Srinivas Venkataraghavan

Former ICC elite panel umpire, Srinivas Venkataraghavan gave a big thumbs down to the controversial DRS and backed BCCI's stand against its use.

Nitin Menon, an ICC Elite panel umpire, breaks Srinivas Venkataraghavan's record as the Indian umpire officiating the most international matches. He is currently at the T20 World Cup in the USA & West Indies.

A sub-committee of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) on Friday recommended setting up of an academy for umpires on the lines of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Keen to have a representation in the ICC's Elite panel of Umpires, the BCCI is all set to set up a National Umpires Academy in the country to improve standard of officials.

The Cricket Board has introduced an award for 'the best umpire' in domestic cricket this season onwards.

Indian players took the field in their ICC World Cup match against England on Sunday wearing black armbands as a mark of tribute to legendary Indian spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, who passed away on October 23. India, who are so far unbeaten in this edition of the World Cup after five matches, were put in to bat first by England skipper Jos Buttler in Lucknow. Defending champions England have won just one match and lost four so far in the tournament.

KOLKATA: Whenever there is a talk of recruiting a bowling coach, the Inidan cricket board invariably veers towards a pace bowler.

Javagal Srinath was the lone Indian to feature in the match referees' list, while Sundaram Ravi continued to be the country's representative among the top umpires as the ICC on Thursday announced an unchanged list of elite match officials.

Sundaram Ravi remains the only Indian umpire in the ICC Elite Panel with the world body naming an unchanged line-up for the 2017-18 season.

The drafts of the contracts are already with the players. They will have to sign them before leaving for Bangladesh, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

While the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has put in work to put in a system to groom good umpires, the grassroots are deprived of expertise and technology.

After being included in the ICC's elite panel of umpires, India's Nitin Menon has said that he aims to keep the Indian flag flying high.

BCCI decided that in domestic matches a bowler found with an unlawful delivery action would have to be called for chucking by on-field umpires.

The BCCI has decided to choose Greg Chappell's successor and has convened a meeting of the coach selection committee next week.

On June 7, 1975, India played their inaugural ODI World Cup match against England at Lord's. Six bowlers were used, with pacer Madan Lal delivering the first ball. Despite disciplined efforts, India lost by 202 runs as England posted a total of 334 for 4. Sunil Gavaskar's defensive innings of 36 off 174 balls stood out.

The Indian cricket board on Thursday made it clear that a full-time coach for the Indian team would be appointed before it leaves for Ireland and a decision on the matter would be taken early next month.

The cricketing community, including legends like Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag, gathered to bid farewell to the legendary Indian spinner Bishan Bedi on Tuesday. Several prominent figures from Indian cricket, such as the World Cup-winning captain Kapil, Madan Lal, Sehwag, and Kirti Azad, paid their final respects at his last rites. In addition to them, Ashish Nehra, Ajay Jadeja and Murali Kartik, who learned the art of spin bowling from the "Sardar of Spin," were also present to pay their respects.

A host of dignitaries, including ex-India cricketers Madan Lal and Kirti Azad along with Bollywood royalty Sharmila Tagore, on Friday, attended the prayer meeting of former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi, who died on October 23.

Former skipper Bishan Singh Bedi, who died aged 77 on Monday, claimed 266 wickets in 67 Tests, leading the team on 22 occasions after succeeding Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi as captain. His younger peers revered him as a grand statesman of the sport, never shy on offering trenchant opinions on issues plaguing the game, or backing other cricketers. "Critics would call Bishan a rebel. Wrong. To me, he was a cricketer who knew his rights well," former captain Kapil Dev wrote in a book on Bedi.

As Team India completed 50 years of the historic 1971 Test series win in England, head coach Ravi Shastri reminisced his memories of that epic tour and explained how it ushered a new chapter in Indian cricket.