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| Sunday, January 2, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Gandhi to open with Laxman Waugh shocked by Akhtar ban Lee will be under scrutiny |
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| Tendulkar hopes to emulate 1991 deed SYDNEY, Jan 1 — Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar, desperate that his team shored up their all-round game to avoid a 3-0 whitewash by Australia going into the third and final cricket Test here tomorrow, today hoped to emulate his splendid performance at the ground when India toured here eight years ago. Players must dig deep: Hussain Aussies bask in new status as invincibles Ronaldo tells fans to be patient Rly eves maintain dominance Mahindras have slight edge PCB chief delegates powers for selection Azharuddin still hopeful of return Indian spikers outplay Pakistan No differences with Pillay: Baskaran
Winter Games
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Gandhi to open with Laxman SYDNEY, Jan 1 (PTI) — A battered India brace themselves to prevent a 0-3 rout by the all-conquering Australia despite teething problems in the side and an unusually lively pitch laid out for the third and final cricket Test starting here tomorrow. Sachin Tendulkar’s men have arrived at the fag end of a miserable Test series having failed in all departments despite the skipper’s valiant knocks, which have only helped the Indians avoid the ignominy of innings defeats at Adelaide and Melbourne, where they succumbed by 285 and 180 runs respectively to lose the series 0-2. India’s biggest problem has been their brittle batting, and the thumb fracture to regular opener S. Ramesh, after being struck by young pace sensation Brett Lee, has left them with no option but to bring back Devang Gandhi, who made just zero and four in the first Test, to pair with V.V.S. Laxman. With the middle-order, where Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly hardly living up to their billing at the outset of the series, the Indian batting has presented a pathetic picture thus far. Indian hopes of reversing their fortunes at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which has traditionally helped spinners, have been dealt a huge blow as a grassy pitch has been laid out to help the express pace of Glenn McGrath and fellow New South Welshman Lee and the wily Damien Fleming. The Indians are in danger of receiving body blows and so green in the wicket, described as one of the quickest at the venue by curator Tom Parker, it is hard to distinguish it from the rest of the square. The turf is in total contrast to the one on which India beat NSW by 193 runs in a four-day encounter last month, with leg spinner Anil Kumble returning impressive match figures of eight for 88. The 23-year-old Lee will be fired up playing in front of his home crowd and his seven for 78 on debut, including a five wicket haul in the first innings that decisively turned the match Australia’s way. “I was really charged up when the crowd at the MCG was roaring in support. It should be if anything better here on my home turf,” he said. Lee also said “you can start bowling reverse swing from 20-25 overs at the SCG where as it takes up to 50 in other places,” he added. While Australia under Steve Waugh, look to seal their seventh consecutive Test victory and their second straight clean sweep after the 3-0 wallopping of Pakistan, India are under tremendous pressure to salvage some pride. With Ramesh out of the series and Gandhi looking out of sorts against the menacing pace, the team management even toyed with the idea of opening with wicketkeeper M.S.K Prasad, but his best so far has been only 14. India’s biggest worry has been inability of both the technically correct Dravid and Ganguly to come good. Dravid’s highest in the series is only 35, in the first innings at Adelaide. With the openers a big failure, the middle order has proved unable to soak up the pressure. Indian bowling has also failed to cash in on the life in the pitch that has been exploited to the hilt by the host bowlers. Both in Adelaide, where Australia were left gasping at 52 for four, and in Melbourne they once again let slip the advantage after reducing them to 197 for five. India lack even spin option to their predictable attack. While leggie Anil Kumble has failed to deliver despite getting bouncy tracks to send down his fastish stuff, young offie Harbhajan Singh, who finished with 141 for none from 47 overs against Tasmania at Hobart, looks hardly in the reckoning. In contrast, Shane Warne is all geared up to overhaul pace legend Dennis Lillee’s Australian Test record of 355 wickets, only five victims adrift coming into the Test. Lee says even if the pitch does not offer pace and breaks up into the match, he can push the batsmen on their backfoot and claim a few victims using the variable bounce. The SCG, where Ravi Shastri made a double ton to draw the final Test in the 1991-92 series and give a rude welcome to debutant Warne, does not sport any bald patches that traditionally help spinners from day one. “It’s nice and flat with a very good cover of grass. It’s good and hard and will be fairly fast. If I was a selector, I would retain the same side,” said Parkar. The recent wet weather here promises to help seam am bowling rather than assist spin. Stylish batsman, Mark Waugh will also reach a milestone as he will become the sixth Australian and 21st overall to play 100 Tests. Teams: India (from): Sachin Tendulkar (capt), V.V.S. Laxman, Devang Gandhi, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, M.S.K Prasad, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Debashis Mohanty. Australia (from): Steve Waugh (capt), Greg Blewett, Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Collin Miller. Umpires: Ian Robinson (Zimbabwe) and Darrell Hair (Australia). Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka). Hours of play (IST): 5.30 to 7.30 a.m; 8.10 to 10.10 a.m, 10.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m. |
Waugh shocked by Akhtar ban SYDNEY, Jan 1 (Reuters) — Australian captain Steve Waugh said today he was stunned by the International Cricket Council’s decision to ban Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. “I must admit I was a bit shocked,” Waugh said. “It’s disappointing for the player and probably a little bit disappointing for the game because he’s such an exciting bowler. “But there are rules and if people think he’s broken those rules then they have got to make a judgement on it.” Akhtar will be sent home from his team’s tour of Australia after a nine-man International Cricket Council panel announced on Thursday that his bowling action had been ruled illegal. Akhtar was only told of the panel’s decision shortly after his arrival in Perth to prepare for a triangular limited-overs series with Australia and India starting next week. Waugh would not say whether or not he thought Akhtar actually threw the ball but did say he had some sympathy for the “Rawalpindi Express.” “I think there have probably been hundreds over the history of cricket that have done a similar thing but these days there is more of a spotlight on things such as actions,” Waugh said. “I’m sure throughout the history of cricket there have been many, many bowlers who have bowled with the same sort of action.” PERTH (AFP): Banned Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said here today he was confident he would soon prove his bowling action was legal. Akhtar, 24, was speaking the day after the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed the ban following an hour-long teleconference Thursday night. Akhtar vowed to come back better than ever after working on his action. He said that while he was disappointed, he accepted the ICC’s hearing system and hoped to be cleared to play in next month’s three-Test series against Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board has invited former West Indian fast bowling great Michael Holding to work with Akhtar when he returns to Pakistan tomorrow. Holding plans to put together a video package of Akhtar’s bowling action for the ICC to make another ruling. |
Lee will be under scrutiny SYDNEY, Jan 1 (PTI) — Australian pace sensation Brett Lee, after a sensational debut against India with a match-haul of seven wickets, will be under scrutiny of experts for chucking when he unleashes extra fast lifters in the third and final cricket Test against India starting tomorrow. The 23-year-old Lee, who repeatedly touched 150 kmph in the second cricket Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, might have put himself in trouble with his changed action when bowling bouncers raising quite a few eyebrows. With Pakistan tearaway Shoaib Akhtar just slapped a month-long ban by International Cricket Council for suspect bowling action, Lee could be next in line with a few former stars doing television commentary questioning his action. Channel Nine repeatedly showed the difference in his action when he strove for extra pace sending down bouncers, but the umpires who stood at the MCG — David Shepherd of England and Aussie Steve Davis — and the match referee Ranjan Madugalle did not raise any objections to his action. But with controversial Aussie Darrel Hair named to officiate in the final Test starting here tomorrow with Ian Robinson of Zimbabwe, Lee would be watched carefully as Hair is known for his independent views. Hair had raised a storm when he no-balled Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing at the MCG in 1995-96 season. The Aussie umpire, however, found nothing wrong with Lee’s action when he played a one-day game against the Indians last month though the tourists privately raised questions about his ‘illegal bowling style’. Meanwhile, Akhtar is set to fly out home tomorrow. He will miss the triangular tournament starting on January 9 but has been asked to take remedial steps with the ICC panel scheduled to review his bowling action in a month’s time, before the Pakistan team selection for the series against Sri Lanka in February. “I’ll be back with a bang,” Akhtar was quoted as saying. Pakistan team manager Brig Khawaja Mohammad Nasir was also hopeful. “He is a fighter and I have full faith that he will be able to overcome these objections raised against his action,” Nasir said. The action of the “Rawalpindi Express” has been the subject of scrutiny since Pakistan arrived in Australia last October. Initial suspicions were raised by Western Australia’s director of umpiring, Ric Evans, who compiled a 17-minute videotape highlighting Akhtar’s action after a match in Perth. But the ACB ruled it was powerless to act because the evidence fell outside accepted ICC guidelines on dealing with illegal deliveries. Match referee of the series, John Reid of New Zealand, filed an official complaint with the ICC in London at the completion of the series and the world body’s panel on illegal bowling action met on Thursday to slap the ban on the bowler. The videotape forwarded by Reid, who is also a member of the ICC’s illegal deliveries panel, is understood to have featured a selection of Akhtar deliveries filmed during the three Tests in Brisbane, Hobart and Perth. The ICC produced copies of that video for members of the panel from each of the nine Test playing nations. Having studied the evidence, the panel delivered a majority finding against Akhtar after an hour-long tele conference. According to the ICC, the problem has developed only since Akhtar underwent a shoulder operation in September and is confined to his delivery where he makes an effort to gain extra pace. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said Akhtar did occasionally bend his arm. “I have played more cricket than anybody in the world and I think his action is fine. His arm bends a bit occasionally. Every second bowler does the same thing, so are they going to ban everyone,” Akram asked. |
Tendulkar hopes to emulate 1991 deed SYDNEY, Jan 1 (PTI) — Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar, desperate that his team shored up their all-round game to avoid a 3-0 whitewash by Australia going into the third and final cricket Test here tomorrow, today hoped to emulate his splendid performance at the ground when India toured here eight years ago. Tendulkar, who slammed a superb, unbeaten 148 as an 18-year-old as India drew their only Test in the 1991-92 five-match series which they lost 0-4, said his role has changed significantly since then but felt he should be able to repeat that performance again. “Last time when I toured Australia and got a century at this ground, I was one of the juniors. Now I am the senior most. I think my game has changed for the better,” he said after the team held nets at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The batting maestro, who has been forced to plough a lonely furrow in the series, denied classy batsman Rahul Dravid was out of form as suggested by his disappointing batting display — 35 has been his highest knock — thus far. “I don’t think we have a problem with Dravid’s form,” the skipper said. Asked whether Dravid was being cramped for space by leg spinner Shane Warne, who dismissed him in both innings in the first Test at Adelaide, Tendulkar replied: “We can’t comment on a batsman’s tecnnique if he is averaging 50 in Test cricket”. On India’s continuing poor Test record abroad, invariably failing on bouncy tracks and losing by huge margins — of 285 and 180 runs in the first two Tests — Tendulkar said preparation of similar at home was the only answer. “We must have good lively tracks back home. Not like the ones we have where the fast bowlers look for assistance in the first hour or so and then wait for the next innings,” he said. Tendulkar said playing in Australia was a tough job. “You have to keep trying. As long as the effort is there, things are bound to change,” he said. The batting maestro was not surprised by the grassy track laid out in the venue which has traditionally aided spinners, but felt it would still take turn. “The wicket looks hard, it has grass on it but I think that is to cover cracks on the pitch. It will help spin also. In the four-day game we played here, it did turn,” he added. Assessing his own batting, which has been the lone silver lining amidst gloom in the Indian camp, Tendulkar modestly said he should not have played the hook against paceman Damien Fleming that ended his brilliant 116 in the first innings at Melbourne. “...I played a shot which was not required. My first target was to avoid the follow on and having done that, I should have kept it going. I tried something else which did not happen. My grip was not firm enough,” he said. |
Players must dig deep: Hussain CAPE TOWN, Jan 1 (Reuters) — Nasser Hussain will ask his tired England team to “dig deep” in the fourth Test against South Africa which starts at Newlands on Sunday. England endured a gruelling final three days in the field in the drawn third Test which ended at Kingsmead on Thursday, and just three days later they will again attempt to square a five-match series that South Africa currently lead 1-0. The extent of their weariness showed when England cancelled their planned practice session at Newlands this morning. “Inner strength must come through and people must dig deep that’s what we’re here form,” Hussain said. “It’s amazing what you can find within yourself when there’s something like a millennium Test in Cape Town up for grabs. “The spirit in our dressing room after Kingsmead Test was not of a side that was down, it was of a side looking forward to the next game.” Hussain was confident his men would be up to the task of fielding first at Newlands, which will be likely if South Africa win the toss on what has proved a dependable batting pitch in recent seasons. “If we end up in the field for two days I’d expect the team to be just like they have been in the last two days in the field, that is not to throw the towel in and to try and bowl the opposition out.” “People won’t be left out because they might have tired legs. Our best bowlers for the particular wicket we see in Cape Town will be picked. “We’re quite pleased with the way we are at the moment. We’re quite pleased with the way we are at the moment. We’ve done some hard work and we’ll carry on doing it.” South Africa staved off defeat at Kingsmead despite being asked to follow on for the first time in 73 Tests, and going into the final day just 41 runs ahead with four wickets down. Much of the credit for the successful rescue effort went to opener Gary Kirsten, whose 275 equalled the highest Test innings by a South African. South African captain Hansie Cronje said his team had been steeled by the experience. “It was important for us to get through that situation,” Cronje said. “We were under pressure because we hadn’t been there before, so our confidence is certainly boosted.” Kirsten expected another sound batting pitch at Newlands, his home ground. “The wicket hasn’t bounced as much as it did last season, so unless they leave grass on it I think it’ll be a good pitch,” Kirsten said. “It’s played very well this season with even bounce, a very good batting wicket.” South Africa have named an unchanged 12 for the fourth Test, with controversially axed batsman Jony Rhodes expected to return at the expense of paceman Mornantau Hayward. England were not due to announce their squad on Friday, but left-arm bowler Alan Mullaly and batsman Michael Vaughan were said to have recovered from injuries. Mullaly’s selection could add variety to an England attack which, in Hussain’s own words, “lack penetration” on flatter surfaces. Squads: South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Mornantau Hayward, Paul Adams. England: to be announced. |
Aussies bask in new status as invincibles SYDNEY, Jan 1 (PTI) — Australia’s big 180-run win over India at Melbourne has capped a superb year for Steve Waugh’s cricket team which is being compared with the most dominant sides in Test history and termed ‘invincibles’. Steve Waugh, who completed his sixth straight win as captain to round off a memorable 1999 which also saw his men claim the one-day world champion status, said he would back his team to be compared with any other of any era. The Aussies have begun to enjoy the kind of awesome run which the West Indies began under Clive Lloyd in 1976 and continued unbeaten in a Test series till 1995. From the beginning of 1989, when the 1987 World Cup triumph revitalised a team severely hit by desertions in the wake of the Packer series, Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh have led Australia to 58 victories from 117 Tests with 35 draws and just 24 losses going into the new millennium. Setting apart one-off Tests, Australia have won 19 series with just five defeats, two of those to the West Indies in the early 1990’s. Contrast that with India, who have rarely lost at home but hardly won abroad. In their Test history spanning seven decades, India have won just five series, or just 13 Tests, on foreign soil. Since current skipper Sachin Tendulkar was born in 1973, India have won just a lone series win against England in 1985-86 apart from the 1-0 victory in Sri Lanka in 1993. Steve Waugh, ever the crisis man in a team known for the grit of its players, had a tough act to follow when he took over from a natural leader like Mark Taylor, but the 34-year-old guided his team to the World Cup after leading from the front in a dramatic 2-2 draw in the Caribbeans. Australia’s performance abroad has been quite impressive. In fact, two of their series defeats, to the West Indies in 1992-93 and Pakistan in 1994-95, came down to one run and one wicket respectively. The team has never been comprehensively beaten with India coming closest when it won 2-1 at home in 1998. Sri Lanka had the upper hand this summer winning a rain-hit series 1-0 and being clearly the better team in the second Test, the other occasion when Australia proved second best. Australia’s most dominant performances have come against England, with 20 wins, five losses and six straight series victories coming since 1989. The mark of Australia’s supremacy could be seen in their performance against South Africa, who since returning to the international fold have scored many memorable victories but are yet to beat the Aussies in a series with the scoreline reading 5-3 with four drawn. Australia, in fact, have won two series outright and drawn the other two without being beaten once to mark themselves as the most consistent side. Former Indian skipper and current coach Kapil Dev felt the team in 1991-92 was no less formidable. ‘‘If you look at that team when we toured Australia in early 90’s it was a very formidable unit,’’ he said. Kapil Dev, who played a memorable role to help India bowl out Australia for just 83 in the second innings for a Test win at Melbourne to square the 1980-81 series, said in 1991-92 ‘‘they had Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor to start with and the middle order was in the hands of David Boon, Allan Border, Dean Jones and Mark Waugh followed by Ian Healy. ‘‘And in bowling, Craig McDermott, Bruce Reid and Mike Whitney were quite a force,’’ the legendary all-rounder added. Kapil recalled that Steve Waugh in fact was not included in the series, having made his debut against India in 1985-86. While match-winners like paceman Glenn McGrath, leg spinner Shane Warne and Steve Waugh have proved themselves time and again, the Australian selectors have also shown when to cap youngsters. The induction of wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for Healy this season and giving Ricky Ponting a regular place in the side have been prime examples of the consistency of the selection committee headed by former opener Trevor Hohns and comprising Border among others. |
Ronaldo tells fans to be patient RIO DE JANERIO, Jan 1 (AFP) — Inter Milan and Brazil star Ronaldo made a New Year plea to fans today as he looks to recover his fitness in 2000, asking them to be patient and realise that “I am not a robot.” Ronaldo has struggled to get back to his best ever since his nightmare end to the World Cup and his injury run continues as he recovers from knee surgery in late November in Paris. “I am doing everything I can to get better but there are people who don’t understand and who aren’t patient. I want to play more than anything — a footballer is only happy when he is playing. “But I’m not a robot. You can’t just tweak a screw and say everything is O.K.,” Ronaldo told Veja magazine. “I’m living through hell and it’s very tough,” Ronaldo added candidly. “I’m really suffering with not being able to play. I’m not sad about playing badly — it’s sadness about not being able to play at all.” Ronaldo said it was tough to shoulder the pressure from fans willing him back into action. “The supporters here are such fanatics, so passionate and they feel they even have the right to throw stones at a footballer’s car when he makes a mistake,” added Ronaldo, who at least has the consolation of having just got married on Christmas eve to Milene Domingues. “They don’t understand that nobody makes mistakes deliberately. I am not a goal machine,” lamented the superstar. Ronaldo added he was aware he had a long way to go to get back to where he once was. “I am going to have to start all over again but I am solely thinking about my comeback and getting back to be the best in the world. “Almost every night I dream I am playing on football on the beach. Sometimes I wake up and have forgotten about the state I am in — but when I get moving the knee hurts and reality sinks in again.” Ronaldo explained he had been disappointed to hear Pele had reportedly expressed doubts about where his career is going. “Pele said a few disagreeable things about me. He’s already had run-ins with Romario, Zico and Ayrton Senna. I don’t want to be Pele. But I have to say that Pele (should) believe in my return. I read in the press that he has said he thinks I can make it.” In the meantime, Ronaldo will put his injury troubles aside to celebrate his first New Year as a married man. “I love Milene and she loves me. I love everything about her, the calmness she brings to my life. She is always laughing.” The couple will see in the new Millennium in Rio before returning to Paris, where the player will meet again with the surgeon Gerard Saillant who operated on him in November. |
Rly eves maintain dominance NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (PTI) — Star-studded Railways ended the dream run of hosts Delhi and maintained their crushing domination over Indian women’s basketball as they swept to their 11th title in a row with a fluent 73-57 victory in the Senior National Basketball Championship here today. Favourites Railways gave no room for any surprises from giant-killers Delhi as they ran up a comfortable 38-24 lead by half-time in the final before simply pulling away to claim the Baslat Jha trophy at the Talkatora indoor stadium. Spearheaded by seasoned international Aparna Ghosh, who top-scored with 15 points, Sheeba Magon (14) and B.S. Shyla, who contributed 11 points including three three-pointers in a row when Delhi threatened to draw level in the first half, Railways were worthy winners. Delhi, who toppled last year’s runners-up Kerala and the favoured Tamil Nadu in the previous two rounds, valiantly fought all the way with tall pivot Shivani Gupta once again sinking 16 points to emerge top-scorer. International Mandeep Kaur, with 17 points and the hard-working Prabhjot Gill also fought hard but still were no match against their formidable rivals. Dethroned men’s champions Punjab claimed the third place by edging past Karnataka 61-57, skipper Parminder Singh (Snr) once excelling with 37 points with B.S. Gautam shooting 17 points for the losers. The Railway women ran up a good lead from the start and were up in 19-6 after five minutes and always maintained their upper hand though Delhi managed to bridge the gap to 18-21 with seven minutes remaining in the first session. Railways stepped up pace after the breather and added points at will to take the score to 65-41, five minutes to the hooter. The Delhi girls gave a good fight initially but looked tired against the better built Railway girls towards the end. Railway coach Bhupinder Sahi also made good use of the strong bench to replace Aparna Ghosh and skipper Geo Jose and sent in Philomela Jose and Meena Latha and though Delhi’s Sanjeev Rana tried to match him with similar substitutions, his attempts made the weakness of his reserve players even more evident. Further, the tall Jose and Ivy Cherian superbly marked prolific Delhi scorer Shivani Gupta, who still managed to add 16 points to the Delhi total. International Mandeep Kaur (17) and Prabjot Gill were the other major contributors to the hosts’ tally. |
Mahindras have slight edge MARGAO (Goa), Jan 1 (UNI) — Mumbai’s Mahindra and Mahindra, playing their first match in Goa, would be looking to garner full points to increase their tally when they cross swords with spirited Dempo Sports Club (Goa) in the Cocacola National Football League match to be played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here tomorrow. Both teams are far from impressive and not have won a single match out of their four outings so far but are equally matched in the midfield and defence. Mahindra had an edge over dempo but can hardly afford to be complacent as Dempo are known for their steady approach. Mahindra with three points drew against ITI, Bangalore, in a goalless draw and against Calcutta giants Mohan Bagan and F.C. Kochi by an identical margin 1-1 each, respectively, but lost to table toppers Churchill Brothers by 0-2. While Dempo lost to Churchill Brothers in their opening match by 5-0 but after inclusion of two Iranians defender Assah Alloh and Medio-cum-striker Kamal Seikha, they put up some impressive show though lost to debutant Border Security Force (BSF) by a solitary goal. They managed to hold JCT Phagwara and defending champions Salgaocar Sports Club in a goalless draw. This speaks about their strong defence line. Dempo with two points from four outings, have to pull up their socks and play a more aggressive game tomorrow to avoid slipping further. Playing in front of the home crowd could also serve as a tonic for them. Dempo outfits scoring ability will be on the shoulders of Remus Gomes and Iranian Kamal Seikha, if they combines well with Soccorino Silveira, Minguel Rodrues and Kanan Priolkar. Their defence is guarded by Naik, Stanely Colaco, Assah Alloh, Ajay Acharya and Edwin Fernandes. Dempo also has Vikrant Sharma at the goal who played an excellent role, effecting brilliant saves against Durand Cup champions Salgaocar Sports Club in the last match. Though Mahindra had lost against Churchill Brothers by 0-2, they have done reasonably well in their last three matches. They could win tomorrow if their midfield and striking force combines well and psychological advantage with the form and determination they displayed against Bagan, F.C. Kochi and ITI. Mahindra would be relying on their strikers Abhas Ali Rizwi, M. Najeeb and Manjeet Singh to spearhead and scheme their attack. Their defence is marshalled by Nigerian Christopher, Bernard, Naushad Moosa, their half line is in safe hands of Aueel Ansari, Satish Minz, and Shamsi Raja. Either Virendra Singh or Manoj Joggi will guard the Mahindra goal. The manager of Mahindra team Harish said: “We will go all out for attacking game tomorrow to snatch full points, though we did well in the last three matches, we lacked in the finishing, which we will improve tomorrow,” he added. |
PCB chief delegates powers for selection Karachi, Jan 1 (ANI) — The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc committee, General Tanqir Zia on Thursday delegated powers to his advisory panel, including the responsibility of selecting national teams. General Zia also chose Rameez Raja as the chief coordinator of the panel which also includes Javed Miandad, Nasimul Ghani, Yawar Saeed and Azeem Waqar. The advisory panel held its first meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium after the Pakistan team had left for the triangular series in Australia. Miandad informed that the next meeting was scheduled for January 18 in which other important decisions would also be taken pertaining to improving the cricket set-up. However, the former Test star was unwilling to give more details of the meeting stating that the chairman had authorised Rameez Raja to deal with the Press on behalf of the panel and that the board would be issuing a press note, which was not forthcoming. |
Azharuddin still hopeful of return MUMBAI, Jan 1 (PTI) — Former skipper Mohd Azharuddin, upset after the selectors chose to ignore his claims for a place in the Indian team for the upcoming tri-series in Australia, said he was still hopeful of being recalled for the home series against South Africa. Azhar, who said he was being victimised after not finding a place in the 15-member squad for Down Under chosen here on Thursday, today said he hoped to score as many runs as possible in domestic cricket to “leave the rest to the selectors and Almighty”. He denied press reports that he had given the example of all-rounder Robin Singh or any other player while reacting to his omission for the January 9 to February 6 tournament after selectors said they had opted for youth in picking the side. “It is all rubbish. I never said anything about Robin’s age. I do not want to pull down any player who has been selected. I talked about myself and not anyone else”, he told PTI here. |
Indian spikers outplay Pakistan DUBAI, Jan 1 (UNI) — Three-time winners India registered a facile 3-0 win over arch rivals Pakistan in a group ‘A’ encounter last night to storm into the semifinals of the fifth Rashid International Volleyball Tournament. It was an easy victory for the Indian spikers as they outplayed the Pakistanis in all departments of the game. Right from the start, the Indians dominated the show and had no difficulty in overpowering their rivals from across the border in three straight sets 25-16, 25-18, 25-19. For India, Ashish Arora, Ravikant Reddy, Joby Joseph and Tony Joseph combined well and their smashes were a treat to watch for the spectators. Rajesh Kumar once again did a splendid job of blocking and never allowed the Pakistanis the liberty of scoring freely. An excited Indian team manager Kodanda Ramaiah told reporters after the match! “The victory against Pakistan is a gift from us to the Indian people as we celebrate the dawn of the new millennium.” India play Tunisia in their next match. |
No differences with Pillay: Baskaran NEW DELHI, Jan 1 (PTI) — Indian chief hockey coach Vasudevan Baskaran today said he had “no differences” with ace forward Dhanraj Pillay or any other senior player and any report to the contrary would only “affect the morale of the team”. “Honestly, there is no problem with Pillay. He’s playing for the country and cooperating well with the juniors also. I am sad reports have come saying there are differences between us or other seniors like Mukesh Kumar. It is not true,” Baskaran told PTI here today. The Olympian said India’s priority in the four-nation tournament to be held in Barcelona from January 6 to 8 was to erase the kind of errors that toppled their Asia Cup title hopes in Kuala Lumpur last November. “This tournament followed by the Azlan Shah Tournament later this month will help shortlist the 22 players who will begin the final training phase for Sydney Olympics,” he said. Referring the Asia Cup, where Asian Games Champions India let in a goal with 45 seconds left to agonisingly lose to South Korea in the semifinal in Kuala Lumpur. “We have studied and rectified mistakes made there. The matches will be very important, but all the boys including Mukesh Kumar and Mohd Riaz are fit. We are going only minus Baljit Saini, Baljit Dhillon and Deepak Thakur which will give the others like forward Samir Dad chance,” he said. India play Germany, Spain and Canada in the January 6 to 8 tournament and follow it up with one Test against Canada (Jan 11) and three against Belgium (Jan 12, 14 and 15) before returning on January 16. |
| CHENNAI, Jan 1 (PTI) — North Zone defeated Rest of India by three wickets with an over to spare in a nail-biting finish in the under-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy limited overs cricket match here today. Chasing a target of 224 in 50 overs, North got off to a solid start with openers Ranveet Ricky (66) and Manish Sharma (76) putting on 141 runs for the first wicket, but slumped to 168 for five after Rest captain Venugopal Rao took four wickets in the space of 12 balls conceding just six runs. However, Yuvraj Singh, who scored an unbeaten 36 off 28 balls, and Chetan Sharma (17-7b, 2x4, 1x6) added 24 runs for the eighth wicket in two overs and guided their team to 227 for 7 in 49 overs. Rao finished with a tally of 5 for 37. Earlier, electing to bat, Rest made 223 for seven in their allotted overs thanks mainly to a flashy 95 (108b, 6x4, 1x6) by Prasanth Joshi. |
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