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HI threatens to shut down camp
Resume training: Gill
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Nothing much to choose
Blue open account
Chawla: I’ll come back stronger
Manns, Punjab govt offer help
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HI threatens to shut down camp
New Delhi, January 12 The HI suggestion that it would make a payment of Rs 25,000 to each player was rejected by the players though HI insisted that this was what the apex body could presently afford as it has to make Rs 25,000 each to the women’s players and Rs 15,000 each to the junior players as well. The HI team could not make the players’ relent from their stand of boycotting the national camp in preparation of the upcoming World Cup, till Hockey India met their demands. But Hockey India has also hardened its stand, telling the players to mend their ways and report for the camp by Thursday morning, or else face severe action. Mattoo said it was sad that “money was more important to the players than playing for the country. It’s a gross violation of the understanding the players had with Hockey India when we discussed the matter in Delhi last Saturday. We have given them time till tomorrow to think it over and join the camp by Thursday. If they don’t come for the camp within 48 hours, we will be forced to shut down the camp. Then we will take action as deem fit”, said HI adviser Anupam Gulati. He asserted that HI will have “another team for the World Cup” if the seniors continued to abstain from the coaching camp. He said notwithstanding the players’ stand-off, India would definitely field a team for the World Cup, and there was no doubt about that. “India will participate in the World Cup”, said Anupam Gulati emphatically. International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice-president Antonio von Ondarza also backed Hockey India’s stand that the players should report for the camp first as “nowhere in the world a hockey player plays for money”. He was “shocked” at the strike by the players as he felt that they should be putting their best foot forward in the training camp, instead of indulging in arm-twisting tactics, with the World Cup Hockey Championship just six weeks away. Ondarza, who is the FIH observer for the Hockey India election, joined the HI team to Pune as he was very keen to settle the impasse. But he was taken aback and shocked when the players insisted on getting their dues cleared before concluding their talks with the HI officials. The players were sticking to their stated position that they will rejoin the camp only if all their pending dues were cleared while Hockey India also maintained its stand that the present body was an ad hoc one, and it had no money to clear the players’ dues in the absence of a sponsor, as of now. But HI has promised that it would look into the players’ demand once the Hockey India elections were done with, and a new, properly elected body was put in place. “The players’ priority now should be to prepare for the World Cup camp as the country’s image was more important than getting their dues cleared, though HI never said that their demands would not be looked into”, explained Anupam Gulati. |
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Resume training: Gill
New Delhi, January 12 Dr Gill said the Sports Authority of India had been in close touch with the situation. But he was, however, of the opinion that “an immediate long term solution is not possible”. Gill said since the IHF was removed last year, the new Hockey India body was in the process of being formed as the “current committee is of an ad-hoc nature”. “The election process for Hockey India, under the guidance of the Ministry’s observer and the FIH is in process, and will be completed on 7th February, 2010 when a regular management with a regular tenure, will assume responsibility.” He said the renovated National Stadium, which he inspected today, was ready and will be the “best hockey stadium in the world. The players must train, and I expect good results”. Dr Gill promised that after the World Cup, the Sports Ministry “will be in dialogue with the new elected management of Hockey India, to find a satisfactory solution to all issues raised by the players.” “Everyone knows in the country that it is my objective to lift Indian Hockey to the glorious level it has had in the past”, he added. |
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Nothing much to choose
India and Sri Lanka will continue their battle for one-day supremacy when they clash in the finals of the Tri- nations Trophy in Dhaka. Having already played against each other twice in this event as well as faced off for nearly two months before that there are no secrets between the two teams. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses inside out and so will be prepared for any eventuality.
What the one-day series in India showed was that there is very little to choose between the two teams and the team that keeps it’s head on the day will end up holding the trophy. Yes, the fielding will be crucial and over here the Lankans have certainly showed a lot more commitment than the Indians have. In Kohli, Jadeja, Raina and Yuvraj India have some of the finest fielders in the world and Dhoni’s keeping is top class. Gambhir, Harbhajan and Sehwag have safe and good throwing arms but it’s in the extra effort or rather the lack of it at the boundary in the final overs of the innings that India give away some runs which can be decisive in a close game.
If India can plug this, then it will be a truly formidable team since its batting and bowling is top class. Amit Mishra has certainly made a case for inclusion the team after his crafty bowling in the two games he has played and Dhoni and his tour selectors will have to think hard about having him in the eleven for the finals. A leg-spinner can be a match turner in limited overs matches and it is a gamble worth taking for Dhoni. The only worry for him is the form of Yuvraj Singh who has strangely played down the wrong line in the two dismissals that he has had in the tournament. He is a world class act and players like him take very little time to get back to form. His bowling though has been useful again and it’s an extra option for Dhoni and gives the team more flexibility. What has been most pleasing is the form of Virat Kohli, who has grabbed his opportunities and made the most of them with batting of the highest calibre. Gambhir though not at his most fluent is working hard to regain his touch and his application is tremendous. India have few issues about its batting and with Zaheer back in the team for the finals the bowling also will be in good hands. Of course with somebody like Dilshan, Sangakkara, Samaraweera, Jayawardene in the opposition ranks no bowling attack can feel safe. If these guys get going and if Tharanga gives himself some time out in the middle the Lankans, can get and chase a huge score. There is Perera too who can tear an attack in the final overs so it does promise to be a great finals. Sri lanka have a better recent record in a multi-nation tournament than India and the finals will finally decide after two months of skirmishes which is the better one-day team. —
PMG |
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Kings XI Cup Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 12 Blue captain Reetinder Sodhi hardly put any foot wrong today and asked Silver to bat first in the overcast conditions. Bowlers vindicated Sodhi’s decision with opposition reeling at 20 for 3 in the fourth over. But middle order batsman Mani Kantan had other ideas in mind. He clobbered the ball to all corners in his scintillating 35 ball 64 to take Silver to 144. Piyush Chawla took 3 wickets. In reply, Blue openers Kohli and Goel batted with aggression and took the score past the hundred run mark. Blues avenged the target in the last over with 8 wickets in hand, giving them the first win of the tournament. Kantan was adjudged Man-of-the-Match. In the other match, Red outplayed Yellow in the comparatively sedate affair played out at sector 8. After being put in, Yellow managed 111 in their quota of overs. Bipul scored unbeaten 37. Red team scampered home after losing just two wickets and another full five overs to spare. Sumit Dhiman for his 56 was adjuged Man-of-the-Match for the second day running. Brief Scores: Silver 144 all out in 19.2 overs; Blue 145 for 2 in 19.2 overs Yellow 111 for 6 in 20 overs; Red 112 for 2 in 14.5 overs.
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Chawla: I’ll come back stronger
Chandigarh, January 12 Q: How do rate your Ranji performance this time? A: It’s been a productive season. I claimed 32 wickets and scored more than three hundred runs. Contributing for the team’s cause is always a priority and I feel good to have done that, though we were unfortunate in the semifinal against Karnataka, I am satisfied because we fought as a cohesive unit. Q: Your debut season in 2005 was the first time UP won the title, where do you think you lost out this time? A: It is always tough to reach the last four stage and we as a team did well to make it. There have been many positives, especially in the bowling department. There is no particular area we lacked in, Karnataka just proved to be a better side. Q: What are your goals for this season? A: For any player wearing the national jersey is what he works hard for. I have been in good knick till now and want to carry my form further to stage a comeback into the Indian side. And for that I have put my work ethics in place this time. Q: Is it difficult to sit out? A: I believe in identifying my role for the team and then performing it to the best of my abilities. Rest is not in my hands. I know this is just a phase we all go through once and with hard work I will come out stronger. Q: Ojha and Amit Mishra, to be particular, have been doing well in the limited opportunities with the Indian side. How do you see their performance? A: It motivates me to further work harder to regain my place. I do not see anybody as my competitor, I believe in competing with myself and improve every day. Q: Genuine all-rounders are always in demand. Are you focusing on your batting too? A: I have always given equal importance to batting as well. It has been a good year with the bat, first my county stint with Sussex and then the Ranji season. I look to keep the form going. Q : Tell us something about the county stint? A: I joined Surrey mid-way last year and took 36 wickets at 27.25. I scored a hundred but taking six wickets on debut with figures of 11 for 170 was special. I hope to continue my form with Surrey in 2010. I will be joining Surrey after IPL concludes. Q: IPL 3 is coming up. What about Kings XI Punjab’s chances this time around? A: We played good competitive cricket last year, though I believe we were a bit unlucky then. We have a balanced side and will aim to win the trophy this time. Q: After South Africa last year, IPL is back in India. Anything different for spinners? A: The tournament is a great platform to perform and get noticed and like any other player, I love to play in India in front of the home crowd. The expectations will also rise. Spinners will get more help but the shortest version of the game does not leave much scope for the undue advantages. Q: India will be defending the U19 crown next month. Any message for the team? A: I represented India as a fifteen-year-old in the Under 19 World Cup. I know it is a proud moment. New Zealand is a good place to play cricket. I wish them luck in their endeavor. They have the potential and am sure India will keep the trophy safe. |
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Manns, Punjab govt offer help
Chandigarh, January 12 “It is no time for controversies. We are ready to hold shows throughout the length and breadth of the country to generate enough money to support, finance and sustain our national hockey stars,” they said revealing that they would not charge even a penny for these shows. “I have been a great follower of the game for a long time,” reveals Bhagwant Mann. Sukhbir Singh Badal has offered to take not only all the financial liabilities that the players may have been claiming from Hockey India to be their due but also offered to bear all expenses for the remaining period of the training of the national team. “If Punjab could do it in 1975, why not now. Hockey is the sport that enjoys tremendous support and popularity of Punjabis. We will not let this game down,” he told newsmen in Bathinda today. “Country’s prestige and honour are at stake and players, too, have a genuine grievance. Instead of threats and ultimatums, efforts should be made to find a solution than complicate the issue. World Cup is already on our hands and this is time to waste time on avoidable controversies,” he said hoping that better sense would prevail and the Hockey Punjab would be entrusted the responsibility to play troubleshooter and build the team in remaining six weeks. In 1975 when Punjab took over the training of the national team, situation was somewhat similar to what is happening now. At that time, the Indian Hockey Federation, the then controlling body of the sport, was ridden with groupism and there were claims and counter claims over the rightful body. And trained by an independent agency, the team lived up to the expectations and returned home with a gold medal. Now Punjab Government wants a repeat of the 1975. Will Hockey India agree to the proposal remains to be seen? |
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The stand-off between HI and the striking players has come to a flash point with the former threatening to shut down the coaching camp in Pune if the players did not rejoin it.
India and Sri Lanka will continue their battle for one-day supremacy when they clash in the finals of the Tri- nations Trophy in Dhaka. Having already played against each other twice in this event as well as faced off for nearly two months before that there are no secrets between the two teams. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses inside out and so will be prepared for any eventuality.
Chandigarh, January 12
