Gurunath Meiyappan arrested by Mumbai Police for betting

Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and son-in-law of the BCCI president N Srinivasan, has been formally arrested by Mumbai Police on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud. The development, late on Friday night, is the most serious setback to the IPL in its six-year history and has serious implications for the BCCI as well given the names involved.

As of early Saturday morning there was no news of an emergency BCCI meeting but it is expected that events will move fast through the day, to discuss the issue of leadership - though Srinivasan insisted he would not step down - and also Chennai Super Kings' participation in the IPL final on Sunday.

Gurunath had been summoned to Mumbai for questioning over betting and links to bookies and flew in on Friday evening.

"We have interrogated Mr Gurunath after he arrived here at the crime branch headquarters," Himanshu Roy, the joint commissioner of Mumbai Police, said. "We have gone through questioning with him in detail and after due deliberation, we have arrived at the conclusion there is evidence of involvement in offence we are investigating and therefore he has been placed under arrest. He will be produced in court within 24 hours as per law."

Reports suggest Gurunath's interrogation in Mumbai will continue through Friday night, and he will also be confronted with Virender "Vindoo" Dara Singh, the actor arrested earlier this week for alleged contact with bookies. Police investigations suggested that Vindoo and Gurunath were in frequent telephonic contact. Vindoo was also seen in the CSK box at IPL matches.

Gurunath's lawyer PS Raman said: "We are exploring all legal possibilities. We are waiting for the remand report before reading the charges against him."

Srinivasan had not commented in public since the reports first emerged on Wednesday that his son-in-law was linked to the IPL scandal, but after the arrest he maintained he would not resign as BCCI president. "I have done nothing wrong," he told NDTV. "I am not resigning, the board is largely supportive of me."

Gurunath's connection to Super Kings was the subject of dispute through the day. He was the public face of the franchise, his Twitter handle said he was the "team principal", he was seen as Super Kings' representative at auctions and at IPL owners' meetings. Yet on Friday evening India Cements, the owners of the franchise and of which Srinivasan is the managing director, said Gurunath was only an honorary member of the team management.

The implications of Gurunath's arrest involve both Super Kings, who have qualified for the final to be played on May 26, and Srinivasan.

His arrest brings into question Super Kings' participation in the final - under IPL rules, the BCCI-IPL can terminate a franchise agreement "with immediate effect if: c) The Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/ or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League) and/ or the game of cricket."

More importantly, and with wider implication, Srinivasan's position within the BCCI is likely to be under serious threat - not only because Meiyappan happens to be his son-in-law but because Srinivasan heads India Cements, who are owners of the Super Kings. The conflict of interest that arises from Srinivasan's dual position as BCCI president and de facto owner of an IPL franchise now has a serious immediate implication: he will, as board president, have to oversee any disciplinary action against either Gurunath or the franchise. 

Ind vs WI: Munaf in as India elect to bowl against West Indies

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to bowl against West Indies in the third and final Test of the series at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.

India made one change to the playing XI that drew the second Test in Barbados last Sunday.

Munaf Patel returns from a lingering elbow injury and replaces fellow seamer Abhimanyu Mithun.

West Indies made two changes, with batsmen Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan losing their places due to poor form.

Kieran Powell, a 21-year-old left-hander from Nevis, comes in for Simmons at the top of the order, while Edwards, a right-hander from Barbados, takes Sarwan's spot.

The Indians, who are ranked the top Test side in the world, lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 63 runs inside four days at Sabina Park in Jamaica. They also had the better part of the rain-hit second Test in Barbados which finished in a draw.

Out of form young batsmen seem to be India's only concern as they aim to sign off their Caribbean sojourn on a high by clinching the final Test.

The West Indies bowling in this series so far has been extremely testing, especially the pace. They've made the Indian batsman wince at the prospect of facing the new ball and have steadfastly maintained that short-pitched bowling is the correct way to cause any disorder in the Indian camp.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (Capt.), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels.

I play for India and not for captains, says Yuvraj

KOLKATA: Rubbishing rumours that he refused to play under the leadership of co-player Suresh Raina, Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh Wednesday said he plays for India and not for captains of the cricket team.

"The question is totally baseless. I was badly ill. I have started training. It is totally baseless that I have denied playing under Suresh Raina. I play for India and my team, and not for any captain," said said Yuvraj while addressing a programme of 'Emotional Atyachaar - Season 3' here.

After he was dropped from the West Indies tour on medical grounds, there has been a buzz that Yuvraj has refused to play under the leadership of Raina who is junior to him in terms of experience and years of international cricket.

"I have played under Sourav, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir. I have played under so many captains. And Gautam and MS came to the team five years after I got included in the team. There has been no such thing. I play for my country and not for captains," said Yuvraj.

Yuvraj also expressed his disappointment over being all alone during the tough times of his international career.

"In these ten years of international cricket, I have learnt many things that when you are successful and you are in limelight there are many people beside you. But when there are tough times, only near and dear ones stand beside you, otherwise you are all alone," said Yuvraj when asked whether the World Cup success has matured him more as human being.

Asked if there is a tussle going on between him and Salman Khan as both of them are the most eligible bachelors of the country, Yuvraj said: "I don't know what to say on that. I think he is the most eligible because he is a rock star. First, let him get married then I will also marry."

Tendulkar's Dream Home ready, He will shift soon

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar made his miss West Indies tour. Had reason to be tired than cricket. In Mumbai at the moment of rest they were hardly luck. The reason is that he is all set to shift in his Dream Home. At the time he is at Juhu's La Mer apartment living. His bungalow in nearby Perry Cross Road has been prepared. The interior designing and finishing the job of just running.

Bungalow on June 11 a special prayer was conducted. Now everyone is waiting for house warming party. Sachin's new bungalow to shift house warming party invitation as a friend and relative are waiting. To discuss the invitation is coming soon.

Look out it seems but actually is three-storey bungalow have five-storey. Half are under the ground floor of the villa. All this is due to the restricted height, the bungalow makes CRZ -2 zone. Bungalow lower basement car parking and security setup has been placed on purpose. Additional basement kitchen and the servant quarters.

Ground floor meeting and dining area as has been developed. The cricket mementoes and photographs of the place of performance is memorable. The top floor is the children. Top floor and his wife Anjali Tendulkar is the master bedroom.

We can beat India, says Windies skipper Sammy

KINGSTON (Jamaica): World number one they might be but India are a depleted side right now and West Indies skipper Darren Sammy says this, along with favourable home conditions, gives his team the belief that upstaging the visitors is not that tough a task.

"It's been the pitch that suits our style...it's not where the ball would spin past the bat and better firepower (in the bowling) always has the best chance against the Indians," remarked an assured Sammy ahead of the first Test on Monday.

West Indies have four fast bowlers, including Sammy, at their command though the skipper wasn't going to tell if Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards would all play.

All he would say is that the bouncy pitch should work to his team's advantage.

"We expect our batsmen to be more confident. They would have much more time and patience is required. When we chased down 250 here (in the last one-day international), we had a game plan. Unlike previous games, the ball wasn't spinning past the bat. It suited our batsmen and I expect them to be confident," he said.

"I think our batters prefer their chances against (Indian) bowlers. It is not to underestimate their bowling. It was bouncing in the last one-day game and we managed to restrict them. In Test cricket you need to have lot of runs, wickets and patience. Hopefully we would do it and come out victorious," he added.

But when it came to fielding, Sammy struck a cautionary note, mindful that his side has been dropping catches by dozens in Tests lately.

"In any cricket, there is a saying that catches win matches. We didn't do well against Pakistan and as you would've noticed, there is a lot more stress on slip-catching, bat-pad catches and those sort of things and the guys looked good," he said.

Sammy said a total of 300 should be a good enough first innings total on the hard and bouncy Sabina Park pitch.

"Against England here, two years ago, they made 300 in the first innings and lost. Australia made 250 and managed to beat us by 60 runs.

"If we can restrict them to below 300 and take a good lead, it would be good," he said.

Indeed, West Indies could have an issue in short-listing their 11 for the Test and calls to the radio networks were questioning if Sammy deserved to hold his place in the team.

"The rule, since I played Test cricket, was to understand my role as a stock bowler. Every time I play cricket, I try to fulfill the role which has been passed on to me by my team and do it to the best of my ability.

"Throughout my career, I have bowled with the same pace and more frequently than not, I have managed to do it for the West Indies."

Sammy has picked up 39 wickets from his 13 Tests and bowled his medium-pacers at a good economy rate of 2.82 runs per over. But his batting has been disappointing as only 379 runs have accrued from 22 innings at 17.23 with not a single half century to his credit.

"Playing as an all-rounder, you want to contribute and I haven't batted that well. It's a good time to start putting runs on the board."

Sammy says he sees promise in his young batters, who would bag the first three spots in the line up.

"Barath got a century in his first Test and usually if he is past his 50, he has the mental capability to go on. Young (Darren) Bravo struck form in last one-day game. His Test record is very good," he said.

"We may be short on experience but the guys are capable to do the job required."

Sammy believes the critical Jamaican crowd would inspire them to a better performance.

"We have always done well in Jamaica. The crowd here is very critical. If you are not doing well, they would let you know," he said.

"The guys have it at the back of their mind; there are constant reminders from the crowd. If you are not in good position, the crowd will be on your back."