Sachin - One Last Time [Photos]

Sachin - One Last Time

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar greets Sachin Tendulkar during the release of the postal stamp honouring the latter on his last Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

BCCI chief N Srinivasan, Union ministers Sharad Pawar, Kapil Sibbal and Milind Deora release the postal stamp honouring Sachin Tendulkar on his last Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium.

Sachin Tendulkar poses with a stamp book honouring him on his last Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Sachin Tendulkar enters the field to play his final and 200th test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The 'Litte Master' Sunil Gavaskar greets the 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar during the release of the postal stamp honouring the latter on his final Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium.

BCCI officials present a memento to Sachin Tendulkar on his last Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar arrives on his final and 200th test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

BCCI chief N Srinivasan, Union minister Sharad Pawar at Wankhede Stadium during the release of a postal stamp honouring Sachin Tendulkar on his 200th Test match against West Indies.

Sachin Tendulkar with Rohit Sharma and coach Duncan Fletcher on his final Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

West Indies' captain Darren Sammy presenting a memento to Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar on his final Test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar lined up with other team members on his final test match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

ICC Champions Trophy : 'Men in Blue' Proves Again; We Are No.1!

As team India lifted the elusive ICC Champions Trophy after beating England by five runs, there was a different kind of rain drenching the 'Men in Blue' in Edgbaston. Team India pocketed $2 million (approximately Rs 12 crore) by winning the last edition of the ICC tournament in Birmingham on Sunday.

The rain hasn't stopped as yet, the BCCI has announced Rs 1 crore for each member of the team, while the support staff gets 30 lakhs each.

India won the competition for the first time since its commencement, 38 years ago. MS Dhoni has now successfully led his boys to all the forms of ICC tournaments. Team India which is oozing confidence is now set to take on Sri Lanka and West Indies in an ODI tr-series in the Caribbean, starting 28th June.

Riding on unforgettable performances by the batsmen and brilliant performances by the bowlers, the World Champions are clear favourites for the tri-series.

Schedule of matches

June 28: West Indies vs India (Sabina Park, Jamaica)

June 30: West Indies vs Sri Lanka (Sabina Park)

July 2: India vs Sri Lanka (Sabina Park)

July 5: West Indies vs India (Queen's Park Oval,

Trinidad)

July 7: West Indies vs Sri Lanka (Queen's Park Oval)

July 9: Sri Lanka vs India (Queen's Park Oval)

July 11: 1st vs 2nd (Queen's Park Oval).

Indian Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan With Wife Ayesha Mukherjee

They both know how to turn on the heat -- he with his thundering drives and she with her million dollar smile. Shikhar Dhawan may've shone with his headline grabbing ton against Australia, but we'd like to call on stage his better half, the lovely half-Bong Ayesha Mukherjee (Ayesha Dhawan).

Mind you, Ayesha is not just another trophy wife. She loves sports and is an amateur boxer. "My mother is English and my father is Bengali, and I speak fluent Bengali. I have been visiting India often as I have many relatives here. Shikhar and I got acquainted through a social networking site. We were common friends of Harbhajan Singh on the site, and it was Bhajji who introduced us," said Ayesha Mukherjee right before the two had got engaged. Ayesha Mukherjee has two daughters from her earlier marriage.

Shikhar Dhawan & Ayesha Mukherjee were engaged way back in 2009, but Shikhar Dhawan whose career seemed to be going nowhere kept postponing the marriage for three long years.

Finally, in 2012, Shikhar Dhawan took the plunge and married Ayesha Mukherjee on October 30th, 2012 and it seems to have worked wonders for him.

INDIAN CRICKETER SHIKHAR DHAWAN PROFILE

Shikhar Dhawan was born on 5 December 1985 in Delhi to MP Dhawan (Father) & Sunaina Dhawan (Mother) is an Indian international cricketer. Shikhar Dhawan have an younger sister named Shrestha Dhawan. He is a left-handed opening batsman and occasional right-arm offbreak bowler. He represents Delhi in domestic cricket and also plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (previously Deccan Chargers) franchise in the Indian Premier League. Dhawan made his international debut against Australia in 2010 and nearly after 3 years he made his Test debut in the third Test against Australia on 14th March 2013 at PCA Stadium, Mohali and scored the fastest century by any batsman on Test debut.

Raj Kundra Suspended By BCCI For Fixing In IPL

BCCI disciplinary committee to issue show-cause notices to 3 players – S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

Mumbai Cricket Association president Ravi Sawant has been appointed Treasurer of the BCCI. He takes over from Maharashtra Cricket Associations Ajay Shrike, who had resigned in protest.

BCCI have suspended Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra from having any involvement in cricket till the probe is over. The Delhi police commissioner had said that Kundra had confessed to betting on IPL matches and it looks like the BCCI has gone with that in taking this decision. No action has been taken against the team for now. The decision was taken in the BCCI’s working committee meet in Delhi.

Kundra and his wife Shilpa Shetty have 11.7% stakes in Rajasthan Royals through Kuki Investment. Suresh Chellaram and Family (Tresco International Limited) have the bulk of the shares with 44.2% while Manoj Badale (Emerging Media) has 32.4% stakes. Lachlan Murdoch (Blue Water Estate Limited) has 11.7% stakes.

The Rajasthan Royals have already said in a statement that Kundra will be forced to sell his stake if he is found guilty. Raj Kundra’s Lawyer Majeed Memon told CNN-IBN, “Gross injustice, BCCI should have asked him before taking action. It appears to be a rash decision, done without a showcause.”

Memon further added: Let BCCI send us a letter then we will decide what to do. This is ridiculous.”

The BCCI hasn’t taken any action against the Chennai Super Kings either.

According to NDTV sources, the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit chief Ravi Sawani has submitted interim report on IPL scam; recommends life ban for the three tainted players – S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

Meanwhile, ESPNCricinfo reported that board president N Srinivasan is likely to be dropped from the disciplinary committee which also has Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah, both vice-presidents of the BCCI.

Ahead of the crucial meet, BCCI officials made it clear that there was ‘no proof’ against Kundra. But, according to the Times of India, the BCCI probe commission will still investigate all possible angles to determine whether the claims made by Delhi Police on Kundra are valid in a court of law or not.

Dalmiya had said a new BCCI treasurer would be named “in a day or two”. Now, there is talk that the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Ravi Sawant may get the job.

According to Times Now sources, BCCI considering life ban for tainted trio – Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila. Is it too early to consider a ban? Nothing has been proved yet.

An emergency working committee meeting of the BCCI is going to be held on 10 June to discuss the issue of Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra’s alleged involvement in betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL), board’s interim chief Jagmohan Damiya announced on Thursday and promised ‘strict action’ if warranted.

Announcing the decision at a media meet, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya named Sanjay Patel of the Baroda Cricket Association as the new secretary to replace Sanjay Jagdale, who has resigned.

Dalmiya also announced that the BCCI would look into the alleged conflict of interest issue concerning Indian captain MS Dhoni’s stakes in a sports management firm after the ongoing Champions Trophy tournament and promised there would be no cover-up.

Iterating that no board member should be part of the commission formed to probe the allegations of betting in the IPL against BCCI chief N Srinivasan’s son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings chief executive officer Gurunath Meiyappan, Dalmiya said it would now be a two-member body, comprising retired judges appointed earlier. He also refused to announce a time-frame for the panel to submit its report.

The commission originally had three members. However, Jagdale quit last week.

The emergency working committee meeting on the Kundra issue would be held in Delhi.

“After we have all the details, look into all the details… and if it demands any strict action, we will look into it,” Dalmiya said.

Delhi Police officials grilled Kundra for 10 hours Wednesday, and later claimed he had admitted to betting in the IPL. Kundra claimed he was just helping Delhi Police Crime Branch in the IPL spot fixing investigations.

Though Delhi Police claimed Kundra’s film star wife Shilpa Shetty, a part owner of the Jaipur-based team, had also bet on at least one match, Dalmiya said he had no such knowledge.

When a journalist quoted Clause 11.3 (C) of the BCCI-IPL franchise agreement that calls for annulling the agreement with a franchisee if its owner brought the board or IPL to disrepute, Dalmiya said: “How do you come to a decision unless you look into it?”

Dalmiya said retired high court judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramaniam appointed earlier would constitute the probe commission.

“After Jagdale resigned, it has become a two-member commission. I have decided that let it be a two-member commission. We would not like it to curtail it by saying the time limit starts now, and finishes now”.

Assuring that the probe would not be an eye-wash, he said: “We want cricket to be cleaned, run properly.”

Asked whether Rajasthan Royals would come under the ambit of the probe, Dalmiya said: “That is what we have to wait (for). Let’s see how the panel proceeds and what outcome it comes out with.”

Dalmiya said the BCCI has sought information from the Mumbai and Delhi Police regarding an interim report submitted by board’s Anti-Corruption and Security unit chief Ravi Sawani on the spot fixing scandal, but neither of them has responded so far.

On the conflict of interest issue concerning Dhoni, he said: “At this juncture, when we are in the midst of Champions Trophy, nothing we are going to earn by disturbing him. But at the same time, we are not going to cover it up. Please wait and see.”

Dhoni courted a controversy recently following reports that he held a 15 percent stake in Rhiti Sports, which also manages Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Pragyan Ojha, besides the Indian skipper.

Dalmiya said a new BCCI treasurer would be named “in a day or two”.

The posts had fallen vacant after Jagdale and then treasurer Ajay Shirke quit to protest Srinivasan’s refusal to step down after his son-in-law’s arrest.

Pepsi IPL 6 Song Featuring Chris Gayle - Pepsi Oh Yes Abhi!

A marauding Chris Gayle, who fashioned Royal Challengers Bangalore to a thumping 21-run win over Delhi Daredevils in an IPL match, said that it was the body balance which was helped him score sixes.

“The secret behind those sixes was good balance and it helps to have a pitch where the ball comes up to the bat. Hope I continue like this in the tournament,” Gayle, who hit an unbeaten 128 with the help of 13 sixes and seven fours in his 62-ball knock, said.

Asked about any particular change in his batting, he said he decided not to move around much.

“It’s natural, trying not to move around. A couple of innings have me moving around which did not help. Thanks to Virat Kohli for his support at the other end,” he said.

He also said that he wanted to preserve his wicket and stay longer for the sake of the team.

Gayle and Kohli after the match. PTI

“Maiden over is okay, as long as I am there till the end. If I stay longer it helps to get the runs for the team, ” he added.

Reminded that the world record maximum number of sixes in a Twenty20 match is 16, Gayle joked, “Somebody should have told me that and I should have gone for it.”

RCB captain Virat Kohli praised Gayle for his explosive innings.

“It was exciting game of cricket, good pitch to bat on. Batting with Chris is a wonderful experience, lot of them could have taken my head off at the non-striker’s end,” he said.

“We need to win the last game to make it to the play-offs,” he said.

Daredevils skipper Mahela Jayawardene sought to draw the positives from the loss, saying that his side played good cricket.

“We played well and can take a lot of positives from the match. We have played enough Twenty20 cricket to realise this kind of loss happens and we need to just try and improve from here,” said Jayawardene.

Asked about Gayle’s innings which took the game away from the Daredevils, Jayawardene said, “He is in tremendous form, especially on a small ground like this. It was always going to be difficult to contain him.

“Still we could have chase it down. Unfortunately we could not.”

On some key players not playing today, he said, “Morne was the only player rested, Viru was sick, we needed to give Andre Russell a chance.”

     

PTI

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Earned 50 Lack Per Day -Forbes Magazine

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with earnings of $31.5 million, has been ranked at 16th place on Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes, which has been topped by golfer Tiger Woods.

The magazine said 31-year-old Dhoni moved up 15 positions this year. In 2012, he was placed at 31st position.

The influential business magazine estimated that Dhoni made $31.5 million over the last year from prize money and endorsements.

37-year-old Woods made $78.1 million followed by tennis star Roger Federer at $71.5 million. Kobe Bryant, American professional basketball player, is third at $61.9 million.

Federer had topped the 2012 list. This year's 100-strong list features just three women led by tennis ace Maria Sharapova, who ranks No 22 with earnings of $29 million.

Sharapova is joined by No 68 Serena Williams, who raked in $20.5 million, including $8.5 million in prize money.

China's Li Na ranks 85th overall with earnings of $18.2 million.

Highest paid athletes
S. No.	Name	Country	Pay ($)	Salary/Winnings ($)	Endorsements($)	Sport
1.	Tiger Woods	USA	78.1m	13.1m	65m	Golf
2.	Roger Federer	Switzerland	71.5m	6.5m	65m	Tennis
3.	Kobe Bryant	USA	61.9m	27.9m	34m	Basketball
4.	LeBron James	USA	59.8m	17.8m	42m	Basketball
5.	Drew Brees	USA	51m	40m	11m	American football
6.	Aaron Rodgers	USA	49m	43m	6m	American football
7.	Phil Mickelson	USA	48.7m	4.7m	44m	Golf
8.	David Beckham	UK	47.2m	5.2m	42m	Soccer
9.	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	44m	23m	21m	Soccer
10.	Lionel Messi	Argentina	41.3m	20.3m	21m	Soccer
11.	Tom Brady	USA	38.3m	31.3m	7m	American football
12.	Derrick Rose	USA	37.4m	16.4m	21m	Basketball
13.	Joe Flacco	USA	36.8m	35.9m	0.9m	American football
14.	Floyd Mayweather	USA	34m	34m	0m	Boxing
14.	Manny Pacquiao	Philippines	34m	26m	8m	Boxing
16.	MS Dhoni	India	31.5m	3.5m	28m	Cricket
17.	Kevin Durant	USA	30.9m	16.9m	14m	Basketball
18.	Alex Rodriguez	USA	30.3m	29.8m	0.5m	Baseball
19.	Fernando Alonso	Spain	30m	28m	2m	Racing
19.	Peyton Manning	USA	30m	18m	12m	American football

IPL Spot-Fixing : Raj Kundra's Passport Seized

Raj Kundra, a co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, the team at the centre of a massive spot-fixing and gambling scandal, has admitted to betting in the Indian Premier League or IPL, claimed sources in the Delhi Police, who interrogated the businessman all day yesterday.

Police sources said that Mr Kundra said that he placed bets on the IPL "for the last two-three years." Betting on all sports except horse-racing is illegal in India. But the police is unlikely to book him for gambling, which is a bailable offence. The police says it wants to focus on establishing links between bookies and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's crime syndicate or "D Company."

The Royals have four owners including Mr Kundra's wife Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty. 

IPL scam: Police question Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra

To prevent him from leaving the country, Mr Kundra was made to hand over his passport to the Delhi Police yesterday.

Three cricketers from the Royals including S Sreesanth were arrested last month on charges that they took money from bookies to concede a pre-determined number of runs in the recently-concluded edition of the IPL. The players have denied the allegations.

Spot-fixing, in which a specific part of the match but not the outcome is fixed, is illegal. 

A player from the team, Sidharth Trivedi, who has turned approver in the case, has allegedly told the police that before an IPL match in Ahmedabad, he was approached by Mr Kundra's business partner, Umesh Goenka, who asked him about the pitch and which cricketers would play for the Royals that day. The cops want to know if Mr Kundra was aware of this incident, and of the reported links between bookies and some of his team-members.