SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015 BCCI Pepsi working to resolve IPL ‘concerns’ MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) is confident they can address the concerns of PepsiCo amid local media reports the global food and beverage giant wants to end its title sponsorship of the scandal-hit Indian Premier League (IPL). Cricket lords over other sports in India and teams in the IPL, with a $3.5 billion estimated brand value, count Bollywood stars and major conglomerates such as Reliance Industries as investors. PepsiCo bagged the IPL title sponsorship rights in 2012 for five years (2013-17) for 3.97 billion Indian rupees ($61.31 million), almost double that DLF, India’s biggest listed property developer, paid for the rights from 2008- 12. The Twenty20 league has been dogged by corruption allegations for years and in July a panel set up by India’s top court recommended suspending the franchise owners of two teams for two years following an illegal betting and spot-fixing scandal. Reports said PepsiCo’s decision was based on issues that have brought the game into “disrepute”. “BCCI and PepsiCo have had a longstanding cordial relationship and have been in discussions to work out a solution which addresses PepsiCo’s concerns. Both parties will share it when ready,” the board and the company said in a joint statement. The statement gave no further details on the specific issues at stake. Around 90 percent of the advertisement money targeted at sports in India goes to cricket, analysts say, and one of the two teams that the court-appointed panel recommended for suspension is owned by India COLOMBO: West Indies cricketers Rajindra Chandrika (L) and Kraigg Brathwaite (C) run between the wickets as Sri Lankan Cements. President’s XI cricketer Vishwa Fernando looks on during the first day of the three-day practice match between the West Indies and Sri Lankan President’s XI team at The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo yesterday. —AFP The panel was established by India’s Supreme Court after a separate committee had carried out the investiga- tion into the scandal, which broke in 2013. More than two dozen people, including players, offi- India’s number six conundrum cials and bookmakers, were arrested by Indian police. Many were later charged with various offences. Three players-S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan- stays ahead of T20 World Cup were charged with spot-fixing, the term given to incidents in a match that may not affect the final result but can easi- MUMBAI: With five months to go series,” team director Ravi Shastri told skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and ly attract illegal bets. A typical example in cricket is when before nextyear’s World Twenty20 at reporters after Thursday’s abandoned Suresh Raina have often provided the home, former champions India’s search match. late flourish. a bowler deliberately delivers a wide or a no-ball. for an enforcer in the lower middle “It’s a young team, we’re still figur- Unfortunately for them, Dhoni The panel also recommended that Gurunath order shows no sign of ending anytime ing out on what will be our best com- looked out of touch and Raina unsure Meiyappan and Raj Kundra be banned for life from the soon. bination and the best way forward.” of his role in the two matches against sport after both were found guilty of betting on matches India mostly play one-off matches in Shastri was right in pointing at the rel- South Africa. India tried Ambati and passing on information to bookmakers. the shortest format of the game and ative inexperience of the side in Rayudu too but the 30-year-old is Meiyappan is the son-in-law of Narayanswamy are ranked sixth in the world, just Twenty20 Internationals even though clearly not the answer to their quest Srinivasan, the current chairman of the International behind South Africa who won the first the players are well-versed with the for a player who can tear apart the Cricket Council and the managing director of India two games of a three-match series format and feature regularly in the opposition in the final five overs. Cements. Kundra is a former co-owner of the other sus- with the final Twenty20 abandoned Indian Premier League (IPL). “We are very keen to see the month pended franchise, Rajasthan Royals. due to a wet outfield in Kolkata. Though teeming with exciting of December when all the one-day “We are in constant contact with them. We are working Winners of the inaugural World strokemakers, most of the India top competitions are scheduled,” former Twenty20 in 2007, India will play more and middle order batsmen need time India captain Shastri added. “The No. 6 out a solution,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters 20-over matches in Australia and at to get their eyes in before they can position has a different role in 50-over on Friday. “We are addressing their concerns and they are home against Sri Lanka early next year accelerate. The brevity of the format cricket, but an extremely important addressing our concerns. “I think talks are going on in a as they look to seal their best combina- does not always allow such luxury and role in T20 cricket. “The team that very cordial relationship. They have been our long-stand- tion for the March 11-April 3 biennial while India do not have a power-hitter goes on to win the World T20, you will ing partners. So I don’t think there will be any problem tournament. “As a unit we have played of the calibre of Australian Glenn see that their No. 6 batsman could be a and we will work it out.” —Reuters very little T20 cricket in bilateral Maxwell or West Indian Kieron Pollard, very crucial player.” —Reuters Taylor, Bell gear up with fifties in tour game SHARJAH: James Taylor and Ian Bell hit openers Alex Hales (nine) and Moeen Ali may earn him a place in the first Test. his 123-ball stay. For Pakistan ‘A’ left-arm half-centuries in the drawn two-day game also failed with seven. Jonny Bairstow, who made a half-cen- paceman Mir Hamza finished with 4-34 against Pakistan ‘A’ yesterday, to gear up That leaves England’s problems over tury in the first warm-up match, fell for while Junaid Khan and Zafar Gohar took for the more challenging three-Test series top order batting unresolved as they want nought while all-rounder Ben Stoke also two wickets apiece. starting next week. either Ali or Hales to partner skipper failed to score, his second failure on the The two teams will also play four one- Taylor hit 61 and Bell scored 53 as Alastair Cook in the first of three Tests tour. day and three Twenty20 internationals England made an unimpressive 198-9 on against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi on Bell and Taylor added 102 for the third after the Tests. Abbreviated Scores: the second and final day at Sharjah cricket October 13. wicket before the later retired to give oth- Pakistan ‘A’ 192-9 dec (Adnan Akmal ground. Pakistan ‘A’ had made 192-9 Since the match was a non-first class ers some batting practice. Bell hit four 74 not out; S. Finn 4-16, Adil Rashid 3-53). declared in their knock. But apart from encounter, Ali was allowed two innings boundaries and a six during his sedate England 198-9 (J. Taylor 61, I. Bell 53 Taylor and Bell only Jos Buttler made any but he only managed 11 in the second 100-ball stint. retired not out; Mir Hamza 4-34) Match significant contribution with 39, while outing. His bowling being a plus point Taylor knocked six boundaries during drawn. — AFP.