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Kevin Pietersen arrives for training at Zayed cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before flying to India for the Test
series. — Reuters |
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Bowden replaces Rauf in Chennai Test
Rookie fast bowler Amjad Khan, who will replace the injured Ryan Sidebottom. — AP/PTI
CA backing BCCI, not players: Gillespie
Cricket needs India safe: Ponting
Pietersen a true leader, says Gower
Jeev overcomes grief
to win title
Football legend Diego Maradona, with his girlfriend Veronica, waves back to his fans after visiting Mother’s House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by
Mother Teresa, in Kolkata on Sunday. — PTI
Saina needs travelling physio: Gopi
After T20, it's T10 cricket
Federation Cup
Participants at the G.V. Mavlankar shooting championship at PAP shooting range in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
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England sweat it out in nets
Abu Dhabi, December 7 Though the team think-tank had initially planned a practice match today, there was some change in the plan and instead, players were seen sweating it out in the nets. While all the players looked keen to make the most of the little preparation they have before the two-Test series in India, Kent pacer Amjad Khan, named as replacement for the injured Ryan Sidebottom, looked eager to make a mark. Surprised with the call-up, the Denmark-born Kent fast bowler with Pakistani roots said donning the English colour was something beyond his dream. "It's a dream come true, although I never actually thought of playing for England growing up," said the 28-year-old pacer. He pipped Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett to find a place in the Test squad and he had no hesitation in admitting that he was lucky to be promoted from the performance squad to the national team. "I must have done something right in the last couple of days," he said. "Saj and I got picked for the one-dayers and I thought if they were going to pick me then there was no reason they should not pick me for the Tests. I thought I had a chance but I knew it would come down to form on the day - that sort of stuff," he added. "I first believed I could play for England probably in 2002 when I took 60 wickets in a season and I was only 21. People talked about what it took to play international cricket and I felt that I had most of the attributes," he said. Though reports claim Andrew Flintoff is still reluctant to tour India, the talismanic all-rounder, who turned 31 yesterday, was quite enthusiastic in the nets and there was no sign of an ankle injury as he bowled for a while without any discomfort. Earlier, heavy drizzle cost England their morning practice session yesterday even though they could manage a three-hour sweating in the afternoon.
— PTI |
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Bowden replaces Rauf in Chennai Test
Dubai: Billy Bowden will replace Asad Rauf in the first India-England Test match in Chennai even though the Pakistani umpire is expected to officiate in the second Test at Mohali. According to an ICC statement, Rauf had a city-specific visa for the first Test but with the match shifted from Ahmedabad to Chennai following the Mumbai terror attacks, the Pakistani cricketer could not manage a new visa in time.
"Pakistani nationals require city-specific visas when travelling to India. This week Asad Rauf, the Emirates Elite Panel umpire who was to officiate in both Tests, received his passport back with a visa appropriate for the original venues. "With the change in venues he required a new visa but due to the weekend, followed by the Eid al-Adha holidays, there was insufficient time for one to be issued, so he has had to step down from the first Test," the ICC said in a statement. "He will be replaced by Billy Bowden, also of the Emirates Elite Panel, who will officiate in the first Test in Chennai, beginning on December 11," the statement read. "It is anticipated Asad will be able to stand in the second match of the series in Mohali, starting on December 19," it added. Daryl Harper is the other ICC umpire for the series, which will have Jeff Crowe as the Match Referee.
— PTI |
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Decision on Test series today
Chennai: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will take a final call on the two-Test tour of India Monday.
''Hugh (Morris) has told us that he would talk to the players and the team management presently in Abu Dhabi and give the official communication before Monday morning,'' Tamil Nadu Cricket Association sources said this evening. ECB managing director Hugh Morris and England Players' Association chief Sean Morris left for Abu Dhabi earlier on Sunday to hold discussions with the England team and decide whether to visit India or not. ECB-appointed security advisor Reg Dickason has already approved the security
arrangements for the first Test which will begin here on Thursday. He is expected to inspect Mohali - the venue of the second encounter. However, English players are uncomfortable with the idea of playing in Mohali since it is close to the Indo-Pak border.
— UNI |
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CA backing BCCI, not players: Gillespie
Melbourne, December 7 Gillespie, who was banned from first-class cricket after signing a three-year deal with the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League, termed CA's stand to always abide by the Board of Control for Cricket in India as a big "joke". "Unfortunately they'll side with (India's) board rather than support players like 'Kasper' (Michael Kasprowicz) and myself, who've played for our country for many years. "They're far too worried about the ramifications of not being nice to the BCCI, that's all they're worried about and it's a joke," Gillespie was quoted as saying in 'Daily Telegraph.' "They've basically said 'no, we don't want you'. Cricket Australia are only concerned about their relationship with the BCCI," he
added. — PTI |
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Cricket needs India safe: Ponting
Melbourne, December 7 Ponting said cricket cannot afford an India which is not safe and sought strong leadership to end the crisis that hovers over world cricket. "It is time for some strong leadership in the game and everybody needs India to be safe. The heads of the Test-playing nations are meeting in South Africa next week and the players representatives are getting together in Malaysia," Ponting wrote in his column for 'The Australian'. "I know that India and security is the biggest issue they are going to have to deal with. The game cannot afford not to have India involved, from a sporting, cultural and a financial aspect," he said. "It's certainly the centre of the cricketing world at the moment, so the attacks are upsetting for the players and for the game as well. On a purely selfish level you can't help but think too about the fact that these attacks were aimed at foreigners, which takes the whole thing to another level. "I feel a responsibility as the captain of the Australian team to show strong leadership and find a way through this. Let us hope for cricket and for India's sake that things can get back to normal as soon as possible," he said. Mourning the Mumbai mayhem, the Australian skipper said, "I can't stop thinking about and that is the tragic events in India recently. I have probably stayed at the Taj Mahal hotel 15 times over the years and I reckon I know just about every inch of the place. "It is incredibly sad that something like that has happened in India. It is a country I have really enjoyed touring over the years, even though personally I have never had the best results over there, I think all the players have always enjoyed the place," he said.
— PTI |
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Pietersen a true leader, says Gower
London, December 7 Gower said Pietersen was smart enough to convince even the reluctant duo of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison as their absence would effect the team's challenge. ''I have no idea what was said in those phone calls or how Pietersen made his pitch but I can imagine that the way to sell the training camp in Abu Dhabi was relatively simple. ''It would have been easy enough to tout the Three Musketeers' all for one and one for all line, with the attached assurance that going to the Middle East did not necessarily mean everybody had signed up for the next, potentially more dangerous step,'' Gower wrote in his column for 'The Times'.
— UNI |
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Jeev overcomes grief
to win title
Tokyo, December 7 The 36-year-old Indian golfer overcame a personal tragedy to win his second title of the season in Japan and the fourth overall. Jeev with five birdies and one bogey shot a final round of four-under 66 to total 12-under 268 and won by two shots over defending champion Brendan Jones (64), who was tied second with David Smail (66) and Taichi Teshima (68) at 10-under 270. Stunned by the tragedy of losing what was his first child when his wife Kudrat delivered a still-born earlier this week in a Tokyo hospital, Jeev went into the tournament without having hit a single ball and that too after much persuasion from his ailing wife, who is still in the hospital. "I dedicate this win to my wife, Kudrat, for being so strong and to convince me to go and play on the Thursday morning. A lot happened in my family over the last few days and we have gone through a lot," said an emotional Jeev. Earlier this season Jeev has already won once in Bank Austria Open on European Tour, the Singapore Open in Sentosa on Asian Tour and the Sega Sammy Invitational in Japan. After the first round, Jeev had said he was not in the mindset to play but was convinced by his wife, Kudrat, to go to the course straight from the hospital but only after the arrival of his sister and some other family members to look after. Jeev, who started the final day in tied third place, opened with a birdie on the second to catch up with overnight co-leader Toshinori Muto (71), even as the other third round co-leader Thai Prayad Marksaeng (74) fell behind with bogeys on first and third. Once in the lead Jeev played steadily with further birdies on sixth and seventh holes to turn in three-under and firmly in lead three shots clear of his nearest rival. Defending champion Jones had three birdies on front nine, as he jumped from overnight four-under to seven-under but Jeev was still way ahead. On the back nine, Jeev stayed consistent and wavered only once with a bogey on 14th, which came after a birdie on 13th. He quickly made up for that bogey with a birdie on 15th and then closed with five straight pars for a 66 and a winning 12-under 268. Jones,
Smail and Teshima all came to the 18th at 10-under, needing a birdie to
go sole second, but all managed only a par on the tough closing hole,
which had cost Jeev the title last year. The par-three final hole
yielded no birdies through the day.
— IANS |
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Maradona prays at Mother’s House
Kolkata, December 7 For once, putting aside his boisterous ways, a calm and restrained Maradona went round the Missionaries of Charity, global headquarters of the Mother's Mercy Mission, on the second day of his visit to the City of Joy. With his girl friend Veronica at his side, Maradona, who is now the coach of the Argentine football team, arrived at 11.07 am at the Mother's House, located in downtown Kolkata, wearing a blue denim and a black T-shirt. As he entered the Mother's House, Maradona kissed an eight-year-old girl, Megha, who is suffering from cerebral palsy, while she on her part gifted the legend with the Indian cricket team's blue cap. He also kissed 40 other kids who have been waiting for him with flowers in their hands. The football legend, who is to some the best ever the world has seen, had said prior to his arrival that a visit to the Missionaries of Charity was the reason why he came here. He was all attention as a French-speaking nun explained to him the work and teachings of the Mother. Maradona stood near the flower-bedecked tomb of Mother Teresa and lit a candle amidst prayers by nuns. He also wrote a few words in the visitors' book. Maradona was gifted a book 'Mother as I saw her' by Sunil Thakur, the author of the book and an ex-sheriff of Kolkata. Maradona, Thakur said, flipped through the pages and said he would go through the book with help from his interpreter. Before leaving the Missionaries of Charity, Maradona bid farewell to the little children with a 'bye bye'. He kissed some children and allowed others to hold his famous 'hand of God'. The Missionaries of Charity was founded by Mother Teresa in Kolkata in 1950 to help people in need, including the sick, mostly lepers, poor and those discarded by the society. Maradona was seen off the Missionaries of Charity by senior sisters, including Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the order in the organisation. When Maradona came out of the Mother's House, the frenzied fans, who had lined up on both sides of the road, broke through the police barricade opposite to the Mother's House on the arterial AJC Bose Road. The fans jostled in search of a vantage point to have a better view of the superstar who, like yesterday, thumped his chest and blew kisses in the air before getting into his Mercedes. — PTI
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Saina needs travelling physio: Gopi
New Delhi, December 7 Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist, Saina, sneaked into the elite zone of top 10 players on Thursday and immediately set herself a new target of breaking into the top five next year. "Saina has 8-10 years of international badminton ahead. She has the potential to be on the top provided she remains injury-free and for that she urgently needs a travelling physiotherapist who can chart out a specific fitness plan for her," Gopichand, the former All-England Champion, told PTI from Cochin. "Fitness has been her strong point till date but women badminton is very tiresome. There are long matches and you need the stamina to do well consistently," he added. Elated to see Saina grow as a player from strength to strength, Gopichand said the 18-year-old has always been a quick learner. "Saina has done tremendously well. She is a quick learner and you have to be really good to be in top 10. I had the confidence in her since the beginning." Reckoning that winning tournaments will be more important than focusing on ranking, Gopichand said Saina would look for a consistent podium finish in the upcoming tournaments. "Rankings are indicative of how you play in that period. It is good to have high rankings but podium finish is more important. We will try to win or reach in semis or finals in the coming tournaments," he said. He said that apart from Asian and world championship, Saina will play 12 Super Series events next year and he is quite optimistic about the champion shuttler's chances. Asked about how he is preparing Saina for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Gopichand said it is still two years away and the duo will churn out tournament-wise strategy. "Of course, we want to do well in Commonwealth Games but there are so many tournaments to be played in between. Our immediate plan is to do well in Korean and Malaysian Super Series to be held in January." he said. With her popularity graph soaring each day, Saina is now giving tough competition to tennis sensation Sania Mirza but Gopichand said it would be unfair to compare the two stars. "Both have many similarities. They hail from the same city (Hyderabad) and have taken Indian sports high in international circuit. Instead of comparing them, we should enjoy their success."
— PTI |
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After T20, it's T10 cricket
New Delhi, December 7 Targetted at 15 to 24 year olds, who have not yet made the first-class cut, the tournament is all set to roll January 16 with a few batsmen-friendly innovations and absolutely nothing for the bowlers. The preliminary stage will see four sponsored teams in each city competing against each other to qualify for the final play-off. The play-off will feature two groups of four teams each with the top-two qualifying for the semi-finals. The winner of group A would meet the runners-up of group B in the first semis while the winner of group B would meet the runners-up of group A in the other semis to be followed by the grand finale. "I loved playing gully cricket. Everybody starts with it. This is the format that takes everyone forward," Ishant said at the launch. Rajput said the tournament could act as a stepping stone for those aspiring for a place in the Twenty20 side.
— PTI |
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Mavlankar shooting meet begins
Jalandhar, December 7 Inaugurating the tournament, chief guest, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said, “The Punjab government has already set up state of the art shooting range at Badal. And keeping in mind the increasing spirit and craze of the game we have planned to set up a similar shooting range at village Begowal as well.” She added that by winning a gold medal at Beijing Olympics in an individual event Abhinav Bindra has already set a precedent for the budding shooters. As many as 1600 shooters from all over the country have come to participate in the event. Earlier the championship was scheduled to be held in Guwahati from November 3 to 12 but was shifted to Jalandhar, Punjab. The tournament is being held under the aegis of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and Punjab Rifle Shooting Association
(PRSA). |
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BSF, Guru Nanak College win
Nawanshahr, December 7 |
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Wearing the winner's red jacket at the end of the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup and
trying to smile for the cameras Sunday was indeed hard, after all that Jeev
Milkha Singh went through this week. The 36-year-old Indian golfer overcame a personal tragedy to win his second title of the season in Japan and the fourth overall.
Jeev with five birdies and one bogey shot a final round of four-under 66 to total 12-under 268 and won by two shots over defending champion Brendan Jones (64), who was tied second with David Smail (66) and Taichi Teshima (68) at 10-under 270.
