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Under scanner left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha today found a surprise visitor in legendary Bishan Singh Bedi, who dropped in at the Feroz Shah Kotla on the final day of the Duleep Trophy final to have an interactive session with him and three others.
Former left-arm spinner Bedi spoke to Ojha, new batting sensation KL Rahul, talented Baba Aparajith and leggie Shreyash Gopal in a separate lounge room of the Kotla pavilion.
"I laud Pragyan for wearing half-sleeves while bowling. It is a brave attitude indeed I must say. He (Pragyan) knew where he was going wrong all along but he is working on it. I wish him all the best," Bedi said.
Ojha, who has 113 wickets from 24 Tests, first time bowled wearing half-sleeves during South Zone's Duleep Trophy semi-final against East Zone.
The youngsters heard the legendary left-arm spinner with rapt attention as he spoke for about an hour and half "on the game, its mental aspects and ways to succeed at the next level."
Bedi picked up young Rahul for special praise.
"I watched Rahul's centuries on television. I wanted to personally congratulate him. He is a fine young player and I am hopeful that he will serve Indian cricket for a long time," said the former India captain, who has 266 wickets in 67 Tests.
PCB rubbishes reports on Malik's action being suspect
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified that former captain Shoiab Mailk's action was not under scanner as reported in the media.
An unnamed PCB spokesman was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper that media reports that claimed that Malik's action was reported for being suspect, were baseless.
"We have not received any report on Shoaib Malik's bowling action from any umpire or referee during the Quaid Trophy," a PCB spokesman told the newspaper.
Malik also rubbished the reports and said he was working hard to make a comeback to the national side for the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
"The news about my bowling action being reported are baseless and I am trying my level best to make a successful return to the Pakistan team," Malik said.
"I am regularly playing four-day games and will not hesitate in playing club or league matches for rediscovering my form," Malik, who married India's tennis star Sania Mirza, added.
‘Don't wanna talk about abandoned India tour’
West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy has refused to talk about his team's abandoned tour of India, which prompted the BCCI to seek damages to the tune of $42 million from the Caribbean Board.
Sammy who is participating in the Ram Slam Twenty20 tournament for local team Titans, Sammy presented a straight bat when asked about the series, which his team left after the fourth ODI owing to an unresolved pay dispute.
"I am not short of cricket, as we played in India. I don't really want to talk about the (abandoned) tour. We have always engaged well with India, and we have had a good relationship with them," Sammy was quoted as saying by the media here.
West Indies' decision to leave the series, comprising five ODIs, three Tests and a Twenty20, forced the BCCI to invite Sri Lanka as replacement.