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Gurunath Meiypappan and Raj Kundra could find themselves in big trouble at the end of the inquiry by two retired Tamil Nadu High Court judges, into the allegations of corruption in the IPL.Meiyappan, the Chennai Super Kings management member and son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, was released on bail after being arrested for allegedly indulging in betting during the IPL. According to the Delhi Police, Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, admitted to have bet on matches involving his team.The original task for judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, the two independent members of what was originally a three-man panel, was to look into the complaints against Meiyappan, and the owner companies of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals – India Cements and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd.ESPNcricinfo understands that they will now also examine the alleged involvement of Kundra, who bought 11.7% stake in Royals franchise ahead of the 2009 edition, in betting. The decision is likely to be announced after the working committee meeting in New Delhi on June 10.If Kundra and Meiyappan have indeed indulged in betting, police investigations aside, they can be found guilty of having breached IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials and IPL’s Anti-Corruption Policy. Besides, both the franchisees could also be terminated for having violated clause 11.3 (c) of the franchise agreement.IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials defines a team official as “(i) in relation to the Team any employee, coach, manager, selector, team official, doctor or physiotherapist (ii) any other person employed by or representing any Franchisee or Team including any director, secretary or officer of the Franchisee or (iii) any duly authorised (express or implied) agent of a Team or Franchisee.”Depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach, article 2.1.8(b) of IPL’s Code of Conduct prohibits the following: “(a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.”Clause 11.3 (c) of the franchise agreement mentions the agreement can be terminated if “the Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League) and/or the game of cricket.”Since “material adverse effect” isn’t defined in the agreement, it is considered as a subjective term. However, it would be strange if it is applied to only one of the two teams.Besides the code of conduct, both Kundra and Meiyappan may be found guilty of having breached IPL’s anti-corruption policy, which makes it clear that any direct or indirect involvement with betting would be liable for suspension. Even though the word “owner” isn’t mentioned in the policy, it refers to “Player Support Personnel” as “Any coach, trainer, manager, selector, team official, doctor, physiotherapist or any other person employed by, representing or otherwise affiliated to a playing/touring team or squad that is chosen to represent a National Cricket Federation in any Domestic Match or International Match or series of such Matches”.If found guilty, Kundra and Meiyappan can face sanctions between two and five years each on charges of corruption (Article 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3 and 2.1.4), betting (Article 2.2.1, 2.2.2 and 2.2.3) and misuse of insider information (2.3.1, 2.3.2 and 2.3.3) according to the anti-corruption policy.”The BCCI Disciplinary Committee shall have the discretion to impose a fine on the Participant up to a maximum of the value of any Reward received by the Participant directly or indirectly, out of, or in relation to, the offence committed under this Anti-Corruption Code,” adds clause 6.2 of the policy.The code defines reward as: “A person acts ‘for Reward’ if he/she arranges or agrees that he/she or some other third party will receive any direct or indirect financial or other benefit for that act (other than official prize money and/or contracted payments under playing, service, endorsement, sponsorship or other such similar contracts), and the term ‘Reward’ shall be construed accordingly.”Even if either of the two officials are found guilty to have breached multiple clauses, their suspension cannot increase for more than five years since both the code of conduct and the anti-corruption policy clarify that the sanction will be imposed “concurrently” and “not cumulatively” if a player or team official is found guilty on more than one charge.With Meiyappan charged by the police under 12 different sections, the probability of the code of conduct not being observed is quite high. As a result, even though the legal system may take a long time in pronouncing the duo guilty (or otherwise), experts think the BCCI should be able to establish that their rules have been broken.In their defence, both franchises might argue that Meiyappan – whom Super Kings have distanced themselves from – and Kundra were not team officials. However, it will be of little help.”The designation doesn’t matter. The moment you are a part of team management – whether employed or otherwise – you are entitled to adhere to the code of conduct and anti-corruption policy,” an IPL insider said. “Both these individuals are undoubtedly members of team management, so if their involvement in the alleged [illegal] activities can be substantiated, they would obviously be punished according to the BCCI’s rules.”

ScorecardA dominant partnership between Chris Nash and captain Ed Joyce guided Sussex to their first win in this year’s Yorkshire Bank 40 in a rain-affected contest against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Sussex recovered from a troubled start to post 215 for 7 from their 40 overs with Nash amassing 95 off 106 balls and Joyce an even-paced 90 off 91 deliveries as they piled on 173 runs for the fourth wicket.Trent Copeland took career-best figures in one-day cricket of 5 for 32, but the home side never looked like keeping up with the run-rate as they collapsed to 122 for 9 from 26.3 overs, with Sussex winning by 61 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.Sussex won the toss and chose to bat but they lost Luke Wells in the third over when he edged David Willey to Andrew Hall at first slip. Copeland then struck when England’s Matt Prior was caught behind for 3 and Sussex were then reduced to 12 for 3 in the sixth over when Copeland’s delivery crashed into Rory Hamilton-Brown’s off stump.But the fourth-wicket pair of Nash and Joyce recovered the Sussex innings with Joyce reaching 50 off 61 balls and Nash following suit from 68 deliveries. A 30-over partnership was finally broken when Joyce pulled Steven Crook to Copeland at short fine leg.Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown was then trapped lbw by Copeland before Nash’s brilliant innings came to an end when he chipped the same bowler to Hall at midwicket. Copeland completed his second five-wicket haul in one-day cricket when Chris Jordan played on in the final over.Initially chasing 216, Northamptonshire lost Stephen Peters in the fifth over when he was pinned lbw by Jordan to depart on 20. The captain Alex Wakely then threw his wicket away when he tamely nudged James Anyon to Hamilton-Brown at backward point. Kyle Coetzer also went cheaply when he launched Anyon to Michael Rippon at mid-on before David Sales perished on 24 when he clubbed Chris Liddle to Prior at deep square leg.After a 40-minute rain delay, Northamptonshire lost Matthew Spriegel when he was well caught at mid-off by Nash off Michael Yardy and Duckett followed by edging Liddle. Liddle’s yorker clattered into Willey’s off stump with Jordan then bowling Hall and Crook, who put up some resistance in making 25, before more heavy rain put the hosts out of their misery.

ScorecardJim Allenby enjoyed an impressive all-round match•Getty Images

Jim Allenby completed an impressive all-round performance to help Glamorgan to a comfortable 10-wicket victory on the final morning of their Division Two clash with Worcestershire at Cardiff.The victory was Glamorgan’s first over Worcestershire at their Cardiff headquarters for 42 years. Allenby followed up his top score of 78 in Glamorgan’s first innings to claim figures of 4 for 27 in 20 overs in the Worcestershire second innings.He helped himself to three wickets on the final morning as the Welsh county claimed the final five wickets for only 22 runs after Worcestershire resumed on 185 for 5 to leave 36 for victory.In reply to Worcestershire’s 207 all out opener Ben Wright led the way in with 30 of the runs required as Glamorgan won 35 minutes before lunch. Glamorgan took 21 points from the contest to Worcestershire’s three.The visitors did not make the start they required when Thilan Samaraweera was caught and bowled by Michael Hogan for 79 in the fifth over of the day. And in the next over wicketkeeper Michael Johnson was caught by Marcus North off the potent bowling of Allenby.It left Worcestershire in trouble at 195 for 7, a lead of only 23. Bowling with the second new ball Allenby was on target again, breaking through twice in the same over. First he bowled David Lucas to uproot his off stump before trapping Chris Russell leg before. Hogan claimed the last wicket to fall by having Gareth Andrew caught by North at mid-off.

Match Facts

March 24, 2013
Start time 1000 local (0800GMT)

Big Picture

Can Pakistan win their first bilateral series in South Africa?•Getty Images

Sunday could well be Benoni’s biggest day since Charlize Theron won the Oscar. International cricket seldom reaches Johannesburg’s East Rand and when it does, it is unlikely to be this meaningful. For both South Africa and Pakistan, its Benoni or bust in their last outing before the Champions Trophy and they will have a sell-out crowd to do that in front of.The series has got steadily more competitive as it has progressed, so the 8,500-odd people can expect a fiery affair especially because there is more than just a trophy on the line for both teams. Reputation tends to mean more than silverware in bilateral ODI series anyway.For South Africa, it is a chance to give their home fans a format to cheer them in that is not Test cricket and to prove to them they have developed as a limited-overs unit. After winning all five longest form fixtures, South Africa’s Twenty20 and ODI squads did not follow suit. They are in transition but even a phase of change cannot go on without some reward.Sporadically, South Africa have had it. They blew Pakistan away in Bloemfontein and defended stoically at the Wanderers. But consistently, they have not. When forced into situations from which they have to respond unconventionally, they struggle – an indication that the evolution into a complete unit is still, as Gary Kirsten would put it, in process.For Pakistan, the picture may not be that big. They are more likely to be focused on the immediate goal of leaving this tour with enough to be able to call it a success. Misbah-ul-Haq indicated at the very beginning that he expected the Test phase to be difficult but the limited-overs contests to be the area in which Pakistan could push South Africa and even topple them over.So far, they have. They’ve exposed the hosts’ obvious weaknesses and demonstrated some of their own major strengths. They will want one more big effort to underline those and there would be no better place to that than in the decider.

Form guide

(Most recent first)South Africa: LWLWWPakistan: WLWLL

In the Spotlight:

Instead of one player, it will be South Africa’s collective mental strength under scrutiny as they find themselves in a must-win situation. Understandably, it is not a major tournament knockout game and it may have absolutely no bearing on one, but is still a test of character more than it is one of skill and if South Africa have lacked in either department, it is the first. The team will have to take responsibility as a whole and watching how they work together in trying to win the series will be more important than any individual brilliance.Similarly, Pakistan’s big match temperament will be challenged. Twice, they have needed to come back in the rubber and twice they have. Both times, they’ve got the bit between their teeth early. If that happens again, they are likely to run away with it. If it doesn’t, they will have to be up to clambering their way out of trouble. Shahid Afridi showed how to do it at the Wanderers but it may take more than one firework to light up the contest.

Team news:

Graeme Smith’s ankle injury means that Quinton de Kock will appear for the first time in the series in the position he prefers. Morne Morkel has been declared fit to play and could come in place of Dale Steyn if Steyn’s shoulder is still acting up after he hurt it in the field.South Africa: (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Colin Ingram, 4 AB de Villiers (capt, wk), 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Ryan McLaren 8 Robin Peterson 9 Dale Steyn/Morne Morkel, 10 Rory Kleinveldt, 11 Lonwabo TsotsobeImran Farhat’s successful recall means Nasir Jamshed will miss out again. The only batting place up for debate is Younis Khan’s. Pakistan may look to bring in Asad Shafiq in place of the underperforming Younis. If Umar Gul is available, he may replace Wahab Riaz but the rest of the bowing will remain unchanged.Pakistan: (probable) 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Kamran Akmal (wkt), 4 Younis Khan/Asad Shafiq, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Saeed Ajmal 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Mohammed Irfan

Pitch and conditions:

Known to be as lifeless as the town around it can sometimes seem, the Benoni pitch will not be expected to do anything too special. It should be sluggish, a few will keep low and it will be hard work for batsmen and bowlers alike. A typical late summer’s day with warm temperatures is forecast but there is a chance of an afternoon thundershower.

Stats and Trivia:

* Victory for Pakistan would give them their first win in a bilateral series over South Africa* Willowmoore Park is best known for two things: it was the first ground in the country to have floodlights and it was the venue of Dennis Compton’s 300 in a first-class match in 1948-49

Quotes:

“It’s two great teams and it was bound to happen that the results would go up and down like a rollercoaster.”
“Whenever you come to different conditions, you struggle and not sure when you’re starting a series, what you can do in these sorts of surfaces, but after winning two games and levelling the series 2-2 and after seeing different players perform, we are a bit sure and you grow your confidence.”

Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s outstanding performance in the second Test against Australia, in Antigua, which helped secure West Indies a draw, has lifted him to a career-best position of No. 5 in the world rankings.Chanderpaul was twice unbeaten in the match, for 107 and 77, and claimed the Man-of-the-Match award as West Indies kept alive their hopes of squaring the series, although the Frank Worrell Trophy is now safely back with Australia. Chanderpaul’s double continues a prolific run of form, following on from his 118 in the first Test, and he currently averages 156.50 in the series.In the past 12 months he has played nine Tests and scored 1,062 runs at 106.20, including five centuries on away tours to England and South Africa as well as this home series against Australia.Chanderpaul is now level with South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and just three points behind Mohammad Yousuf. Michael Hussey currently holds the No.1 spot, followed by Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara.West Indies’ captain Ramnaresh Sarwan just missed out on a return to the top 20 in after his fifth-day century. Sarwan scored 65 in the first innings and then 128 in the second and that performance has lifted Sarwan back to 21st place.From the Australians, Simon Katich is the most significant mover following his first-innings century and has climbed 12 places to 56th.After missing the first Test through injury, Jerome Taylor has climbed back into the top 20 of the bowling rankings. He took five wickets in the match – including Ponting in both innings – and moved up 12 places in the tightly packed rankings. It is the highest ranking of Taylor’s 19-match career and he is now just three points behind Matthew Hoggard in 13th spot, who is currently trying to force his way back into the England side.Brett Lee strengthened his position in fourth spot and is also holding the highest rating of his career. Lee was the outstanding bowler in Antigua, with match-figures of 8 for 110, on a docile surface. This included a destructive burst of reverse-swing in the first innings. He is closing the gap on team-mate Stuart Clark, who is currently occupying third spot.Muttiah Muralittharan is still in first position with Dale Steyn just behind him. With Sri Lanka hosting India in a Test series next month and South Africa playing in England around the same time, those two will be jostling for top place.

For the full rankings click here.