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| Wednesday, April 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Fernandes to lead football team Kumble’s haul in vain |
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Dunga’s donation for
orphans Oman pull out of Asia hockey meet
Punjab cagers move into
semis Holding, Thomson to help Shabbir India beat Thailand Lanka face Bangladesh in opener Haryana wrestlers win title
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JOHANNESBURG, April 25 (PTI) — The person to head the judicial probe into the match-fixing scandal involving sacked South African skipper Hansie Cronje will be appointed by this weekend. The judge had not been appointed so far because Justice Minister Penuell Maduna had been abroad and the Easter weekend had interfered with normal work, Justice Ministry spokesman Graham Abrahams has said. ‘‘The government has not yet decided what form the inquiry would take and how much authority it would be given to collect evidence,’’ he said in an interview. ‘‘We know the public want answers but I am afraid we will all just have to wait. But we are still hoping to have the results of the inquiry by the end of May,’’ Mr Abrahams has said. The South African Government and the United Cricket Board (UCB) announced institution of a judicial probe in the wake of Cronje’s admission that he had accepted between $ 10,000 and $ 15,000 from an Indian bookie during the one-day tri-series at home early this year. Cronje was fired from the team after he admitted to ‘‘dishonesty’’ in the betting and match-fixing allegations in the sensational case registered by Delhi police against him and four team-mates on April 7. Cronje’s team-mates Nicky Boje, Herschelle Gibbs, Pieter Strydom and Henry Williams — also named in the case — have denied all allegations by the Delhi police. Indian coach Kapil Dev has asked Cronje to make a clean breast of the match-fixing allegations against him, to ‘‘clear the air’’ for the sake of the game. ‘‘It’s obvious someone got to Hansie during one of his many trips with the South African side. He has to be honest to tell the authorities: who got in touch with him? Where and when did the first contact take place? Who were the people involved?’’ the legendary all-rounder has been quoted by the ‘‘Johannesburg Star’’ as saying. Kapil Dev said Cronje’s sacking from the team was a ‘‘loss to the game’’ but the action against him should be an ‘‘example for others who may be tempted’’. Cronje and four team-mates were named by the Delhi police in their sensational case made public on April 7 alleging that the South African players were involved in match-fixing during the one-day series in India last month. ‘‘Somebody needs to give us some guidance, and the only person who can do this is Hansie,’’ Kapil has been quoted as saying. He said ‘‘it
shouldn’t be like what happened to the Australians,
Shane Warne and Mark Waugh. They admitted accepting money
from a bookie for weather and pitch reports, and got away
with fines from the Australian Cricket Board.” |
Pak asked to submit Qayyum report KARACHI, April 25 (Reuters) —Pakistani cricket officials have been asked to submit a much-delayed report on match-fixing to a special meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) next week, local media reported today. “The instructions have come directly from ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya,’’ the Dawn newspaper said. The report by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, which examined the question of corruption in the Pakistani game, was submitted to the government last October. Its contents have not been made public nor has it been acted upon by either the government or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The ICC emergency meeting, to be held in London, has been called over a mounting corruption controversy. South African cricket chief Ali Bacher alleged last week that two matches in last year’s World Cup had been fixed. His comments followed the sacking of South African captain Hansie Cronje, who admitted taking up to $15,000 from a bookmaker in January. The newspaper said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been sent a letter ‘’making it clear to them that their representative should bring the Justice Qayyum findings with him for submission and consideration (at the meeting)’’. Qayyum said earlier this month that he was convinced some Pakistani players had been involved in match-fixing and that he was disappointed the report had not been acted upon. “I am convinced that some of the Pakistan players are involved in match-fixing. They deliberately threw a few games,’’ Qayyum said. “I have recommended several punitive actions against those players, including life bans.’’ Qayyum examined more
than 75 witnesses in his two-year investi-gation before
submitting his report to Pakistan President Rafiq Tarar,
who is also patron of the PCB. |
Will the
board bow to government diktat? CHANDIGARH, April 25 —What will be the outcome of the April 27 meeting convened by the Union Sports Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, in New Delhi to discuss the ills afflicting Indian cricket? The meeting, which was called by the Sport Minister after the issue of match-fixing in cricket came to the fore with the Delhi Police saying that the former South African skipper Hansie Cronje had indulged in match-fixing by accepting a hefty sum of money from bookie/bookies during the five-match Pepsi series played between India and South Africa, is of utmost importance because the issue of match-fixing might well sound the death-knell of the game of cricket. The April 27 meeting will be attended not only by the captain, manager and coach of the Indian team and office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but also past captains and office-bearers of the board, besides senior players and administrators of the game. But will this meeting be able to direct the government to order a CBI enquiry —a demand which is getting more and more support not only from cricket administrators and players but also the paying public, without whose support and patronage the game of cricket as we know it is bound to die a natural death. But the biggest stumbling block to the ordering a CBI enquiry might be the office-bearers of the BCCI itself who may see in the enquiry the end of their “autonomous” status. But the issue of match-fixing has so many ramifications that it would be foolish on the part of the BCCI big-wigs to oppose a CBI probe. Such a probe might well help to get the game of cricket back on the rails. In fact, it is learnt, that certain board officials are looking towards the April 27 meeting to settle old scores in the board as also to discuss India’s poor showing not only in Australia but also at Sharjah. But if they indeed take the discussion towards these issues, bypassing the issue of match-fixing, they will be doing a singular disservice not only to the board but also to the game. The BCCI is the only sports association which does not depend on government dole to carry out its activities. In fact, the board is a net foreign exchange earner. Moreover, Doordarshan earns crores of rupees by telecasting cricket matches. Therefore, will the board bow to the dictats of the government? Common sense says that by agreeing to a CBI enquiry into the whole issue of match-fixing the board will only help to maintain the public support that the game of cricket generates. But one thing which should gladden the hearts of the followers of the game is the attitude taken not only by Mr Dhindsa but also the coach of the national cricket squad, Kapil Dev. While day in and day out Mr Dhindsa is holding out that he is not averse to a CBI probe into the whole issue of match-fixing he has also gone on record to say that the cricketers as well as the cricket administrators must declare their assets at the earliest. Such a declaration might help to clear the charges that cricketers, also certain certain cricket administrators, have assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. (Why the BCCI has been so quiet on the issue of the car gifted to Mohammad Azharuddin after a tournament at Sharjah has only helped to add spice to the whole of issue of income and assets of cricketers and cricket administrators). The Union Sports Minister has also gone on record to say that whoever discloses names in the match-fixing issue (he obviously had Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra and Manoj Prabhakar in mind) would be given not only full security but also help to take care of any legal hassle. The coach of the Indian team is of the view that India should not play any international cricket until the issue of match-fixing is solved. Kapil’s view, however, has been objected by a number of cricket administrators who argue that a few rotten fish should not be allowed to spoil the whole “river of cricket.” What Mr Dhindsa should do is to bring the President of the International Cricket Council, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya. to the April 27 meeting so that the charges being levelled by Mr Bindra can be discussed threadbare. Mr Bindra has gone on record to say that Mr Dalmiya is under the “influence of the mafia” and has also challenged him to an open debate on the issue of match-fixing. Mr Dalmiya, however, has yet to accept the challenge. But if such a public debate is indeed carried out it might just help to clear some of the issue plaguing international cricket at the current moment. The attitude adopted by
the President of the BCCI, Mr A.C. Muthiah, as also its
Secretary, Mr J.Y. Lele, who has the penchant of putting
his foot into his month every time he opens it, who have
totally ignored the allegations levelled by Mr Bindra
time and again has only helped the rumour mills to work
overtime. Such an attitude does give credence to the view
that the current office-bearers of the BCCI are only
“front men” of Mr Dalmiya who are not willing
to take any independent stand on any issue concerning
cricket. |
Fernandes to lead football team NEW DELHI, April 25 (UNI) — Roberto Fernandes will lead 20-member Indian football team in the tournament to be played at Male (Maldives) from May 1 to 12. The tournament is being held to celebrate the 50th year of the National Association of Maldives. The team: Prasanto Dora, Virender Mohan, Falguni Dutta, Mahesh Gawli, Roberto Fernandes (capt), Daljit Singh, Anthony Pereira, Tapan Ghosh, M. Suresh, Julies Alberato, Khalid Jamil, Rockey Bretto, R.P. Singh, Abbas Ali Rizzvi, Vijen Singh, Manjit Singh, Mohammed Najeeb, S. Ignatious, Hardip Gill and Francis Silveria. Coach: Sukhwinder Singh;
Technical Director — K. Bodhanandan; Manager —
M.P. Singh; Chef De Mission — Mohd. Riazuddin;
Doctor: Churchinben. |
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LONDON, April 25 (PTI) — India leg-spinner Anil Kumble’s splendid four-wicket haul went in vain as Lancashire scored a one-wicket win over Leicestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup one-day cricket tie at Old Trafford yesterday. Lancashire, chasing a modest 173 for victory, were cruising at 97 for two when Andy Flintoff, jumped out to hit Kumble, finished on his back, and was stumped. Kumble signalled further decline as he removed Graham Lloyd and Warren Hegg off successive balls. England left-hander Neil Fairbrother and Chris Schofield figured in a recovery but Leicestershire seemed on the verge of a win as 25 runs were still needed when the last wicket pair of Smethurst and Austin came together. The two, however,
clinched the issue with Austin hitting the winning
boundary off Vince Wells with nine balls left. |
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SARAJEVO, April 25 (Reuters) — Brazilian World Cup winner Dunga has donated $ 206,000 to a village for orphans project run by an Austrian humanitarian agency, a FIFA official said. Dunga pledged the money ahead of today’s “football for peace’’ charity match between a FIFA World Stars XI and Bosnia, FIFA technical director Walter Gagg said yesterday. “He gave it for the
Unicef SOS Children’s Village,” Mr Gagg told a
news conference accompanied by Dunga, Mustapha Hadji of
Morocco and World Stars coaches Carlos Alberto Parreira
and Carlos Queiroz. |
Oman pull out of Asia hockey meet KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (AP) — Oman has withdrawn from next month’s Junior World Cup field hockey qualifying tournament, saying it was unable to raise an under-21 team because of school examinations at home, the Asian Hockey Federation said. Sri Lanka, listed as the first reserve team, has been invited to replace Oman, which was due to meet Malaysia in the opening match on May 3, S. Satgunam, secretary for the AHF competitions committee, said yesterday. Satgunam said Sri Lanka had indicated that it would be keen to take part in the tournament, scheduled for May 3 to 14 in Kuala Lumpur. Oman was in group A, which has Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Pakistan and Singapore. Group B comprises Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Japan and Uzbekistan. The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Junior World Cup finals in Hobart, Australia, next year. The third Junior
Women’s Asia Cup, also in Kuala Lumpur, will be held
simultaneously with the men’s tournament from May 6
to 13. |
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LONDON, April 25 (AFP) — Manchester United refused to let Chelsea ruin their title party at Old Trafford yesterday as the premiership champions rolled out 3-2 winners, their eighth straight league victory. Goals from Romanian Dan Petrescu and Italian Gianfranco Zola had given the visitors a 2-1 lead after Trinidad and Tobago international Dwight Yorke had put United 1-0 up following a blunder by keeper Ed De Goey. But Norwegian international Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck six minutes before the break to level the scores before Yorke struck his second and United’s third after 69 minutes to snatch all three points. After clinching the title in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Southampton, over 61,000 packed Old Trafford to witness the champions’ homecoming. Even the fact that United, unbeaten at home in the premiership all season, will not be presented with the trophy until their final home match against Tottenham on May 6, it did not quell the celebrations. Defeat for fifth-placed Chelsea, who had previously only lost twice at United in the league in 32 years, was a bitter blow to their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who is due to complete his record 19-million-pound (about Rs 135 crore) move from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in the next 48 hours was at the match. Yorke scored his 50th goal for United and 21st of the season in the 10th minute. Brazilian Emerson Thome rolled a risky backpass to De Goey, but as the Chelsea keeper tried to clear the danger, Yorke nipped in to block his kick and the ball rebounded off the striker into the net. Tore-Andre Flo was causing problems for the United defenders and his hopeful cross led to Chelsea drawing level in the 22nd minute. Petrescu and Phil Neville challenged together and the ball fell kindly for the Romanian international to fire an unstoppable volley past Van Der Gouw at the near-post. Flo and Petrescu were instrumental in Chelsea taking a 36th-minute lead. Norwegian striker Flo easily outjumped Mickael Silvestre to head back Bernard Lambourde’s long angled cross to Petrescu. The midfielder looked up before curling a pinpoint ball to the feet of Zola, whose volley bounced into the ground and over the United keeper. The lead lasted less than three minutes, however, before Solskjaer, who had just been booked for a less severe foul than Yorke’s, equalised for United. Giggs found the Norwegian in space on the left and he fired in a low shot that wrongfooted De Goey. Solskjaer headed just over the bar from Neville’s cross after 62 minutes in one of United’s rare second half attacks as Chelsea enjoyed plenty of possession without threatening United’s goal. Substitute Jordi Cruyff came had an immediate impact when he came on with a little over 20 minutes to go. The Dutchman threaded a superb pass to Beckham in the clear on the right of the area. The midfielder’s first touch was uncharacteristically poor but he still managed to get in a shot which De Goey could only palm to Yorke to slot home from a couple of yards out. Two minutes later, Yorke tried an overhead kick which he sliced to Cruyff on the penalty spot. His sharp effort was stopped by De Goey right on the goal-line. Dutchman Mario Melchiot, making a rare appearance for the “Blues,” made a twisting run into the United box and set up Flo with a clear chance but he scooped his shot on to the bar and over. Paul Scholes blocked
Zola’s shot with two minutes to go and United held
on for victory. |
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VIJAYAWADA, April 25 (UNI) — Holders Punjab, runners up Tamil Nandu and Kerala entered the semifinal matches of the 27th All-India Electricity Board Basketball tournament, scoring easy victories in their league championship here today. In group “A” Tamil Nadu, who accounted for Orissa 76-56 last night, registered their second win against hosts Andhra Pradesh 70-31 today to enter the semifinal in style. The match between Orissa and the hosts tonight would decide the second team in the group that will enter the last four stage. In group “B”, Kerala lashed Karnataka 85-29 and the holders whipped Karnataka 92-25 to assure themselves of a berth in the last four. The winner and runner-up in the three-team group will be decided tonight. The experienced Tamil Nadu players collected rebounds easily, got fast breaks and mounted quick attacks to score easy basket against the Andhra players whose shooting was inaccurate and rebound collection poor. The winners led 38-16 at half time. Sakthivelu (16) was the main scorer for Tamil Nadu and Prasad (6) for the hosts. Karnataka meekly surrendered to Punjab 25-92 and then to Kerala 85-19 in the three-team group “B” and were now out of contention. Kerala’s pivot Ramesh (24) converted a number of rebounds and excelled in drive in shots also and Francis (14) was accurate in long range shooting. For Karnataka, their captain Thyagarajan (13) was the only main scorer. The Punjab team coaches by international Amrit Pal led 54-16 at half time. Gurlal Singh (15), Ravinder Pal (14) and Gurupeet Singh (15) were accurate in long range shooting against Karnataka whose captain Thyagarajan 12 was the only notable scorer. In another match, the
youthful Orissa trounced Maharashtra 71-21 with Mohar
Shah (21) playing remarkably well for Orissa,
Maharashtra’s PP Ghate (8) was the only notable
player for the losers. |
Holding, Thomson to help Shabbir KARACHI, April 25 (ANI) — Promising young fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has left for the West Indies where former greats Michael Holding and Jeff Thomson will help him settle into his modified bowling action. Yawar Saeed, Director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said from Islamabad that Shabbir would not be a member of the Pakistan squad in the West Indies and the idea behind sending him was to ensure a smooth comeback for him to the international arena. “Holding and Thomson will work with him and study his modified bowling action to help him work out any problems. He will return once they clear his action and if need arises he can be asked to join the Pakistan team there for the Test matches,” said Yawar Saeed. Shabbir was last October dropped from the Pakistan squad which went to Australia on the advice of the International Cricket Council (ICC) advisory panel on illegal deliveries since they suspected his bowling action. But since then the Board had helped Shabbir modify his bowling action in a bid to facilitate his return to international cricket. Shabbir, in fact, played at the domestic level enjoying considerable success with first the Pakistan reserves side and then with Wapda. Holding is a member of the ICC advisory panel on illegal deliveries, which had also banned Shoaib Akhtar from the one day series in Australia, a suspension which was later overturned by ICC Chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya on technical grounds. Yawar, however, said that the departure of opening batsman Saeed Anwar to the Caribbeans had been delayed for a few days although he was also booked on a flight on Sunday. “But I don’t think he has gone because he has informed chief selector Wasim Bari that he wanted to train here for a couple of days before joining the team.” According to the PCB official, Saeed was still not sure if he had regained full match fitness which was why he had delayed his departure. Asked about the players scheduled to return from the West Indies to accommodate Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Anwar, he said apparently Atiquz Zaman, Irfan Fazil, Shoaib Malik and Naveed Qureshi had already left from there. When asked if there had
been any more developments on the PCB reactions to Dr Ali
Bacher’s statement about the Pakistan-Bangladesh
match being fixed in the World Cup, Yawar said he had
read a statement from Bacher somewhere that he had not
taken any individual’s or team’s name in his
reported statement to the Australian newspapers. “I
think he has already started retracting his earlier
statement.” |
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TOKYO,April 25 (PTI) Indian women came back from two setpoints down in the deciding tie to upset fourth seeded Thailand on the opening day of the Asia Oceania group I Fed Cup Tennis Tournament in Osaka today.Top Indian Nirupama Vaidyanathan lost her match in the second singles to tenacious Tamarine Tanasugarn, but returned with fire in the doubles with Manisha Malhotra to stun the Thai pair. National hardcourt champion Sai Jayalakshmi put India 1-0 ahead beating Napaporn Tongsalee 6-4 6-2 earlier in the day, but Nirupama’s loss to Tanasugarn evened the scores. Nirupama lost rather tamely to Thai ace Tanasugarn 3-6 3-6 dampening Indian spirits for a while. “I went into the match thinking that singles tie was going to be tough... it wasn’t easy one at all. Tamarine was just better than me and there was nothing that I could do,” Nirupama said after the match. But Nirupama, who last week won ITF Women’s Circuit Tournament in New Delhi, teamed up with her regular partner Manisha Malhotra in the deciding doubles of the best-of-three rubber. Nirupama saved two set points in the first set tie-break before winning it 7-6 (10/8) against Thai duo of Tanasugarn and Benjamas Sangaram. Gaining confidence, the crack Indian pair rolled past the better rated Thais for a 7-6 (10/8) 6-2 verdict. “The doubles was what mattered. We had an absolutely open mind and Manisha was really aggressive and supported me well,” Nirupama said after the match. India’s real test
will come tomorrow against Japan, who had a rest day
today. |
Lanka face Bangladesh in opener MUMBAI, April 25 (PTI) — Holders Sri Lanka will take on the hosts Bangladesh in the opening match of the four-nation Asia Cup cricket tournament to be held at Dhaka from May 30 to June 8. India, who finished runners-up when the tournament was last held in the Emerald Isle in 1997, are to open their engagements by taking on the Lankans on June 1, as per the revised schedule of the tournament available with the cricket board here. The schedule is: May 30: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka May 31: rest day June 1: India v Sri Lanka June 2: Pakistan v Bangladesh June 3: India v Bangladesh June 4: Pakistan v Sri Lanka June 5: rest day June 6: Pakistan v India June 7: rest day June 8: final June 9: rain/reserve
day. |
Haryana
wrestlers win title ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 25 — Haryana won the team championships in free style competitions for boys and girls with 76 points and 79 points, respectively, while Punjab clinched the team championship in greeco roman style for boys with 79 points at the Sub-Junior National Wrestling Championship for boys and girls which concluded here last evening. In the free style boys competitions, Delhi with 72 points were runners-up while Himachal Pradesh with 56 points finished third. In the free style girls competitions, Punjab with 75 points and Delhi with 60 points obtained second and third positions, respectively. While in the greeco roman style for boys Haryana with 69 points were runners-up and Maharashtra with 67 points finished third. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, who was the chief guest, and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supply Minister, gave away the prizes to the players. The following are the final results:- Free style (boys):- 42 kg-Anand (Haryana) 1, Parkash Patil (Maharashtra) 2. 46 kg- Pawan Kumar (Har) 1, Shivaji Patil (Mah) 2. 50 kg- Sandip Patil (Mah) 1, Gianender (UP) 2. 54 kg- Rohtash (WB) 1, Kuldip (HP) 2. kg- Joginder (Punjab) 1, Sandip (Har) 2. 63 kg- Niranjan Verma (MP) 1, Brij Lal (WB) 2. 69 kg- Ramesh Kumar (Chd) 1, Ashish (Har) 2. 76 kg- Manjeev (Har) 1, Narinder (UP) 2. 85 kg-Narinder (Delhi) 1, Dhayaneshwar (Mah) 2. 85 kg-Pawan Kumar (Delhi) 1, Chander Paul (Har) 2. Free style (girls):- 38 kg- Davyanka (Gujarat) 1, Y. Male Linachanu (WB) 2. 40 kg- Ritu (Punjab) 1, Dimple (Chd) 2. 43 kg- Manju (Har) 1, Priyanka (Pb) 2. 46 kg-Kamini (Delhi) 1, Babita (UP) 2. 49 kg- Sonu Jain (Har) 1, Tarwinder Kaur (Pb) 2. 52 kg- Kiran Jangra (Har) 1, Sukhdeep Kaur (HP) 2. 56 kg-Sunita Sharma (Har) 1, Sangita Yadav (HP) 2. 60 kg- Manisha (Delhi) 1, Baljinder (Pb) 2. 65 kg- Suman Preet (Pb) 1, Parveen (Har) 2. Greeco roman style (boys): 42 kg-Sonu (Har) 1,
Sanjay Patil (Mah) 2. 46 kg- Aditya Raj (MP) 1, Santokh
Singh (Pb) 2. 50 kg-Rohit Kumar (Pb) 1, Ram Dodh (Mah 2.
54 kg-Ghanaya Lal (UP) 1, Jasbir Singh (HP) 2. 58
kg-Sarup Singh (Pb) 1, Joginder (Har) 2.63 kg-Bhupinder
Thakur (Pb) 1, Phul Kumar (Chd) 2. 69 kg-Karambir (Delhi)
1, Sher Sikander (Chd) 2. 76 kg-Harindra (UP) 1, Amal
Bichade (Mah) 2. 85 kg-Sanjay (Delhi) 1, Inderjit Singh
(Pb) 2. 85 kg-Dharminder (Delhi) 1, Suresh (HP) 2. |
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