PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf declines BCCI invitation for IPL final Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf, who was invited by the BCCI to watch the final of the Indian Premier League, on Saturday declined to attend the event citing his busy schedule at home.

"Zaka Ashraf is tied up in some commitments in Pakistan at the moment so he wouldn't be going to attend the final for which he was invited by the BCCI," the spokesman said.

Sources in the board said Ashraf had been advised to not visit India because of the spot-fixing scandal that had hit the mega-event last week.

"It was thought it would be better now for him to remain away from the IPL spotlight as other boards have also indicated their representatives will not be in Kolkata for the final," one source said....more    
09:44 PM, May 25, 2013

IPL: Police to probe if Meiyappan placed bets, traded insider info Mumbai: It is a controversy that's caught the interest of the entire nation. Chennai Super Kings team principal and son-in-law of BCCI chief N Srinivasan Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested by the Mumbai Police amidst high drama. Later, a defiant Srinivasan refused to step down. Meiyappan was sent to police custody till May 29 after a three-hour long argument in a court. A tired looking Meiyappan had earlier been interrogated for...  
08:41 PM, May 25, 2013

Sachin unlikely to play in final against Chennai
by IANS
Kolkata: Mumbai Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar who has been nursing a wrist and hand injury is unlikely to play the Indian Premier League final against Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. "Sachin is doubtful for tomorrow's (Sunday) game. Although we will take a call on his availability tomorrow but in all probability, he is unlikely to play the game," Mumbai coach John Wright told media persons here...  
08:39 PM, May 25, 2013

Future uncertain, CSK out to hunt Mumbai for third title Kolkata: They have disowned their CEO, refused to admit he is their owner and now face an uncertain future in the Indian Premier League, but Chennai Super Kings will live another day. Live for maybe their last day of existence and fight for their third title in just six years of the IPL - against Mumbai Indians. It's not the ideal way to prepare for a title clash. Players, however...  
08:12 PM, May 25, 2013

CSK players, staff distressed over IPL scandal: coach Fleming Kolkata: Apologising on behalf of MS Dhoni, who could not attend the pre-match conference, Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said on Saturday that the team players and support staff are distressed about the news related to the franchise. Fleming said that everyone in the team management was proud to have represented CSK in the past six seasons and that none of their players had any knowledge of betting or...  
07:33 PM, May 25, 2013

Rain threat looms over IPL final
by IANS
Kolkata: With the met office forecasting "rain or thunder showers likely in some places" in the city on Sunday, Indian Premier League (IPL) fans will be fervently praying for the rain gods to spare the Eden Gardens scheduled to host final between two-time champions Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. According to an official of the Alipore Meterological department, overall the sky will remain partly cloudy. "For the next 24...  
07:28 PM, May 25, 2013

BCCI President wields power to cancel requisitioned SGM Mumbai: There may be a big clamour to oust N Srinivasan through a Special General Meeting (SGM) following the arrest of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in the IPL betting charges, but such a meeting can be postponed or even stopped from taking place by the BCCI President. The Board chief has been bestowed with powers to scuttle even a requisitioned SGM of the Board convened for this purpose, as per...  
06:42 PM, May 25, 2013

Bindra seeks 'arrogant' Srinivasan's ouster New Delhi: Former BCCI President IS Bindra on Saturday demanded immediate removal of incumbent N Srinivasan due to the ongoing IPL spot-fixing scandal, calling him "arrogant" and insisting that his continuance would damage Indian cricket. "I have been keeping quiet on this issue but his statement that he will not step down, in Mumbai today, shows that he is as arrogant as ever," Bindra told PTI. "I demand that he...  
06:38 PM, May 25, 2013

Farah Khan: I don't think I am a supermom
by IANS
Mumbai: A mother of three, choreographer-turned-filmmaker Farah Khan, who is all set to step into a judge's shoes for the new season of dance reality show 'Dance Indian Dance - Supermoms' says she stands nowhere in comparison to the show's contestants. Farah is a mother of five-year-old triplets - son Czar and daughters Diva and Anya. She is impressed to see the talent on the show, which features mothers competing...  
05:36 PM, May 25, 2013

Bob Fernley says costs threaten some Formula One teams Monaco: Some Formula One teams face a fight for survival next season when engine costs more than double, Force India deputy principal Bob Fernley said on Saturday. "You shouldn't underestimate the resolve of Formula One teams, they are incredibly resilient and probably will come through," the Briton said at the Monaco Grand Prix. "But to add to the level of costs to the teams at this time in an economic...  
05:09 PM, May 25, 2013

Indian movie makers eye worldwide sales Cannes: When actor Eliyas Qureshi swapped Bollywood for Hollywood 15 years ago, the only roles for Indian actors were 'cab drivers, doctors and terrorists'. Since then, the 42-year-old New York-based actor says he has played every south Asian stereotype in the book, from a would-be suicide attacker in Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' to Michael Douglas's taxi driver in 'Wall Street'. Although things have started to change "drastically for the...  
05:08 PM, May 25, 2013

No miracles to resolve India-China disputes: Antony Ezhimala: Noting that a spirit of cooperation and competition prevailed between India and China, Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said negotiations to resolve the disputes between the two will take their own time and he does not expect any "miracles". "It is cooperation and competition... naturally. Both are neighbours and we have to work together. There are many areas where our relations are growing and disputes in some areas...  
04:04 PM, May 25, 2013

IPL scandal: Meiyappan sent to police custody till May 29 Mumbai: BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been sent to police custody till May 29 in the Indian Premier League betting and spot-fixing case. Meiyappan tried to defend himself in court on Friday. Meiyappan's lawyer told the court that the police were not justified in seeking Meiyappan's custody only to recover his mobile phones. Sources say the Mumbai Police told court that Meiyappan placed bets during the Indian...  
03:56 PM, May 25, 2013

Chidambaram to visit Dubai to woo investors New Delhi: With a view to seek foreign investments, Finance Minister P Chidambaram will be visiting Dubai on Sunday to sell India's growth story to sovereign wealth funds. The Minister is scheduled to meet his counterpart in Dubai and also hold bilateral consultations with the SWFs (Sovereign Wealth Funds) in his day-long visit to the Gulf nation, an official source said. The visit is part of Chidambaram's global tour to...  
03:45 PM, May 25, 2013

Meiyappan discussed team strategy with bookies: police sources Mumbai: The Mumbai Police on Saturday told court that BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan placed bets during the Indian Premier League through actor Vindoo Dara Singh and bookie Jupiter. Sources say calls were made while the match was on. Police sources also say that Meiyappan discussed match strategy with bookies. The police say they have got call details of four phones of Meiyappan, but are yet to seize...  
03:11 PM, May 25, 2013

How Mumbai Indians made it to the IPL 6 final Mumbai Indians entered this season of the IPL as serious contenders for the title and through some good cricket have set up a rematch of the 2010 final against Chennai Super Kings. Here, we take a look at how Mumbai's season has panned out. 1st match, v RCB in Bangalore - lost by two runs Royal Challengers Bangalore, inspired by Chris Gayle and indebted to Vinay Kumar, made a winning...  
03:06 PM, May 25, 2013

Chennai Super Kings' road to the IPL 6 final Without a doubt the most powerful IPL franchise - if not in all Twenty20 cricket - Chennai Super Kings have lived up to expectations by making it to their fifth IPL final in six season. Here, we take a look at how CSK's season has panned out. 1st match, v MI in Chennai - lost by nine runs CSK opened the tournament with a narrow defeat to the team they...  
02:51 PM, May 25, 2013

Experience of playing five finals will help Chennai: Karthik Kolkata: Mumbai batsman Dinesh Karthik says Sunday's IPL final will be cracker of a game but the experience of playing five title-clashes gives defending champions Chennai Super Kings a certain edge. Mumbai will play in their second final, having finished runners-up to Chennai in 2010. "It`s going to be a good game. We are two evenly-matched teams. They have the upper hand of having played a few finals before. For...  
02:44 PM, May 25, 2013

No exodus of Indians from Saudi Arabia: officials Jeddah: Terming the 'Nitaqat' law as an "opportunity" for those who are stuck in Saudi Arabia for years, India on Saturday said that contrary to perceptions, the number of Indians coming to the Gulf Kingdom has increased "significantly" in the last few months. "There is no exodus of people. The number of Indians who have come to Saudi Arabia in the past three months have risen significantly according to Saudi...  
02:21 PM, May 25, 2013

IPL scandal: BCCI President Srinivasan leaves for Mumbai Madurai: Embattled BCCI President N Srinivasan, whose son-in-law and owner of Chennai Super Kings Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested on Friday night for his alleged involvement in IPL betting scandal, left Madurai for Mumbai. Srinivasan, whose departure came on a day when the BCCI is set to meet in Kolkata on Saturday night against the backdrop of the spot-fixing controversy, declined to talk to the waiting mediapersons. Meiyappan was arrested by...  
01:10 PM, May 25, 2013