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Sunday,
May 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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England stun
Pak with
four quick wickets
Match-fixing still on: ICC report |
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Victorious
Anand sole leader Chance
for India to finish second We’ll
regain French Open title: Paes CBFS
ropes in Lanka; renews pact with Pak Gibbs
faces disciplinary hearing Gillespie,
Lee fit for Ashes tour Teacher
as well as the taught Bathinda
boys stun holders Ludhiana
UAE
down Yemen, enter 2nd round Chamba
move into super league
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England stun Pak with four quick wickets London, May 19
Pakistan, chasing England’s first innings of 391 at the Lord’s, looked in trouble at 60 for four following a three-wicket burst by Andrew Caddick before Yousuf Youhana (26) and Younis Khan (32) shared an unbroken 55-run stand. Play was halted 16 overs early due to bad light. England’s support seamers, however, were unable to emulate him as they failed to press home their advantage in a match reduced to four days after Thursday was washed out. Pakistan need 242 to avoid the follow-on. Pakistan lost opener Slaim Elahi when he was caught off Andrew Caddick from his third ball, and Saeed Anwar soon followed to make it 21 for two. The left-hander hit three boundaries before edging Darren Gough and giving Michael Atherton his second catch at first slip. Caddick, finding more swing than Pakistan’s bowlers, then dismissed Inzamam-ul Haq and Abdur Razzaq, both caught behind, as the Somerset pace bowler claimed two more wickets for three runs in a 21-ball burst. He ended his 10-over spell with three for 26. Hussain’s hand injury, however, his third in as many seasons, dominated Saturday’s action. Earlier England suffered a major blow when it was confirmed that captain Nasser Hussain would be out for at least three to four weeks after his right thumb was fractured by fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. “It’s very disappointing. I felt in good form but the ball hit me full on the thumb and at Shoaib Akhtar’s pace there’s not a lot you can do. The one consolation for Hussain is that his wife, Karen, is expected to give birth to their child in approximately two weeks time. “My wife will be the only one in the stands who is happy,” joked Hussain. Hussain was on 63 when he got behind a rising delivery from the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ that hit his bottom hand. He immediately let go of the bat and the physio came on to give him treatment. Alec Stewart took over the captaincy for this match and the latest in a long line of hand injuries means that Hussain will miss the second and final Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford on May 31 and could be out for the triangular one-day series that also features Australia. Three balls after Akhtar struck Hussain, still clearly suffering, was caught behind off Azhar Mahmood for 64. He had shared a partnership of 53 from 75 balls with Stewart, Hussain’s contribution a mere 11. In all he had faced 193 balls and struck eight fours for his highest Test score in England since he made 94 at Headingley against South Africa in 1998. Soon afterwards Akhtar fell over as he ran into bowl and appeared to twist his right ankle. But he recovered quickly and had Stewart, playing across the line, lbw for a brisk 44 from 54 balls including eight fours, to leave England 317 for seven. Debutant Ian ward made a composed 39 before he was last man out miscuing a pull against Pakistan captain Waqar Younis to give Abdur Razzaq a simple catch at mid on. Medium quick Azhar Mahmood was the pick of the Pakistani attack with a Test best return of four for 50 from 26 overs including 12 maidens. Resuming on 254 for four England lost their next wicket without addition. Nightwatchman and Test debutant Ryan Sidebottom went for his overnight score of four. The Yorkshire left-arm pace bowler lasted just eight balls today morning when to the 14th delivery of the day he edged a full-length ball from Wasim Akram straight to Inzamam at first slip. His departure brought wicketkeeper Stewart to the crease and in typical style he went for his shots from the start. He got off the mark by pulling Akram for four. Reuters, AFP  |
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SCOREBOARD England (1st innings): Atherton b Mahmood 42 Trescothick c Mahmood b
Razzaq 36 Vaughan c Latif b Mahmood 32 Hussain c Latif b Mahmood 64 Thorpe c Razzaq b Waqar 80 Sidebottom c Haq b Akram 4 Stewart lbw b Akhtar 44 Ward c Razzaq b Waqar 39 Cork c Khan b Akram 25 Caddick b Mahmood 5 Gough not out 5 Extras
(b-1, lb-5, w-1, nb-8) 15 Total (130 overs, 584 mins) 391 Fall
of wickets: 1-60, 2-105, 3-114, 4-246, 5-254, 6-307, 7-317, 8-365, 9-385, 10-391. Bowling:
Akram 34-9-99-2, Waqar 25-5-77-2, Akhtar 19-4-64-1, Razzaq 21-2-68-1, Y. Khan 5-0-27-0, Mahmood 26-12-50-4. Pakistan (Ist innings): Anwar c Atherton b Gough 12 Elahi c Atherton b Caddick 0 Razzaq c Stewart b Caddick 22 Haq c Stewart b Caddick 13 Youhana batting 26 Y Khan batting 32 Extras
(1b-2, nb-8) 10 Total: (4wkts, 32 overs) 115 Fall
of wickets: 1-4, 2-21, 3-37, 4-60 Bowling: Gough 9-3-34-1, Caddick 10-2-26-3, Sidebottom 5-0-27-0, Cork 6-1-24-0, Trescothick 2-1-2-0. |
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Hussain’s thumb fractured by Akhtar delivery London, May 19 That means Hussain will miss the second and final Test against Pakistan which starts at Old Trafford on May 31 and is doubtful for the start of the one-day triangular series also involving Australia that begins on June 7. Hussain will play no further part in this match, the spokesman adding he would not bat even in dire emergency. Former England skipper and Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart will take over the captaincy for the rest of this match. Hussain has a history of hand injuries. Last season he injured his left thumb fielding for Essex a week before the Lord’s Test against the West Indies. Stewart again took over the captaincy and retained it for the one-day series. Previously in 1999 he sustained a broken right thumb here at the Lord’s in the second Test against New Zealand and missed the third Test at Old Trafford. Hussain’s hand problems began in 1996 when Srinath broke Hussain’s right hand at Trent Bridge.
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Match-fixing still on: ICC report London, May 19 “Matches played by Pakistan and New Zealand in Sharjah and by Pakistan in New Zealand this year have been under particular scrutiny,” The Times newspaper said. It stated that a report by Sir Paul Condon, chief of ICC’s anti-corruption unit “will say next week that cricket cannot be given a clean bill of health.” The report will suggest that, despite the life bans imposed on former captains Hansie Cronje of South Africa, Mohammad Azharuddin of India and Salim Malik of Pakistan, “attempts to manipulate results for money may not have been wiped out. “Betting syndicates are known to have made large amounts not only out of the results of matches and series, many involving India and Pakistan, but also out of many different aspects of the game,” the daily said. They have been known to bet on such things as who would bat first, who would open the bowling and whether certain batsmen would score more or less than a certain figure. According to the report, Sir Paul who was recently made “people’s peer” has admitted that cricket will never be rid of dishonesty. But he has set himself the target of reducing the problem to an “irreducible minimum” before the next World Cup in South Africa in 2002-03. Sir Paul disclosed in February that “sadly there are still things to come out” and his report next week, to be released on the Internet, will indicate that there is still a long way to go before his objective can be met. No allegations against individuals will be made but ICC is expected to be extremely critical of its previous handling of cricketers suspected of bribery. The Australian Cricket Board, whose former chairman Malcolm Gray, is ICC chairman, will share blame with the world’s governing body for failing to dig deeper when in 1995 they fined two Australian Test cricketers Mark Waugh and Shane Warne for taking money from bookmakers in return for information about teams, pitches and weather. Rumours of widespread corruption in international cricket came to light last year when Cronje was accidentally picked up discussing the manipulation of matches on a mobile telephone in India by Delhi Police, prompting ICC to introduce stringent penalties for all cricketers found guilty of any involvement with betting interests. Cronje, Azharuddin and Malik have been banned for life. Alec Stewart, who is playing for England in the current Lord’s Test against Pakistan, was interviewed by Sir Paul during his investigation, providing information about the England tour of India in 1992-93 when he was vice-captain.
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Victorious
Anand sole leader Merida (Mexico), May 19 Former champion GM Alexander Khalifman of Russia also had reasons to rejoice as he recorded his first victory in the tournament over dark-horse GM Gilberto Hernandez of Mexico and now shares the joint second spot with Short on 1.5 points. Hernandez is a distant fourth on 0.5 point. Short rushed in where even the best fear to tread against Anand. The Indian GM is widely regarded as one of the best players of the Ruy Lopez opening and Short took the bait with the black pieces hoping for a miracle that did not happen. The opening choice by Short - a deviation of the Stenitz variation - pleasantly surprised Anand as he came out of the opening phase with a lasting positional advantage. The nature of the position remained closed for a long time and Anand routinely exerted pressure along the queenside with timely
manoeuvre of his pieces. Sensing danger, Short went for the King side attack but that did not yield a desirable position. Anand quickly accustomed himself to the fresh position on board and changed gears quickly to bring his heavy pieces on the king side to take advantage of the weaknesses in Short’s camp. Short’s king ran to safety in the middle of the board but there was no respite as Anand came up with a brilliant Bishop sacrifice on his 36th move to open the position completely. Short was soon pushed to the corner and was seen
struggling as he tried to cope with the menacingly-placed white’s forces. An exchange sacrifice by the Englishman only delayed the inevitable as on the 53rd move Short found his Queen trapped on the edge of the board and resigned immediately. Khalifman did not have to exercise his grey cells much against Hernandez who appeared vulnerable after a disastrous loss against Anand on Thursday. The King’s Indian defence from the black side met with the Fianchetto variation of Khalifman who had the white pieces. The home-favourite appeared to wriggle out of opening problems but his light squared Bishop remained a headache for the entire game. After the exchange of queens on the 25th move, Khalifman got an overwhelming advantage as he started opening up the king side to make room for his Rooks to penetrate decisively.
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Chance for India to finish second Bangalore, May 19 “We will go all out for a win against Brunei by a good margin”, Indian coach Sukhwinder Singh told newsmen on the eve of the match. India, who had scored a solitary goal win over Brunei in the away match, will have to beat them by a margin of at least six goals to secure the second place. The United Arab Emirates with a 3-2 win over Yemen finished on top of the table with 12 points. Yemen are in the second place with 11 points followed by India (eight points) and Brunei (nil). Even Brunei coach Zainuddin Haji Kassim said they would do their best for the first victory. Brunei, who had just two international victories to their credit, are yet to score in the tournament. “Our problem is with the strikers. We will be resorting to defensive techniques like in previous match. We frustrated India in the previous match”, he added. The team has no injury problems and all the boys are fit. The coach however, added that he would make a couple of changes in the starting line-up tomorrow. There would be no change in the goalkeeper Virendra Singh. Lamenting over India missing the golden opportunity of making it to the second round, Sukhwinder said “we were very near to it. But we failed to win at least one match against Yemen (which would have changed the position)”. However, he expressed satisfaction over the game of the players. “Boys are fighting well. They were consistent throughout”, he stressed. He said there was scope for improvement in all the areas. “This is a balanced side and we can improve with the same stuff”, he added. India after commencing the campaign with a shocking 1-0 win over the UAE, lost the away match by the same margin. Yemen held India to a 1-1 draw here and split points with 3-all verdict in the away match which virtually snuffed out India’s chances of making the second round. Against Brunei, they struggled and scored just one goal. On the team for Merdeka Cup to be played in Kuala Lumpur next month, he said the probables would be discussed in the afternoon and the names would be announced on May 21. He indicated that star striker Baichung Bhutia, who had expressed his keeneess to spend time with the family, would be persuaded to take part in the tournament. The coach indicated that three or four more would be added to the list of probables and the camp was likely to be held in Bangalore. Kassim, who was a very good midfielder, said they would be making some changes in the team. He clearly said the game would be defence oriented. “We are doing our best to win. The chances are 50:50”, he added. He said they were not facing any injury or card problems for tomorrow’s match. The coach said “we respect India very much. They are giants to us as they had beaten the UAE (1-0). They are more or less same as Yemen and the UAE. India were not aggressive like the other two. Yemen and UAE enjoyed height advantage”, he added. He said Indians were good players and they played like professionals. He said their priority was the Malaysian league, where they were relegated and placed fourth in the second division. They were focussing more on South East Asian Games scheduled in Kuala Lumpur. He expressed happiness over the performance of the team in the qualifying. He claimed that they were improving with every game and the results were there to see.
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We’ll regain French Open title: Paes Kolkata, May 19 Leander who is now in the city and recuperating from cough and cold, today said: “We have got a bunch of good matches under our belt and some wins as well. Our confidence level is high and we are prepared for any opposition when we go to Paris.” The Indian Davis Cupper when asked whether his indisposition would come in the way of regaining the title at French Open, Leander said he was confident about recovering in time for the doubles event in Rolland Garros in Paris. He welcomed this forced rest and said: “I badly needed this break and this would keep in good stead for the gruelling summer ahead”. Leander and Mahesh, popularly known as Lee and Hesh, won their first Grand Slam title at French Open in 1999 and then continued their dream run to win the Wimbledon doubles and finish runners up at Australian Open and US Open to be the world number one in tennis doubles. The duo then broke up their partnership and their seedings also came down considerably low as they failed to create much impact when they played in other tournaments with other partners. But the pair again decided to play together last year. The decision paid them handsome dividends as the duo did well in the ATP circuit and won the titles in the tournaments at Houston and Atlanta to prop up their ranking to seven in the world. Leander said he was playing too much tennis at the moment which could be the cause for the indisposition. He said: “We are playing non-stop tennis for about last one month.” He said in Houston and Atlanta the matches were played late at night and without much rest. This hectic activity could be the cause of the indisposition”, he said adding: “However, I badly needed this break”. After two fine victories at Houston and Atlanta, the Indian pair recorded two successive defeats at Masters at Rome and then at Hamburg, Germany. Leander said in Hamburg Masters he was not well that day. We played badly and we were too flat and conceded a straight defeat against a non-regular pair of Nicolas Kaifer and Nicolas Lapentii. But the defeat which disappointed him most in his tennis career was losing to the duo of Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewwitt in the first round of Rome Masters series ten days ago. Leander regretted: “I don’t know how we lost it. We were serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set, could not hold on. Then we had Hewitt serving 0-5, 0-30 in the decider, but just could not get those two points to win that match.” Leander specially commended Andre Agassi, who is not a regular doubles player, for his
tremendous fight back in that match. Leander termed this defeat at Rome as the worst in his career. However, Leander continued: “We have some good wins also in this season. Beside me and Mahesh are combining well and have regained our
rhythm as the doubles partner. We would be ready to take any opposition when we go to Paris and I hope we would be able to regain the title we won here in 1999”, the top India tennis star added.
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CBFS ropes in Lanka; renews pact with Pak Sharjah, May 19 The contract with Sri Lanka was signed here today by the CBFS chief Aabdul Rahman Bukhatir and Lankan Minister of Sports and Tourism Lakshman Kiriella. Talking to reporters later, Mr Bukhatir announced that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had renewed its three-year contract with the CBFS. This, in effect, means both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will participate in the next six tournaments, to be organised by the CBFS at the desert venue beginning in October. “We are grateful to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board for helping us at a time when everyone is trying to find fault with us,” Mr Bukhatir said in an obvious reference to allegations made by some cricket administrators that match-fixing was rampant in tournaments played at Sharjah. Asked how much money had been offered to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board for signing the contract, Mr Bukhatir said, “We cannot give any financial details at this stage.” The Sri Lankan Minister said, “We are happy to help the CBFS... They have been strong supporters of Lankan cricket ever since we got the Test status in 1982.” Mr Kiriella said the CBFS had agreed to assist Sri Lanka in building a cricket stadium and a coaching school at Kandy. In return, budding cricketers from the UAE would be provided free coaching at the school. The next tournament at Sharjah is likely to be played towards the end of October. It is still not known who will be the third team in the triangular tournament. India did not play at Sharjah in April even though it was under contractual obligation to participate in tournaments held at the desert venue. India were replaced in the tournament by New Zealand. Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the other two teams.
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Gibbs faces disciplinary hearing Cape Town, May 19 Gibbs arrived in Cape Town, along with fellow players Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten and Paul Adams, as well as team physio Craig Smith today at the end of a successful 11-week tour to the Caribbean. Both Adams and Smith, along with Gibbs and three other players were found guilty by a misconduct committee of smoking marijuana after the fourth Test against the West Indies in an Antiguan hotel room on April 10. All were fined $ 1,250. “The UCBSA confirms that it does not condone any illegal action by any of its players or officials,” a statement said. “Action was taken against those squad members by the on-tour misconduct committee and the UCBSA endorses that action.” “However, the executive committee of the UCBSA has decided that the case of Herschelle Gibbs, who was under a suspended sentence, be referred to the disciplinary committee.” Gibbs, 29, was fined $ 1,875 and suspended for three matches following a reprimand for “unbecoming conduct” during a one-day series against Australia last year. He was discovered in a night club in the early hours before the start of a one-day international. Of that sentence, 10,000 Rand and the three-match ban were suspended. Gibbs has been dogged by disciplinary problems. He was banned for six months last year after admitting to agreeing to accept money from disgraced former South African captain Hansie Cronje to underperform in a match. He later changed his mind and pulled out of the agreement. Earlier on the tour of the West Indies he was reprimanded by match referee Mike Denness after showing dissent over his dismissal in the fourth test. “If I have to face a disciplinary committee there is nothing I can do,” Gibbs said today. “I’ll just have to wait until they come to a conclusion.”
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Gillespie, Lee fit for Ashes tour Sydney, May 19 Lee and Gillespie went through a rigorous two hour workout at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns satisfied the pair had shown enough to join the 16-man touring party. “We are very happy with the progress both players have made and we thoroughly expect them to take their place in the respective tour parties providing there is no adverse reaction to this afternoon’s testing,” Hohns said. Gillespie will leave next Saturday to play in the one-day international series and Test matches while Lee will be rested for another month before he joins the Test team. When the pair link up with fellow fast bowler Glenn McGrath for the five-Test series beginning July 5, they will form a bowling attack which Hohns described as “probably one of the best we’ve had for sometime.” Due to injury, the trio has played in just one Test together — the third Test against the West Indies in Adelaide last December — with the result a routing win for Australia in under three days. Lee, whose last match was a one-day international against Zimbabwe on February 4, said his strained elbow was fully healed and was confident his back, which has also been a problem, would also stand up to the rigours of the tour. Gillespie showed no ill-effects from a stress reaction in his left toe which shortened his Indian tour. The South Australian has fond memories of England, recording his best figures of 7-37 in a Test at Leeds in 1997.
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Teacher
as well as the taught Patiala, May 19 Top SAI sources reveal that when the authorities started the diploma course in fencing for the first time last year, they were uncertain over whom to appoint as a teacher for the nine students who were selected for the course. Under normal practice only a seasoned coach, who has already done his or her diploma from the NIS here, is given charge of teaching the students. Sources disclosed that once it was decided by the SAI to start the diploma, a search for a qualified fencing coach, who would also act as a teacher, began in right earnest. When the search ended in vain, the authorities decided that Hemjit Methia, a former Indian fencer who had also applied for admission to the inaugural course, would be both the teacher and the taught. The NIS authorities have defended this
decision of asking Hemjit to act as a teacher. When contacted, a top NIS officer, speaking strictly on conditions of anonymity, said the authorities had asked the Fencing Federation of India (FFI) to rope in a foreign coach to impart training to Indian fencers and also to teach the diploma students. However, the FFI failed to react to the SAI proposal and with time fast running out, the authorities were left with no option except to ask Hemjit to take over both the roles after getting his consent. For all other disciplines in which diploma courses are undertaken at the NIS, there are coaches who fulfill the criteria for the job of teaching students. Another argument being put forward by the NIS authorities, in their defence, is that since the diploma course in fencing has been started for the first time, there was not a single qualified coach, which forced them to take this decision. The question is that while they are being taught by Hemjit, who is teaching the fencer himself and who will evaluate him as a student? |
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Bathinda
boys stun holders Ludhiana Sangrur, May 19 Bathinda boys stunned favourites Ludhiana 66-62 in a close match. The match started on a bright note with both teams attacking and scoring regularly. Ludhiana had a slight edge at the end of first half, leading 41-37. After change of ends, Bathinda played with better co-ordination, while Ludhiana players lacked it, costing them many points. Bathinda were helped by Lakhwinder Singh who scored 26 points and Harpreet, who scored 22 points. For Ludhiana, Amit was the top scorer with 23 points. Jasjit scored 19 points. In the second match Gurdaspur defeated fancied Jalandhar 91-75. Gurdaspur boys dominated the proceedings throughout and never allowed Jalandhar to settle down. Half time score was 56-36 in favour of Gurdaspur. Parminder (22) Prabhjot (25) and Manpreet (22) were top scorers for the winners while Pawan and Gurvinder scored 16 and 20 points, respectively for Jalandhar. Kapurthala girls caused another upset in their first league match by ousting holders Hoshiarpur 76-70. Hoshiarpur played well in the first half when they were trailing 29-33 but after the breather, there was no stopping the Kapurthala girls, who scored at will. Reena, Mala and Anu, all, students of Girls Senior Secondary School, Kapurthala, combined well and scored 16,19 and 19 points, respectively. Rajpal scored 21 points while Rajwinder scored 11 points for the losers. Second league match in the girls section between Ludhiana and Faridkot was a cliff-hanger with fortunes fluctuating at regular intervals. But luck favoured Ludhiana ultimately. |
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UAE down Yemen, enter 2nd round Dubai, May 19 The UAE emerged the group 8 leaders bagging 12 points as compared to Yemen’s 11 and India’s 8, with one more match in hand against minnows Brunei, who have yet to open their account. India, who started their campaign on a high note with an upset 1-0 win over the UAE in their first outing, would now look forward to a second place finish which is possible if they down Brunei with a good margin. Yemen, who pulled off a shock 2-1 defeat against the same rival last week, made a spirited attempt to equalise after trailing 3-1 in the first half, but could succeed only in narrowing the margin of defeat. The win came as a great relief for the new UAE coach Abdulla Saqr who stepped into the boots of Henri Michel of France who was sacked after the team’s defeat to Yemen.
PTI |
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Chamba
move into super league Bilaspur, May 19 Karan Chandel scored 11 runs, Bharawir 19, Madhav Sankhayayan 36, Ankush 28 while Kuldeep was unbeaten on 12 runs. Chamba’s Kapoor Singh took four wickets for 36 runs while Ashok, Umesh and Prashant also took one wicket each. Chamba scored the required 156 runs losing six wickets. Openers Sushant and Hemant contributed 50 runs in the first wicket partnership. Sushant scored 19 runs, Hemant 17 and Balbir 37 while Prashant remained not out on 28. Bilaspur’s Ninaad Mehta took four wickets for 24 runs in 6.5 overs, while Dharamvir also took one wicket. |
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