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Commitment to excellence is Greg’s motto
Lanka poised to pick Moody
as coach
Remand for Mehta’s accomplice
HC refuses to stay IHF poll
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Federer, Nadal may clash in semifinal
Bhat, Popat to lead Indian challenge
National athletics meet today
Argentina beat Chile, enter final
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Chappell named coach
New Delhi, May 20 Chappell was preferred over three other contenders — Australia’s Tom Moody, India’s Mohinder Amarnath and West Indian Desmond Haynes — by a six-member coach selection committee set up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The committee interviewed all four candidates here yesterday. Announcing the decision, BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra said the decision to recommend Chappell for the job was taken unanimously and that it would be ratified at the board’s working committee meeting, to be held at Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of June. The committee, comprising former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S. Venkatraghavan, along with former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya, BCCI Secretary S.K. Nair and Mahendra, held an hour-long meeting this morning before formally announcing the decision. Chappell would receive an annual remuneration of $175,000, besides other allowances. He would be based in Bangalore, where the National Cricket Academy was located. He was granted 60 days of break each year. The issue of his column writing and handling the media would be thrashed out at a second meeting with the BCCI before he would take up the job on June 15. Asked what prompted the committee to zero in on Chappell, the BCCI President said the past record of the Australian and the presentation he made to the committee yesterday were the main reasons behind his selection. “We took into account his past record and the presentation he made in front of the committee yesterday while arriving at a unanimous decision,” he said. On whether the committee deliberated on appointing a bowling coach, Mahendra said no decision on the issue was taken as yet, but he also did not rule out the possibility. “We have not taken any decision on whether to appoint a bowling coach. We may go in for a separate bowling coach. One thing is for sure that whatever support staff he will ask for, will be given,” he said. An eternal optimist, a great batsman and a cricketer known for his play-to-win attitude, Chappell would be expected to imbibe the same winning habit in the Indian cricket team, which had been struggling for consistency. The South Australian was considered to be the frontrunner for the job from the beginning. Vastly respected by players all around the globe for his batting acumen, Chappell had scored 7,110 runs from 87 Tests at an average of 53.86 runs in his 14-year international career and had the distinction of scoring centuries in his debut and final Tests. Though he had an appetite for big scores, it was his calm and courtly manner that the bowlers found difficult to handle. Chappell was also a successful captain, winning 21 of the 48 Tests he led Australia into, but would be remembered in cricketing history for his notorious decision to ask his younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm in a one-day international against New Zealand so that Brian McKenzie could not hit a six off the last ball to save the match. The move had prompted the International Cricket Council to change bowling rules and ban underarm bowling. Chappell also had the unique feat of scoring centuries in each innings of his captaincy debut. He continued to be associated with cricket after his retirement in 1984 and handled the role of selector and coach of South Australia. Chappell had lost out to Wright almost five years ago. He had some experience of working in the subcontinent as he had spent some time as consultant with the National Cricket Academy in Pakistan last year. He also shared a good rapport with Sourav Ganguly, whom he helped to solve his batting problems before their last tour Down Under. Like all good modern-day coaches, Chappell also understood cricket not just as a specific set of pure skills to be learned and applied, but as part of a larger totality, requiring knowledge of matters like body structure, different kinds of learning methods and motivational practices. Author of the book ‘Cricket: The Making of Champions’, Chappell had deep insight into the fundamentals of the game and there was no doubting his considerable technical understanding and tactical awareness, which came, as he said on his website, “from a lifetime spent in trying to understand cricket’s complexities”.
— PTI |
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Commitment to excellence is Greg’s motto
New Delhi, May 20 Chappell termed his new job as ‘exciting and challenging’ and said he would bring in his own philosophies and plans to take the Indian team further up the ladder. “It is going to be exciting. There are going to be a lot of challenges and a number of priority issues. My job will be to maintain and improve the quality of the team,” the 57-year-old Australian said at a press conference. “I give my commitment to excellence to Indian cricket on and off the field. It will be a full-time commitment, 24 hours, seven days a week,” he said. Chappell said talent would not bring success to the Indian team. “I have my own plans, but if the 16 or 18 players do not find playing for India enough to get them motivated, then it will be hard on me and them as well,” he said. Assessing the past and recent performances of Sourav Ganguly’s men, Chappell said the team that reached a World Cup final must have it in them to be the champion side, but sometimes mere desire was not enough. “I suppose it is the will, determination and discipline and the talent,” he listed as characteristics of a world-beating team. Chappell said he had no problems in working with former Indian players at various levels to help the team. “I am certainly open to invite experienced, qualified and knowledgeable people, not only from India, but outside as well, as when we travel and talk to the local people,” he said. Meanwhile, Mohinder Amarnath said he was not disappointed that Chappell was preferred over him and wished him all the luck. “I am not at all disappointed. I wish good luck to the new coach and the Indian team,” Amarnath, who was the sole Indian in the fray, said here. The hero of the 1983 World Cup, whose lack of computer knowledge came to fore when he took help of his brother-in-law during the interview because he did not know how to use a laptop, said he did not have any complains with the selection process. “The whole selection process was correct,” he said. Asked about his stance that an Indian should be the coach, he reiterated his preference for the same. “I still think what I said was correct,” he said. Mumbai: Former captains Dilip Vengsarkar and Chandu Borde on Friday welcomed the choice of Greg Chappell as coach because of his stature and knowledge of the game. In addition to being India’s coach, Vengsarkar wanted Chappell to look after the India ‘A’ team whenever he was free from coaching the national team. Bangalore: Former cricketer G.R. Vishwanath on Friday welcomed the selection of Greg Chappell as coach, but said the Australian could do little if consistency eluded Team India. “Chappell will put in his efforts. But he cannot play in the middle. Consistency from the team is important,” Vishwanath said from Kanpur. Former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani also hailed the selection of Chappell. “I am sure he is going to be a very purposeful and useful coach for the Indian team,” he said. On Mohinder Amarnath, Kirmani said it was all part of the competition and one needed to take it in the right spirit. Kolkata:
Former players Arun Lal and Ashok Malhotra on Friday welcomed the selection of Greg Chappell as coach, saying the stature and experience of the Australian would help the side attain new heights.
— PTI |
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Lanka poised to pick Moody
as coach
Colombo, May 20 Moody, director of cricket at English county Worcestershire, is due to travel to Colombo over the weekend for an interview on Monday or Tuesday with the Sri Lankan cricket board. “Moody is going to confirm shortly when he can come and we hope to have everything finalised early next week,” Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa told Reuters. Moody is expected to agree to a two-year contract to lead the team to the 2007 World Cup. His first assignment will be a two-Test series against West Indies scheduled to start on July 15 in Colombo. Sri Lanka approached a number of coaches, including Dav Whatmore of Bangladesh, and Australians Dean Jones and Steve Waugh. Former coach John Dyson, whose contract expired in April after 20 months in charge during which Sri Lanka rose up the Test and ODI rankings, was also in the running.
— Reuters |
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Remand for Mehta’s accomplice
Mumbai, May 20 Seeking his custody before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D.B. Nikam, the prosecution said the police wanted to confront Kamdar with Shoban and wanted to see if he had passed any information on the betting to Dubai and Pakistan. “For sustained interrogation we need police custody of Kamdar,” the prosecution said. Opposing the custody, Satish Maneshinde, the lawyer of Kamdar, who was arrested last night, said the police claim about the existence of a betting syndicate was false. The IB and the CBI had all the names of the bookies and the name of Kamdar did not appear therein, he said.
— PTI |
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HC refuses to stay IHF poll
New Delhi, May 20 The court also issued notice to the Union of India on the complaint of the petitioner — former IHF Vice President Narinder Batra — that the government, in its affidavit, had suppressed that the then Sports Minister Uma Bharti had reverted her order on a subsequent date. Producing a copy of the order, Counsel Maninder Singh, appearing for Batra, said in November, 2001, Ms Bharti had passed an order reverting her earlier order of October 11, 2001, not to keep in abeyance the guidelines on fixed tenure of two terms of four years each of the functionaries of various sports bodies and associations in the country. Counsel Arun Jaitley, appearing for Batra, moved a contempt petition saying that the government had deliberately
suppressed information to mislead the court. Counsel Abhishek Manu Sangvi, appearing for IHF Secretary K Jothikumaran, said the guidelines were not binding on the IHF as it was not a legislation. The Union Government did not have the legislative power over the sports bodies and federations in the country, he said. Counsel Arun Bhardwaj, appearing for the IHF, argued that the petitioner should have gone to the government rather than filing a writ petition in the court. The functioning of the IHF could not be challenged, he added. Batra had filed a petition on May 3 in the High Court challenging the decision of IHF President KPS Gill to convene the annual general meeting (AGM) on May 23 for the election of office-bearers. The High Court had served notices to the Union Government through the Ministry of Sports, IHF, IHF President Gill and its Secretary K Jothikumaran. In an affidavit, Batra requested the court not to allow Gill and Jothikumaran to participate in the federation’s elections. In contravention of guidelines that no office-bearer would have more than two terms or maximum of eight years in office, both Gill and Jothikumaran had been occupying the offices for the third term, the petition alleged.
— PTI, UNI |
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Federer, Nadal may clash in semifinal
Paris, May 20 But the 23-year-old top seed could clash with Spanish teenage sensation Rafael Nadal, the fourth seed, in the semifinals. In what could be a tricky third round clash, Nadal may face fellow 18-year-old Richard Gasquet of France, one of just two men to beat Federer this year. World number one Federer, who has never got beyond the quarter-finals of the French Open in six attempts, will face Sweden’s Robin Soderling in the first round. His first serious test shouldn’t arrive until the fourth round where he could face Spain’s 1998 champion Carlos Moya over whom he holds a 5-0 career record. Argentina’s David Nalbandian, a semifinalist here in 2004, lies in wait in the quarterfinals and that could prove difficult as Nalbandian holds a 5-2 record over Federer. The Swiss ace, however, has won their last two meetings and warmed up for Roland Garros by defending his Hamburg Masters title to stretch his record to 19 successive winning finals. Last year, Federer’s dream of adding the French Open to his collection of Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles, was crushed by triple champion Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. Nadal, widely tipped to win on his first appearance here after picking up five titles this year, takes on German journeyman Lars Burgsmuller in his opening tie. The women’s draw was overshadowed by the withdrawal through injury of 2002 champion Serena Williams of the US who has been struggling with an ankle injury. Jennifer Capriati, the 2001 winner who hasn’t played all year because of a shoulder injury, was also absent from the draw. Top seed Lindsay Davenport, who has never won the title here, faces Katerina Srebotnik of Slovenia in her opener while Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova faces fellow Russian Evgenia Linetskaya. Defending champion Anastasia Myskina of Russia, seeded five, faces Spain’s Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, while French third seed Amelie Mauresmo, who has never got beyond the quarterfinals here, faces Australia’s Evie Dominikovic. Belgium’s Justine Henin-Hardenne, the 2003 champion, is seeded 10 and faces former Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez in the first round. Compatriot Kim Clijsters, who is battling to recover from a knee injury, is seeded 14 and faces a qualifier. However, Clijsters has still to make up her mind whether or not she will play.
— AFP |
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Bhat, Popat to lead Indian challenge
New Delhi, May 20 According to the initial qualification list issued by the International Badminton Federation last night, former national champion Abhinn Shyam Gupta, ranked 55, and 53rd-ranked Bhat would feature in men’s singles while 32nd-ranked Popat, along with Trupti Murgunde, ranked 65, found a place in the women’s singles list. The 44th-ranked pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas, as also Jaseel Ismail and V. Diju, ranked 87, qualified for the event.
— PTI |
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National athletics meet today
Patiala, May 20 The spotlight will be on women discus throwers as the top three — Neelam J. Singh, Seema Antil and Harwant Kaur — are scheduled to take part. Since women’s long jump is not part of the programme, Anju B. George and J.J. Shobha will not be seen in action. Woman pole vaulter V.S. Surekha will strive to better the national record she set in the first edition of the meet held in New Delhi on May 17. In the women’s 400m, Punjab Police runner Manjit Kaur will try to better the timing she dished out in the New Delhi meet where she came third. Manjit Kaur along with S. Geetha of Railways and Chitra Somen of Jharkhand will form the troika that is expected to dominate the one lap race. In the men’s section, the 100m will see prominent athletes like Jagdish Basak, Piyush Kumar and H. Jayachandran in action. Basak returned to competitive athletics in the New Delhi meet after serving out his suspension for doping. Chief organiser of the meet Ajaib Singh Kaleka said all arrangements pertaining to board and lodging of the athletes had been made. |
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Argentina beat Chile, enter final
Dusseldorf, May 20 Gaston Gaudio rallied from 4-1 down in the opening set to beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 6-2 and end his opponent’s 15-match winning streak. Later, Guillermo Canas came back in the final set to top Nicolas Massu 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Argentina also won the doubles, Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Coria defeating Hermes Gamonal and Adrian Garcia 6-4, 6-3.
— AP |
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