I'm innocent but won't go to court: Chandila

Faridabad

Alleged spot-fixer Ajit Chandila today said he will appeal to the BCCI to reconsider its decision of banning him for life but will not take any legal recourse in order to get the ban revoked. The BCCI disciplinary committee had yesterday banned Chandila for life for being involved in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting case. “Both myself as well as my family is disappointed with the decision. I am innocent. Cricket is like a religion to me,” said Chandila. “I never thought such a verdict will come and I will request the BCCI to think about me once.” “I am not planning to challenge the decision in the court. I want to request the BCCI to reconsider their decision,” he added. “There is no one higher in between the court and the BCCI. The BCCI has different set of rules and the court has different set of rules. I am hopeful that the cricket board will consider my request.”

Colombo
Mathews records statement, wants cricket clean

Appearing before the police to record his statement in connection with a match-fixing scandal, Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews today called for the game to be protected from vices like fixing. The match-fixing scandal led to the suspension of a fast bowling coach yesterday. “I answered all their questions honestly to help them in their investigation,” said Mathews. The Sri Lankan skipper clarified the investigation was into the bookie approach, which his teammates duly reported, and not over players’ possible involvement in match-fixing. 

Margao
Andhra court recalls NBW order against Dhoni  

An Andhra Pradesh court today recalled its order of issuing a non-bailable warrant against MS Dhoni in connection with a case of allegedly hurting religious sentiments, after he was depicted as Lord Vishnu on the cover of a magazine. Dhoni’s Delhi-based counsel Rajnish Chopra and Pankaj Bhagla, who appeared before the Anantapur court, said the cricketer had not received the NBW issued on January 7. The court accepted their contention and recalled its order on NBW. The court had earlier asked Dhoni to appear before it on February 25. — Agencies

Madrid
Real’s Bale suffers another calf injury

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale damaged a calf muscle in Sunday’s La Liga game at home to Sporting Gijon, tests confirmed on Tuesday. Bale, who scored with a seventh-minute header to put Real 1-0 up at the Bernabeu, limped out shortly before halftime with his side leading 5-0. “After tests carried out today on the player Gareth Bale at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, he has been diagnosed with a soleus muscle injury in his right leg,” Real said on their website. 

London
IAAF scandal worse than football’s crisis: Johnson

The corruption scandal that has rocked athletics is worse than the one that has plunged football body FIFA into crisis because it punished clean athletes, four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson said on Tuesday. “With athletics, if you think about the victims, it is absolutely worse,” the 400 metres world record holder told BBC radio. “The victims here are those (clean) athletes. They never had the opportunity to stand on the podium.” — Agencies