Cricket: Boss escapes web controversy

Indian cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele, who attracted controversy over his alleged comments on the Indian team's prospects in Australia, now says the Sachin Tendulkar-led team will do well there.

"As a matter of fact, I am confident the boys will do well," Lele told reporters, rejecting the views attributed to him in a website interview.

After a meeting of the board's fixtures committee, Lele said the talk of a 3-0 whitewash by Australia was rubbish.

He maintained that he had never given any interview to any media person at the Taj Palace Hotel as claimed by the website concerned.

"Bhaiji [former president of the board PM Rungta] was sitting with me on a sofa all along when I was in the hotel lobby," Lele said.

About the Indian bowling attack, the board secretary said fast bowler Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble were the two spearheads. "We will depend a lot on the two to bowl the Aussies out and win matches for us."

Regarding the other bowlers in the team, he said "we have to watch how they perform."

The strong point in the Indian team for him was the batting line-up.

"Mark my word. The trio of Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will make plenty of runs."

The pitches Down Under would be helpful for batsmen such as the Indian trio, he said.

Lele was also full of praise for opener Sadagopan Ramesh.

"I don't agree with all this talk about his lack of footwork.

"What matters is runs and Ramesh has been scoring them consistently."

The board secretary also rejected a report which had him describing the cricketers as "beggars."

"They are playing cricket and, for that, they are getting money. They deserve it all," he said.

He added that he wished they got more money for the efforts they put in.

Lele said nothing had been heard so far from Ajay Jadeja, who has gone to South Africa for treatment to his injured shoulder.

Quoting doctors in Mumbai, he expressed confidence Jadeja would recover in time to join the team for the tri-nation one-day series in Australia.

Asked about former captain Mohammad Azharuddin's future, Lele replied: "Already there is so much controversy.

"Why do you want to drag me into more of it?"