Khanolkar, Goud shine in drawn tour game The West Indies drew their second and final tour game against the Indian Railways at Pune on Saturday. After Gayle on Thursday, it was the turn of Gareth Breese to hold centrestage on the second day. The West Indies all-rounder made 57 to help his team recover to 449 for eight declared, after the Railways bowlers, led by off-spinner Kulamani Parida, reduced the visitors to 354-8. When the home team replied, makeshift opener Shreyas Khanolkar stroked a rapid 102 off 92 balls while the reliable Yere Goud came good with a patient 107. The contributions of the two and a 72 from Murali Kartik, playing in the unlikely role of opener, ensured that Railways posted 402 in reply. For the West Indies, fast bowler Cameron Cuffy claimed four wickets while Breese and leg-spinner Nagamootoo snared two each. With a draw a foregone conclusion, the West Indies openers - Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds - played out the remaining seven overs without much ado, before stumps were drawn.

India players to launch association The Indian cricketers are set to launch an association this month to protect the interests of players, former Test batsman Arun Lal has said. "It will have all first-class cricketers as members. We're hoping it will be in place on October 29," Lal, who is likely to take over as its secretary, told Reuters. Lal said former Test captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was favoured to be the president of the Indian Cricket Players Association (ICPA), likely to be formed on the eve of the third and final Kolkata Test against the West Indies. "Its primary aim is to protect the interests of players. Everything hopefully would be finalised by next week," said Lal, who had been the secretary of a defunct players body formed in 1989 to raise contentious issues with the national board. Captain Sourav Ganguly and senior teammates Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble are expected to join the ICPA's executive committee. Moves to form the association have come after a major row between leading players and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over their refusal to sign a disputed ICC player participation contract for last month's Champions Trophy. The dispute over contentious ambush-marketing and player images clauses was sorted out and participation of the top India players ensured at the eleventh hour after the International Cricket Council (ICC) eased some of the conditions. The Indian board, meanwhile, has clarified that it would recognise any player body only if all first-class cricketers became members.

Ganguly fit for Eden Gardens Test Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who hurt his back during a collision with Anil Kumble on the final day of the Chennai Test, has declared himself fit for the final Test starting at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. "My back is okay, it's absolutely fine," Ganguly told reporters at Kolkata on Saturday. The Indian skipper also said that he wished to score his first Test hundred at his home ground during the final Test. "It has always been my dream to score a Test century at Kolkata," he said. "It's my hometown and I just want to score a 100 at the Eden Gardens." Ganguly has struck just one half-century in four Tests at Kolkata, where he averages only 26.14. India have clinched the Test series 2-0 and if Ganguly's men go on to sweep the series he would equal Mohammad Azharuddin as India's most successful captain with 14 Test victories.

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