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India's cricket tour of Pakistan Bring necessary balance between |
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Bonanza for winners of Asia Cup |
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CLTA lad enters second round in ITF meet
Gold, silver for wrestlers Jalandhar win Punjab hockey title Punjab gymnasts to the fore
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India's cricket tour of Pakistan
Islamabad, February 9 As a three-member Indian cricket board delegation arrived in Lahore today to assess the security arrangements for the tour, PCB chairman Shaharayar Khan said the President, also the board’s patron, had reviewed the security arrangements and assured him of his full support. "The President received me on February 6 when I briefed him on the Indian cricket team’s forthcoming visit. The President was pleased to state that the government would provide full support for security and administrative measures to ensure the success of the tour," Mr Khan told reporters in Lahore. Mr Khan also said the itinerary for the series, comprising three Tests and five one-dayers, would be announced in consultation with the Indian delegation. "The itinerary for the Indian tour of Pakistan will be announced after the BCCI delegation’s visit to Pakistan. Basically, the tour venues have been agreed in principle and the BCCI team is expected to discuss refinements before the itinerary is finalised," he said. On the selection of title sponsor and other contracts, Mr Khan said the tender process was expected to conclude in next couple of days when the initial bids as well as the awards would be announced. The BCCI delegation, during its eight-day visit, would take stock of the venues and review the security arrangements for the Indian cricket team. The delegation includes BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty, Inspector General of Police, VIP Security Division, Yashovardhan Azad and Director Communication and Coordination, BCCI, Mr Amrit Mathur. Meanwhile, the PCB chief also announced a four-member advisory panel which would give suggestions to the board on policy matters. The four advisory panel members are Mr Moin Afzal (former secretary-general, finance), Hanif Mohammad (former Pakistan captain), Mr Syed Ali Raza (President, National Bank of Pakistan) and Mr Shamim Khan (Prinicpal, Aitchison College).
— PTI |
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Bring necessary balance between bat and ball AS the defeat in the World Cup still looms large in the minds of many, the VB series final at the SCG was just the repeat of the final in Johannesburg. In the current one-day cricket scenario, the dominance of batting is so rampant that perhaps the only job a bowler is left with is to entertain the crowd by being butchered at the hands of the batsmen. It is a real cause of concern and worry for the entire bowling fraternity throughout the world. The docile tracks, field restrictions, the bouncer rule, the ball changing acts have reduced the bowlers to mere mercenaries who are asked to virtually commit suicide at the centre. The fate suffered by the bowlers in the recent one-dayers doesn’t instill enough confidence among the budding cricketers to take up bowling. Pure bowlers are not too far from a possible catastrophe. Its time for the ICC to make amends to bring the necessary balance between the bat and the ball. The one-day cricket format is not only calling for the extinction of pure bowlers but also threatening the mother status of Test cricket. Every calendar year indicates a decrease in the number of Test matches played throughout the world. Right from the deserts of Middle East to the different non-cricket playing continents are showing curious interest in hosting the one-day tournament. The globalisation of cricket has only popularised one-day cricket. Test cricket is must for the bowlers to stay alive. Toss once again played a crucial part at the SCG. The bowlers were again the casualties either at the hands of the batsmen or because of injuries. Anil’s persisting shoulder injury and Ajit’s vulnerability on such long arduous tour made the captain’s job difficult in picking the final eleven. It left the skipper to pick the side from the fitter players than from the best players for the occasion. Ajit’s injury concerns will always make the team scramble to fortify the bowling department. It was finally the energy levels that differentiated the Australian and the Indian team. Although Indians had the upper hand in the Test matches, the Australians were back to show their supremacy in the shorter version of the game. The loss in the finals of the World Cup still haunts me and an honest assessment of the reasons for failure could be few. It could be the fitness component or the sense of achievement of reaching the finals, or the subservient attitude to accept the supremacy of the Australians. Likewise in this hard tour of Down under, I would dread to believe that it is the sense of achievement in the Test matches that led to the not so great show in the one-dayers. In my opinion, it’s the fitness concerns in the form of injuries and exhaustion that has deprived the Indians from creating history. This just-completed series will give a new dimension to the Indian cricket team. More than the personal landmarks, the guys have understood the goals achieved for the team can be morally rewarding. The poor performers of the team have felt the pressure to improve. Some of the ideas floated in the team like retaining and supporting the achievement-oriented players have sent strong signals to the younger lot. The team members with varying degree of commitments have been suitably rewarded and reprimanded at the same time. The so-called great critics have been made to eat humble pie for their unreasonable comments. Irfan Pathan is the find of the tour where as Balaji has moved few strides in building up his own confidence. Anil has once again reiterated what experience can deliver. Rahul, Laxman, Sachin and Sehwag have shown the world of cricket that they are the best in business. Sourav has earned tremendous respect from the Australians and has emerged as the best captain Indian has produced so far. Now the real question arises. After the grueling three-month non-stop cricket, is it possible for the boys to go and perform in Pakistan? Is there a right ambience for the players to perform under such tight security? And finally, are the players really willing to go Pakistan????
— Chinach Media |
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Indian colts leave for u-19 World Cup Kolkata, February 9 The 14-member squad, led by Hyderabadi all-rounder Ambati Rayudu, left in a Bangladesh Biman flight from the NSC Bose International Airport here. India, the two-time champions, would play a couple of warm-up matches before launching their campaign against minnows Scotland in the World Cup opener at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on February 16. Coach Robin Singh,
satisfied with the performance of his wards in the recent Asia Cup in Lahore and the one-dayers against Australia back home, expressed confidence in the
team’s ability to win the Cup for the third time. “Hopefully we will get through to the final. It has been a good run for them so far and I am confident that the boys will fare pretty well in Bangladesh,” Singh told reporters before embarking on the Dhaka flight at the airport. India, who have recently won the under-19 Asia Cup and registered comprehensive victories in all three one-day matches against the Aussies, were pitted against hosts Bangladesh, New Zealand and Scotland in group C. The Australia under-19 team, the winners of the 2002 Cup, also left the city today for the 16-team tournament along with the Indians. Aussie coach Bennett King, though a bit disappointed at the performance of his charges on Indian soil, hoped for improved display by the contingent in the Cup. |
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Pathan reprimanded
for unfair play Sydney, February 9 The 19-year-old Pathan has been reprimanded for a breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct after match referee Clive Llyod found him guilty of unfair play, the ICC said in a statement today. Pathan who had Martyn (67) caught by Hemang Badani applauded in a sarcastic manner as the batsman walked back. His behaviour was reported by umpires Rudi Koertzen and Daryl Harper and third umpire Simon Taufel. The reprimand was issued following a hearing directly after Australia beat India by 208 runs to clinch the VB trophy.
— PTI |
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Bonanza for winners of Asia Cup New Delhi, February 9 The team is entitled to a cash award of Rs 15 lakh which will work out to Rs 75,000 per member. But if a sportsperson wins a gold in an individual event in an Asian championship, the cash award would be Rs 1.5 lakh. The players, who are members of team events, are thus at a great disadvantage. But Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma, who hosted a reception for the triumphant Indian women’s hockey team at the National Stadium here today, did not make any commitment of enhancing the cash award, though he promised all possible help to the team for their preparation for the World Cup in 2006. Most of the state governments also honour their respective team members, though a top official of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation requested the minister to use his influence to prevail upon the Manipur Government to give some incentive to the players from the state, who include captain of the cup-winning team Suraj Lata Devi, Shangai Chanu and Saba Anjum. India’s Asia Cup victory was also a moment of glory for the Sports Authority of India as 12 of the girls in the team were products of its talent-spotting training schemes. They are: Suman Bala, Kanti Baa, Pushpa Pradhan, Suraj Lata Devi, Masira Surin, Sumari Tete, Manju, Shangai Chanu, Adline Kerketta, Annarita Kerketta, Mamta Kharab and Saba
Anjum. |
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Mary played with fractured finger New Delhi, February 9 Indian custodian Helen Mary not only withstood the onslaught of the Japanese strikers but also the pain of a fractured little finger for the entire 70 minutes in the summit clash which India won 1-0 yesterday.
— PTI |
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Gold, silver for wrestlers Chandigarh, February 9 Dr M.S. Malik, president, Wrestling Federation of India complimented the performance of the Indian wrestlers and hoped that more wrestlers would win medals and qualify for the Olympics to be held in Athens. The first qualifying round for Olympics for Greeco Roman will be held in Serbia on February 28 and 29 and second in Uzbekistan on March 13 and 14. As regards free style second qualifying round for Olympics will be held in Sophia on March 12 and 13. Female wrestling first qualifying round will be held in Tunisia on March 6 and 7 while second Madrid (Spain) on March 20 and 21. Sushil Kumar and Surjit Mann (free style) have already qualified for the Olympics, he added. |
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CLTA lad enters second round in ITF meet Chandigarh, February 9 In girls singles first round, all local girls Inayat Khosla, Alipt Sandhu and daughter of Ramesh Krishnan Gayari Krishnan lost
their opening round matches. However all seeds in the girls section made it to the second round to be played tomorrow. Results: Boys (Singles) First Round: Rupesh Roy (IND) b Sumit P. Gupta (IND) 6-1, 6-2; Guy Kobi (ISR) b Botond Godry (HUN) 6-3, 6-4; Krishank Shah (IND) b Krishna Karsolia (IND) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4; Naoki Sato (JPN) b Yuri Akatov (KAZ) 7-6(2), 6-1; Martin Sayer (HKG) b Kinshuk Sharma (IND) 6-1, 6-0; Jitin Bishnoi (IND) b Kevin Benchetrit (ISR) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4; Sergey Ni (KGZ) b Liran Levy (ISR) 7-6(1), 6-3; Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) b Kazuya Ono (JPN) 6-4, 6-3; Xion-Peng Lai (HKG) b Maxim Filippov (KAZ) 6-3, 6-1; Lior Barbash (ISR) b Omri Barbash (ISR) 6-2, 6-1; Vivek Shokeen (IND) b Sandeep Kumar (IND) 3-6, 6-0, 3-0 (conceded.); Faris Khatib (GBR) b Murad Hossain Mohammed (BAN) 6-2, 6-2; Roman Kelecic (CRO) b Rohan Gide (IND) 6-3, 6-0; Sahar Shimiel (ISR) b Gursher Singh Harika (IND) 7-6(4), 6-4; Jamolkhon Umarov (UZB) b Angel Gladwin (IND) 6-2, 6-4; Navdeep Singh (IND) b Amrit Rupasinghe (SRI) 6-2, 6-2. Girls (Singles) First Round: I-Hsuan Hwang
(TPE) b Iryna Matiychyk (UKR) 6-2, 7-5; Oormila Ram (IND) b Tejaswani Datla
(IND) 6-3, 7-5; Poojashree Venkatesh (IND) b Karina Ahuja (IND) 7-6 (4), 6-1; Vandana Murli
(IND) b Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Kartiki Bhatt (IND) b Shivika Burman
(IND) 6-1, 6-1; Parul Goswami (IND) b Yeon-Ju Kim (KOR) 6-2, 6-4; Penporn Chantawannop
(THA) b Inayat Khosla (IND) 6-2, 6-4; Yana Nemerovski (ISR) b Gayatri Krishnan
(IND) 6-2, 6-3; Punam S. Reddy (IND) b Chia-Li Chen (TPE) 6-1, 6-1; Xeniya Palkina
(KGZ) b Sandri Gangothri (IND) 6-3, 6-4; Francesca Kinsella (GBR) b Alipt Sandhu
(IND) 6-1, 6-4; Pichittra Thongsach (THA) b Parija Maloo (IND) 6-1, 6-1; Jung-Yoon Shin
(KOR) b Shweta Kakhandki (IND) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) b Jilke Nelord
(IND) 6-0, 6-1; Madura Rangnathan (IND) b Porntip Mulsap (THA) 6-0, 6-3. |
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Jalandhar win Punjab hockey title Amritsar, February 9 Jalandhar won the championship defeating Amritsar 1-0 in the final at Guru Nanak Dev University grounds. The Amritsar Hockey Association organised the championship. Jugraj Singh declared that he was almost fit although his right arm needed 5 to 10 per cent improvement. He said he was preparing consistently to be on the field by April. For this he was regularly attending a gymnasium in Beas and had also started a rigorous walking schedule to strengthen his leg muscles. From next month he hopes to start jogging. The match between Amritsar and Jalandhar was evenly contested. Six minutes into the second half Dilbagh Singh of Jalandhar cashed in on an opportunity to score the match winner. Though both teams earned penalty corners, none could be converted. Mr J.P. Virdi, IG Border Range, gave away the prizes. |
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Punjab gymnasts to the fore Amritsar, February 9 Interestingly, all seven players of Punjab gymnastics team were from Gurdaspur. Jagtar Singh, coach of the team, said that Sukhbir Kaur was declared all round best gymnast while Rohika stood runner up. In uneven bar, Sukhbir Kaur took gold and Meenakshi won silver. In vaulting table Rohika got the gold medal while Sukhbir Kaur secured bronze. In balancing team, Rohika and Santosh Rani lifted gold and bronze medals, respectively. |
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Haryana
to honour Asia Cup winners Chandigarh, February 9 |
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