New Delhi, March 24
Utterly disappointed with Indian cricket team’s miserable performance in the World Cup, BCCI President Sharad Pawar today promised to take “harsh” decisions in future team selections with emphasis being put on merit and not past records.

Pawar also said that coach Greg Chappell’s contract was till the end of the World Cup and it would now be reviewed.

“Our team has disappointed me and the nation. The Indian board is the only board which provided maximum facilities to the players, expectations from the team were quite high,” he told PTI after India’s loss to Sri Lanka.

“Losing or winning happens in the game but performance against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was not at all up to the mark, especially the batting and fielding,” he said.

The selection of the World Cup squad had come under flak with a few out of form players like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan being picked in the team. Barring the match the against minnows Bermuda, the famed batting line up failed to deliver the goods in the showpiece event.

Pawar was, however, not too critical of coach Greg Chappell, saying he shared only a part of the responsibility of the debacle. “Definitely there is a responsibility to train properly but at the same time one can show water too hot but cannot compel him to drink,” he said.

“We are going to meet after getting a report from the team manager and would give a serious thought to future course of action. Our future approach will be to concentrate for the 2011 World Cup,” he said.

“We also have plans to encourage younger players. They will be given more opportunities to play international matches,” Pawar said.

“We are also going to discuss with the selection committee. The board never interferes in the selection process but will definitely discuss with the selection committee to think about the pattern on the lines of Cricket Australia.

“The Australian board takes a rational approach in the selection process. They do not go by emotions and past performances but by current performance and there are a number of instances in Australian selection that harsh decision has been taken on non-performers,” he said.

Port of Spain, March 24
Under fire after India’s disastrous World Cup performance, which he described as a “collective failure”, coach Greg Chappell stonewalled questions about his future with Indian cricket, saying that he was answerable only to the BCCI.

“I am not employed by you people (media). I am employed by the BCCI,” Chappell said after the team’s 69-run loss to Sri Lanka here on Friday.

“Obviously I will have to face up to them and give them a report, and give them some indications of what I think. I don’t think this is the forum for me to discuss it,” he said.

Refusing to pinpoint any individual for the team’s World Cup debacle, Chappell said “a serious introspection” was needed to correct the team’s overseas record.

“I would take some of the responsibility but I don’t think blame could be apportioned on any single individual. It’s a collective responsibility,” said the coach.

“India haven’t won a major series abroad since 1995, so there has to be a reason for it,” the 58-year-old coach said.

Asked if the process he had constantly talked about since taking over as India’s coach had not worked or whether it was wasted on the wrong people, the former Australian captain retorted: “I think that is an inflammatory question.”

Asked persistently to explain why the team failed, Chappell said “We didn’t play well”.

Is that all he had to say?, a reporter persisted. “What do you want me to say? If you want me to criticise someone or a group of people, I am not prepared to do that,” said a fuming Chappell.

Chappell’s contract with the team ends after the World Cup. Asked if he was prepared to continue working with the team after the event, he said, “It is not my decision.” Will he accept if an offer to continue was made to him? “I have not been made such an offer. I will answer that when the offer is made.” — PTI

Port of Spain, March 24
Bangladesh is on the verge of its biggest cricket achievement. All that Bangladesh’s young line-up needs to do is hold its nerve and beat Bermuda’s amateur cricketers in the last Group B match tomorrow to reach the second round of the World Cup.

Only a dramatic reversal for Bangladesh can stop its advance to the Super Eight, its best performance since making the World Cup debut in 1999. India can qualify only if Bermuda somehow win the match.

“Defeating Bermuda is all that we’re thinking of right now, but we do realise that this will take us into the next round,” Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said.

Sri Lanka beat India on Friday to put Bangladesh into the drivers’ seat.

Watching Sri Lanka post a 69-run victory over India was Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who coached the Sri Lankan national side before taking up his current assignment.

Bangladesh’s five-wicket victory over India last weekend raised its hopes of making the Super Eight round. And India’s loss left the 1983 champions at 1-2 and relying on a Bangladesh loss to avoid elimination.

Bermuda, the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup, has had massive defeats in both its matches. Sri Lanka outplayed it by 243 runs and India then defeated it by the limited-overs record margin of 257 runs.

Bermuda’s squad features just one professional player, batsman David Hemp who captains Glamorgan in the English county competition.

In its first World Cup appearance in 1999, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan and Scotland — results that contributed to its elevation to Test status.

Teams (from): Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Tapash Baisya, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh and Javed Omar.

Bermuda: Irvine Romaine (captain), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker. — AP

Only a cricketing miracle can save India’s exit from the 2007 World Cup, and that is if Bermuda can somehow beat Bangladesh in the last match of the group. That will leave India tied on two points with Bangladesh, but India will be able to go through on the better run rate.

The Bangladeshi players were there at the ground to watch the India-Sri Lanka game and see how many they would have to get in case India won the game, but now they have to only win their game against Bermuda to qualify for the Super Eight.

India have brought it upon themselves by the manner in which its batting has let them down. In a crunch game, it is imperative that the batting, which is the strength of the side fires, but instead, it was the bowlers who did a manful job till the slog overs, when some controlled hitting by Vaas and Russell Arnold gave Sri Lanka just the impetus it needed by posting a score over 250.

When a team has a final flourish like the one the Lankans had courtesy of that partnership, spirits are lifted in the dressing room and the team steps out to defend its total with a spring in its step, and that was clearly evident in the manner in which the senior Lankans fielded.

Muralitharan took a terrific catch, as did Vaas off his own bowling to send back the two openers, and Jayasuriya was sprightly enough to give the youngsters in the team just the incentive to try that much harder.

Earlier, it was Tharanga’s application that steadied the Lankan innings when Agarkar, Zaheer and Munaf had sent back the major batsmen — Jayasuriya, Jayawardene and Sangakkarra. The Lankans have discovered a gem in Chamara Silva, who has an ice-cool temperament, and has the ability to raise his game when his team needs it.

He and Dilshan, another player with loads of determination, played sensibly, not taking too many chances, but keeping the score moving, and then in the last 10 overs, opened out. Still, India would have thought that they would be able to restrict the Lankans to about 240. The Vaas-Arnold partnership got them the extra runs, and a total that they defended quite easily in the end.

With the openers falling early and Tendulkar also going cheaply, India needed a repair job like the Lankans had done, with Dilshan and Silva. Sehwag, who was looking good, played a shot that was forgettable, and when Yuvraj ran for a non-existent run and got out, it was all over.

If Yuvraj couldn’t make it when he was about 16 yards from the crease, how was Dravid going to make it from 22 yards, and the Indian captain is not as quick as Yuvraj. Dhoni was foxed by a superb quicker one from Murali, and though Dravid tried his best, it wasn’t good enough.

If India do go out of the event, the BCCI will have to move very fast to look at the appointment or reappointment of the coach and the support staff, as there is hardly any time between tours for them, and maybe, just maybe, the BCCI will also look at domestic cricket and try and raise the standard there, even if it means cutting down on tours so that the international players are available to play and make the domestic competitions more meaningful. — PMG

New Delhi, March 24
Upset at India’s virtual exit from the World Cup, cricket fans today went berserk taking out ‘funeral’ processions of Indian cricket, making bonfires of portraits of leading cricketers and throwing stones at a restaurant owned by bowler Zaheer Khan.

Security men were deployed at the residences of skipper Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, spinner Harbhajan Singh and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to prevent any mob attacks.

Angry fans hurled stones at Zaheer Khan’s popular restaurant in Pune, breaking glass panes and prompting security to be tightened in the area.

Reports of processions and burning of effigies have come in from places like Kanpur, Patna, Indore, Jalandhar, Pune as incensed cricket fans took to the streets to express their frustrations over India’s pathetic World Cup campaign.

“Disband this team. We don’t want big names, we want players, who perform,” an angry cricket fan said, summing up the reaction of people at large after India lost to Sri Lanka by 69 runs in its Group B league match.

More than sadness, it was anger which reflected the mood among cricket lovers in the country, which had high expectation from the team, also seen as front-runners by some former players.

The only way that the beleaguered Indians can still survive in the showpiece event is if minnows Bermuda can pull off a miraculous win over Bangladesh in their last league match tomorrow.

Sridharan, a cricket buff for last 40 years, described the team’s performance in the match against Sri Lanka as “a real disaster”. — PTI

Kingston, March 24
As Jamaican police continued to hunt for clues about the murder of Pakistani cricket coach Bob Woolmer, the ICC today announced a probe into whether match-fixing was the motive behind his slaying.

No arrest has been made yet six days after the burly Englishman was found dead in his 12th floor hotel room here and the mystery over his death persisted.

With the Pakistani cricket team preparing to leave for home, its management was at pains to deny local media reports that two of the players had been asked to stay back in Jamaica till an inquest in the murder was over.

However, team physiotherapist Darryn Lifson and trainer Murray Stevenson, both South Africans, said they would stay back here because they had promised Woolmer’s family that they would remain here “until everything is sorted out”.

Pakistan team manager Pervez Mir maintained that the players, who have been finger-printed and subjected to DNA tests, were not suspects in the murder.

Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), announced that its anti-corruption unit would investigate if match-fixing had a role in the death. “If there is a link we want to know about it and we will deal with it”, he said.

Anti-corruption unit’s chief investigator Jeff Rees has been summoned to join the probe and the ICC has also contacted the head of the unit to be on stand-by to fly to Jamaica from London where he was head of the police force earlier.

A number of theories as to who carried out the murder were swirling, the most common being that Woolmer may have been killed by those involved in betting and match-fixing whom he may have threatened to expose.

“There is a strong feeling around that Bob was going to expose something”, former South African batting great Barry Richards said.

“People are asking that question and I must admit it is one I am asking myself. Why else would this happen? It may have been a fight gone wrong.

“(Pakistan fast bowler) Sarfraz Nawaz suggested it could be match-fixing related, and I know he is a loose cannon, but there may be something to it.

“There is a dark side to cricket. The game got on top of it for a while but it has never really been stamped out. There is no doubt it is still there,” he added.

Investigators are working on the line that the killer or killers knew Woolmer because they had gained access to his room without forcing open the door. Only a card key operates the elevators in the hotel and access to its floors is restricted.

John Issa, chairman of the Board of Directors of Pegasus Hotel where the murder took place, said that there are no records of anyone else entering Woolmer’s room with a card key. “The record show that no one entered bacause the keys are electronic and we would have seen this”, he said.

Basseterre, March 24
Matthew Hayden struck the fastest century in World Cup history as Australia amassed 377 for 6 in 50 overs against South Africa in the final Group A tie here today.

Hayden smashed a 68-ball 101 as the reigning champions piled up a huge total after being put into bat at the Warner Park.

The Queensland left-hander hammered 14 fours and four sixes and brought up his three-figure mark in only 66 balls, one less than the previous record set by Canada’s John Davison in the last edition in South Africa in 2003.

Adam Gilchrist hit an equally aggressive 42 from as many balls and provided the launchpad for the middle order with an intimidating opening partnership of 106 runs with Hayden.

The duo tore into the South African bowling and were particularly severe on the most experienced Shaun Pollock, who was taken to the cleaners in his first three overs which averaged nearly 10 an over. Pollock finished with terrible figures of 0-83 in 10 overs.

Skipper Ricky Ponting (91) and Michael Clarke (92) sustained the momentum after the fall of the two openers.

Scoreboard

Australia

Amritsar, March 24
Guru Nanak Dev University honoured its more than 300 outstanding players who brought laurels to the university in various sports disciplines at the international, national and all-India inter-varsity levels at its 37th annual sports prize distribution held here today.

Dr D.G. Dongaonkar, secretary-general of the Association of India Universities (AIU), New Delhi, gave away the prizes and trophies to the winners.

Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, lifted the overall championship trophy in ‘A’ Division with 131 points. DAV College, Jalandhar, finished runners-up with 95 points and DAV College, Amritsar, remained third with 53 points.

The women’s overall championship trophy was won by HMV, Jalandhar, with 155 points. BBKDAV College for Women, Amritsar, stood runners-up with 118 points and KMV, Jalandhar, was third with 31 points.

The ‘B’ division men’s trophy went to SSM College, Dina Nagar, securing 16 points while Saint Soldier College, Jalandhar, remained runners-up with 15 and ASSM College, Mukandpur and GNPKS College, Nadala, finished bracketed third with 11 points.

The women’s ‘B’ division overall championship trophy annexed by the Shaheed Darshan Singh Pheruman College for Women, Rayya, with 20 points and SHKMV College, Kala Sanghian, were runners-up with 11 points. Similarly, RR MK College, Pathankot, stood third with six points.

The university won eight all-India inter-university men championships in netball (men and women), baseball (men and women), powerlifting (women), weightlifting (men), softball (men) and athletics (men) during the current sports session.

Chandigarh, March 24
Is it money or politics or both that are wreaking havoc with Indian sports.

If developments in the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) are any indication, both money matters and politics are rocking its boat. In fact, Chandigarh is the second affiliated unit of the Indian Olympic Association after the Haryana Olympic Association that is now caught in turmoil with some of the important units demanding “head of the existing team of office-bearers.”

Reason: non-accountability of accounts.

Another possible factor for major units raising their head in revolt against the existing COA leadership is changing political and power equations in Punjab.

Recently when the Haryana Olympic Association almost split vertically after change of political equations in the state, Chandigarh looks like going the same way.

Though in Haryana, the ruling party backed group headed by MP Naveen Jindal failed to get recognition of the Indian Olympic Association, the existing group headed by Abhay Singh Chautala, also MP, ended two points above Punjab in the final standing in Guwahati National Games with 30 gold medals. Punjab finished seventh with 25 gold medals and Chandigarh was 16th.

Failure of the present set of office-bearers of the COA to get the accounts audited in time has put them at the receiving end. A letter written by Chander Shekhar, president of the Chandigarh Hockey Association, to Ravinder Talwar, secretary of the COA, indicates that all is not well with the parent or controlling sports body of the Union Territory.

Though Chander Shekhar has endorsed a copy of his letter to COA president Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, developments indicate change in the mood of affiliate units, who want change of guards.

Chander Shekhar has expressed his concern over the failure of both the COA secretary as well as its chartered accountant in providing to members detailed account of Rs 25.43 lakh the association had spent last year, mainly on conduct of the Chandigarh Games in preparation for this February’s National Games in Guwahati.

Chander Shekhar, who is also senior vice-president of the COA, has lamented that no details of the money received as grants or sponsorship have been provided. Besides, “there is no detail about the procedures adopted for obtaining tenders or quotations” on the spending done.

In spite of all efforts Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi could not be reached at any of his locations in Panchkula, Guru Har Sahai or New Delhi.

Recently, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi organised a dinner for office-bearers of various affiliate units which was attended among others by Chander Shekhar also. In continuation of dinner diplomacy, another such show is being planned tomorrow where those supporting change may concretise their plans.

Though Rana loyalists claim that a meeting of the general house of the COA has been convened for March 27, no confirmation could be made.

Will it be Chander Shekhar or a young Punjab politician from the ruling SAD-BJP alliance as the next COA chief remains to be seen? Opponents of Rana are alleging that some bogus units have been enrolled to subvert the election process.

Most of the major units are sore with the present COA set up for its failure in planning or organising participation of Chandigarh teams in last month’s National Games in Guwahati. Chandigarh ended with five gold medals, which came in wrestling, boxing, water sports and archery.

Various associations maintain that they had to make their own arrangements, by spending their own money, in sending their teams to Guwahati with COA contributing nothing more than a bag to each member of the contingent.

Chandigarh, March 24
Balwinder Mattu, a constable with PAP, Jalandhar, clinched the Trident Cup, symbol of Punjab golf supremacy, returning a two-day gross score of 150 on the greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

His nearest rival, Harjinder Singh Kang of Chandigarh, finished two strokes behind as both carded an identical score of five-over 77 today. But because of a better back nine, Harjinder was entitled to the best card of the day honour.

Amritsar girl Akrati, who plays with a handicap of 8, clinched the ladies title returning a five-over gross card of 77. Her nearest rival was Pauline J.M. Singh who played a bad game today to finish nine strokes behind the leader.

Balwinder Mattu lost a stroke each on the seventh and eighth holes for a first nine tally of 38.He improved his tally sinking a birdie on the 10th hole. But thereafter a string of bogeys on the 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes saw him finish the day of 77 for a two-day tally of 150.

Harjinder Kang bogeyed four times on the front nine besides sinking a birdie. An improved three bogeys and a birdie on the back nine saw him finish the day on 77 for a two-day score of 152.

H.S. Bains, Balbir Singh and Rajinder had identical 14-over two-round scores of 158. They thus bracketed for the third spot after one of the golfers was disqualified for submitting a wrong score card.

Col M.S. Sodhi played a five-over gross card of 77 to clinch the 70-80 age-group title. Gen B.S. Takkar returned the best nett score of 62 in the same category.

The final scores: open — Balwinder Mattu 73+77=150, H.S. Kang 75+77=152, H.S. Bains 78+80=158, Balbir Singh 76+82=158, Rajinder 80+78=158, Anish Gupta 80+79=159, S.M. Puri 77+84=161, Rishi Singh Arora 84+77=161.

Category B (60 to 70 years): gross — Col M.S. Sodhi 77, Col J.S. Panag 83, Brig P.S. Mann 85. Nett — Gen B.S. Takkar 62, Col M.S. Sodhi 65, Nirmal Singh 68.

Ladies: gross — Akrati 77, Pauline J.M. Singh 86, Mani Chander 87. Nett — Akrati 69, Deepu Dhanoa 70, Kiran B.M. Singh 72.

Miami, March 24
Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh rediscovered some of his lost putting touch as he carded a vastly improved two-under 70 to rise to the tied 25th spot after the second round of the WGC-CA Championship at the Blue Monster at Doral.

Jeev sank in three birdies against a lone bogey on the fifth hole to take his two-round total to level-par 140.

Battling strong wind and the tough new greens, Jeev played out a flawless back nine, studded with two birdies on the 11th and 15th, to round off a satisfactory day.

Zafra (Spain), March 24
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran lost to Dutch Ivan Sokolov to finish a disappointing joint sixth in the Ruy Lopez International Chess tournament here.