Former India captain Sourav Ganguly backed the new "red card" rule in cricket, saying the modification of the rules was required since players' conduct was becoming an issue at the lower level of the game.
Ganguly is one of the 11 members of the world cricket committee, chaired by Mike Brearley of MCC, which announced the new Laws of Cricket, to be incorporated in the ICC Playing Conditions.
"The changes in the law was necessary. It's a good thing. It may not be prevalent in India but there have been many incidents at lower level cricket in countries like South Africa and England. You won't know the importance unless you see the video footage," Ganguly said on Wednesday.
He was referring to the Level 4 offences like threatening to assault an umpire, making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire, physically assaulting a player or any other person and committing any other act of violence which can result in a player being sent off for rest of the match.
"It's passed by our committee at the MCC for such incidents," Ganguly said.
India A to play pink-ball match against New Zealand A
Pink ball will be used in the second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A, starting Saturday in Vijayawada, but it will not be a day-night affair.
The BCCI had experimented with the pink ball during the ongoing Duleep Trophy and it will now extend its trial to the second unofficial Test, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.
However, the match would be played during the day as opposed to the practice of playing under lights due to the absence of floodlights at the newly built Dr. Gokaraju Liala Gangaaraju ACA Cricket Ground in Mulapadu.
The BCCI consulted New Zealand Cricket before taking the decision.
India A had won the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A by an innings and 31 runs with spinners Karn Sharma and Shabhaz Nadeem sharing 16 wickets between them.
BCCI secy is violating SC diktat: Verma to COA
Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing case, has written a letter to the Committee of Administrators (COA), alleging consistent violation of Supreme Court orders by the BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary.
In his letter to COA chief Vinod Rai, Verma, who is the secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), wrote: "Amitabh Chaudhary submitted an undertaking before the Apex Court that he has resigned from the post of President, Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) and he would be ensuring the implementation of the reforms.
"However, the RTI filed with State Bank of India (SBI), Bistupur, Jamshedpur Branch reveals that Amitabh Chaudhary is still operating the account the bank account of the Association as its signatory."
Verma also submitted transaction statement of the particular bank account.
As per Lodha Committee directive, Amitabh Chaudhary has completed more than three years as the office bearer of JSCA and is not supposed to hold any post in his state association.
However, Verma alleged that Chaudhary convened a meeting of the Ranchi District Cricket Association.
"It is also noteworthy that Amitabh Chaudhary convened an Annual General Meeting of the Ranchi District Cricket Association as the Chairman of the Ranchi District Cricket Association. It is made clear that despite the undertaking, he is still holding the post of the Chairman of Ranchi District Cricket Association, a body affiliated to JharkhandState Cricket Association."
BCCI disburses Rs 75 crore for states units
The Committee of Administrators (COA) on decided to disburse funds to the tune of Rs 75 crore for various state units including those who are hosting international matches this season.
"The BCCI today decided to disburse Rs 75 crore in all for various state units. It includes those associations who have also raised invoices," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Wednesday.
"The COA decided to disburse the amount to multiple units including those hosting matches, this international season. The decision was taken at the COA meeting in Mumbai today."
MV Sridhar steps down as BCCI's cricket operations head
Dr M V Sridhar has stepped down from the post of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) general manager (cricket operations) following allegations of 'conflict of interest'.
His decision was approved by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) during its meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would like to inform that Dr M.V. Sridhar, General Manager - Cricket Operations, has decided to move on with effect from Saturday, 30th September 2017," the BCCI said in a statement.
"On behalf of the BCCI, Amitabh Choudhary - Hony. Acting Secretary and Rahul Johri - CEO thanked Dr Sridhar for his services. The BCCI wishes him the very best for future endeavours," the statement further said.
Dr. Sridhar, the former secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) before being appointed in his role by former BCCI chief N Srinivasan, has been under the scanner for quite a some time now, with allegations of financial impropriety in his home state association.
Dr. Sridhar had failed to disclose the facts about him owning clubs in the jurisdiction of the HCA.
The disclosure was a part of an exercise which was undertaken by the CoA to start implementing the 'conflict of interest'-related guidelines among BCCI employees.
