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Friday,
January 31, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Kenya hope to repeat miracle India’s moments of glory and disgrace at World Cup Indians feel at home in Durban Pakistan banking
on Inzamam Give incentive to teams like Holland Aussies have ‘edge on SA’ |
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Kiwi minister seeks
transfer of tie
DDCA stops Jadeja from playing league tie
Kalaswala Cup
Golf on Feb 2 Veterans TT in Chandigarh Harjeet
memorial kabaddi from Feb 1
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Kenya hope to repeat miracle
Nairobi, January 30 There is nothing, apart
from the magnificent Steve Tikolo, to suggest a repeat in South Africa in the World Cup. Poor form apart — and the strange recall of a 39-year-old spinner for what most predict will be a seamers’ World Cup — Kenya have had to cope with serious off-the-field distractions, culminating in calls for their two home group B games in Nairobi against New Zealand and Sri Lanka to be shifted to South Africa because of security concerns. There has also been a wrangle between the national board and their players over World Cup payments, and a full-blown tussle between the government and the board over the running of the game. But it was the 2-0 one-day international series defeat against Zimbabwe, hardly a world cricketing power themselves, in December which really put Kenyan ambitions in perspective. Tikolo’s main target in the team’s third World Cup in a row is likely to be victory against Bangladesh. The Kenyan captain, who would be worthy of selection in many international sides and who has scored one century and 12 fifties in 51 one-dayers for an average of more than 30, will expect his team to beat the Canadians in group B but a win over Bangladesh would be particularly sweet. Kenya have beaten them five times in six meetings and had to bite their tongues when Bangladesh won their test status in 2000, an honour yet to be bestowed on the Kenyans. It is unlikely to come soon. There are basic requirements to meet, covering the number of domestic teams and adequate venues, while the team itself is also full of gaps, with a lack of top-class bowling papered over with medium-pacers. The team’s lack of dramatic progress showed in 1999. Despite some respectable batting performances, the end result was still five defeats out of five. Coach Sandeep Patil, though — a 1983 World Cup winner with India — remains resolutely upbeat. “In cricket, anything is possible so our opponents can only rule us out at their own risk,’’ he says. “We will play with a positive mind.’’ If there is to be a shock, much will depend on Tikolo and the rest of the batsmen in his long-toothed party, some two-thirds of whom took part in the 1999 and 1996 tournaments. The 33-year-old former captain Maurice Odumbe, like Tikolo has more than 1,000 ODI runs and can also chip in with off spin, while left-arm spinner Aasif Karim, the 1999 captain, has strangely been recalled out of retirement. Nothing would be stranger, however, than a Kenyan victory on March 4 in Kimberley, when the final match of the first round will see them take on West Indies again.
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India’s moments of glory and disgrace at World Cup INDIA’S greatest moment in the World Cup cricket is also equated with its greatest moment in the game — the 1983 triumph — is somewhat easily remembered. The recalling of its worst moments only comes with a little pain. It’s easy enough to pick Sunil Gavaskar’s crawl to 36 not out as the worst moment in the World Cup for India. That innings in 1975 was against the very principles of the game and vitiated its spirit. But to talk about it today is as boring as the knock itself would have been. India lost by a record score to England in its very first match in a World Cup. That was not so much a national shame as the failure of one cricketer to cope with new demands. That may not even have been a humiliating experience for the team. Two bitter memories of appalling team performance stem from disastrous home World Cups. Plenty of conspiracy theories abounded each time then on why India came a cropper. The first comes from the home semi-final in Mumbai in 1987. Having beaten England comprehensively in the semi-final in 1983 at Manchester, India were expected to ride roughshod over the visitor at the Wankhade Stadium. Three or more factors went into the wrecking of the team. First, Dilip Vengsarkar pulled out on the morning of the match owing to a stomach complaint. Surely, a player would give his right hand to get into the thick of things in a World Cup semi-final, that too on his home turf, was what everyone believed that morning when the shock hit the team before the toss. By 1987, Vengsarkar who was not in the winning XI in 1983 in most crucial games at the summit, had become a pillar of Indian batting. His pullout from a minor sort of ailment fed the ugly rumour mills that needed very little to feed on. Second, by providing Graham Gooch and other top English batsmen with any number of young spinners to face on the previous day at the nets, Indian cricket contributed to its team’s downfall. Having forged a strategy based on the sweep shot, Gooch was a sweeping success. Third, Gavaskar’s dismissal to a ball from Philip DeFreitas denied India the sort of dashing start they needed to give impetus to the chase. The opener had played an attacking innings in the previous match against New Zealand at Nagpur and was in the kind of form to make things happen for India. The rumour mills did overtime on both Gavaskar’s dismissal and Kapil Devs lofted stroke that fell into Gattings hands at deep mid-wicket as if it was a programmed missile. The rug had been pulled out from under India’s feet. A nation’s grief may have been assuaged somewhat only by Pakistan’s defeat on the previous day in its home semi-final to the Australians. Ironically, both host nations had tumbled to the disappointment of millions of fans. Worse was in store when the sub-continental powers got together to host the event again with the help also of Sri Lanka this time. While the islanders went on to enjoy their greatest moment under the cricketing sun in 1996, both India and Pakistan were cast aside. They were victims of their own inadequacies and internal team weaknesses. Conspiracy theories abounded once again as Wasim Akram pulled out of the Bangalore semi-final. As if they were not sufficient to whet the appetite of the rumour market came India’s performance against Sri Lanka in the Kolkata semi-final that was strategically flawed. Why India chose to bowl on a pitch that had lain under the covers for a couple of months before the opening ceremony at the Eden Gardens will remain a mystery forever. It was said to be a team decision from which there was at least one dissenter in Navjot Sidhu who opposed the plan tooth and nail as one of his favourite Sidhuisms would have it. India lost lock stock and barrel on a pitch that just did not last a day. To bowl merely to deny Sri Lanka’s batting power in the chase that India had felt at the Kotla in Delhi in the league phase was
disastrous. Azharuddin and the cricket manager Wadekar had contributed a lot to the consensus decision of inserting the opposition. There was a lot of suspicion about their roles then but it is futile now to rake up such issues. Azhar continued to lead the team though historically there was a different precedent as Kapil Dev was sacked for the home defeat in 1987. India’s crash on a rapidly deteriorating pitch is history now. It was even suggested that Indian cricketers were wary of going to Lahore to play the final. That was probably a red herring to the actual goings on that ruined India’s chances in a crucial game on home soil within four days of the memorable triumph over Pakistan in Bangalore. Conspiracy or not, India lost two games at home that could have been won had all the team pulled together. But then such divisive tendencies have been part of the intriguing Indian cricket package that has always been full of contradictions. Team India in South Africa is playing its cricket in times in which there is just no place for disloyalty and disaffection. The world of cricket will simply leave India behind if it is internally weak as it was in 1987 and 1996.
UNI |
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Indians
feel at home in Durban
Durban, January 30 The newspapers here gave wide publicity to the grand welcome the Indian team received, and pictures of the players arriving at the airport were splashed across front pages. Most radio and TV channels also covered Ganguly’s Press conference and his statement that all teams had a fair chance in next month’s World Cup. At a function to welcome the Indian cricketers the Deputy Mayor of Durban, Mr Logie
Naidoo, who is one among the 800,000 people of Indian origin living here, thanked them for choosing the city as their base for the initial stage of their World Cup campaign. “Durban has a special connection with India,” he said, adding he was sure the Indian team would feel at home in the city. Despite experts not counting India among the hot favourites to win the coveted trophy, the Indian Consul General here, Mr Ajit Kumar, felt that India was the favourite to win. “They are the hopes of more than a billion people,” he said. “This is going to be a fantastic tour. We are delighted they are here.” A section of the media, however, did not take kindly to the glum faces of the Indians as they disembarked from their flight, saying Harbhajan Singh was the only player who co-operated with fans.
PTI |
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Pakistan
banking on Inzamam
Islamabad, January 30 Haq, 11 years ago, put up a splendid show at Eden Park, Auckland when his Man of Match winning knock of 60 runs off a mere 37 deliveries enabled Imran Khan’s team to beat New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final. The right-hander notched another key innings of 42 off 35 deliveries in the final against England which helped Pakistan add some quick runs and beat Graham Gooch’s team by 22 runs. Since then, the man from Multan has not looked back. He is just 62 runs short of completing 9,000 runs in one-day internationals after playing 284 limited overs games. Although his average is 39.20, the strike rate of 71.83 is good enough to show that the batsman has the ability to score quickly. He is one of the safest slip fielders in the Pakistan line-up and with wickets likely to suit fast bowlers in South Africa, he would surely add more catches to his tally of 85 in one-day internationals. However, his snail-paced running between the wickets is one of the weak links in his batting skills, and it has cost him dearly in the career. It is one reason that he has scored just eight centuries and 64 half-centuries after playing so many one-day internationals. Haq has not scored a century in his last 34
internationals since making an unbeaten 118 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in November 2001. During the recent tours to South Africa and Zimbabwe, Haq developed a heel injury that affected his batting. “But in World Cup I will take even pain-killing injections (with the permission of International Cricket Council) — if needed — and play in all Matches,” Haq, who will be captain Waqar Younis’ deputy, said before leaving for South Africa. Younis is also banking on his vice-captain to give Pakistan’s brittle batting line-up confidence in crucial group games against defending champions Australia, arch-rivals India, England and Zimbabwe. “He will be tested at number three position in important World Cup games,” said Younis. The vice-captain is fully aware that Pakistan’s team had a nightmarish tour of South Africa last month when the World Cup hosts whitewashed them 2-0 in Test series and recorded 4-1 victory in the limited overs series, mainly due to the Pakistani
batsmen's’ vulnerability in facing fast bowlers on bouncy wickets. AP |
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Give incentive to teams like Holland The ICC should add an incentive for teams like Holland at the World Cup.
The qualifiers should be guaranteed a spot in the following World Cup if they beat one of the current Test playing nations. That would give Holland five opportunities to produce an upset in this tournament. If they achieved that unlikely feat it would guarantee a bit of continuity in their World Cup play which may just help their officials foster cricket in a country more in tune with soccer, tulips and dykes. Of the five opponents Zimbabwe is
Holland's best chance to cause an upset, although the minnows did beat a side from England [another pool opponent] previously on the matting in Holland. The last time Holland competed in the World Cup was 1996 and they fielded like inspired men for much of that tournament but the batting was inadequate. This time they will rely heavily on experienced players like Bas Zuiderent who has played County cricket with Sussex. Tim de Leede is an enthusiastic all-rounder who will provide the skipper Roland Lefebvre with solid support. I don’t see Holland upsetting one of the fancied nations and their biggest challenge will be to beat Namibia, the other qualifier in Pool A. Bangladesh:
The current Bangladesh national selectors are showing more faith in their young talent and a couple of those players will be worth watching in this year’s tournament. In his short international career Alok Kapali has already shown that he has the technique and most importantly temperament, required for success as a batsmen at this level and he also bowls useful leg spin. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bowls at a pace lively enough to hurry international batsmen. Although raw he had some success against Zimbabwe and on tour in New Zealand before a side and then knee injury sidelined him for much of 2002. He has an aggressive outlook to fast bowling so if he can successfully come back, bowl from closer to the stumps and start moving the ball away from right handers, he will be the trump in any success Bangladesh have. The remainder of the Bangladesh attack is steady at best, with nothing that is going to trouble the Test playing nations in their group. Mohammad Ashraful, who burst onto the international scene as the youngest ever Test centurion (Sri Lanka 2001) hasn’t, so far at least, been able to reproduce that form. Technically the most sound of the Bangladesh batsmen he needs to develop a more planned approach to one day batting. For Bangladesh to post respectable scores senior players Habibul Bashar and Al Shariar are going to have to take on more responsibility and convert some of their good starts into substantial scores. That way the young players already mentioned along with opener Hannan Sarkar can develop without the added pressure of having to lead the batting. Gordon Greenidge has been re-engaged by the Bangladesh board as batting coach during their pre-cup warm up in Namibia. Fifteen days may not prove sufficient to make any significant improvement to their output. The pressure to perform is always on the Bangladesh team from its many millions of followers at home, but at no time is that going to be greater than when they take on Kenya at the Wanderers Ground in Johannesburg. Kenya was the eleventh ODI team and Bangladesh’s dismal record since achieving Test status in 2000, has created much debate about the relative merit of the two countries at international level. This particular game promises to be as bitterly contested as any in the whole World Cup tournament.
21st Century Media |
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Aussies
have ‘edge on SA’
Melbourne, January 30 The wily legspinner was keen to emphasise the South Africans’ short-comings as the Australian team left here today for Johannesburg. “We’ve definitely got a psychological hold over South Africa,” Warne said today. The results prove that in all the different forms and the major games we’ve played against them. “When it’s got to the crunch we’ve managed to beat them or they’ve been in a winning situation and we’ve come back to win.” It was a none-too-subtle Warne reminder of Australia’s tied 1999 World Cup semi-final against the Proteas in Birmingham, in which a last-over run-out helped the Aussies advance to the final. Australia have beaten South Africa in subsequent home and away Test series, with the memory of the 1999 World Cup an often used Aussie ploy to unsettle the Proteas in tight games. Opener Matthew Hayden said the 1999 result would work to Australia’s advantage rather than South Africa’s, despite the fact the hosts would be desperate for revenge.
AFP
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Kiwi minister seeks
transfer of tie Wellington, January 30 New Zealand cricket chiefs have already said they want the match against Kenya in Nairobi on February 21 to be relocated to main tournament hosts South Africa on security grounds. The ICC will meet via teleconference today to hear concerns about the match from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as well as fears from England about playing against Zimbabwe in Harare. The New Zealand government has advised Stephen Fleming’s team not to travel to Kenya, angering the Kenyan Cricket Association which accused the NZC of over-reacting in the aftermath of the Nairobi bomb attacks late last year. Foreign Minister Phil Goff said yesterday the NZC was acting on advice from the government as well as South African police and the United States Embassy in Nairobi when it asked to have the match transferred to South Africa.
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No Mugabe
handshake Cape Town, January 30 “The ICC have laid down the rules for that and they are quite clear,” Mr Hogg said in an interview in Harare earlier this week. “There is (political) involvement from the (South African) head of state (Thabo Mbeki) at the opening and close.”
Reuters Hayden says
'no'
MELBOURNE: Matthew Hayden says he does not want to shake hands with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe during next month’s World Cup and hopes to avoid having to do so. Hayden joined England captain Nasser Hussain in expressing reservations about shaking hands with the controversial African leader. “What I’m going to do is rely on the fact that we have a terrific ground staff and support staff behind us to hopefully not put us in any position when that can happen,” Hayden told Australia Television on Thursday.
Reuters
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DDCA stops Jadeja from playing league tie
New Delhi, January 30 “It’s strange that I was not allowed to play even after the clearance...I do not understand the legal matters...I just want to play cricket and come back to my playing days,” a puzzled Jadeja told UNI. The flamboyant allrounder was playing for the National Stadium Cricket Club, a team in the city’s first-division league, when DDCA officials stopped the match at the DDCA grounds in Yamuna Vihar. This was Jadeja’s first official match since the BCCI in 2000 banned him from playing cricket due to his alleged links in match-fixing. “The umpires and the DDCA officials did not allow me to play the match. When I asked why they were not allowing me to play I was told that orders had been issued from ‘higher’ authorities prohibiting me from playing at the DDCA grounds,” Jadeja said. “I showed them all the reports and documents to press my case but they declined to entertain them saying they would only abide by the DDCA orders,” he added. UNI
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Kalaswala
Cup Golf on Feb 2 Chandigarh, January 30 The tournament is to be played on stableford basis with three quarters handicap. The maximum full handicap will be 18 for gentlemen and 24 for ladies. The best team will clinch the Kalaswala Cup. There will also be the Gurjit Singh Chima Memorial Cup for the best individual gross stableford score. Other prizes include, Best individual gross score for ladies; Longest drive — on the 18th hole; Closest to the pin — on the third hole; Senior citizen — for gentlemen 65 and above and for ladies 60 and above; Best gross score in each category; Youngest participant. According to Mr IPS Doabia, Chairman, Media and Publicity, Chandigarh Golf Club, a record 160 participants had entered their names. The schools being represented include, Aitchison College, Lahore; Bishop Cotton School, Simla; B.N. Khalsa High School, Patiala; Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh; DAV Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh; Doon School, Dehradun; GHPS, New Delhi; Government High School, Bassi Pathana; Kalaswala Khalsa High School, Qadian; Lawrence School, Sanawar; Mayo College, Ajmer; Modern School , Delhi; Punjab Public School, Nabha; Sacred Heart Convent, Chandigarh; Scindia School, Gwalior; Shrewood College, Nainital; St Edward’s, Simla, St John’s High School, Chandigarh; St Kabir High School, Chandigarh; Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, Yadvindra Public School, Mohali. |
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Veterans
TT in Chandigarh Chandigarh, January 30 Mr Kalsi said more than 400 veterans from all over the country in the age groups of 40 plus, 50 plus and 60 plus will participate in the six-day championship to be held from March 5. India’s national team for participation in the World Veterans’ Tournament will be selected during the national championship. Mr Kalsi said an organising committee was being constituted. The Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Varinder Singh, has been requested to be the chairman of the organising committee while Mr Dilsher Singh Kalha and Mr Karan Avtar Singh will be other members of the committee of which Mr Prem Choffla and Mr Rajeev Kaushal will be organising secretary and joint organising secretary, respectively. Mr Kalsi said the Indian Veterans’ TT Association will soon name chief referee and a team of officials to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament. Mr Bhawani Mukherjee of NIS Patiala, will be the chairman of the technical committee of the tournament. |
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Harjeet
memorial kabaddi from Feb 1 Bathinda, January 30 Mr Mahal Singh Bhullar, DGP, Punjab, will inaugurate the tournament on February 1, while the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and PPCC president H.S. Hanspal will distribute the prizes on February 3. The winner would be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the runners-up would be given Rs 75,000 and each participating team would be given Rs 20,000. A cultural programme will also be organised on the occasion.
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