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Dravid is new Test skipper
3rd ODI washed out
Sourav keeps mum
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Shoaib fined, Afridi banned
Punjab to take on Services today
Eves in command
Anjali in command
Harika wins
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Dravid is new Test skipper
Chennai, November 22 Ganguly was stripped of one-day captaincy last month and his future as a player would be decided when the Test team would be announced tomorrow. The decision to replace Ganguly was taken by the five-member selection panel which met here ahead of India’s third one-dayer against South Africa, a move which brought about a new era in Indian cricket. Dravid was being projected as the future captain, keeping the 2007 World Cup in mind. “We are looking ahead to the future and I must say Rahul is going to be our future captain,” Chairman of Selection Committee Kiran More said at a press conference here. Asked whether Ganguly would find a place in the Test team as a player, More said, “We have not ruled him out.” “The matter will be discussed tomorrow when we pick the team for the three Tests and the remaining two one-dayers against South Africa. “We always have a lot of discussions on players before they are picked. At the end of the day, the committee’s decision is unanimous,” More said. Replying to persistent questions on the reason for sacking Ganguly, More said, “Sourav has not performed that well. We do acknowledge that he had scored a century against Zimbabwe. But we are not very happy with his performance during the last two or three years.” More said Dravid had performed well. Dravid had won matches against Pakistan and Australia as stand-in captain in Tests, More added. “Winning matches against Zimbabwe should not be the criterion. We should be winning matches and series against teams like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. “The fact is that we have not won a series on foreign soil in 19 years. Looking at the overall performance of Sourav, we are not happy,” he said. Asked whether today’s decision had anything to do with Ganguly’s spat with coach Greg Chappell, More replied in the negative. “We did not discuss the issue. We discussed only cricketing matters,” he said. Ganguly’s ouster was on the cards after Dravid replaced him as the ODI skipper for the series against Sri Lanka and South Africa and led the team with aplomb. Although the Bengal left-hander had gone on record saying he expected to find a place in the Test squad on account of his experience and past performance, it remained to be seen whether the selectors would include him for the home series, starting on December 2.
— PTI |
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3rd ODI washed out
Chennai, November 22 The umpires inspected the ground conditions twice, at 2 pm and 3.15 pm, and decided to call off the match. Around 2.30 pm, the scheduled starting time of the match, 80 per cent of the stands at the stadium were full. When the cancellation of the match was announced, angry and frustrated spectators tore up and threw their tickets on the ground. Though it poured heavily around 1.30 pm, persons could be seen walking towards the stadium. This was the third time a cricket match had to be abandoned here because of rain. An ODI between India and New Zealand in 2003 and the last two days of a Test between India and Australia last year had to be cancelled due to heavy rain. Many spectators questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s decision to allot matches here during this part of the year, when the north-east monsoon was active in the region. |
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Sourav keeps mum Pune, November 22 Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) treasurer G.S. Thorve and Bengal team manager Samidas Gupta did try to organise an interaction but their efforts proved in vain. After much persuasion, the only quote that came from Ganguly was, “I will speak after the match is over.” Following the naming of Rahul Dravid as captain for the Test series against Sri Lanka, Ganguly is apparently awaiting the announcement of the Test squad tomorrow. Ganguly, who arrived in the city at 11am today, kept away from the nets upon arrival. He only turned up at 4.15 pm and straightway went to have a knock at the nets. After batting for about 45 minutes, Ganguly inspected the wicket and went back to the dressing room for physical fitness exercises. “I will talk to you only after the match is over,” was his parting remark.
— UNI
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Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen lead England fightback
Faisalabad, November 22 Ashley Giles was unbeaten on 23 and Shaun Udal had scored six when play ended 12 overs early due to bad light. Pietersen, who had managed just 40 runs in six innings before the Test, came good just when England needed him. He took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers with a brilliant 100 runs from 137 balls with six fours and three sixes for his second Test century. Pietersen reached the mark with a six, but was out next ball attempting the same shot. In contrast, Bell was more patient and his runs came from 272 balls in 372 minutes. The pair went through the extended first session without any problems, taking England to 217 for three at lunch. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar broke the stand when Pietersen was caught at mid-on by Mohammad Yousuf. He uprooted Andrew Flintoff’s middle stump for one. Bell, who survived an easy stumping chance on 38 and received a let-off on 90 when Salman Butt failed to hold on to a sharp chance at square leg, reached his hundred by cutting Shahid Afridi for four. Geraint Jones (55) and Giles added 51 runs for the seventh wicket. Jones fell just before the close, trapped leg before by Afridi playing across the line after a plucky innings that included eight boundaries. Scoreboard Pakistan (1st innings) 462 England (1st innings) Trescothick c Akmal b Sami 48 Strauss b Naved 12 Vaughan b Naved 2 Bell c Akmal b Afridi 115 Pietersen c Yousuf b Shoaib 100 Flintoff b Shoaib 1 Jones lbw b Afridi 55 Giles not out 23 Udal not out 6 Extras
(b-1, lb-7, nb-20, w-1) 29 Total (7 wkts, 121 overs) 391 Fall of wickets:
1-33, 2-39, 3-107, 4-261, 5-272, 6-327, 7-378. Bowling: Shoaib 23-2-76-2, Naved 20-2-63-2, Sami 19-4-51-1, Afridi 25-3-74-2, Kaneria 30-3-90-0, Malik 4-0-29-0.
— Reuters |
Shoaib fined, Afridi banned
Dubai, November 22 According to an ICC release here, Akhtar pleaded guilty to a breach of the Level 1 offence, 1.1 of the ICC Code, which relates to manufacturer's logos on equipment. Both teams had been reminded of the regulations relating to manufacturer’s logos before the Test series began, during the first Test match in Multan and prior to the start of the second Test but despite that fact the logos around the wrist bands of each of Akhtar’s gloves were found to be in breach of those regulations when he batted
yesterday. All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, the release said. The charge was brought by the two on-field umpires, Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair. Match Referee Roshan Mahanama announced the fine after a hearing attended by Shoaib Akhtar,
Inzamam-ul-Haq, Bob Woolmer and the four umpires officiating in the match. Earlier, Mahanama banned Shahid Afridi for one Test match and two ODIs for damaging the pitch during the second day’s play in
Faisalabad. Afridi was charged with a Level 3 offence under C1 of the ICC Code and all Level 3 breaches carry a penalty of a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight
ODIs. Afridi’s ban of one Test and two ODIs equates to a two-Test ban. After issuing his judgment, Mahanama said, “This ban should serve as a message to players that this type of behaviour is not allowed. “Mr Afridi apologised for his conduct and said he was very disappointed with himself for acting in that way. However, a player of his calibre and experience is a role model and he should set a good example as a lot of people not only in Pakistan but around the world look up to him. He has let them down with his actions today,” Mahanama was quoted as saying in
the release. The charge was brought by the four umpires in the match, on-field officials Darrell Hair and Simon
Taufel, third umpire Nadeem Ghauri and fourth umpire Iftikhar Malik. Video evidence was used during the hearing.
— UNI |
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Punjab to take on Services today
Mohali, November 22 “Last year, I hardly had a month to build the team and I didn’t have time to work on the younger lot but this time I can understand the players’ potential,” said Alam. Alam threw light on the practice programme and strategy to be adopted. “We are focused on our goal and we will surely cross the last hurdle this time. The selection will solely be based on the performance, fitness and talent. We have dropped a few players because of their poor performance and their attitude. My message is clear: perform or perish,” said Alam. Punjab, which has psychological edge over Services because of its line of star players, is also full of confidence to fulfil the dream of their coach. Punjab, however, is missing pace bowler VRV Singh as he is undergoing a rehabilitation programme. Services has already proved that they are a team to reckon with after they reached the 'Plate Group' final of the Ranji Trophy last season. This time Services is playing in the ‘Elite Group’. Services coach R.S. Jhulla is keeping his fingers crossed for the forthcoming battle for the coveted Ranji crown. “We have done our homework well and we can trust the consistent performers like Yashpal Singh, Jasbir Singh, Narinder Singh and Sumit Tomar to name a few. “You cannot take us for granted as for the last 2-3 years we have been performing well. We had faced Punjab earlier, so we would not be bogged down by their reputation. We are in the positive frame of mind about Wednesday’s game,” Jhulla said. About the pitch conditions, he said, “It will be a batsmen friendly pitch but only for first one or two hours.” But he evaded the question when asked about what would be their choice if they win the toss. “We have made our strategy but we will not disclose it yet,” he said. Services physio Vikram Yadav said the fitness level of the team is high. “Our team being composed of players from the Navy, Army and the Air Force, they are all fit,” he said. Teams: Punjab: Dinesh Mongia (captain), Reetinder Sodhi (vice-captain), Pankaj Dharmani, Gagandeep Singh, Ankur Kakkar, Ravneet Rickey, Munish Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Navdeep Singh, Amit Uniyal, Gaurav Gupta, Vineet Sharma, Bipul Sharma, Ishan Malhotra and Loveabhilash. Services: Sarabjit Singh (captain), Yashpal Singh, Jasbir Singh, P.M.S. Reddy, Narinder Singh, Sumit Tomar, Krisha Chawra, Satich Upadhayay, A.K. Mohanty, Arun Sharma, Sudhakar Gargh, Fasal Mohammad, Pankaj, H. S. Naidu. |
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Eves in command
New Delhi, November 22 Scoreboard India (1st innings) Jain c Birch Sumra c Smith b Gunn 6 Mithali c Greenway Chopra c Newton Rawat b Harper 9 Amita b Harper 4 Naidu c Birch b Harper 9 Nooshin not out 4 David b Gunn 1 Extras
10 Total (all out) 289 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-75, 3-154, 4-220, 5-236, 6-244, 7-254, 8-279, 9-288. Bowling:
Brunt 24-8-50-1, Gunn 23.5-8-44-2, Morgan 15-4-42-1, Birch 11-2-39-1, Harper 40-13-66-5, Edwards: 13-4-40-0. England (1st innings) Edwards b Goswami 12 Newton b Goswami 6 Taylor c Jain b Goswami 5 Gunn lbw Dhar 5 Brindle c Jain b Goswami 37 Greenway b Dhar 6 Harper b Naidu 10 Birch batting 14 Morgan batting 1 Extras
7 Total (7 wkts) 103 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-24, 3-25, 4-37, 5-49, 6-61, 7-99. Bowling:
Goswami 13-6-16-4, Amita 11-3-26-0, Dhar 6-1-14-2, Nooshin 16-12-10-0, David 15-11-5-0, Naidu 8-3-29-1.
— OSR |
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Anjali in command
New Delhi, November 22 Fourteen-year-old Vaishvi Sinha, newly crowned Pakistan Ladies Champion, was closely behind the leader with a two-over par 74. In joint third spot were Pragya Misra, with five-over par 77, and defending champion Irina Brar, just one-over par after 15 holes, who had a disastrous triple bogey at the par three 17th hole to finish at 77. Anjali played well, with one birdie and one bogey in the front nine and two birdies and two bogeys on the return journey, with 29 putts. Shruti Khanna, who annexed the Noida Open title last week, played a terrible nine-over par 45, with a quadruple bogey at the second hole and a triple at the third for a loss of seven strokes at the very beginning. She recovered on the back nine for a one-under par 35 and a total of 80. Former national champion Parnita Grewal was one stroke better on 79. Saanya Sharma of Chandigarh, Sharmila Nicollet and Shraddhanjali Singh had too many visits to the dreaded jungle and did not finish in the top 10. Neha Majithia had a disappointing card of 87. In the junior section, Apurva Gupta and Mehar Atwal led the Saman Trophy. In the Mawana Bronze, N.S. Park was leading the field, followed by Ritu Singh, Vaishvi Sinha and Divya Kapoor. |
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Harika wins
Istanbul, November 22 International Master Elisabeth Paehtz of Germany defeated Turkan Mamedjarova of Azerbaijan to stretch her lead to a full point, with only one game remaining. Among the Indian girls in the fray, Tania Sachdev bounced back in the event, albeit a little too late, and grounded Anna Sherevich of Belarus in a one-sided affair. Kruttika Nadig and last year’s bronze medallist Eesha Karavade were held to draws by Alina Motoc of Romania and Natalia Zdebskaja of Ukraine, respectively, while N. Raghavi had a bye. Tania took her tally to 7.5 points after the victory, Eesha and Kruttika were on 7 points each while Raghavi, aided by the bye, took her tally to 4.5 points. Amongst the Indian boys, GM norm holder Deep Sengupta emerged as the best performer with 7 points after drawing with Ildar Khairullin of Russia. IM S. Poobesh Anand, who was having a reasonable time until now, went down to Russian Grandmaster Igor Kursonov and Parimarjan Negi’s wait for the ELO rating gain for the IM title confirmation continued after he drew with El Debs Felipe De Cresce of Brazil. Twelve-year old Negi would still make his requirements in case he won the final-round game. The other Indian boys had a good day, with G. Rohit and Akshat Khamparia coasting to victories over Maenhout Thibaut of Belgium and Leandro Perdomo of Argentina, respectively, while G.N. Gopal held Grandmaster Elshan Moradiabadi to a draw. Harika’s confidence was visible right from the beginning as she embarked on the perfect plan and executed it in style, winning an exchange in a tactical melee. She did not look back thereafter and exchanged pieces at will to land in a won endgame. The game lasted 64 moves. Tania was impressive against Sherevich in a queen’s gambit declined game, wherein the Indian played white. Sherevich went haywire in the middle game, losing a couple of pawns, and never recovered. Checkmate threats were looming large on the Belarussian when she called it a day on move 40.
— PTI |
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