Badale: Rajastan Royals treated unfairly

Manoj Badale who is co-owner of Rajasthan Royals said Rajastan Royals were treated in an unfair manner as they had provided the BCCI and the government with all the required information and was not even given the opportunity to prove its innocence and defend itself.

"That seems to us at least unfair," he told the news channel Times Now. "It seems surprising to us that these issues, all of which were communicated, all of which were documented for the past three years, are suddenly brought up when there is regime change as opposed to being brought up in time."

Badale also said that he had a meeting with BCCI president Shashank Manohar, but did not reveal any details of the meeting except that he was told the team would be treated fairly.

Badale told another news channel, NDTV, that these things will get resolved around a table, and it is only if negotiations fail that legal action will be considered. He also defended his franchise's record of transparency.

"We voluntarily chose to submit an enormous document with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board back in July 2009, which went into extraordinary detail about our ownership structure."

Watson shocked on Royals' exit from IPL

Shane Watson had no idea that his IPL team Rajasthan Royals has been shown the exit door until Adam Gilchrist walked into the Australian dressing room during the second Test and informed him. BCCI has scrapped Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab for breach of agreement and also warned Kochi to sort out their ownership issue.

"When Rajasthan got booted out it was actually during the game, Adam Gilchrist passed on the information, and I didn't know until then," said Watson.

"It's very sad, because being a part of something, being able to build a brand over the first three years was one of the most special moments of my career. For that to be taken away because of legalities is very sad." Watson said he was under impression that things were being sorted out with the Indian Cricket Board.

"I actually had meetings with the CEO of Rajasthan a day or two before the Test match, he was very positive that they had covered everything the BCCI had asked of them in regards to the ownership side of things and it was all okay. Even on the day, I read in the paper that it was looking like Rajasthan were going to be in the clear, obviously that wasn't the case," Watson said.

Watson said they were planning of his stay with the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the auction for IPL-IV but that will not remain the case now. "I would have loved to have stayed at Rajasthan, hopefully it means they're able to sort it legally and Rajasthan are still able to be part of the fourth IPL," said Watson.

"I know that's hopeful thinking but no doubt the conversations I've had with the Royals over the last couple of months, with what the retention and auction was going to be, we were both really keen to continue to develop the Rajasthan Royal brand. But it might not be the case now," he said.

Another disappointing thing for Watson is that he longer will avail the services Rajasthan physios John Gloster and Votor Popov, who he says had helped him stay in shape.

"Johnny's been brilliant, especially in India. He knows my body very well. But Victor has been the main man to get me onto the pathway that I have been. I'll always find a way to make sure I get the people to look after me" he said.

BCCI lodges police complaint against Modi

 BCCI Secretary, N Sreenivasan lodged a police complaint against suspended IPL chief, Lalit Modi alleging criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 470 crore. Talking to reporters, City Police Commissioner T Rajendran said Sreenivasan had "preferred a police complaint" against Modi for criminal misappropriation of BCCI funds totalling Rs 470 crore, mainly on allotting media rights and free commercial rights.

"There are three main charges. It is a detailed complaint that they have given. So we will go through the complaint. It will be investigated by us as BCCI is registered in Chennai," Rajendran said.

Sreenivasan, who is the President-elect of BCCI, alleged there were a lot of charges against Modi which have attracted cases under the Indian Penal Code.

He said the BCCI general body had decided that a comprehensive police complaint must be lodged against Modi. Police have assured him that "they will look into it," he said.

'The crowd was our 12th man in Bangalore' - Dhoni

MS Dhoni has asked for Tests to be played at venues that have a history of supporting the format with big attendances, and has appreciated the support received from the Bangalore crowd during the course of India's victory against Australia. Of India's 10 Test venues - Hyderabad being the newest - Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Mohali and to an extent Delhi are known for their lukewarm response to Test cricket.

"Maybe some of these centres where people come up to see Test matches can be given preference over some other centres where people don't come in large numbers to watch Test matches," Dhoni said. "After all, if taken in the right sense, we are the performers in the circus, but you need the circus to be full. It [this comment] should be taken in the right sense."

Dhoni and his men liked what they saw in Bangalore. Three of the days - the weekend and the final day - were almost sold out. "It really helps the players who are on the field," Dhoni said. "Frankly speaking, in the 45th or 50th over, when the fast bowler comes for his second or third spell, it's the crowd that gets him going, apart from the fact that he is supposed to do well for the team and the country. You need some kind of a motivation, and especially because we're used to playing IPL and ODIs in front of 30000 or 40000 or 50000 people, you want that kind of a crowd."

Throughout the last five days, the spectators have been India's 12th man. They cheered every special effort by the Indians, appealed when the bowler appealed, got off their seats when Sachin Tendulkar and other batsmen played good strokes, and appreciated every good effort by the fielders. Some of them booed the Australians, but many were appreciative.

"It was a remarkable crowd," Dhoni said. "Throughout the five days there were good crowds, and on the final day it was literally house full. You could see as many people in the stands as in a Twenty20 or ODI match. They supported good cricket more than anything else."

They did get their money's worth. Not only did they watch their home side complete a clean sweep against Australia, they saw Tendulkar go level with Virender Sehwag as the Indian with the most double-centuries; they saw Cheteshwar Pujara, the debutant, play an innings he wouldn't mind as his epitaph; they saw M Vijay, a stylish batsman, add substance to his game at Test level; they saw Ricky Ponting bat beautifully but fall disappointingly short; they saw Zaheer Khan and Ben Hilfenhaus create wickets on flat pitches. The Indian team thanked the crowd with a deserved lap of the ground.

Pujara sets up seven-wicket triumph for India

Cheteshwar Pujara has not been part of India's rise to the No. 1 Test ranking but he could help determine how long they stay there, after his outstanding 72 on debut set up a seven-wicket win. Guided in the end by Sachin Tendulkar, the hosts cruised to their target of 207 to confirm the 2-0 series triumph, while Australia slid to fifth of the ICC rankings for the first time, courtesy of another toothless bowling display.

When Virender Sehwag fell early in the chase, the match seemed to be heading for similar drama to the final day in Mohali, where the wounded 114-Test veteran VVS Laxman dragged his side over the line. That there was no similarly tense finish was due to the work of Pujara, who was in his first Test but showed the kind of confidence expected from an old hand.

Unexpectedly promoted to No. 3 following a first-innings effort that lasted three balls, Pujara betrayed no nerves and drove his third delivery handsomely to the cover boundary off Mitchell Johnson. The introduction of Nathan Hauritz brought out the best in Pujara, who used his feet brilliantly to the spinner and drove him through the gaps in a field that an apoplectic Shane Warne felt the need to tweet about from the opposite hemisphere.

There were some strange decisions from Ricky Ponting, not the least of which was the early elimination of all slips fielders for the fast men when Australia needed to put the pressure on India by taking wickets. And after Ben Hilfenhaus had Sehwag caught behind in the third over with a terrific ball that bounced sharply and jagged away, Pujara and M Vijay settled in for a lengthy partnership.

Their 72-run stand ended when Vijay was trapped lbw by Shane Watson for 37, the victim of a good delivery that angled in and seamed away. All that did was bring the first-innings double-centurion Tendulkar to the crease, and by the time Hauritz had his revenge on Pujara with a delivery that drifted past the edge and took off stump, India were only 61 runs from their goal.

Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who was demoted to No. 5 to accommodate Pujara, had little trouble completing the task and Tendulkar's 53 not out - which included the winning runs paddle-swept fine against Hauritz - was a fitting finale to his magical series. The challenge for India's selectors now is to work out how to reward Pujara, who won his opportunity only because of Laxman's back injury.

It's a happy problem to have; Australia's issues are not so pleasant. Apart from losing all the Tests in a series for the first time in nearly 30 years, they will now enter the Ashes on the back of three consecutive defeats, a run that no Australian side has endured since West Indies were at their peak in 1988-89.

They have also dropped below England in the Test rankings, which is an abstract concept but one that will frustrate Ponting's men as they aim to regain the urn. A more concrete measure of the side's current state could be seen in the disappointing form of several key players.

Australia must also be concerned by the performances of several key players. It has been a difficult tour for Hauritz and that continued on the final day, when he was caressed out of the attack by Pujara before wincing at consecutive sixes slog-swept over long-on by Tendulkar. The Ashes will be a different challenge, but England's batsmen will certainly have taken note of his lack of penetration.

Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey have had a tour they'd rather forget, while Marcus North's ongoing pattern suggests he'll be due for a century by about the third Ashes Test in Perth. And then there was Johnson, who worked hard at times on the trip but by the last day was sending Tim Paine diving on both sides of the wicket.

That Johnson and his fast-bowling colleagues did not trouble the Indians with swing was not exactly surprising, but Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth had proven earlier in the morning that movement was available. They mastered reverse-swing to collect the final three Australian wickets while limiting the tailenders to 21 runs in the morning.

Johnson lost his off stump leaving a Zaheer ball that jagged sharply back in, Hilfenhaus was mesmerised by the swing and was bowled for a duck, and Peter George fended a catch behind to end Australia's innings on 223. The total was always going to be tough to defend, and so it proved.

So, India have confirmed their status as No. 1 - not that they were in danger of losing it. Now for Pujara to lock in his place at No. 3.

Rajasthan, Kings XI's expulsion to hit brand IPL

The BCCI's decision to terminate the franchise agreements of Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will affect the brand equity of the T20 cricket league, according to industry observers.

The latest development has not only diluted the brand image of the league, but also has put a question mark over the future of the mega cricketing event, they said.

"The (IPL) brand equity will definitely take a hit. If the two teams go to courts against the BCCI's decision and if the battles goes on, then the bigger question is, will IPL 4 ever happen?" Mindshare Managing Partner (Entertainment Sports Partnerships) Hiren Pandit said.

He, however, said the actual impact on viewership and the subsequent impact on advertisers' interest can be judged only in the long term, when there would be more clarity.

Future Brands CEO and Managing Director, Santosh Desai said the move by the BCCI to expel Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab from the IPL over violation of ownership norms did little to clear the air over the controversial league.

In a drastic step, the BCCI had also issued notice to the Kochi franchisee, asking its stakeholders to resolve their dispute within ten days.

"Neither is it aimed at bringing transparency to the IPL system overall, nor does it communicate the BCCI's vision for the game of cricket. Rather than a clean up, it continues to stink," Desai said.

Advertisers and sponsors will be a little cautious and they will evaluate their future course of action based on the impact on the viewership. "But, yes the advance bookings are likely to get affected," Desai added.

IPL broadcaster, MSM's President (Network Sales), Rohit Gupta, however insisted that it will be "business as usual". "It is very early to comment on the development. But in terms of number of matches it will remain the same, so that is good for us," Gupta said.

However, according to analysts, had there been ten teams playing in IPL's next season, MSM, that telecasts matches live on Set Max, would have raked in more money from advertisements and sponsorships as compared to the earlier seasons as the number of matches would have gone up.

"IPL is an entertaining format and we will continue to invest in the game as an advertiser if the economics work out well for us," Godrej Appliances, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Kamal Nandi said.

Similarly, Havells India Vice-President Marketing Vijay Narayanan said the company will continue to invest in IPL as it had in the earlier seasons.

"We had started discussions with MSM for the next season. But with the number of matches coming back to 60, they (MSM) will have to come back to us with a revised offer," Narayanan said.

Most of sponsors of the two teams, including Gitanjali Lifestyle, PepsiCo, ACC Cement, Ultratech Cement and Whirpool, declined to comment saying more clarity was required before making any comment regarding their future course of action.

BCCI denies sending SMS to IPL franchises

The BCCI dismissed reports that its secretary N Srinivasan had sent messages to Indian Premier League franchises, allegedly asking them to align with the board.

In the wake of media reports that Srinivasan purportedly sent text messages to IPL owners, asking them to align with the Board or be prepared to face the "taste of its medicine", the BCCI issued a statement saying, "The Board would like to clarify that no such messages have been sent from his (Srinivasan's) mobile."

"The BCCI has just received information that some messages, allegedly sent from Mr N Srinivasan's cellphone to the IPL franchisees, are being circulated and talked about by the media.

"This is clearly a case of foul play, and complaints to that effect are being lodged with the concerned mobile phone service, and the police, for immediate action," BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said through the statement.

The purported text message from Srinivasan's phone had said, "As we have been saying, please align yourself with us. Or else everyone will get the same taste of the medicine we have given today to Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. Owners should not think they are above the BCCI.

"You should be happy we allow you to participate. We know how to clip your wings and we will run the IPL the way we want to. After all, it is our property. You can either be a part of it or we can find a way for you to get out. We will throw Lalit Modi and anyone attached with him. So best avoid talking to him."

Meanwhile, Srinivasan himself dismissed the reports and said he feared it could be a case of cyber crime.

"You see, I am complaining to cyber crime department of the police. Somebody has hacked my service provider or whatever. I haven't sent any message, 100%. Somebody you all may know is attacking me," he said.

"Just now I got to know about this, so I am complaining to the police. Obviously you know I have some credibility, I am a reputed industrialist, would I send some stupid messages?" he asked.

BCCI had yesterday terminated first edition's champions Rajasthan team and the Punjab side from the IPL on alleged breach of franchise agreement by them.

The Board had also issued notice to the newly-inducted Kochi team asking them to resolve all their internal disputes within 10 days.

Modi seeks clarification from ED

Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has requested the Enforcement Directorate to clarify whether a Blue Corner Notice has been issued against him by the agency, saying he has not received any official communication from them in this regard.

"In the past two days, there has been a lot of speculation and contradictory reports in the media that a Blue Corner Notice or a request for a Blue Corner Notice has been issued by and/or at the instance of the Enforcement Directorate," Modi said in a letter to the agency.

"Whilst initial media reports suggested that this was indeed the case, subsequent media reports contradicted what had been reported earlier," he said in the letter addressed to the ED officials in Mumbai and Delhi.

A copy of the letter has been sent to Finance Ministry.

"Neither me, nor my solicitors (who have been interacting with the Enforcement Directorate) nor my Constituted Attorney Mehmood Abdi have been served with any official communication or proceeding in this behalf. As there is a great deal of uncertainty, may I request your good selves to kindly clarify what the correct factual position is, so as to enable me to consider my position and seek legal advice."

"If indeed, a Blue Corner Notice or a request for a Blue Corner Notice has been issued, I would, in the circumstances regard this as highly improper and a serious interference with my personal liberty."

Modi said such a measure against him was not justified as he had been co-operating fully with the authorities and had also informed them about the reason for his inability to appear before them in India.

Modi is facing 22 charges ranging from financial irregularities to rigging bids, proxy holdings and kickbacks in broadcast deals of IPL.

Lalit Modi says Royals, Kings XI termination illegal

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi on Sunday hit out against the BCCI's decision to axe Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab from the Indian Premier League and said it was "illegal" as the Board had chosen a path of vengeance. 

"The status of all teams is the same. They were all approved. There is no ambiguity as far as that is concerned. The action it totally illegal," Modi wrote in his favourite medium, Twitter. 

"Instead of concentrating on building IPL and BCCI, they have chosen a path of vengeance and in that they will only hurt the game," he wrote in the micro-blogging website. 

Misbah-ul-Haq named Test captain

Misbah-ul-Haq, the middle-order batsman, has been appointed captain of Pakistan's Test side a day after he was recalled to the squad. Misbah, who has been in and out of the Pakistan side was axed following the disastrous tour of Australia in 2009-10, is Pakistan's fourth Test captain this year. Shahid Afridi has been retained as the skipper of the ODI and T20 team.

Younis Khan however failed to get the nod of the selectors, something that was seen as a surprising decision by the cricketing fraternity in Pakistan. 

Taufeeq Umar earned a surprise recall to the squad, after a gap of 4 years and will be looking to cement his place in the squad.

Zulqarnain Haider, who impressed on his debut in England, has been included at the cost of Kamran Akmal.

Test squad: Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah ul Haq (capt), Umar Akmal. Azhar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria, Abdur Rehman, Zulqarnain Haider, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir (subject to fitness). 

Pakistan ODI and T20 Squad: Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Tanveer Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider.

Alam reappointed as team manager

Pakistan also re-appointed veteran former captain Intikhab Alam as team manager to replace Yawar Saeed who stepped down after the troubled tour of England marred by spot-fixing allegations. 

The 68-year-old Alam was seen as the likely candidate to replace Saeed, who was blamed for not being able to handle the off-field problems on the tour of England which ended last month. 

The controversy centered on Test captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, who were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over newspaper reports claiming they were paid to bowl no-balls in the Lord's Test against England in August. 

Scotland Yard raided the team hotel in London and interrogated the three players on two occasions, without leveling any charges. A fourth player, Wahab Riaz, was also questioned later. 

The ICC also launched a separate inquiry after being tipped off by British tabloid newspaper The Sun that Pakistan's scoring pattern in the third one-day against England at The Oval on September 17, was pre-arranged with bookies. 

The recent allegations and investigations have heaped greater demands on the post of manager, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hoping Alam's experience will help him handle the spotlight. 

"Alam has been appointed team manager," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told AFP, without giving any details. 

The team will also play two Tests, the squad for which will be announced later. 

Alam said he is looking forward to taking responsibility for the team. 

"It's a tough job," Alam told AFP. "I will make sure that all goes well and I manage to keep the image of the team better and it goes up." 

Alam has held the post of manager and coach on several occasions since retiring as player in 1976 and was the manager-coach when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup in Australia. 

He was again coach in 2000 before being sacked mid-way in the home series against Sri Lanka. He returned as coach in October 2008 for another stint as replacement for Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson. 

That tenure also ended acrimoniously after he was replaced by Waqar Younis following Pakistan's winless tour of Australia earlier this year, a visit also marred by disciplinary problems.

Alam accused players of being involved in match-fixing during team's narrow defeat in the Sydney Test. He also reportedly called the players "retarded," a statement he later denied. 

Alam, a leg-break bowler, played 47 Tests and four one-day internationals for Pakistan.

Modi has nothing to do with decisions: Manohar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sashank Manohar said the brand IPL won't be affected due to the decision taken by board to terminate the franchise agreements of IPL teams Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. 

He also dismissed speculations that the BCCI has been unduly biased about terminating the contracts of the franchises, which allegedly share a close affinity with former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. 

"The decisions were not take due to any person," Manohar told the reporters without taking Modi's name. 

Manohar stated that decisions were taken unanimously after seeking legal opinion. 

"The governing council today sought legal opinion and come to a conclusion that contract of Rajasthan franchise and also the Punjab franchise needs to be cancelled for the violation of the franchise agreement," Manohar said. 

The BCCI president also informed the reporters that the Kochi franchise has been issued a notice and given 10 days of time to incorporate a company act to resolve the dispute or else their agreement will also be cancelled. 

When Manohar was asked as to why Kochi was spared for termination, he answerd, "Kochi hasn't yet breached the agreement. There are some internal disputes. The decision to terminate the contract of Punjab and Rajasthan franchises were taken purely based on legal opinion we received and the breaches committed by this franchises." 

Manohar also explained what exactly he meant by the breaches in agreement made by these franchises. 

"As I have been telling all this while about the Rajasthan franchise. They had a different bidder during auctions. The agreement was entered in the name of a different company. The shareholding patterns were different and then the shares were transferred to different people without the permission of the governing council," he stated. 

When asked that how they can terminate the contract when they have an agreement for 10 years, pat came the reply, "We have got the money for three editions. We haven't taken in any further money from any of the franchises." 

He informed that there has been no decision taken about when the players' auction will be held this and neither was he in a position to clarify whether two more teams will be inducted. 

When Manohar was informed by media persons that Rajasthan Royals top boss Raj Kundra was mulling legal option after this decision, he was unflustered saying, "That's his choice."

S.A look to complete a clean sweep

The first T20 between South Africa and Zimbabwe ended with a result that almost all but the ardent Zimbabwean fans would've expected, an emphatic South African victory. But Zimbabwe would've come out of the game with their heads held high, knowing that they gave the mighty South Africans a run for their money with a superb batting display. 

The South Africans would've gone through a few nervous moments in the dressing room when Zimbabwe put up a highly competitive 168 runs on the board. A blistering opening partnership by Loots Bosman and Graeme Smith, who seemed to enjoy playing as a non captain, then ended hopes of a superb victory for the Zimbabweans.

Hamilton Masakadza and captain, Chamu Chibhabha's form with the bat will give the Zimbabweans much hope of another good batting display. With the likes of Brendon Taylor, Charles Coventry and Tatenda Taibu to support them; the batting definitely looks Zimbabwe's strong point. 

Their bowling though will need a lot of improvement if they have to test the star studded batting line up of the Proteas. Chris Mpofu's performance was the only silver lining when bowling. Mpofu was at his economical best against the rampaging South African openers, who destroyed all other bowlers with great attacking batting. 

For South African skipper, Johan Botha, almost everything would've gone according to plan in their first match of the summer. The new ball bowlers looked in good form, but the loss of speedster Morne Morkel seemed to peg things back for the Proteas as the bowlers then were punished by Masakadza and Chibhabha. Ryan McLaren turned in a terrible bowling performance and will look to even things out in the second match. 

They will have no such worries with their batting especially with Smith seeming to excel in his role of just a player. Their openers had slammed 90 runs of the first 7 overs to put the game beyond any doubt. The batsmen seemed in no trouble and punished the inexperienced Zimbabwean bowlers. Only Mpofu returned with decent figures. Their middle order too seems to be in good form, with JP Duminy and David Miller ensuring a handsome victory with more than 4 overs to spare. 

South Africa will want to get another victory in the bag and head into the ODI series in good form and confidence. A loss at the hands of Zimbabwe will severely dent their confidence and that will something that Botha will desperately want to avoid.

'Shocked' Kundra to seek legal help

Shocked by BCCI's decision to terminate the franchise agreement of Rajasthan Royals, co-owner Raj Kundra said that he is not sure how the fourth edition of IPL will be held under the current circumstances. 

"I am quite shocked about the developments. I don't know how the IPL IV will be held if the BCCI starts treating teams in this manner. I am not in a position to make any further comments until I receive a formal copy of the termination agreement." 

"Obviously, I will be seeking legal opinion in this matter," Kundra was quoted as saying by a television channel. 

When BCCI president Sashank Manohar was told about Kundra's intent, he replied, "It's his choice." 

Kundra also said, "I am still not sure on what basis they have terminated the agreement. As far as my knowledge goes, we have ensured that everything is place." 

"We intimated the BCCI about the necessary information regarding the ownership and shareholding patterns. But I guess the BCCI isn't really satisfied with it," he mentioned.

Tendulkar is the ICC cricketer of the year

Sachin Tendulkar bagged an ICC award for the first time after he was named the cricketer of the year during the ICC annual awards held in Bangalore on October 6.

Sachin Tendulkar overcame stiff competition from other contenders such as Amla, Sehwag and Swann to bag the top prize. Tendulkar also won the LG people's choice award.

Tendulkar follows in the footsteps of India's Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff of England and South Africa's Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting of Australia (2006 and 2007), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008) and Mitchell Johnson (2009) to take the top award.

India bagged another top award when Virender Sehwag was named the Test cricketer of the year. During the 12-month voting period, Sehwag put in some remarkable performances with the bat, making 1,282 runs with an impressive average of 85.46 in the 10 Test matches he played. He scored six centuries and four half-centuries during the period.

Meanwhile, South Africa's AB de Villiers was recognized for his consistent performances in the limited overs version, winning the ODI player of the year award.

During the voting period, de Villiers played 16 ODIs and scored 855 runs at an average of 71.25 and at a rate of 103.38 runs per 100 balls faced. In that time he hit four 50s and four centuries making sure he led his team from the front when it came to batting.

He is currently ranked number one in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, comfortably ahead of the next best.

England fast bowler Steven Finn has won the ICC Emerging Player of the Year award. The 21-year-old, who played in six Test matches in the voting period and took 27 wickets at an average of 21.85, has made an immediate impact within the England side with his extra pace and bounce since making his Test debut in March of this year.

Finn's best bowling figures in an innings during the voting period came against Bangladesh when he took 5-42 in 10 overs in the second Test at Old Trafford. He had earlier taken another five-for, also against Bangladesh, but this time at Lord's when he snapped up 5-87.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named the captain of the Test team of the year while Ponting was named the skipper of the ODI team of the year.

Brendon McCullum, who came up with a scintillating performance by scoring an unbeaten 116 against Australia in a T20 International, won the prize for the Best T20 Performance of the year.

The ICC and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) tonight inducted Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner, Rachael Heyhoe Flint and Bishan Bedi into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

List of awardees:

Cricketer of the Year: Sachin Tendulkar

(Other Contenders: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Graeme Swann (Eng))

Test player of the year: Virender Sehwag

(Other Contenders: Hashim Amla (SA), Dale Steyn (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind))

Test team of the year: India

The ICC World Test Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Virender Sehwag (Ind)

Simon Katich (Aus)

Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Hashim Amla (SA)

Kumar Sangakkara (SL)

Jacques Kallis (SA)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind, captain and wicketkeeper)

Graeme Swann (Eng)

James Anderson (Eng)

Dale Steyn (SA)

Doug Bollinger (Aus)

ODI player of the year: AB de Villiers

(Other Contenders: Ryan Harris (Aus), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), Shane Watson (Aus))

ODI team of the year: Australia

ICC World ODI Team of the Year is (in batting order):

Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Shane Watson (Aus)

Michael Hussey (Aus)

AB de Villiers (SA)

Paul Collingwood (Eng)

Ricky Ponting (Aus, captain)

MS Dhoni (Ind, wicketkeeper)

Daniel Vettori (NZ)

Stuart Broad (Eng)

Doug Bollinger (Aus)

Ryan Harris (Aus)

ICC Emerging player of the year: Steven Finn

(Other Contenders: Umar Akmal (Pak), Angelo Mathews (SL) and Tim Paine (Aus))

Best T20 performance of the year: Brendon McCullum

(Other Contenders: Michael Hussey (Aus), Mahela Jayawardene (SL), Ryan Mclaren (SA))

Spirit of Cricket award: New Zealand

(Other Contenders: India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

ICC Associate player of the year: Ryan ten Doeschate

(Other Contenders: Trent Johnston (Ire), Kevin O'Brien (Ire), Mohammed Shahzad (Afg))

Umpire of the year: Aleem Dar from Pakistan

(Other Contenders: Steve Davis (Aus), Tony Hill (NZ), Simon Taufel (Aus))

Women's Cricketer of the Year: Shelley Nitschke (Aus)

(Other Contenders: Katherine Brunt (Eng), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Stafanie Taylor (WI))

LG people's choice award: Sachin Tendulkar

Dope testing in 2011 World Cup under WADA

The dope testing programme of next year's cricket World Cup will fall under the World Anti-Doping Agency Code's purview as the ICC has become fully compliant with it after accepting the contentious "whereabouts" clause, the global anti-doping watchdog said on Saturday.

"ICC is now fully WADA-compliant, including the 'whereabouts' clause and so the 2011 World Cup will be held under the Code," WADA General Secretary David Howman said.

"We deal with only the ICC and not the BCCI so I won't comment on them. It is for the ICC to deal with the BCCI. Since ICC is now WADA compliant, the testing programme of the 2011 World Cup will have to be under the WADA Code," he said after addressing a press conference a day ahead of the launch of the Commonwealth Games.

BCCI and Indian cricketers were opposed to the whereabouts clause as they felt it was invasion of privacy and a threat to the players' security.

Despite Indian athletes, particularly weightlifters, flunking dope tests often, Howman does not want the country to be painted in bad light.

"WADA is not that worried because I hope with NADA coming up, doping will be dealt with properly. But you need some time to see the results (doping reducing). NADA is doing a very good job," he said.

"I met your sports minister (MS Gill). He looked very determined to deal with the doping issue. So I am hoping things will be better," he added.

Howman refused to comment on Gill's view that the International Weightlifting Federation was very harsh on India when it imposed a $5 lakh fine after six lifters tested positive in WADA tests last year.

"I don't want to comment on that. Imposing sanctions on a country is the job of international federations. WADA has nothing to do with it," he said.

The WADA top official is happy with the arrangements for the doping programme for the Commonwealth Games and said everything is in place.

"WADA only monitors if the testing and result management is done by the rules during the Games. I have no comments on reports of doping programmes being delayed. But from WADA's point of view and in areas where WADA is concerned, everything is in place. There is no crisis in the doping programme in the Games," he said.

No shares for Pushkar in Kochi: Tharoor

Former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said his wife Sunanda Pushkar had no connection with the Kochi IPL team after she returned her stakes in the Rendezvous Sports World-led consortium a few months ago.

Tharoor told reporters that his wife had returned all the shares she had with the consortium. "She was in the promotional group initially. But after a controversy broke out, she returned all her shares," Tharoor said.

Tharoor said he wanted to help the consortium overcome the current problems resulting from differences between shareholders to ensure that the state did not lose the IPL team allotted to it. "What we should do is to ensure that 11 cricketers are playing for Kochi IPL team next season. Everyone should be prepared for compromises. Though I do not have personal involvement in the consortium, I am ready to help and have talked with some owners in the group over phone," he said.

Kerala Cricket Association had yesterday decided to hold talks with owners of the Kochi IPL franchisee on October 7 at Kochi to sort out the problems in the consortium which won the bid for the team for Rs 1,530 crore.

The KCA decision was taken in the backdrop of Board of Control for Cricket in India issuing a show cause notice to the Kochi franchisee directing them to register their joint venture under the Companies Act within 10 days or face action.

Controversy had dogged the new team following a spat between Tharoor and former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi over the ownership of Rendezvous Sports World.

Sunanda Pushkar had held 18 per cent free equity in the RSW and had returned it after the controversy broke out and Tharoor resigned.

Hilfenhaus triple rocks India

Ben Hilfenhaus grabbed three key wickets in the final session to boost Australia's hopes of winning the opening Test against India.

India, needing 216 to win in their second innings, were wobbling at 55-4 at stumps on the penultimate day, with Hilfenhaus finishing with 3-22 off seven sharp overs.

With VVS Laxman suffering from a stiff back, India's hopes largely depended on Sachin Tendulkar who was unbeaten with 10. Nightwatchman Zaheer Khan was batting on five.

Opener Gautam Gambhir was unlucky to be given out leg-before in Hilfenhaus's opening over as TV replays suggested he had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.

Rahul Dravid (13) was caught behind off Doug Bollinger, while Virender Sehwag (17) and Suresh Raina (0) fell to short rising deliveries from Hilfenhaus.

Sehwag was caught by Michael Hussey at gully, while Raina was caught by Marcus North in the slips.

Ishant Sharma earlier grabbed three big wickets in two sensational overs as Australia were bowled out for 192 in their second innings.

He removed Shane Watson (56), skipper Ricky Ponting (four) and Michael Clarke (four) in the opening two overs of his second spell in the morning.

There was no hint of a collapse when Australia reached 87 without loss following an attractive half-century from Watson, but Sharma jolted the tourists with three wickets for just eight runs.

Spinners Harbhajan Singh (2-40) and Pragyan Ojha (2-59) kept pressure on the middle order on a wearing track, before Zaheer (3-43) ended the innings with the last three wickets.

Off-spinner Harbhajan trapped Hussey (28) leg-before and then had North (10) caught by close-in substitute fielder Cheteshwar Pujara.

Left-arm spinner Ojha had Simon Katich caught behind after the opener had batted patiently for his 37 runs. Both Katich and Hussey completed 4,000 Test runs during their knocks.

Australia's batting problems began when Watson dragged a Sharma delivery on to his stumps after hitting one six and seven fours in his 59-ball knock. Three balls later, Sharma removed Ponting who pulled straight to Raina at backward square-leg.

The Indian paceman nearly got a third wicket in his opening over of the second spell when he had Clarke caught by Sehwag at short mid-wicket. But it was declared a no-ball after on-field umpire Billy Bowden of New Zealand consulted TV umpire Sanjay Hazare.

Sharma did not have to wait long for his next success as he had Clarke caught behind for four runs in his next over.

Watson batted aggressively in the morning, punishing both seamers and spinners. With Sharma looking unimpressive in his opening two-over spell, India introduced spin after five overs but failed to put pressure on the Australian openers.

Watson greeted Ojha with a four and then a six over long-on in the same over. He completed his 10th Test half-century off just 51 balls, flicking Harbhajan for two runs.

India were bowled out for 405 in their first innings on Sunday in reply to Australia's 428.

Mohali Test: Zaheer and Ponting get into verbal spat

India's fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Australia captain Ricky Ponting got into a verbal spat on Friday in the first Test which got underway from Friday at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium.

The incident occurred when Ponting was run out for 71 by a direct throw by Suresh Raina.

As Ponting was walking out, Zaheer, who was in a huddle with his teammates, seemed to make a remark and the Australian skipper turned and walked back to the Indian pacer pointing his bat at him.

As the two got into a heated exchange of words, umpire Billy Bowden rushed in to calmed them down.

Though the other Indian players, who were having drinks at the fall of the wicket, did not react, skipper Mahender Singh Dhoni could be seen restraining Zaheer from proceeding towards Ponting.

The incident is likely to be reported by the umpires to the match referee Chris Broad.

Australia had elected to bat after winning the toss on the first day of the Mohali Test.

Ind vs Aus, 1st Test, Chandigarh

Shane Watson made the most of two dropped catches to score a century as Australia posted 224-5 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against India. 

The Australian opener, let off on nought and 37, made an unbeaten 101 for his second Test hundred to help his side recover from an early blow with a 141-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Ricky Ponting (71). 

Watson, who cracked a century in each innings of a practice game before the Test, completed his hundred in the final session when he turned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to deep square-leg for two runs. 

He has so far cracked eight fours in his 279-ball knock. Tim Paine was the other not-out batsman on one. 

India did not allow Australia to seize the initiative despite Watson's hundred as left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan grabbed three big wickets, including two in the final session. 

The fast bowler trapped Michael Hussey leg-before and then bowled Marcus North for duck. Hussey faced 76 balls for his 17 runs.