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The Madras High Court has directed Prasar Bharti, the national broadcaster, to telecast the upcoming series between India and Pakistan and has permitted them to engage any producer except Zee Telefilms and ESPN-Star.The Indian board has welcomed the order and said that it will take necessary action as per the court’s direction. “We welcome the court order,” SK Nair, the board secretary, was reported as saying on the NDTV website. “We will take necessary action as per the high court direction.” Nair added that the board will take action after obtaining the details of the court order.Ten Sports and Sony, two rival channels, have expressed their interest to produce the series. Kunal Dasgupta, the chief of Sony India, told the Press Trust of India: “We are interested to produce the series and would approach the BCCI on the matter, though finer details in the judgement are yet to be seen.” Sony got international rights for 31 cricketing days last year, and were also responsible for telecast of the World Cup in South Africa.The Indian board had earlier said that the Pakistan series, beginning next week, may be called off if the telecast issue was not resolved. KP Sivasubramanian, a judge in the Madras High Court, passed the ruling and added, “I am sure cricket fans will be happy now.” He said a final judgement would be made later in the writ petition filed by Zee Telefilms after it was denied the TV rights by the board last September.Doordarshan had also telecast the home series against Australia and South Africa earlier in the season on the advice of the Supreme Court. Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the board president, welcomed the interim order, saying all doubts about the Pakistan tour taking place had been removed. Mahendra told AFP: “We will abide by the court’s judgement and finalise the production details soon.”The Pakistan team are due to arrive here on Monday to play three Tests and six one-day internationals on their first full tour of India since 1999. The first Test is scheduled to begin in Mohali on March 8.

Ian Chappell, the legendary Australian captain, has come out with his thoughts on the Greg Chappell-Sourav Ganguly controversy and feels that Ganguly should have been prepared for an honest and ruthless answer the moment he asked for a “frank opinion”. Ian Chappell, Greg’s elder brother, described the manner in which they had been brought up and said he was least surprised by the way events unfolded.”Greg can be a very patient man, much more diplomatic than either his father or his elder brother,” wrote Ian Chappell in his column in ,a Mumbai-based tabloid. “However, if you don’t want to hear the truth, then don’t ask him for a frank opinion. Greg Chappell grew up in a household where frank opinions were served up at the breakfast table more often than cereal and fruit juice.”If Indian cricket wanted someone who would passionately seek to help players who wanted to improve, would do his utmost to put the best team on the field for every match without fear or favour and would offer a frank opinion when asked, then they were on the right track with Greg Chappell.”He mentioned Greg Chappell’s insistence on a high standard of fielding and fitness and said it was ingrained in them from an early age. “We all [Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell] had reputations for being either a good catcher or an excellent ground fielder,” he said. “As a player Greg maintained an exceedingly high standard in both facets of fielding and it used to get right up his nose when he felt others were being lazy in the field. It probably still does.” These comments come in the wake of Greg Chappell’s e-mail to the Indian board which said Ganguly was “no longer able to meet the standards of mental and physical fitness that international cricket demands.”The elder Chappell also pointed out the tough decisions in pursuit of success that Greg had taken when he captained Australia and later when he was appointed national selector. “Greg was part of a panel that took some tough decisions that eventually led to the lengthy period of success,” he wrote. “In drawing up the blueprint for a successful future, that panel sacked some talented but undisciplined players. They replaced them with skilful cricketers who had pride in their own performance as well as an extreme desire to achieve victory for the team.”

ScorecardDay 4
Bulletin – India wrap up series win
Quotes – ‘Ashraful played the best innings of the series’ – Ganguly
The Big Picture – Consolation Prize
Day 3
Bulletin – Ashraful heroics delay the inevitable
Verdict – Blossom in a bed of weeds
Quotes – ‘I’m disappointed that I could not save my team’ – Ashraful
Feature – The Rafique Story: Someone to emulate
The Big Picture – Remembering a legend
Day 2
Bulletin – India in command after making 540
Verdict – Little sparks in darkness
Roving Reporter – The difference a day makes
The Big Picture – No.35 can wait
Day 1
Bulletin – Gambhir and Dravid pile it on
Verdict – Toddler’s candy and the Ugly Sister
Exclusive – Dravid on his endurance
Stat of the day – Dravid’s hundreds in all Test countries
The Big Picture – That sinking feeling

Clive Leach, the former chief executive of Tyne Tees Television, has been appointed as Durham’s new chairman.”I am honoured to become involved with Durham, one of the most innovative and exciting counties in cricket”, said Leach. “The North East has always been important to me and I hope that through my business and cricketing background I can help realise the Durham dream of having a successful team, developing the Riverside and hosting regular high-profile international cricket.”Long-time followers of the county may remember Leach from his playingdays. He played for Durham between 1960 and 1964 after four years of first-class cricket with Warwickshire and was also the professional for Bishop Auckland CC between 1960 and 1963.Leach has strong links with the North East having started his 30 years in television working with Tyne Tees. On his retirement from television in 1993 he was Chairman and Chief Executive of Yorkshire Tyne Tees plc. In 2000 he was awarded the CBE for services to training and education.”On behalf of Durham CCC I would like to welcome Clive Leach to the Board”, said outgoing chairman Bob Jackson. “It has been a privilege and a challenge for me to be chairman of the club over the last year and I am looking forward to working with Clive in my role as vice-chairman.”Durham’s chief executive David Harker added: “The club has conducted a wide-ranging and comprehensive search for a nationally respected business leader with strong North East links and a love of cricket. I believe that in Clive we have found the ideal candidate.”

England’s injured spinner, Ashley Giles, is confident that he will be ready to take on Australia in the first Test at Brisbane next month, as he continues his rehabilitation from hip surgery.Giles is a non-playing member of England’s Champions Trophy squad, having not played a competitive game since the tour of Pakistan last winter. But he has been working hard in the nets at England’s base in Delhi, bowling up to 12 overs at a time and concentrating on his fitness.”I am here to finish off the end of my rehab, to bowl as much as I can and to make sure I am sharp when I arrive in Australia,” said Giles, 33, who was a valuable member of England’s Ashes-winning team in 2005. He took 10 wickets in the series, including all of Australia’s top eight, and scored valuable runs at crucial moments, particularly at Trent Bridge and The Oval.Giles has not been greatly missed this summer, however, with the emergence of Monty Panesar suggesting that England have found a multi-dimensional spinner capable of attack and defence in equal measure. But Giles is still sure he is worth his place in the side, and is convinced he can step straight back into the fray in Australia.”If I am happy with how I am bowling, even in net practice, I am willing to take on a Test match every time,” he told the BBC. “I could play any number of first-class games, feel like I’m bowling rubbish and not be confident. But if the ball is coming out well and I feel in good rhythm, that will be the sign to me.”As for the challenge posed by Panesar’s performances, Giles was phlegmatic. “He’s the guy who has done well, he’s in possession and it’s up to me to try to win that place back. If I don’t, I support. We showed last summer we play for each other and as a team. There can’t afford to be any divisions in our side.”

Scorecard

After two washouts on the opening days, and 37.1 overs on the third, the deluge returned to Bulawayo to wipe out the fourth day’s play at the Queens Sports Club. Bangladesh, however, will not be complaining, after slumping to 88 for 5 in what little time has been available.Bangladesh had started brightly enough on Saturday, with Hannan Sarkar and Shahriar Hossain adding 64 for the first wicket. But then five wickets tumbled for 23 runs, including the captain, Habibul Bashar, who at least scored his first four runs in his new role, after collecting a pair at Harare last week.With one day remaining, there is no doubt that this match will finish as a draw – only the second time in 28 matches that Bangladesh will have avoided defeat. As was the case against Zimbabwe at Dhaka in November 2001, rain will have had the major say.Zimbabwe 1 Dion Ebrahim, 2 Trevor Gripper, 3 Stuart Carlisle 4 Grant Flower, 5 Sean Ervine, 6 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 7 Travis Friend, 8 Heath Streak (capt), 9 Raymond Price, 10 Douglas Hondo, 11 Blessing Mahwire.Bangladesh 1 Hannan Sarker, 2 Shahriar Hossain, 3 Habibul Bashar (capt), 4 Rajin Saleh, 5 Mohammad Ashraful, 6 Mushfiqur Rahman, 7 Manjarul Islam Rana, 8 Khaled Mashud (wk), 9 Mohammad Rafique, 10 Tapash Baisya, 11 Alamgir Kabir.

Kent’s director of cricket, Ian Brayshaw, has turned down the offer of an extension to his contract, and will not be returning to Canterbury next season.”I have enjoyed every minute of my time at Kent,” said Brayshaw, who is to return home to Perth after two years. "I shall take with me many happy memories and am confident that the club will continue to perform at the top of English county cricket for many years to come.”Kent finished third in the Championship last season, and put a bad start to 2003 behind them to finish mid-table in Division One, although they still face relegation in the National League unless they can beat Warwickshire on Sunday. “The playing staff contains some highly talented cricketers who offer the club a really exciting future,” said Brayshaw. "In Simon Willis and Chris Stone the club have two excellent coaches.””Ian has made a huge contribution during his two years at Kent," said their chairman of cricket Mike Denness. “He has left us with his thoughts regarding the best possible coaching structure for the future. We will be giving these full consideration over the next few weeks before making any decision regarding his successor.”

The controversy sorrounding the alleged bribe offer to Indian selectors fromIndian cricket was been rocked by a potentially damaging controversy involving Abhijit Kale, a prolific batsman in domestic cricket. Allegations surfaced this evening that he had offered two Indian selectors Rs 10 Lakh (approx. US$21,860) for a place in the India A side. Kale denied the charge emphatically, but the Maharashtra Cricket Association said that Kale would be barred from turning out for the state until his name was cleared.Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian board, refused either to deny or confirm the allegation, saying that the BCCI’s lawyers were studying the matter seriously. “This matter has serious legal ramifications,” he told Wisden Cricinfo: “I will make a statement on it tomorrow.”Earlier in the day, NDTV, a news channel, had reported Professor Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s joint secretary, as making the allegations against Kale. The Press Trust of India, a news agency, quoted Shetty as saying: “The player had offered to pay money to a couple of selectors for a place in the India A team. I can assure you that stern action will be taken against the player.”Kale went on television and denied these charges vigorously. Speaking to NDTV, he said, “I am surprised by these allegations. I have played cricket for ten years and have scored 24 first-class centuries, and my record speaks for itself. There is no need for me to do all this.” Asked by Zee News if he had offered money to the two selectors concerned, Kiran More and Pranab Roy, Kale said, “I have never spoken to them.”Balasaheb Thorve, the president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, said that Kale would not be considered for selection again until he was cleared by the BCCI. “We shall not consider a tarnished player for selection,” he said. “However, we shall go by whatever the BCCI decides.” Maharashtra are scheduled to open their Ranji Trophy season with a plate-group match against Saurashtra at Rajkot on Nov 23. India A’s first match against the Sri Lankan tourists is also scheduled to begin on the same day, at Ahmedabad.Yajurvindra Singh, a former India player and the chairman of selectors of Maharashtra, told Wisden Cricinfo: “I am surprised by this news. I do not think Kale has the resources to offer this kind of a bribe.”Abhijit Kale started out as a prolific batsman in Mumbai’s age-group teams, but shifted to Maharashta where he soon became their leading batsman. After a couple of prolific Ranji seasons he made his way into the Indian set-up, but was discarded after a solitary one-day international, in which he scored 10.

ScorecardClaire Taylor scored an impressive 90 as England’s women continued their good form with a 124-run win against an Eastern Province-Border Invitation Women XI.After winning the toss, England A made a steady start with Charlotte Edwards scoring a careful 40, and Jane Smit contributed 26. The key partnership, however, was between Taylor and Lydia Greenway, who hit 22. The pair added 79 for the fourth wicket.England’s score of 225, in 42.4 overs, proved far too much for the EP-Border, who nevertheless used up all 50 overs to reach 101 for 9. Beth Morgan took 3 for 24 and Jenny Gunn claimed 2 for 18.It represented a good work out for England ahead of the first one-day international tomorrow.

Glamorgan recorded their third Championship win of the season as theydefeated Somerset by 110 runs at Sophia Gardens – a win that elevates the Welshcounty into fourth place in Division Two and maintains their bid for promotion.Resuming on 129/3 in their bid to score 424, Somerset were dealt an early blowwhen, after only 15 runs had been added in the morning, Jamie Cox was caught at cover pointby Matthew Maynard off Alex Wharf. Twenty runs later Wharf struck again as he clean bowledIan Blackwell, and it looked as if the match might be all over before lunch.However, Michael Burns, the visiting cptain, had other ideas, and together with Aaron Laraman,the pair took the score to 217-5 at the end of the morning session. Burns played freely all aroundthe wicket and after the interval he duly reached his first Championship hundred of the season, afterhaving batted for a shade over 3 hours, and having hit 17 fours.But by the time Burns had reached this landmark, inroads had been made at the other end, afterRobert Croft opted to take the new ball. Laraman was caught behind by Mark Wallace to give Alex Wharf histhird wicket, and then the young wicket-keeper took a superb catch diving low one-handed, to catchan edge by Rob Turner off the bowling of Michael Kasprowicz.Burns was then run-out by Adrian Dale after a mix-up with Keith Dutch, and despite a few defiant blows byKeith Dutch, the end finally came a quarter of an hour before tea as Dutch chipped a ball from Croftinto the hands of Dale at mid-wicket, as Somerset were bowled out for 313.Alex Wharf ended with figures of 4/90, whilst Michael Kasprowicz took 2/91 from 35 overs, and the seamerswholehearted efforts were singled out for praise afterwards by captain Robert Croft. “This was ahard fought victory, and a lot of credit must go to the seam bowlers for always being prepared to run in hardand to hit the wicket all day, which was no mean feat in this heat.”