“Employees would like companies to invest in their development process”

Lavleen Raheja, CEO & Managing Director, FranklinCovey India & South Asia discusses how organisations should handle appraisals 

What do employees generally expect from appraisals? How do you see the expectations changing in times ahead?
Employees usually expect increase in salary/position and responsibility. In the days to come I see certain employees expecting part of the profit share , some would look at value add to their roles , some would want companies investing in their future development holistically  like nomination for executive learning programs , PG courses etc a best institutes and universities. I also see variable very high performance based pay structure being agreed and expected too.
Are appraisals only about salary? What other benefits/perks help win over employee confidence?
No, appraisals are not only about salaries. Share in profits , share in ownership , long term loyalty bonuses , value additions on health , education of self and family, spiritual alignment are the other important factors which can help the organisations win over employee confidence.
Employees generally move out after pay hikes, what retention strategies do you put into place to control it?
We offer loyalty bonuses for 5 year stay to our employees. We also let them interview us when being hired so that their decision is well thought out, rather than just another decision. The spouses are also involved in joining decision, sometimes. We also roll out rewards, payouts throughout the year and surprise them with small but relevant perks.
What actually goes into building a sustainable and effective compensation strategy during appraisals?
An effective compensation strategy should align to the growth strategy of the company. Performance should be the key driver of compensation and luxuries of life should come through rewards for all. Salaries should be nice to keep the engine running easily but should not make the employees so comfortable that they become lazy and loose ambitions and growth paradigms. A range of 5 to 15% is a good range today but with performance regards for all. Salaries should build a performance culture rather than a complacency culture.
Which mechanism works best in dealing with post appraisal dissatisfaction?
The Candidate should not do the following things when his appraisal doesn’t meet his expectations:

• A candidate should not become reactive
• A candidate should not become aggressive
• A candidate should not feel depressed or elated
• A candidate should not blame the person or the system who appraised him
• A candidate should not form any biases or opinions either about the system or the person who appraised him / her

The candidate should do following things in a case where his appraisal don’t meet his expectations:

• A candidate should remain composed and be proactive in behavior
• A candidate should read the appraisal with a calm mind and try and understand the actions suggested carefully and evaluate and analyse them
• A candidate must seek time with his/ her appraiser and put forward the points on which clarifications are required
• The candidate must politely but assertively disagree on any such points / issues and present data and facts on these points of disagreement.
• If the candidate agrees to the points clarified, corrective actions and measures to be taken as suggested

In case the points are not agreed upon by candidate and the appraiser, then the candidate can seek independent opinions from senior colleagues with prior permission from the appraiser.
If the independent senior colleagues also think that the things mentioned in the appraisal are actually the areas of improvement for candidate, the candidate can work on the said issues for next quarter with the help of the appraising senior and seek all his / her support for development.
What is the average (percentage) appraisal you have offered this year?
We have offered 10% hike in salary and we have added something new called a fixed variable which is part of the performance incentives for all departments in our company.

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5 Foods that keep you young

Stay young, the natural way

Here are a few natural food items that can help you remain young and healthy

Looking young is the foremost priority of most people these days. Not just women, even men are wary of ageing. Instead of using the number of anti-ageing creams that have flooded the markets, one can go the natural way and opt for fruits and vegetables to help fight all age-related problems. Here are a few superfoods that can help control ageing and make you look younger -

1. Avocado - Apart from being high in Vitamin E, avocados are rich in antioxidants which help protect the skin. Avocados help in regenerating skin cells which makes your skin look fresh, giving a more youthful complexion.

2. Kidney beans - These pulses are full of fibre and potassium which help reduce the cholesterol levels and thus reduce the risk of any heart disease. But their major health benefit is that they are packed with proteins.

3. Dark chocolate - Any chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa is full of proteins and Vitamin B. Regular small bites into this chocolate will help burn fat and improve your skin and hair.

4. Broccoli - Broccolis are a great source of fibre and Vitamin C which not only help control weight, but also help to fight heart diseases.

5. Blueberries - Blueberries are rich in Vitamin C, which help in easy circulation of blood. Blueberries also contain certain minerals which help control the anti-ageing process. High in potassium, these berries help fight puffiness.

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Those at the top in BCCI should resign: Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi has been very critical of the way the league has been run by the BCCI.

LONDON: Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has been very critical of the way the league has been run by the BCCI and even called board president N Srinivasan a "monster" in one of his recent tweets. In this exclusive interview with TOI, he talks about the current spot-fixing controversy, the Sahara pullout and much more.

Excerpts:

What does the Sahara development say about the BCCI and the manner in which it is being run?

If you look at the Sahara statement, it is easy to see why they've pulled the plug. The statement reflects a catalogue of miscommunication, evasion and BCCI's contempt for a company that has been involved in Indian cricket for over a decade. It does not reflect well on those running the game at the moment. I think Sahara have been incredibly benevolent in delaying the withdrawal of their support for the national team until January. This is another reason why those at the top in the BCCI should resign — the list of reasons is growing longer and longer.

Do you think BCCI will become isolated if it does not pull up its socks?

The problem is BCCI has become too strong for the good of the game. They seem to be adopting bully-boy tactics at every turn and they certainly seem to think they're indestructible at the moment. The pressure is mounting but no one wants to make a concerted effort to challenge them. Having said that, the mismanagement is there for all to see and the pendulum might swing. The problem for them now is that the issues are very public and people are beginning to piece together the jigsaw.

Isn't Srinivasan's conflict of interest (he is the BCCI president and owns Chennai Super Kings) hurting the IPL?

Of course! I've been saying that for years — and for years no one has listened. Now the penny is beginning to drop. I was wrongly accused of having an interest in franchises and wrongly castigated as a consequence. The board president's ownership of Chennai is indisputable but for him, it doesn't seem to matter. Of course it is hurting the IPL. It strikes at the very credibility of the tournament and the results are there for all to see. Strangely, everyone has just shrugged shoulders and let him get on with it.

Has Srinivasan succeeded in diluting the powers of the IPL commissioner?

It seems no one else has any direct power these days and it is as if no one can speak unless given permission. When this latest spot-fixing scandal was reported, the IPL commissioner did not say anything. The paying public, the people who fill the stadiums, deserve answers but the man who runs the specific tournament in question was nowhere to be seen. Now that might not be entirely down to him, I don't know, but the lack of communication was terrifying. The problem was massive to start with but so much extra damage is done if the people directly responsible for the tournament don't react.

Has BCCI been fair in the Sahara case, and earlier the Kochi case?

It doesn't look like it. The Sahara statement on their withdrawal was very damming and according to what you can read there it doesn't seem like the BCCI has been very fair or professional enough. I think it is a terrible way to treat a mainline sponsor. As for Kochi, well that was an accident waiting to happen. The BCCI caused the issue in the first place by reducing the guarantees required to purchase the franchise. It weakened the quality of the bidding and it was an inevitable outcome.

Isn't the concept of IPL flawed as it encourages all kinds of elements (including fixers, bookies) to get in and make quick money?

It doesn't make it any more palatable but what people appear to be missing is that the IPL is not the only sporting event where match fixing or spot fixing has gained a hold. The problem is, the people in charge are allowing it to seem that way. In January the FIFA general secretary Jerome Valke said match fixing was "a disease" that could kill football.

In February, the head of Australia's Crime Commission, John Lawler said match fixing was the single biggest problem facing Australian sports. You can't isolate the IPL as being the exclusive province of the fixers, but people are because the IPL has been allowed to become the subject of everybody's criticism. The IPL was built to be sporting entertainment. It was never meant to be a replacement for Test Cricket or ODI but a T20 carnival that was exciting and fun. People should ask whether it's the IPL that's flawed or the people running it.

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Spot-fixing probe reaches doorstep of BCCI chief's family

The whereabouts of the Meiyappan continued to be shrouded in mystery.

CHENNAI/MUMBAI: The IPL fixing scandal has reached the doorstep of Indian cricket's powerful boss and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) owner N Srinivasan's family -- quite literally.

A day after The Times of India broke the story about the police investigating Srinivasan's son-in-law and CSK CEO Gurunath Meiyappan's phone conversations with Dara Singh's son Vindu for possible links with a betting syndicate, a five-member crime branch team from Mumbai arrived in Chennai on Thursday morning to serve summons on Meiyappan.

They first went to the headquarters of Srinivasan-controlled India Cements, and on finding no one there, stuck a copy of the summons on the door before going to Meiyappan's home around 2pm to instruct him to present himself before the CB between 11am and 5pm within 24 hours.

But with no member of the family available to meet the team, they were initially not let in by the guard; after several phone calls, they were allowed into the compound. Rama Subbu, the chief security officer of India Cements, arrived soon thereafter and was seen signing a paper which the officers handed him. Strangely though, on his way out, he denied having received any summons on behalf of Meiyappan.

Later in the evening, the crime branch is reported to have received a one-page fax from Meiyappan saying he was out of town and seeking time till Monday, with the assurance that he would appear in person. A top police officer told TOI on Thursday night that no decision had been taken on whether to allow him the extra time. If the police were to reject such a request, which seems unlikely, Meiyappan could be arrested. To avoid such a situation, he could move the courts on Friday seeking anticipatory bail. "This may give him a few days, but eventually he will have to appear," an officer said.

The whereabouts of the 35-year-old continued to be shrouded in mystery with speculation placing him variously in Kodaikanal (where he has a holiday home), Kolkata (where CSK plays the IPL finals on Sunday against the winners of the Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals match) and Delhi (to prepare his legal defence with top-flight lawyers).

Nor is there any word as to where the BCCI chief might be although New Delhi was abuzz with rumours that he would leverage his considerable clout to counter what his supporters consider a "politically-motivated conspiracy to discredit him".

On May 16, the day Sreesanth and his two Rajasthan Royals were arrested, Srinivasan had said, "One or two bad eggs cannot sully the game," before stating, on further questioning, "I hope nobody else is involved, but if information comes to BCCI, we will act immediately."

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“Negative feedback can be good for your productivity”

Research points out that novices seek positive feedback for motivational purposes, whereas experts seek and respond to negative feedback in order to understand what they are doing wrong. Hema Parikh, Director HR, Ajuba Solutions gives some tips on providing negative, but constructive criticism to employees

How do you think negative feedback plays a role in enhancing efficiency?
Negative feedback is never easy, yet it is something that is required to bring out the best in employees, while ensuring that they stay focused in their goals and targets. It is a necessary evil and is critical to a brand’s performance because when the message is clearly communicated, it helps them to pull their act together and stay ahead of the race.
Negative feedback needs to be dealt with carefully. What are the things employers should keep in mind to keep the criticism on the constructive side?
Yes, negative feedbacks must be provided with utmost caution, and the need for providing one arises when

• Employees fail to prioritise their work depending on the criticality
• There is a failure in their working model to deliver the assigned target on time

While dealing with negative feedback, we must take care that we do not lose out on the actual message to be conveyed. A lost message is a lost cause.

• Make it occasional: In an industry where delivering critical task with the highest quality is not an option but a necessity, it becomes evident that criticism must be offered only on occasions when absolutely necessary and not be rampant in an organisation. We must avoid demotivating the employees by constant negative feedback. A feedback discussion on a one-on-one basis is welcomed where we discuss the points of improvement while appreciating their plus points. The process must entail positive reinforcement and clear communication.
• Keep it strictly objective: It is essential that we do not bring in any personal vendetta against the employees. By offering an unbiased and a strictly professional and job-specific feedback, we ensure that the professional relationship with the employee is not hampered. This kind of professional maturity is linked to the employee’s as well as the organisation’s goals.
• Diminish insecurities: The standard response to any negative feedback is defense. An employee tends to get defensive and the psychological impact is not same as a positive feedback. At such instances, we must remove any inhibitions or insecurities from the employee’s mind. As a direct result, the employee becomes open to criticisms and feedbacks with an open mind.
• Say it the proper way: One of the most important attributes of delivering constructive criticism is communicating the message correctly, and that includes
  • Sharing the reason for the negative feedback
  • Maintaining the criticism specific to the job without a digression of any sort
  • Suggesting corrective measures to recover from their faults.

By doing the above, we ensure that the feedback is implemented and at the same time, the morale of the employee is not affected negatively.
What could be the possible demerits of negative feedback?
Negative feedback can go wrong if

• It is not communicated right
• If the employee is not open to criticism, even if it is constructive

One of the biggest demerits of negative feedback is the strain in employer-employee relationship. If it is not taken in the right sense or if it not implemented correctly, it becomes a futile effort to bring out the best in an employee. At Ajuba, the higher management and the leaders have been successful in discussing drawbacks with the employees to deliver an efficient working model, keeping in mind the volatility of the situation and the sensitivity of the employee.

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10 tricks to become a loving, positive person

10 tricks to become a loving, positive person

It's one thing to wax eloquent on positivity, but quite another to be a positive person at heart.

Despite believing to have a positive outlook, we invariably weigh the cons first, consider several times before sparing a compliment, and broadcast only the odds when someone counts on us for advice. What's more, we prefer needless sarcasm for humour, manage a wry smile when something is genuinely funny, and believe deep down that the glass is actually half empty.

We live in denial of our inherent negativity for the most part, and often wonder why the world around is so mean and reckless. At work, we never fail telling our juniors how meeting deadlines can be a tough proposition, and not to think too 'out of the box' to impress the boss. In short, we never tire telling all concerned how tough things can be! Unlike dogs we may not be born eternal optimists, but positivity is something that can be imbibed even if a tad forcibly; such as by trying to tweak our sense of humour, the way we react to a given situation, by being more pleasant and believing others too have a mind, and by smiling each time somebody says 'thank you'.

While positivity is a state of mind, the answer lies in our perspective. Clinical psychologist and lifestyle advisor Dr S.K Sharma shares his ideas on how to be a positive person everyday.

Have the desire: First thing first, to become a positive person one must have a strong desire to be positive. And the desire will come only if you are convinced that becoming a positive person will enhance the quality of life. Positivity is like an aura, and you know you are a positive person when people start trusting you, random people become polite with you, colleagues at work start patronising you, and you start building rapport easily.

Be realistic: Do not try to become a saint. Becoming a positive person does not mean you can never have any negative emotion or encounter any negative situation. It is the overall attitude that matters. Don't get bogged down by failure, and disappointed when your expectations are not met. Mentally, you should always be calculating a way out of difficult situations come what may.

Experiment: Be a keen observer. Use everyday life incidents to see how you can manage them in a more positive manner. These will serve as perfect instances to turn your outlook more positive. For starters, contemplate how you could have better handled a situation by being less hostile and more indulgent. Come up with five ways that could have saved the day, and learn to take things at face value sometimes. Remember, your ability to trust the other person also reflects your genuineness.

Speech and body language: Try and make positive words a part of your daily lingo, and work on your body language in way that you come across as friendly and approachable. Look amused when something is amusing, laugh when something is funny, congratulate when someone's bought something new, and give others a chance to narrate their side of the story. Never think you are the only interesting, knowing one around.

Company: One way to becoming positive is to seek positive company as both positivity and negativity are infectious. If the people you spend most of your time with are grumpy or have a pessimistic standpoint, you'll find yourself mirroring the same emotions before a different set of people inadvertently. In order to inculcate positivity it is imperative that your friend circle is a positive, energetic, and a happy bunch. You'll find yourself carrying the same positivity everywhere you go.

Activities: Do not remain idle and brood. Take up positive activities with others or in isolation. Share a joke, narrate a pleasant incident, take part in sporting activities, go for a run in the evening after work, have healthy sex, and you'll find yourself bubbling with positive energy.

Take it easy: Everyday life is bound to give you shocks. Be prepared to minimise impact and shrug it off. For instance, you may get too hassled everyday while driving to work or trying to park your car. When you accept the fact that certain things cannot be changed, you'll be more at ease with yourself and those around too.

Learn yoga: Says yoga teacher and nutritionist, Abhilasha Kale, "Do pranayam everyday as it lets you focus and meditate. Not only does it secrete happy hormones but also creates a sense of awareness within you." With the help of yogic asanas you control your breathing, and by way of it, control your mind from wandering. Every time you do yoga, you feel a surge of positive energy through your body that calms your nerves, soothes your mind, elevates your mood, and not to mention enhances your level of tolerance.

Maintain a diary: Instead of recounting all events of the day, filter out only the positive ones and make a note of them. It could be anything trivial from your bus arriving on time, your mom cooking a delicious breakfast, to remembering to pay the bills on time. When we look for positivity in the little things that make our lives worthwhile, we leave no room for negativity. "Try consciously practising this for 10 days, and at the end of day ten when you read your diary back you'll only have memories of all the good things that happened to you," she asserts.

Say 'thank you': Thank god, thank your parents, friends, and thank yourself for all the hard work you did, for everything you achieved. Says Abhilasha, "Saying thank you frequently makes you humble, and a humble person is seldom cynical."

Try these methods, and you'll be surprised when others notice the change in you.

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5 Lies women always tell men

5 Lies that women tell men

Here's a little help for men to figure out when their gal isn't being completely honest with them. Our tips help to decode female behaviour...

Though a recent study claims that a woman's face is like an open book that reveals her state of mind, but men need to beware!

Better not take it as the last verdict, for irrespective of how much you trust and adore your little angel, women do lie to their significant others at times.

Sometimes to carry off a situation without hurting his feelings or to save herself from trouble, while on occasions to contain her emotions and pose as Ms. Goody...popping casual, white lies is no big deal for women when it comes to playing it safe in the relationship.

White lies are no big blunders or massive betrayals, but small lies or 'truth manipulated' to handle a situation. At times she might fib to make her man feel better, to avoid a fight, or an embarrassing situation.

Here's a little help so that men can figure out when their adorable darling is not speaking her heart out and help them handle the situation with care...

Lie #1: "Oh! It's fine. I'm OK"
Guards on guys! You must know that she's not fine at all and nothing is OK. And sooner or later you will have to bear the burnt of her pent up emotions that she has somehow managed to hold back until now. You'll find her taking this emotional defense on occasions when you may have forgotten her birthday, taken her for granted or have done anything that hurts her.

"Whenever my girlfriend lets go off my not so fatal error with a cool 'it's fine', I know it's nothing but the calm before a cyclone that I am fated to face in the time to come," shares Sandeep Sharma, a Delhi-based management student.

To portray that she doesn't care, the emotional lady prefers taking a refuge in this lie. Charu Marwah, a software engineer admits, "I prefer staying that 'It's OK' because if I react I'll be blamed of being a constant cribber, who is in complaining mode always. Though, I actually want him to go down on his knees and plead forgiveness."

Lie detector: Well, an experienced lover would know of the crime that he has committed, but the amateurs should look out for her reactions. She might not get vocal, but will do everything to make you feel guilty about the fact that you have hurt her. From being tight-lipped to giving the briefest responses that don't go beyond 'hmms, huhs or yes and no', to mean tones and loads of sarcasm - are a few hints that you can look out for. "Women have a tendency of expecting their man to understand the said, as well as the unsaid, and that leaves men in a dicey situation. And even here, by keeping quite or going away with a small 'I'm fine', she expects him to know that she's hurt," explains psychologist, Dr. Aruna Broota.

Lie # 2: "I love you for what you are"
...and I don't want you to change. Well, may God be your saviour if you believe her for this. No wonders, if sheer pampering or impressing you might strictly be on her mind when she's saying this. "I just loved my wife whenever she averred this phrase. But gradually the knick-picking started and reality dawned upon me. At times it was my eating choice that bugged her, while at others it was my dressing style that she wanted to improve. Yet she continued to tell the blatant lie that she loved me for what I was," complained Madhukar Suhas, a Mumbai-based advertising professional.

Agreed, that you don't like this lie. But just imagine how it would feel if on your face she told you much she hated your paunch or how bad you looked in those lose-fitted denims. Thank her appreciating you taking care of your confidence levels.

"What do I do? I have to blow his trumpet when he does the right thing. After all, it was his qualities only that I married him for. And also, it becomes important to boost his confidence at times and those words just have the right impact," says Madhu Chandra, a Delhi-based-teacher.

Lie detector: If you start observing the occasions when she backs this mushy phrase, you might just realise she's not lying at all. On most of the occasions it comes when you have made her happy with anything like a gift, a movie, a romantic dinner or for that matter by doing anything and everything that she loves. You were good to her and that's your innate quality, which made her fall for you.

Lie # 3: You stare, I don't care!
Either you are too lucky to have the coolest woman by your side, or you are getting an inflated ego without any reason if you believe her on this. No matter how hard she tries to look cool and composed, but the fact remains that no woman loves it when her man ogles at another woman. "After all, who wants to feel like second best? And the 'I don't care attitude' is usually to hide the vulnerability and a pretence. Most women hate their man staring at another woman," confesses Radhika Khattar, a Delhi-based housewife.

Lie detector: She doesn't want to show you how she's feeling and is no less desperate to tell you that you are torturing her to the core. Well, easy indications to know she's lying can be the trail of questions she'll end up asking you. Casually and candidly she'll ask you things like 'Isn't she hot?' 'What makes her so hot? 'Did you like her?' She might appear to be your best buddy, but actually she wants to ask you, 'Do I score less that the chic you are ogling at?' And your answer will decide your fate not immediately, but definitely in the future, so better beware of what you say!

Lie # 4: Your friends are cool!
This might not be a lie always, but many a times your friends are nothing but a 'passion spoiler' for your girl, especially when they pop up during private moments. "When we started dating, on many occasions we went out with my friends. And every time I used to ask her, 'I hope you are enjoying?' she answered, 'They're cool!' The real shock came when one day I was planning another group date and she gave me a good piece of her mind. It's then that I realised that she didn't love them as much I thought she did. But she could have initially told me," says Rajat Sarin, a 20-year-old college student.

"Most of the times women end up praising your friends for you. They don't want to hurt you by revealing the truth and hope that you'll understand without saying, which usually doesn't happen," explains psychologist, Dr Sameer Parekh.

Lie detector: A sure shot hint to the lie is written on her face. Despite being in the group she'll remain an outsider. The smile that's usually worth a million dollars might just look purely artificial and forced. Her replies to all your enquiries will end in a cover up lie, 'I'm fine sweet heart' or 'I'm enjoying myself' and that takes you to Lie #1. So, when you get something like this from your girl, understand that you are getting into too much buddy-bonding!

Lie # 5: Tell me, trust me I won't get angry
This one is tricky, leaving you with a ditch on one side and a bigger ditch on the other. This lie is usually thrown at you when she wants an honest opinion and knows what it can be, but still wants to hear it. Beware guys! Irrespective of what you say, she is going to get furious for sure. This usually happens in questions related to her looks, the food that she cooks, that tangy orange shirt she brought for you etc.

"Sometimes it is tough to handle. Once, my wife asked my honest opinion on a super tight dress that she had worn. And, I told her honestly that she was looking like a stuffed pillow and she was mad at me. Taking cues from my past experience; on another occasion I did my best to flatter her. To my sheer surprise, even that made her angry and she blamed me for not being a fair critic," complains Suraj Malhotra, a Delhi-based architect.

Lie detector: Well, there's no detector for this one, for undoubtedly she's lying. Then what's the solution? Answers Parekh, "It's not that women cannot take true criticism from their man or expect praises all the time. But what they actually expect is that criticism should come in a softer and suggestive manner, rather than a striking taunt on her looks. So, without being too critical or over flattering, just tell her that she needs to work out on her minuses."

PHEW! This was from us. Now it's your turn to share the sweet and salty white lies that you tell your man or your wife pours on you to leave you playing a guessing game of truth and false.

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Chennai Super Kings draw from 2012 heartbreak, eye third IPL crown

Hussey and Raina have been in superb form for Chennai this year.

CHENNAI: Sometimes it takes a painful loss to spur a team on to greater heights. It is no different with Chennai Super Kings.



A heart-breaking loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in last season's final at home appears to have instilled a burning desire to set things right. And what better way to do it than to lift the title at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, home to Knight Riders.

There seems to have been a single-minded drive in the CSK camp and it was quite obvious even before the start of the tournament.

"We'd love to go and win the title in Kolkata. They (Knight Riders) came and beat us to win the title on our home ground last year, so to go and win it there at the Eden Gardens would make it a sweet victory," Michael Hussey had told the TOI.

And Hussey has undoubtedly been one of the leading lights this season, defying age and skeptics to the leading run-scorers spot. Coach Stephen Fleming was more than generous in his praise for the Aussie after an unbeaten 86 against Mumbai booked CSK's final berth.

"It's been unbelievable. He (Hussey) is also in a little bit of shock as to how good he has been. I used to pull his leg, calling him 'too old and traditional' to play some innovative shots. But now that he is concentrating solely on T20s, he is exploring ways to get better. He has been an absolute delight this season," Fleming said.

CSK have at times been compared to Manchester United and their rampaging journey to the 2013 final is similar to United's romp to the 2012-13 EPL title after losing the title to Manchester City in dramatic fashion last year.

Defending champs KKR were promptly swept aside in the two league games and now the men-in-yellow are one win away from finishing the job.

West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo bowled the last over of the 2012 final and hopes this year things will be different.

"Last year we lost the final, but we will try to win it this year," he said on Tuesday after helping CSK win the qualifier with figures of 3 for 9.

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Hodge shines as Rajasthan Royals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad for Qualifier 2 berth

Rajasthan Royals' Brad Hodge celebrates with teammates their team's victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 6 Eliminator match in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: The last one week has been a nightmare for the Rajasthan Royals. With all the chatter around the three disgraced players charged of spot-fixing, no one would have blamed Rahul Dravid and his boys if they decided to throw in the towel, especially with the Sunrisers Hyderabad turning on the screws in the Eliminator at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday.


But that was not to be the case, as Royals skipper Dravid marshalled his troops superbly to restrict Sunrisers to 132/7 after losing the toss and bowling first.

Then, in a tense chase, it was Australian Brad Hodge (54; 29b, 2x4, 5x6) who provided much-needed balm over the Royals' wounds and ensured a four-wicket win to set up a date with Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2.

If the Royals thought the chase would be an easy one, they were in for a rude shock. Sunrisers have made it a habit of defending small targets in this tournament and they didn't make the task any easier on Wednesday night. Punches were traded with equal intensity by both the sides but it was Royals who stood up to have the final say.

Hodge, one of the finest T20 players in the world with over 5,000 runs in this format, displayed why he is a prized commodity even at 38 years of age. With the Royals gasping for breath at 57/5 in the 10th over, it was Hodge's blistering fifty that tilted the scales in Rajasthan's favour.

The equation boiled down to 10 off the final over but Hodge landed the crushing blows with two massive sixes off Darren Sammy - one over mid-wicket and other over wide long-on.

The turning point of the contest was the 14th over of the Royals innings, bowled by leggie Karan Sharma, which produced 18 runs as Hodge hammered two sixes and four to turn the tide.

The contest had seemed to be heading the Sunrisers' way till then, with a pumped up Darren Sammy (2/27) leaving a dent in the Royals innings with a couple of wickets and a brilliant catch of Shane Watson on the mid-wicket boundary.

Earlier, Himachal Pradesh seamer Vikramjeet Malik (2/14) justified his skipper's decision to play without a specialist spinner with two early strikes - Parthiv Patel (1) and Hanuma Vihari (1) - as Sunrisers slipped to 3 for 2 by the third over.

Malik, playing in only his second match of the tournament, induced a leading edge from Parthiv in the opening over while Vihari only managed to mistime an intended pull shot to Kevon Cooper at mid-wicket.

A charged-up Sammy (29; 21b, 3x6) tried to provide some impetus to the innings. The 16th over of the innings was the best one for the Sunrisers as a six each by Sammy and Thissara Perera produced 16 runs from the over.

Dravid speak

"It's been a pretty difficult week for us but to play a game like this and win was good. We didn't bat too well in that period between the 7th-10th over, but it's a young side and they will learn. Hodge put his hand up and got us through. Mumbai is a very good side, in some ways the pressure is on them. In many ways we have a moneyball team and will look to get going at Eden Gardens."

On the ball, right away: Rajasthan Royals pacer Vikramjeet Malik gave away just two runs in the first over, besides dismissing Parthiv Patel. It was the best first over he has bowled in the league, in 10 outings.

Faulkner fails to fire: Royals paceman James Faulkner had picked up two five-wicket hauls against Sunrisers this season. This time, however, he gave away 28 runs and picked up just one scalp.

Dhawan in slow-mo: Shikhar Dhawan is one of the most attacking batsmen you will see in the league. On Wednesday, at the Kotla, though, his strike rate was just 84.61 - the slowest he has scored in an innings where he has faced more than 30 balls.

No respite for White: Sunrisers skipper Cameron White hasn't had a great time against the Rajasthan Royals. In four innings against them, White has scored 42 runs.

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LinkedIn retools Web navigation to match mobile

The professional social network's navigation bar is now easier to use and more pleasant to behold.

Starting Wednesday, LinkedIn will be sporting a much sexier and simplified navigation bar inspired by the design of its just-improved mobile applications.
"Over the last year and half we've had the chance to learn quite a bit from you about the types of changes that add the most value to your daily professional life, and we've brought some of these learnings to the new navigation," LinkedIn Principal Designer Amy Parnell wrote in blog post.

The idea is to make LinkedIn's navigation menu on the Web not only nicer looking, but easier to use. The search field is now front and center, tabs have been cut back, and profile and account information is just a single click away.
The refreshed look also more closely matches that of LinkedIn's redesigned mobile applications for iPhone and Android, which were released in April.
The professional network said that all English-speaking members will get the new navigation menu at some point during the next month.

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No Apple watch until late 2014, analyst says

Don't expect to see Apple's iWatch until the second half of next year, says KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Waiting for an Apple watch? You might need to keep waiting.

(Credit: Sarah Tew and Christopher MacManus/CNET)

Consumers awaiting Apple's rumored wearable, watch-like device might need to wait until next year before the gadget sees the light of day.
That's according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said Apple "may not have adequate resources" to develop a version of iOS for the device given its efforts to revamp the software as part of iOS 7.

In Kuo's note to investors, which was excerpted by AppleInsider and MacRumors, he adds that the components going into wearable devices simply haven't matured, potentially pushing manufacturing into the second half of next year. He also notes that Apple will likely go with a 1.5- to 2-inch screen, as well as make use of biometric security, presumably from its $356 million acquisition of AuthenTec.
Rumors of Apple's interest into a wearable gadget first heated up in February in a report from The New York Times, which claimed that Apple was "experimenting" with wristwatch-like devices. Bloomberg later followed, adding that Apple had a team of around 100 people working on such a device. Since then, there have been new patents pointing to Apple's exploration in the concept, as well as murmurings about rival products from companies like Samsung, Google, and Microsoft.
Kuo's been spot on about Apple's plans and timing of its 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro last year, along with iPod and iPad details. Before that, there were his accurate reports of the white iPhone 4 timing, Apple's discontinuation of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, and revamps of the MacBook Pro line in mid-2011. Adding some additional credence to all this were remarks from Apple CEO Tim Cook last month tempering any expectations of new products into the fall and "throughout 2014."

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Top social photo sites for browsing and sharing

Whether you enjoy the artistry of photography or the social aspects of photo sharing, choosing the right service is important.

With high quality digital cameras on every smartphone and apps that make your pictures even better, just about anyone can be an accomplished photographer. Sure, you may not be an accomplished professional photographer, but you can certainly upload your images to photo sharing sites and receive feedback to make your shots even better.
As most people know, there are a number of popular services already out there that let you take your shot, add effects and other enhancements, then upload it for all to see. But the other thing that's great about photo sharing sites is the ability to browse through thousands of photographs and join the conversation in the comments. Seeing the world through others eyes has a voyeuristic quality and swimming through a sea of photographs can be incredibly addictive. So even if you're not an aspiring photographer or don't care about the social aspects of these services, you might just like to look at other people's work simply for the stories the images tell.
I rounded up a couple of the most popular photo sharing sites and put them together with some good quality lesser known services so you can decide which one is more up your alley.

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Instagram (iPhone | Android) is a popular photo enhancement app that requires only a couple of touches to produce retro-looking images and then share them with friends and other Instagram members. It's the most well-known of this collection and the user base is enormous. While you will find great shots on Instagram, the service is definitely geared towards the social aspects of photo sharing rather than a focused love of photography. So it's more about letting people know what you're doing right now rather than going over the finer details of your image.

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We Heart Pics (iPhone | Android) is a much lesser known service whose premise revolves around telling your life's story through pictures. It has image filters and other tools you can use just like Instagram, and you can follow, "like," and comment on people's images.
Where We Heart Pics is little different is that it is set up in specific categories where you can submit your version of a specific idea that tells people more about you. The service will give you the tag "staying fit," for example and people will upload photos of exercising, eating healthy food, or maybe workout clothes. On your profile page there are also categories such as About Me, Family and Friends, Home, and Places, where you can add photos to give people a better ides of who you are through images.
Right now, We Are Pics hasn't really seemed to gain as much traction with users in my part of the world, but I really like the intuitive photo browsing interface and daily pic challenges, and I think you will too.

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Flickr (iPhone | Android) is a popular service that focuses more on the photography than the social, and a recent update improved the interface for browsing, and added a few more tweaks to make it even better.
With Flickr you get an endless scrolling wall of photos, with almost all of them high-quality shots. In the comments you'll find detailed well-intentioned critiques about the photography rather than the more conversational comments found in the other services in this collection. Yahoo also recently announced that you can upload uncompressed originals and raised the storage capacity to one terabyte per user. Obviously, the focuses here are on getting your best photographs online for showing off your talents or just browsing through tons of beautiful images.

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EyeEm (iPhone | Android) is a photo app that's similar to Instagram, but I really like the layout and photos categorized by location, making it easy to both browse and add your own shots to collections. This app is also a little more photography focused then other services, but there's still a social feel to the app.
With EyeEm, the users choose from pre-made tags or create their own so you can search for keywords or specific subjects and get a big collection of images that match in a nearby location. The browsing features are dependent on location and these subjects (shown as big colorful headers), so you might find a heading that says "San Francisco" in the feed, and you can browse all the images people have placed in that collection. On a smaller scale, you might run across a tag for a particular restaurant, and you can view (and add) images for that location. The app will find the tags and photos that are nearby your current location so you can use the app to learn about what's around you.
EyeEm has a really great layout, but the user base is not in the same league as the big names like Flickr and Instagram. Still, I think if you check out this app, you'll like everything it has to offer

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Today`s Quotes

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

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5 things to do on Social Media to get your dream Job

Getting on to a professional network, engaging people and attracting potential (read dream) employment opportunities is not enough these days. Here are 5 steps to boost your chances of getting your dream job through social media:
By Neha Singh Verma
1. Be findable: Irrespective of which social/professional network you choose to join jobseekers should have a clear profile picture and an explanatory bio/description, including how people can get in touch with you, informs Yashwant Mahadik, Vice President, Head of Human Resources, India & Indian Sub-Continent & Global Lead – Learning Strategy and Philips University Program. Also it’s not just enough creating your profile on social media. Incomplete profiles or descriptions about skills quickly decrease your value. And be specific, HR professionals are not going to waste time on your profile if it reads “Searching for something meaningful…”, explains Anupama Katkar, VP-HR, Quick Heal.
2. Join relevant groups: Join groups that will connect you with experts from your industry. You can also start building your own group to establish yourself as an expert in the field. These groups help in spreading your message and connect you with key people, advices Katkar. Supporting the same, Mahadik encourages job-seekers to get engaged in conversations with industry experts, LinkedIn groups, chats etc. which are of interest to you, so that your ‘personal brand’ becomes visible and you get noticed. Eg. Programmers can show their work and code on Github/Stack Overflow. Designers can showcase their work on Behance, Dribbble; mechanical engineers can showcase their expertise on GrabCad. Then there are generic discussion and Q&A forums on LinkedIn and Quora. This raises the likelihood of prospective hiring managers noticing your expertise.
3. Converting Your Virtual Contacts Into Tangibles Ones: According to Jennifer Fernandes – Country HR Director, Faurecia India, followers are a form of digital currency on the web. They are, after all, the ones who are responsible for spreading your message to those who you haven’t reached yet. Inviting them over lunch/dinner will not only build an informal connection but also oblige the network to re-invite you for their social gatherings. Prashant Bhatnagar, Director-HR, Sapient is of the opinion that networking with professionals at dream firm/competitive firms and seek recommendations on your profile.
4. Start a Blog: A blog is great for online visibility and getting indexed by search engines. It can showcase your point of view, expertise and become a platform for other professionals to connect with you, highlights Mahadik. Bhatanagar also tipped that showcase your original work/ point of view that aligns to your dream job and link them via blogs/articles.
5. Be consistent: In words of Navin Chugh, SVP & MD, First Advantage India, be consistent. Don’t overdo and disappear. Do not hibernate. Cross link your social media pages. Adds Fernandes, “The best thing to do is just determine a schedule for your social media and stick to it. Whether that’s an hour per day or a few hours per week, as long as it is YOU doing the work and doing it in real time. This is important because it allows you to engage with people regarding the content you’re posting and it gives you the opportunity to respond to any number of situations that might arise during that time.”

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Understanding BYOD

 

Srinivas Tadigadapa, Director – Enterprise Solutions Sales, Intel South Asia

Excerpts from the interview:

1) What strategy should be followed while planning and implementing the BYOD policy at workplace?
BYOD initiatives need to contribute directly to the company’s bottom line, while catering to the employee’s needs for IT consumerisation. Intel’s research found that security, manageability and remote wipe capabilities are valued by IT decision makers as the top three requirements for a successful consumerisation program. We suggest adopting new approaches to BYOD through five steps:
• Understand the powerful forces shaping consumerisation today – the younger workers that grew up with technology will have higher expectation.
• Rethink user computing to optimise the compute experience and keep users productive on any device.
• Create an inclusive approach by addressing both employee owned and employer-provided devices.
• Support employee-owned devices with best practices that address a user-centered strategy and the inherent security issues around BYOD.
• Find the right tools for the job through recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for consumerisation.
2) We live in a BYOD world today, where use of smart phones and tablets are common. To what extent can an organisation control the use of personal devices in workplace?
By leveraging the existing IT investment and taking advantages of the trusted and familiar technology platform such as IA, companies can extend support to personal devices with new programs without interrupting the entire computing experiences – all while gaining greater security and manageability. Control comes through a) technical efficiency, b) usage policies and c) involving employees in creation of policies to encourage behavior modulation and accept training.
• Security advantages through involving employees in policy creation
• Quick refresh – oldest device is 2 years
• Less data exposed – device compromise won’t create much trouble
• More control factors, users help with security settings
• Mobility improves availability risk by improving time to respond, time to contain and time to recover from events
• Involve users in creating a policy, get employees thinking about what they would allow others to do, encourage constructive criticism and improve openness to policy compliance
3) Security is often mentioned as one of the biggest problems with BYOD. What are the other big concerns?
IT managers were asked to rank the top three barriers to allowing certain types of employee-owned computers, tablets, or smart phones from being used for work. Respondents chose from a list of eight statements that addressed – support, compatibility, standardization, customisability, compliance, security. To overcome these, there is a need to drive agility through platform-agnostic applications. Business decision makers can set mandates to ensure the safety of corporate data. Filtering information and tying available information to user privileges can also help to safeguard sensitive data. Employees need to be made aware of policies through active involvement, as explained in the previous response.
4) What is the future potential of BYOD in terms of engaging, retaining and building productive workforce?
The desire among employees to bring personal devices to work is symptomatic of the gap between what employees expect and what IT organisations provide—and it’s contributing to the risk level. Because employers either don’t offer the right technology or are slow to do so, personal device usage remains a chronic challenge: Employees are increasingly using non-supported devices and therefore exposing employers to a number of potential security holes. To address the gap in expectations, IT organizations must rethink their approach to managing consumerisation. With a user-centered strategy that better aligns the at-work technology experience with the at-home experience, you can help improve employee morale and increase productivity, all while gaining greater IT security and control.

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15 healthy reasons to eat mangoes

15 healthy reasons to eat mangoes

Mango is called the king of fruits not just for its taste and super flashy yellow colour, but also for the array of health benefits it offers.

We give you 15 healthy reasons why you should stock up on mangoes this summer.

Fights cancer
Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.

Keeps cholesterol in check
Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels.

Skin cleanser
Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type.

Alkalises the body
According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.

Weight loss
Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.

Regulates diabetes
Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This is helps in regulating your insulin levels.

Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.

Aphrodisiac
Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the 'love fruit'. Mangoes increase the virility in men.

Eye care
Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.

Helps in digestion
Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination.

Heat stroke
When the sun is bogging you down this summer, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a tbsp of sugar free or honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.

Strengthens your immune
The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.

Nutrition chart
According to care2.com, one cup (225 gms contain) contains the following percentages that apply to daily value.
105 calories
76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)
25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)
11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)
9 percent healthy probiotic fibre
9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)
7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)
4 percent magnesium

Body scrub
Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.

Aids concentration and memory
Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies. The glutamine acid found in mangoes help in keeping cells alive and boosting memory.

High iron for women
Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anemia. Menopausal women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.

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Panasonic launches 5-inch smartphone @ Rs 26,990

Panasonic today re-entered the smartphone market with the global launch of its new P51 smartphone in India.

NEW DELHI: Panasonic today re-entered the smartphone market with the global launch of its new P51 smartphone in India. The phone runs on a quad-core processor and has a 5-inch display, a feature seen in many top-end models nowadays. It has been priced at Rs 26,990 in the Indian market and will compete against the likes of Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X and LG Optimus 4X HD, among others.

The company said it has inked a partnership deal with Times Internet Limited, the online division of The Times Of India Group, and the new handset will come preloaded with TOI and ET apps.

The all-new Panasonic P51 features an IPS display with 1280x720p resolution and 295ppi pixel density; the touchscreen boasts of Asahi DragonTrail scratchproof and damage-proof glass for added durability. This device runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), the latest iteration of Google's free mobile operating system. It has a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU under the hood and packs 1GB RAM and 4GB onboard storage, along with microSD card support up to 32GB.

The connectivity suite of this dual-sim phone comprises features like 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. An 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash is placed on the back of the phone, while a 1.3MP HD unit is used in the front. Powered by a 2,500mAh battery, Panasonic P51 comes with a free magnetic flip cover and supports input via stylus. This phone measures 8.5mm along the waistline, weighs 135gram and will be available in white and black colours.

The Japanese manufacturer has roped in Student Of The Year star Varun Dhawan as the brand ambassador for its smartphone range. He joins Katrina Kaif, who is the brand ambassador for the company's air conditioners, in endorsing the company's products.

Panasonic has joined hands with Jaina Marketing for the distribution, marketing and customer care support of its P51 smartphone. It has said that it will invest Rs 200 crore over the next year in brand building for the mobile range. Panasonic is eyeing an 8% share of the Indian smartphone market in the first year

Daizo Ito, president, Panasonic India, said, "We are now launching our innovative smartphone which will redefine the Indian smartphone consumer experience. We are confident that our product will provide the Indian consumer a great multimedia experience and the 'best value for money' proposition."

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Unfair to say IPL shouldn't continue: N Srinivasan

"It's not like players are not getting enough money. So, it's not a question of inadequate compensation. You can call it greed," Srinivasan said.

MUMBAI: While the BCCI's million-dollar baby -- its eyeball-grabbing Twenty20 league -- appears to attract more unsavoury elements with each passing season, the cricket board says it is unfair to call the tournament "untenable" because of a few "bad eggs".

Board president N Srinivasan, who is himself the chairman and managing director of a company that owns a Twenty20 franchise, left everything else aside on Thursday to address the media as soon as the spot-fixing scandal involving cricketers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila broke early on Thursday morning.

Calling the incident "truly sad", Srinivasan said, "We thought when we made an example last year (of the five cricketers) that the message was clear and people would not indulge in such things. We will take whatever steps necessary for people to understand this is a serious matter and they can get into trouble."

He was referring to the five cricketers -- TP Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra, Abhinav Bali, Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav -- who were suspended and banned for life after a television channel exposed them for accepting money to spot-fix performances in 2012. However, it seems like the lure of money has been far bigger than the punishments that BCCI has threatened the players with, and that, Srinivasan said is a simple matter of "greed".

"It's not like players are not getting enough money. So, it's not a question of inadequate compensation. You can call it greed," he said.

Srinivasan also said that to see a Test cricketer getting involved in this mess was truly shocking. "We have an anti-corruption code, the anti-doping code and we have also advised state units on steps to be taken. One of them is a Test player (referring to Sreesanth) and that is what is shocking," he said. "We acted the moment we got information that Delhi police had arrested the three players. Apparently an FIR has been filed but we haven't seen it. We have extended all co-operation to police and other agencies if they want any information from us."

The image of the entire tournament has come into serious question after Delhi police's expose on how the three cricketers went about trying to spot-fix performances. Further, allegations that around 70 cricketers were closely monitored by the police and that a few others may also be involved in the controversy has been doing the rounds.

However, Srinivasan -- who addressed the media hours after the controversy broke -- denied that the tournament's image was getting tarnished.

"I am as sad as all my colleagues in the BCCI, that a player who played Tests for India is involved. But that does not mean that the entire game is corrupt. I do not agree at all. I do not agree the tournament cannot continue. We will take all steps to root out this kind of corruption," he said, adding that he wouldn't agree with the idea of making a sweeping statement that the entire tournament is untenable.

The BCCI chief says the Delhi police has given the board no information yet if there are any other players involved. But as far as the three detained players are concerned, action will be taken as per the rules and procedures and keeping in mind that natural justice has to be preserved. "If more information comes to the BCCI (about involvement of other players), we will take immediate action," he said.

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Did BCCI ignore prior warnings of spot-fixing?

Demonstrators shout slogans as they hold a placard and posters of S Sreesanth during a protest in Ahmedabad.

What was supposed to remain in the realm of speculation and innuendo has now blown up in BCCI's face, with sordid details emerging from the modus operandi of spot fixing and the complicity of players.

Did the T20 League have it coming? Was the tournament's structure vulnerable from the beginning to nefarious elements, who it now appears were allowed to work their charm on susceptible players and systematically go about placing eyes and ears inside a team's inner core? Did BCCI ignore prior warnings of spot-fixing ?

Even as BCCI chief N Srinivasan scrambled to emphasize why the league was not "untenable", questions are being asked whether the arrest of these Rajasthan Royals players is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to performance fixing, if not result-manipulation.

The League has always had a love-hate reputation when it comes to conflict-ofinterest issues but what needs to be recalled is the issues the tournament has had with policing its own house. The bosses had initially ignored concerns from the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit before allowing them 'entry' to police the tournament for a brief period. Last year the BCCI set up its own anti-corruption unit, roping in Ravi Sawani, a former head of the ACSU, as head. Clearly the body has not done enough, even in spite of handing out bans to certain fringe players following a TV sting in last year's edition.

This season has been abuzz with rumours even about team owners turning a blind eye to spot-fixing.

Whispers and snide remarks about spot fixing have gained ground since the India TV operation, following which MP pacer TP Sudhindra was handed a life ban and UP's Shalabh Srivastava banned for five years. In fact, there were similar rumours during the 2009 edition too.

Goa off-spinner Amit Yadav, MP batsman Mohnish Mishra and HP all-rounder Abhinav Bali were also handed one-year bans for "loose talk and unsubstantiated bragging" but in hindsight, should the BCCI have taken the sting more seriously and made it a police matter?

The one-year bans, after all, were lifted on Wednesday, a day before the Sreesanth story broke.

With Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Thursday having to field questions on the implications of the spot-fixing saga and possible involvement of bigwigs, it is interesting to recall what Amit Yadav told India TV reporters last year when asked about the involvement of team owners.

Yadav was asked, "Franchise owner khud hi fix kar dete hai (franchise owners themselves fix matches)?" His reply was: "Kar dete hain (they do)... aapko meine bol diya ki bhai aaj rok kar pyar se khelna hai (suppose I tell you today you have to play a bit slowly)... ek aapko fix kar liya, ek middle order fix kar liya, bas ho gaya (fixing one more batsman is enough to get the job done)."

The sting had also revealed how bookies coerce susceptible players into bowling wides or no-balls, or playing defensively. Sudheendra revealed how he had been "directly" approached by bookies, and suggested how peer pressure plays a part since other players are doing it.

It could be all "loose talk and bragging" but did the BCCI do more harm by not initiating a police probe? The Sreesanth saga, after all, is bound to impact the credibility of the league. The next time you see a bowler overstepping, or a batsman using a towel or a team losing from a winning position, you might not know what to believe.

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Kings XI Punjab stay alive for another day

KXIP players David Miller,Shaun Marsh an(PTI Photo)

DHARAMSHALA: Staying alive was the theme of Kings XI Punjab on a day when the spot-fixing controversy hit the T20 league big-time.



Playing under the shadow of the sordid disclosures in Delhi, the home team produced a professional display at the HPCA stadium here but still edged out Delhi Daredevils by seven runs and keep their faint hopes of a berth in the playoffs alive.

Put in to bat, KXIP, aided by useful knocks by Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh and David Miller, posted a handy total of 171/4. And with their seam bowlers making better use of the conditions, they throttled the already struggling DD batting line-up to notch up their seventh win. Their chances now rest on Bangalore and Hyderabad losing their remaining games and they themselves defeating Mumbai Indians in their final match here on Saturday afternoon.

The Delhi batsmen continued their miserable run even as they demoted Virender Sehwag to number four. That ploy did not work as Praveen Kumar and Sandeep Sharma made early dents. It put a lot of pressure on Viru who not for them first time failed to deliver.

And with skipper Mahela Jayawardene struggling to collect runs at a fast clip, it was left to Ben Rohrer to give KXIP a fright with a well-struck half-century. But once he fell to Piyush Chawla in the final over it was all over for DD, who are now in danger of finishing last should they lose their final match to Pune Warriors.

Sent in to bat, it was Gilchirst who provided a flying start to KXIP. Gilly likes the ball to come onto the bat and he made full use of the bouncy pitch by collecting five fours and two sixes even though he lived a charmed existence. He and Shaun Marsh put on 60 in 7.3 overs, before Gilchrist was well held by Irfan Pathan off his own bowling. Gilchrist made 42 from 26 balls which set the platform for the likes of Azhar Mahmood and David Miller to launch into a blitzkrieg.

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Betting nexus thrived on codes and signals

According to the police, it was decided that for the May 9 RR and KXIP match that Sreesanth would put a towel in his trouser in the second over of his first spell and also give enough time for bookies to do some heavy betting.

NEW DELHI: The bookies in the spot fixing scam had a nodal person in Delhi, an old-timer, who is now in custody and whose identity the cops are not yet willing to disclose. He was giving directions to different groups in various states where IPL 6 matches were being played on how the players would signal compliance on field. The modus operandi devised by this D Company man gave enough time to the bookies to put maximum bets.

The signals were such that these won't have ever raised any suspicion on or off the field. Disgraced cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were willing to do anything - tuck a towel in the trouser, rotate the wrist band, pull their T-shirt up and down, pull out the locket around their neck, do stretching and warming up exercises and even set the field to earn those big bucks, according to the cops.

For example, it was decided that for the May 9 Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab match that Sreesanth would put a towel in his trouser in the second over of his first spell and also give enough time for bookies to do some heavy betting, said Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, adding that "he (Sreesanth) did some warming and stretching exercises" too.

"The modus operandi included asking the bowlers to give pre-decided signals with the help of their accessories like wrist-watches, chains, towels etc at the time of starting the over. The bowlers were asked to concede at least a given number of runs in a pre-determined and mutually decided over. After receiving the signal from the bowler, the bookies would bet heavily and make huge profits," said S N Srivastava, special CP, special cell.

If the players failed to give the signal, the money was lost as it happened in the case of Ajit Chandila. Chandila was supposed to pull up his shirt to signal the start of the manipulated over but he forgot to give the signal. Though he conceded the agreed 14 runs, the bookies could not place any bets since they didn't get the signal. "This led to a lot of arguments and demand for return of the money (Rs 20 lakh) advanced to him. Another Rs 20 lakh was to be given after the match," said the police chief.

The bookies, sources said, targeted vulnerable players, who would easily give away runs for money. They got in touch with them at team hotels, stadiums and elsewhere besides using the phone, BBM and whatsapp. Their conversations too were coded with words like 'samaan' (for money), said the source. And the bookies were careful not to use their real names.

During the matches, some associates and bookies remained in the stadium and signals were also given during 'strategic timeouts' and 'commercial breaks', said sources. After the over was successfully bowled according to the bookie's wish, money was delivered in cash to the players.

Officials said several players' names have been used in the recorded conversations between bookies and Chandila, but these players, even after accepting money, did not perform in the previous matches.

A top source said some batsmen, who had not performed and got out mysteriously, could also come under the scanner after the bookies were questioned.

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