IMG, WHICH ORGANISES IPL, CUTS OFF PORTIONS OF KAHSMIR FROM INDIA

BISHAN BEDI AND POLITICAL PARTIES FURIOUS AT THIS 'SACRILEGE' BY THE FOREIGN COMPANY


EXCLUSIVE STORY

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

International Management Group (IMG), which has been managing the IPL since 2008 as part of a contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has unilaterally altered the boundaries of Kashmir, an integral part of sovereign India.

In a 76-page manual prepared for the television coverage of the recently-concluded IPL-6, IMG, whose international headquarters are based in London, has printed the map of India at two different places and at both places, it has changed the political boundaries of the northern-most part of Kashmir.

In the first map on page 37, while giving information about IPL venues and stadiums, the missing areas of Kashmir is starkly evident (see map on top right). Just beside the map, these words are printed: “The borders of Kashmir are in dispute. India, Pakistan, and China have differing claims therefore the borders of India may not be correct.”

That, however, doesn’t absolve IMG of altering the boundaries accepted by the Indian government.

In the second map, on page 72, the manual shows the alleged “disputed” area with dotted lines (see main map). Through this map, the company had warned its employees/workers of malaria in different parts of the country.

Below the map are written these words: “This map is only intended as a guide and is not exact. The map must always be used in conjunction with the malaria advice text. Bite avoidance measures should be taken in all areas.”

When contacted, IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman, who is largely responsible for executing the plans and who must have seen the manual, even refused to listen to the question. “Sorry, I don’t have the time to talk. I am not in the country,” he said and cut the line.

It is not known if any BCCI official objected to the maps during the 54-day IPL, or if they saw and ignored it.

Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi condemned BCCI for allowing IMG to tinker with the map. “It’s highly objectionable. Is IMG going to decide the political heritage of India? You are compromising with the sovereignty of the country. You wonder why IPL is taking place,” Bedi thundered.

“If IMG has done what they have, they have done it with the approval of the BCCI. So, you give one reason why IPL should carry on,” he told Mail Today.

Political leaders were also furious.

Senior Congress party leader Rashid Alvi, who was a member of the Yashwant Sinha-headed Lok Sabha standing committee on ‘Tax Assessment/Exemptions and Related Matters Concerning IPL/BCCI 2010-11, was also furious.

“Without doubt, it’s highly objectionable. We don’t consider Kashmir a disputed territory at all. IPL people should look into this issue. It’s my considered opinion,” Alvi told Mail Today. “I am sure the government will take up the issue once it is brought up to its notice.”

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman too was angry. “I have not seen the map, but from what you are saying, it cannot be acceptable to us. The Indian territory is a sovereign country. It’s sacrilege, absolutely,” Sitharaman told Mail Today. “How can anyone do that? The external affairs ministry should immediately take cognisance of this issue.”

MISSION 200: Sachin looking forward to playing 200th Test in South Africa in Dec

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Mumbai

FOR months now, cricket fans have been resigned to the inevitability of Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement from the game that he has graced internationally for the last 24 years. Despite falling form and slowing reflexes, Tendulkar, now 40, has not made it clear when exactly he will walk into the sunset.

But, in an exclusive interview to MAIL TODAY in Mumbai on May 28, Tendulkar did confirm that he was looking forward to playing his 200th Test in South Africa at the end of this year, making it clear that his white flannels would still be in use till January 2014 at the very least.

“The South African tour still has some time to go [ in December], but it would be interesting to play the 200th Test. It’s a big number and it will be a special feeling when I reach there,” said Tendulkar, who has played 198 Tests for a mind- boggling 15,837 runs since making his debut in 1989. He retired from One- Day Internationals in December last year, while his Indian Premier League farewell came on Sunday after Mumbai Indians won the title.

NO MAN in the 136- year history of Test cricket has managed to play more matches than the Mumbai maestro, and asked how he felt about the impending landmark, Tendulkar said: “ I am not aware of that feeling right now. When it comes, I would probably be able to answer that better.” However, the first man with 100 international centuries, including 51 in Tests, clarified that more than the 200- Test mark, what would serve as incentive for him would be to help India’s cause on the tough tour.

“Whenever we go [ as Team India], we go to win. We always focus on doing well and play to win. That’s the way I look at it. If anything [ record] comes along, it’s a coincidence, which is fine,” he said.

Tendulkar said he is savouring Mumbai Indians’ maiden IPL triumph, after realising his dream of being part of a World Cup- winning team in 2011. And since Mumbai have qualified for the Champions League T20, he might play in that tournament in October. But as of now, he wants to take his mind off the game and go on a holiday.

“I will be resting for a while. I will continue to train. I’ll have net sessions as I still play Test cricket and will focus on fitness. After the holiday, I will train again,” he said.

His son Arjun is also coming up through the ranks as a junior cricketer, and the master has often been seen giving him tips.

Asked if he’ll use the summer break to focus more on his son’s game, Tendulkar replied: “He has a couple of coaches and I don’t want to disturb that arrangement. I will give him the freedom to listen to his coaches, because too much advice can confuse him.”

Tendulkar has been working closely with a British publication house on the Tendulkar Opus , for which he had earlier agreed to give half a pint of blood to be inserted in 10 premium copies, but later decided against it.

Opus Media CEO Karl Fowler had told MAIL TODAY that it would be launched soon after Tendulkar scores his 100th international century. But more than a year after he got that, against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup in Dhaka, there’s still no news of the project.

Asked about the probable date of release, Tendulkar said: “Nothing has been decided as yet. I have to meet World Sports Group (with which he has a tie-up) people on this.”

Tendulkar is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Asked if he would be attending the next Parliament session, he said: “Whenever I am not doing anything, I would go.”

FICA CEO Tim May blasts BCCI for misuse of power


EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

New Delhi: THE Indian cricket Board has “ inequitable power” and it doesn’t blink while using it ruthlessly when it comes to cases like having someone like Laxman Sivaramakrishnan elected on the ICC Cricket Committee, alleges Tim May, CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA).

May feels actions like the BCCI allegedly takes would only make players’ unions eventually stronger. BCCI, incidentally, does not recognise any player association; rather, there is none in India at the moment.

Former Australia off- spinner May, who lost to Sivaramakrishnan in a poll to be the players’ representative on the committee, also says that the bigger concern for him is the way the International Cricket Council operates. He alleges “threats and intimidation” is used in decision making at the highest level.

“I am not hurt or disappointed with the BCCI; it’s commonly accepted in cricket circles that they are the most powerful cricket body and do not hesitate to use such inequitable power around the decision- making table,” May told Mail Today.

He said that FICA has long been questioning the way ICC works in certain spheres. “This isn’t an isolated instance; it’s a concern that has been consistently expressed about the governance style of the ICC, most recently by an independent Woolf Report,” he said about the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales who recommended many changes in ICC’s structure.

The Aussie insisted that the issue is bigger that merely his defeat and the manner in which it came about.

“It’s the ICC’s voting process,” May said, referring to the voting done by the 10 Test captains who choose players’ representative on the ICC Cricket Committee.

“It’s up to them to police their processes and members’ codes of conduct,” he said. “ It’s important that cricket gets its governance correct, so as to ensure that the ICC can meet its charter of acting in the best interests of the game overall.”

The 16- member ICC Cricket Committee now has three Indians, including chairman Anil Kumble, who succeeded Clive Lloyd.

Ravi Shastri, the media representative, is the third one.

The first meeting of the committee will be held on May 28 and 29 in London. M AY and critics like him point out that the Indian has never held any position in either BCCI or ICC. And that it’s only because of his association with his employer India Cements, the company owned by BCCI president N Srinivasan, that Sivaramakrishnan has been treated preferentially.

On the other hand, May has been fighting for players’ cause for more than 15 years and was instrumental in setting up FICA, which now has the national player unions of seven of the 10 Test playing nations. India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe are still not on board.

May, however, is sure that incidents like this would make players gel strongly. “These sorts of actions by Boards only make the player group and player associations more determined and stronger,” May said.

BCCI

BCCI PLAYS TOUGHIE

Lalit Modi’s defence team alleges BCCI is dissuading witnesses from deposing before disciplinary committee

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

THE Indian cricket board is trying to dissuade some key witnesses who Lalit Modi wants to appear before a BCCI disciplinary committee, the suspended IPL chairman and commissioner has alleged.

Modi, who is facing the BCCI inquiry for his alleged “ individual misdemeanours” in the IPL, has alleged that Board president N Srinivasan sent a “ subtle message” to Punjab Cricket Association ( PCA) president IS Bindra to refrain from deposing.

IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman did something similar with an official of the Rajasthan Royals, Manoj Bithal, Modi’s defence team has alleged.

Besides Bindra and Bithal, Modi’s defence team has sought the presence of Sunil Gavaskar, Andrew Georgio and Venu Nair of the World Sports Group (WSG), and IMG top gun Andrew Wildblood for examination.

“These witnesses should be summoned if the true aim of the inquiry is to know the truth,” Mehmood M. Abdi, general counsel & constituted attorney of Modi, says in the letter to the special BCCI disciplinary committee.

These six “important and relevant” people have been summoned in connection with issues ranging from the IPL television rights deal with Sony to some tender documents.

“We had requested Mr. Bindra to provide us with a witness statement. However, BCCI president Mr. N. Srinivasan sent [a] subtle message to Mr. Bindra, asking him not to depose in the inquiry. Through Mr. Srinivasan’s mechanisation the matter was even taken up at the level of PCA,” alleges Abdi.

“Mr. Bindra was told that to give evidence in favour of Mr. Modi would be construed as going against BCCI, which, as an administrator, he cannot do,” he has written. “Our request to the committee is that this is an in- house proceeding and when witness[es] depose about matters in their knowledge, even on behalf of Mr.Modi, they are not acting adversarial to the BCCI’s interest.” 

Abdi has alleged that Raman did something similar to Bithal. “Even in respect of Mr. Manoj Bithal, after he gave evidence in favour of Mr. Modi, Mr. Sundar Raman, acting ostensibly on instructions of Mr. N. Srinivasan, sent message to Mr. Manoj Badale that as [a] franchisee of IPL how he could provide witness statement in favour of Mr. Modi,” he has written. “Mr. Badale clarified that he had not made a witness statement, but it was Mr. Bithal who had done so.” Modi’s constituted attorney further hinted that BCCI even indulged in arm twisting tactics.

“At that point of time, BCCI was seeking to compromise its arbitration dispute both with Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals.

The consent terms with Kings XI Punjab were filed in Bombay High Court on 7.12.2012,” the letter says. “ However, only because Mr. Bithal gave witness statement in favour of Mr. Modi, Rajasthan Royals was told that they can forget about same treatment as given to Kings XI Punjab, though termination of both Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals was on identical grounds and for identical reasons.”

Abdi has asked the disciplinary committee to send request letters to Bindra and Gavaskar under regulation 1(q). But he is sceptical that certain people might not eventually turn up, though WSG’s Georgiou and Nair have indicated that they would provide evidence if summoned.

“We, therefore, face a situation where all our witnesses who are working in some capacity with BCCI would suffer if they give statement suo- motto on our behalf. In fact, looking to the treatment given to Rajasthan Royals, IMG would not [on] its own allow Mr. Wildblood to appear as it would be perceived as acting against BCCI. Therefore, Mr. Wildblood should also be sent [a] request letter to give evidence,” Abdi writes.

“Further direction should be given to BCCI and Mr. N. Srinivasan that they should not hold out any threat to witnesses seeking to depose in Mr. Modi’s favour,” he says.

Till Monday, 78 sittings of the disciplinary committee – comprising Arun Jaitley, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chirayu Amin – have taken place. BCCI suspended Modi on April 25, 2010, slapped him with show cause notices, and initiated a disciplinary inquiry against him. Modi has replied to the notices and has since been living in London.

WITNESSES MODI IS SEEKING

ANDREW WILDBLOOD: Required to examine him in respect of second show cause notice as he was one of the attendees of the lunch meeting in Delhi with county officials

I. S. BINDRA: To depose that the Sony contract was approved by the IPL GC on Aug 11, 2009, & that on Dec 17, 2009, no tender for two new teams was approved by the GC & that BCCI witness Sundar Raman had lied on this point in his witness statement. Also to show the ill- will Giles Clarke harbours against Modi 

SUNIL GAVASKAR: To depose that in meeting dated March 7, 2010, IPL GC never reprimanded Modi nor intended to take any action against him on the bid conditions of first round of ITT and the word “reprimanded” in the minutes was incorrect 

ANDREW GEORGIOU & VENU NAIR: To depose regarding the BCCI TV rights issue as set out in the show cause notice & their facilitation fee arrangement with Sony (Quoted from the letter)

BCCI IN A FIX OVER SERVICE TAX

Undecided if it will pay the 12.36% tax on behalf of cricketers & other professionals who render services

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 31: WITH only three days left for the money-spinning Indian Premier League (IPL) to begin, the Indian cricket Board said that it was still undecided on paying the 12.36 per cent service tax in addition to the match fee of players.

IPL is one of the biggest sources of income for players as well as the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI), the richest cricket body in the world.

On March 29, BCCI service tax consultants held a workshop for north and central zone state associations at the Ferozeshah Kotla here in New Delhi, but BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke said that the Board was still undecided on whether to pay the service tax on behalf of players’ match fee and their share of annual BCCI profit.

Ideally — and as per normal practice — the BCCI should be paying service tax on behalf of cricketers, besides the match fee, much like consumers pay excise duty and VAT etc. in addition to the cost of any product.

The service tax for sportspersons came into effect on July 1 last year. Shirke emphasised that the BCCI would indeed abide by the law of the land. “The Board is yet to decide if it will pay the Service Tax amount of players. We are still considering that. But whatever taxes are due to the government will be paid by the Board,” Shirke told MAIL TODAY.

“For paying the service tax, players will first have to be registered with the relevant tax authorities [department of revenue of the ministry of finance],” said Shirke, who is also president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.

All professionals earning more than Rs.10 lakh annually will have to pay service tax.

The BCCI itself has been paying service tax. As per its records, the Board, as on March 31, 2012, accounted for Rs.25.30 crore as service tax on input services it had received. 

And as on March 31, 2011, it was Rs.7.69 crore.

The BCCI shares with players 26 per cent of its total profit every year. For the year ending March 31, 2012, the Board shared Rs.47.49 crore of its profit with the players.

Besides, BCCI pays players for representing India as well as their state teams that compete in various domestic tournaments. During a home series, a player gets Rs.7 lakh for a five- day Test match, Rs.4 lakh for an ODI, and Rs.2 lakh for a Twenty20 International. For overseas tours, players are paid a lump sum amount. A player appearing for his state gets Rs.10,000 per match day.

The Board also awards central contracts to top players on an annual basis. A total of 37 players given contracts in October last year in Grade A ( 9 players are getting Rs.1 crore each), Grade B (8 are getting Rs.50 lakh each) and Grade C (20 are getting Rs.25 lakh each).

Asked if the BCCI would facilitate players in filing Service Tax, Shirke said: “If players seek out our help, we will help them.”

Pratik Jain, partner, KPMG (Service Tax), said that players’ salaries that they receive from companies (not BCCI) would not be levied service tax. “Any income which is not a salary or is not towards sale of a product, service tax will be levied on it,” Jain told MAIL TODAY.

After being extended a few times following representations to the government, the deadline for paying service tax for the first quarter — July to September 2012 — was extended and now it has been set as April 25.

Before last year, service tax was applicable on only those services that were specified under the Finance Act 1994. Services by sportspersons were not a specified service, so didn’t have to pay this tax. Last year, the government replaced the ‘positive list’ with a ‘negative list’ to remove confusion.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi/Chandigarh)

NEUTRAL VENUES FOR RANJI TROPHY KNOCK- OUT GAMES FROM 2013-14 SEASON

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 27, 2013: THERE is a very strong possibility that the seven knock-out matches of the 2013- 14 Ranji Trophy season would be played on neutral, or identified, venues.

For this purpose, 10 venues would be identified based on their performances (pitches and other aspects) in the league phase of the tournament. Out of those, seven would host the four quarter- final matches, two semi- finals and the final of the national championship. No venue would host more than one knock- out match.

This was a view that gained currency both in the captains and coaches conclave held on March 5 and again at a meeting of the Anil Kumble-headed technical committee in Mumbai on March 15.

The working committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) discussed the issue at its meeting on March 15.

“The issue of the identified venues, as we are calling them, was discussed at the last working committee meet and got the approval of the house. It was left to the technical committee, and also the programme and fixtures committee, to finally chalk out a suitable schedule,” a top BCCI official told MAIL TODAY.

“A total of 10 venues would be identified during the league phase of Ranji Trophy, based on factors like pitches and ground conditions etc., and seven out of them would host matches,” he said.

North zone, however, may not get to host any knock- out match mainly due to weather conditions and poor visibility during winter. “The December- January period is most affected by fog and lack of proper sunshine, and sun also sets sooner during this time than in summer. So, north may not host any knock- out matches,” he said.

The Ranji Trophy points system, which underwent a change this season, may be slightly tweaked to provide more encouragement to teams to go for wins.

“In the present structure, teams that take a first innings lead but still lose get no points. It has now been suggested that they should get three points, so that they are encouraged to compete better,” said a member of the technical committee.

The gap between matches was the other major issue the committee discussed on March 15. 

From next season, the second half of the tournament may have four- day gaps instead of three. The panel will finalise its recommendations next month, before sending them to the working committee.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

DETERMINED SEHWAG SLOGS IT OUT IN HIS COMEBACK BID

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 26, 2013: GOING by his daily practice regime, Virender Sehwag seems more determined than ever before in his bid to stage a comeback to the Indian team.

An intensely focused Sehwag is slugging it out in the field these days, running and polishing his batting, and, at times, spending up to one-and- a-half hours in the state- of- the- art gymnasium in the basement of his Hauz Khas home to improve his fitness.

Sehwag is also practising at his alma mater, Jamia Millia Islamia, where Delhi Daredevils are having a camp these days.

He is practicing with white Kookaburra balls as the same brand is being used for both the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which began on March 18, and the IPL, starting on April 3.

Sources close to Sehwag, ignored for the last two Tests of the series against Australia, say he is practicing daily and with “a clear mind-set” as to which areas of his batting he has to improve.

 “Viru is very clear in his mind as to what he’s trying to do and achieve. He has a point of view, and he’s trying to consolidate his strong points and improve upon what he sees as the weak areas,” coach Ajay Verma, who has been assisting Sehwag by providing him bowlers and space at his academy, told MAIL TODAY.

Sehwag, 34, faces up to 300 throw- downs in one session and bats up to one hour in a single net session, besides trying to improve his running between the wickets with specific drills.

Amar Nath Sharma, Sehwags coach since his school days, says hed do well to draw inspiration from the hard work he did in the 2007 summer after being dropped from the Test team for the first time on performance.

“I’ve never seen anyone practice as hard as Viru did in two months that summer. If he catches the same lai aur taal (rhythm) again, nothing like it,” Sharma told MAIL TODAY. “But he’s a few years older now and will have to work harder as competition is tougher now and there are at least three players vying for each spot.”

Sehwag can also draw inspiration from year 2008, when he staged a roaring comeback after missing 10 Tests in 2007. It turned out to be the best calendar year of his career as he amassed 1,462 runs at 56.23 in 14 Tests.

“If India ignore him for the South Africa tour in November- December, it’ll be very difficult for the team,” warns Sharma. “Viru is an attacking batsman and he would be needed against their strong pace attack.”

But before that tour, India will play an ODI tri- series in the West Indies from June 28, also involving Sri Lanka, and Sehwag will naturally try to retain his ODI spot by performing well for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, beginning on April 3.

HARBHAJAN SINGH CAN PLAY ROLE OF MENTOR, SAYS FORMER INDIA TEST OFF-SPINNER ARSHAD AYUB

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Hyderabad

March 7, 2013: AFTER the two successive Test wins over Australia, former India off- spinner Arshad Ayub wants the hosts not to get complacent and target a 4- 0 series whitewash.

That would avenge the similar scoreline inflicted on India Down Under in 2011- 12.

 “It’s (4- 0) possible. We must strive for that and look in that direction very seriously,” Ayub told MAIL TODAY on Wednesday. (As it turned out, India defeated Australia 4-0 – a historic whitewash)

 “Most of the time when we got out [abroad], they look at that [clean sweep]. Give nothing to them, put the pressure on. I would encourage the team to make sure that they dont get any leverage and try and whitewash them,” he said.

Ayub, who played 13 Tests and 32 ODIs in 1980s with reasonable success, was particularly happy with the spinners and felt that Harbhajan Singh still has a lot more to offer, as a mentor.

“Anil Kumble played an excellent mentors role when Harbhajan was coming in. It was always between Harbhajan and Anil; when the pressure was there, both used to perform well. Also, Zaheer Khan was playing the role of mentor to young fast bowlers,” said the former manager of the Indian team.

“Harbhajan can now play Kumbles role as he knows how to go through pressure, and how to come out of it. It’s the mind-set that plays the major role in international cricket,” he emphasised.

Ayub feels Harbhajan the bowler can still contribute a lot. “ Although he hasn’t taken many wickets [ in the two Tests], hes got a lot to offer. If he looks at some pointers himself, he’d probably know where he can improve now. It’s a learning curve for everyone. As far as spinners are concerned, I think hes still young,” he said about the 32- year- old off- spinner.

“He fields well, runs well, and bats decently. I think he’s got a few more years to give to India.” Overall, says Ayub, the spinners have performed well in the two Tests, bagging 34 of the 39 wickets to fall.

“Spinners have been the strong point for India. There’s definitely an improvement here. R Ashwin bowled a really good line in this particular series, something that I didn’t see in the England series,” he said.

Ayub suggested that India may consider picking an additional spinner in place of a pacer. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan played both Tests while Pragyan Ojha has sat out.

“In India, you’re going to win matches on spin bowling. So, you must have that option of having a genuine spinner.”

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

SQUASHED UNDER THE INDIAN SPINNING WHEEL

India beat Australia by innings & 135 runs in 2nd Test, take 2- 0 lead

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Hyderabad

March 6, 2013: THE INDIAN spin trio once again cast a web around Australian batsmen for a second successive Test victory here on Tuesday to give their team 2- 0 lead in the series that made Mahendra Singh Dhoni the countrys most successful Test captain.

Indias innings and 135- run win, sealed with more than a day and a half to spare, was their sixth biggest against in Tests and the second biggest over Australia, after the innings and 219- run verdict in Kolkata in 1998.

Like in the first Test in Chennai, spinners R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh again made the Kangaroos dance to their tune, thus putting India on way to 4- 0 clean sweep.

The three spinners had snared all 20 wickets in Chennai and captured 14 of the 19 to fall at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, as Australia were all out for 131 in their second innings.

Michael Clarkes team had declared the first innings at 237/ 9 and India, thanks for Cheteshwar Pujaras brilliant 204 and Murali Vijays patient 167, piled up 503 for 266- run lead that turned out to be decisive.

Pujara was adjudged Man of the Match while Dhoni won his 22nd Test to go past Sourav Ganguly as the most successful captain. But Ganguly has 11 wins abroad to Dhoni/ Rahul Dravids five each.

Pujara and Vijay, who rediscovered his form, were so dominant that their combined 370- run tally was three more than Australias two innings grand total of 368.

While Pujara and Vijay set up the win, Ashwin bagged three more wickets on Tuesday to complete the eighth five- wicket haul ( 5/ 63) in his 14th Test – and a match haul of 6/ 104. It was his third five- wicket burst in four innings.

Jadeja turned his golden left arm over to claim three wickets for 33, the deadliest one being that of Clarke, Australias best player of spin, whom he beat in defence for a mere 16 to rattle his off stump, before running out Moises Henriques with a direct throw.

Only Harbhajan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who gave a flying start with three wickets on the opening morning, went wicketless in the second innings.

Ishant Sharma managed one wicket in 22 overs in the match.

Ed Cowan with 44 ( 176 minutes, 150 balls, 6x4s) was Australias top scorer in the second innings and had a 56- run opening- wicket partnership with David Warner ( 26, 72 mins, 56 balls, 3x4s, 1x6).

At the start of the day, Australia, who had lost David Warner and Phillip Hughes to Ashwin for 74 by Monday evening, needed 192 to avoid an innings defeat. But they lost their last eight wickets for just 57 on Tuesday.

Shane Watson was the first to depart, in the days third over, and it was Ishant’s first wicket of the series.

After adding 33 with Cowan for the fourth wicket, Clarke ( 16) was bowled by Jadeja for the second time in the match.

Jadeja had a hand in the next two dismissals too, when he had Cowan caught by Virender Sehwag at slip and then ran out Henriques from cover with a direct hit.

After the game had virtually ended as a contest, Ashwin had debutant Glenn Maxwell LBW and Jadeja had Peter Siddle caught by Virat Kohli at gully.

Ashwin ended Wades 45- minute vigil with Sehwag catching him.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi/Chandigarh)

ANDHRA GOVT SLAPS RS.7.73 CRORE TAXES ON HCA

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Hyderabad

THE Andhra Pradesh income tax authorities have slapped taxes close to Rs 8 crore on the Hyderabad Cricket Association ( HCA) under “various heads” for assessment year 2010-11, during which the body hosted an India- New Zealand Test match.

A top HCA official said that the association has decided to file an appeal against the tax amount of Rs.7,73,79,157 as it feels that it has been levied unfairly, though the 30- day period for filing an appeal has lapsed, as per the details mentioned in the notice recently served by the office of the Deputy Director of Income Tax ( Exemptions)- II in Hyderabad.

“The amount should be paid to the manager, authorised bank/ State Bank of India/ Reserve Bank of India at Hyderabad within 30 days of the service of this notice. The previous approval of the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax has been obtained for allowing a period of less than 30 days for the payment of the above sum,” reads the notice, a copy of which is with MAIL TODAY. 

The tax notice says that if the amount is not paid within the stipulated period, a simple interest would be imposed on it, besides a possible penalty.

Current HCA president G Vinod, who was not in the chair during 2010- 11, said: “HCAs chartered accountants are studying the notice to see if the taxes, levied under various heads of accounts, are justified or not. Once they have assessed it, we will appeal to the appropriate authority against the taxes soon.”

Vinod, a former Andhra labour minister, had played a key role in BCCI getting income tax exemption from the government for the ICC for staging the Champions Trophy in 2006.

Former India Test off- spinner Arshad Ayub, who was HCA president in 2010- 11, said the heads under which taxes have been imposed are the ones through which it earns money. 

“These areas include hosting of international matches and giving the stadium [Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium] on rent etc. We’ve to pay 50 per cent of the taxes now and wait for the outcome of the appeal that we file,” Ayub told MAIL TODAY.

BCCI’s net surplus jump by a whopping Rs 192.63 crore in 2011-12

(EXCLUSIVE)

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, has exceeded its own expectations for 2011-12 and registered a whopping increase of Rs 192.63 crore, or a jump of 101.53 per cent, in net surplus over the previous year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which is now worth a mind boggling Rs 3,308.31 crore, had budgeted for a surplus of Rs296.31 crore for 2011-12, but ended up earning a massive Rs382.36 crore, according to its latest balance sheet.

In 2010-11, the Board earned a net surplus of Rs189.73 crore. The different between the amount budgeted for 2011-12 and the actual surplus earned is Rs86.05 crore – or an increase of 29.04 per cent.

Overall, the BCCI earned a gross income of Rs849.44crore and spent Rs467.08 crore, for a net surplus of Rs382.36 crore.

The main source of BCCI’s income has been the media rights and it earned Rs437.75 crore from this category in 2011-12 while in 2010-11, it earned Rs 388.56 crore -- a significant increase of Rs 49.19 crore over the previous year -- as per its latest balance sheet.

The income from the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been another major avenue of income, and here too the BCCI books show a colossal raise of Rs 146.38 crore over the previous year. The BCCI earned Rs 265.14 crore from fourth edition of the IPL in 2011 while it garnered Rs 118.76 crore in 2010.

Since the IPL is always played in April-May, the income from its 2011 tournament it is shown in the latest balance sheet and the figures from the 2012 competition will be shown next year.

The other most significant income in 2011-12 was the interest accrued from banks, and again the Board recorded a handsome jump over the previous financial year, of Rs 23.79 crore. This year it received Rs97.47 crore as interest while it was Rs 73.68 crore in 2010-11.

“The interest income has increased in spite of the fact that the interest rates came down [recently]. This was mainly possible because of effective utilisation of available cash flow by investing the available float in short term deposits from time to time,” writes BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke, who took over the reins from MP Pandove in September last year, in the BCCI annual report.

Also during the past financial year, the BCCI received Rs 62.65 crore as its share from the surplus that the International Cricket Council distributes to its member countries annually. This amount includes Rs 61.54 crore in relation to the 2011 World Cup, hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and Rs 1.11 crore from the annual ICC ranking awards.

Last year, the Board had received Rs23.81cr from the ICC, meaning an increase of Rs 38.84cr. This raise was possible as India won the World Cup and with it handsome prize money besides the tournament hosting fees.

Shirke, also president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, is naturally elated to be part of the BCCI’s continued financial growth. “...am pleased to report that in spite of the various issues that the Board faced from time to time, our financial performance has been satisfactory...,” he writes in the BCCI annual report 2011-12.

He was clearly referring to the various government tax agencies re-opening of the many old BCCI/IPL tax assessment cases that had been settled long ago.

They have particularly targeted the Board, ironically, after it changed its objective in 2006 and contributed Rs 50 crore to the National Sports Development Fund of the sports ministry. This has caused a lot of consternation among the Board officials and they have appealed against the government decisions in several cases.

The only category in which the BCCI earned slightly less than 2010-11 was through the royalty from sponsorship. It earned Rs 14 crore this year while in 2010-11 the corresponding figure was Rs 14.63 crore.

Shirke is grateful to all his colleagues, particularly Pandove, for helping him settle down his treasury office in his home city Pune.

“I’m extremely grateful to our president N Srinivasan for is valuable guidance and support from time to time, the secretary [Sanjay Jagdale], the joint secretary [Anurag Thakur], and all the office bearers for guiding me...,” he writes in the report.

“...and I place on record my sincere appreciation of the efforts put in by all the staff of not only the treasury office, but officials and staff of the entire Board, along with the various experts and professionals who have advised the Board from time to time,” he says. “I’d also make a special mention of thanks to my colleague MP Pandove and his colleagues for assisting me and helping the new treasury office to be set up in a smooth manner.”

(This story first appeared in Mail Today on September 24, 2012)

Brace up for ‘breaking news’, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf tells cricket fans

India-Pak Test series could be a reality soon, he says on his maiden Indian visit

EXCLUSIVE

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

After a one-hour meeting with his Indian counterpart on Sunday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has this to say to the subcontinent cricket fans: brace up for some “breaking news” on the bilateral series between the neighbouring countries.

Ashraf, in Chennai to watch the IPL final on a ‘rare’ BCCI invitation, said he was happy with his first meeting with BCCI president N Srinivasan, whom he called his ‘elder brother’, and said that both Boards made “a lot of pledges” on resumption of the bilateral Test series that were disbanded over four-and-a-half years ago following the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

“It was a courtesy call by Mr Srinivasan as I’m his guest. It was a one-to-one meeting. We discussed many things in brief. There were a lot of pledges [made] from both sides, [he said] that we’re planning something better; he didn’t tell me what it was. But he said that in one or two months some concrete and positive things would come out,” Ashraf told Mail Today minutes after his meeting with the BCCI president.

“I feel that if what he says and what he plans is implemented the bilateral series will really be revived. I am quite hopeful,” he said. “My feeling is that the thinking is changing [between the two countries]; the ice is melting. I think there could be breaking news in, maybe, one or two months.” 

Continuing his positive vibes, Ashraf, 59, called himself the younger brother of Srinivasan, 67. “One is the big brother, the other is younger; and we want both of us to work together for the betterment of the two nations,” he emphasised. “I’m referring to India as the big brother because it’s the bigger country. And the head of its Board will obviously be the big brother. He is elder to me in age and also lives in the larger country. Obviously, he has heavier responsibilities, and I convey all the good wishes to him.”

The two countries have not played a Test series since 2007 when Pakistan toured India, as a fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They have, however, been playing in multi-nation one-day series at neutral venues.

“We feel that if India is reluctant to play in Pakistan, maybe we can have a ‘joint’ series in India and can share the revenue. We don’t know if the BCCI would agree to it. We can play the series in India for a year or so, before they can be confident that they can go to Pakistan and play on Pakistan’s home grounds. I wish to convey this tomorrow when we’ll meet [again] in a one-to-one meeting,” Ashraf disclosed.

BCCI inviting Ashraf seem a huge positive step considering that only last month the Srinivasan-headed Board had outrightly rejected PCB’s proposal to play its ‘home’ series (against other nations) in India, as teams have refused to tour Pakistan after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Within a month of snubbing the PCB, the situation seems to have changed so dramatically that the BCCI, in a first move of its kind, invited Pakistan’s national T20 champions Sialkot Stallions for the Champions League T20 to be held in India in October and then Ashraf to watch the IPL final.

“I want our relations to become so good that if we [PCB] have to choose a neutral venue for Pakistan’s home series, India should suit us the best. I wish we become so close that we do not differentiate between India and Pakistan,” Ashraf said.

The PCB president put the onus on the BCCI to take a decision. “The ball is in their court. We’re always looking forward to bring the cricketing relations back on track since they were derailed in 2007,” he said while pointing out that the security scenario in Pakistan has improved since 2009.

On his talks with Srinivasan, held over tea and coffee, Ashraf said: “The talks were on both sides [whether the series could be held in India or in Pakistan]. But it has to be worked out whether we come here first or they’ll come to us, what’ll be the venues, so many things they have to decide.”

Ashraf said that he has been told that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has played a positive role in pushing for resumption of the bilateral series.

“The Pakistani government is already supporting developing better relations with India, be on diplomatic front or on judicial front or on the cricket front, because the President of Pakistan [Asif Zardari], who is also PCB patron, on his last visit to India [last month], had a very good conversation with Mr Manmohan Singh in Delhi,” he said.

“At that meeting, he emphasised the importance of the resumption of the cricket ties and Mr Manmohan Singh very nicely and in a very candid way agreed to it, and said that he’d immediately convey this to his [cricket] Board for the resumption of the cricket series. What I’ve heard is that the Indian PM has taken keen interest for the revival of cricket between the two great nations.” 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

Inside story of how STAR India won BCCI’s media rights bid

EXCLUSIVE

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

STAR India Pvt Ltd used its money very smartly, and exactly when and where it was required, to win the prestigious BCCI media rights for six years, from 2012 to 2018 (click on graphics below to enlarge).


 STAR’s smartest move came when it outbid Multi Screen Media (MSM), Singapore, by a mile in the second rights period (2014-2018) compared to the first one (2012-14), in which the winning company offered only “slightly more” than the previous rights holder, Nimbus. 

The Rupert Murdoch-owned STAR bid Rs 3,851.82 crore overall while MSM quoted Rs 3,700.032, losing the race by a huge difference of Rs 151.788 crore. The overall reserve price for the six-year period was Rs 3,216.75 crore.

STAR will get to telecast a total of 96 matches – Tests, One-day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals – during the six-year period. The winner was chosen on the basis of the combined bids for the two periods – comprising a two-year and a four-year period. 

BCCI smartly split the media rights bid into three segments — TV, internet, and mobile — and bundled the six-year period to maximise income. The strategy worked well as the Board will now earn Rs 7.61 crore more per international match, compared to Rs 32.50 crore that Nimbus was paying. 

BCCI usually allots four-year media rights deal. But in this case the first period was only of two years because that was the time left in Nimbus’s four-year contract that was terminated midway, in December, for regularly defaulting on payments, according to the Board.

Five parties – STAR India, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd., MSM, Zee Entertainment, and Times Internet Ltd. – bought the bid document, which cost each one Rs 5 lakh, but eventually only STAR and MSM bid.

For the first rights period, STAR bid just Rs 27 lakh more (Rs 871.02 crore) than the BCCI’s reserve price of Rs 870.75 crore, as per BCCI records. In comparison, MSM bid Rs 169.884 crore more, probably thinking that its rivals would bid more on the two-year period. 

An interesting part of STAR’s bidding for the first period was that it quoted exactly the same amount as the base price for internet (Rs 50 lakh) and mobile (Rs 50 lakh) and a mere Rs 1 lakh more for TV (Rs 31.25 crore). MSM quoted much more than STAR, but fell short of its rival’s bid where it mattered – the second rights period. 

In the four-year period too, STAR played the numbers smartly and bid exactly the same as the reserve price for mobile while MSM quoted more. However, STAR won the race by bidding more money than its rivals.

Each bidder placed its bids in two separate envelopes. “The first envelope contained the documents that fulfilled the eligibility criteria that was required by the ITT (invitation to tender) while the second one contained the financial bid,” an official who attended the marketing committee meeting last month told Mail Today. 

“A BCCI team comprising M/s Amarchand & Mangaldas and legal counsels opened the first envelope to evaluate the eligibility criteria before a special technical team checked the bids for internet and mobile rights,” he said. 

“There was a break in the meeting to enable BCCI’s legal team study the bidders’ qualification. Once the house was satisfied that the two had fulfilled the eligibility criteria, the financial bids were then opened and the legal team tabulated their figures. Also, both bidders submitted a ‘performance deposit’ of Rs 30 crore, as mentioned in the ITT.” 

After the two envelops were opened, the bidders were asked to go out to enable the BCCI members discuss the two bids and take a decision on the winner. “All of us then unanimously approved STAR’s bid and the company was formally awarded the media rights. The bidders were again called inside the meeting room and were told about it,” said the official. 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today on May 21, 2012)

A tribal hockey tournament with a difference

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi 

A classic case of hockey getting a royal ignore was witnessed in Delhi last week. While the masses were busy watching IPL matches, a unique hockey tournament between tribal teams based in and around Delhi. As many as 38 men’s teams and a few women’s teams competed with Ekta Club winning the men’s title. 

There is a proper organisation, comprising about 38 teams and 500-odd tribal players, in the Delhi-NCR, with Sushil Lakra, a Grade A hockey umpire and an ex-player, who founded it along with retired assistant commissioner of police Emil Lakra in late 1970s. 

“We organise two annual tournaments and, importantly, we are self-financed. Each team contributes Rs 2,000 for the league and Rs 500 for the knockout tournament,” Sushil told Mail Today. According to a rough estimate, about 1.5 lakh tribals live in Delih-NCR. 

So, little wonder that when Dilip Tirkey, a former captain and one of best ever tribal hockey players, recently took oath as a Rajya Sabha member, he pulled strings to get additional passes for his childhood friends to witness to be present at the ceremony. “Some of his friends were meeting after 22 years,” said someone close to Tirkey

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

No point in crying over broken IPL & Champions LeagueT20 crockery

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

This crockery was exported to South Africa for the IPL & Champions League T20 tournaments in 2009. On its return to India, the BCCI wanted to sell it to its affiliated associations at a 50% discount, but found no takers. Eventually, the BCCI distributed it free of cost, but most of it was found broken by the associations as it was loosely packed. PHOTO COPYRIGHT: QAISER MOHAMMAD ALI

SOMETIME ago the BCCI told its affiliated units that they could purchase IPL and Champions League T20 crockery languishing unused at its headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. To entice them further into purchasing the huge pile of tableware the Board offered a flat 50 per cent discount for its 30 associations.

The real reason for the BCCI’s ‘magnanimity’ was that it wanted to clean one of the floors of the ‘Cricket Centre’ of the crockery and other stuff so that its proposed museum could be setup. This is the same crockery that was sent to South Africa in 2009 for the IPL and Champions League T20, and returned to India after the tournaments.

However, even the huge discount failed to elicit much interest amongst the affiliated units. With no other option left, the BCCI voluntarily sent the crockery to all its units recently, with each association receiving 50 pieces each of the six different items packed in 28 boxes. But the largesse was not done in a proper manner and instead the Board is now receiving letters from the associations complaining about the broken crockery. 

“The associations have written to us saying that a majority of the crockery pieces was found to be broken as the boxes, they say, were loosely packed,” a Board functionary told Mail Today. With no chance of replacement of the broken Bone China, the issue ends there – with a whimper. 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)