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Sunday,
August 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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‘Ganguly should return to nets’ Kumble writes India ‘should pull out’ of
ACC
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India to meet Nigeria in football
opener Big blow for Pak
hockey Samuel Banerjee
Badminton
JCT move into
q-finals AI defeat Punjab
cops 4-2
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‘Ganguly should return to nets’ Colombo, August 18 India’s batting, depleted in the absence of stars Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman, caved in meekly as the hosts claimed a 10-wicket win in Galle yesterday. The team suffered their latest injury blow ahead of the second test starting in Kandy on Wednesday when fast bowler Javagal Srinath was ruled out of the series after fracturing his left hand in the first Test. Middle-order batting is India’s biggest worry after twice failing to reach 200 runs in Galle, managing only 187 and 180 as Sri Lanka completed their first Test win over India in 16 years and second overall in 21 Tests. The Indian batting looked out of depth against a bowling attack led by the nippy Dilhara Fernando and the world class off-spin of Muttiah Muralitharan. It was also India’s second consecutive test defeat caused by a batting collapse, having lost the second game of a two-Test series in Zimbabwe recently to draw the series 1-1. The defeats in the Tests and two one-day tournaments in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka marked a big slump for Saurav Ganguly’s side, which pulled off a sensational comeback home Test series win over Australia early this year. Ganguly is under tremendous pressure because of his run of poor form with the bat, which started during the Australian series and the defeats. The left-hander has not reached 50 in his last 12 innings and has struggled against rising deliveries since the Australian fast bowlers targeted his weakness in the home series. Former Indian Test all-rounder Ravi Shastri said players like Ganguly and Rahul Dravid would have to pull their weight if India are to bounce back in Sri Lanka. “You don’t expect the juniors to bale out the side. The seniors have to stand up and be counted,’’ he told Reuters. Only Dravid managed a 50 in Galle, scoring 61 not out in the second innings to help India avoid an innings defeat after coming in at number four behind 20-year-old Mohammad Kaif. Shastri said Dravid should take over at number three and guide the innings with Ganguly coming in next. “Dravid is one of the most technically correct batsmen in the world. He should take the job with Kaif coming at number five,’’ he said. Shastri, who is in Sri Lanka as a television commentator, said the Indians should learn from Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who hit a rapid 111 to lift his team in Galle. “Jayasuriya is a classic example. I rate his hundred high because of his maturity. He is an instinctive batsman, but he kept the good balls out and still scored almost a run a ball.’’ Shastri said Ganguly’s poor batting was bound to affect his captaincy and he should return to the nets to regain form. “The bowlers should have a go at him with short-pitched stuff, Saurav has to work incessantly at the nets,’’ he said. He felt the Indians could repeat their comeback win over Australia if they maintained a positive approach. He wanted Jacob Martin to replace out-of-form left-hander Hemang Badani for the Kandy Test. Martin, 29, has played in eight one-day games and has been chosen after a good domestic season. Badani (24) made it to the Test squad after an impressive run in one-dayers, but scored only 11 runs in Galle after managing 18 on his debut in the second Zimbabwe Test in June. The Indian team management have cancelled plans for a two-day break and have headed for Kandy in the central hills of Sri Lanka to put in some extra work ahead of the Test.
Reuters |
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Srinath ruled out for series
Colombo, August 18 Coach John Wright said an x-ray on Srinath’s hand this morning confirmed that the bowler had suffered a fracture just below his little finger. Srinath was hit on his hand by a Dilhara Fernando snorter while batting in the first innings of the first Test at Galle and was forced to retire hurt. He did not bat in the second innings though he bowled in both the innings of Sri Lanka. Srinath would be out of action for about a month which makes him a doubtful starter for the Asian Test Championship match against Pakistan in Karachi next month. The bowler hoped to be back for the South Africa series in October saying the team needed him more than ever and he was determined to play. India, who are already without Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra, all of whom have injuries, lost the first Test by 10 wickets. The next two Tests are scheduled at Kandy (August 22-26) and Colombo (August 29-September 2). MUMBAI: No replacement will be sent for injured pace bowler Javagal Srinath who was set to fly back home after a bone scan on his hand, soon after the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, showed a fracture. “Srinath will fly home immediately and there will be no replacement for him,” cricket board Secretary Jaywant Lele told PTI from Baroda over phone today. “The injury looks pretty serious but as of now we have not named any replacement for him as there are 15 players (apart from Srinath) already in Sri Lanka,” he added. Lele said there has been no news of another injured player V.V.S. Laxman, who is being treated for knee problems in Australia. Besides Srinath and Laxman, the Indian team is also without the services of its two champions, batsman Sachin Tendulkar, nursing a toe injury, and leg spinner Anil Kumble, recovering from a shoulder surgery performed nine months ago. However, Lele was confident all the four players would be fit for the tour of South Africa starting on October 1. India were devastated by the news of Srinath’s injury. “When things go wrong, they go horribly wrong,” skipper Saurav Ganguly told AFP before the team’s departure for Kandy where the second Test starts on Wednesday. “Wonder who’s next on the list. I hope the journalists travelling with the team have brought their whites,” he said.
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Kumble writes After a gap of 16 years and 21 Tests, Sri Lanka won its second Test match against India quite comfortably and in style at Galle by 10 wickets. A lot was said before the start of this Test match on the nature of the pitch with both teams deciding to strengthen their seam attack, but the surface lived up to its reputation of being dusty and once again Muthiah Muralitharan came to the fore for the Lankans. I’m sure many in India are wondering why Muralitharan succeeded while Harbhajan failed. I think the main reason was that the latter did not get as much support from the other end as Murali did. Whoever he was bowling in tandem with was going for a few runs and all the Sri Lankans had to do was block when Harbhajan was bowling. After being asked to bat first on a supposedly green top, the Indian openers — Das and Ramesh played extremely well to keep the Lankan fast bowlers — Vaas, Fernando, Ruchera and Suresh Pereira at bay albeit sedately. Once Ramesh drove distantly at Murali to be out caught at short covers, it opened the doors for the Lankans and the young Fernando breathed fire to pick up a five-wicket haul. Skipper Sourav was a trifle unlucky to be given out caught behind to a snorter from Fernando. Watch out for young Fernando. He has all the qualities of a fast bowler — bounce, pace and the aggression — and is a real asset to this Sri Lanka side. A total of 187 runs was never going to be enough for the Lankans who had a very positive approach to their batting. Our bowlers once again did not bowl in the right areas at Jayasuriya and he blasted the attack with almost a-run-a-ball hundred. Jayasuriya’s repeated successes against India must also worry the team’s thinktank. This is a good example of what a mind game cricket is. Jayasuriya begins every innings against India knowing that he has scored an incredible amount of runs against this opposition. When one knows that one is successful against an opposing team, one’s entire attitude changes. On the other hand, India knows he is the danger man and his repeated successes have created a mental block among the Indians. I have bowled to Jayasuriya on numerous occasions and there is no arguing with the fact that he is one tough guy to bowl to. He does not let any loose or short ball go unpunished. He always ensures that whenever the bowler errs, he will get a boundary, not just a single or two. This obviously puts tremendous pressure on us bowlers. The only way to get to the Sri Lankan captain is to attack him from the start. Once he gets to 15-20, he will go on to a big score. In Galle, he raced to 20 in a couple of overs because Prasad did not get it right. The fact that Prasad was short on match practice perhaps made him take that much longer to settle down to a decent line. Srinath too had a bad start though he came back and bowled well to pick up another five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Our bowlers did make a comeback with the second new ball after Jayasuriya was out but Kumara Sangakkara with his maiden Test hundred made sure that Sri Lanka obtained a very decisive and sizeable lead. Sangakkara having missed scoring a century on two occasions played beautifully using the cut shot to great effect like his skipper Jayasuriya. The Indian second innings was a total disaster to say the least. Once the Sri Lankan fast bowlers had made inroads into the Indian top order, Murali spun his magic web to clean up the rest with yet another five-wicket haul. It is amazing how Murali keeps coming at the batsmen tirelessly without giving anything away. The only saving grace was that the Lankans were made to bat again thanks mainly due to a fighting half-century by Rahul Dravid. This week also saw the retirement of one of the finest batsman in world cricket — Aravinda de Silva, who was instrumental in taking Sri Lankan cricket to new heights. Well-played Aravinda! (Gameplan) |
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India ‘should pull out’ of ACC New Delhi, August 18 Taking exception to the recent statements of the Asian Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Federation that if the Indian government failed to clear its team, the championship would be held without India, senior BCCI members said the board should not hesitate to withdraw from the ACC itself. Putting pressure on the government or blaming it for non-clearance would be detrimental to the game in the country, senior board members told PTI here. According to them, the government is in the process of clearing the team but the ACF’s threats that the tournament would be held without India, could not be tolerated, they said adding: “If it comes to that the BCCI should withdraw from the ACC itself”. Maintaining that the country’s pride and prestige should take precedence over matters of playing cricket against any country, they questioned the ACF’s decision to go ahead with the tournament without India. “We are at a loss to understand as to how the ACF could take a decision without involving the BCCI” they said adding “the venues for the championship have not yet been finalised at all nor (has) the ACF responded to the BCCI’s letter of objection that Bangladesh should not be the venue for the final of the ATC”. They said the BCCI Secretary Jaywant Lele had written to the ACF as early as June 20 and so far the ACF has not responded with its decision in writing. Lele has objected to Dhaka being the venue for the final and stated that it should be played in either of the countries figuring in the final match. The ACF has given time to the BCCI till Monday afternoon to get the government’s clearance for India’s participation in the championship. Meanwhile, the board members expressed confidence that the government was likely to clear the Indian team’s participation in the ATC but said such pressure tactics by the ACF would mean that the Asian body has no respect for the BCCI, one of the founder members of the ACC and also a long-term full member of the International Cricket Council.
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McGrath halts England progress Leeds, England, August 18 England, facing the prospect of going 4-0 down in the series, saved the follow-on in some style on the way to their highest total of the series before Australia’s pacemen broke through, the last five wickets tumbling for 57 on Saturday. Alec Stewart was 76 not out after an entertaining innings including England’s most memorable shot of the series, while McGrath recorded his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests against England, taking his career total to 350 victims. The pace bowler, barely straying off line or length all day, finished with seven for 76, including three of the top four batsmen. SCOREBOARD Australia (Ist innings): 447 England (Ist innings): Atherton c Gilchrist b McGrath 22 Trescothick c Gilchrist b McGrath 37 Butcher run out 47 Hussain lbw b McGrath 46 Ramprakash c Gilchrist b Lee 40 Afzaal c Warne b McGrath 14 Stewart not out 76 Tudor c Gilchrist b McGrath 2 Caddick c Gilchrist b Lee 5 Gough c Slater b McGrath 8 Mullally c Katich b McGrath 0 Extras (b-2 lb-3 nb-7) 12 Total (all out 94.2 overs) 309 FOW: 1-50 2-67 3-158 4-158 5-174 6-252 7-267 8-289 9-299 Bowling:
McGrath 30.2-9-76-7, Gillespie 26-6-76-0 (1nb), Lee 22-3-103-2 (2nb), Warne 16-2-49-0
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Bhupathi-Lareau duo
wins Indianapolis, August 18 The Indian-Canadian combination, which took shape after
Leander peas opted for a two-week rest, ousted Bjorkman-woodbridge in three sets 6-4 3-6 6-1. The second and third seed teams were also knocked-out in the
quarters. Fifth seed Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Brian MacPhie of the USA beat second seed max Mirnyi of Belarus and Sandon Stolle of Australia 7-6 (7/4) 6-4. No. 3 seed Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and Rich Leach of the USA lost to seventh seed Chris Haggard of South Africa and Tom Vanhoudt of Belgium 6-7 (3/7) 3-6.
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Kuerten rallies to down Henman Indianapolis, August 18 Kuerten’s victory has set up an all-star semifinal field for today with him facing Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia and Australian Patrick Rafter taking on Marat Safin of Russia. It is an elite field featuring four Grand Slam champions, three of them, Kuerten (French Open), Ivanisevic (Wimbledon) and Safin (US Open), reigning title holders. Rafter won the US Open in 1997 and 1998.
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Marion Jones gets revenge Zurich, August 18 While Ukraine’s Zhanna Pintusevich-Block pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Championship history by beating Jones in Edmonton, the American confirmed that her first loss in a 100 metre final in four years was nothing more than a glitch as she returned to the top of the podium clocking a winning time of 10.94 seconds. Cleared to compete at the worlds despite testing positive for the performance blood-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin), Yegorova was jeered off the track in Edmonton and boos echoed once again through a packed Letzigrund Stadium as she surged across the finish line in the 3,000 metres in a season best time of 8 minutes, 23.26 seconds ahead of her harsh critics Gabriela Szabo and Paula Radciffe. But the boos were quickly washed away by a thundering standing ovation as the embattled Russian took a celebration lap, throwing her bouquet of flowers into the applauding crowd. “I want to thank the public for supporting me and I wish all of them good luck,” said Yegorova, who received a hero’s welcome on her return to Russia after the championships. “I think I’m now able to cope with everything around me.” Jones and Yegorova provided just two of the memorable moments in an evening of gripping athletics. Moroccan middle distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj put aside plans to step up to the 5,000 metres to continue his domination of the 1,500 metres and powered to victory in 3:29.06 ahead of Kenya’s Bernard Legat.
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India to meet Nigeria in football
opener New Delhi, August 18 Some signs of positive progress on the games front became evident today when Asian Football Confederation president Datu Peter Vellappan conducted the draw for the football event in the presence of the top brass of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Association of National Olympic Committes (ANOCA), representatives of the continental federations of the eight disciplines included in the games, and the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee (AAGOC). African giants Nigeria and Cameroon head the four-team groups A and B respectively. India have been clubbed together with Nigeria, Turkmenistan and Morocco in Group A, while Group B look comparatively formidable with Cameroon, Asian Games champions Iran, South Africa and Asian Games runners-up Kuwait completing the line-up. India have been drawn to meet top seeds of Group A Nigeria in the opener. The draw of lots were taken out in turn by All-India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, and Secretary-General of the Confederation of African Football Mustapha Fahmy. The only change in the line-up for the football competition, from the one earlier announced by the Indian Olympic Association, is that Turkmenistan have replaced Thailand in the Asian group. When asked why teams like South Korea and Japan were missing from the draw, Mr Vellappan said since these countries would be co-hosting the World Cup soccer next year, they will be busy completing their professional league before March next year. Mr Peter Vellapan made a candid observation about the state of the football stadiums when he termed them as “obsolete, as these stadiums were built more than 30 and 40 years ago.” He appreciated the constraints of the hosts in giving a complete overhaul to the football venues — the Ambedkar Stadium, the Chatrassal Stadium and the Nehru Stadium — as the time was very short, but the least he expected for the football competitions was good turfs, both for practice and competition. Mr Vellappan said the services of experts from Kalkata would be requisitioned to give the football grounds a complete makeover. He said the time was too short to give an overhaul to the dungeon like dressing rooms, particularly at the Ambedkar Stadium, but he would be satisfied if the hosts can provide good turfs for the matches. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the working chairman of the organising committee, said that the Organising Committee, the OCA and the ANOCA held discussions with the Continental Federations in eight disciplines of Asia and Africa to finalise the technical modalities of the conduct of the games and other issues like accreditation, accommodation, medical support, air travel, security, information technology and transport. Mr Kalmadi said the accreditation forms were handed over to the continental federations today for furnishing relevant information of each participant and continental officials and return them to the AAGOC by September 15. The accreditation cards will be sent to the continental federations by September 30. The last date to receive entries of each discipline by name is October 2. Mr Kalmadi and IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh said the foreign delegates, after visiting the stadiums, approved the venues and gave some suggestions to improve the facilities, particularly for football, to bring them to international standard. The OCA and ANOCA top brass also promised to field the best athletes and teams for the Games. |
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Big blow for Pak
hockey Chandigarh, August 18 Ever since he made his debut in international hockey in 1992, Alam was a regular member of the national
team, performing his vital duty as goalkeeper. During his playing
career, Ahmed Alam represented his country in 146 internationals. He was the captain of the Pakistan hockey team in 59 matches out of which 29 ended in victory. Born on February 2,1972,in the port city of
Karachi, Ahmed Alam first came into the limelight while representing his country in the Junior Asia Cup in 1992.His spectacular performance cemented his place in the team
thereafter. The following year, he took part in the Junior World Cup followed by the Asian
Games, Champions Trophy and the World Cup in 1994.In 1995,he took part in the Champions
Trophy. Besides, Alam also took part in several other tournaments,
including the Azlan Shah Tournament and the India-Pakistan Hockey Series in 1998 and 1999. Donning jersey No.1,Ahmed Alam was a contemporary of Muhammed
Shahbaz, Rahim Khan, Kamran Ashraf, Danish Kaleem, Naveed Alam and Muhammed
Usman. Youngsters like Sohail Abbas came into the team much later.Under the captaincy of Tahir Zaman and Shahbaz
Ahmed, Alam proved to be an asset for his team on more than one occasion. When the Pakistani hockey team toured
Europe, Ahmed Alam performed wonders and was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Like Shahbaz Ahmed,Ahmed Alam was also an employee of Pakistan International
Airlines. He now joins the elite group of veterans like Ayaz Mahmood whose performances on the field continue to inspire the younger
generation. His retirement will definitely be a big blow for the Pakistan hockey team with the Champions Trophy just round the corner. |
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Samuel
Banerjee Badminton
Chandigarh, August 18 In a pulsating semi-final, Deepak had to exert hard in beating Yogesh of Punjab in three games with scores at 15-12, 3-15, 15-13. The women’s singles final will be played between top seed Gayatri of Delhi and local girl H Sarda Devi. In boys under13 semi final, Saurab Kapoor of Haryana will meet Adhiraj Neogi also of Haryana in tomorrow's final. Adhiraj defeated Vipul Saini of Jammu in two tough games at 15-13,15-10.
Mala Gaba of Chandigarh reached the girls under 16 final when she beat Anita of Haryana in straight games. In under 19 semi final, Saumya of Rajasthan outplayed Deepti Ranjan of Delhi at 11-2, 11-1 to enter the final. Sumit Dahiya of Haryana, a former national under 13 champion reached the under 16 final by defeating Sahil Arora at 17-14, 15-13, in a crucial match. Unseeded Yogesh of Punjab created a flutter in men’s singles when he upset second seed Rohan kapoor in three games. Samarika Sharma of Jammu and Kashmir made it to the semi-finals Vipul Saini, also of the J&K, was the lone player in boys section from this state who entered the last four. Tall and lanky 12-year-old Vipul outplayed Oscar Bansal in three games and will now meet Adhiraj Neogi of Haryana who downed Gaurav Sharma also of Haryana in straight games. Saumya of Rajasthan reached the last four in both under 19 and under 16 section. In under 16 section she played valiantly and ousted fancied Aarti Verma in three games while in under 19 section, she had little difficulty in disposing of Chitra Lekha of Delhi. H Sharda and Mala Gaba were city eves who ousted their respective opponents Sujata of Delhi and Jaspreet of Punjab with ease. Naresh Kundu of Chandigarh proved to be too good for Varun Sharma also of Chandigarh in under 19 section. The results ( quarter finals) Boys under 13: Saurab Kapoor(Har) b Parit ( Del) 15-3,15-3, Anshul ( Har) b Raj Kumar(Pb) 15-12, 15-0; Adhiraj Neogi ( Har) b Gaurav Sharma ( Har) 15-8, 15-2; Vipul Saini ( J&K) b Oscar Bansal ( Chd) 15-8, 5-15, 15-6. Boys under 19: Vivek Sharma ( Chd) b Vikas ( Har) 15-4, 15-13; Naresh Kundu b Varun ( Chd) 15-11, 15-4; Yogesh ( Pb) b Sandeep ( Del) 15-2, 15-5. Girls under 13: Anita ( Har) b Sehar Chadha ( Pb) 11-3, 11-2; Neha ( Har) b Shruti Bansal ( Pb) 11-3, 11-4; Kannu Priya ( Har) b Shruti Nair ( Har) 11-8, 11-3; Harleen ( Chd) b Sanya Sareen ( Pb) 11-7, 11-4. Mens ( Q-F) singles:
Manmeet Singh ( Dl) b Amit Sachdeva ( Chd) 15-1, 15-3; Moh. Salim ( Pb) b Piyush Aggarwal ( Hry) 15-9, 15-5. Vivek ( Chd) b Harinder ( Pb) 7-15, 15-6, 15-1; Yogesh (Pb) b Rohan Kapoor ( Pb) 12-15, 15-3, 15-4. Girls under 16 (Q-M) singles: Mala Gaba ( Chd) b Amritpal Kaur ( Pb) 11-6, 11-2; Anita (Hry) b Gauri ( Hry) 11-2, 11-0; Saumaya ( Raj) b Aarti Verma 8-11, 11-9, 11-8; Samarika ( J&K) b Navita Thakur ( Pb) 4-11, 11-3, 13-12. Girls under 19(Q-M)singles:
Mala Gaba( Chd) b Jaspreet (Pb) 11-3, 11-0; Samarika ( J&K) b Parnita ( Chd) 11-3, 13-10; Saumaya (Raj) b Chitra Lekha (Del) 11-3, 11-3; Deepti Ranjan ( Del) b Aarti Verma ( Pb) 4-11, 11-7, 11-4. Women ( Q-F) singles: Gayatri ( Del) b Preti Gupta ( J&K) 11-0, 11-0; Nazma Parveen ( Pb) b Sweta Gupta ( J&K) 11-6, 11-2); Samarika ( J&K) b Deepti Ranjan ( Del) 11-4, 11-8; H Sharda (Chd) b Sujata ( Del) 11-4, 11-2. |
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JCT move into
q-finals
Chennai, August 18 JCT of Punjab became the first team to enter the quarterfinals thanks to Harvinder Singh Junior’s golden goal to oust Vasco, Goa, 1-0 here tonight. The golden goal came in the fifth minute of extra time when Jaswant Singh gave a through pass to Harvinder Singh Junior and the latter darted in covering 20 yards and beat the Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ramos with sheer speed. As for the 90 minutes of play, the millmen should have scored on two occasions but Ramos could not be beaten. The Brazilian was par excellence in his approach and proved he was a cut above the rest but even Ramos was beaten in extra time due to a proper game plan by JCT. Ramos, perhaps was excepting Harvinder to pass to Jaswant to do the rest but Harvinder’s decision to go for the kill himself paid off. On the whole, the match was a dull and drab affair. The red brigade of JCT did cause some ripples and looked dangerous.
PTI |
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AI defeat Punjab
cops 4-2
Chennai, August 18 The bankmen went into the lead in the 41st minute through Sanjeev Kumar and the IHF juniors equalised in the 45th minute through a penalty stroke conversion by Arjun Halappa. PTI |
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