BCCI makes formal announcement of Sahara deal

BCCI officials on Saturday claimed that the three year contract signed by the Sahara India Parivar to sponsor the Indian cricket team would be the biggest of its kind in the world, "eclipsing the deal between Vodafone and the English Cricket Board or the new multi million Australian dollar Ansett team sponsorship deal with Aussie board". Announcing the new deal, BCCI president AC Muthiah said Sahara India would be replacing the previous two sponsors Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) and Pepsi following the contract given to the International Management Group (IMG)-TWI.

Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Muthiah said "we were happy to know that Sahara India were interested in sponsoring the Indian team after the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) pulled out due to certain regulations by the Indian government." He added that "In fact we (board) have had a long association with both Sahara India and IMG in the past and we hope to continue this good relationship with them."

Pallav Agarwal of Sahara India said that the group has been associated with sports in India. "Some of the events we were involved with include the Sahara India Gold Cup Indira hockey tournament and the Sahara World junior powerlifting (both held in 1995 at Delhi), Sahara Asia Cup tennis at Delhi and Sahara Asian sub- juniors chess at Mumbai (both held in 1997), Sahara Cup cricket at Toronto (Canada) from 1996-98, Sahara Kargil benefit at Delhi in 1999 and Sahara drought benefit at Mumbai last year" he said.

Indian team for tri-nation series to be picked on June 12-13

The Indian team for the triangular series involving India, West Indies and Zimbabwe from June 23 to July 7 at Zimbabwe would be picked on June 12 or 13. This was announced in Mumbai by the BCCI secretary JY Lele on Saturday. Lele who is also convener of the selection committee told PTI that a few changes would be made from the team which is already in Zimbabwe after the two-Test series. "By June 17 the players selected for the triangular series would reach Zimbabwe," he said. "The exact date for the selection committee meeting would be known only after consulting chairman Chandu Borde, who is busy with his daughter's wedding arrangements", Lele added.

Replying to a question on India's participation in the indoor one-day series in Australia in September, Lele said that if the government clears the team to play in the Asian Test Championship then India will not visit Australia as the dates of both the tournaments clashed.

Dravid suffers injury in practice

Indian vice-captain and stylish middle-order bat Rahul Dravid has dislocated the ring finger on his right hand during a practice session at the CFX Academy grounds in Harare. Team sources said the injury was not serious enough to threaten his place in the team for the first Test starting in Bulawayo on June 7, reports PTI.

Dravid's finger is swollen and puffed up and the Karnataka batsman has decided to keep off practice for the next two days. The injury occurred when he was taking high catches after the nets yesterday. He has been advised to apply regular ice caps on the injury to let it heal in time.

Kumble hopes to be fit by Sri Lankan series

Ace Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble on Saturday praised the BCCI for starting regional cricket academies. Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Kumble said "I have only been to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at Bangalore. It is really good and I hope that it will help in producing talented cricketers."

When asked about his recovery from the shoulder injury, Kumble said he was hoping to be fit by the Sri Lankan series starting in July. "Though my shoulder is getting better, it is too early to say when I will be fully fit", the ace leggie said and added that he would play some matches before deciding anything. The ace leg spinner, who was in the city to give away prizes on the Brunswick bowling tour, was of the view that there was a need to nurture talent and these academies were one way of doing it.

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