New Delhi, February 11
The Indian hockey team’s captaincy issue became a shut and closed issue when chief national coach Harendra Singh spoke up for Rajpal Singh, asserting that it was the job of the concerned people to select the captain, and not for the team or former players to decide.

He said picking the team and selecting the captain was the prerogative of the selectors, the Government nominees and Hockey India, as they had a “definite role to play”. And once the concerned authorities did their job, it was the duty of the team and the team management to fall in line and carry on with the preparation of the team for the Hero Honda World Cup, to be held at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here from February 28 to March 13.

Harendra Singh and Hockey India adviser Anupam Gulati had an interactive session with the media here today, and the chief national coach was obviously questioned on the captaincy issue. But Harender said the captaincy issue was done with as Rajpal was made captain by the selectors and every player in the team had to accept him as the leader. Harendra said seniority was not an absolute criterion to become the Indian captain, as captaincy demanded many other qualities in a player.

“Sachin Tendulkar is a great player and a former captain. But he now plays under a junior captain”, Harendra noted. He also took a dig at some of the former players who were rooting for Prabhjot Singh as the captain. “Dhanraj Pillay played in four Olympics, but he played under different captains. Never once he led the country in the Olympics”, Harender said.

With the media still being kept out of the National Stadium and the Indian team continuing to practise “under camera”, Anupam Gulati said the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had kept the media out due to “security reasons” though Hockey India was trying to persuade the SAI to allow the media to have interaction with the team at a certain interval.

“It’s a security call, but we have requested the SAI to let in the media”, informed Gulati. Harendra said the team were employing certain strategies, which might as well be kept under wraps, instead of exposing them before the media.

Meanwhile, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced eight teams for the World Cup through its publicity agents here today, though the Indian team were missing from the list. The teams announced included Pakistan, Korea, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, England, Netherlands and Germany.

The 18-member Pakistan team:

To be captained by Zeeshan Ashraf, consists of Salman Akbar (GK), Sohail Abbas, Sajjad Anwar, Muhammad Imran, Waseem Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Rizwan, Abdul Haseem Khan, Muhammad Zubair, Nasir Ahmed (GK), Akhtar Ali, Syed Abbas Haider Bilgrami, Rehan Butt, Muhammad Umar Bhutta and Shakeel Abbasi.

London, February 11
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has asked the organisers of Champions League Twenty20 to rework the event's schedule as a clash of dates with the domestic season here could prevent the counties from playing in the cash-awash tournament.

Champions League chairman Lalit Modi yesterday revealed that the event would be held from September 10 to 26 on his twitter page. Last season, the tournament was held in October, featuring teams from India, Australia, South Africa, England and the Caribbean. This year, the dates coincide with the final two rounds of the English County Championship, the semi-finals and final of the Pro40 League and the ODI Series between England and Pakistan.

The ECB has decided to take up the matter with Modi. "The ECB has expressed concern to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa over scheduling of the 2010 Champions League Twenty20," the ECB said in a statement.

"Due to the scheduling of the India v Australia one-day series, the ECB understands that the Champions League governing council has today determined that the 2010 dates for the Champions League should be September 10–26," the statement read. "The governing council are aware that this proposed scheduling coincides with the final two rounds of the County Championship, the semi-finals and final of the ECB 40 League and the NatWest Series between England and Pakistan," it added.

The ECB said it would be a "shame" if English teams are unable to participate. "The ECB has expressed serious concern to the BCCI, CA and CSA concerning this decision and the matter will be discussed with the respective chairmen and presidents who are currently meeting in Dubai.

London, February 11
Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy is still mulling on buying out a stake in Liverpool and he will decide in the next two weeks whether to enter the race to take a £100 million investment, a report said today.

Liverpool has denied suggestions that Roy is one of the six investors engaged in preliminary talks with Christian Purslow, the club's managing director. Sahara Group has also refused to confirm their interest in the debt-ridden club but 'The Telegraph' said Roy would take a call on the matter in two week's time.

The newspaper, quoting unnamed sources, said Sahara Group is “adamant no approach has been made to the Premier League club but it is believed Roy is examining the viability of buying a stake,” which would dilute the shareholding of Liverpool's co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Meanwhile, Reliance Industries have also denied reports that they were interested to take on Liverpool's £237 million debt in exchange for 51 per cent of the English Premier League side.

Purslow has said he is hopeful of having secured the £100 million investment, which the club's bankers have said is a requisite of Tom Hicks and George Gillett's debts being refinanced.

The major challenge for him would be securing that investment from individuals at a time when the Americans appear unwilling to give up their majority share in Liverpool. — PTI

Gurgaon, February 11
Rahil Gangjee's near-flawless round sent him soaring to tied third but the 'Big Three' of Indian golf had a rather mundane start to their Avantha Masters campaign in the $2.1 million tri-sanctioned event here today.

Thirty-two-year-old diminutive Kolkata pro Gangjee, yet to add to his surprise triumph in the 2004 Volkswagen Masters-China, brought home a scintillating five-under 67 to lay five shots off the lead at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Two shots behind at tied 19th were rising duo of Gaganjeet Bhullar and C Muniyappa, who won their maiden Asian Tour title last year.

It was, however, a rather average start for world number 59 Jeev Milkha Singh -- highest ranked golfer in the event -- former Asia number one Arjun Atwal and Indian stalwart Jyoti Randhawa who turned in identical even-par 72s to lie tied 57th.

Searching for his second European Tour title, 29-year-old German Marcel Siem eagled his final hole en route to a bogey-free eight-under 64 that earned him a one-shot lead over Chinese Taipei's Chan Yin-shin, who eagled his ninth hole.

Among other Indians in the fray, 2008 Indian Masters winner SSP Chowrasia was tied 74th after going one-over 73, while European Tour regular Shiv Kapur was languishing at tied 111st after stuttering to four-over 76.

Worse happened with Gaurav Ghei, who is certain to miss the cut after going six-over 78 that had him at 120th. — PTI

London, February 11
Louis Saha had a night to remember by scoring both of Everton's goals in a 2-1 win over Premier League leaders Chelsea that threw the title race wide open again - indeed he could have had a hat-trick but for having a penalty saved.

The Blues were left just a point in front after second-placed champions Manchester United held on for a 1-1 draw away to Aston Villa after playing most of the match a man down after Nani was sent-off yesterday. Elsewhere Abou Diaby revived Arsenal's title bid with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at home to Liverpool.

At the other end of the table, West Ham and Wolves moved out of the relegation zone with 2-0 and 1-0 wins over Birmingham and Tottenham respectively to drop Lancashire duo Burnley and Bolton into the bottom three.

Saha scored twice after Chelsea had taken the lead against an Everton side who came into this match on the back of a Merseyside derby defeat by Liverpool. Chelsea went ahead in remarkably simple fashion after 'keeper Petr Cech's goalkick was flicked on by Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda lashed home a shot from 16 yards to give the visitors a 17th minute lead.

Arsenal, beaten 2-0 by Chelsea last weekend, bounced back thanks to Diaby's 72nd minute header from Tomas Rosicky's cross, to move within six points of the leaders and five of United.

In Birmingham, Villa went ahead in the 19th minute when, following a cross from England winger Stewart Downing, the ball looped in the air after a challenge between Rafael and Richard Dunne and Carlos Cuellar headed into the top corner. But four minutes later United were level when Nani's cross was volleyed back across goal by Ryan Giggs and went in off Villa's James Collins for the visitors' 10th own goal of the season. — AFP