Hashan: Will reveal names to the ICC

Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillekaratne said he will reveal names of those involved in match-fixing only to the International Cricket Council (ICC) first.Tillekaratne claimed in a local TV programme last week that match-fixing has been rampant in Sri Lanka since 1992 and repeated his allegations on Tuesday to the Western Provincial Council, where he was elected to office.Tillekaratne said he will reveal the names of those involved in fixing matches “at the appropriate time.” He declined, for now he said, on legal advice. Within hours of his comments on Tuesday, he was questioned by police for an hour, without further detail.

“I made a statement to the provincial council, I said that I still maintain my stand on the (match-fixing) allegations,” Tillekaratne said.“After I came out with these allegations I have been getting a lot of nuisance calls, death threats, but definitely I will expose all those who are involved in a time to come.”When asked why he has not followed the established procedure of working with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Tillekaratne said, “I will do that in the days to come.” He said he’d been reluctant to voice his allegations until now over fear for his safety.Meanwhile, Muttiah Muralidharan, on Tuesday, felt Tillekaratne should stop making such allegations if he cannot produce any evidence as he might end up getting sued.“I don’t know why he has said this. If somebody is making such claims, he should first give enough proof to support them otherwise someone can sue him,” Muralidharan said.Muralidharan also said he was never been approached by any bookie during his career. “In any case I will tell this to ACSU only. There is a code and all the players follow that,” said Muralidharan.He also rejected suggestions that Tillekaratne’s allegations have tarnished the image of the Sri Lankan cricket. “Hashan has made allegations and only he is answerable for that,” he said.

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Malik hopeful of return to national team

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik remains hopeful of making his international return in spite of reports that he has been sidelined by his country’s cricket authorities because of match-fixing suspicions.Malik, who hasn’t played for Pakistan since the Test series against England in August 2010, said that he is working hard on his game and is confident of returning to international cricket soon.“Cricket is my passion and I am completely focusing on it right now,” said the all-rounder, who is reportedly on a PCB blacklist for suspected links to bookies.Malik, who is married to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, said he is also taking extensive yoga classes along with his wife to keep himself in shape.“I am keeping myself busy by playing club cricket to maintain my form and fitness. I have also attended 40-hour yoga classes recently and I am fit as ever.“I only believe in my game and I am hopeful I will win my place (in the national team) by proving my worth.”There have been reports that Malik has not been cleared for national duty by the PCB Integrity Committee. But the Sialkot-born player made it clear that he hasn’t been told anything about his case by the PCB.“There is no official version by PCB on my case and I cannot comment on it further. I did my job and now it is up to the board to decide my case,” he said.

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Pakistan ends fixing row with Australia

Find Hotels, Compare Rates, Read Reviews & More. Try TripAdvisor!Pakistan cricket authorities on Tuesday settled a row with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland over comments he made in the wake of a damaging spot-fixing scandal that hit the South Asian team last year.Three leading Pakistan players, including former Test captain Salman Butt, were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this year on corruption charges related to the Lord's Test against England last August.Sutherland blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for failing to take measures to curb the menace of corruption following a fixing scandal more than a decade ago.Sutherland's remarks angered the PCB, which wrote to the ICC to ask it to investigate.But the row fizzled out on Tuesday, with PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar telling AFP the sport's governing body had told Pakistan and Australia to sort the spat out between themselves."After that PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad talked to Sutherland on the matter," Sarwar said."James clarified that his comments on the Qayyum inquiry were not meant to put PCB in a difficult position."Sutherland explained that it was in response to a question during an interview and not intended to criticise anyone. PCB enjoys cordial relations with CA so we have decided not to pursue the matter any further."Sutherland last month said last year's spot-fixing scandal might not have happened had the PCB implemented recommendations made by a commission led by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum in 2000."Ask yourself whether PCB actually went through and implemented those recommendations," Sutherland said."I can't say for sure but I would have big question marks about whether those things would have happened last year if those recommendations had been fully implemented."Justice Qayyum, whose inquiry banned former captain Salim Malik and Ataur Rehman for life besides imposing fines on six other players including Wasim Akram and current Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, made 30 recommendations.They included a tighter code of conduct on players and that an independently-headed review committee be set up to investigate all cases of possible corruption in the future besides regular assessments of players' assets.Qayyum last year also criticised the PCB for not fully implementing his recommendations.

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Kochi record easy 7-wkt win over Delhi

Updated at: 1520 PST,  Tuesday, May 03, 2011

DELHI: Kochi Tuskers Kerala posted an easy seven-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils, achieving a 141-run target with five overs to spare for their fourth win in nine games, here in a day-night match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground on Monday.New Zealander Brendon McCullum put Kochi on course for victory with a 19-ball 37, including two sixes and as many fours in seamer Umesh Yadav's over. He also hit South African paceman Morne Morkel for three fours in an over.Parthiv Patel (37 not out) and Australian Brad Hodge (24 not out) completed the victory with an unfinished 52-run stand for the fourth wicket.Venugopal Rao top-scored for Delhi, who suffered their sixth defeat in nine matches.Brief scores:Delhi Daredevils 140-6 in 20 overs (V. Rao 40, T. Brit 27; V. Kumar 2-25, P. Parameswaran 2-29) lost to Kochi Tuskers Kerala 141-3 in 15 overs (B. McCullum 37, P. Patel 37 not out, B. Hodge 24 not out) by seven wickets

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