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Aussies lift Cup; India finish last
Probe begins into players’ injuries Zimbabwe sink to record low
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ICC may shift office to Dubai Windies-England ODI washed out
India-Pak tie in Abu Dhabi My gamble did not pay off: Enrico
Sidhu remains on top East Bengal outclass Mohun Bagan 2-1 Ashok Kumar’s team wins Pro-Am title
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Aussies lift Cup; India finish last
Sydney, April 25 The injury-plagued Indians, who had lost to Australia in the final of the first leg in Canberra last week, looked in complete control for most part of the play-off but were done in by a goal from South African captain and penalty corner specialist Greg Nicol who converted a corner in the 49th minute. Later in the day, Australia quickly made the final a no contest, pumping in four goals before half time. There was not let down in the Australian fury even after the break as the scoreboard showed 7-1 when the final hooter went off. India, who beat the same rivals 4-3 yesterday, began well with both their defence and attack showing remarkable agility. However, caution was the watchword for both the sides, desperate to clinch the consolation third place. The first half, which ended goal-less, also saw both sides probing the rival area in search of breakthrough. India came close to scoring more than once but Jatinder Pal Singh and Kanwalpreet Singh failed to make use of few gilt-edged chances. After changing ends, India were reduced to 10 men when right half Sunil Yadav earned a yellow card suspension in the 46th minute. Three minutes later, South Africans made full use of their numerical advantage when Nicol beat Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan, converting the fourth penalty corner earned by the team, with a low flick. The Indian forward line, led by Gagan Ajit Singh, whose challenge led to the crucial penalty corner in the 49th minute, pressed hard for an equaliser but made little impression on their rival defence. The Indians managed to force a penalty corner towards the end of the match but Len Aiyappa’s drag-flick was padded away by South African ‘keeper Dave Staniforth. The tidings in the twin tournaments in Australia do not portend well for India who are grouped with South Africa and Australia in the Athens Olympics hockey in August. The Asian champions never recovered after going down to an under-rated Malaysia 0-3 in their first match here. They conceded a 2-2 draw to favourites Australia before beating South Africa 4-3 in their last round-robin league match yesterday. A dejected Indian coach Rajinder Singh said India were handicapped due to injuries to three key players. “We were not fortunate enough to win the match today. We needed to go all out and score goals. However, we had restricted option in changing players as some of the seasoned players — Prabhjot Singh, Viren Rasquinha and Kanwalpreet Singh — are recovering from injuries.” Seeking to draw positives from the twin tournaments, Rajinder said: “This tournament has given the new and younger players — Jatinder Pal, Sunil Yadav, Inderjit Singh Chadha and Raju — the opportunity to play on fast and speedy grounds of Australia, similar to the fast turfs they will encounter in Athens. The younger players have been exposed to the top teams and they would now feel more confident while playing in the Olympics.” He also said the tournaments provided him with a yardstick to judge “where we stand and areas where we need to improve.” Last year India had won the Sydney leg with a resounding 5-3 victory over Australia. Indian captain Dilip Tirkey said he was disappointed at being unable to clinch even the third place. However, he said the two tournaments had proved to be an eye-opener. “It has provided exposure to the younger players.” Tirkey also said matches against Australia would help them in the Olympics. “Australia is also the top team in our pool for the Athens Olympics. We will keep our defence strong against Australia and Holland during the Olympics.” — PTI
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Karachi, April 25 India, who won the Junior World Cup in Hobart, Australia in 2001, now meet the runners-up of group A. In the day’s other matches China outlasted Sri Lanka 1-0 while Singapore upset Japan 2-1. Against the rampaging Indians, the Malaysians showed grit in the second half as they pulled back two quick goals to reduce the deficit to 2-3 and looked ominous to come on level terms. Earlier, India had opened the scoring with a tenth minute goal through skipper Sandeep Michael and then doubled the lead when Sandeep Singh converted a penalty stroke. Michael made it 3-0 soon after the start of the second half but Malaysia rallied back brilliantly with two quick goals. Their penalty corner expert Mohammad Rejabb scored twice in the 39th and 44th minute as a partisan home crowd rooted for the Malaysians. However, Vikram Raja scored a field goal 10 minutes from time and specialist Sandeep Singh’s only goal in five penalty corners sealed the match in India’s favour. “They (Malaysians) played well but my team showed they have the ability to counter tough times and they did that in the second half,” Indian coach Harendra Singh said. — PTI
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Probe begins into players’ injuries
Islamabad, April 25 Ironically, Shoaib Akhtar, the star bowler whose injury at a crucial time in the series-decider at Rawalpindi prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board to form the inquiry panel, would not appear for the hearing today. Shoaib, in Mumbai for the past one week to shoot for a
commercial, is scheduled to return today from India and has informed the board that he would be available for the hearing only on Tuesday. The panel will look into the injuries sustained by the players and decide whether those were genuine or not. Shoaib has to justify his fitness problems which have been a topic of hot debate ever since Pakistan’s defeat in the Rawalpindi decider by an innings which saw the hosts lose the three-match series 1-2. Loved and hated at the same time for his histrionics on the field and off it, Shoaib has a lot of explaining to do as he had batted with gay abandon on the third day after refusing to take the field on the preceding day complaining of a wrist injury and a hurt back. Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan denied media reports that the board would soon advertise for a full time chief executive to replace Ramiz Raja. Mr Shaharyar was quoted by the local daily ‘Dawn’ as saying he was impressed by Raja’s contribution and would not advertise for a CEO’s post. He, however, said the board would advertise for the other posts in order to recruit people with “merit”. Raja has come in for a lot of flak from various quarters, including local cricket associations, for holding the dual job of CEO and TV commentator. On the contentious contract system for players, Mr Shaharyar said the matter was still under discussion. Raja had earlier rejected the proposal claiming it to be an expensive exercise and not in the best interest of the PCB. Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and vice-captain Yousuf Youhana have urged the PCB to introduce a central contract for the senior players inorder to allow them to have
financial stability. —PTI |
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Harare, April 25 Sri Lanka, who won the first two one-day internationals in Bulawayo, replied with 40 for one in 9.2 overs. Zimbabwe’s total eclipsed the previous low of 36, Canada’s innings score against Sri Lanka at Paarl during last year’s World Cup in South Africa. No Zimbabwe batsman reached double figures at Harare Sports Club, Dion Ebrahim top-scoring with seven. There were four ducks. Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took four for 12 in nine overs for Sri Lanka, becoming the second Sri Lankan to take 300 one-day wickets after off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Vaas obtained swing and movement off the seam and was virtually unplayable on a lively pitch of inconsistent bounce. Medium pacer Dilhara Fernando shared the new ball with Vaas and also dominated the batsmen on his way to figures of two for 18 in six overs. Debutant paceman Mohamed Maharoof bowled the remaining three overs, taking three for three. Although Zimbabwe were outclassed by quality bowling on a difficult pitch, they contributed to their own downfall with a reckless batting approach. The last nine wickets crashed for just 17 runs. Zimbabwe’s innings began to disintegrate in the eighth over, when Ebrahim drove loosely at a ball from Fernando and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara. Seven balls later, Zimbabwe had plummeted to 19 for five, losing four wickets for just one run. Among them was captain Tatenda Taibu, who held his team’s innings together in the first two matches of the series with top scores of 96 not out and 35. Today, however, Taibu was dismissed first ball, leg before to an inswinger from Fernando that straightened after pitching and struck him on the back pad. Taibu was Fernando’s second victim in as many balls, but Elton Chigumbura survived the hat-trick ball before being bowled by Vaas for a duck in the ninth over as he aimed an expansive drive. Zimbabwe’s unluckiest batsman was opener Brendan Taylor, caught off the back of his bat by Tillekeratne Dilshan at short leg for four after a short delivery from Vaas had struck him on the shoulder. Zimbabwe: Matsikenyeri run
out (Herath) 4 Taylor b Vaas 4
Ebrahim c
Sangakara Fernando 7 Taibu lbw b Fernando 0 Chigumbura b Vaas 0 Maregwede b Vaas 2 Sibanda c Dilshan
Nkala not out 4 Utseya lbw b Vaas 0 Hondo c Sangakkara
Panyangara c Sangakkara
Extras: (lb-2 w-4) 6 Total:
(all out, 18 overs) 35 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-18, 3-18, 4-18, 5-19, 6-27, 7-27, 8-28, 9-35. Bowling:
Vaas 9-3-12-4 (w-1), Fernando 6-2-18-2 (w-3), Maharoof 3-1-3-3. Sri Lanka: Jayantha not out 28 Arnold c Taibu b Hondo 6 Jayawardene not out 3 Extras:
(w-3) 3 Total: (1 wicket, 9.2 overs) 40. Fall of wicket:
1-23. Bowling: Hondo 5-0-11-1 (w-3), Panyangara 4.2-0-29-0. — Reuters
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The list of 10 lowest one day international totals after
Sri Lanka bowled out Zimbabwe for 35 here today in what was the
2,122nd ODI played under this format since it started in
1969. (Total, overs, first named side one that made total, venue,
year): 35 (18 ovrs) Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka Harare Sports Club 2004 36
(18.4 ovrs) Canada v Sri Lanka Paarl 2002/03 38 (15.4 ovrs) Zimbabwe
v Sri Lanka Colombo(SSC) 2001/02 43 (19.5 ovrs) Pakistan v West
Indies Cape Town 1992/93 45 (40.3 ovrs) Canada v England Manchester
1979 45 (14 ovrs) Namibia v Australia Potchefstroom 2002/03 54
(26.3 ovrs) India v Sri Lanka Sharjah 2000/01 55 (23.2 ovrs) West
Indies v SAfrica Cape Town 2003/04 55 (28.3 ovrs) Sri Lanka v West
Indies Sharjah 1986/87 63 (25.5 ovrs) India v Australia Sydney
1980/81 — AFP |
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ICC may shift
office to Dubai Dubai, April 25 “The ICC has been looking for a venue to shift its headquarters from London and Dubai has again emerged as a strong possibility,” the newspaper quoted the source as saying. ICC President Ehsan Mani and Chief Executive Malcolm Speed are expected to be here next week, where they would hold talks with the government officials on this matter, the newspaper said. A huge percentage of staff salaries go out as taxes, resulting in major expenses for the ICC in maintaining its headquarters at Lord’s in London, the daily added. In 2002, several sports bodies, including the International Association of Athletics Federation, had shifted their headquarters from London due to this reason, it said. The ICC had explored possibilities of shifting its headquarters to Monte Carlo and got in touch with the Monaco government. Though the ICC would have been exempted from paying taxes in Monte Carlo, for some reason they decided to stay on in London.
— UNI
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Windies-England ODI washed out
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, April 25 The game, already reduced to 46 overs because of heavy rain in the build-up to Saturday, was officially abandoned just before 1pm local time. After winning the toss, West Indies lost Shivnarine Chanderpaul for three and Chris Gayle for 20 as they slipped to 34 for two. But Ramnaresh Sarwan (11 not out) and Ricardo Powell (eight not out) steadied the side before rain forced the players off. Chanderpaul, who hit 84 in the first match in the seven-game series in Guyana last weekend, was the first to go, caught by Chris Read off Steve Harmison for three. Gayle hit two superb boundaries through the off-side but he fell to a well-taken catch by Paul Collingwood in the gully off the third ball by James Anderson, recalled to the England side in place of James Kirtley. ‘’It’s very disappointing,’’ England captain Michael Vaughan told reporters. ‘’We put West Indies under pressure out there. ‘’I thought Steve Harmison was very good with the new ball, he was clever, holding the ball across the seam and putting it in the right areas.’’ Brian Lara returned from a finger injury to lead West Indies, with Sylvester Joseph the man to make way.
— Reuters |
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India-Pak tie in Abu Dhabi Dubai, April 25 Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Control Board (ADCCB) Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Mr B.R. Shetty, president and Managing Director of ADCCB, announced details of the match which would offer the highest prize money for a one-day match in the history of the game. Fresh from their historic triumph during their recent tour of Pakistan, the entire Indian team barring Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are expected to be seen in action while Pakistan will be in full strength except for Shoaib Akthar. The Indian cricket team’s trip to Abu Dhabi will be their first visit to the UAE in four years. India last played in Sharjah in March 2000 in the three-nation Coca Cola Cup with eventual winners Pakistan and South Africa (runners-up) being the other two teams.
— UNI |
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My gamble did not pay off: Enrico New Delhi, April 25 “My aim was to take the encounter to the doubles. I thought if Sania Mirza, who had twice beaten Suchanun Viratprasert before, could put India 1-0, we could have given Thailand a tough fight in the doubles,” Enrico told UNI after the matches. “I had played a gamble in fielding Sania in the first singles in place of Ankita and Rushmi in the second. Sadly, the gamble did not pay off,” he regretted. Sania lost to Suchanun 6-7, (7-1), 1-6 in almost two hours while the second match was also a no contest as world number 54 Tamarine Tanasugarn humiliated Rushmi Chakravarthy 6-0, 6-1 in just 40 minutes. The doubles match was cancelled as both captain agreed to call off the inconsequential match. Thailand along with Indonesia, who edged out New Zealand 2-1, reached the play-offs for the World Group to be held in July while India, Korea, China and Chinese Taipei stay in the Group I. Enrico, however, felt satisfied with India’s overall performance in the tournament. “Our target was to remain in the Group I for the next year, which we achieved in any case. Reaching the play-offs was incredible. We had a great week and it has been very satisfying,” he added.
— UNI |
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Imola, Italy, April 25 Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was third in a Williams-BMW, from Fernando Alonso in a Renault. Fifth place went to Jarno Trulli in the second Renault from Schumacher’s Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello. Ralf Schumacher in a Williams was seventh, while Kimi Raikkonen, who started from last place on the grid was eighth and picked up the last championship point. Button led for the first few laps after having claimed his first pole position of his career and benefited from a near-collision between Schumacher and Montoya. But Schumacher took over the lead when the Honda refuelled in the ninth lap and even though the German went into the pits himself two laps later, he had enough distance from Button to come out in first place. The race then slowed down in excitement, as Schumacher dominated in front, with Button and Montoya a comfortable second and third. Ralf Schumacher, who was heading for fourth place, had a gentle collision with Alonso on the 50th lap and fell back to seventh. Race stewards announced that they would investigate the incident. Schumacher’s victory sees him extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings to 16 points. He has 40 out of a possible 40 points, while teammate Barrichello is second on 24 points. — DPA
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Bikaner, April 25 Chandigarh-based Sidhu, who started the day with 19.06 penalty points, stayed well ahead of other competitors driving with confidence on the treacherous 78.81 kms competition route. Wadia, the Delhi-based pro, who had finished the first stage in the fourth position, was benefited when the organisers upheld his request to calculate his timing again and after which he was put in the second position before the start of the race yesterday. The tough conditions proved too much for a number of drivers, with one car turning turtle and at least four participants failing to finish the stages on the penultimate day of the event. — PTI
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East Bengal outclass Mohun Bagan 2-1 Kolkata, April 25 Youngster Ashim Biswas gave Bagan a surprise 15th minute lead before Baichung Bhutia drew parity for East Bengal in the 53rd minute and Brazilian Cristiano Junior struck the winner from a penalty seven minutes later in the fast paced match at the Salt Lake stadium. Notwithstanding the expected outcome, the match was marked by keen tussle for the ball in the middle, scuffles and heated arguements between the players leading to expulsion of Bagan skipper Renedy Singh and East Bengal rearguard Sur Kumar Singh as also six yellow cards shared equally by the rivals. East Bengal, however, had their purpose served as they culled full points to stand just three points away from their third NFL title - the second in a row. They now have 43 points from 19 matches, comfortably ahead of closest aspirants Dempo Sports Club, who have 39 points from 20 outings. Bagan, hovering in the relegation zone, made their task difficult with sixth consecutive loss and a mere 19 points from as many matches. Mahindra
triumph Mumbai: Striker Raphael Patron Akakpo scored once in each half to help former Durand Cup winners Mahindra United drub Haywards 2000 Sports Club, Goa 3-1 in the eighth National Football League match at the Cooperage here today. At half time, the teams were levelled at 1-all. With this win, Mahindra United have 36 points to their credit from 18 matches and are placed third behind title favourites East Bengal, Kolkata and Dempo Sports Club, Goa.
— PTI
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Ashok Kumar’s team wins Pro-Am title Chandigarh, April 25 Local pro Ranjit Singh and his team of U.S. Kang, S.S. Sawhney and SAS Khanna finished second beating Bangalore-based Rahul Ganapathy’s team of D. Gupto, S.K. Sharma and D. Singh because of a better nine-count-back after the two tied at 22 under each. The prizes for the Pro-Am were given away by Mr G.S. Lehal, Captain of the course, Chandigarh Golf Club, at a prize distribution ceremony held immediately after the round. At the same function, Gen J.J. Singh, GOC of the Western Command, gave away the main professional tournament prizes, while Mr S.S. Bedi, Chief Commissioner, Central Excise and Customs, gave away the Putting Competition, Long Drive and Monster Putt prizes. The Pro-Am was played on a “three-man team scramble” format with the maximum individual handicap restricted to 24 for gents and 30 for ladies. Pro-Am winner Ashok, the professional in the team, earned Rs 3500 for his effort, while Ranjit Singh and Ganapathy pocketed Rs 2,000 and Rs 1500, respectively. The amateurs received glittering crystal trophies for their effort. Over and above the main Pro-am , there were a number of exciting contests held for the participants in the “Overall Skills” category. Randip Singh Naba won the tiger drive on the second hole (longest drive) prize with a 2/2-yard effort off the tee. The Lassole putter of the Day (Monster Putt) was won in a play-off by H.S. Kang who earlier tied with J.S. Kang with identical five-inch efforts from the pin. In addition to the above contests there was also a putting competition for non-golfers. Meenu Malhotra won this competition with a total of six putts over three holes. Nargis Gurdial Singh finished second after her putt on the third and final hole was deflected from the hole by the flag. The Pro-Am fielded the cream of Indian professional golfing talent including the likes of top prize cheque winner and runner-up at this week’s Hero Golf Chandigarh Open, 2004. Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, leading Asian PGA Tour professional Amandeep Johl, 2002 Indian Open winner, Vijay Kumar and Asian PGA tour regular Ashok Kumar among others. |
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