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| Sunday, June 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Harbhajan, Haldipur sacked from academy |
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France,
Spain promise rich fare Germany
search for new coach
De Boer
twins keep alive a tradition Anand
wins, takes sole lead Udomchoke
beats Mankad in final
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GALLE, June 24 (AFP) — Pakistan came up with superb all-round effort to beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 163 runs and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series here today. Sri Lanka, requiring a mammoth 419 runs to avoid an innings defeat, were dismissed for 256 in the final session of the fourth day, with more than a day’s play left. Sri Lanka made 181 in their first innings and Pakistan 600 for eight declared in reply. It was another poor batting performance by the Lankans on an excellent batting pitch that saw them crumble to a crushing defeat. Only Marvan Atapattu, who scored 59 with nine fours, and former captain Arjuna Ranatunga who slammed a quick 65 off 80 balls with 13 fours, helped the Lankan cause. Sri Lanka resumed at 45 for one and moved promisingly to 123 for two at lunch before things started to fall apart for them. Off-spinner Arshad Khan snapped up the wickets of Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva (11) within 13 balls in the afternoon session as Lanka slid to 189 for six at tea. Ranatunga, with the support of Chaminda Vaas (20), put together 43 runs for the seventh wicket before Akram had the former captain leg before wicket with a swinging yorker. Azhar Mahmood then accounted for Vaas and Rangana Herath in one over to speed up the victory. Muttiah Muralitharan hit out boldly for 22 off 10 balls which included five fours before Waqar ended the innings and the match by shattering his stumps. Akram, who scored 100 runs and picked up three wickets was adjudged the man-of-the-match. The third and final Test begins in Kandy next Wednesday. |
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Harbhajan, Haldipur sacked from academy MUMBAI, June 24 (PTI) — The cricket board has cracked the whip to nip indiscipline in the bud and sacked three cricketers, including two who have turned out for India in Tests, from the list of trainees at the newly opened National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh of Punjab, who has played in Tests, and opener Nikhil Haldipur of Bengal have been “released” from the academy by its director and former Test middle order batsman Hanumant Singh for falling short in the requirements of discipline and punctuality. The third, Delhi-based Railways left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who had made his Test debut in the last home series against South Africa, was axed because of lack of fitness. He had carried a spate of injuries into the training camp which commenced on May 1 despite the board’s directive that the trainees “should not come with illnesses or injuries”, a release from the NCA director said today. “All three are talented cricketers and the action had to be taken with much pain and regret. They have been suitably counseled and there is every hope that with better sense of discipline and commitment, they will serve the nation with distinction in future”, Hanumant Singh said. “No cricketer, however great, should regard himself bigger than the team or the game, much less the country”, he further emphasised in his statement. The three sacked trainees have been replaced by Manish Sharma of Punjab, Nikhil Doru of Rajasthan and Rakesh Dhruv of Saurashtra who would join the academy for the semester starting on June 26, the note added. Hanumant Singh has also stated in the note that the main aim of the academy was to groom young cricketers with special regard to fitness, athleticism, discipline, proper attitude, team spirit and above all pride in representing one’s country. “Unfortunately, individual performances get more weightage in the media than collective performance. Public adulation sweeps the immature cricketer off his feet until proverbially he becomes too big for his boots. Not many Indian cricketers are able to take success with equanimity”, the former Test batsman has said. “This malaise, together with the belief that to be a cricketer one need not be an athlete and the inherent Indian nature to look for an easy way out of every situation has led to poor attitude, a weak mind, lack of professionalism and a complete neglect of the team’s interest. This has been the bane of Indian cricket”, are his pithy comments. “This is an area of major concern for selectors and the Indian team coaches. Without discipline none of these areas can bear fruit. A few individuals can vitiate the whole atmosphere, making the entire exercise non-productive”, he has further said to elaborate on his stunning action. The three sacked cricketers may now appeal to the academy Chairman Raj Singh
Dungarpur, who is abroad, after he returns to India, board sources indicated. |
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NEW DELHI, June 24 (UNI) — Disgraced South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje’s lawyer has said Cronje has no evidence that can implicate any Indian cricketer, including former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, directly in match-fixing. In an interview to news channel ‘Star News’ in Cape Town, Mr John Dickinson said: “Cronje has given no evidence in the (King) commission to indicate or implicate any Indian player on match-fixing, including Azharuddin. He has also indicated that he has no knowledge of match-fixing. In short, as you put it, no Indian player is involved in match-fixing.” JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) : South Africa’s disgraced former cricket captain Hansie Cronje could face a bill for more than 2,84,000 rand ($ 41,000) from the South African Revenue Service in outstanding taxes and penalties, a local newspaper said today. The Johannesburg Saturday Star reported that this was the amount Cronje could be asked to pay if he co-operated with tax authorities, “pending investigation to determine his total earnings from bribes”. Cronje is at the centre of a government inquiry being held in Cape Town into alleged match-fixing after he admitted taking money from a bookmaker. The newspaper said the immunity from criminal prosecution offered to Cronje for “full disclosure” during the inquiry would not cover his tax liability nor an alleged offence against the Exchange Control Act for failing to declare foreign currency he has admitted was kept at his home. A contravention of this act carries a possible fine of 2,50,000 rand ($ 36,420) or five years in prison. Foreign currency brought into South Africa is required to be declared and sold within 30 days. The report also said the South African Police Services’ asset forfeiture unit was taking an interest in Cronje’s assets, and that if a crime were proved it might be possible for the unit to seize Cronje’s luxury house on the Fancourt Golf Estate at George in the western cape, as well as cash deposits. According to the report, knowingly buying property with illegally acquired money carries a maximum penalty of a fine of 100 million rand ($ 14.57 million) or 30 years in prison. BANGALORE (PTI): A top forensic science expert on Saturday suggested that the investigative agencies in the match-fixing scandal should take recourse to infallible forensic evidence to arrive at the truth. |
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Bacher knew about match-fixing offer JOHANNESBURG, June 24 (AFP) — United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) boss Dr Ali Bacher has admitted that former captain Hansie Cronje had told him about an offer to throw a match in India in 1996, a report said today. Dr Bacher said in his testimony last week to the King Commission that he only became aware of the offer, which was rejected, in April this year. Cronje, sacked in April after admitting to taking money from gamblers, told the commission yesterday that he had told Dr Bacher several times about the offer to throw a one-day match against India. Dr Bacher, the Managing Director of the UCBSA, has now admitted to the Citizen newspaper that Cronje had told him about the offer, but said he had not done anything about it. “I did engage in a fleeting conversation with Hansie which probably lasted no more than five to 10 seconds,” Dr Bacher told the newspaper from London, where he is attending the International Cricket Council meeting. “There was, however no mention of countries or amounts involved at any stage,” he said. “I acknowledged, in hindsight, that I should, maybe, have pursued the matter, but at the time, that was totally unthinkable.” Former coach Bob Woolmer said in a column last week in the Daily Telegraph newspaper in Britain that he had also told Dr Bacher about the offer, according to reports here. |
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France, Spain promise rich fare BRUGES (Belgium), June 24 (AFP) — Tournament favourites France meet Spain here tomorrow for the glamour quarter-final of Euro 2000, a match where both the crowd and a global TV audience should be in for a footballing feast. France proved they have the best national team by winning the World Cup two years ago, while Spain have the best club sides in Europe after filling three of the four slots in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. Real Madrid lifted the trophy in Paris last month at the Stade de France — whose inaugural match witnessed national hero Zinedine Zidane scoring France’s winner as they beat Spain 1-0 in a friendly. Now the two countries’ paths cross yet again, with a place in the semifinals at stake and Roger Lemerre’s side widely expected to finish on top. Spain’s two-goal rally in injury-time to beat Yugoslavia 4-3 and reach the last eight was the stuff of footballing legend. But there will be no such deliverance against France if Spain’s rickety defence fail to cope with the sheer speed and firepower of Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka. Spain’s only chance is to build cautiously from the back and hope that either Raul or strike partner Alfonso, who scored twice against the Yugoslavs, can exploit a rare lapse in concentration by the world’s best defence. Given the strength in depth of the French squad — their reserves were leading Holland’s first XI 2-1 at half-time on Wednesday — Lemerre can have few worries about his team line-up tomorrow. Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit is carrying a knee injury picked up in the victory over the Czech Republic and missed the game against the Dutch in Amsterdam, which finished up 3-2 to the hosts. However, in Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires, Lemerre can choose between two first-rate replacements — depending on whether he wants to add more muscle or more creative spark to his midfield. Henry is certain to start, while Christophe Dugarry’s fine performance against the Dutch will make him a rival for Anelka’s place upfront — if only for the second half. France’s attack is probably the hardest to control at Euro 2000 and provided Zidane continues his sparkling form at Euro 2000, there should be no upset for the formbook. Lemerre is preparing for a tight match, despite the huge reserves of energy which Spain burned up in their nerve-jangling win over Yugoslavia. “The euphoria is with them,” said the France coach. “They’ll be re-living all the feelings they’ve already experienced at club level - and that will help them combat the fatigue.” Euphoria or not, a desire for revenge is bound to accompany Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho, a defender in the Spanish team which lost to Michel Platini’s France in the final of the 1984 European Championships. Achieving that will rest not only on the shoulders of Raul and Alfonso, but also on the attacking form of wingback Barjuan Sergi, who wrought havoc with Yugoslavia, and midfielders Gaizka Mendieta and Joseba Etxeberria. Ivan Helguera and Josep Guardiola will, meanwhile, have to try and muzzle Zidane. France may have lost a 14-match unbeaten run against the Dutch, but their first-team will be giving little or nothing away and Camacho is already philosophical about his team’s likely fate. Given the choice, “I would rather be eliminated by the world champions,” he said. On Sunday, France should satisfy that demand.
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ROTTERDAM (Netherlands), June 24 (AFP) — Co-hosts Holland and unpredictable Yugoslavia meet here tomorrow in a Euro 2000 quarter-final tie opposing two of the most talented yet rugged teams in the competition. After Yugoslavia’s 1-0 victory over Norway, coach Nils Johan Semb accused the Yugoslavs of “sabotage” following an often farcical second half replete with yellow cards and riddled with fouls, play-acting and off-the-ball incidents. Vujadin Boskov’s side were forced to hang on for the final five minutes of the match after the dismissal of Mateja Kezman in the 88th minute for an ugly foul on Erik Mykland precisely 44 seconds after he came off the bench. The Serbian television station RTS said only “games other than sporting ones” would prevent Yugoslavia going further in the competition which was interpreted as a clear reference that they may be robbed by the referee. When asked if he expected a physically tough contest, Rijkaard said at a Press conference on Friday: “Yugoslavia have a certain way of playing and they go all out for the result. That is not a criticism and they have technical skills and everything a really professional team needs at the moment.
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Yugoslavia fined by UEFA ROTTERDAM, June 24 (AFP) — Yugoslavia’s football federation has been hit with a hefty 120,000 Swiss franc (about Rs 32 lakh) fine by UEFA’s disciplinary commission as a result of the crowd trouble that marred their midweek Euro 2000 match against Spain. In a statement issued here yesterday the commission explained: “The decision was based on a series of incidents spotted during and immediately after the final whistle.” In particular the penalty was sparked by the 14 flares exploding on to the pitch and the three attempted attacks on French referee Gilles Veissiere following Spain’s last gasp 4-3 win over them. Two Yugoslav supporters threatened Veissiere after he’d red-carded Yugoslavia’s Slavia Jokanovic in the 63rd minute and again after the final whistle. |
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FRANKFURT, June 24 (AFP) — A crisis meeting of German Football Federation bosses yesterday failed to agree on a replacement for Erich Ribbeck who stood down this week after Germany’s hopeless first round exit from Euro 2000. The summit was called to forge ways of reviving Germany’s shattered football reputation and discuss wide ranging new structures to generate more and better youth players after their Euro debacle. DFB bosses say they won’t be rushed into a decision on a new coach, largely because all their preferred candidates have contracts with clubs elsewhere. “The spectrum is open. We are not going to name names, neither positively nor negatively,” DFB spokesman Wolfgang Niersbach said. “The new man will be on the bench at the latest on August 16 in Hanover for our friendly against Spain.” The DFB’s choice was made difficult by Christoph Daum’s stark announcement he is committed to Bayer Leverkusen and not interested in shifting jobs. Otherwise, Jupp Heynckes is tied to Benfica Lisbon, Ottmar Hitzfeld is bound to Bayern Munich and Otto Rehhagel is coach of Kaiserslautern. For the first time a foreigner is being considered for the job — notably Italian maestro Giovanni Trapattoni and, before he withdrew his interest, Arsenal’s Frenchman Arsene Wenger. But — although it might be the most sensible option -hiring a non-German would be viewed in this country as an admission of total failure. The one thing German football bosses want to avoid is naming another man in the same cavalier and ill-considered way that Erich Ribbeck was 21 months ago. The silver haired 61-year-old was fetched out of obscure retirement and effectively drummed up off a Spanish beach where he was enjoying his days out of the football mainstream. The DFB has underlined it will not be giving daily updates in its search, however a new name has entered the fray in the form of Uli Stielike — Germany’s deputy coach until Erich Ribbeck sacked him last month for constantly yapping criticism at him through the press. Yesterday, as he announced Germany’s squad for next month’s under-18 European Championship, Stielike said he would be glad to come back but holds few hopes. Stielike is not without his supporters among German players, largely because he is better versed in modern tactics and not as wishy-washy as Erich Ribbeck, but it’s significant that much maligned libero Lothar Matthaus, Euro 2000’s biggest loser despite being the world’s most capped international, favours Trapattoni. He knows the Italian’s coaching methods from their days together at Bayern Munich. “Maybe some of the players have had it too easy too quickly, which is why Germany might need a coach who follows a tough line without compromise and who shows no weaknesses in public,” Matthaeus told the newspaper Die Welt. |
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Tyson’s promoter disappears;
10,000 seats unsold
LONDON, June 24 (DPA) — Mike Tyson’s heavyweight bout against Lou Savarese is to go ahead this evening in Glasgow, despite a week of controversy over an unpaid-for diamond-studded watch and the disappearance from public view of promoter Frank Warren. Warren failed to show up at either the pre-fight press conference on Thursday or the subsequent weigh-in and turned down an invitation to be interviewed on the BBC this morning. The BBC reporter said he had spoken to Warren last evening and gained an assurance the promoter would grant a live interview this morning. Warren had spoken normally, the reporter said, discounting rumours Tyson had broken his jaw in a disagreement over a £400,000 ($600,000) watch bought by Tyson. Britain’s Press Association reported the fight was far from a sell-out. The capacity at the stadium had been increased to 60,000 for the fight, but had since been cut back to 51,800 after it was disclosed that only about 40,000 tickets had been sold, PA said. |
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De Boer twins keep alive a tradition HOENDERLOO, June 24 (AFP) — Holland’s most famous twins, Frank and Ronald de Boer, are at Euro 2000 keeping alive the country’s tradition of having brothers in their line-ups. Barcelona’s clean-cut, media friendly pair, born on May 15, 1970, are key players in Holland’s attempt to win this June 10 to July 2 event on home soil. Midfielder Ronald is trying hard to fight off a groin injury for tomorrow’s quarter-final against Yugoslavia. The only thing central defender Frank might need to fight off is the media barrage inflicted on him everyday. Yet he is unflappably courteous. Superstitious Dutch supporters might take note of their similarity with the Koeman brothers who won the European title for Holland in 1988. Ronald Koeman was an automatic choice in central defence, like Frank, and had a thunderous shot from dead ball situations. A Koeman free kick even won the 1992 European title for Barcelona. Frank’s dead ball ability has been a major feature of the co-hosts success in front of their fans so far. He scored a penalty against the Czechs, under pressure, for a fortunate 1-0 victory in their first group D match two weeks ago. Frank’s freekick with his left foot from way outside the area to equalise at 2-2 against France on Wednesday was a superb strike, even if keeper Bernard Lama could have done better than palm it on to the crossbar and into the net. Ronald Koeman’s brother Erwin was, just like Ronald de Boer, a right-sided midfielder, and, like Ronald, is not an automatic first-team player. Middle-aged football fans might well remember twin brothers Willi and Rene Van de Kerkhof who both contributed to runners-up spots at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups. Arnold Muhren, who played for Manchester United during the 80’s, and brother Gerrie both played for Holland but because of their large age gap, were never on the field together. Frank de Boer said at their Hoenderloo training base to the north of Arnhem yesterday they, like normal twins, had a great understanding between them. “We know everything about each other,” skipper Frank said of his older brother. “We don’t need to talk to each other much because we always know exactly how the other is feeling. “I’m very happy when Ronald is in the team, and he always wishes me all the best in my performances.” Both brothers are fiercely competitive whether it’s playing cards or having a friendly bet with other team members. Frank was disappointed to see England go out because he had backed them in a friendly flutter amongst the squad. The 30-year-old brothers have also always been at the same club as professionals, apart from Ronald’s season and a half at Dutch first division side FC Twente. They were brought up in the northern Amsterdam suburb of Grootebrook and it was not long before they were taken under the wing of the famous Ajax Academy which set them on the road to footballing stardom. They were both in the Ajax team which won the European Cup in 1995, with trophies for the World Club championship, European Super Cup and UEFA Cup in the sideboard. Many Dutch domestic titles, of course, were also won. Ronald was not available to talk yesterday because of his injury, but Frank was as open and informative in front of the microphones as he is talented and industrious on a football pitch. “I hope to play for another four years or so,” Frank said, adding he was not in any way planning to leave Barcelona. “Of course you can have a new coach and things can change, but I’m happy in Spain.” Both of them exude level-headedness which might be innate in their make-up or could be because of the Ajax culture of nurturing players emotionally, mentally and physically as well as helping them with their football skills. Whatever the reason, both brothers may be the
coolest people on the pitch should they reach the July 2 final in front of their own fans at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam. |
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FRANKFURT, June 24 (PTI) — Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand played brilliantly to win two of his three games and draw the third to shoot into sole lead with four points at the end of the fifth round of the Fujitsu Siemens Giants Rapid Chess tournament last night. Anand outclassed Peter Leko of Hungary and Alexei Shirov of Spain and conceded a draw to Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. World’s highest rated player Gary Kasparov (3.5) of Russia fell back to the second position with a win over Shirov and draws with Kramnik and Alexander Morozevich of Russia. Kramnik and Morozevich share the third spot with 2.5 points each. Anand employed his favourite Ruy Lopez in the third round match against Leko with the game following a routine theory. Leko got into a difficult terrain by surrendering the space advantage as Anand initiated an attack against the king. The game took a decisive turn in the later stages of the middle game when Anand sacrificed a piece for two pawns. Leko was soon back to the wall and had to give an exchange to get counterplay. Anand obtained a passed pawn on the queen file in the process and directed his defence to its advance. As Anand’s pawn marched menacingly forward, the Hungarian lost control and fell into a simple tactical stroke that steered the game into endgame. The rest was child’s play for Anand who pocketed the full point after 54 moves. The Indian then accounted for the totally out-of-sorts Shirov in the fourth round using the Sicilian Taimanov. Shirov sacrificed a pawn in the middle game to get control of the light squares but the ensuing opposite coloured bishop middle game gave Anand an opportunity to invade the eighth rank with his queen and rook. Shirov went for an exchange of queens but found himself in a lost endgame with a double pawn deficit. Anand made no mistakes there on. In his last game of the day, Anand faced the Sicilian Pelikan of Kramnik and could not claim any advantage. The queens got exchanged at an appropriate time for Kramnik and soon the players arrived at an opposite colour bishops with rooks endgame. The game was agreed drawn after 25 moves. Kasparov followed in Anand’s footsteps in the third round squarely outclassing
Shirov. |
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Udomchoke beats Mankad in final Second seed Mankad, who was mostly on the defensive trying to match the courtcraft of his 17-year-old opponent, went down 4-6, 2-6 in the rain-marred final of the third leg today. The match started on a fast pace as Udomchoke took just 45 seconds to win the first game. For the Mumbai lad it was an inauspicious beginning as he started his serve with a double fault but managed to win the game after some hiccups. Mankad, however, had an easy time in the fourth game when Udomchoke made several unforced errors. The Thai had one break point in the sixth game but could not hold on to the advantage. Both the players held on to their serves till the seventh game. The eighth game saw the much needed break come Udomchoke’s way. With two points down, the Thai fought back to make it 30-30, And with some great rallies broke his opponent’s serve. Mankad took his revenge in the next game and showed what a gutsy player he could be hitting a shot down the line and one across the court to break Udomchoke’s serve and make it 4-5. But all that was squandered in the 10 game when Mankad lost his serve and set 4-6. |
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