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier league (IPl).
Opener lokesh Rahul had got out to Travis Head after making a 45-ball 29. His knock was studded With four boundaries and a six.
For Australia A, middle-order batsman Handscomb top-scored with a 182-ball 91-run knock, hitting seven boundaries. Stoinis made 77 off 179 balls, and struck 10 fours and a six.
During their fifth-wicket partnership, Handscomb and Stoinis added 154 runs at just under three runs an over. It was the same pair that did the rebuilding job after Ojha three-wicket burst yesterday.
However, there was no contribution from the other batsmen as the visitors’ innings folded up in 99.3 overs on the third day afternoon.
Karun Nair (4) and Shreyas Iyer (4) were at the crease at stumps.
India A had scored 301 all out in their first innings.
Brief Scores:
India A: 301 & 121/3 (Pujara 42*) lead Australia A: 268 (Handscomb 91, Stoinis 77; Ojha 5/85, Mishra 3/55) by 154 runs.
BCCI officials to sign ‘no conflict of interest’ deal
New Delhi: In its bid to clean the image of the sport, the BCCI has notified all the Board members to sign an undertaking declaring that they do not have ‘conflict of interest’ while holding functionary posts in their respective cricket associations.
A couple of state associations have already received a letter from BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur instructing all office bearers to declare their business interests and sign the undertaking.
It has also been learnt that the letter has been sent to all officials who are in various sub-committees formed by the BCCI. The undertaking will also be signed by president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer.
The ‘no conflict of interest’ clause would include no direct business links with any cricketing affairs in BCCI including interest or stake in IPl teams, sponsorships or looking after specific players’ interests.
“Yes, we have received a letter from BCCI secretary today. He has categorically stated that the image of the BCCI in the wake of recent scandals have taken a hit. He has asked that we all give a written undertaking of our business interests,” a senior state association official, who has received the letter, said on condition of anonymity.
He added, “He has clearly stated that from now on, no BCCI official will be allowed to continue in his positions if there is even a slightest hint of conflict of interest. A time-frame has been given but I cannot reveal anything about that. All I know is that it is applicable for all BCCI officials.”
BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya acknowledged sending the directive and said the undertaking was aimed at bringing transparency. “The purpose of Declaration of Interest is to reaffirm the principle of transparency and that the members address every issue of financial dealings of the Board without any personal or financial interest directly or indirectly which may be seen to be vested interest or an obstacle to just and bona fide acts in the interest of the game,” Dalmiya said in a statement.
“I personally feel that the concept of appropriate declarations not merely by the Officials of the BCCI but also of the State Associations must be revived in larger interests of transparency, evenhandedness and impartiality. This would ensure that the reputation and integrity of the Board are secured,” he said.
The conflict of interest issue came into prominence in 2008 when N Srinivasan, as the erstwhile treasurer of the board, went onto successfully bid for Chennai Super Kings.
CSK had been embroiled in controversy after Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for indulging in betting activities and subsequently banned.