da bet nacional： Cricketer-turned-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu has been charged with”hurting” the religious sentiments of a particular section of Sikhswith his utterances during the live telecast of the India-Zimbabwematch on June 23, according to Press Trust of
Staff and Agencies13-Aug-2001* Off-beat comments land Sidhu in troubleCricketer-turned-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu has been charged with”hurting” the religious sentiments of a particular section of Sikhswith his utterances during the live telecast of the India-Zimbabwematch on June 23, according to Press Trust of India. Ludhiana-basedHarpal Singh Kohli, in his complaint filed with a Ludhiana court onSaturday, has alleged that during the commentary on a private TVchannel the former batsman had made “defamatory” remarks on ‘KhatriSikhs’.According to the counsel for the complainant, Sidhu, while interactingwith fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle, is alleged to have said, “onlyBhapas wear multi-coloured turbans”. Sidhu made these remarks whenasked why he did not wear multi-coloured turbans. The term `Bhapas’refers to Khatris or lower caste Sikhs in a derogatory sense, thecounsel said.Taking cognizance of the complaint, the magistrate fixed September 29to examine witnesses including Bhogle and Sunil Gavaskar who was alsoreportedly present as Sidhu made the comments, the counsel said.* Rohtak to host two Ranji Trophy matchesThe North Zone Ranji Trophy league match between Punjab and Haryanaduring the ensuing season will be held at the lush green environs ofthe TERI Oval near Gurgaon from November 24 to 27. Disclosing this,Ranbir Singh Mahendera, secretary, Haryana Cricket Association saidthat Rohtak will host two Ranji trophy matches this year whereas onematch has been allotted to Faridabad.According to Mahendera, Haryana will begin their Ranji campaign byplaying a match at Rohtak against Jammu and Kashmir from November 1to 4. Faridabad’s Nahar Singh Stadium will be the venue of the Haryanaversus Services tie scheduled to be held from November 18 to 21.Rohtak will host the Haryana versus Himachal Pradesh tie from November30 to December 3. Both the matches to be hosted by Rohtak will be heldat the Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium.* Rohan Gavaskar to lead CAB in Buchi Babu tourneyLeft handed batsman Rohan Gavaskar will lead Cricket Association ofBengal in the MRF Buchi Babu invitation tournament, currently on inChennai. He will replace veteran left arm spinner Utpal Chatterjee whowas originally named as captain.Utpal suffered an injury in practice and has been advised ten daysrest and is unlikely to be available for CAB’s campaign in thetournament. Stand bye Soumen Singh will replace Utpal in the squad.CAB play their first match against Oil & Natural Gas Corporation fromAugust 16.