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Zaheer Khan keen to play his part
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Determined display by India needed WHILE the entire nation is still rejoicing India’s spectacular victory over world champions Australia at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test, the win, in my opinion, should certainly call for a more determined display by Ganguly’s boys when the third Test beginning at Melbourne on Boxing Day. Crucial Ranji tie for Punjab
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India to field 2 teams in Commonwealth (u-19) cricket PSB lift hockey title Pillay favours
India-Pak series Ropar Hawks, ITBP win Kakatiya University clinch gymnastics title Sangrur Coaching Centre move into last four PU enter final IISCO win kabaddi title
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Zaheer Khan keen to play his part Melbourne, December 24 The left-arm seamer missed the Adelaide Test, which India won by four-wickets for a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, due to a "tight hamstring" but said he was keen to make contributions to the team’s cause on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) track, which is expected to help the fast bowlers. "Things are positive so far and I am confident at this stage, working with Andrew (Leipus), things would be right," Zaheer said. "It’s been very hard to digest that I missed a game because of hamstring. I would have loved to be part of the winning eleven." It was Zaheer who instilled self-belief among the Indian bowlers by effecting a rare Australian batting collapse in the first Test at Gabba. After the hosts finished the first day at 236 for two, the bowler took five wickets as Australia were dismissed for 323. Zaheer’s approach would be the same as it had been in the Gabba Test — bowl flat out against the Australians — even if he overstepped the crease a few times. "But for losing wickets on no ball, I don’t mind (overstepping). For me, the key has always been to hit the right length and get my rhythm going." Zaheer denied he suffered any psychological damage after the Australians went after him in the World Cup and then in the recent triangular series in India. "I always try and do what I want to do rather than ponder on the opposition. At any game, any stage of my career, I just try to do the same thing," Zaheer said. "The World Cup final was just one off day for us. It didn’t work for us that day. But we look at that as a learning process. You learn more and more from each game. The process is never ending. It’s past. We are now looking at the future." Zaheer expressed confidence that the Indian batsmen were capable of hammering any bowling attack and said the team has also prepared a plan to bowl to the formidable Australian batting line-up. "Our batsmen are capable of hammering anyone. I would back my batsmen. As for bowling to their batters, we try to work out team plans and play accordingly. "We decide on a plan, a strategy, how to bowl to a batsman. The plans are also dictated by the situation of a game." Zaheer, who struggled with his action not very long ago, said he is at peace with his bowling methods and mentioned Sandy Gordon only to the extent where the famous psychologist acted as a sounding board. "He has been an overall help. He has been trying to say the usual thing which we already know. It’s just that when somebody endorses your viewpoint, you get the confidence boost." "I’m happy with the way I’m bowling. As I play more and more, you just have to keep analyzing the action which I constantly do." —
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I'm committed to getting things evened IT is absolutely wonderful to be back with the team after a two-month hiatus. The ball is coming out nicely from my hand and my body seems to have recovered completely. I would be the first to admit that I did not think the scoreline would be 1-0 in India’s favour when I rejoined the side, but that’s the way it is and I’m committed to getting things evened out in Melbourne. Plenty is being written in the press about my comeback game and whether I will be able to stop the Indian batsmen who have been going great guns so far in this series. I don’t think so much has been written about me before any Test, and it is a new situation for me in that sense. However, I don’t feel any pressure because that’s something that only I can put on myself. Right now, I would like to view the Boxing Day Test as a tremendous challenge rather than a high-pressure situation. I will be having the added responsibility of leading the new-ball attack, and this makes me feel even more eager to get out there in the middle. When I was chosen to play for Australia, Stephen (Waugh) had said that my job was to bowl as fast as I could and to take wickets. On Boxing Day, that will remain my brief and it is up to me to ensure that I succeed on both counts. While I have not played any Test cricket against the Indians since my debut series, I have had good success against them in one-day cricket. Bowling in Tests is not very different from one-dayers so I am confident that the strategy that has worked in one-dayers will work in Tests as well. The fact that I am not involved in the Buchanan letter issue also helps me a great deal as I come to Melbourne with a clear head and complete focus on what lies ahead and not what has gone by. Moreover, I was not involved in any of the last three Tests that India has won against us, so in a way, those disappointments are not part of my personal memories. I look forward to the next two games with a great deal of confidence, knowing that if I execute my plans well, rewards will follow. I also consider myself lucky that the venue for my return is the MCG. In the past the WACA wicket in Perth was considered the fastest wicket in Australia, but of late it is the Melbourne wicket that has become pretty quick. This time round, seems to be decent bounce and carry in the wicket, and that would suit all the pacers involved in the game. Blokes like Bichel and Williams have done well even on the placid track at Adelaide so I expect them to do even better in Melbourne. The one to watch out for is Bichel because he has traditionally bowled well at the MCG. He was getting good pace and swing to take four wickets in Adelaide, and looks to be getting better with every game. As far as the Indians are concerned, it’s interesting to see the focus diverted from Sachin Tendulkar to Rahul Dravid and VVS
Laxman. This will only help the little master in the long run. Speaking of the short-term, I know he is due, and can only hope that he does not get a big score in the remaining two Tests. Hopefully he will keep that reserved for the next series India plays. As far as the bowling goes, I spoke about Ajit and his improved consistency in my last article. I must hasten to add that young Irfan Pathan impressed me as well. I have not seen much of him because I was involved in a first-class game during the Adelaide Test, but the little I saw of him did impress me. He looks like he’s got the goods, and at his age, his pace can only increase. This Boxing Day Test is going to be really special for me because I made my debut on the same day at the same venue against the same opposition four years ago. Today, I know my responsibilities have increased a great deal especially in the absence of Glenn and Jason. I hope that I can shoulder this responsibility to ensure that the team gets back to 1-1 before we head off to Sydney. —
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Determined display by India needed WHILE the entire nation is still rejoicing India’s spectacular victory over world champions Australia at the Adelaide Oval in the second Test, the win, in my opinion, should certainly call for a more determined display by Ganguly’s boys when the third Test beginning at Melbourne on Boxing Day. A result in this Test match might truly confirm which team holds the reign of supremacy in the world of Test cricket at the moment. Already one-up in the series, Indians have experienced such situations in many away tours off late. On most occasions they have flattered to deceive. They held the advantage, yet lost the initiative to concede the series at the end. This time, there shouldn’t be any such repeat. The Indian think-tank should be grossly involved on the drawing board to continue the good work and avoid another hara-kiri, which was a regular feature in the earlier series. The beginning of the series saw the Australian cricketing fraternity showing their usual touch of arrogance in downplaying the abilities of the Indian team. The cricketing gods, I think, could not digest the words of John Buchanan, regarded one of the most successful coaches in international cricket, saying that there has got to be a change in playing conditions to beat his team. And ironically, the so-called supreme confidence vanished the moment Australia succumbed to defeat. Signs of doubt and disbelief have already started mushrooming in the hosts’ camp .The regular talk of missing out on the services of their key bowlers along with chopping and changing of players are indications of an unsure mind. But one has got to wait and see what resilient plans the Australians will unleash on Boxing Day. Before taking the field, Brett Lee and company have already bowled few verbal bouncers to gain the psychological edge but at the same time have reluctantly admitted the genuineness of the Indian performers. The Melbourne wicket will have a lot to offer in terms of bounce and movement for the first two days. The hosts would like to make the best of the conditions by reintroducing Brett Lee, but the equations, to my mind, may remain the same in the absence of Gillespie. I can vividly remember the incident involving myself and Ricky Ponting in the last encounter at MCG. The Australian batsman hit me for maximum over my head and I responded with a short one in the next delivery. It went through the grill to make a little impression on the forehead. As there was an exchange of few wise words from both of us, the camera was only focused on Ricky’s barrage of words only to bring him under the microscope of the match referee. In the end he was lucky to escape a punishment. The team, which will win the toss, will certainly like to field first to make inroads. The hosts, I am sure, would like to see an in-form Rahul Dravid take guard early in the innings. With Sachin yet to come on his own, the Australians have a lot to think of Laxman leading the others, who are gaining in confidence. The practice match at Hobart helped the Indians in few ways. Indians should have batted for long to gain some valuable batting practice before this crucial tie where the conditions suit the hosts better. This Test match will not be an easy one for the Indians as the Australians will go all out with a green wicket to disturb the rhythm of the opponents. It’s all the more important for the Indians to draw the game if not to go for a win in this Test. Although over-confidence derived out of the first day of batting at Adelaide, where they scored 400 runs, played the hosts’ out of the game in the second, the world champions will surely be resolute to bounce back into the series and make the fourth Test at Sydney an interesting one. Rahul Dravid had certainly played a quintessential innings of his career at the Adelaide Oval but it still requires another effort from Rahul or someone in the side to pin down the fallen Gulliver. While Ajit Agarkar’s display is a welcome sight in the Indian bowling arena, things will further improve with a fit Zaheer Khan coming back into the side and Ashish Nehra looking better on each outing. This Test match is evenly poised with great excitement in store.
— Chivach Media |
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Crucial Ranji tie for Punjab Chandigarh, December 24 Punjab, even if they notched up five points in the previous match against lowly Andhra Pradesh which ended in double-quick time, can not afford leniency at any stage in the crucial match. For Mumbai the match is inconsequential, the reigning champions having already qualified for the semifinals. They are at the top of the table with 20 points. Following them are Punjab with 11 points. The Railways with 10 points and Uttar Pradesh with nine points come next in the points tally. In the matches starting from tomorrow which will determine the second semifinalist from the group, Punjab have a tougher outing at hand, their opponents being one of the most formidable teams in the domestic championship. The Railways are set for a clash with formidable Baroda, while Uttar Pradesh have Kerala, facing relegation, as their rivals. Punjab will have no option but go all out for a victory. The task would not be easy as they would take the field without some of their key players. Skipper Dinesh Mongia and swashbuckling batsman Yuvraj Singh are away to Kolkata to play in the Kenstar Asia Cup involving besides India the "A" teams of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Harbhajan Singh is recuperating from surgery on his finger and is currently in Australia along with the Indian squad. Pankaj Dharmani will lead the side in the absence of Mongia. The hosts will, however, be happy to get back all rounder Reetinder Sodhi and middle order batsman Ankur Kakkar in the squad. Both missed the previous match on account of injuries. Reetinder sprained his back minutes before the match while playing with tennis ball along with his team-mates when the first day's play was delayed due to fog. Punjab seamers Gagandeep Singh, Vineet Sharma and Amit Uniyal will again be too eager to exploit the conditions conducive for seam bowling. In the last match, both shared all the 20 wickets, barring one as the batsman was run out, between them. But the task will not be as easy this time as the rivals even if without the services of international star like Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Sairaj Bahutule and Avishkar Salvi are a strong opposition. Skipper Vinod Kambli has already made it known that he was eager to play for the country again. He will certainly be looking for a nice score from his blade. Kambli along with former India opener Wasim Jaffer, Vinayak Mane, Amol Mazumdar and Bhavin Thakkar provide the side with the type of solidity to the batting, which can be a nightmare of any bowling attack. In Robin Morris, Swapnil Hazare, former India leg-spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and Ramesh Powar, Mumbai have a well-balanced bowling attack. India aspirant and diminutive off-spinner Powar, as he has proved earlier, can be a dangerous customer with the bat. Punjab squad had an extended practice session, while Mumbai team was also there at the nets to
acclimatise themselves with the conditions. Punjab have announced their playing eleven. "We will go for a victory." Mr Sushil Kapoor, manager, said during the practice session, summing up the team spirit. Cold and foggy weather, as it was in the previous game, will have a major say in determining the fate of the match. Squads: Punjab: Pankaj Dharmani (captain), Reetinder Sodhi, Samrat Sharma, Ravneet Ricky, Ankur Kakkar, Munish Sharma, Chandan Madan (wk), Amit Uniyal, Gagandeep Singh, Navdeep Singh and Vineet Sharma. Mumbai (from): Vinod Kambli (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Vinayak Mane, Amol Mazumdar, Bhavin Thakkar, Vinayak Samant (wk), Swapnil Hazare, Ramesh Powar, Usman Malvi, Pushkraj Jadhav, Vinit Indulkar, Robin Morris, Nilesh Kulkarni, Onkar Khanvilkar and Abhishek
Nair.
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Sachin on gender violence New Delhi, December 24 In his latest avatar, Tendulkar is trying to endorse a message against violence on women. Posters, stickers and even hoardings of Sachin speaking out against gender violence will be splashed all over the country as women’s groups in 11 states get ready to observe the “International fortnight” against violence on women and girls from November 25 to December 10. “Yes, I speak out against violence on women and girls. Do you?” prolcaims the famous cricketer in his message. Women activists, who have chalked out an exhaustive programme to highlight the problem of violence on women, said they had decided to involve Sachin Tendulkar in this campaign as it had become necessary to create awareness among men about this serious issue. The campaign will highlight the gravity of the problem. Official records for 2000 admit to the incidence of 480 cases of crime against women everyday while 45 women are raped and 19 cases of dowry deaths occur daily. The programme will address the issue of violence — physical, mental and sexual-inflicted upon women and girls and address the attitude of the state and society and the lack of effective mechanisms for redress. |
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India to field 2 teams in Commonwealth New Delhi, December 24 Vice-president of the organising committee and former India player Kirti Azad said chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board Rameez Raja, in a letter, has expressed Pakistan’s inability to cobble up a team due to the prior commitment of their under-19 squad. Pakistan’s absence has helped hosts India field two teams. The eight teams in the fray are Bangladesh, India and India A, Kenya, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. The matches will be of 50 overs a side. India have been placed in group A along with Kenya, Singapore and West Indies while group B comprises India A, Bangladesh, South Africa and Sri Lanka. The matches will be played at the Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium at Gurgaon, Raja Nahar Singh Stadium at Faridabad, Teri Oval (Gul-Pahari, Gurgaon) in Haryana and K.D. Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow. Former West Indies
captain Gary Sobers is the president of the organising committee and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi is the patron. India A play their first match against Bangladesh at the Devi Lal Stadium on December 28 while India play their first match against Kenya, also at the Devi Lal Stadium, on January 1. Vikram Dhariwal of Haryana will captain the India team with Sumit Kamboj of Chandigarh as vice-captain. Other members of the team are: Karan Goel (Punjab), Rahul Parmar (Gujarat), Vipin Chauhan (Punjab), Akashdeep (Chandigarh), Narendra (Delhi), Asim Gupta (Chandigarh), B. Laxman Karan (Tamil Nadu), D. Bhishma Choudhry (Andhra Pradesh), N. Ganesh (Karnataka), Anurag Pandey (Maharashtra), Ashutosh Sharma (Delhi), Hardiwender (Punjab) and Bharat Sharma (Chandigarh). Sarkar Talwar will be the coach and Sukhvinder Singh the assistant coach. Arvinder Mathur is the manager. The India A team will be led by Omeir Babi of Gujarat and the vice-captain will be Mayank Sharma of Punjab. The other members of the team are: Ian Dev (Jammu and Kashmir), Tapan Jain (Delhi), Harpreet Singh (Chandigarh), Gaurav Chopra (Chandigarh), Gaurav Ghambir (Chandigarh), Soumik Chaterjee (Delhi), Karan Kherwal (Chandigarh), Parvesh Chikkara (Delhi), K. Senthil (Tamil Nadu), Kartik Shankar (Karnataka), Pankaj Ojha (Maharashtra), Luv Sehrawat (Delhi), Vikas Chauhan (Chandigarh) and Saurabh Arora (Chandigarh). Sanjay Bharadwaj will be the coach. A member of the organising committee clarified that the SGFI faction led by C.L. Negi, which has been recognised by the Union Sports Ministry, will be involved in the organisation of the tournament. Mr Negi said the law court has constituted a three-member panel, with him as the administrator, to look after the affairs of the SGFI till formal elections, fixed for February 26 at Pune, are held. He said one of the other panel members is former women’s hockey international Rupa
Saini. |
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PSB lift hockey title Jalandhar, December 24 PSB entered the field with confidence and kept the ball in the rival arena most of the time. PSB opened their account in the 28th minute through a field goal by Baljit Singh Chandi. The lead was further consolidated in the 30th minute when Sharanjit Singh made no mistake in converting a penalty corner. Sharanjit struck again in 34th minute and converted another penalty corner. The bankmen were leading 3-0 at the lemon break. In the second half, Punjab Police were awarded a penalty corner in the 36th minute which was of no avail. In the 37th minute, Sharanjit completed his hat-trick through a penalty corner. In the women’s section, Haryana defeated Sukhjit Starch Mills, Phagwara, 2-0 in the final. Haryana took an early lead in fourth minute as Aarti converted a penalty corner. Haryana won the title as in seventh minute, Kiran converted a penalty corner. Meanwhile, in the under-19 category, Surjeet Hockey Academy defeated Escorts Ramesh Chander Hockey Academy 2-1. |
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Pillay favours India-Pak series Bhopal, December 24 Describing the present Sahara sponsorship as 'historic', the mercurial player said, “If this sponsorship came five to 10 years back, it would've been much better for (Indian) hockey”. Talking to reporters here, Pillay also opined in favour of an India-Pakistan hockey series. “An Indo-Pak series should take place as both countries play skilful hockey and we do have mutual friendship. However, on the turf we pour extra energy when the encounter's against Pakistan,”he said. He also supported the hockey federations' decision to rest few players and said: “The Indian Hockey Federation's decision to rest some players is good and now the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, besides qualifying rounds for the Olympics, are the crucial matches before us.” Talking about his personal life, the hockey star said: “The Athens Olympics is the principal target before me and I may think of marriage after that.” Pillay also dodged a query regarding his relationship with coach Rajinder Singh. Pillay added that the Bangalore Hockey Acade-my was doing well and he was looking for sponsors for the Mumbai Academy. —
UNI |
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Ropar Hawks, ITBP win Nabha, December 24 In other matches, Air-India Academy feat Central Railway 2-1 while Indian Postal XI downed SSB, New Delhi by an identical margin. The Ropar boys displayed character and fine temperament although it should be said that they were responsible for the specks of rough play that surfaced every now and then. The umpires controlled the match admirably, did well to placate frayed tempers with a firm hand and flashed the green and yellow cards to the erring players regularly. Centre forward Amit Sandhu, who had a memorable outing against Artillery Centre, Hyderabad yesterday, once again hogged the limelight with a fine display of attacking hockey. In the opening minutes of the first half, Amit laid a diagonal pass from the centre line to the extreme right for Adarsh Uppal. Once in the danger area Uppal slipped but recovered in a flash only to hit the ball straight into the custodian’s pads. Minutes later, Hawks had another chance to open the scoring but right in Gurjant Singh, after receiving a good pass from the left, fumbled in front of an open goalmouth. Instead of slipping the ball home, Gurjant, in his eagerness to score, lost control and rammed into the goalkeeper. After a barren regulation time, the issue was finally resolved in the tie breaker in which Ropar Hawks emerged triumphant 4-2. A deflection by left-out Parveen Kumar enabled ITBP to take the lead in the 27th minute. A goal always peps up a side and at the same time it invariably causes the jitters at the other end. Suddenly more gaps started surfacing in the SRC defence that could be found and the ITBP players could be seen trampling all over in the rival territory. Before their opponents could regroup, ITBP had scored one more goal through centre half Mengre Ming. The second half saw ITBP adopting a defensive posture and seemed to be more content on clinging to their two goal advantage. However, Ramgarh boys came back roaring towards the end of the match and were successful in reducing the margin through Baljit Singh whose penalty stroke brooked no resistance from the goal tender. Air India Academy boys played a pacy game to outclass Central Railway 2-1 while Indian Postal XI reached the next round by posting a not so convincing 2-1 win against SSB, New Delhi. |
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Kakatiya University clinch gymnastics title Amritsar, December 24 Hosts Guru Nanak Dev University also got 225.15 points and shared the first position with Kakatiya University. The third position in the event went to Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidyalya, Indore, which earned 202.15 points. In the women’s artistic championship, GND varsity bagged the first position by securing 134 points. Kurukshetra University were second with 115.55 points and Punjabi University, Patiala remained third by gaining 103.75 points. Samita of GND varsity was adjudged the best woman player. She secured 28.75 points. Amrita Sinha (27.85) of Burdwan University came second and Renu Arya (27.75) of Kurukshetra University was third. Lakhwinder Pal Singh of GND varsity was first with 48.75 points. Mr Rajesh Kumar (47) and S. Vinay Kumar of Kakatiya University came second and third respectively. |
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Sangrur Coaching Centre move into last four Sangrur, December 23 In quarterfinal matches played today, Sohian Club defeated Coaching Centre B and Kalifan Club outclassed Lehra Club. In the first match Sohian Club after winning the toss, scored 152 runs for the loss of five wickets. Balaur Singh and Labhu scored 64 and 40 runs, respectively. Rajkamal and Nonu took two wickets each. In reply, Coaching Centre B could score only 114 runs. Robin was top scorer with 33 runs. Balaur Singh took three wickets while Khush took two wickets. In the second quarterfinal, Kalifan Club routed Lehra Club by 63 runs. Batting first, Kalifan Club scored 154 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Sony and Prince scored 38 and 36 runs, respectively. Gursewak took two wickets. In reply Lehra Club was all out for 91 runs. |
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PU enter final Rohtak, December 24 In the other quarterfinals today, Pune University defeated Osmania University 3-0 and University of Delhi defeated Jai Narain Vyas University Jodhpur 3-0. |
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IISCO win kabaddi title Burnpur, December 24 In the semifinals, IISCO defeated Bhilai while TISCO beat Durgapur Steel plant. Seven steel plants participated in the league cum knock-out basis championship. — UNI |
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