BCCI warns Sehwag

New Delhi, May 9
The Cricket Board today sought to gag players from speaking about Sourav Ganguly and the issue of player burnout by warning vice-captain Virender Sehwag from speaking on these subjects to the media.

If you have apprehensions of a burnout, take rest and do not give your opinion on Ganguly, Sehwag was bluntly told.

Days after the dashing opener had said that Ganguly, coach Greg Chappell’s anathema, was “missed” by the team and that the issue of player burnout had been taken up with the Board, he was verbally warned by BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah.

“Sehwag has been warned verbally from speaking to the media on burnout and the Ganguly issue. Players cannot speak on Board policies and selection matters,” Shah declared.

In carefully chosen words, Sehwag had stated in an interview to PTI that while it was the prerogative of the Board and the selectors to decide on the former skipper’s future, the team sometimes missed Ganguly.

On burnout, Sehwag had said skipper Rahul Dravid and he had taken up the issue of too much cricket with BCCI President Sharad Pawar when the team was in Pakistan two months ago and that the Board had promised to address the issue after the current commitments were fulfilled.

“If any player feels there is burnout, he can take rest. The Board cannot change its policy or itinerary for any player,” Shah told PTI.

“Players cannot speak on Ganguly issue also. It is a matter which concerns the selection committee. As a player you cannot give your opinion on any other player.”

“The Board meets players from time to time. If they have any problem, they can take it up with us. These matters must remain between us,” Shah said.

The cricketers were barred from airing their views on Ganguly-Chappell row last September after Harbhajan Singh’s outburst against the coach.

According to one of the clauses of the contract with BCCI, the players are also not allowed to write columns for newspapers. Only the captain, coach and manager have been permitted to write columns.

Former cricketers back Viru

The BCCI’s decision to impose gag orders on vice-captain Virender Sehwag was today termed as an over reaction by former cricketers who said players should have the right to express their individual opinion.

Former Test cricketer Chetan Chauhan said the BCCI was probably overdoing its bit by restricting players from talking to the press while former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar also said he did not think there was anything wrong in expressing one’s opinion.

“It is a democratic country, you cannot throttle players,” Chauhan said. “Sehwag has not said anything against board. He did not say anything, which is detrimental to the game or to the board.

“He has just given his personal opinion, he should have the right to do so. The board can accept it or ignore it,” he told PTI.

Vengsarkar said if the players were bound by a contract, the Board was right in its action but the players should have the right to take up issues with the Board.

“If there is any clause, the board is right but if they (players) have anything in mind, they can take it up with the board,” Vengsarkar said.

Chauhan said the relationship between the players and the board should be like the one between a parent and the child.

“There should not be ego clash between the board and the players. Issues like rest and burnout should be settled amicably,” he said. — PTI

DD viewers to miss Windies series

New Delhi, May 9
Doordarshan will not be able to broadcast the upcoming India-West Indies Test and ODI series after Supreme Court today restrained Prasar Bharti from interfering with the telecast by Ten Sports.

“Prasar Bharati is restrained from interfering with the telecast of the Test and ODI series between India and West Indies, the exclusive right of which rest with the Ten Sports,” a Bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice L.K. Panta said.

The Bench also made it clear that Prasar Bharti will not take any “coercive step” or “action” in pursuance of the government guidelines making it mandatory for channels to share feed of sporting events of national importance with the public broadcaster.

The order was passed after Prasar Bharti said it was not inclined to make payment for sharing live feed of the series.

Ten Sports had moved the court seeking to restrain Prasar Bharti from downlinking the live feed of matches contending that if the matches were simulcast on Doordarshan, it would suffer a huge loss.

Taj Television Ltd, owner of Ten Sports, had filed the petition seeking stay of the government guidelines making it mandatory for sports channels to share feed of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharti.

Taj Television had said it has already sold distribution rights to Set Discovery Pvt Ltd (SEDT), which will have the right to license throughout the country.

Ten Sports had challenged the validity and legality of downlinking guidelines terming them as arbitrary without the authority of law. — PTI

Bermuda fireman to debut as cricket umpire

Dubai, May 9
A fireman will make cricketing history next week when he becomes the first umpire from Bermuda to officiate in a one-day international (ODI). Roger Dill, 48, will become the first member of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) associate and affiliate umpires’ panel to stand in an ODI during the upcoming triangular series between Zimbabwe, Bermuda and Canada.

Dill will officiate alongside Emirates Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel of Australia while former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd will be match referee for the four matches starting May 16, ICC said in a statement.

“I’m pleased to be invited (to officiate) and also very excited,” said Dill as he prepared for his trip to the Caribbean. “It shows the ICC is now looking at all umpires, no matter where they come from, and no one is out of the circle.”

Dill was a member of the first ICC associate and affiliate umpires’ panel, created in April last year, to give officials outside the full member countries a chance to progress to the highest level possible.

He has stood in ICC Intercontinental Cup, ICC Trophy and the under-19 World Cup, and after impressing during those appointments has now gained further recognition.

It means Dill will have to take time off from his job as a sergeant in Bermuda’s fire service but he views it as a worthwhile sacrifice.

“There have been a couple of instances where I have had to take some leave and my colleagues have also been willing to cover for me,” he said.

“It is all worth it for something like this. When we get these sorts of opportunities as associate and affiliate umpires then it is part of our responsibility to take them.” Dill believes his job as a fire fighter, something that he has done for almost 30 years, has helped him in his efforts as an umpire.

The matches are part of dramatic increase in the programme of ODIs for the six associate member countries that will participate in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies in March-April.

The six sides, Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, The Netherlands and Scotland, are expected to play at least 64 one-dayers (some of which have already been contested) before the World Cup, including scheduled matches against full member countries.

ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said the new programme was an essential step in the development of the sport in these countries. “It is essential that their top players are exposed to regular competitive international cricket if they are to continue to develop and this is a very significant step in the right direction.” — IANS

Lara a formidable batsman: Yuvraj
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 9
Yuvraj Singh, who created a world record by winning three consecutive man of the series awards considers Brian Lara as the most formidable batsman India will face in the forthcoming India-West Indies series.

Terming Lara an outstanding player, Yuvraj said, “No doubt, the West Indies is not an easy side to beat and Lara will be very difficult to tackle.”

He also said the series will be a great help in preparation for the World Cup, starting in March next year. “To play a Test and one-day series in the West Indies nine months before the World Cup will provide us opportunity to get familiar with the conditions there,” said Yuvraj.

On the burnout issue, Yuvraj said, “The duty of player is to play whereas it is up to the cricket boards to decide the schedule.” But he opined that players’ suggestion should also be taken on the issue. However, he was of the view that rest is necessary for every player to maintain his fitness and hunger for the game.

Defending Sehwag, who has been going through a lean patch, Yuvraj said, “He has proved himself and it is well known that bowlers are scared to bowl to him when he is in form. His 73-run innings against Pakistan recently is a sign that he is back in form.”

Yuvraj, who seems to be highly impressed with M S Dhoni for his consistent performance, termed the player as the most talented one in the team. “Reaching the top in just one year speaks volumes about Dhoni’s talent. He is a match winner and I am sure he will prove to be the trump card for the team in the World Cup,” Yuvraj said.

On the availability of Sachin Tendulkar for the Windies series, Yuvraj said, “I don’t want to comment on the recovery as well as fitness of Sachin but if he does not make it, we will definitely miss him.”

Yuvraj did not agree with the point that the team’s top order is not doing well and the load of winning the matches is on the shoulders of middle order batsmen. “No doubt, the middle order has been performing very well but it is not that there is problem with top order batsmen. They are also executing their job in a fine manner,” he said.

On being asked about his leading the team, Yuvraj said: “Let the right time come.” 

ICC confirms BCCI’s tour programme 

Dubai, May 9
Indian cricket board’s (BCCI) initiative to redraw its international schedule for the coming years was given official stamp through the ICC’s new six-year future tours programme (FTP) released today.

According to the programme, the Asia Cup will be held in March, 2010, and India will play its first full-fledged series in seven years in Sri Lanka in July, 2008. — PTI

Flintoff, Brunt honoured

London, May 9
Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff and Katherine Brunt, pace bowler of the women cricket team, were honoured with the England cricketers of the year award. Flintoff and Brunt were instrumental in ensuring England’s victory, in both Ashes series, and were given the awards by Vodafone, at an annual awards dinner last night capping a fantastic year for English cricket.

“Last summer’s Ashes Series proved that cricket holds a special place in the hearts of the British public and we are delighted to be able to officially recognise the talents and performances of two outstanding cricketers,” Lord MacLaurin, chairman of Vodafone Group Plc, said. — PTI

S. Korea keen to repeat 2002 performance

Seoul, May 9
South Korea is on a mission to prove its surprising run at the last World Cup wasn’t a fluke. The Koreans hadn’t won a single match in five World Cup appearances before 2002. But that year, when it co-hosted the tournament with Japan, they went all the way to semifinals, beating powerhouses Portugal, Italy and Spain on the way.

It was the first time an Asian squad made it so far since North Korea’s astounding run to the quarterfinals in England in 1966.

South Korea’s performance made coach Guus Hiddink into a national legend. Now, another Dutchman, Dick Advocaat, faces the daunting task of meeting the high expectations of the country’s “Red Devils” fans. It won’t be easy.

Advocaat took over the team last September after the disappointing results of Humberto Coelho of Portugal and Jo Bonfrere of the Netherlands.

Acknowledging the team’s poor showing before 2002, Advocaat said in early April that his players were nonetheless showing confidence in their warmups ahead of the World Cup. “I am sure that we are a very, very difficult team to beat, and I think the opponents know that as well,” Advocaat said.

The South Korean squad, ranked 30th by FIFA, will face France, Switzerland and Togo in group G in Germany.

Still, the team has players with more experience in international play after their 2002 success attracted attention of international clubs. South Koreans have played in the English, German and Turkish leagues, among others.

“There are many players in the national team who play overseas, especially in Europe. Also many players had played in the World Cup 2002, which gave them the experience of winning games,” said Kang Sin-woo, a top official at the Korea Football Association. — AP

Youngsters lead Switzerland’s return

Geneva, May 9
Switzerland is finally back in the World Cup finals after a 12-year absence. After a surprisingly gritty qualifying campaign, Switzerland was drawn into Group G with France, South Korea and Togo.

The draw and a good, young team could mean the Alpine nation, which will be playing at the World Cup for the eighth time, will advance to the second round. Reaching the quarterfinals, which it did at home 52 years ago, might be tougher.

“We’re no longer simply satisfied to be there. We want to reach the following stages,” Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn said. “This won’t be an easy group but our goal is to advance then see what happens.”

Though the days of Stephane Chapuisat, Ciriaco Sforza and company are over, an ambitious new crop of Swiss players have made for an exciting amalgam of youthful innovation and experience.

Switzerland launched a development programme in 1995, which is now paying off. The nation won its first-ever continental title in the under-17 European Championship in 2002 and some believe they could emerge as a dark horse in Germany.

Philipp Senderos, Tranquillo Barnetta and Johan Vonlanthen, all 21 or under, already play abroad and bring both new blood and an element of fearlessness to the Swiss team.

The team, which usually plays in a 4-3-1-2 formation, is generally slow in central defence. Their strengths are dogged teamwork as well as the youthful yet fearsome combination up front of Vonlanthen and Rennes striker Alexander Frei, who scored seven goals in qualifying.

The team went unbeaten in qualifying, and twice drew with France in Group 4. But repeated draws left Switzerland sweating it out until the very end when it finally beat out Israel for second place behind France. — AFP

Delhi soccer body to screen World Cup ties

New Delhi, May 9
The Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) will put up giant screens at the Ambedkar Stadium here to beam the World Cup matches in Germany for the Capital’s soccer fans in June-July this year.

The DSA has tied up with Korean electronic firms LG and Samsung to take the necessary technical assistance to erect the screens at the Ambedkar Stadium. According to DSA secretary N K Bhatia, seminars, exhibitions and soccer competitions will also be held in association with the German authorities in Delhi during the World Cup.

He said as per the direction of FIFA and the AFC, summer coaching camps for boys and girls in the age groups of under-10, under-13 and under-16 will be held, under the supervision of C and B licensed coaches of the AFC from May 7 to 30.

Those interested in attending the coaching camps can obtain admission forms from the DSA secretary at the Ambedkar Stadium. The DSA League will be held from May 15 at the Ambedkar Stadium in which 24 affiliated clubs will participate. — OSR

Restrain Budhia from running: P.T. Usha

Kozhikode, May 9
Expressing shock over four-and-half-year-old Budhia Singh’s marathon run, former sprint queen P.T. Usha today said it amounted to risking the boy’s life and wanted the Orissa Government to go ahead with restraining him from attempting such long-distance in future.

“It is simply incredible... how can you permit a four-and-half-year-old to run 65 km when it is difficult for him to run even one km at this age,” Usha told PTI.

Noting that it was up to the medical experts to ascertain how the child prodigy possessed so much resistance at a tender age, Usha, one of the best athletes the country has ever produced, said Budhia was bound to suffer from cardiological stress and other major ailments by running long distance.

“Let us find out his real health condition and preserve his talent. If Budhia can run long distances at this age, he has to be protected and groomed for the future,” she said.

Appealing to the Orissa Government to restrain the child from running such long distances at this age, Usha, who missed an Olympic bronze by a whisker when she was at her helm, said the boy’s parents should wait for the right time to showcase his talent.

On Budhia’s coach receiving flak from various quarters for allegedly making the boy run the marathon, she asked “will we run our children at this age only for the sake of fame?”

“Although I am training children aged 12 at my Usha School of Athletics here, they will hit the track only after three or four years, she said, adding exposing children to such strain at a very young age amounted to risking their lives.”

Usha said it was quite natural for Budhia’s parents to feel overwhelmed by seeing their child make it to the record books by running 65 km in 7.02 hours.

“But they should also know that the happiness will be short-lived despite such feats bringing in lot of name and fame”, she said.

Referring to the report of the four-member medical board that examined Budhia soon after he ran the marathon, the ace athlete said it was on expected lines that it could prove disastrous to the boy’s health.

Usha said Budhia should be trained under a qualified athletic coach at a recognised sports institution to hone his running skills “rather than exploiting him now”.

On the ongoing works at her training school coming up on the land allotted by the Kerala Government at Balussery near here, the Payyoli Express said while preparatory works for laying of track was complete, construction of the hostel would be taken up only after the rainy season.

Usha is presently training children at rented premises in Koilandy in the district.

Orissa Govt defers decision

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa Government today deferred its decision on restraining child marathon Budhia Singh from running long distance even as his coach threatened to initiate legal action against those involved in the boy’s medical examination, which advised against making him undertake such exercise.

‘”My department has discussed the medical reports of the boy. Since secretaries of law and home departments were not available to give their opinion, we are deferring our decision,” Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Pramila Mallick told reporters here.

The medical board will come out with a final report after the MRI scan and dope test on the boy were conducted. Budhia’s coach Biranchi Das has opposed it.

“If the child is okay why is the coach trying to avoid the tests? We will go ahead with the medical advice even if the coach moves court,” she said.

Earlier, Das, angry over the forcible medical examination of the boy told PTI: “I am going to move Orissa High Court against doctors, child welfare committee members, police and government officials tomorrow for the manner in which they conducted Budhia’s medical test.

He claimed Budhia was dragged out and taken in a police jeep to the government-run Capital Hospital here for the tests on May 5. “It was a criminal act. How did the doctors give their consent to take the child in this manner? At the time of test, Budhia was not a normal child due to the spate of events which unfolded around him.”

He said that “despite such apprehensions, doctors went ahead with the tests. I even doubt their credibility as they acted as per the government’s whims”.

A five-member team including development commissioner, A.K. Tripathy, WCD secretary, deputy director of health department, chairman of child welfare committee of Khurda district and the minister deliberated on various aspects of the report of the medical board.

The government will arrange necessary funds for harnessing Budhia’s latent skill even if there was no budgetary provision for the purpose, Mallick said.

Five year-old Budhia has earned a place in the Limca Book of Records on May 2 after running a mind-boggling 65 km from Puri to Bhubaneswar in 7.02 hours.

The run, however, triggered a controversy with doctors, coaches and a section of the media questioning the wisdom of making the child run such long distances. — PTI

Rathore finishes sixth

New Delhi, May 9
Olympic silver medallist and India’s best bet Rajyavaradhan Singh Rathore could not reproduce his Athens form and finished sixth in the men’s Double Trap event at the World Cup at Kerrville in the US.

Rathore shot a score of 179 (136+43) with a series of 47, 44 and 45 in the qualifications but could not improve on his ranking any further as he had the lowest final score of 43 among the top six finalists.

Among his compatriots, Vikram Bhatnagar finished 19th with a score of 131 (45, 45, 41) while Ronjan Sodhi finished 25th with 127 (40, 46, 41).

The gold in this event was won by Vasiliy Mosin of Russia with a total of 189 (145+44), the silver went to Hakan Dahlby (185+2) of Sweden while Richard Faulds (185+1) of Great Britain bagged the bronze. — UNI