BCCI ACSU puts TNPL, DPL & other Indian leagues under scanner amid co…

The BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has placed all state-run T20 leagues under strict surveillance amid concerns over corruption-related activities. According to The Indian Express, the monitoring will cover players, organizers and team owners involved in these regional competitions across India.

Several state associations conduct these independent T20 competitions between June and August, before the main domestic cricket season begins across the country. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India will host the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy every year.

BCCI ACSU Expands Anti-Corruption Monitoring Across State T20 Leagues

The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has expanded its monitoring to all T20 leagues run by state associations. The unit has detected more cases of bookies and suspicious individuals contacting players, team owners, and managers, which violates the code of conduct governing the game. somethingsdifferent.biz

The report stated that the ACSU is also tracking whom players and team officials meet at their hotels during these tournaments. Earlier, the unit focused more closely on Test matches, the IPL, and other major fixtures. This is the first time it is monitoring all matches across state-run T20 leagues.

“Because of the level at which they operate, some of the owners, organisers and players are vulnerable and may fall for offers from bookies. Several of them are under ACSU’s watch for violations. Their activities are being closely monitored and whoever is found guilty shall not be spared,” sources said.

Tamil Nadu Player Barred After Mobile Phone Incident

Some teams in the Tamil Nadu Premier League came under the ACSU’s watch for suspected corruption-related activities from the previous season. It has led to stronger monitoring, with the 10th edition of the TNPL scheduled to continue until August 23 in Dindigul and Chennai.

A Tamil Nadu all-rounder who made his Ranji Trophy debut last season was recently barred from playing the remainder of the TNPL after breaching anti-corruption protocols. The ACSU recovered an undeclared mobile phone from him while he was inside the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA).

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board acted immediately after learning about the incident. “It was a minor incident which the BCCI’s ACSU took immediate note of and punished the player involved. Our anti-corruption unit is very active and alert, and they don’t want to let even small things be overlooked when it comes to the integrity of the game,” Saikia said.

BCCI Guidelines and State Leagues Under ACSU Watch

TNCA president T J Srinivasaraj said that the association is working closely with the ACSU to follow all required protocols during the TNPL. He stated that regular communication between the two bodies remains important to protect the tournament from any activity that could affect its integrity.

“We are closely working with the ACSU team to ensure there is smooth coordination. There is a constant communication between the TNCA and ACSU to ensure the integrity of the game and the tournament isn’t compromised. That has always been our top priority,” Srinivasaraj said.

Associations from Mumbai, Saurashtra, Bengal, Andhra, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Jharkhand run their own competitions during the June-August window.

The BCCI introduced strict guidelines for state-run leagues in 2018. In 2019, the ACSU also investigated suspected contact between bookies and players or coaches in the TNPL, although the findings were never made public.

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In a remarkable performance, Devdutt Padikkal achieved his first Test century, scoring an impressive 167 in Galle. KL Rahul praised Padikkal's dedication over the years that led to this well-deserved chance. His experience with India A provided him crucial insights into local conditions. This milestone century alleviates the psychological pressure for the promising young batter. India’s total reached 462, thanks to significant contributions from Padikkal, Rahul, and Jurel.

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 17 (ANI): A first-half header from PV Vishnu saw East Bengal FC edge past a spirited Indian Army FT side and book their place in the semifinals of the IndianOil Durand Cup played here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

On Sunday, heading into the knockout match, East Bengal went with an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.

Phurba Lachenpa started in goal, protected by Jay Gupta, Narender Gahlot, Lalchungnunga and Boris Singh in defence. Rohit Kumar and Mohamad Basim Rashid formed the double pivot, providing a platform for Dani Ramirez, Christopher Ikonomidis and P.V. Vishnu to operate behind lone striker David Lalhlansanga, as per a press release.

Indian Army FT, meanwhile, opted for a defensive 5-3-2 formation to absorb the anticipated pressure. Bhabindra Malla Thakuri started between the sticks, with Sunil Benchamin, Pardeep Singh, Lethaolen Khongsai, Chabin Rabha and Shafeel PP forming the five-man defensive line. Abhishek Shankar Pawar, P Christopher Kamei and Shubham Rana comprised the midfield, while Samir Murmu and Saikhom Borish Singh led the attack.

East Bengal stamped their authority on the contest from the opening whistle, dominating possession and pinning the Army men deep inside their own half. The first major opening arrived in the sixth minute following an excellent passing move, but Spanish playmaker Dani Ramirez could not capitalise.

The Kolkata side continued to probe and came close again in the 12th minute from a set-piece. Ramirez delivered a beautifully struck left-footed in-swinging free-kick that beat the goalkeeper but narrowly missed the target, brushing the wrong side of the side-netting.

The one-way traffic continued through the second quarter, with Indian Army struggling to cope with East Bengal’s intensity. Ramirez turned provider in the 20th minute, playing a precise ball to release David Lalhlansanga, but the forward could not apply the finishing touch.

Moments later, centre-back Lalchungnunga ventured forward and unleashed a powerful long-range effort that forced Bhabindra Malla Thakuri into an acrobatic save.

Indian Army struggled to put together sustained passages of possession, often relying on aerial duels and long balls to relieve the pressure. East Bengal’s best opportunity of the half came in the 29th minute when Jay Gupta delivered a pinpoint cross for P.V. Vishnu, who found himself unmarked in a one-on-one situation. However, the forward’s grounded effort went straight into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

East Bengal finally found the breakthrough in the 38th minute. Christopher Ikonomidis delivered an inviting cross into the box, and Vishnu made amends for his earlier miss, rising highest to meet the delivery with a perfectly timed header into the right corner. Thakuri got his fingertips to the effort but could not keep it out as East Bengal took a deserved 1-0 lead.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade maintained their control for the remainder of the half, with Mohamad Basim Rashid trying his luck from distance shortly before the interval, although his effort drifted wide.

Indian Army showed greater attacking intent after the restart and earned an early corner, which the East Bengal defence dealt with comfortably. Rashid then attempted an ambitious long-range strike from well outside the box, but his powerful effort sailed over the crossbar.

East Bengal nearly doubled their advantage around the hour mark when substitute Jesin TK intercepted a long ball from Rashid and raced past the advancing goalkeeper. However, his attempt struck the crossbar, denying the substitute an immediate impact.

Indian Army produced their best opportunity of the contest shortly afterwards. Substitute Abhi S. Biju found space before unleashing a powerful low effort that flashed just wide of the target.

East Bengal responded in the 67th minute when substitute Edmund Lalrindika picked out Ramirez inside the box, but the Spaniard’s effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

As the match entered its final stages, East Bengal’s attacking intensity dipped, but they continued to create clear-cut opportunities. The closing ten minutes became a frustrating sequence of missed one-on-one chances.

In the 80th minute, Bipin Singh set up Jesin TK with a precise pass, but the forward failed to convert from close range. Moments later, Jesin returned the favour by putting Bipin through, only for the winger to squander another one-on-one opportunity.

Jesin had another chance to seal the result in the 87th minute when he met a cross from Edmund, but his header went straight at Thakuri.

With five minutes of stoppage time added, Indian Army almost produced a dramatic equaliser against the run of play. In the 91st minute, Abhishek Shankar Pawar unleashed a dangerous effort that briefly threatened to spoil East Bengal’s dominant display, but the Kolkata side survived the late scare.

Although Indian Army improved considerably after half-time and created a couple of genuine openings, East Bengal remained in control for much of the contest, enjoying around 80 per cent of the overall possession.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade ultimately secured a deserved victory, although their dominance could have been reflected in a more emphatic scoreline had they converted the numerous clear-cut opportunities they created. (ANI)

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For more than four hours on Sunday, the Galle International Stadium outfield was bathed in a protective sheath of blue and green covers as the rain beat down with ruthless relentlessness. When play eventually resumed at 2.35 pm on Day Two of the first Test, however, India moved the game forward with enterprise, finishing a truncated afternoon on a healthy 460-9, a position from where they can expect to call the shots over the next couple of days.

Bathed under covers for extended periods, the surface offered the bowlers a lot more on the second afternoon, but with Devdutt Padikkal standing firm and Dhruv Jurel producing a polished half-century, India had an answer to nearly every question Sri Lankan tweakers Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, the debutant off-spinner, asked.

Padikkal built on his maiden Test hundred by wending his way to 167, the fourth-highest individual score by an Indian in this country, replicating his poise and composure of the previous day. With India kicking on from 288-2, Padikkal quickly hit his straps as he and Rishabh Pant extended their alliance to 71 when the second new ball finally brought the hosts some joy in the very first over it was summoned.

Giving Nuwantha the charge, Pant only managed to splice the ball for Sonal Dinusha to complete a smart running catch from mid-off. KL Rahul, who resumed his innings on 77 after retiring hurt with cramps, didn’t last long, punching the offie to short-leg, and Padikkal’s five-and-a-half-hour vigil eventually came to an end as he walked past a straight delivery from Jayasuriya to be easily stumped.

If Sri Lanka entertained hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly, they were in for a disappointment. Jurel, batting ahead of Ravindra Jadeja at No. 6, was assured in defence and decisive in stroke-production. Even as the ball turned and the top was disturbed from time to time, he trusted his technique to bring up a compact half-century and justify the faith shown by head coach Gautam Gambhir.

On match eve, skipper Shubman Gill had spoken with passion about Manav Suthar’s batting credentials and the left-arm spinner didn’t disappoint, holding his own during a 55-run seventh-wicket stand with Jurel. Sri Lanka toiled manfully and Dhananjaya de Silva produced a screamer at slip to pack off Jurel, but still India finished the day as strong as they had started it.

167
No of runs scored by Devdutt Padikkal in the first innings; the fourth-highest individual score by an Indian in Tests in Sri Lanka

Brief scores
India 460-9 (D Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82, D Jurel 51; P Jayasuriya 4-109, K Nuwantha 3-175) vs Sri Lanka