 |
|
|
Focus on Ganguly as selectors meet today
Nike bags team kit sponsorship
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian delegation to inspect Pak venues
Cricket may lose Commonwealth race
Gaur to lead HP
Vishal, Bopanna enter final
Namdhari XI, PSB to clash for hockey title
Lyallpur Khalsa school win title
Ravinder Talwar is SGFI chief
|
|
Focus on Ganguly as selectors meet today
Mumbai, December 23 The omission of Ganguly from the squad for the Ahmedabad Test against Sri Lanka, that concluded yesterday with a 259-run win for the home team, has led to a furore with several political figures and former cricketers jumping on the bandwagon in support of the axed player. The controversy is yet to die down and another one is round the corner if the selectors ignore the Bengal left-hander for the three-Test series which precedes the one-day contest. The “five wise men” of Indian cricket, with former stumper Kiran More at the helm, are bound to face some flak from the public, with the clamour expected to be louder if Ganguly is excluded again. Either way, if they do indeed pick Ganguly, who was dropped from the squad for Ahmedabad after playing in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, the query would be: why was he dropped then in the first place and why is he being included now without having played in the intervening period in domestic cricket? It was also not certain on the eve of perhaps the most eagerly awaited cricket selection committee meeting in recent times whether the squad would have 15 or 16 players. “The normal practice is to select a 15-member squad. If the selectors decide to have an additional member, then the approval of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is needed,” BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI. Coach Greg Chappell and captain Rahul Dravid would also be giving their inputs to the selectors. There is no doubt the selectors are under intense pressure to pick the former captain, who has even had a lengthy chat with BCCI chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi, even as the Indian team was busy with the Test at Ahmedabad. In all the din over Ganguly’s exclusion, the continued absence of experienced left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan, who last played in Zimbabwe, has been largely pushed to the background. Zaheer was ignored for the Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka and the five-match ODI series against South Africa that was sandwiched in between. Going by what Chappell said at a press conference in Ahmedabad, that Zaheer has been bowling well, there is a distinct likelihood of the Baroda pacer’s recall to pep up the pace attack which is expected to include the three men who did duty in the ODI and Test series against Lanka — Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar and Rudra Pratap Singh. Young Punjab paceman Vikram Raj Vir Singh, who was controversially included during the ODI series against Sri Lanka by the selectors without being informed that he was unfit at that time, is another option. But he is yet to play in a competitive tie after his injury as per the BCCI guidelines for selection of players coming back from injury. Most other members of the squad pick themselves with one of the important decisions needed to be taken pertaining to the second wicketkeeper. Discarded Gujarat wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was the lone stumper on India’s previous visit in 2004. The squad is expected to have three openers — Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir — who had a miserable outing in the Tests against Lanka — and recalled Mumbai batsman Wasim Jaffer. Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh are certainties for the middle order, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be chosen as the first stumper. Seven more slots are left in such a scenario, assuming it is a 15-member team. With four pacers and two spinners — Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh — being near certainties, the choice before the selectors would be to pick an extra stumper, a middle-order batsman or another slow bowler to fill the last spot. Shah, the convener of the meeting, also informed that the itinerary of the tour would also be announced tomorrow.
— PTI |
|
Nike bags team kit sponsorship
Mumbai, December 23 With this, BCCI has become the world’s most valued brand in sponsorship revenues, BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi told reporters here soon after the Marketing Committee meeting to finalise the sponsor. The contract entitles Nike to get branding on the non-leading arm of the player’s outfit and makes it the official licencee for apparel merchandise for the BCCI. The meeting was also attended by National Selection Committee Chairman Kiran More as independent observer and former BCCI President I. S. Bindra. Adidas had quoted Rs 127.5 crore and Reebok bid Rs 119.48 crore for the kit sponsorship, Modi said. The Rs 196.66 crore, quoted by Nike, is for the confirmed schedule of 198 matches, including Tests and ODIs. However, 50 more matches could be added to the schedule, because of which Nike will be paying about Rs 220 crore to the BCCI for the sponsorship, Modi said. The Rs 196.66 crore bid includes Rs 59.85 crore for ODIs, Rs 33.6 for Test matches and the remaining amount for products. “We look forward to working with the team and to creating the best performance products for the players,” Nike Sports Marketing Director for Asia Pacific Peter Bratschi said. Official kit sponsorship includes uniforms, practice wear, travel wear, caps, helmets, headgear, sunglasses,
eyewear, carrying bags, head bands, wrist bands, athletic footwear and replica products but excludes the bat. With today’s deal, the BCCI has overtaken Italian football team Juventus to become the top brand worldwide as valued by sponsors, Modi said. The BCCI has been valued at $ 27.12 million, while Juventus has now slipped to the second place with a value of $ 22.2 million.
— PTI |
|
Indian delegation to inspect Pak venues
Chandigarh, December 23 The board officials are Mr G.S. Walia, Treasurer, PCA and Mr Ratnakar Shetty, Executive Secretary, BCCI, and Honorary Treasurer, Mumbai Cricket Association, while there are three representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Along with an official from the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, they will inspect ground conditions, net practice arrangements, dressing rooms and security arrangements. Two Pakistan officials, Mr Zakir Khan and Mr Sohail Khan, will coordinate with the BCCI team. Team India will leave for Pakistan on January 5. Giving this information, Mr G S Walia, who will be the part of the delegation as Media Director, said, “The Pakistan High Commission has approved 70 visas for visiting officials but we will request for at least 130 visas, which they granted us when we visited last year.” |
|
Cricket may lose Commonwealth race
New Delhi, December 23 “We are keen to have cricket in the 2010 games but we have not heard from the BCCI in this regard,” president of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi said here today. Mr Kalmadi said since the deadline for the submission of the list of the proposed games to the Commonwealth Games Federation was December 31, and the BCCI had not responded to the organising committee’s feelers, cricket may not figure among the competitive disciplines. Kalmadi said without cricket, the games would have 18 disciplines, which include athletics, lawn bowls, weightlifting, hockey, cycling, gymnastics, wrestling, shooting, netball, boxing, badminton, squash, table tennis, rugby 7s and aquatics. The CGF would have to circulate the organising committee’s proposals among the 71 member-nations and the final decision will be taken at the General Body Meeting on March 10 during the Melbourne games. Mr Kalmadi said it was now up to the new dispensation in the BCCI to get clearance from the International Cricket Council if it wanted to be part of the Commonwealth Games. Mr Kalmadi said he had brought the subject to the notice of new BCCI chief Sharad Pawar and he had promised that the issue would be discussed in the next BCCI Annual General Meeting. Meanwhile, the Games Village is likely to be constructed at the 63.5 hectares earmarked for the purpose, adjacent to the Akshardham Temple on the banks of the Yamuna river, though doubts still persists about the suitability of the venue due to congestion in this area and lack of approach roads. |
|
Gaur to lead HP
Chandigarh, December 23 As the two-year ban imposed on former skipper Rajiv Nayyar has been lifted, he will be playing in his 94th match. Presence of Nayyar, who has nearly 7,000 first class runs and 19 centuries under his belt, will lend solidity to the Himachal batting. Himachal, who could not play their earlier two league matches, will start their campaign in an away match against Cuttack from December 25. The team:
Nishchal Gaur (captain), Sangram Singh, Munish Gupta (wicketkeeper), Rajiv Nayyar, Rajinder Thakur, Jitender Mehta,
Ravikant, Parveen Sharma, Kapoor Singh, Rajesh Chauhan, Punit Lath, Rahul
Panta, Parvesh Sharma, Nishant Verma, Umesh Kumar. Reserves: Naeem Mohammed, Rahul, Kavi Kant, Devender Singh, Prashant, Khumant Dass Mahant. The team has been selected for two matches (against Orissa and Tripura). Jaswant Rai will be coach of the team. |
|
|
Vishal, Bopanna enter final
New Delhi, December 23 Vishal, whose match against Karan Rastogi started almost two hours later due to a dew-laden ground, was in blazing form on his home turf while disposing of the 19-year-old Mumbai boy, as he displayed his versatility on grass to record a convincing victory. A few weeks ago, on the adjacent deco-turf court, Rastogi had laid low the top guns, including Bopanna, to win the ABN Amro Tennis Tournament title. But grass proved to be difficult turf for Rastogi as he could not measure up to the wily serve and volley game, peppered with occasional lobs, of the experienced Vishal. Vishal has featured in two of India’s Davis Cup ties, but lost out his place due to his inconsistency. In the women’s semifinal played on the practice court, Isha Lakhani, despite her comparative inexperience on grass, made a determined fightback from a set and 0-2 down after pocketing the first set to overwhelm Sanaa Bhambri 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. Second seed Isha Lakhani will take on top seed Rushmi Chakravarthy in the final. Rushmi staved off a doughty resistance from Punam Reddy before sailing home at 6-4, 7-5. |
|
Namdhari XI, PSB to clash for hockey title
Chandigarh, December 23 In the semifinals played today, Namdhari XI snuffed out the challenge of Punjab National Bank, Delhi, 3-0 while Punjab and Sind Bank carved out a 2-1 victory over star-studded Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to set up the title clash. Incidentally, it is the Namdharis’ maiden appearance in the final of this grade A tournament. Led by Olympian Baljit Singh Saini, Punjab and Sind Bank initially remained under pressure as BPCL forced penalty corners in the 10th and 12th minutes. However, international Len Aiyappa’s drag flicks failed to fetch a goal for BPCL. Punjab and Sind Bank also forced two penalty corners soon after. While the first taken by Navpreet Singh was blocked by a defender, the BPCL goalkeeper came to the rescue of his team off the second attempt. The bank men did not have to wait for long to forge ahead. A hit by skipper Baljit Singh Saini, who represented India in the 2002 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, was brilliantly deflected home by Parminder in the 22nd minute (1-0). A few minutes before half time, BPCL found the equaliser when Len Aiyappa, making amends for his earlier lapses, beat PSB custodian Teja Singh with his powerful drag flick off a short corner (1-1). The second goal for Punjab and Sind Bank, which turned out to be the match winner, came three minutes after resumption. A pass from the goal-line by Parminder was utilised to the hilt by Kulwinder Singh whose rasping hit gave BPCL custodian no chance (2-1). Despite the presence of current India players like Tushar Kandekar, William Xalco, and Ravi Pal who donned national colours in the recently concluded Champions Trophy at Chennai, and former Olympians like Sabu Varkey and Sukhbir Singh Gill, BPCL failed to meet the PSB challenge. Olympian Sukhbir Gill suffered a nasty cut on his cheek following a rough tackle by Mandeep Singh for which he was shown the yellow card. Gurvinder Singh Chandi of PSB was declared ‘man of the match.’ The second semifinal between Namdhari XI and Punjab National Bank was an engrossing affair with the Namdharis excelling in almost every department. Initially, Punjab National Bank showed promise by forcing a penalty corner in the opening minute itself. Following the push by Bikas Toppo, Gaganpreet’s powerful hit struck the upright. Thereafter, Namdhari XI, ably assisted by international Harpal Singh, just back from the Champions Trophy, took control and scored their first goal in the 24th minute. A hit by Jaswed Singh from the right corner was neatly deflected into the goalmouth by Joga Singh (1-0). A fracas shortly before half time held up the proceedings but a spate of yellow cards by umpire Satinder Sharma kept matters in control. Bikas Toppo of PNB and Gurpreet Singh and Ajmer Singh of Namdhari XI were given marching orders. The second goal in the 44th minute followed a short corner and the subsequent hit was guided home by the agile Gurwinder Singh (2-0). A brilliant move initiated by Sher Singh down the middle in the 51st minute resulted in the third goal as Joga Singh connected the pass to beat Jasbeer Singh under the PNB bar (3-0). Sardara Singh of Namdhari XI was declared ‘man of the match.’ The final will be played at 2.30 pm tomorrow. |
|
Lyallpur Khalsa school win title
Chandigarh, December 23 In a keenly contested tie, the Jalandhar outfit maintained a steady pace and seemed on course to an impressive victory after scoring two quick goals through Daler Singh (6th, 9th minutes). However, the Delhi team fought back and reduced the margin through a penalty corner converted by skipper Sajjan Singh in the 12th minute. In the second half, the Lyallpur Khalsa school lads increased the margin to 3-1 when Vikramjeet Singh converted a penalty corner. GHP School reduced the margin to 2-3 a minute before the long hooter through a field goal scored by Jagwant Singh. Earlier, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar, defeated Town High School, Sundergarh, 5-3 in the tie breaker to finish third. The two teams were locked goal-less in regulation time. The scorers for the Jalandhar team were Deepak Sharma, Bachitar Singh, Jagroop Singh, Jagjeey Singh, and Bikramjit Singh. For the losers, only Bipin Tete, Sunil Kujur, and Banmali Xess were on target. |
|
Ravinder Talwar is SGFI chief
Chandigarh, December 23 Stating this, Mr Pritam Singh Chhabra, Secretary-General, said the previous President, Mrs Kabita Roy Chaudhri, had expressed her inability to continue due to ill health. The National School Games will be held from January 27 to 30. It was also decided to give recognition to table soccer. Mr Chhabra said various states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh had evinced interest in holding the National School Games in the remaining disciplines. Newly appointed President Talwar said the federation would also strive to revive sports gradation to school sportspersons by respective sports departments. He said school sportspersons would also be sent for the Asian school sports meet in various disciplines next year. |
|
Ajeetesh wins golf crown
Chandigarh, December 23 Ajeetesh’s scores for the four rounds were 72, 68, 69 and 69. His best score was three-under 68 on the second day. — TNS |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In
video: Former BCCI chief comments on Ganguly. (
