Tillakaratne seeks protection over fixing

Colombo, May 6, (AFP) - Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne on Friday demanded police protection before he shares information on alleged match-fixing with authorities.

"As an eyewitness to match-fixing, I will reveal the names of those involved if my security is guaranteed," Tillakaratne told reporters after the Criminal Investigations Department grilled him for the second time this week.

His wife Apsari said the family feared for their lives, as they have received several death threats warning against identifying those involved.

Now an opposition politician, Tillakaratne claimed last week that Sri Lanka players had been fixing matches since 1992 and told reporters on Tuesday that he would name names to the International Cricket Council.

"I made the statements (about match-fixing) neither to get political mileage nor to put anyone in an awkward position," he said on Tuesday.

"I made the comments in good faith and I will share the information with the ICC. The exercise was meant to protect the game and the players we all love so much."

Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and 200 one-dayers during a 15-year career, said he had kept quiet for so many years as he feared for his life.

Tillakaratne's allegations have raised a storm, with former skipper Kumar Sangakkara challenging him to prove his claims.

"It's interesting to see what he has to say and if he has anything more than allegations," said Sangakkara, who quit as captain after Sri Lanka's defeat to India in the World Cup final. "It's dangerous to throw names around."

Waqar, Afridi on collision course over selection issue

Karachi, May 6 (PTI) Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and skipper Shahid Afridi are on collision course after it was revealed that latter isn't too happy with the former's interference in selection matters.

Afridi is so upset with Waqar's behaviour that he was reluctant to play the last two ODIs against the West Indies and was persuaded by manager Intikhab Alam to lead the team.

Pakistan lost both the matches but still managed to win the series 3-2.

Sources aware of developments in the team also disclosed that Afridi had even left the team meeting held before the fifth and final ODI match because of his differences with the coach.

"It was Intikhab who spoke with Afridi and told him that being the team captain it was his duty to play if fit and that if he had any grievances he should discuss it with the board on returning home."

"Not only Afridi, but it appears some of the other senior players are apparently not happy with the way Waqar is handling things in the team and particularly his role in selection matters," a source revealed.

Interestingly the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also had to hold a meeting with chief selector Mohsin Khan on Thursday to convince him to not resign after the latter blamed Waqar for interfering in the matters of the national selection committee.

Mohsin had made his displeasure clear when the PCB changed the squad for the tests in the West Indies submitted by the national selectors on the insistence of Waqar Younis.

"Waqar apparently has rubbed Afridi and some of the other players the wrong way with his growing control and authority in the team."

"He and Afridi have had differences on the tour over selection matters and these issues date back to the World Cup as well," the source added

Shah Rukh takes a dig at Dada, says team doing well

New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) Taking a mild dig at Sourav Ganguly who joined Pune Warriors, Kolkata Knight Riders' co- owner Shah Rukh Khan today said his team has done well in the IPL without the services of the former Indian captain.

Shah Rukh also said that KKR had offered Ganguly a role in the team but he was not really game with the assignment that the franchise had in mind for him.

KKR, who dumped Ganguly for the ongoing season were in for a shock as Pune Warriors roped in the former India captain as replacement player for injured Ashish Nehra.

"I have been often asked this question. We would have liked Dada to play in the scheme of things we wanted," the Bollywood superstar said during a promotional event, making it clear that Ganguly didn't like what was there in the offing.

Incidentally, KKR's CEO Venky Mysore had earlier said before the start of the tournament that they would like Ganguly to play the role of a 'mentor' which he had refused.

Although Shah Rukh didn't directly point fingers at Ganguly's leadership skills but he did admit that there was "not one but many reasons for the team not doing well in the previous seasons."

"This time we wanted to start off with a clean slate. We wanted to give the reins to the coaching staff. And they have done wonderfully. The team has been doing well," Shah Rukh commented.

The superstar however admitted that some of the old KKR players like Chris Gayle "came back to haunt" his team.

Shah Rukh in a diplomatic style, concluded, "Dada is my favourite player. But we need to move on. I wish him all the best with Pune Warriors and hope that he does really well"

Mallya Jr makes Deepika jealous

Well, when Ranbir and Deepika split, there were rumours that she was very possessive about him and that eventually led to them calling it quits. Is Deepika repeating the same mistake again? While she might have decided to keep her relationship status with Siddharth Mallya under wraps but that's not stopping her from being insecure about him.

Check this video to find out if Mallya Jr was trying to make Deepika jealous or is Deepika being clingy?

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