Sanjay Dixit, Modi detractor, can also contest in election

Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) president Lalit Modi got a breather on Friday when election observer justice (retd) NM Kasliwal gave him the green signal to contest for the president’s post in the forthcoming RCA elections. Modi’s candidature was challenged by his rivals alleging that he was convicted by a US court.

Modi’s detractor, IAS officer Sanjay Dixit also got the nod from Kasliwal to contest for the same post. Dixit was facing an objection as he is a government employee.

“They have been filing objections. But every time, these are turned down,” Modi said.

It's been a disappointing first week in New Zealand for the Indian team what with both both T-20 matches being lost. But if skipper Dhoni and his team are honest with themselves, this result was in many ways self-inflicted.

This is not to deny New Zealand credit for their unexpected success. By God they played superbly: with hope, heart and head, the last mentioned of these three attributes perhaps being the differentiator between the two teams: India, world champions at this form of the game, surprisingly appeared to miss the plot.

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will be a part of the same team as Indian Cricket League (ICL) player and former New Zealand cricketer Hamish Marshall in a Twenty20 exhibition match to be played in Wellington on Friday. Tendulkar and Marshall will take the field as a part of New Zealand Masters in their match against Australia Masters.

Surendra Bhave and Narendra Hirwani will be the visiting selectors in New Zealand. At least one member of the national selection committee is likely reach there during, if not before, the start of the one-day series. The other may join him later. Both will stay on till the end of the series.

It is learnt that the selection committee has identified the two on the basis of their availability. North Zone's Yashpal Sharma and East's Raja Venkat are unable to make the trip for different reasons. Yashpal has suffered personal tragedies and has conveyed to the Board about his inability to make the trip.

ICL chairman Kapil Dev says the league is here to stay despite failed talks with BCCI

The involvement of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a mediator between the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was seen as a shot in the arm for the league.

Claim seven wickets among them as MCA thump Cadence Cricket Academy by 9 wickets

Holders, Maharashtra Cricket Association’s under-13 outfit thumped Cadence Cricket Academy by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the Cadence under-13 Cricket championship, at the latter’s ground in Mundhwa, here on Thursday.

In what could be termed as a repeat of last year’s semi-finals, wherein Cadence Cricket Academy did give some fight to the same opponents. This year the Cadence turned out to be a mere pedestrians as their innings was folded for a mere 90 runs and the state under-13 outfits cantered past the target in 16.2 overs to make it to the final of this 7th edition of the championship for the second year in succession.