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champions trophy
BCCI clears the air, Dalmiya to attend the ICC meeting
Security, protests and Lankan cricket
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Saina crashes out of quarters in Singapore series
Tendulkar likely to buy Mumbai Masters in IBL
Junior shooters suspended on sexual harassment charges
Finally, India win
LeBron turns Heat on Spurs
Confed Cup: Spain score perfect 10 against Tahiti
Boxer Manjeet enters final
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champions trophy Their six days of work done, having created their amazing world of brilliance here, the Indians are resting today in Birmingham. They've had six days of blinding success — two during the warm-up games, three in the group stage and one in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy. If they thought they were gods right now, they could not be blamed too much — all of England, all of the cricketing world seems to think that anyway.They're in a very “good area” right now, if we might borrow the brilliant coinage by the world's bowlers fraternity. The Indians have bowled in the “good areas”, and they've dispatched the ball, again, in the “good areas” when they batted. They seem smug and satisfied. Away from the heat of India, literally and figuratively, they've found themselves in a good area in the cold British summer. Including the warm-up games, India have scored over 300 three times. Each time they batted second, they won comfortably. Their closest wins have been by 26 runs against South Africa in the first match of the tournament, and by five wickets over Sri Lanka in their first practice match. Bulldozing their way
They've won their last three matches by eight wickets each, with 65, 17 and 90 balls remaining. That shows a massive, yawning gap between India and the teams they've played. It's being presumed that their toughest challenge would be posed in the final against England; which is ironical, because just over a week ago, England had been roundly criticised as a team unable to come to terms with modern One-day cricket. They've been deemed the anti-Indians for the way they play One-day cricket — they're diffident rather than bold, and they're stodgy rather than flamboyant. This has been underscored by the absence of the injured Kevin Pietersen from their team — he's the exception that proves the rule of England's struggles with the One-day format. Ishant Sharma, the Man of the Match in the semifinal at Cardiff, was asked if agreed that England's batting would provide India their toughest challenge in the tournament. Ishant, seemingly super-confident and possibly also indulging in a bit of mind games, said: “I don't think so. If you're bowling into the good areas, no batsmen can be challenge for you. That's what we've been doing in the last five games and we're going to do the same thing in the finals as well.” There, he said it — the Indians are bowling in the good areas. Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan captain though not yet the guiding force of their team, seems to agree that India are in a rather good area. Too hot to handle
“They've been unbeaten so far, and they've been playing some really good cricket,” Mathews said. “They play their own brand and they're quite good at it. You know, it's very tough to go head-to-head with them. You need to gear up all the time. You can't really put your guard off the pedal. Yeah, they've been really good. Yeah, good luck to them.” And the bowlers? Does he think that they're bowling in the good areas? Mathews bore out the increasingly strong suspicion that indeed, the Indians have been bowling in the good areas. “They bowled extremely well, and they hit the good areas,” Mathews confirmed. The Indians travelled to Birmingham today. The team's methodical, super-efficient media manager, Dr RN Baba, confirmed that the Indians won't train today. For they're in a very good area at present. Numbers tell the story
No weak point
— Ishant Sharma |
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BCCI clears the air, Dalmiya to attend the ICC meeting
Kolkata, June 21 However Dalmiya gave an open-ended reply as to whether BCCI president N Srinivasan, who has stepped aside from the post till investigations into IPL spot-fixing and betting scandals are completed, will also be attending the conference. Asked specifically whether Srinivasan will also be attending the ICC annual conference, Dalmiya gave a vague reply “not to my knowledge that Srinivasan is going to the ICC.” However, with Dalmiya attending all the important meetings during the conference, it now looks highly unlikely that Srinivasan will be going to London. When asked whether he knew about anyone else attending the meeting, he gave another reply which left everyone guessing. “I don't know, say for instance, secretary Sanjay Patel will be attending the working committee meeting.” Patel, it is learnt, will be attending the CEO's meeting of the ICC. The veteran administrator said that a lot of issues needs to be taken into consideration before thinking about uniform implementation of DRS. “Let us reach there and look into it. There are various points, intricacy of those are to be looked into. I want co-operation from all of them.” Dalmiya stressed that he will have elaborate discussions at the ICC on “cleaning of the game”. Asked whether the issue of “cleansing of cricket” as he had suggested earlier, would be his priority, Dalmiya said: “Cricket will always happen. It's an issue which is close to the heart of BCCI or anyone connected to cricket.” Seeking cooperation from other nations, Dalmiya said: “(This ICC conference and the issue of fixing) Both are two different points and are interconnected. “One cannot proceed without other, so cleansing of cricket will always happen and is close to heart of BCCI or anyone connected to cricket.” He looked a bit defiant when he was asked how will he react if he is pressurised to accept DRS. “Why would other countries put pressure on us? Can't we create pressure?” he retorted. With Indian team playing in the final, Dalmiya said that at this point in time, he is not thinking about what action should be taken about MS Dhoni's alleged conflict of interest having financial interest in Rhiti Sports. Shetty gives terms of reference to panel
BCCI’s Game Development Manager Prof. Ratnakar Shetty handed over the terms of reference to the two-member probe panel, who will be inquiring on involvement Gurunath Meiyappan’s role in spot-fixing issue in IPL. “We have given them what they wanted (operational and administrative assistance). They will conduct an inquiry into the complaints against Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra as well as CSK and RR. Let us wait and see what they do.”Shetty said the two judges met in person for the first time to discuss their mode of operation. — PTI |
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Security, protests and Lankan cricket
Cardiff, June 21 In some coaches and cars, a different sort of flag was seen – flaming red, with the paws and head of a seemingly growling tiger in the middle. This is the flag of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the extremist outfit which was banned in the UK in 2001, and which was crushed by the Sri Lankan forces in 2009. Not quite cricket
Supporters of the LTTE — or, to put it differently, those protesting against the atrocities allegedly committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces against Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka — have been a constant at the cricket for some time. The shadow of the conflict fell on Indian cricket earlier this year; during the first Test against Australia last in Chennai in February, black-shirt protests had been planned against the umpire Kumar Dharmasena of Sri Lanka. Then, during the IPL, Sri Lankan players were withdrawn from matches in Chennai. This followed the letter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in which she said: “The participation of Sri Lankan players in the IPL tournament, with many games to be played in Chennai, will aggravate an already surcharged atmosphere and further offend the sentiments of the people.” This did happen here in London the other day — the atmosphere was surcharged and the situation was aggravated. Four days ago, there were clashes between Tamil activists and Sri Lankan fans after the Australia-Sri Lanka match at the Oval in London. The protestors were distributing leaflets that said that matches involving Sri Lanka should be boycotted to protest the “genocide of Tamil people” in that country. They were holding the red-and-yellow LTTE flags and wearing yellow T- shirts. Several of them were reported to be injured. Pitch invaders
The protests had not involved intervention into a game; the protests were thus ignored. Then at Cardiff, the pitch-invaders turned up. It was easier, too, to get into the ground here for things are more laidback there, and the fence at the edge of the boundary easy to leap over. Two of protestors entered the playing area in the Sri Lankan innings; six more did that when the Indians were batting. “They've been arrested and taken to the police station for aggravated trespass,” said a police officer outside the venue. “They are likely to be let off with a fine.” The Cardiff cricket ground, idyllic and peaceful in the morning, was crawling with cops in the evening. Some Tamil protestors were still around, holding the LTTE flags and hand-written banners; some of them were being talked to by the cops, and some were seen in police cars, being ferried away. A few of them were being “interviewed” on camera by cops, who were trying to persuade them to leave. In this charged atmosphere, it was deemed unsafe for the Sri Lankan team bus to run the gauntlet, as it were, through the protestors. The team bus was thus held up for some time before the police thought it was safe for them to depart. It might be recalled that it was the Sri Lankan team bus that was attacked by gunmen — for entirely different reasons, of course — in Lahore in early 2009. That actual instance of danger, a very real instance of bloodshed, lent a grave undertone to yesterday's completely harmless and non-violent protest. Tough one for skipper
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews was asked if it was a matter of concern that so many protestors were able to get onto the playing area, right up to the pitch and close to the players, during the match. Mathews referred to the clash at the Oval in his answer. “I think it was a bit unfortunate there was a bit of reaction today after The Oval game. Yeah, it's unfortunate, but I can't really comment on that,” he said. “We as cricketers are not really bothered of what's happening around.” |
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Saina crashes out of quarters in Singapore series
Singapore, June 21 After a topsy-turvy start to the first game, Saina found legs to take a lead from 11-all to 17-13 and then went on to win the game in another five minutes. The second game also started like the first, with the game being fought closely at the start with the Indonesian being the more aggressive of the two. Saina tried clawing back into the match, but Lindaweni pulled away to deny the Indian a straight games victory and levelled the match. Lindaweni completely decimated the second seed in the decider by running away to a 12-3 lead from where Saina could not recover despite giving it her best shot and the Indian's errors led Lindaweni to go on to win the game and the match with ease. Tendulkar likely to buy Mumbai Masters in IBL New Delhi: There will be a dash of cricket in the inaugural Indian Badminton League with star batsman Sachin Tendulkar set to be part of a conglomerate to buy the Mumbai Masters franchisee in the event. Tendulkar will be part of a conglomerate, which is in the process of buying the Mumbai Masters, according to highly-placed sources in the Badminton Association of India. "Tendulkar is in the process of buying the Mumbai Masters. He would be the external face of the Mumbai team like Shah Rukh Khan, who promoted his team Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL," a BAI official said on condition of anonymity."He will own a share in the franchise, while the rest will be owned by two to three other companies. He will be one of the partners," the source added. The Indian Badminton League took a huge step forward when it announced its first franchise -- the PVP Group that successfully bid for the Hyderabad Hotshots. Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore and Lucknow are the six cities that will feature in the first edition. — Agencies
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Junior shooters suspended on sexual harassment charges
New Delhi, June 21 After the competition in Suhl, a female shotgun shooter had lodged a complaint against two of her male counterparts following which the NRAI had suspended the duo pending inquiry. The two male shooters in question were earlier part of the squad for an upcoming shotgun championship in Finland, but have been withdrawn after the complaint was filed against them. “A complaint has been received in this regard and the NRAI has already barred them from competing in the tournament in Finland. All the files regarding the complaints have been received," a top NRAI official said. All the three shooters were part of the junior Indian team that participated in Suhl earlier this month. A tournament for budding talent, the Indians showed their mettle in Suhl by winning an impressive tally of eight medals - two gold, one silver and five bronze. The complaint has been forwarded to the NRAI's athlete committee. One of the accused is said to be a junior national champion in double trap. — PTI
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Singapore, June 21 The 11th-ranked Indians, who came into the match without a win under their belt, scored three goals apiece in both halves of their first classification game against France, who are placed six rungs behind them. India's goals came from the sticks of Akashdeep Singh (13th minute), vice-captain V R Raghunath (27th), S V Sunil (33rd), captain Sardar Singh (42nd) and Mandeep Singh (56th, 69th). For France, Hugo Genestet scored from a field effort in the third minute while their second goal came from a penalty corner by Guillaume Deront in the final minute of the game. India will now play seventh-ranked Spain in the fifth-sixth place play-off match on Sunday.France earned as many as five penalty corners in the second half but managed to utilise just one through Deront. — PTI
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LeBron turns Heat on Spurs
Miami, June 21 James led the Heat to their second straight title, scoring 37 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 95-88 victory Thursday night in a tense game that was tight until Miami pulled away in the final minute. Capping their best season in franchise history – and perhaps the three-superstar system they used to build it – the Heat ran off with the second straight thriller in the NBA's first championship series to go the distance since 2010. Two nights after his Game 6 save when the Heat were almost eliminated, James continued his unparalleled run through the basketball world, with two titles and an Olympic gold medal in the last 12 months. "I work on my game a lot throughout the offseason," said James, who was MVP for the second straight finals. “I put a lot of work into it and to be able to come out here and (have) the results happen out on the floor is the ultimate. The ultimate. I'm at a loss for words." He made five 3-pointers, defended Tony Parker when he had to, and did everything else that could ever be expected from the best player in the game. The Heat became the NBA's first repeat champions since the Lakers in 2009-10, and the first team to beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals. "It took everything we had as a team," Dwyane Wade said. "Credit to the San Antonio Spurs, they're an unbelievable team, an unbelievable franchise. This is the hardest series we ever had to play. But we're a resilient team and we did whatever it took." Players and coaches hugged afterward – their respect for each other was obvious from the opening tipoff of Game 1 through the final buzzer. A whisker away from a fifth title two nights earlier, the Spurs couldn't find a way to win it all in what was perhaps the last shot for Tim Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili to grab another ring together. “In my case I still have Game 6 in my head," Ginobili said. "Today we played an OK game, they just made more shots than us. LeBron got hot. Shane (Battier), too. Those things can happen. But being so close and feeling that you are about to grab that trophy, and seeing it vanish is very hard." They were trying to become the first team to win a Game 7 on the road since Washington beat Seattle in 1978, but those old guys ran out of gas just before the finish. Fans stood, clapped and danced as the clock ticked down, when every score was answered by another score, each stop followed by a better stop. The Heat pushed their lead to six points a few times midway through the fourth but San Antonio kept coming back. Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, but missed a shot and follow attempt right under the basket with about 50 seconds left. — AP keen contest
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Confed Cup: Spain score perfect 10 against Tahiti
Rio De Janeiro, June 21 Fernando Torres scored four times and David Villa claimed a hat-trick for the world and European champions at Rio de Janeiro's hallowed Maracana, with David Silva adding a brace and Juan Mata also finding the net. No team had previously won by 10 goals at an international FIFA event, with Hungary (9-0 against South Korea at the 1954 World Cup, 10-1 against El Salvador at the 1982 World Cup) and Yugoslavia (9-0 against Zaire at the 1974 World Cup) the co-holders of the previous record. Tahiti, who sit 138th in the FIFA rankings, equalled their heaviest defeat — a 10-0 demolition by New Zealand in 2004 — but Spain fell short of matching their 13-0 annihilation of Bulgaria in a 1933 friendly. Spain will be assured of a place in the semi-finals if Nigeria avoid defeat against Uruguay in Salvador later in Group B. The same outcome would also end Tahiti's mathematical chance of reaching the last four. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made no less than 10 changes to his starting line-up, with only centre-back Sergio Ramos keeping his place in the team from the 2-1 win over Uruguay. Tahiti's players presented their opponents with necklaces and pendants prior to kick-off, but the pleasantries did not last long, as Torres beat goalkeeper Mickael Roche at his near post to give Spain a fifth-minute lead. Roche was drafted into the Tahiti team in place of Xavier Samin, who shipped six goals against Nigeria, and the newcomer momentarily looked set to play the hero, saving at Torres' feet and repelling Santi Cazorla's half-volley. FIFA: No plans to cancel Confed Cup amid protests
FIFA says it is not considering canceling the Confederations Cup soccer tournament in Brazil as violent protests spread across the country.An estimated 1 million protesters took to the streets in more than 80 cities on Thursday night. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in Rio de Janeiro, where more than 300,000 people protested in the city hosting key Confederations Cup games. But world soccer's governing body says in a statement that neither "FIFA nor the LOC have ever discussed any such possibility" of canceling the eight-team tournament.
— Agencies |
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New Delhi, June 21 The 21-year-old Indian pugilist defeated local favourite Wang Zhi Bao on split decision to enter the final in his very first international tournament. Manjeet will be up against another local lad Akepeer Yusuf in the summit clash. However, there was disappointment in store for other three Indian boxers - Sunil Kumar (52kg), Ajay Kumar (56kg), and Jaideep (75kg) - as they lost their respective semifinal bouts to crash out of the tournament layed under the new `Ten-Point must scoring system`. The trio will now return home with a bronze medal each from the event. While silver medallist in the inaugural edition of this tournament, Sunil Kumar lost to Chang Young of China in the semifinals of the men`s flyweight category, 19-year-old Ajay Kumar was shown the door by another Chinese You Lunhai in the last four round of the bantamweight division. The other Indian in the fray, Jaideep lost his middleweight semifinal bout to another Chinese boxer, Chao Gejiletu. — PTI
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Saina crashes out of Singapore Open Sachin likely to buy Mumbai Masters in IBL IOA to call Special GBM on July 11 or 12
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Their six days of work done, having created their amazing world of brilliance here, the Indians are resting today in Birmingham.
They've had six days of blinding success — two during the warm-up games, three in the group stage and one in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy.
The road from Cardiff to London was busy yesterday, with people in blue, their faces painted green and white and saffron, forming a significant part of the travellers. They were Indians, punch drunk and often delirious, in cars and vans and big rented coaches, who were returning to their homes after a good day's
cricket.
Rio De Janeiro, June 21
If we can bowl to our field and play to our strengths, we will do well against any team. We’ve not been under pressure so far and we really don't know where our real weaknesses lie.
