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India’s fate hinges on depleted bowling attack
Ganguly promises a better show In graphic: Head to Head
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Don't read too much into defeat in warm-up tie Security takes precedence over cricket
Namaz offered for India's victory Cinema houses ready for mega show Notes from Pakistan
Indian eves win cricket series
Smith, Hinds lead Windies recovery Kallis halts Kiwis' progress India, Pak clash in hockey today Haywards edge out Bagan PSEB clinch cricket trophy
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India’s fate hinges on depleted bowling attack Karachi, March 12 Having travelled across the border for a full series after a gap of nearly 15 years, India’s fate in the opening encounter, of what is seen as the ultimate cricketing rivalry, will hinge on the performance of their depleted bowling attack which was torn to shreds by a second string Pakistani side in the warm-up match in Lahore yesterday. Although the visitors have a star-studded batting line-up regarded as one of the best in the world, chinks in their bowling were exposed yesterday in the warm-up match against Pakistan ‘A’ team. Hoping to create history by winning their first-ever Test series on Pakistan soil, yesterday’s six-wicket defeat at the hands of the second string team came as a shock. The demoralising defeat at the hands of a team consisting of fringe players and some discards will serve as a wake-up call for Sourav Ganguly and his men, basking in the glory of their successful trip to Australia recently. The pathetic display by the Indian bowlers, many of whom are returning from niggling injuries, will be a worrying factor for the team management and coach John Wright has already taken his bowlers to task for their poor show in Lahore. “It’s a jolt for us, and we have got to sort things out. The bowlers bowled poorly and they have to improve when the series gets underway,” Wright said. Millions of cricket fans on either side of the border will be glued to their television sets to witness what promises to be a classic contest of nerves and skills. The teams: India (from):
Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Murali Kartik, Ramesh Power, Parthiv Patel, Hemang Badani, Ashish Nehra. Pakistan (from):
Inzamam-ul Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul Haq, Abdur Razzak, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Younis Khan, Shabbir Ahmed, Iftikhar Rao, Rana Naveed-ul Hasan, Saqlain Mushtaq.
— PTI |
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Ganguly promises a better show Karachi, March 12 "I don't think it (performance yesterday) will affect the morale of the team. It was a bad day and we bowled poorly," Ganguly told reporters at a joint press conference here. "It was a warm up game and the players will respond differently in a match situation," he said. "I have spoken to the bowlers and they have also realised that they had not bowled well in the match. I am sure they will put up a much improved display when the matches get underway," said the Indian skipper who arrived here along with his team mates this afternoon. Inzamam, buoyed by Pakistan A's comfortable six-wicket win in the tour opening match at Lahore yesterday, said, "we would definitely take inspiration from the performance of the youngsters and would exploit their weak bowling attack." The Pakistan skipper, however, said his team could not take the Indians lightly. "We have worked on their weak points but that does not mean we will take them lightly".
— PTI |
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Don't read too much into defeat in warm-up tie I would not read too much into India’s defeat to Pakistan ‘A’ at Lahore yesterday. At the end of the day it was only a practice game, and I remember losing just about every warm-up game we played before the 1992 World Cup. Sometimes, a reversal in a tour opener is instructive as mistakes get exposed and players can rectify them in time for the games that really matter. When I was captain, I would use these games to strengthen the weak links in our game. I would opt to chase if that was our weakness, so that the team got some practice in that aspect as well. Having said that, I don’t know whether Sourav Ganguly had the same idea at Lahore yesterday. However, he must ensure that his bowlers don’t lose confidence even before the series starts, and must also seek to take out positives from the game, like the success of most of his batsmen. In India-Pakistan encounters of the past, captains have played a big part in the fate of their teams. This has always been a high-voltage series for both teams, and this time round I am curious to see how Ganguly and
Inzamam-ul Haq handle the pressure. In the coming weeks, both of them will have to perform, lead from the front, and pick their teammates up when the going gets tough. Ideally, both would like to play well tomorrow, because a good performance from the captain invariably galvanises the rest of the team. An example of this was Ganguly’s century in the first Test against Australia at Brisbane. It was a crucial knock and made a statement to his team right at the outset. It also helped Ganguly command the respect of his teammates and lead from the front for the rest of the series. If he can repeat that performance tomorrow, it will certainly instill a great deal of confidence in his team for the remaining games of the tour. Another important task for the captains will be to ensure that the team does not lose self-belief. If the team falls behind in the one-day series, it will take tremendous confidence and self-belief to bounce
back. Ganguly’s men should possess that self-belief, especially after their performance in Australia. Pakistan, on the other hand, has never been short on talent, but has often looked diffident and defeated as soon as the going gets tough. It will be a challenge for Inzamam to buck this trend and inspire his team into believing in their talent. A win tomorrow will be a big boost for either team, but if the team that finishes second tomorrow believes it can still win the series, it will be able to catch up. The team batting first should have the edge at Karachi tomorrow. A strong batting performance from the team taking first strike will make things easier for the bowlers. The full house and crowd pressure will make chasing pretty difficult, and if India bats first and puts up a 300-plus total, I think their bowlers will be able to defend that total, yesterday’s disastrous outing notwithstanding. Coming back to the practice game, I hope Taufeeq Umer’s performance was noticed by the selectors. Ever since I saw him during the last World Cup, I have felt that he has the potential to make it at the top grade. I remember calling for his as well as Mohammed Sami’s selection right through the tournament. Today, Sami is an integral part of the team. Hopefully, Umer too will make the cut soon. I spent some time speaking to Umer during my sessions with the Pakistan team during the Lahore camp. He is a mature youngster and looks capable of serving the team for a long time. The other player who should be part of the Pakistan squad, if not the playing eleven is Imran Nazir. He’s an outstanding fielder, which always helps, and while he is talented, there are some problems with his temperament and approach.
Gameplan |
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Security takes precedence over cricket
Karachi, March 12 "We are just not able to go near the stadium. We want to watch Rahul and Sachin but they don't let us go in," said a cricket fan. The fact is that as India open their tour with the first of five one-day internationals here tomorrow, focus will be more on security than action on the field as the city is in under siege to ensure all ends well. "This is a big responsibility for us but we are up to it and hope that people will enjoy cricket as we have not only finalised all the arrangements but also had drills," Inspector-General of Police, Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, head of the security operations, told UNI. "Around 5,500 policemen and 1,500 para-military personnel have been deployed in and around the stadium and from the airport to the hotel. All the 14 gates at the stadium will be under control of senior police officials," he said. "We not only have an evacuation plan in case of any mishap but have also rehearsed it." Surveillance cameras are installed at all the stands to deal with any mishap, while the fully-cordoned ground and adjoining area would also be checked by flying helicopters. "We have a two-digit mobile contact number between all the officials deployed in the stadium," the officer said. The troubled port city has been a prohibited area for international teams since two bomb blasts, one outside a five-star hotel where the New Zealand team was staying in May 2002. The blast killed 14 persons, including 11 French naval staffers, forced the New Zealand team to abandon their tour while South Africa and New Zealand refused to play in the city last year. India are playing in this city after a gap of 15 years and the excitement running here is to be seen to be believed. — UNI
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Namaz offered for India's victory Ahmedabad, March 12 The first one-day international will be played in Karachi tomorrow. India will play five one-day internationals and three Tests during their 40-day tour. The procession of about 100 fans shouting slogans and carrying banners like 'Jite ga bhai jite ga, apna India jite ga', 'Juba pe such, dil mein India, East or West, India is the best' and others roamed around the Juhapura area. A few fans told reporters that they were ardent fans of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, captain Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and other cricketers, and wished good luck to the Indian team to return home as victors and heroes.
— UNI |
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Cinema houses ready for mega show Islamabad, March 12 The theatres are hoping to run to packed houses during the series which will have five one-day matches, local TV channels reported today. Authorities in Karachi have already given permission to theatres to show tomorrow’s opening match in the city. Some of the theatres in Peshawar and in other cities reportedly planned to do the same. The theatre owners in Karachi can look to draw big crowds as only 15,000 fans in this cricket-crazy city have managed to buy tickets for the match.
— PTI |
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Notes from Pakistan Encouraged by the victory of their second string side against a full-strength Indian line-up, whopping cash prizes have been announced for Pakistan team as incentive for good performance against their arch-rivals. Ali Asghar
Valika, president of Karachi Club, announced a purse of Rs 25 lakh to the Pakistan team for winning the one-day series against India. Aqeel Karim Dhedhi Securities and Arif Habib Securities offered Rs 2.5 lakh to any Pakistani player cracking a century in the one-day series against and an equal amount to the bowler taking five or more wickets. A player producing an allround show, that is, hitting a ton and taking five or more wickets in a match, will be awarded Rs 10 lakh, the two equity companies announced. *
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Arun Jaitley, who has a passion for cricket, left for Karachi for the one-day match between India and Pakistan beginning on Saturday. Mr Jaitley, who is also president of the DDCA (Delhi and District Cricket Association), has gone to Karachi on a “completely private visit”. The Commerce and Industry Minister would meet members of the Indian cricket team this evening and wish them for the crunch match at Karachi, which will set the direction for the entire 40-day tour of Pakistan.
— UNI, PTI |
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Srikkanth on DD panel Chennai, March 12 The dashing opener, who had just three days ago in the presence of BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu announced that he would be supporting the BJP and even consider joining it in the future, made this announcement to the media here. — UNI
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Indian eves win cricket series
Gurgaon, March 12 After the early loss of the two openers Anju Jain (24) and Jaya Sharma (2), Arundhati and Anjum Chopra added 176 runs for the third wicket before the former was stumped by Anisha Mohad. Arundhati’s 106 from 118 balls and contained nine fours while Anjum made 90 from 115 balls with the help of seven hits to the fence. The Caribbean women had a disastrous start after losing their first five wickets for just 35 runs on the board. Only four batswomen reached double digits with Verena Feliciew top scoring with 19. Mamtha captured four for 23 while four others fetched a wicket each. The victory completed a rout for the visitors who failed to score a point in all the five matches. Former men’s Test player and coach Madan Lal said at the awards ceremony that women’s cricket was gaining popularity and the successful conduct of the series was ample proof of it.
— PTI
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Warne makes history Galle (Sri Lanka), March 12 Warne, playing in his first
Warne ended the game with 501 Test victims, with only retired West Indian bowler Courtney Walsh standing ahead of him on the all-time wicket-taking standings with 519.
Scoreboard Australia (Ist innings) 220 Sri Lanka (Ist innings) 381 Australia (2nd innings) 512-8 declared Sri Lanka (2nd innings) Atapattu c Hayden b Warne 16 Sangakkara lbw b Kasprowicz 7 Jayawardene c Hayden b Warne 21 Dilshan lbw b Warne 6 Jayasuriya c Hayden b MacGill 5 Tillakeratne c Symonds b Warne 25 Samaraweera b MacGill 15 Chandana c Langer b MacGill 43 Vaas not out 10 Dharmasena c Hayden b Warne 0 Murali st Gilchrist b MacGill 0 Extras
(b-4 nb-1 w-1) 6 Total (all out, 45.2 overs) 154 Fall of wickets:
1-14 2-41 3-49 4-56 5-56 6-89 7-119 8-153 9-153 Bowling:
Warne 15-5-43-5 (nb-1), Gillespie 9-2-20-0 (w-1), Kasprowicz 5-1-13-1, MacGill 16.2-2-74-4.
— Reuters |
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Smith, Hinds lead Windies recovery
Kingston (Jamaica), March 12 Smith, only the third Test cricketer from Grenada, hit 18 fours from 156 balls in just under five hours in his 108 that was the backbone of West Indies’ first innings total of 311 for nine when bad light stopped cricket 5.2 overs early. Smith, a neat, compact left-hander, transported the rich vein of form that he has carried in the West Indies first-class championship into an innings that revived the Caribbean side after England sent back their four most experienced batsmen cheaply. He, however, could not take all the credit. Ryan Hinds, also playing in his fifth Test, hit his highest Test score of 84 from 117 balls. Scoreboard West Indies (1st Innings): Gayle b Harmison 5 Smith st Read b Giles 108 Sarwan lbw b Hoggard 0 Lara c Flintoff b Jones 23 Chanderpaul b Hoggard 7 Hinds c Butcher b Giles 84 Jacobs c Vaughan b Jones 38 Best lbw b Harmison 20 Sanford c Trescothick b Flintoff 1 Collymore not out 3 Edwards not out 1 Extras
(lb-6, w-1, nb-14) 21 Total (9 wkts in 84.4 overs) 311 FoW:
1-17, 2-22, 3-73, 4-101, 5-223, 6-281, 7-289, 8-300, 9-307. Bowling:
Hoggard 17.4-2-68-2; Harmison 20-5-61-2; Flintoff 16-3-45-1; Jones 18-2-62-2; Giles 12-0-67-2; Vaughan 1-0-2-0.
— AFP
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Kallis halts Kiwis' progress Hamilton, March 12 Scoreboard South Africa (Ist innings: 459) Richardson lbw b Pollock 4 Papps lbw b Kallis 59 Fleming lbw b Adams 27 Styris b Pollock 74 McMillan lbw b Kallis 19 Cairns c Boucher b Ntini 28 Oram batting 49 McCullum c
Boucher
Vettori batting 21 Extras (lb-8, b-7, nb-8) 23 Total
( 7 wkts in 128 overs) 361 FoW: 1-20, 2-75, 3-127, 4-172, 5-223, 6-225, 7-309. Bowling:
Pollock 25-4-75-2, Ntini 23-7-54-1, Kallis 22-6-61-3, Nel 24-8-64-0, Adams 32-9-84-1, Rudolph 2-0-8-0.
— AFP |
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India, Pak clash in hockey today
Madrid, March 12 India have to take a serious note of the Indian coach who said after the semifinal loss to Holland. “I am very worried that our defensive play is not up to the mark and that is a serious concern to everyone in the team management.” India did try and put up a fighting display against the Olympic champions in the semifinal but Holland were just too good when it mattered and that was whenever India equalised, they came up with a goal. But in those moments the gaps in the defence were clearly visible. Kanwalpreet Singh not overlapping with Dilip Tirkey and Baljit Saini just too slow to fall back and clear the balls that ran loose in the striking circle or worse not being focussed enough leading to balls striking the feet. And that is one area where Pakistan coach Roleant Oltmans would definitely like to exploit. In the last match with Pakistan in the pool they beat India 5-3 after Sohail Abbas scored off four penalty corners that he had. In the semifinal against Spain, Sohail couldn’t score at all, the reason being that he never had any penalty corners. Spain’s coach Maurits Hendricks said he knews that his team had the best defence in the tournament but all credit could to the players as they watched the Pakistan team closely on the video’s. The only way India can win is to neutralise Sohail and that can happen if the defence is up to the mark against the likes of Nadeem Mohammed, Rehan Butt and Kashif Jawad. In a tournament where the Olympic
qualifiers have already been listed, the rest of the matches are of academic interest as they only determine where the team stands as far as the Olympic preparations go.
— UNI
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Madrid: Indian coach Rajinder Singh on Thursday blamed the defence for his team’s 2-4 loss to Netherlands in the semifinals of the Olympic qualifying hockey tournament here. “Like I have been saying all along, I am worried about our defence of penalty corners. We conceded some easy goals and we have a lot of work to do in this area,” he said. Further, he said the team had played to a definite plan, but then it went awry when the forwards missed a couple of chances and also India conceded a “gift goal.” Rajinder said despite the blunders, India came up with an improved performance in the field. “But overall, I think we played far better as there was not much pressure on us.” Netherlands coach Terry Walsh complimented India for playing their “best match of the tournament” but felt that his players did not play up to expectations although they won the match. — PTI
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Haywards edge out Bagan
Kolkata, March 12 While Haywards Sporting drew first blood in the 23rd minute of the first half, the equaliser came in the third minute of the second half from Bagan. Haywards’ matchwinner came 29 minutes later. Dudu Omagbemi opened the account for Haywards in the first half off a pass from Bibiano Fernandes. But soon after the play resumed in the post breather a Sunil Chetri volley off Mehtab Hussain centre restored parity. But Haywards fired the match-winner in the 32nd minute of the second half when Dudu again cashed in on a miskick of Rishi Kapoor and placed the ball home beating goalie Prasanta Dora. Churchill win
MARGAO: Spirited Churchill Brothers scored a hard fought 2-1 victory over former champions Salgaocar Sport Club and maintained their lead in the 15th round of the 8th edition of the National Football League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda today. All the three goals came in the first half, for Churchill Brothers from Yakubu Yusif in the first minute and through Noel Wilson in the 44th minute while for Salgaocar the lone goal came through Prashant Jaggi.
— UNI
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PSEB clinch cricket trophy Patiala, March 12 Medium pacer Harikrishan Kali, who has had a wonderful tournament, virtually toyed with the batting to end up with analysis of 6 for 14. The PSEB Chairman Mr Y.S Ratra distributed the prizes in the presence of the top hierarchy of the Board which included the Secretary Ms Jaspreet Talwar, administrative member Mr Raman Bhalla, Director (Industrial Relations) Mr R.P Pandove and other top engineers. Brief scores: PSEB 266 for 7 in 45 overs (Sukhwinder Tinku 76, Lakhbir Singh 42, Rajesh Patha 41, A.Ganguly 3 for 35). CESC: 150 all out in 43.4 overs (K. Braman 46, A.Ganguly 77, H. Kali 6 for 14, Gautam Mandora 3 for 20). In another match played at the YPS grounds to decide the third and fourth placed teams, Maharashtra State Electricity Board, aided by a flamboyant unbeaten 87 by Mohan Patil, downed Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply (BSES) by 49 runs.
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In video: India-Pakistan matches in cinema
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