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| Sunday, June 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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France, Holland move into last
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| Italian clubs eying Portugal stars ROME, June 17 — Italian clubs have set their sights on some shining stars of Euro 2000, with Portugal’s Luis Figo, Manuel Rui Costa and Joao Pinto topping the “most-wanted” charts of the serie A, Italian media reported. Windies all out for 397 BIRMINGHAM, June 17 — West Indies, replying to England’s first innings total of 179, were all out for 397 just before lunch on the third day of the first Test at Edgbaston today.
Udomchoke lifts singles title ‘Ban
players involved in match-fixing’
Battlefield trophy for London
museum
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France, Holland move into last eight BRUSSELS, June 17 (AFP) —World Champions France and co-hosts Holland both produced scintillating football as they booked places in the Euro 2000 quarter-finals but pool D lived up to its ‘group of death’ tag for Denmark and the Czech Republic, eliminated with still a game to play. France followed up their impressive 3-0 win over Denmark with a fine 2-1 triumph over the Czech Republic in Bruges, Belgium yesterday. Thierry henry profited from a Petr Gabriel Clanger to give ‘Les Bleus’ (the Blues) a seventh minute lead and after Karel Poborsky squared the match for the Czechs from a penalty it was Henry who set up what proved to be the winner for substitute Youri Djorkaeff. Holland, unconvincing 1-0 winners over the Czechs in their first match, took almost an hour to get going against Denmark at Rotterdam but goals from Patrick Kluivert, Ronald de Boer and Boudewijn Zenden eventually ensured a 3-0 scoreline for Frank Rijkaard’s ‘Oranje’ amid carnival scenes inside the stadium. In truth Denmark, who won the European Championship in 1992, cannot complain too much after two 3-0 defeats - they are yet to score with Michael Schjonberg firing a late penalty wide against Holland. But the Czech Republic, the 1996 runners-up and who won all 10 of their Euro 2000 qualifiers, might be spared some sympathy after running Holland close only to lose to a late Frank de Boer penalty and also giving France a run for their money. Czech coach Jozef Chovanec said: “I am satisfied with the behaviour of my team.” “But we fell to a great team who deserved their victory. The match against France was more difficult than the one against the Dutch. The world champions are more convincing.” Chovanec admitted his team were ruing early misses by Pavel Nedved and Jan Koller. While Nedved was denied by a great Fabien Barthez save when the score was 1-1, Koller almost equalised a second time for the Czechs when his header struck the bar in the second period. France coach Roger Lemerre was understandably a happy man even though he had to wait for the result of the later match at Rotterdam to be 100 per cent certain of progress. “Congratulations to the team and Henry, who was man-of-the-match,” said Lemerre. “France will go through to the last eight. It’s good. Our objective has been reached.” Djorkaeff scored the winner as a second half substitute for Emmanuel Petit whose mistake led to the Czech penalty conceded by Didier Deschamps for a foul on Nedved. It was not all good news for France, however. Petit and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez both picked up strains while full-back Bixente Lizarazu, named in Lemerre’s starting line-up, had to pull out before kick-off after straining a muscle in the pre-match warm-up. “It was at the end of the warm-up,” explained Lizarazu, a key member of the World Cup winning team. “I felt a pain in the right thigh and it lasted until the sprinting was over. I did not want to take any risks. We will know more tomorrow,” explained the Basque, who plays his club football for Bayern Munich. He was replaced at short notice by Vincent Candela who played well and whose dummy run helped Djorkaeff score the winner. Holland were pushed close for the best part of an hour by Denmark with Thomas Gravesen hitting the bar towards the end of the first half for the Danes. But the breakthrough came after 57 minutes when Kluivert fired home a rebound after Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel had done well to keep out a shot from Dennis Bergkamp. Nine minutes later the impressive Zenden set up the second goal on a plate for Ronald de Boer who could hardly miss and then Zenden finished off a move after a brilliant solo run from Michael Reiziger. Rijkaard admitted he had been a worried man at the interval. “At half-time I was not confident,” confided the man who featured in Holland’s 1988 European Championship winning team. “I wanted us to exert more pressure on the wings, more pressure up front, that we get more possession and that we score goals. “When that happened things started to go better. I congratulate my players,” said Rijkaard, who had criticised the team spirit in the ‘Oranje’ camp before the match. “Honestly we can take advantage of this. I will start thinking about France (who Holland play in their final group D match) tomorrow (Saturday).” As Holland finally produced the goods there was a carnival atmosphere in Rotterdam’s De Kuip Stadium with the orange-clad fans, although the players wore a blue change strip, waving their arms in unison. Kluivert was elated by the scenes, saying: “It’s fantastic for the whole country and now the party can start. It was better tonight because we played with fast wingers. But it’s not only good football that counts but the result.” Denmark coach Bo Johansson blamed tiredness for the capitulation that leaves his team with only a meaningless group D match with fellow losers the Czech Republic to look forward to. “We were exhausted after the defending we had to do in the first-half and just couldn’t play as we wanted to in the second-half,” lamented Johansson, a Swede. “In the second-half the players were tired in fact more tired than they should have been.” “After the second goal we completely lost our formation and were lucky just to concede another goal,” said Johansson who will be replaced by Morten Olsen after Euro 2000. The ‘group of death’ tag was well-deserved for pool D. France, reigning World Cup holders, are ranked second in the world while the Czechs are ranked third after a flawless qualifying campaign. Holland, as co-hosts, have a team packed with individual talent and the backing of a partisan crowd while Denmark won the tournament eight years ago. But in the end the Dutch and in particular the French have qualified in some style with one round of games left to play in the pool. Italy are already in the last eight as they are certain to win group B.
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Spain have edge on Slovenia AMSTERDAM, June 17 (AFP) — Spain will be looking to salvage their Euro 2000 campaign when they take on rank outsiders Slovenia in a group C match at Amsterdam Arena here tomorrow. The Spaniards were strongly fancied coming into the tournament, but once again they flattered to deceive in a desperately disappointing 1-0 loss to Norway in their opener. Another below-par performance would likely see them getting ready to pack their bags for home and if on paper they look a cut above the Slovenians, Srecko Katanec’s free-spirited side have earned a deserved reputation as upset kings. Their pulsating 3-3 draw against Yugoslavia after leading 3-0, and with the Yugoslavs down to 10 men, was proof again of both their attacking prowess and defensive and tactical frailties. The Spaniards were hit by a new blow yesterday when Celta Vigo right-back Juan Velasco could not train because of an injured right thigh. Velasco might have been expected to replace Michel Salgado, who was one of the few Spanish players to perform well against Norway, but who is carrying an injury. Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho has indicated he will make changes against Slovenia with defender Paco Jemez, midfielder Fran and striker Ismael Urzaiz likely to make way for Abelardo, Gaizka Mendieta and Alfonso Perez respectively. Camacho would not say if Santiago Canizares would come in for goalkeeper Francisco Molina, whose gaffe allowed Norway’s Steffen Iversen to score the only goal in Rotterdam. Aleksander Knavs and Sasa Udovic were the principal doubts for Slovenia. Knavs has a thigh injury and is almost certain to miss the Spanish date, having also missed the Yugoslavia match. Udovic, who played against the Yugoslavs, could still make it but has to first get over an ankle injury. Once again they will be heavily dependent on attacking midfielder Zlatko Zahovic who scored two goals against Yugoslavia and supplied the final pass for the third. Spain will be looking for a vastly-improved performance from Barcelona playmaker Raul who had been touted to be one of the big stars of the tournament. But he complained of
muscle fatigue in the build-up to the finals and he
looked decidedly out of sorts against the sturdy
Norwegians. Against Slovenia he is likely to have more
space to exercise his passing talents. |
Norway take on Yugoslavia today LIEGE (Belgium), June 17 (AFP) — Norway will be calling on another dose of the ‘Brazil spirit’ here tomorrow when they take on group C rivals Yugoslavia with a place in the Euro 2000 quarter-finals at stake. The unfancied Norwegians caused the first major upset of the tournament when they scored a 1-0 victory over Spain, supposedly one of the favourites to win these championships. A delirious press in Oslo harked back to a historic night in the 1998 World Cup finals, when Norway came back to beat defending champions Brazil 2-1 in the group phase, booking their place in the second round against all expectations. At Euro 2000, one more victory will ensure they reach the last eight. And given Yugoslavia’s sloppy performance against no-hopers Slovenia, the objective is well within reach. Yugoslavia may have a better side on paper, with half their team at the top clubs in Italy and Spain. But the way they conceded three goals to Slovenia underlined the sluggishness of Vujadin Boskov’s back four. Add to that the suspension of Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic after his sending off last Tuesday, and there’s every reason for Norway coach Nils Johan Semb to be optimistic. Yugoslavia’s Euro 2000 campaign was saved by the sheer inexperience and indiscipline of the Slovenians, who conceded three goals in six minutes. Having convincingly locked out the stars of the Spanish Primera Liga, Norway’s well-organised side are clearly not going to suffer the same impromptu collapse as the Slovenians. In short, Yugoslavia won’t get out of jail a second time. Erik Mykland, Norway’s ‘man-of-the-match’ against Spain, hammered the point home, saying: “We have a wonderful spirit and we play as a very solid unit making it difficult for teams to break us down. We are hard to play against.” Semb has, meanwhile, made it clear that the euphoria that followed the victory over the Spanish would soon evaporate, to be replaced by a determination to take three more points. “We know that this victory means nothing unless we qualify from the group and we have a very difficult game coming up against Yugoslavia,” he said. But he is convinced his team can rise to the occasion, saying: “Our team is capable of beating anyone.” Goalscorer Steffen Iversen went even further, claiming: “The atmosphere is excellent and if we reach the quarter-finals we can go all the way.”
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Euro 2000 : TV sets in toilets too BRUSSELS, June 17 (Reuters) — Belgian fans following their team’s Euro 2000 fortunes on television in a cafe in Ghent are guaranteed not to miss any of the action even if caught short by a call of nature. Owners of the Oude Bijloke Bar have installed a small TV in the men’s toilets so customers can catch all the action. “We already had screens in the cafe but some of our male customers complained they were missing bits of the matches while called away,” Mr Rudy Lambert told Het Nieuwsblad yesterday. “So far we’ve had no complaints from our female customers.
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Hooliganism begins as English fans arrive CHARLEROI, June 17 (AFP) — The situation was calm on the streets of Charleroi this morning following overnight clashes involving English fans here to attend the crunch Euro 2000 game between England and Germany. Police spokesman Michel Romben said although there were no signs of more trouble early in the day, thousands of police officers and anti-riot police would be kept on high alert. In the overnight violence, an English football fan was seriously injured after being stabbed by a Turk, the Charleroi police said. Trouble broke out in a bar in the city’s main Charles II square between English and Turkish football supporters, Mr Romben said. No Germans were involved in the incident. The injured English fan was in a serious condition after being knived in the back during an incident about 1:45 am. A group of English fans then ran after the Turk out on the streets and, during the chase, an English fan struck and injured a policeman, Mr Romben said. Mr Romben said the police had made 17 arrests today mainly for administrative reasons with fans not having the correct papers with them. The high risk match, touted by many as a potential tinderbox, has up to 3,000 police on standby in this biggest security operation for a sporting event in Belgium. Seven medical teams, two helicopters circling above the Stade Charleroi du Pays and 60 fire engines will also be on hand to deal with any problems. There will be 120 police officers within the stadium and 13 water-cannons at their disposal. A carefully worked out system to segregate fans will also be in place. A perimeter around the stadium, from between 600m to 1km behind each stand, will seal off the area. An alcohol ban will be enforced within the perimeter and nobody will be able to get through unless they live there or have a ticket or accreditation to see the match. In Brussels, at least 350 arrests were made as Belgian police followed through on their zero-tolerance approach to trouble-makers. An Interior Ministry spokesman said those arrested would be expelled from Belgian territory later today. The arrests followed clashes earlier in the day between English fans and groups of immigrant workers and youths. The supporters then gathered outside a bar next to the central Place de la Bourse. Anti-riot police moved in as chairs, tables and other missiles were sent flying and scores of English fans were forcibly led away. “Some British hooligans — some of whom had been pointed out by British police — and with very dangerous reputations were uncovered in two cafes in the centre of Brussels,” said Brussels Mayor Francois-Xavier De Donnea. “Police then launched a lightning raid to neutralise them. In all 139 have been arrested. Thirty-five are under judicial arrest for incitement to violence, vandalism and violence.” One policeman and several supporters were injured in the clashes — three had to be taken to hospital.
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COLOMBO, June 17 (AFP) — Wasim Akram produced a lethal spell of fast bowling to rout Sri Lanka for 123 and then showed a solid batting performance to inflict a five-wicket defeat on the hosts. Pakistan won with a day to spare in the first cricket Test played at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds today. The defeat was especially bitter for Sri Lanka, who were marking their 100th Test amid expectations of a memorable win. Pakistan, needing 131 for victory, slumped to 89 for 5 before Akram, promoted in the batting to counter Muthiah Muralitharan’s spin, and Younis Khan guided them through. Pakistan lead 1-0 in the three-Test series. Akram, who won the man-of-the-match award was unbeaten on 20 and Younis Khan, who made 32 not out, finished the match in style by hitting danger-man Muralitharan for two sixes in an over. The off-spinner had earlier given Sri Lanka an outside chance of winning when he snapped up the wickets of Yousuf Youhana and Mohammad Wasim in the first over after the tea break. He then accounted for Inzamam-ul-Haq four overs later to have Pakistan struggling at 66 for 4. Skipper Moin Khan added 23 for the fourth wicket with Akram before falling lbw to Nuwan Zoysa, but Akram and Younis Khan kept their heads to carry Pakistan to victory. The Test turned out to be a personal triumph for the 34-year-old veteran Akram even though it was a disappointment for the hosts. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings) : 273 Pakistan (1st innings) : 266 Sri Lanka (2nd innings) Atapattu c Anwar b Arshad 40 Jayasuriya lbw b Waqar 8 Arnold c M. Wasim b Akram 1 A De Silva c Inzamam b 21 Razzaq Jayewardene c M. Wasim b 1 Arshad Ranatunga c Anwar b Akram 7 Kaluwitharana c Younis b Arshad 6 Vaas c and b Akram 20 Zoysa c Inzamam b Akram 13 Fernando b Akram 0 Muralitharan not out 3 Extras (lb-1, w-1, nb-1) 3 Total (all out in 61.3 overs) 123 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-25, 3-67, 4-71, 5-73, 6-82, 7-88, 8-120, 9-120, 10-123. Bowling: Waqar 9-3-21-1, Akram 15.3-1-45-5, Razzaq 14-6-23-1, Arshad 22-8-30-3, Mushtaq 1-0-3-0. Pakistan (2nd innings): S Anwar c Fernando b Zoysa 6 M Wasim lbw b Muralitharan 30 Y Youhana b Muralitharan 11 I Haq c Arnold b Muralitharan 13 W Akram not out 20 M Khan lbw b Zoysa 11 Y Khan not out 32 Extras (b-4, nb-4) 8 Total (for 5 wkts in 42 overs) 131 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-51, 3-52, 4-66, 5-89. Bowling: Vaas 8-3-20-0, Zoysa 13-1-38-2, Muralitharan 17-3-53-3, Fernando 3-0-14-0, Arnold 1-0-2-0.
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Windies all out for 397 BIRMINGHAM, June 17 (Reuters) — West Indies, replying to England’s first innings total of 179, were all out for 397 just before lunch on the third day of the first Test at Edgbaston today. Scoreboard England (1st innings) : 179 West Indies (1st innings: (overnight 336/7): S. Campbell b Gough 59 C. Gayle lbw b Gough 0 W. Hinds c Hussain b 12 Caddick B. Lara c Stewart b Gough 50 S. Chanderpaul c Stewart b 73 Flintoff J. Adams c Flintoff b Gough 98 R. Jacobs c Stewart b 5 Caddick C. Ambrose lbw b Croft 22 F. Rose lbw b Gough 48 R. King st Stewart b Croft 1 C. Walsh not out 3 Extras (b-6, lb-14, nb-6) 26 Total (all out in 136.5 overs) 397 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-24, 3-123, 4-136, 5-230, 6-237, 7-292, 8-354, 9-385. Bowling: Gough
36.5-7-109-5, Caddick 30-6-94-2, Giddins 18-4-73-0, Croft
29-9-53-2, Flintoff 23-10-48-1. |
Udomchoke lifts singles title BANGALORE, June 17 (PTI) — Despite fitness problems, top seed Danai Udomchoke of Thailand won the men’s singles title defeating fourth seed Harsh Mankad 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the final of the ITF Satellite Tennis Tournament here today. Much was expected of Mankad, but he failed to grab the opportunities presented by Udomchoke, who was handicapped by a muscle pull. “I could not concentrate in the first set. A terrible muscle pull would have cost the title but I managed to serve well and I was lucky too,” said Udomchoke, who is the number two player in Thailand. Udomchoke hit some aimless shots in the first set, and lost it 4-6. However, Mankad failed to gather momentum in the second, hitting waywardly, dropping serve and presented easy points to his rival. Udomchoke broke in the eighth game and levelled four all. He held the next game, and after a few tense moments in which deuce was called thrice, he broke Mankad in the tenth to take the set. In the decider, Mankad got back into the game when he broke his rival in the first game and led 2-0 but then lost focus. He failed to hold serve in the eighth game, and that proved costly. The top seed held his nerves and came out winner. “I failed to come to terms with Udomchoke. He virtually gave up in the beginning but my own mistakes proved very expensive,” said Mankad. Udomchoke took home the winner’s purse of $812.50. Harsh Mankad had some consolation as he won the doubles title partnering Ajay Ramaswamy. They beat Vikrant Chadha and Kunj Majumdar 6-4 7-5. Chada and Majumdar, who were winners in the first leg at Mumbai, made mistakes at crucial junctures and paid the penalty. The winners collected $ 393.75 (about Rs 17,353).
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Italian clubs eying Portugal stars ROME, June 17 (DPA) — Italian clubs have set their sights on some shining stars of Euro 2000, with Portugal’s Luis Figo, Manuel Rui Costa and Joao Pinto topping the “most-wanted” charts of the serie A, Italian media reported. Italian champions Lazio are reported to have made an irresistible offer to Barcelona for Luis Figo, author of a stunning goal against England. Barcelona estimated Figo’s cost at a staggering 110 billion liras (55 million dollars), but Lazio are tempting the 27-year-old winger with a lavish four-year contract worth 10 billion liras per season. “We have met (Figo agent Jose) Veiga and we are satisfied to know that Figo would be pleased to join Lazio,” Lazio manager Massimo Cragnotti, son of the club owner, was quoted as saying. “It is obvious that Lazio are ready to get him if he decides to leave Barcelona,” Cragnotti added. Despite declarations by Barcelona that Figo is “not for sale”, Veiga said the Portuguese had an “80 per cent chance” of leaving the Spanish club. Rui Costa has recently said he wants to leave Fiorentina despite a contract that expires in 2003, prompting AC Milan, Parma and Bayern Mnich to attempt to grab the Portuguese playmaker. But after losing Gabriel Batistuta to Roma, Fiorentina have no intention of selling their star player. In turn, the Florence club has offered a contract worth 5 billion liras to fellow Portuguese Joao Pinto. Joao Pinto, who is a good friend of Rui Costa, recently list his job at Benfica after falling out with the club’s German coach, Jupp Heynkes. Stefano Fiore, the
Italian playmaker who netted a splendid goal in
Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Belgium, is reportedly
close to leaving Udinese. |
‘Ban players involved in match-fixing’ SONIPAT, June 17 (PTI) — Forder Haryana Minister and former Haryana Ranji Trophy player Krishna Moorti Hooda today demanded immediate imposition of a ban on the cricket players involved in the match-fixing case. In a statement issued here, he said the revelation of South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje about the involvement of Azharuddin was a serious matter and it needed immediate intervention of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The nation had been stunned by the disclosures made by certain agencies about match-fixing, he observed. He also added that the nation had the right to know the truth and it was high time that the CBI was given free hand to find out the truth. Mere denials by the cricket players involved in match-fixing were not sufficient. He appealed to Union
Finance Minister to direct the Income-Tax Department to
probe the assets of these players. He also demanded the
withdrawal of national awards given to these players by
the Central Government. |
Maracana Stadium turns 50 RIO DE JANEIRO, June 17 (DPA) — Brazil’s most famous football stadium, The Maracana, celebrated its 50th birthday in style with Pele and the late Garrincha honoured as the most famous stars who ever set their football boots on to the green grass. The festivities yesterday included the cutting of a birthday cake and various sports activities involving 6,000 children. Pele and Garrincha were honoured in a new hall of fame in the stadium, which was completed on June 16, 1950, for the World Cup later that year. “Without The Maracana I would not be the person I am. Here I debuted in the national team and ended my career,” said the 59-year-old Pele, who also scored his 1,000th career goal in the famous Cement Bowl. The 1970s star Zico said: “When I set foot on the lawn for the first time I was shaking for 10 minutes.” But the Maracana Stadium not only stands for Brazil’s football glory, it also was the site of the proud nation’s biggest debacle shortly after its inauguration. Some 200,000 people were on hand for the deciding 1950 World Cup game, but most left weeping as Brazil were shocked 2-1 by Uruguay. But despite Maracana’s prestige — Pope John Paul II, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Madonna were also celebrated there, the stadium came close to being torn down in the 1990s because it was in a terrible state. However, in the end the huge stadium underwent a complete facelift for the World Club Championships earlier this year and it is also playing an important part in Brazil’s bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
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Subcontinent fountainhead of match-fixing? New Delhi, June 17 (IANS) — Something must be rotten with cricket in the subcontinent. With every new twist to the match-fixing saga, the needle of suspicion points back to the Indian subcontinent. Hansie Cronje’s claim that he was first introduced to a bookmaker by former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin on a tour of India is only the latest example of that phenomenon. Australians Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May said they were approached by Pakistani Salim Malik to throw a match and later Warne and Waugh admitted to taking money to provide information on weather and pitch conditions. Chris Lewis of England said he was approached by Indian sports promoter Aushim Khetarpal. And in the process, somewhere along the quest for truth that probe bodies are engaged in, the controversy appears to be fast turning into an East versus West tug of war — a war between the traditional powers of the game and the money-spinning, fanatical support-base-boasting upstarts. Observers say they are being increasingly led to believe, however embarrassing it may be, that the subcontinent is the fountainhead of the match-fixing racket. Attempts to influence the course of matches have all come from people in the region. Even the suspects in South Africa, like Hamid Cassim, have subcontinental origins. Various statements on the controversy being made available to the media would seem to show that players outside the subcontinent are gullible, innocent and God-fearing men who know no better than to stay clear of such unscrupulous people. It seems they were led by the hand to indulge in such acts. When Delhi police came out with allegations against Hansie Cronje, there was widespread indignation in the white cricketing nations. South African cricket board chief Ali Bacher vehemently opposed the charges and stood by his captain. A practising Christian could do no wrong was the general consensus. There was an almost mocking tone to the various commentaries that the English, Australian and South African media put out. Azharuddin was quick to announce his innocence and claimed that Cronje had named him to divert attention from himself. “They’re doing this because Delhi police exposed him. It’s a counter-attack. This has been planned after careful thought by the South African cricket authorities,” he said. In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Ashok Kumbhat appeared to agree with Azharuddin: “There’s no doubt...there appears to be a conspiracy against Indian cricket.” Even Salim Malik came out with a statement that Cronje was trying to save his neck and accused the South Africans of trying “to implicate Asians”. “Cronje will now name other players round the world as well,” Malik said. Cronje’s intentions in naming Malik and Azharuddin may be part of a larger conspiracy but the fact remains that these two are the prime suspects in the match-fixing racket. Both have been repeatedly named by various people and Malik has been banned by his cricket board following a probe. Accusations against Azharuddin have come from Indian players too while a tax authorities have claimed that he disclosed Rs. 160 million under a voluntary disclosure scheme. Azharuddin might be feeling that there is an Indian conspiracy too against him. Former India internationals Ashok Malhotra and Arun Lal dismissed Cronje’s allegations on Azharuddin. “Cronje has confessed to his corruption while nothing has been proved against the Indian cricketers,” Malhotra said in the eastern city of Calcutta. “Nobody wants to believe him because he has been saying one thing first and then coming up with another set of allegations,” he added. Malhotra, however, did not agree to the conspiracy angle as put out by Azharuddin and Malik. “There is no point in mudslinging. Unless there is some proof, these kinds of statements do not hold water,” he said. Lal said it was wrong to
bring an allegation against a person without any concrete
evidence. “There has been so much allegation and
counter-allegation, but no real evidence as been provided
by anyone,” he said, adding that the issue had
become “explosive”. |
CBI on lookout for Indian bookmaker NEW DELHI, June 17 (PTI) — Indian bookmaker Mukesh Gupta, named by disgraced former South African skipper Hansie Cronje, has gone “underground”, the CBI said today, adding, attempts to locate him had not yielded any positive result so far. The agency said a team of its special crime branch had visited Mr Gupta’s shop as well as residence but did not find him though his father Mr K.L. Gupta alleged that he had been picked up by the investigating agency. Mr Gupta is alleged to be a key-player in the match-fixing scandal in which Cronje had admitted having received $ 80,000 in two instalments. The Guptas are said to be the first generation businessman with a jewellery shop here and a residence in posh south Delhi locality. Cronje had alleged that Mr Mukesh Gupta also known as “MK” was introduced to him by former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin. He told the King Commission on Friday that Mr Gupta gave him a bribe during the 1996 Kanpur cricket Test against India. Mr Gupta’s father said his son had not returned home since yesterday afternoon after going for marketing with his family. “He neither returned home nor to his shop or any other relatives...I suspect he has been picked up,” he said. Denying any involvement
of his son in the match-fixing, he also alleged that the
investigating agency had snapped all telephone lines of
his home. |
Battlefield trophy for London museum LONDON, June 17 (Reuters) — A battlefield trophy marking a historic first World War soccer match between England and Germany was donated to London’s Imperial War Museum yesterday. On the eve of the Euro 2000 soccer clash between the arch-sporting rivals, their most haunting contest is being fittingly commemorated. Private Bill Tucker led a team to victory against German troops when they stepped tentatively out of their muddy trenches and into no man’s land during a 1914 Christmas truce. A decorated beer mug was
handed to Tucker by a German Hussar after the game.
Tucker’s daughter, Barbara Poole, has now donated it
to the museum in the British capital. |
WFI
selects 20
wrestlers HISAR, June 17 — The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has selected 20 grapplers to represent India in the Asian Cadet Wrestling Championship to be held in Iran from June 28 to 30, a spokesman of the WFI said here today. He said 10 grapplers each had been selected in freestyle and greco roman. The selection was held at Shallaru (HP) during the national coaching camp which was in progress since May 10. The team will leave for Iran on June 26 along with four coaches. The team: Greco Roman style: 42 Kg: Aditya Rai (MP), 46 Kg: Rohit Kumar (Punjab), 50 Kg: Ajay (Delhi), 54 Kg: Sarup Singh (Pb.) 58 Kg: Bupender Thakur (Punjab), 63 Kg: Ajay (UP), 69 Kg: Harinder Singh (UP), 76 Kg: Sanjay (Delhi), 85 Kg: Inderjit (Punjab), 100 Kg: Dharmender (Delhi). Freestyle: 42 Kg: Sajay
Patil (Maharashtra), 46 Kg: Sandeep Samant (Maharashtra),
50 Kg: Rohtas (Delhi), 54 Kg: Sandeep (Delhi), 56 Kg:
Sandeep (Haryana), 63 Kg: (Devender (Delhi), 69 Kg:
Ramesh Kumar (Chandigarh), 76 Kg: Narender Singh (Delhi),
85 Kg: Sandeep Kumar (Punjab), 100 Kg: Praveen (Delhi). |
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