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BCCI announces interview dates
Dalmiya, Samaranch, Blatter to get awards
Inzamam hopes to be third time lucky
Bradman is peerless, says Sehwag
Bhutia to be discharged today
Alonso is Narain’s role model
Nadal rejects favourite tag
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India beat Wales in opener
Kapur, Johl to fight for glory
HP Bill ‘different’ from others
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BCCI announces interview dates
Kolkata, May 10 Disclosing this, BCCI joint secretary Goutam Dasgupta told PTI here that letters had already been sent to the aspirants by the Board secretary S K Nair. The six-member BCCI committee formed to select a new coach for the Indian team shortlisted Australians Greg Chappell and Tom Moody and former India internationals Mohinder Amarnath and Sandeep Patil for the post. In the next stage, they would have to appear in an interview which would be held in Kolkata or Delhi. The final date would be decided after ascertaining the availability of the four former players. The BCCI was also in touch with three other former internationals from abroad and they could also be invited to the interview if they expressed their willingness, Dasgupta said. The names of former West Indies players Desmond Haynes and Vivian Richards and another ex-Australian cricketer John Inverarity were doing the rounds in this respect, though there has been no official confirmation so far. "Lot of speculation is on. People are coming out with so many names. But we won't make the names public from our side, at least at this stage," Dasgupta said. BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahindra, who chairs the committee, has already announced that the name of the new coach to succeed New Zealander John Wright would be announced by June 15. The six-member committee — which also includes former Indian skippers Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan -- have been given overall powers to choose a new coach. Their recommendation would be placed before the BCCI working committee for ratification, which was a mere formality. — PTI
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Dalmiya, Samaranch, Blatter to get awards
New Delhi, May 10 The first of the IJHS Achievement Awards functions, to mark the journal's 25th anniversary, will be held in Kolkata on July 15, according to a release here today. ''These awards, to three of the most distinguished contributors to world sport, are the result of a rigorous screening process involving 250 internationally acclaimed scholars of sport from around the world,'' the release said. ''They (Dalmiya, Blatter and Samaranch) have helped to change the face of the world in the last 25 years through sport, and The International Journal of the History of Sport is proud to honour them as the foremost statesmen of modern sport in the last quarter century,'' it added. KOLKATA:
Former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya said the International Journal of the History of Sport (IJHS) Achievement Award conferred upon him was a recognition of his efforts to globalise cricket. “I am honoured and proud to be in the august company of International Olympic Committee (IOC) ex-President Juan Antonio Samaranch and FIFA President Sepp Blatter in receiving this award,” Mr Dalmiya, also former ICC Chairman, said here. Currently the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief, Mr Dalmiya had been working to globalise cricket and make it a world sport. His efforts paid rich dividends and during his tenure as ICC chief, cricket found roots in distant Iceland, along with other continental countries. As ACC chief, he had also been successful in taking cricket to the Far East and China. “The fact that I have been nominated for this award along with two personalities who gave directions to Olympics and world football shows that I have been successful, even if in a small way,” Mr Dalmiya said. “This award really inspires me and gives me new determination to spread cricket across the world,” he added.
— UNI |
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Inzamam hopes to be third time lucky
Karachi, May 10 "It will be my third tour to the West Indies. If the first (tour) helped me to be recognised as a Test batsman, I hope the third tour would provide me an opportunity to become the first Pakistan captain to win a Test series there," Inzamam said on the eve of the team's departure for the West Indies where it will play two Tests and three one-dayers. Inzamam, who burst into international scene after his heroics in the 1992 World Cup semifinal and final, was recognised as a world class Test batsman when he scored first of his 21 Test centuries at St John's, Antigua, in 1993. Seven years and 54 Tests later, when he returned to the West Indies in 2000, he scored 135 at Georgetown, Guyana. "Of course, I would like to add another century on this tour but most importantly I am targeting a series win because that means a lot to the people of Pakistan than my 22nd century", he said. "And frankly speaking, I think we have an excellent opportunity to end the almost 48-year-long wait because the team is gelled together and the confidence is sky-high. "All we need to do is to stick to the basics, concentrate harder and realise that after this series there will be a five-month break so why not go on vacations on a high," Inzamam said. It will be Pakistan's sixth tour of the West Indies since Abdul Hafeez Kardar led the team in 1957-58. But Moin Khan in 2000 was the only captain who came close to winning the series only to be denied by a match-winning innings by Jimmy Adams and some poor umpiring by Billy Doctrove in the third Test at St John's. Doctrove adjudged Courtney Walsh not out off Saqlain Mushtaq after television replays confirmed that the ball had taken the inside edge before being caught by the close-in fielder. Adams and Walsh added 19 runs for the unbroken last wicket to guide the West Indies to a one-wicket victory that gave them the series 1-0. Imran Khan, in 1988, was the only Pakistan captain to draw a series in the Caribbean when the three-Test series ended 1-1. The prospects of achieving a series win -- once considered improbable -- also look possible not only because of the recent thrashing the West Indies received at the hands of South Africa but also because some of the star players, including Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, might be forced to miss the series in the wake of sponsorship battle. Lara and Co are signed with Cable and Wireless while rivals Digicel are the West Indies Cricket sponsors. However, Inzamam will be watching the Barbados Test from the sidelines and will only have an opportunity to give his best shot at Jamaica as he is under suspension for slow over-rate during the series in India. Younis Khan, the heir apparent to Inzamam, will be at the helms at Barbados. "That (watching from the sidelines) would be tougher, but my heart and soul will be in the field," Inzamam said. "The series in India has provided us the belief that we have the capability to outshine any opponent. I am sure if we can handle the Indian pressure, we can sustain any pressure. "We just need to keep our heads down, keep our feet on the ground and forget the Indian heroics because that tour has now gone in the record books. The West Indies tour is a fresh assignment and we are expected to produce fresh results. "I think this is a great opportunity for Pakistan to establish itself as a team capable of producing consistent performances," Inzamam said. The 35-year-old captain said the tour should also provide his young brigade to learn about the West Indies conditions as it would also be hosting the 2007 World Cup. "It is an excellent opportunity to learn what was required to excel in the West Indies conditions. We have to make the maximum utilisation of this tour because what we face here will help us two years later. "This should be a significant tour as far as Pakistan's chances in the 2007 World Cup is concerned because as I see things, most of the players in the current team form the nucleus of Pakistan's World Cup squad," Inzamam, who has a captaincy contract till next year's Asia Cup, said. Inzamam said the absence of pace duo of Mohammad Sami and Shoaib Akhtar would be felt but did not waste the opportunity to add that his recent statements in which he was quoted as saying that Shoaib Akhtar had been dropped on disciplinary grounds, were misplaced.
— PTI |
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Bradman is peerless, says Sehwag
Varanasi, May 10 “It’s an honour being compared with Sir Bradman, but in true sense, no one can ever reach the heights of the hallowed Aussie,” Sehwag told newspersons here. In the city to inaugurate a cricket academy the 26-year-old opener and off break bowler reiterated that he was galvanised while opening the batting with master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. “While batting with Sachin I try to ape him, but always fail to fully succeed in my endeavour. On the recent ODI series loss to Pakistan Sehwag said that every member of the team needed to perform with team spirit for ensuring victory. “Only professionalism and nothing else, where every players is accountable for team performance can see India winning every encounter,” the sterling bat from Najafgarh maintained. — UNI
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Bhutia to be discharged today
Kolkata, May 10 Talking to the media at a press conference at the Apollo Gleanagles hospital here today, Bhutia said, ‘’I think I will be back within a month, which would be beginning of the next season.’’ ‘’I think this rest would be a good break for me in the hectic schedule of club and national commitments,’’ he said. Asked if the AIFF would foot his bills, he said, ‘’I read about this in the paper, but I have not heard anything from them.’’ He also said that last time when he was admitted, he had to pay his bills. Gastroenterologist Dr Mahesh Goenka said, ‘’A series of tests have been
done on Bhutia. He has mild liver dysfunction and his thyroid is over-functioning. We are awaiting some
more reports, but his medication had already started and he will be released
tomorrow. He should be back to his normal in two weeks time.’’ Endocrinologist Dr Tirthankar Chowdhury said, ‘’Bhutia will be absolutely fine in good time.’’
— UNI |
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Alonso is Narain’s role model
Barcelona, May 10 Not a bad choice. The Formula One season leader after five races, Alonso did not score a point with Minardi as a rookie four years ago. Since then, he has won four times and finishd second in last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix to Kimi Raikkonen of McLaren-Mercedes. Karthikeyan finished three laps behind Alonso on Sunday, far out of the points driving a car that was four or five seconds slower per lap than Alonso’s. But he finished, which is like winning for drivers on some of the also-ran teams. The first Indian driver in Formula One, Karthikeyan does not expect to score a point in his rookie season with Jordan. He just hopes to get noticed, keep learning and justify his sponsorship from the Tata Group — one of India’s largest conglomerates, and state-run Bharat Petroleum. “The driver is only as good as his equipment,” Karthikeyan said at the Spanish Grand Prix. “Alonso did not do that much at Minardi, but people knew he was talented and he got the right opportunity.” In five of 19 races this season, Karthikeyan has finished 15th, 11th and 14th, and he was 13th on Sunday. He has only failed to finish one race. In Bahrain, his car went out after two laps with electrical problems. It is unclear if Karthikeyan has Alonso’s talent, but he already had 12 years of driving experience before moving to Jordan in February, shortly after the team was bought by Russia-born billionaire Alex Shnaider. He impressed quickly, completing the Australian Grand Prix a few days later, with barely any practice in his new car. “It has been hard, I have had a lot to learn,” said Karthikeyan, 28, who drove last season in the Nissan World Series, a top feeder circuit for Formula One. He also had test drives with Minardi and Jaguar (now Red Bull) before joining Jordan. “With what I have, I am trying to do the best I can,” said Karthikeyan, who is hoping for a faster car from Jordan this summer. “The learning curve is pretty high. So it is one step at a time, but it is going okay.” The Tata Group signed Karthikeyan several years ago, hoping to capitalise on the face of a young Indian sportsman who was not a cricket player. Like soccer in most of Europe, cricket in India dominates 90 per cent of the sports coverage. “There are few international sports stars in India,” said Karthikeyan, who was born in Chennai, and now lives in Coimbatore. “Only cricket is big, and now to a certain extent tennis is coming up. We have never had a Formula One driver, so to represent India I feel happy.” Karthikeyan says he was never any good at cricket. However, at the Spanish Grand Prix, India’s number 1 cricket star Sachin Tendulkar was the team’s guest in the paddock. “I know him very well,” Karthikeyan said of Tendulkar. “He likes racing and he follows Formula One. I am India’s top racing driver, so we got to know each other. It is great for me because he is such a big hero in India.” Asked to compare his profile to Tendulkar’s, Karthikeyan laughed. “The gap is huge. Everyone knows him.” Signing an Indian driver was natural for Jordan, which hopes to tap into an enormous market of 1 billion people. Formula One’s commercial director Bernie Ecclestone already has said he expects India to stage a Formula One race within three years — probably in Mumbai, although Kolkata and Hyderabad also have been mentioned. If it gets a race, India will join other non-traditional Formula One nations that have been awarded races — Bahrain, China and Turkey most recently. Weighing only 64 kilograms, Karthikeyan is slight — probably the smallest driver in Formula One. “I think the weight is just right,” he said. “And I think my strength is very good.” He acknowledges he has no hope of winning this season. Even finishing on the podium “would take a lot of luck, to be honest,” he said. His goal is to crack through to the top 10, and wait until Jordan introduces a new car this summer. “My dream was to be the first Indian Formula One driver, and now the dream is to be the very first Indian to win a Formula One race,” said Karthikeyan, who was coaxd into the sport by his rally-driving father. “I see my future in Formula One if it is with Jordan or somebody else, but I know I will be here for a couple of more years.”
— AP |
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Nadal rejects favourite tag
Hamburg, Germany, May 10 Nadal, though, will playing at Roland Garros for the first time when the claycourt grand slam gets underway in Paris on May 23. Asked if he believed he was favourite the Spaniard replied: ''No. I have always said the favourite for Roland Garros will be the player who plays the best tennis there. ''I'm playing pretty good right now but in two weeks' time you never know which player will be the best then. ''Obviously it's very important for me, it's a grand slam and I haven't been able to play in it before. All I want to do is go there, play 100 percent and win a few matches.'' Nadal hopes to be able resume training later this week, provided the nasty blister on his left hand has healed. He pulled out of the Hamburg event shortly after arriving in Germany on Monday following a medical examination. ''You could say it's positive I'm resting a bit,'' he said. The Spaniard admits he is having trouble sleeping following his run of success. ''I had a tough time getting to sleep after the Rome final (on Sunday),'' he said. ''Five months ago I would never have thought that I would be in the top 10 and win two big tournaments like Monte Carlo and Rome. If you win these tournaments you are in tennis history. It hasn't really sunk in what I've achieved in the last few weeks.'' Nadal's growing army of admirers includes world number one Roger Federer, who will be the top seed at the French Open, an event the 23-year-old Swiss has yet to win. ''He's fantastic,'' Federer said of his young rival. ''At his age, to do what he's doing is great. We haven't had a guy doing that for many years. Not since Lleyton (Hewitt) and maybe (Marat) Safin.'' Federer is also well aware of Nadal's presence on court, having had to come from two sets and break down to defeat the Spaniard in the Nasdaq-100 Open final last month. ''It's good for the game, he has a lot of energy. I'm looking forward to more battles with him,'' said the Swiss.
— Reuters |
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India beat Wales in opener
Beijing, May 10 Anup Sridhar defeated Paul Le Tocq 15-4, 15-4 in the first men’s singles before Trupti Murgunde doubled the lead with a 11-9, 11-0 win over H. Johnson in the women’s singles. V. Diju and Jwala Gutta then combined in the mixed doubles and overcame initial resistance to defeat Paul Le Tocq and Sullivan 15-5, 15-7 to seal the issue. M. Hughes and M. Lewis gave Wales something to cheer about when they defeated Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar 15-5, 4-15, 15-9 in 56 minutes. In the final match, the women’s doubles, Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian easily defeated H. Johnson and Ashworth 15-6, 15-2 in 25 minutes to round off a satisying day for India. Coach Hadi Sugiyanto said he was happy with the performance of the team and looked forward to tomorrow’s match against the USA. “My boys and girls are in excellent spirits and we will do our best,” the Indonesian said. “All team members are fully fit and confident. We have a good chance to win the next match as well,” he said. — PTI
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Kapur, Johl to fight for glory
New Delhi, May 10 Asia’s golf legend Hsieh Min-nan will have another crack at the title when he lines up alongside six of his victorious Visa Dynasty Cup team members, including Amandeep Johl of India. Six of Hsieh’s victorious team members — Johl, Chinese star Zhang Lian-wei, a two-time Macau Open winner, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Boonchu Ruangkit, Singaporean number one Mardan Mamat, and Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar — would feature in the competition. The 64-year-old Hsieh led Asia to a superb victory over a Shigeki Maruyama-led Japan in the Ryder Cup-style showdown in Shenzhen, China last month but starting on Thursday, he will be battling on personal terms after accepting a sponsor’s invite to feature in Macau. The Chinese Taipei veteran has won a bagful of titles in Asia, along with three Order of Merit crowns, the 1972 World Cup and numerous individual titles during his hey-days. Other top names in the field included former US Masters champion Fred Couples and two-time Asian Tour winner Terry Pilkadaris of Australia, the organisers said in a release here today. Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, who finished joint fourth in the Indonesia Open in March, will also be challenging for the title held by American Jason Knutzon. — PTI
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HP Bill ‘different’ from others
Chamba, May 10 In a joint press release issued here today, Major S.C. Nayyar and Mr B.K. Puri have expressed shock over Kalmadi’s statement. “Firstly, the bill passed by the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is different to the bills passed by the Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments and this bill has debarred only life members of the association from their right of vote to elect the members of the state body. Secondly, only president and secretary of various district associations have the right to elect the office-bearers of the state association. Thirdly, the bill has stopped the backdoor entry into the association, they alleged. Both requested Mr Kalmadi to go through the bill in detail and then come to any conclusion. |
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