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| Sunday,
August 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India    |
India keen to break title jinx
Pakistan look to avenge Dhaka
defeat |
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Victorious Aussies equal Ashes record
Abhinav Sporting Trust set
up |
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Himachal cricketers to get
more Faridkot eves in
semis
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India keen to break title jinx Colombo, August 4 “There is extra pressure going into the match,” India’s coach John Wright told reporters today. “It’s about time we won a final. We must stop the seven-loss cycle tomorrow,’’ he said. India, who lost their first three games of the triangular tournament, also involving New Zealand, won three games in a row to make the final. “Each of the last three matches was like a final for us and it’s great to have come through the way we have,’’ Wright said. “But now that we’re here, it’s not time to sit back and relax. We have to go out and win it.” The resurgent Indians have relied on youngsters Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag who have filled in for Sachin Tendulkar, who missed the series with a broken foot. “The young guys in the side are very exuberant but they’re also very mature,’’ skipper Saurav Ganguly said. “They know we haven’t won a final in a long time and they are also eager we break the jinx.’’ Indian left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan is doubtful for the match with a fever. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya is confident despite losing their last two round robin games against India. “India have played really well in the last three matches and they’re going to be tough.” “Anyone who gets into the final like they did will have momentum on their side and that could be dangerous, but we’re an experienced bunch. We can handle the pressure, we won’t get overawed.” Sehwag and Yuvraj must be giving headaches to the Sri Lankan camp but India would need contributions from all the players in order to win the Coca Cola Cup tomorrow, considering the hosts would be all charged up to avenge their two successive losses to india in the league phase. Sri Lanka had started as favourites to win the tournament and they had proved their top billing by winning their first three matches, including one against India, with relative ease. But they lost their next two matches to India comprehensively. The 2-1 advantage in the series does give psychological edge to the Indians but they must be wary of the Sri Lankans who are capable of bouncing back especially since they are playing on their home soil. After their sterling performances, Sehwag and Yuvraj will feature prominently in the Indian scheme of things. Sehwag, whose 69-ball 100 against New Zealand in the last league encounter was the sixth fastest century in one-day history, will most probably open the innings again with Ganguly who is slowly coming back to play his natural innings. In fact, a lot will depend on the opening wicket partnership. India had lost early wickets in each of their league matches except the last one against New Zealand where Sehwag and Ganguly put up a 143-run stand. Sri Lanka had inflicted one-day cricket’s worst-ever defeat on India in Sharjah in the two teams’ previous meeting in a final. And the hosts are raring for a similar result this time in the wake of their two successive losses. They have a very balanced side with Sanath Jayasuriya leading an explosive batting line-up that includes the likes of Romesh Kaluwitharana, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold. All of them have been in fine form in this tournament — with Jayawardene too getting runs in the previous two matches — and are capable of producing match-winning innings. They have come out successful from very sticky situations, amply exemplified in their five-wicket win over New Zealand after reeling at 27 for four at one stage. With a partisan home crowd expected to fully occupy the Premadasa Stadium on a Sunday, Sri Lanka would make things extremely difficult for the Indians. Muthiah Murlitharan, who claimed a world record 7-30 in that Sharjah final, would once again be at the helm of Sri Lankan bowling to haunt the Indians. He will have able company in Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Kumar Dharmasena who have been troubing the opposition batsman a lot in this series. Both teams will announce their final eleven tomorrow.
Reuters/PTI |
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‘Saurav: unbecoming captain of India’
Colombo, August 4 “Ganguly’s actions are sullying the good name of Indian cricket,” state-owned ‘Daily News’ said in a column by its cricket writer. “Ganguly will certainly not go down as a captain who upheld the spirit of the game after getting on the wrong side of the International Cricket Council match-referee Cammie Smith twice inside a week,” it said. The Indian captain was suspended for a match for showing dissent to the umpire after being adjudged leg before wicket in a match against New Zealand. Ganguly got into trouble once again in the penultimate league match against Sri Lanka when he gave a verbal send-off to Russel Arnold. He was “severly reprimanded” by Cammie Smith and fined 75 per cent of his match-fees. “To be the captain of a country is a matter of national pride. Along with it comes greater responsibility and accountability. By his actions, Ganguly had become a marked man and he should restrain himself from reaction on the field,” the daily said. “It’s unbecoming of the captain of India,” said another daily ‘The Island’ which also commented that Smith seemed to have adopted double standards in penalising Ganguly while letting off Michael Slater for a more grave show of dissent during Australia’s tour of India earlier this year. The paper said the match-referees might be forced to take harsh decisions against players who crossed the line once too often. “One can only think of such an explanation to justify Ganguly’s suspension in this instance,” it said. It also criticised former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu, now a television commentator, for “jumping to Ganguly’s defence”.
PTI |
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Pakistan look to avenge Dhaka defeat Kuala Lumpur, August 4 At the Bukit Jalil Stadium, Pakistan will be gunning for revenge for their defeat to India in the final of the Prime Ministers’ Gold Cup in Dhaka early this year - the last time the two teams played each other. Pakistan coach Shahbaz Ahmed said the defeat still rankled his team which will go all out to avenge the loss. Both India and Pakistan had none-too-impressive start to the tournament having drawn and lost one match each for one point from two outings. India have slight worries ahead of the crucial match with penalty corner specialist and full-back Dilip Tirkey and M.K. Prakash running mild fever. But coach Baldev Singh said Tirkey would be fit for tomorrow’s game. If he plays, Tirkey will have to share the majority of the burden in the defence which will be stretched to its limit by Pakistani raids in a tough pressure game. Defender Birkramjit Singh is playing his first tournament and looked a bit nervous against the Germans, in a match India lost 0-2, which makes Tirkey’s task all the more difficult. The Indian camp will be looking for an improved show from their forwards led by skipper Mukesh Kumar. If Sabu Varkey, Deepak Thakur and Daljit Singh Dhillon combine well then the Pakistan defence will have a tough time. The Indian coach was quite upset with the form of the forwards. Varkey, back in the team after last playing in the 1998 Asian Games, and Thakur were below par in the two outings and against Pakistan they will have to regroup all their energies. Varkey was apparently injured on the forehead and manager A.P. Singh, after losing to Germany, said the cut on the forehead injury was affecting him. Baldev Singh Indian’s chances in the match will depend a lot on the half-line. “If they can come up and take the balls and also overlap and attack, we can get a few good runs in their circle and that could lead to penalty corners where Tirkey will have come good,” he said. The Indian half line comprising Bimal Lakra, S.S. Gill, Ignace Tirkey have been playing well but only in patches. Lakra is tired after two months of continuous hockey and that shows as he overlaps and when he has to fall back suddenly. The mid-field will have their hands full with Pakistan expected to stage a number of counter-attacks. Pakistan’s Atif Bashir, Kashif Jawaed, Mohd Nadeem and Mohd Sarwar had performed well in the 2-2 draw with South Korea. And they will try to exploit India’s brittle defence if Tirkey is not fully fit. Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan is suspect against snap shots from the top of the circle and Bashir is in the mould of Kamran Ashraf when it comes to taking shots from the top of the
circle. PTI |
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Victorious Aussies equal Ashes record
Nottingham, August 4 Set to make 158 runs to win, Australia scored 158 for three to win the Test with over two days to spare and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five match series. Steve Waugh’s side took control of the series after winning the first Test at Edgbaston by an innings and 118 runs followed by an eight-wicket win in the second at the Lord’s. Waugh missed the victory celebration after suffering a calf injury about an hour before it all ended and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Australia equalled England’s seven consecutive Ashes series wins achieved between 1884 and 1890 under six different captains. The end for England came with Australians Mark Waugh and Damien Martyn batting. Waugh scored 42 and Martyn 33 and shared an undefeated 69 runs off 66 balls to seal victory. The winning run came off an Andy Caddick no-ball. The tourists rallied around two outstanding bowling efforts — fast bowler Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne — to add to a brilliant 52 by the in-form Adam Gilchrist to beat England in a tense match. When England appeared to build a challenging fourth innings target through stand-in skipper Mike Atherton, 51 runs and Markramprakash, 26 runs, Warne put together his best innings figures outside Australia to bowl England out for 162 runs. Warne took six for 33 and was well supported by fast bowler Jason Gillespie, three for 61, the wickets coming in a 14-ball spell after
England had resumed on 144 for six this morning. Chasing victory, Australia were reduced to 88 for three before Waugh and Martyn combined to finish victory with an unfinished stand.
AP Scoreboard England (Ist innings): 185 Australia (Ist innings): 190 England (2nd innings): (overnight 144-6) Atherton c Gilchrist b Warne 51 Trescothick c Gilchrist
b Warne 32 Butcher lbw b Lee 1 Ramprakash st Gilchrist b Warne 26 Stewart b Warne 0 Ward lbw b Gillespie 13 White c S. Waugh b Warne 7 Tudor c Ponting b Warne 9 Croft b Gillespie 0 Caddick c Gilchrist b Gillespie 4 Gough not out 5 Extras (b-4 lb-3 nb-7) 14 Total (57 overs) 162 Fall of wickets:
1-57, 2-59, 3-115, 4-115, 5-126, 6-144, 7-144, 8-146, 9-156. Bowling: McGrath 11-3-31-0, Gillespie 20-8-61-3, Lee 8-1-30-1, Warne 18-5-33-6. Australia (2nd innings): Hayden lbw b Tudor 42 Slater c Trescothick b Caddick 12 Ponting c Stewart c Croft 17 M. Waugh not out 42 S. Waugh retired hurt 1 Martyn not out 33 Extras (1b-4 nb-7) 11 Total (for 3 wkts 29.2 overs) 158 Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-72, 3-88. Bowling: Gough 9-1-38-0, Caddick 12.2-1-71-1,
Tudor 7-0-37-1, Croft 1-0-8-1. |
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‘Sheroo’ is the mascot for Afro-Asian Games New Delhi, August 4 “Sheroo” is a ‘trendy’ lion with colourful sunflower — like mane, a
tee-shirt with an India Gate logo embossed on it, and green shorts and black boots to match. “Sheroo’s” smiling visage and sparkling wide eyes, make it an adorable and amiable mascot, befitting the “friendship theme” of the Afro-Asiad. Appu, the prancing baby elephant, which was the mascot of the ninth Asian Games in New Delhi, 1982, had stolen the hearts of the people to become a national symbol. Even after 21 years of the Asiad, Appu’s memory lingers. Appu has been immortalised by installing his “statue” in front of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, as a sweet reminder to the grand spectable, that was the Asiad ’82. Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Ms Uma Bharati, who is also the chairperson of the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee, formally released the schedule of the games events here. She said the games budget had been pegged at Rs 111 crore, and the budget would not be allowed to exceed at any cost. Though the Minister promised that top athletes from Asia and Africa would be competing in the Games, the news that China would be holding their own National Games from November 11, has dampened the spirits of the hosts, as in such an eventuality, China may send only their second string teams for the Games. But Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh, who is also the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), assured the organising committee that the OCA would make all efforts to prevail upon the Chinese Olympic
Association to defer its national games till after the Afro-Asian Games. Though the formal inauguration of the Games will be held only on November 3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, hockey and football competitions will start from November 2, and will continue till the closing date. A similar schedule has been drawn up for hockey too. A ‘Solidarity Run’ will be
oragnised in which runners from Asia and Africa will compete. Football, to be played on a league-cum-knockout basis, will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Chhattarsal Stadium and the Ambedkar Stadium, while hockey will be played at the National Stadium (men) and Shivaji Stadium (women). Acquatics (direct final of each event) at the Talkatora Swimming Pool, boxing (from quarter-final stage knockout) at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium, shooting (direct final of each event in the individual category) at the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, tennis (from quarter-final knockout) at the R K Khanna tennis complex and weightlifting (direct final of each weight category, eight and seven respectively in men and women) at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, will be held from November 4 to 10. The men’s and women’s hockey competitions will have eight teams each (four each from Asia and Africa) The show piece of the games, athletics, will be held from November 7 to 11 at the Nehru Stadium, which will also be the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies. Around 2612 sportspersons and officials from 95 countries (approximately 762 sportspersons each from Asia and Africa) are expected to participate in the games. Free economy class airfare from Capital cities to Delhi and back, and free accommodation to participants and officials, will be provided. The Afro Asian Games are “unique” in the sense that the best sportspersons of Asia would be competing against the best sportspersons of Africa, and the participating teams will not represent their country, but will form part of the team\teams selected to represent either continent. India, being the hosts, have the privilege of fielding a team in events where their sportspersons do not figure in the Asian contingent. |
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Abhinav Sporting Trust set
up Chandigarh, August 4 The objectives of the trust are multifarious. It will endeavour to set up a shooting academy for the development of the sport in India and help Abhinav Bindra to soar higher and clinch an Olympic gold. It will strive to remove routine hurdles between sportsmen and government agencies or corporates and make available sophisticated equipment and other material used in
shooting. It will engage world class coaches to train the sportsmen and organise international competitions within the country and abroad. The trust will also strive to bring about awareness among people and encourage budding talent to take up sports as a career. Abhinav
Bindra, at the tender age of 18, has already carved out a niche in world shooting. Besides being the first Indian to win a medal in the Munich World
Cup, he finished joint eleventh at the Sydney Olympics as the youngest participant among 300 shooters. Considerable effort and money has gone into making Abhinav a shooter of world standard. Most of the finances were self-generated and to carry him further and help him in his quest for an Olympic gold is the motive to set up the
trust, according to Mr Bindra. “The timer is being set and the government has come forward but the apathy of the corporate houses is painful. Abhinav is not putting in his efforts for personal
gain. Every ounce of his energy goes into bringing national glory and it is our obligation to provide him full
backing. Hence I appeal to all citizens and corporate houses to come forward for the cause and work towards quenching the nation’s thirst for an individual Olympic gold,” Mr Bindra added. All donations to the trust would get tax exemptions as per rules under the Income Tax Act. According to Mr
Bindra, the recent bronze in the World Cup at Munich could have been a gold as there was a difference of only one point. “Chinese competitors travel along with their
coaches, but Abhinav is still without a coach, but hopefully we hope to get one within one
month. Renowned coach Heinz Rankemiler has agreed to train Abhinav abroad at regular
intervals. But we also need one here and negotiations are on with a Chinese and a Russian. We are also going to invite two shooters from time to time to train alongside Abhinav here,” he remarked. The Abhinav Sporting Trust has been set up with an initial contribution of Rs 15 lakh, which includes the award money of Abhinav Bindra amounting to Rs 10 lakh. |
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Himachal cricketers to get
more Chandigarh, August 4 Giving this information to The Tribune the President of the HPCA, Mr Anurag Thakur, said the daily allowance of Ranji Trophy cricketers had been hiked by 50 per cent and that of junior players 30 per cent. This hike would result in the state senior players getting Rs 150 a month as against the previous limit of Rs 100 . The junior players would get Rs 100 a day as against the previous limit of Rs 75. The daily allowance of coaches and managers had been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250 a month and their match allowance had gone up from Rs 600 to Rs 1200. On qualifying for the knockout stage the senior team would get Rs 1 lakh and the
junior team Rs 50,000. An outright win would fetch a senior player Rs 1000 and a junior player Rs 500. A first innings lead would entitle the team to 50 per cent of this amount. The accommodation allowance of district level players had been increased by 20 per cent and 25 per cent for junior and senior players, respectively. Keeping in view the challenges faced by the state players, the HPCA also decided that in future all inter-district level matches would be played only on turf wicket and the matches would be conducted on league and super-league basis. Mr Anurag Thakaur who has just completed one year of the HPCA presidency , said the state would host three Ranji Trophy matches — against Jammu and Kashmir at Mandi, against Delhi at Bilaspur and against Services at Una. The state would also play host to eight junior matches. Players selected for the Junior Cricket Academy at Una and the Senior Cricket Academy at Jalandhar would be provided free board and lodging, coaching and complete cricket kit. Mr Thakur said besides these facilities, the senior players would get Rs 1000 a month as pocket money. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal was unanimously nominated patron of the association. In view of the reframed rules and regulations of the HPCA it was unanimously approved that the President should reconstitute the executive body. Some of the newly nominated life members also attended the general body meeting. |
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Faridkot eves in
semis Ludhiana, August 4 In the women’s section Jalandhar eves tripped and resilient Kapurthala girls triumphed handing out a 39-20 defeat to their rivals. Experience and expertise of Kapurthala girls prevailed over the youthful exuberance of the Jalandhar girls. The Bathinda versus Jalandhar encounter in the men’s section turned out to be cliff-hanger with Bathinda clinging to the three-point lead before downing their rivals 59-55. Bathinda lads shrug off the spell of gloom once pivot Lakhwinder Singh slipped into a groove to torment their rivals. He scored 27 points for his team. In the last match of the day, Gurdaspur easily dismissed a lackluster Muktsar 57-29. Today the matches were shifted to Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, from Mandi Gobindgarh due to rain. |
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