Batsman Rahul Dravid likely to announce retirement on today in Bangalore

Rahul Dravid’s glittering international career may come to an end as the veteran batsman likely to announce his retirement on today in Bangalore.

Dravid has called a press conference on today in Bangalore that will also be attended by BCCI president N Srinivasan. It was learnt that Dravid would pull curtains down on his illustrious career during the press conference.

Dravid, like most other Indian batsmen, had a poor run in the four-Test series to give Australia a clean sweep. He made 194 runs at an average of 24.25 in this series.

Dravid had already announced his retirement from one-day cricket and Twenty20.

The elegant right hander, nicknamed `The Wall` for his dour defence, is the second highest run getter in Test history with 13,288 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar who has 15,470 runs. He has 36 Test centuries with a highest score of 270 and an average of 52.31.

Dravid has also taken more catches (210) than anyone else in Test history during his 164 Test matches since he made his debut against England at Lord`s in 1996. He captained India from December 2005 to August 2007.

There is a question mark over another Indian veteran V V S Laxman who too had a miserable run against Australia in the current series.

There was no word yet about his future plans.

BCCI's Working Committee to decide on Sahara dispute today

The all-powerful Working Committee of the BCCI will decide on all the "outstanding issues" concerning the Sahara Group in Chennai on today.

What transpires in the boardroom will decide on how a compromise formula can be worked out to break the week-long stalemate. On Sunday, the who's who of BCCI and Sahara got together here to discuss the contentious issues amid rumours that a breakthrough had been achieved.

In attendance were Subrata Roy, his sons Sushanto and Sumanto and the director of the Pune Warriors, Abhijit Sarkar. The BCCI were represented by president N Srinivasan, also owner of Chennai Super Kings, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke.

Lips though were sealed in both camps. The only official communication which came about said Monday's Working Committee meeting in Chennai would discuss matters.

While last week's email to the media from the Sahara group, moments before the IPL auctions in Bangalore, had caused a lot of heartburn and acrimony, Sunday's meeting seemed to have been more cordial and if sources are to be believed in both camps, the BCCI and Sahara have made significant headway in breaking the stalemate that provoked the latter to withdraw sponsorship of the Indian cricket team and also pull out of the IPL.

"Sahara and BCCI met today and discussed all the outstanding issues, and it was agreed that the subject will be further discussed in the BCCI Working Committee meeting tomorrow," a joint statement issued after the meeting said. "The interaction was focused on the interest of Indian cricket, including the IPL," it added.

It is learnt that Sahara's request to get fringe players from other franchises on loan, an idea mooted first by Royal Challenger Bangalore's Siddhartha Mallya, could be considered after discussion with other teams and stakeholders.

Yuvraj thanks "the prayers of my nation" on twitter

Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States for cancer, has expressed gratitude to his fans, and has promised to make a stronger comeback.

The stylish southpaw has spoken for the first time since the news of his battle against cancer came out.

"I will fight and come back as a stronger man cause I have the prayers of my nation ! Thank you to the media for their support and respecting my privacy," Yuvraj wrote on Twitter.

"and of course everyday I look forward to come back and wear my india jersey my india cap and represent my country again jai hind," he tweeted.

Yuvraj, who is known to be a fighter, said: "I'm recovering well. Yes, its tough but tough times don't last tough men do !"

"Overwhelmed with the love and support people have given me, I feel joy in my heart that so many wishes. Will cure me!," he tweeted.

The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month and is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Research Institute in Boston. Wishes and prayers are pouring in from all corners of the world.

"I have read every tweet of every fan who has wished me watched all videos ! Seen how many prayers are said in temples ! I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," Yuvraj wrote on the micro-blogging site.

He also thanked the Indian Cricket Board for the support. "The president and members of BCCI have been a huge support in my tough times and because of them I'm getting the best treatment ! Thank you again bcci," he said.

Yuvraj, who is reading Lance Armstrong's autobiography for inspiration and is being treated by the same doctor who cured Armstrong's testicular cancer, is keen on meeting the legendary cyclist.

Yuvraj also defended his physio, Dr Jatin Chaudhary, who is being blamed for the delay in his treatment. "I see a lot of people blaming jatin chaudhary but he is at no fault he only tried to help it was my decision to go with alternative medicine," Yuvraj said.

On Monday, Yuvraj's doctors said that cricketer will resume training in ten weeks. Dr Nitesh Rohtagi, Yuraj's oncologist, said: "Association with the word cancer is negative. His condition is completely curable. He has got a rare type of seminoma."

Yuvraj's ailment was diagnosed at the first stage. "He is responding well to treatment. In fact the doctor keeps asking him if he belongs to a very strong bloodline," Yuvraj's father, former cricketer Yograj Singh, said on Monday afternoon.  "The doctor has told Yuvraj 'I will send you from here as a new champion and you will be stronger than before, a thing like this cancer won't exist for you anymore that is my promise'," Yograj Singh added.

Yuvraj's family has thanked the Indian Cricket Board for insisting that Yuvraj undergo further check-ups in the US. The board, said Yuvraj's father, had been like a father to his son.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has in a statement wished Yuvraj a speedy recovery and asked the media to "respect the privacy of his family". Sports Minister Ajay Maken tweeted on Sunday night, "Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government shld & will help him (sic)". There are many more tweets.

Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India's World Cup triumph last year.

India's star cricketer Yuvraj Singh undergoes treatment for lung cancer in US

Yuvraj Singh, who played a stellar role in India's ODI World Cup triumph last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States, his physiotherapist said on Sunday.

The 30-year-old left-hander has been in the US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs, by his family.

But it has now been diagnosed as malignant and Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Research Institute in Boston, his physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary said.

Dr Chaudhary however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May. His mother Shabnam Singh could not be reached while his father, former cricketer Yograj refused comments on the matter.

"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 per cent curable," Chaudhary said.

"It is not life threatening or career-threatening and it responds very well to chemotherapy. By the grace of God it was detected early and there is nothing to be scared of.

"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to be back on the field in May," he added.

Yuvraj, who was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup last year with 362 runs, 15 wickets and four Man-of-the-Match awards, has also been taking ayurvedic medicines to battle the disease.

"After ayurvedic treatment, only three cycles of chemotherapy are required. Initially when the cancer was diagnosed after a biopsy in October end, doctors feared that the treatment would be six cycles of chemotherapy," Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary said the detection of cancer was delayed by wrong diagnosis by an Indian hospital.

Meanwhile, the BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla said that the Board was aware of Yuvraj's ailment and has been extending full support.

"We are concerned about his health and we wish him a speedy recovery. We hope that he will regain full fitness and comeback," Shukla said.

Yuvraj's teammate, paceman S Sreesanth also wished him a speedy recovery.

"It's sad to hear Yuvraj's ailment. Health is very important and I wish him very speedy recovery."

Tennis player Rohan Bopanna, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also wished him speedy recovery.

Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career, the highlight of which was his stellar role in India's World Cup triumph last year.

In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50.

Sahara ends sponsorship of Team India & pulls out from IPL

In a surprise development, the Indian cricket team's longtime sponsor Sahara India on today ended financial ties with the BCCI and also pulled out of the IPL by withdrawing from Pune Warriors' ownership just hours before the players' auction.

Sahara, which has been the team sponsor for 11 years, signed a renewed agreement with the BCCI on July 1, 2010 till December 31, 2013.

Sahara was paying Rs 3.34 crore per Test match, one-day international and Twenty20 International under the new terms.

"...after an 11-year journey as sponsors, we can say with surety that cricket has become very rich. Many rich people are there to support cricket with a strong will to do so. So, with absolute peace of mind we can exit from cricket under BCCI and are exiting with a heavy heart," Sahara India said in a statement.

Sahara, which entered the cash-rich IPL bandwagon last year along with the now-disbanded Kochi Tuskers Kerala, complained that several requests put forth by it with regards to players and the number of matches were not accepted by the BCCI.

"Last year, Sahara entered the IPL on the basis of information in the media and everywhere else that 94 matches will be played among 10 teams. The bid price was accordingly calculated, but only 74 matches were played. We are still pursuing continuously with the BCCI to refund the extra bid money proportionately. It has been denied on the basis of strict rules.”

"In the interest of the tournament, we repeatedly tried our best to pursue the BCCI for open auction of all players so that we achieve level playing field and all teams are equally balanced from the quality players' point of view. Again, as per BCCI's strict rules it was denied and again, we were deprived of natural justice. 12 of the best players were retained by the existing teams then," it added.

"The two new teams then requested for allowing us at least one extra foreign player but that too was denied, quoting rules."

Sahara's marquee player in the IPL is skipper Yuvraj Singh, who is currently recovering from tumour in the lungs.

His unavailability in the IPL this season prompted Sahara to ask the BCCI that the price of the batsman be added to their overall purse for the players auction but the request was turned down.

Sahara is apparently also unhappy with the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore were allowed to buy replacement player Chris Gayle this season.

"The manner in which Gayle was bought was not liked by many franchises including Sahara," a Sahara official said on condition of anonymity.

Sahara said even during the Champions League Twenty20, an injury-plagued Mumbai Indians were allowed to field an extra foreign player due to the crisis in the team but such gestures were never extended to Pune Warriors.

But the company said that it would pay its sponsorship free for the next few months giving time to the BCCI to find a new sponsor. It also promised to pay the dues of its IPL players and staff.

"We don't want to give any problem to the BCCI and we also feel that the players should not suffer. BCCI will definitely take 2-4 months to get a new sponsor and we will continue paying the sponsorship money till then," it said.

"All other IPL team players, coaches and other such associates will definitely get their due this year, in case they do not get a chance to play," it said.

Detailing what it felt were the BCCI's attempts at slighting the company, Sahara was also unhappy about the fact that its logo was removed from the team shirt during the 2003 World Cup and a couple of other tournaments on directives of the ICC.

"Once during a World Cup tournament, Sahara's name was not allowed because there was a clash of our Airline with a South African airline. In two major tournaments, the team had to play without the Sahara logo," Sahara said.

"It was ICC's decision so we could realise that it was for no fault of BCCI and we also did not want the players to suffer. As per the rules, we were not supposed to pay sponsorship money for those matches but we still paid the players share of the amount in entirety. Sadly, we never found BCCI believing in genuine give and take," the company stated.

Having withdrawn from cricket under BCCI, Sahara said it would put in Rs. 1000 crore in a welfare foundation.

"We are very happy to take a decision that the cricket money will be diverted to social work. We are declaring to put immediately Rs. 500 crore in Sahara Welfare Foundation, which will be run with the association of eminent persons of our country. For the programme as mentioned below, Sahara declares to put around Rs. 500 crore more in the next 1-2 years as per the need of all the programmes," the company said.

"We are working on various programmes including financial implications etc since we have taken this decision after continuous persuasion with the BCCI failed, meaning on the February 2, 2012. But we waited upto the auction day that our request to BCCI would be accepted. But again, there was no natural justice."

Sahara said it would develop "20 Rural/Semi Urban Sports Promotional Centres including Rural/Semi Urban Cricket promotional Centres."

"Centres will have diversified sports disciplines viz. cricket, hockey, soccer, formula1, tennis, golf, wrestling, boxing etc. One international standard sports academy shall immediately be developed at one point in India. All best selected students shall ultimately come to this International Class Sports Academy."

Sahara also announced that a support fund for old (retired) and present players who, at times, face "miserable days regarding medical bills, girls marriage, shelter etc."

"Every year minimum 10 crore will be distributed -- Rs 3 crore for cricketers. Rs 7 Crore for all other disciplines."

"We shall discuss with other federations where we are sponsoring different disciplines of sports and as per the genuine need for better promotion, we shall enhance the sponsorship amount."

Bharat Ratna for hockey player Dhyan Chand? Tendulkar left out

The Sports Ministry on Wednesday recommended the name of legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

The ministry has also recommended the name of mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.

Interestingly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not sent the name of Sachin Tendulkar, who is also seen as a sports icon of an age by many.

Rajiv Shukla however, tried to explain BCCI’s failure to send the recommendation saying that ‘the ministry itself decides the names and not BCCI’.