The business partner of Indian Premier League Rajasthan Royals Owner Raj Kundra on Wednesday claimed in a court that "he was forced to name him in cricket betting on instructions from Delhi Police personnel who had 'traumatized' and 'physically abused' him in illegal custody for five days," according to the PTI. Umesh Goenka, whose statement has been recorded as a witness in the case, also said that he was "forced to name his friend Kundra to save himself from physical torture and from being booked" under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, as threatened by the police. Goenka said, "Due to threats, torture and extreme fear of consequences on refusing to comply with the dictates of the police, I made the statement before the magistrate. It was not made voluntarily and was given under duress on directions of police" (PTI, 6/12). The PTI also reported shocked at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision to suspend him on charges of gambling, Kundra "seemed to be in a philosophical mood." Kundra wrote on Twitter: "Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced." He added, "Humour is a rubber sword, it allows you to make a point without drawing blood" (PTI, 6/12).
MAKING A COMEBACK? The PTI also reported claiming innocence and expressing faith in the judiciary, India Test pacer S. Sreesanth said that he is "hopeful of making a comeback to the national side." Sreesanth: "I promise you I will never give up." Sreesanth is out on bail after spending 27 days in the Tihar Jail. He added, "My dream obviously is to play cricket. All I want to do is to play cricket and get back into the team... It is a dream to play in the South African tour series. But I am not sure about it now" (PTI, 6/12). The PTI noted police and Central Industrial Security Force "had a tough time in bringing the cricketer out of the airport as a huge crowd of fans, onlookers and media personnel had gathered to receive him." Sreesanth: "I am happy to be here. I can meet my people" (PTI, 6/12).
LOSING AN APPEAL: The BBC reported Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif has "lost an appeal against his spot-fixing conviction." Asif, 30, plus fellow paceman Mohammad Amir, 21, and ex-Pakistan captain Salman Butt, 28, "were found guilty of being part of a betting scam" in '11. Judges at the Court of Appeal in London declared they were "not persuaded" to overturn the ruling in regards to Asif (BBC, 6/12).
