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Interview for Wright’s
successor from today
Ironies galore
Ganguly leaves it to BCCI
Portus to analyse Harbhajan’s action
Mehta remanded till May 21
Centre drags Verma into IHF controversy
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Rathore fails to qualify for World Cup final
Narain, Monteiro undergo training
Crucial leg for Anand
Argentina meet Chile for place in final
Mohun Bagan escape relegation
Doubles final an
all-Punjab affair
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Interview for Wright’s
successor from today
New Delhi, May 18 Moody, who was part of Australia’s squad that lifted the World Cup in 1987 and 1999, will bank on the Indian players’ support to pip his compatriot and former Australian captain Greg Chappell. Chappell, one of the best batsmen of the 20th century and a master technician, has the backing of skipper Sourav Ganguly, but will have to contend with overwhelming support of other senior members of the Indian team to Moody. Mohinder Amarnath, the lone Indian in the fray for the job left vacant by New Zealander John Wright’s departure at the end of the season, and West Indian Desmond Haynes are the other contenders. The candidates are expected to arrive tonight in the Capital and Haynes’ problems in arranging his visa has meant that the programme, originally scheduled for Thursday, may spill over to Friday. “We are sorting out the issue,” BCCI Secretary S.K. Nair said on Haynes’ visa. Haynes, former West Indian batsman with a proven record of 7487 runs at 42.29 in 116 Tests, was included in the list of candidates after the withdrawal of another former Indian Test player, Sandeep Patil. The 49-year-old Barbadian is a dark horse in the race and with the Indian team looking for a coach to guide them through to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, his Caribbean background will be a strong factor. It is nevertheless Moody, currently Director of Cricket at Worcestershire County Club in England, who reportedly has been preferred by the Indian players. The 39-year old will be very much remembered by current chairman of selectors Kiran More, whom he bowled in the last over of a pulsating World Cup match in 1992 Down Under. It is that one-day cricket acumen the Indian seniors seem to be looking for as they seek to get hold of the one trophy that is missing in their cupboard. Moody does not have a glittering record to back him. He played in only eight Tests and aggregated 456 runs at 32.57, besides 76 ODIs in which he made 1211 runs at 23.28 and 52 wickets at 38.73 in the shorter version of the game. But the six-and-a-half-foot tall Western Australian is respected for leading his state team to several silverware in domestic cricket. Chappell as a coach is a born-again cricketer. An outstanding batsman of his times, the former Australian captain was out of the limelight after retiring from international cricket in 1984, but came back in his new avatar to lead South Australia to back-to-back shield victories in 1998 and 1999. Chappell, consulted by Ganguly to sort out some of his batting weaknesses an year ago, has often spoken about his wish to play a larger role instead of merely being a coach of a team. He believes that modern coaching methods are wrong and stresses the need to create an environment for unstructured learning and bring in emotional factor to make players better performers on the field and off it as well. Chappell had lost out to Wright when India appointed its first foreign coach in 2000. If then it was reportedly due to his demand for a high salary, this time around it could be more due to cricketing reasons. Amarnath, the hero of the 1983 World Cup final at Lord’s, where India scored the upset of cricket history by beating two-time champions West Indies, might have faded to the background as the odds are stacked in favour of a non-Indian coach once again. But the eternal comeback man of Indian cricket cannot be ruled out altogether. The six-member committee of the BCCI, which will interview the four contenders, includes three former captains — Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S. Venkatraghavan. Board President Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Secretary S.K. Nair and former President Jagmohan Dalmiya are also in the committee.
— PTI |
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Ironies galore
New Delhi, May 18 Amarnath never saw eye-to-eye with the establishment during his playing days. He made the remark almost two decades ago and later made a comeback to the Indian side. Amarnath, as also former Australian captain Greg Chappell, compatriot Tom Moody and former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes, are in line to fill the vacancy created by John Wright’s departure. Mahendra heads the panel, whose other members are BCCI Secretary S.K. Nair, former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya, and former captains S. Venkataraghavan, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. All four are reportedly keen on getting the top post, in which the chosen one will remain coach at least until the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Former BCCI President Raj Singh Dungarpur, who was one of the selectors termed a ‘joker’ and was also on the panel that interviewed prospective coaches in 2000, laughed off the Amarnath incident. “But we still selected him (in the Indian team) a few years later,” he said about Amarnath, who played 69 Tests and 85 one-day internationals between 1969 and 1989. Shastri had a tiff with Dalmiya two or three years back over the controversial contracts for Indian players that barred them from displaying personal endorsements. Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, took the players’ side as an office-bearer of the Indian Cricket Players’ Association, but later reportedly apologised to Dalmiya and was included in the BCCI’s spin wing. Over the next two days, Dalmiya and Shastri will sit on the same side of the table during the interviews. Another irony is that Shastri will ask questions to 54-year-old Amarnath, who was his India team-mate when they won the 1983 World Cup in England. Shastri was seven years old when Amarnath made his Test debut in 1969. The big irony with Chappell is that he never played in India — and just three of his 87 Tests against the country — and now was dreaming of coaching the same nation. Chappell played 74 ODIs, but only five against India, all of them at home. Haynes, the surprise inclusion in the short list, was part of the West Indies team that lost to India in the final of the 1983 World Cup. Venkataraghavan is the only survivor from the BCCI panel that interviewed the candidates for coach in 2000, rejecting Chappell and his compatriot Rodney Marsh and picking Wright for the job.
— IANS |
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Ganguly leaves it to BCCI
Kolkata, May 18 “The matter is not in my hands. I have left it to the board. They’ll do whatever is necessary,” Ganguly told mediapersons prior to leaving for a vacation in Europe today. Ganguly disagreed with a questioner that the board was dragging its feet on filing a fresh appeal on the ban. “There is no hurry. There is time till July. The BCCI bosses will take an
appropriate decision in due time.” He said it was up to the BCCI-appointed six-member committee to decide on the appointment of a new coach for the national squad. “I have no role to play in it. The committee comprises seasoned people. They will take a decision after serious consideration,” he said. Ganguly, who was suffering from a prolonged run drought, expressed confidence of making it to the team once the ban issue was sorted out. Asked whether he was confident of making a comeback, he said: “What comeback? I will return to the team once the problem relating to my ban is solved.” Ganguly said he could not fulfil his wish of having stint with an English County team this season as all sides had already finished filling their quota of foreigners. Ganguly left for London this morning on the first leg of his three-week Europe trip. — PTI |
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Portus to analyse Harbhajan’s action
London, May 18 The Australian Institute of Sport biomechanist was likely to take two weeks time to complete the project, an ICC statement said here
today. Portus would have to determine if there was a change in the action used by the Indian off-spinner by comparing the previous bio-mechanical analyses of his action with the action used during the Test that prompted the latest report from the match
officials. ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that the ready availability of footage of Harbhajan’s action from
previous bio-mechanical analyses in both England and Australia as well as recent match footage provided Portus with the ability to
start his investigation by reviewing the existing material on the bowler’s
action. — PTI |
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Mehta remanded till May 21
Mumbai, May 18 Mehta, who was produced in a local court here, was handed over to the crime branch of the Mumbai police for custodial interrogation till Saturday. Police sources said the betting network run by Mehta was very extensive and that the investigating agencies would need time to unearth all aspects of the ring. —
IANS |
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Centre drags Verma into IHF controversy
New Delhi, May 18 In an additional affidavit filed in the court, Sports Ministry disclosed that Bharati’s note on August 24, 2002 was put up before Verma, who on October 31, 2002 recorded that piecemeal decisions were not required and that the issues needed to be examined in totality. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P.P. Mahotra insisted that the “order” to keep in abeyance the particular clause on limiting the tenure of sports body office-bearers to a maximum of two terms of four years each was still in operation. Interestingly, the affidavit said at present, while releasing assistance to National Sports Federations, the stipulation limiting the tenure of office-bearers “is not being insisted upon by the government in the interest of sportspersons”. IHF senior vice-president Narinder Batra’s counsel Maninder Singh pointed out that the alleged order of Bharati was nothing but a mere noting on the file and the same was clear from the further noting made by her successor Verma. He insisted that the 1975 guidelines revised in 2001 were still in operation and no office-bearer of a sports body could hold office for more than eight years. He also pointed out that the Centre has not said on any other forum that the tenure-limiting clause of the guidelines had been ordered to be kept in abeyance. The court asked Maninder Singh to file his counter-affidavit in reply to Sports Ministry’s additional affidavit by tomorrow when hearing resumes. Batra has sought quashing of the election of federation’s president K.P.S. Gill and secretary K. Jothikumaran. Justice Gita Mittal, who has
already issued notices to the ministry, IHF, Gill and Jothikumaran on Batra’s petition, is likely to decide Batra’s plea against advancing IHF election before May 23 when the same is scheduled to be held.
— PTI |
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Rathore fails to qualify for World Cup final
New Delhi, May 18 The Indian shot a score of 135/150, and was tied with two other shooters at the
sixth position. He lost in the sudden death between the tied shooters and eventually
finished seventh. The star-studded event saw all three Athens Olympic medallists, defending world champion Walton Eller (USA) and world record holder Di Spigno of Italy, among others. Rathore, however, was not too unhappy with his show with the new gun. “This was my first competition with the new custom-made Perazzi DB 81. It takes time to adjust to a new gun and I am glad that I made this change now. Although I did not reach the finals, it was a good learning experience. I know what to focus on for the big competition next week, the World Shotgun Championship at Lonato where I compete on May 26,” a press note quoted him as saying. The World Shotgun Championship is held once in two years. The championship
attracts the best shooters of the world, as gold medallists in each category will secure a direct quota berth to the next Olympics in Beijing in
2008. — UNI |
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Narain, Monteiro undergo training
London, May 18 “Each race presents a particular challenge to our drivers, particularly being rookies in Formula One” Jordan’s physical therapist Gerard Gray told a website. “Two thousand plus gear changes around a circuit that offers little room for error or run-off ensures Monaco is probably the most mentally challenging race in the Grand Prix calendar,”he said. “They have to be exceptionally focused for the 78-lap race, more so than any other. This focus is developed through particular strategies pursued in and away from the gymnasium environment.” “At this time, both Narain and Tiago are entering into an intense training period, preparing for the North American races, and then of course, the two double-headers in July. It is this intensity that develops a strong mental attitude in conjunction with physical fitness,” Gray added. Though his Portuguese team-mate Monteiro was familiar with the Monaco track from his days in Formula 3000, Karthikeyan had never raced in Monte Carlo, though he achieved strong Formula Three results at the famous Macau street circuit. Karthikeyan had already said he was eagerly awaiting the Grand Prix. “I cannot wait to drive in Monaco as normally I go well on street circuits. I was fast at Macau when I was racing in F3,” he said. “Monaco has a great heritage. The race will be hard for the Bridgestone tyres, but above all for the gearbox, because we change gears so often in Monaco. Qualifying will also be crucial, as there is nearly no room for overtaking, but I am ready for the challenge,” he
added. — UNI |
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Crucial leg for Anand
Sofia, May 18 Trailing the two tournament leaders, Russian Vladimir Kramnik and Brit Michael Adams, it is high time for Anand to get back to his winning ways otherwise it might just be too late in this category-20 six-players double round-robin tournament.
— PTI |
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Argentina meet Chile for place in final
Dusseldorf, May 18 Chile are bidding to become the first nation to win this tournament three years in a row and are in fine form, once again triumphing 2-1 in their match against France. Nicolas Massu, who won the title with Chile last year, defeated Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-4 to put Chile on the road to victory. Fernando Gonzalez then completed the job by defeating France’s top-ranked player Sebastien Grosjean by the same scoreline. Roland Garros runner-up Guillermo Coria triumphed 6-3, 7-5 over experienced Czech Jiri Novak to put Argenina 1-0 up. Argentina demonstrated their strength in depth by resting French Open champion Gaston Gaudio for the second singles match against Czech starlet Tomas Berdych. World number 10 Guillermo Canas was Gaudio’s replacement and he made light work of dismissing 19-year-old Berdych 6-4, 6-2 to clinch a 2-0 victory for Argentina.
— AFP |
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Mohun Bagan escape relegation
Kolkata, May 18 Three-time NFL winner Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers both now had 23 points from 22 matches, but Mohun Bagan were placed fifth from the bottom, one above Churchill Brothers, thanks to a better goal difference. Though Mohun Bagan dominated the entire match, they could not convert their territorial supremacy into goals, partly due to some poor finish and partly because the woodwork came in their way. Mohun Bagan’s goal came in the 19th minute of the first half. Mehrajuddin sent a long cross for Beto, who received it on the run, shrugged off his marker Chitrasen Singh and scored with a sliced volley from an acute angle to the far post. Churchill Brothers scored the equaliser 42 minutes into the second half through Marcos Perreira. A clearance from Babalade went to Vanlal Rova 10 yards outside the penalty box. The midfielder quickly flicked the ball back to Marcos, who scored with a powerful grounder to the far corner of the Bagan net. After the goal, Churchill Brothers pressed for the winner, but Mohun Bagan defended valiantly and Rishi Kapoor and Mehtab Hussain missed golden opportunities to help Bagan regain their lead at the fag end of play.
— UNI |
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Doubles final an
all-Punjab affair
Amritsar, May 18 Results: boys (u-14) quarterfinals: Mandeep Singh Gill (Chd) bt Shikhar Kapoor (Dli) 6-1, 6-4; Digvijay Singh (Chd) bt Surya Sirsala (Dli) 7-5, 7-5; Gaurav Inder Toor (Chd) bt Ashwani Kumar (Chd) 7-6, 7-5 and Abhayraj Singh (Chd) bt Ritvik Sarkaria (Dli) 6-0, 6-1; boys (u-18) quarterfinals: Gursher Harika (Pb) bt Jay Vinod (Pb) 6-3, 6-2; Pushpendra Rajpurohit (Guj) bt Ketan Gupta (Pb) 6-0, 6-2; Manav Dhawan (Pb) bt Gaurav Sharama (Pb) 6-2, 7-6 (1) and Pulkit Mishra (Dli) bt Rohan Shetty (Guj) 7-6 (7), 6-3; girls (u-14) quarterfinals: Heena Ahuja (Dli) bt Garima Vatwani (Dli) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Navjot Saini (Pb) bt Taruka (UP) 7-6(3), 6-4; Mehak (Chd) bt Arantxa Andredy (Dli) 6-3, 6-2 and Rishika (Dli) bt Prabhamrit (Chd) 6-1, 6-3; girls (u-18) quarterfinals: Simer (Chd) bt Sanjana Kapoor (Dli) 6-3, 6-4; Garima Vatwani (Dli) bt Renuka Kishwani (Dli) 6-4, 6-1; Isha Toor (Chd) bt Navjot Saini (Pb) 6-1, 6-2 and Heena Ahuja (Dli) bt Om Lata Rai (UP) 6-0, 6-2. |
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