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Harbhajan’s ‘doosra’: ICC yet to form panel
Pathan working on improving rhythm
Act fast to have right man: Dravid
BCCI forms panel to select coach
Gavaskar to name Super Series squads
Inzamam defends Shoaib decision
Narain 15th in
practice session
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Unfancied Verdasco upsets Roddick
India win indoor cricket tourney
Pinegrove maintain winning streak
Indian Airlines lift cricket title
Amritsar beat Mohali by
177 runs
Fransa rally to hold Salgaocar
SAI honours blind cricket teams
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Harbhajan’s ‘doosra’: ICC yet to form panel
New Delhi, May 6 It was on March 20 this year that the Indian was reported, for the second time in three months, for suspect action while delivering the ‘doosra’ — a ball that leaves the right-handed batsman — but the ICC is yet to appoint a panel to review his action. It was the first case reported under the revamped illegal bowling review process that came into effect from March, and as per the guidelines the ICC was supposed to have reviewed the bowler’s action within 21 days of receiving the report. “We are working together with the BCCI to establish the best way forward in resolving the issue,” ICC spokesperson Brendan McClements told PTI from London. McClements said there was enough analysis of Harbhajan’s action already available and as such the ICC had to find new ways to deal with the particular case of Harbhajan. BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra had said yesterday that the Board had raised the same question to the ICC in a letter, which McClements confirmed having received. “We have raised a genuine query. Harbhajan twice underwent the (review) process and we are ready that he goes through that for the third time also. But what more we have to do (for any doubts about his action to be removed),” Mahendra had said. McClements said the ICC was not under time pressure since India did not have playing commitments in the immediate future. But he was unsure where the new rules stood with regard to a bowler under review for suspect action wishing to play in the English county championship or other first-class cricket. “We are concerned only with the international games ... we will deal with it as and when the issue arises,” McClements said, adding that Harbhajan or the BCCI had not yet requested the ICC to allow him to play for any particular club. A recent change in the bowling review rules, permitting all bowlers to straighten their arm up to 15 degrees at the point of delivery, might have complicated the matters. Earlier, slow bowlers were allowed to flex their arm up to five and the fast bowlers up to 10 degrees. The ICC had maintained that this new limit was the point at which straightening becomes visible to naked eye, but Prof Bruce Elliott, the Perth-based biomechanics expert who had worked with the ICC in the research on bowling actions, had said umpires on field could spot bending up to 10 degrees. Incidentally, Harbhajan, between being reported in December in the second Test against Bangladesh and in March against Pakistan, was found by Elliott to straighten his arm while delivering the ‘doosra’ up to 12 degrees. McClements denied that the ICC had apprehensions over Harbhajan receiving a favourable report from the biomechanics expert again and, worse still, being reported once more thereafter. “It must be clear that no bowler is cleared for life,” he said. Chauhan hits
out at ICC
DHANBAD: Describing as ‘unfair’ the treatment being meted out to Harbhajan Singh, former Test cricketer Rajesh Chauhan on Friday accused the ICC of double standards while dealing with bowling actions of subcontinent players. The former off-spinner, who was also reported for suspect action during his playing days, told newspersons here that the ICC was not dealing fairly with Harbhajan. “If Mutthiah Muralitharan can be allowed to bowl, nobody under the sun should be stopped from bowling for suspect action,” he said, claiming that the ICC was confused over chucking as it had no uniform policy on the matter. Expressing his opposition to Harbhajan going through a review process within such a short time yet again, Chauhan said, “When once his bowling action was cleared, there is no need for a second test.”
— PTI |
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Pathan working on improving rhythm
Vadodara, May 6 “It is my bad luck that I could not perform well against Pakistan. But such a bad phase comes in the life of every player. This, however, has not disappointed me and I am continuing to work hard to improve my performance,” Pathan said in an exclusive interview here today. Pathan, who captured 18 wickets in three Tests against Bangladesh in December last after taking three wickets in the preceding Eden Gardens Test against South Africa and then suffered a side strain, could not recapture the same form against India’s arch-rivals later. The highly talented youngster could manage modest returns of six wickets in the three-Test series against Pakistan. He also failed to take a wicket in 8.2 overs while conceding 67 runs in the only ODI out of six that he played against Pakistan at Jamshedpur’s Keenan Stadium. “No one would have raised the question about my performance had I captured more wickets,” said Pathan and vowed to recapture his form before the triangular series in Sri Lanka in July-August. “I do not believe in giving reasons (for the below par wicket haul). I do not believe in giving excuses and have started to work hard,” Pathan said. “I am concentrating on hard workouts and training, improving my rhythm and consistently keeping up my performance,” he said. “It is just a matter of doing the good things consistently before the matches and playing to my potential. I am working very seriously on my bowling,” the youngster said at his residence in Tandalja here. Pathan, however, denied that he had returned to big-time cricket before his side strain injury, which he picked up in December last on the tour to Bangladesh, had healed completely. “I came back to the team only after I was declared fit by the Indian team’s trainer, physiotherapist and the cricket board-appointed doctor,” he said. Asked about the absence of the ball which he used to swing into the right-handers from outside the off, which was his forte prior to his injury, Pathan expressed confidence that he would recapture this art. “I bowl at 138 or 140 kmph. Rhythm is my strength and I am confident that I will be able to bowl the ball that comes in to the right handers,” the 21-year-old emerging star said. Pathan, who captured the attention of the nation on his maiden tour of Australia and then played a major part in the historic 2-1 Test series win over Pakistan in Pakistan, refused to be drawn into a discussion about the need for a separate bowling coach for the Indian squad. “I cannot speak on the subject. It is for the board to decide. It is the supreme body and whatever decision it takes is acceptable to the players,” Pathan said when it was pointed out to him about the role played by former Australian left-arm pace bowler Bruce Reid when the Indian team toured Australia in 2003-04. Asked about how he was planning to prepare for the new season, Pathan said he had not yet decided how to go about it. “I may go to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. I will decide on it soon,” he
said.— PTI |
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Act fast to have right man: Dravid
New Delhi, May 6 “As coincidence will have it, a lot of countries seem to be looking for coaches at the same time and we will have to act fast to get the right person,” Dravid said. “John has done a very good job and set a nice platform for the next person. Hopefully, John’s successor, with the help of the team, that is finally the one that has to deliver performances, will be able to take the team to a higher level,” Dravid said in an interview to ‘Outlook’. Dravid, who had led India in five Tests and 12 one-dayers, also dismissed suggestions that he was not an aggressive captain, saying it was too early to make a judgement on his leadership qualities. “You cannot judge a captain on the basis of a few games. Even I cannot judge myself as a captain because I have not captained enough. You should need a fair length of time before you can judge someone”, he said. “Having said that, we have to recognise that people are different. To me aggression is about putting up a good performance under pressure, consistently and when the team needs it the most,” Dravid said. “You have to accept that people are different and will express their aggression in different ways. For me, aggression is about quiet determination and performance,” he said. He also said captaincy was something that was not grabbed or asked for, but an honour given to a player. “I believe that when we are young and growing up, wanting to be cricketers, we aspire to play for India. Once we realise that ambition and establish ourselves in the team, the challenge is then to perform consistently. Then, perhaps, the ambition of being captain comes in. This is true for everyone and I am no different,” he said.
— PTI |
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BCCI forms panel to select coach
New Delhi, May 6 BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra had said here yesterday that a panel would be constituted within 48 hours to select the coach. However, the committee was formed less than 24 hours after he made the statement. The panel will consist of Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Board Secretary S K Nair, who will be the convener, former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya, and former Indian captains Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. Ranbir Singh said the first meeting of the panel would be held in Kolkata on Sunday, which would be exploratory in nature, as no preconceived plan had been put down for discussion. |
Gavaskar to name Super Series squads
London, May 6 The players picked for the 30-man Test and one-day international squads will be announced at the Cricket Club of India, according to an ICC statement here. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed explained that this would be the first step of an exciting journey for the players involved. “The journey towards the Johnnie Walker ICC Super Series begins on Monday when we will find out the names of the 30 players selected for the initial ICC World XI squads,” said Mr Speed. “I’ve no doubt there will be some surprises and some disappointments and I can’t wait to find out who has made the cut,” he said. Johnnie Walker Super Series selectors Sunil Gavaskar, Mike Atherton, Richard Hadlee, Clive Lloyd, Jonty Rhodes and Aravinda de Silva will choose from the cream of the world’s cricketing talent in nominating players to take on Australia in the inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series. Players from nine Test-playing countries and 10 holding one-day international status will come under consideration. Following the announcement of the initial squads of 30 on Monday, the selectors will meet again to reduce these down to 20 players in early July. The inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series will pit world champion Australia against ICC World XI Test and one-day teams in the three one-day internationals at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome and a six-day Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The final teams of 13 for the Super Test and 14 for the ODIs, plus management and coaching appointments, will be confirmed in August.
— UNI |
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Inzamam defends Shoaib decision
Lahore, May 6 Inzamam said, ''In competitive cricket, a player had to be fit 100 per cent to find a place in the side,'' and claimed that it was the decision of the selection committee to overlook Shoaib Akhtar for the coming tour of West Indies. The captain was also candid enough to admit that disciplinary problems of the tearaway pacer also contributed in his omission from the touring party. Inzamam said, ''Shoaib has disciplinary problems and I believe no player is bigger than the team. We've had these problems with him in the past and my concern is that it has a negative impact on other players,'' though he added, ''Shoaib could always make a comeback to the team after proving his fitness besides improving his conduct.'' The skipper, who led a resurgent Pakistan to victory against India in the one-dayers, talked about the importance of team-spirit over individuals saying, ''What I learnt in India was that when every player contributes and you play strictly as a team, the absence of even the best player is not felt.'' ''In the West Indies to be successful we've to again play as a team and with spirit to do well and the strength of our bowling attack is not such a big issue,'' he added. — UNI |
Narain 15th in practice session
Barcelona, May 6 While McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa topped both sessions clocking 1:15.675 and 1:15.062 respectively, Karthikeyan finished 15th in the first session (1:21.628) while the second saw the fastest Indian being placed 17th with a timing of 1:18.858. Tiago Monteiro was the quickest of the three Jordans this morning in the first practice session on 1m 20.773s. Team-mates Robert Doornbos and Karthikeyan explored the gravel on their way to 1m 20.912s and 1m 21.628s, respectively. The second session saw an exciting tail-end battle between Jordan-Toyota and Minardi-Cosworth as the two teams traded times and places. Karthikeyan put in some times which indicated he deserves a better car even though he couldn’t get away from the Minardi of Christijan Albers. The two traded perfect lap after perfect lap until Karthikeyan started his 20th one. Karthikeyan got his Jordan to within 8/10ths of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari and even closer to Rubens Barrichello’s machine. Monteiro kept his Jordan between the two while the third Jordan driven by Robert Doornbos started his 25th lap and by the end of it he was just 3/10ths behind Karthikeyan.
— UNI |
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Chinese juggernaut rolls on
Shanghai, May 6 With three titles already secure, Wang Liqin and Ma Lin set up an all-China men’s singles final while Wang Nan and Zhang Yining will play team-mates Guo Yue and Niu Jianfeng in the women’s doubles title clash. China’s red army arrived in Shanghai with their reputation as the sport’s superpower under threat after the men failed not only at the last world championships in Paris, but again at the Athens Olympics. All that was history today, as Wang Liqin and Ma Lin, the world’s top two players, ended the last hope Europe or Asia had of getting their hands on any trophies. A pumped-up Wang, the world number one, showed no sign of the nervousness that led to jitters earlier in the tournament as he torpedoed the dream of South Korea’s Oh Sang Eun, seeded 24th, in five sets. Ma took care of giant-killing Dane Michael Maze, ranked 19th, in emphatic fashion, sending him packing in straight sets. The clean sweep brought China’s world championship gold medal tally to a symbolic 100. In the doubles, new world champion Zhang Yining helped Wang Nan into her fourth consecutive world championship doubles final, as she sought to match the 18 major world titles won by the legendary Deng Yaping. Wang and Zhang, the defending champions, sent Hong Kong’s Tie Yana and Zhang Rui back over the border with a six-set victory. In the other semifinal, Guo Yue and Niu Jianfeng lived up to their number two ranking by easily dispatching the third-seeded pair of Nai Yang and Guo Yan in straight sets. World number one Zhang Yining lifted the women’s singles crown yesterday, taking her place among all-time greats. The Olympic and Asian champion’s tunnel-vision drive for world championship glory was never in doubt, and she diligently put paid to compatriot Guo Yan’s dream. The hosts, who had bagged the mixed doubles title, made it three out of three, with Kong Linghui and Wang Hao demolishing Germany’s Timo Boll and Christian Suss in the men’s doubles final. While the robotic Zhang has been in dominant form in Shanghai, she wobbled against Guo, who took two sets off her friend and saved three match points before succumbing 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 13-11. Zhang only dropped three sets in the tournament and proved that she was in a class of her own, pushing herself to the limit in her quest to take the title Wang Nan denied her in Paris two years ago. That narrow defeat was devastating for Zhang, but it ultimately paid dividends, forcing her to try even harder. The effort had paid off, with the intervening years seeing her take the Olympic, World Cup and now world championships titles, putting her among an elite few to achieve the treble, including Wang Nan and Deng Yaping.
— AFP |
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Unfancied Verdasco upsets Roddick
Rome, May 6 The top-ranked Roddick was leading 5-3 in the second set and had triple match point when Verdasco appeared to hit a double fault. The line judge called the ball out, but Roddick said the ball was in after checking the mark left in the clay, giving Verdasco an ace. “I did not think it was anything extraordinary,” Roddick said. “The umpire would have done the same thing if he came down and looked. I just saved him the trip. He is working hard up there,” he said. Verdasco then saved two more match points, held serve, and broke Roddick to even the second set at 5-5. The 21-year-old Spaniard broke to win the first game of the third set and maintained the lead to close out the match in two hours, 32 minutes. Before last year’s Masters, a fire at a Rome hotel where players were staying killed three guests. Roddick was staying on the sixth floor and several guests on the floor above were trapped. Roddick waited on his balcony, with outstretched arms, to catch fellow guests as they jumped down, before using fire truck ladders to reach the ground. Verdasco, meanwhile, advanced to a quarterfinal match-up with 2004 French Open runner-up Guillermo Coria, who breezed past Italian wild card Davide Sanguinetti 6-0, 6-4. Earlier, Andre Agassi avenged last month’s Davis Cup loss to Ivan Ljubicic by beating the Croatian 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. Agassi would meet Slovakia’s Dominik Hrbaty in the quarterfinals. Hrbaty notched his first win in four meetings with Tim Henman with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. In another upset, 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio was routed 6-0, 6-1 by Spain’s David Ferrer. Spain’s Alberto Martin beat Luis Horna of Peru 6-1, 6-3, and 15th-seeded Radek Stepanek eliminated Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Sharapova runs into Henin Berlin:
Maria Sharapova’s bid for the German Open title and number one ranking will have to go through a former champion and world number one in the quarterfinals. Justine Henin-Hardenne, the world’s top-ranked woman only eight months ago until she was sidelined by a virus and injuries, will carry a 13-match winning streak into her showdown with Sharapova. Sharapova breezed past China’s Shuai Peng 6-2, 6-1 yesterday, but the 18-year-old world number two had never won any quarterfinal on clay. Another former number one from Belgium would not be in her way, should she win, after Kim Clijsters hurt her knee and had to retire while leading Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder 7-6 (7-4), 5-6. In the other quarterfinals, second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, the defending champion, would play number six Nadia Petrova, number four Svetlana Kuznetsova would face Schnyder, and number eight Elena Bovina would meet number 13 Jelena Jankovic.
— AP |
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India win indoor cricket tourney
Jagadhri, May 6 After winning the toss, India elected to bat first and scored 46 runs but Pakistan could score only 34 runs. At one time it appeared that Pakistan would win the match as the third pair of the team had taken the score to 51. The crowd had started leaving the stadium. But the match turned in India’s favour as the India bowled well and repeatedly dismissed the fourth pair. Indian captain, Sarvpreet, Ami Lal and Rupinder took three wickets each. Ms Krishna Pandit, MLA from Yamunanagar, distributed prizes. In another outdoor match today Pakistan defeated India by 91 runs. After winning toss, Pakistan elected to bat first and scored 165 runs in 20 overs. India were bowled out for 74 runs in 14 overs. Pakistan opener Kasif scored 55 runs off 31 balls. From Indian side, Gajender was highest scorer (19) and Umesh took five wickets. Mohd. Ashraf, Pakistani captain, was the man of the match for his four-wicket haul in four overs. Two more matches would be played in the next two days. |
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Pinegrove maintain winning streak
Subathu, May 6 On the second day of the league matches, YPS, Mohali, girls beat Pinegrove School 13-10. Vasundra (six points), Jogman (three) and Harkiran and Manisha (two) scored for YPS while Sabrina and Amandeep scored four points each and Natasha scored two points for Pinegrove School. In another match, PPS, Nabha, registered a 16-8 win against Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. Gagandeep of PPS scored six points while Pritpal scored six for BCS. APS, Dagshai, boys beat Vivek High School 16-2. Atul scored eight points and Sandeep four points for APS while Dikshit scored two points for Vivek High School. |
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Indian Airlines lift cricket title
New Delhi, May 6 Rajat Bhatia won the man of the series and the man of the match awards while Abhijit Sharma and Ajit Chandela got the best batsmen awards. Utkarsh Gautam was adjudged the best bowler. Brief scores: Rajasthan Colts: 175 in 34 overs (Nikhil Doru 50, Abhijit Sharma 36; Rajat Bhatia 3 for 40, Sonu Sharma 2 for 32, Sree Santh 2 for 29). Indian Airlines: 181 for 4 in 31.4 overs (Rajat Bhatia 81 n.o., Deepak Joon 55 n.o.; B S Acharya 3 for 37). |
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Amritsar beat Mohali by
177 runs
Amritsar, May 6 For the winners, Pankaj Chowdhury claimed five wickets while Navjot Singh and Balbir Singh took three and two wickets, respectively. Resuming at the overnight score of 26 for one, the visitors collapsed at a paltry score of 174 runs. Satyajit Singh was the highest scorer with 60 runs while Harpreet Singh (23) and Harmandeep Singh (22) were other notable contributors. |
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Fransa rally to hold Salgaocar
Margao, May 6 After a barren first half, Salgaocar scored through Felix Ibrebru (47th) and Bento Vaz (88th) while Fransa fought back and equalised through Jules Alberto (85th) and Biju Kumar (injury time). The draw took Salgaocar to 25 points from 21 matches to remain in seventh place. Fransa Pax, who are in fifth place, have 30 points from as many matches.
— PTI |
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SAI honours blind cricket teams
New Delhi, May 6 |
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MRF Supercross Football tourney Under-21 soccer |
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New Delhi, May 6
New Delhi, May 6
