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‘Day/night Tests on way’
Controversy refuses to die down
Villa agrees 4-year deal with Barcelona
Commonwealth Games
are our big chance’
Lighting up rugby
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Rooney targets title
Legends
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‘Day/night Tests on way’
Bridgetwon (Barbados), May 19 Ever since floodlit fixtures were pioneered in Australia more than 30 years ago as part of the 'rebel' World Series Cricket, there have been suggestions day/night Tests could draw in spectators who are at work during normal playing hours. But so far, in part because of concerns the white ball used for floodlit cricket won't stand up to the wear and tear of a five-day match, they have yet to become a reality. Morgan, speaking ahead of an ICC meeting at Lord's this week, insisted day/night Tests were on the horizon. "I talked to administrators in Australia whom I expected to be so conservative as to be against day/night Test cricket but they are very much for it and I believe it won't be too long before we see day/night Test cricket in Australia or India," he said. Kirsten on ICC panel
London: India coach Gary Kirsten will join the ICC Cricket Committee which will discuss the use of coloured ball in day-night Tests, one-day cricket format and the controversial switch hit in its two-day meeting starting here tomorrow. The panel also includes former India captain Ravi Shastri and is headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. BCCI thwarts Piyush's Surrey plans
Surrey's plans to rope in Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla did not materialise after the BCCI refused him permission to play in county cricket. Surrey, which signed former Pakistan captain Younus Khan on a deal that will last until mid-July, said in a statement that Chawla failed to get BCCI's nod and hence would not join the side. ‘T20 tourneys should have best-of-3 finals’
Melbourne: Disappointed with Australia's loss in the summit clash of the Twenty20 World Cup, Test and ODI captain Ricky Ponting said the finals of such tournaments should be a best-of-three affair. Australia won every match except for the all-important final in the just-concluded World Cup and Ponting said given the short format, the title should not be decided by just one summit showdown. — Agencies |
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Controversy refuses to die down
Chandigarh, May 19 Nripjit Singh Bedi, one of the finest spikers the country has produced and now living a retired life in Jalandhar has come out in support of the Union Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill complimenting him for his bold initiative of enforcing the guidelines. An Arjuna awardee and member of the Asian Games (IV) silver medallist Indian volleyball team, Nripjit Singh Bedi, says that if the guidelines were strictly implemented, these would bring good results. Nripjit, Nippy to his fans and friends, played volleyball for 23 years and represented Border Security Force, Punjab and India at various national and international tournaments. Talking to The Tribune he said that if India wanted to infuse fresh lease of life in the dying Indian sports, it must strictly implement and enforce the guidelines. Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh Sathiala, a former MLA, also assailed the Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi for rejecting the guidelines. He said that the statement made by Suresh Kalmadi at the general house meeting was self-contradictory as he said that government could devise ways and means of giving money or financial assistance to players in national camps or representing the country besides organizing their training camps. On the other hand, the IOA had been objecting to the interference by the government in running the National Sports Federations. He said that why some individuals were so reluctant to abide by the guidelines being issued to ensure transparency, continuity in freshness in sports and sports administration. Because of the continuous rule of some individuals in certain sports, these were on the verge of becoming defunct as they have little or no activity at the grass root level. Manmohan Singh Sathiala wanted the Union Ministry not to relent or bow under pressure. Instead it should ensure that these guidelines are accepted and implemented in totality throughout the country to brighten India’s sports future.
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Villa agrees 4-year deal with Barcelona
Madrid, May 19 "We have sold David Villa to Barcelona for 40 million euros," he told a news conference at the Mestalla. On the international stage, Villa is Spain's second highest scorer with 36 goals from 55 matches, eight short of Raul's record, and he will be spearheading Spain's World Cup campaign in South Africa next month. Barcelona confirmed the deal in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com), saying the 28-year-old would sign a four-year contract with an option for one more year. The player, who Barca said 'guaranteed goals', will travel to Barcelona on Thursday and will take a medical before being presented on Friday at 1130 GMT. At Barcelona he will join a formidable forward line that already includes La Liga's leading marksman Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pedro and Bojan Krkic.France striker Thierry Henry spent most of last season on the bench and is expected to move on. Valencia have been forced into the sale by the precarious nature of their finances. —
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Commonwealth Games
are our big chance’
Chandigarh, May 19 But all that can, should and hopefully will change as India’s rugby team get set for their big year. India captain Nasser Hussain spoke to The Tribune over the phone from Pune about the sport that in a country of a billion, is still struggling to find a top class pool of players. Q: This is the big year for rugby in India. What are your expectations from it? A: Yes, this is the big year. With the Asian Games, and more importantly the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, a lot can happen for the good of the sport. Q: With CWG in Delhi, is it any added pressure on you? A: Not really. We have been working on our game and hopefully we will be able to make good of this opportunity. Q: How do you look at the current state of the sport in India? A: It is obviously in need of a lot of attention. More than anything else it needs the support not just monetary, but also from the people t grow. Q: Speaking of people do you feel that home advantage exists for a sport like rugby in India? A: Well, not really, especially if you take in to account the last tournament we played in New Delhi. There were no spectators as the general public was banned. Q: What is the team exactly doing to ensure that you guys make good of this BIG year? A: We are just coming back from a 4-week training camp in New Zealand. That has helped us a lot and now after going through the camp in Pune, we will shift base to Delhi for acclimatisation for the four-nation tournament. Also with our Fijian coach, Usaia Buimuiwai, we are hoping to do things a little differently from before.
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Lighting up rugby
Chandigarh, May 19 The winner of this Division II tournament will earn their spot to participate in Division I and the team that finishes last will be relegated to Division III. This is also the first time that Rugby will be played under lights in India, providing a whole new dimension to the game, and much excitement for Rugby fans in Delhi. Entry to the stadium is free of cost.
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London, May 19 "I hope to do better than them because, if that happens, then England have to win the World Cup so I will be happy on both fronts," he said after being named the Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year at the end of April. The Footballer of the Year award, voted for by the country's football writers, followed a few days later and added to the happiness in both his private and professional life. No poor, prostitutes on streets! Durban: As the World Cup nears, authorities in major host cities are rounding up vagrants, street children and prostitutes in a campaign to spruce up the image of urban areas. As the continent's biggest economy, South Africa's streets are a magnet for immigrant beggars, who see the country as a step out of poverty. —
Agencies |
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Legends Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder but made his name as a defender. He is often credited as having invented the role of the modern sweeper or libero. Twice selected the European Footballer of the Year, he appeared 103 times for West Germany and played in three World Cups. He lifted the World Cup trophy as captain in 1974, and repeated the feat as a manager in 1990. |
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Prakash out of French qualifiers Houghton for English coach to guide AIFF XI Indian eves held 2-2 in NZ Loss to Aus was bad luck: Afridi
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World cricket's top administrator is convinced it "won't be too long" before day/night Tests are being played in either Australia or India. David Morgan, the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), in an interview with AFP in Barbados, also said a "context" for Test and one-day international matches was on its
way.
Sports in India is like Forrest Gump’s ‘box of chocolates’. You never know what you will get. The world’s top sport soccer is in a shambles, fastest growing sport basketball, nothing to talk about there too; one of the richest sport tennis still struggling to find a decent enough singles player!!! So in this scenario, where does a sport like rugby fit in? Like cricket, rugby too started off in England, but too bad that it did not rub on to us.
Two unrelated events in the last year have had a huge impact on Wayne Rooney's life. The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United at the end of last season changed Rooney's role on the pitch and the arrival of baby son Kai in November changed his life off it. He has been in superb form ahead of the World Cup and will vie with Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, as well as Lionel Messi of Argentina, Fernando Torres of Spain and Brazil's Kaka to be the leading light of the tournament and bring home the trophy.
Two unrelated events in the last year have had a huge impact on Wayne Rooney's life. The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United at the end of last season changed Rooney's role on the pitch and the arrival of baby son Kai in November changed his life off it. He has been in superb form ahead of the World Cup and will vie with Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, as well as Lionel Messi of Argentina, Fernando Torres of Spain and Brazil's Kaka to be the leading light of the tournament and bring home the trophy.
Born September 11, 1945 Beckenbauer is a legendary German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" (reminiscent of the Austrian emperors), and his dominance on the football pitch. He is generally regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time and one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game.
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