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Sunday,
June 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India
  
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Brazil thrash China 4-0
Unfancied Croatia ambush Italy
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Slovenia go down to SA, make exit Turkey must win to keep hopes alive Favourites face embarrassment Sweetest moment of my career: Beckham
Referee error ‘gave’ USA historic win Russia bank on Mostovoi Tough task for Ecuador
Keane affair: probe likely ‘Rent a crowd’
Srinath ignored, Patel included ‘Murali should not skip tour’ Aussies beat India Cycling: India
bag 2 gold AIU sports board meeting in
KU
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Brazil thrash China 4-0
Seogwipo (S. Korea), June 8 Goals from each member of Brazil’s ‘Triple R’ strike-force — Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho — plus a scorching free-kick from Roberto Carlos secured an easy win for the in-form South Americans. The result leaves Brazil top of group C and all but guaranteed a place in the last 16 with only a match against Costa Rica to come. China play Turkey in their final game. China had gone into the encounter anxious to avoid a rout but their worst fears came true in 90 painful minutes as Brazil strolled to victory. Time and again China were sliced apart by Brazil’s attackers, to the dismay of thousands of Chinese fans inside the Seogwipo Stadium who had hoped for a miracle. Ronaldo’s goal on 55 minutes completed the scoring, though Brazil had several chances to increase their victory margin throughout the second half. Rivaldo swept a majestic long ball out to Cafu on the right flank, who danced past his marker before squaring to the unmarked Ronaldo who tapped in from close-range. The match had been wrapped up long before then, Brazil surging into a 3-0 half-time lead. They went ahead with a stunning Roberto Carlos free-kick from 25 metres on 15 minutes, the Real Madrid star sending a left-footed thunderbolt rocketing past the diving Jiang Jin into the net.
Though the velocity of the shot gave Jiang no chance, questions will be asked about the positioning of Jiang’s wall, which left a sizeable part of the Chinese goal exposed. It was Roberto Carlos’ first successful free-kick since his famous swerving effort against France at the Tournoi in 1997. Brazil went close to doubling their lead soon afterwards, when skipper Cafu burst down the flank before thumping a right-footed shot which Jiang beat away. The Brazilians doubled their goal tally on 32 minutes through a simple move which split the Chinese defence. A clipped cross from the left flank by Ronaldinho found Rivaldo lurking in the six-yard box and the Barcelona star finished clinically. On the stroke of half-time Brazil made it 3-0 when Ronaldo was hauled down in the box by China defender Du Wei, Ronaldinho stepping up to convert the spot-kick. China, missing injured skipper Fan Zhiyi and key defender Sun Jihai, had begun the match brightly and got the first shot on goal through Qi Hong. But it was a fleeting excursion into Brazilian territory and for most of the match China were firmly on the backfoot. Hopes of a goal were raised in the second half when Zhao Junzhe rattled the woodwork with a curling shot, but it was the nearest China came.
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Unfancied Croatia ambush Italy
Ibaraki (Japan), June 8 Substitute Marco Materazzi’s 60-yard punt upfield eluded everyone, including Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and with the Italians already celebrating snatching a point, the cheers turned to disbelief as it was ruled out for striker Filippo Inzaghi impeding a Croatian defender. It left the Croatians in with a real chance of qualifying for the second round but much still depends on the outcome of Mexico’s second Group G game, against Ecuador tomorrow. Croatia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two goals in three minutes after trailing to a 55th-minute Christian Vieri goal, his third of the tournament. First substitute Ivica Olic and then Milan Rapaic struck to produce yet another turn up for the books. Croatian coach Mirko Jozic was full of praise for his players after reshuffling his line-up and changing tactics after the defeat by Mexico. It was a different team, I can’t explain the mental block they had against Mexico when they were at full strength. “We knew we had to play very hard football against the Italians and I’m very glad they played as I decided they should.” He said he thought the key to victory was not giving up when they went a goal behind. “I cannot single one out because the team played as a whole, they were real heroes, they were dying for each other out there.” It was only Croatia’s second appearance in the finals, having finished third in France four years ago, and they had been written off as a spent force after their opening group G defeat by Mexico. Vieri took his tally for the tournament to three, after his two against Ecuador, when he struck in the 55th minute with a text book header and continued his extraordinary record in the World Cup, making it his eighth goal in seven games. The Italians had already suffered a serious setback when they had to reshuffle their defence after just 24 minutes when Alessandro Nesta hobbled off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Inter Milan centre back Matterazzi. After a forgettable first half punctuated by errors, free kicks and few clear-cut chances, most of which fell to Croatia, Vieri had the ball in the net and got his name into the book for protesting too vociferously after the effort was ruled offside, but it looked a close call. He finally broke the deadlock with a looping header just below the bar and into the corner from Cristiano Doni’s cross from the right in the 55th minute. Vieri had a chance to double the lead on 70 minutes but fired over and it proved a costly miss for three minutes later substitute Olic left it all square as he slipped between Fabio Cannavaro and Materazzi, both rooted to the spot, to slide home Robert Jarni’s cross.
AFP
Ibaraki, June 8 “Everything we can do, we will do,” said Mr Ranucci, who added he would take time to consider any possible complaint. Britain’s Graham Poll disallowed two Italy goals after Danish linesman Jens Larsen flagged. Christian Vieri was ruled offside early in the second half and in injury time ruled that Filippo Inzaghi had pulled the shirt of a Croatian defender before striking the ball home.
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Zagreb erupts with joy Zagreb, June 8 Croatia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two goals in three minutes after trailing to a 55th-minute Christian Vieri goal to win in Ibaraki, Japan, today. “This victory makes all the Croatian people proud and happy,” said Ante Pasalic, a 20-year-old student from Zagreb, draped in the Croatian flag. “I am so glad since we won despite all those who have been convinced that we will lose,” he added, rushing with a group of friends to a nearby cafe in downtown Zagreb to continue celebrations. Croatia, who finished third at France 98, lost their opening group game 1-0 to Mexico last Monday. “This is great. I did not expect it due to our poor game against Mexico. But, now I am confident that we will win the next match as well,” Goran Marin, a 33-year-old salesman, said. Darko Magdic admitted he also did not believe Croatia would win although “deep in my heart I was hoping for it.” As soon as the referee whistled full time, the crowd began celebrating, waving flags, throwing firecrackers and blowing whistles. A dozen teenagers took a ritual bath to celebrate the victory in the Zagreb main square’s fountain. They were immediately surrounded by several hundred people, many of them wearing the squad’s uniforms, chanting “Croatia, Croatia.” The majority of Croatians watched the match at home, although many went to cafes, which have set up big screens to follow the World Cup games.
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Slovenia go down to SA, make exit Daegu (South Korea), June 8 The South Africans recorded their first-ever victory at a finals thanks to an early goal from Siyabonga Nomvethe, who proved an inspired change from the team that drew 2-2 with Paraguay. Jomo Sono’s team move on to four points and have given themselves a good chance of qualifying behind Spain in group B. Slovenia, meanwhile, saw their hopes snuffed out after a disastrous week and join Saudi Arabia and Nigeria among the first-round casualties. Star playmaker Zlatko Zahovic was thrown out of the squad for criticising coach Srecko Katanec’s tactics in the 3-1 defeat to Spain and the coach himself has said he is quitting after the tournament. Katanec’s influence on his team was limited here after he was expelled from the dugout early in the second half, apparently for arguing with officials. South Africa took the lead after just four minutes when Nomvethe jumped to head a teasing Quinton Fortune cross but instead directed the ball in off his thigh. Nomvethe, a former South African player of the year, did not feature in the draw against Paraguay but he reaped almost instant rewards here, twisting away from his markers to give Slovenian goalkeeper Marko Simeunovic no chance. In the second half, the Bafana Bafana could have extended their lead on several occasions as Benni McCarthy headed against a post and later blasted the ball straight at the goalkeeper when perfectly placed on the edge of the six-yard box. The Slovenian keeper managed to deflect a Delron Buckley shot on the break to give his side some hope, but his team-mates failed to respond to the challenge. Slovenia had almost equalised with their very first effort on target, Nastja Ceh’s powerful header forcing South African keeper Andre Arendse into a good save after 70 minutes. Amir Karic’s drive skimmed just over the South African goal with five minutes to play as they pushed in vain for an equaliser to stay alive in the tournament. McCarthy was substituted and needed treatment after a clash with 10 minutes remaining, a concern for the South Africans who face Spain on Wednesday. Sebastjan Cimirotic, the burly Slovenian forward who scored against Spain, was replaced by Milan Osterc just before half-time. Three players on each side were booked but the match was not bad-tempered.
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Turkey must win to keep hopes alive Incheon (South Korea), June 8 The Turks were livid with the performance of South Korean referee Kim Young-Joo after he awarded a contentious late penalty and sent two Turkish players off as four-time winners Brazil got home 2-1 in Ulsan on Monday. Turkey, in their first World Cup finals’ appearance in 48 years, must beat the top Concacaf qualifiers to stay alive at the World Cup and their task won’t be easy after the central Americans spoilt China’s heralded World Cup debut with a 2-0 defeat in Gwangju, Korea, on Tuesday. Turkey was in uproar over the way the national team lost to the Brazilians. Brazilian star Rivaldo was fined $ 7,350 by FIFA’s disciplinary committee and warned about his future behaviour for faking an injury after Turkish defender Hakan Unsal kicked the ball at him. It hit Rivaldo on the leg but the Brazilian covered his face with his hands and fell to the ground as if he had been seriously injured. Unsal was given a red card in the final minute. The head of Turkey’s football federation Haluk Ulusoy put an historical bent on the debate over Kim’s performance, noting that some 700 Turkish troops died fighting for South Korea in the Korean War in the 1950s. “We gave a thousand martyrs for Korea 50 years ago. Now a single Korean killed 70 million Turks,” Ulusoy said. Gunes, criticised by sections of the Turkish press over his tactics against the Brazilians and for his players’ volatile behaviour, has spent the last few days trying to get his players in the right frame of mind to beat Costa Rica. He will have to do without Unsal, the Galatasaray left midfielder and Aston Villa stopper Ozalan Alpay, who both have one-match bans after receiveing red cards in the opening game. Once again Turkey will look to the explosive talents of veteran striker Hakan Sukur to get the goals to sink the Costa Ricans and give them a chance of second-round qualification. Costa Rica’s victory, along with Mexican and US triumphs here, mean that Concacaf is the only confederation to have a 100 per cent success rate so far at the World Cup and they will be looking to emulate their 1990 second-round showing at their first World Cup finals. Their Brazilian-born coach Alexandre Guimaraes, who played under Bora Milutinovic at the Ticos’ first World Cup in Italy 12 years ago, only took over the national team halfway through their qualifying campaign and has employed an attacking style. Costa Rica rocked China, who were playing their first match in the finals’ 72-year history, with two second-half goals in four minutes by Ronald Gomez and Mauricio Wright. Their strikeforce of Manchester City’s Paolo Wanchope and Mexican-based Rolando Fonseca give them bite in attack and the contrasts in playing styles between the aggressive Turks and the Brazilian-style Ticos gives this match an intriguing look.
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Favourites face embarrassment Seoul, June 8 World and European champions France need a two-goal victory over Denmark in their final group A encounter in Incheon on Tuesday to survive. And given that they have yet to score a goal in these World Cup finals, the omens are not good for Roger Lemerre’s side. Argentina were swept off course by David Beckham’s penalty goal in Sapporo and are now left to face the in-form Swedes in Miyagi on Wednesday knowing that they almost certainly will need all three points to go through. What has gone wrong? In France’s case, there is no doubt that the injury to playmaker Zinedine Zidane that kept him out of the 0-1 loss to Senegal and the 0-0 draw against Uruguay was the key factor. Both Youri Djorkaeff and Johan Micoud were sent out to fill his boots, but both came up short and Lemerre is left with little option other than taking a risk that the now fit Real Madrid star will be able to last the full 90 minutes against the uncompromising Danes. The latest news from the French camp was encouraging with team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret saying that Zidane has recovered and is available for selection. But in a word of warning he said that he could not rule out a renewal of the injury in training or during the match if he makes a sudden movement that puts strain on his thigh. The French are in no doubt that only Zidane can save them from becoming the first World Cup holders to fail to make it past the first round of the finals since Brazil were hacked out of contention in the 1966 finals in England. Former World Cup-winning player and coach Franz Beckenbauer is in no doubt that Zidane makes all the difference. “He is the head of the French team. With such a dominant personality they play a different game. He just has to be out there and his impact is enormous,” says ‘Der Kaiser’. Argentina had skipper and midfield general Juan Sebastian Veron fully fit for the England game, but the Manchester United star looked jaded and almost disinterested and he was taken off at half-time. Pablo Aimar came on for Veron and although they failed to score, Argentina dominated the second period from midfield. That leaves coach Marcelo Bielsa with a tough decision to make of whether or not to drop Veron for the Sweden game. For the moment he is sticking by his man saying that his substitution was tactical move and that “it’s tough for all players in the World Cup but especially those charged with being creative.” He is also under pressure to go back on his conviction that Gabriela Batistuta and Hernan Crespo can not form an effective partnership up front. Like France the Argentinians are goal-shy with just one marker from two games - a close-in Batustuta header against Nigeria. France and Argentina are not the only top sides with problems. Germany, who stood just seconds away from certain qualification for the second round before Robbie Keane struck an Irish equaliser in their game in Ibaraki, now must beat African and Olympic champions Cameroon to ensure they survive. A single goal defeat and a win for the Irish in their closing match against Saudi Arabia would send Rudi Voller’s side packing. Three giants then facing a humbling in a World Cup finals which so far has gone anything but according to the book.
AFP Seoul, June 8 French defender Bixente Lizarazu said the day’s training session saw Zidane return to top form.
“He looked very good,” Lizarazu said. “He was training with full power, training with the ball and running.
“He was in good condition, but we have to wait for the doctor’s decision,” he
added. AP |
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Sweetest moment of my career: Beckham Sapporo (Japan), June 8 The high-pressure penalty that the England captain converted a minute before half-time gave his side a vital 1-0 win over Argentina and left them well-placed for qualifying from the World Cup’s ‘Group of Death’ for the second phase. But for Beckham the man who was made the scapegoat for England’s exit from France 98 after being sent off in the second round defeat to Argentina, it clearly meant much, much more. As he raced towards the corner flag, tugging his red shirt up to his mouth to kiss it in ecstatic celebration, there was no disguising his relief and emotion. “It is a fantastic feeling. This is probably the sweetest moment of my whole career,” he said afterwards. “It is a victory for the whole nation. When you play one of the best teams in the world, to score the goal that wins the game is very special.” It was very nearly a totally different story. When Beckham stepped up take the penalty, the strain on his face was palpable. And his nervous state certainly could not have been helped when Diego Simeone, the Argentinian who was involved in the incident which earned Beckham his red card four years ago, approached him just before the kick. “He came up to me and I think he was trying to shake my hand. Then (Nicky) Butt and (Paul) Scholes came in and that was the last I saw of him. “Then the goalkeeper was pointing at where I should hit the ball, so I hit it the other way.” As it was, Beckham struck the penalty with venomous force but only a yard to the left of Pablo Cavallero. Had the Argentinian goalkeeper not started to move the other way, he could well have saved it. Beckham revealed that he had not definitely decided before the match that he would take any penalties England won. But when the chance arrived, he was determined not to shirk his responsibility as the team’s captain. “Michael Owen came and said ‘you or me?’ and I just said I wanted it,” Beckham said. “When it came to kicking it there were a few antics going on and quite a lot of things going through my mind. It definitely wasn’t the best penalty I’ve ever taken but it went in and that’s what counts.”
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Traffic jams in London as fans celebrate London, June 8 Depressed by their heroes’ lacklustre weekend draw against Sweden, the nation’s spirit soared when captain David Beckham stepped up to the penalty spot to score in the 1-0 win against Argentina. “Beckham is God! We are the champions! Revenge is ours!” yelled Lawrence Elliot, 23, from the top of a fountain in London’s historic Trafalgar Square, a traditional focal point for national celebrations. Within seconds of the final whistle, fans — many wrapped in flags and with faces painted in the red-and-white of England’s patron Saint George — rushed out of pubs, houses and workplaces to celebrate together on the streets. Complete strangers kissed and hugged like long-lost family. Traffic came to a standstill in parts of London as cars crawled through the streets honking horns in celebrations. Even T-shirts proclaiming “England 1 — Argies 0” were being sold on the streets within half an hour of the match ending. The result from Sapporo, in Japan, meant far more to the English than simply giving them a great chance of going through to the next round of the World Cup. It exorcised the Argentine ghosts of World Cups past — Diego Maradona’s fisted “Hand of God” goal in Mexico 1986, and an agonising penalty shootout defeat in France 1998. For Beckham, it was a particularly sweet revenge after his sending off for a petulant kick on Diego Simeone in 1998. And in defeating pre-tournament favourites Argentina, England finally injected self-belief into a team beset by injuries during their World Cup build-up and lashed by a fickle national media after the failure to beat Sweden. The national party was galling, though, for Argentines in England — nowhere more so than in London’s “El Gaucho” bar. Staff and clients at El Gaucho, a virtual shrine to Argentine food and football, wore Maradona’s No 10 and chanted “Vamos Argentina!” (Come on, Argentina) for the first 43 minutes. But there was a disconsolate silence at the end. A spokesman for the British Chamber of Commerce told Reuters that one fifth of the British workforce — an estimated four million people — had taken the day off legitimately as annual leave. Many more “did a sickie” and just disappeared. Many of those who stayed at work were allowed to watch on TV or big screens put up by their bosses. Queen Elizabeth, more into horse-racing than soccer, missed the game due to an engagement in the provinces, but was promptly told the result. “Naturally she is pleased,” her spokesman said.
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Referee error ‘gave’ USA historic win Kwangju, South Korea, June 8 “The second goal I think was a big mistake by the FIFA referee and the linesmen,” Dutch-born coach Guus Hiddink told reporters at South Korea’s training camp. “It was clearly, clearly, clearly offside so normally it would have been a draw, a 2-2 draw,” he said. Speedy 20-year-old midfielder Landon Donovan scored from a right-foot cross deflected off the head of defender Jorge Costa as Portugal keeper Vitor Baia was unable to stop the ball going in off the woodwork for a 2-0 U.S. lead after 29 minutes. “(It) annoyed me very much...(it was) very sleepy refereeing which makes it complicated,” Hiddink said. The USA won the match 3-2 for their best finals result since a 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup. Hiddink’s side made history a day earlier by beating Poland 2-0 for their first victory at the finals despite five past appearances dating back to 1954.
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Russia bank on Mostovoi Yokohama, June 8 But the Japanese, who showed a rare attacking spirit in the 2-2 opener with Beligium which brought them their first point in a World Cup finals, will be looking to build on that performance and advance their own ambitions. Otherwise, the two-time Asian champions will have to rely on Belgium slipping up against Tunisia in order to achieve their goal - emulating all previous World Cup hosts by reaching the second round. Russia, who beat group H makeweights Tunisia 2-0 without Mostovoi and midfield partner Alexei Smertin, are determined to press the pair into action for the Japan clash. Coach Oleg Romantsev has drawn a veil of secrecy over training sessions in Shimizu, keeping the Japanese guessing. Mostovoi, who plays his club football for Celta Vigo in Spain, resumed full training only two days ago and it is not certain he will be able to play the full 90 minutes. The Japanese, still seeking their first World Cup victory, are planning to exploit Russia’s slow-moving defence and use the wide-open spaces on the flanks that were apparent in the game against Tunisia. Takayuki Suzuki, one of the Japanese goalscorers against Belgium, said he believed Russia were not as strong as the Belgians. “We will have chances on quick counter-attacks,” he said. “The Russian attack requires several steps and we may ambush them right there.”
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Tough task for Ecuador Miyagi (Japan), June 8 The World Cup debutants were given a harsh lesson in reality of life at football’s top table earlier this week, outclassed by Italy in their opening match and losing 2-0. Another defeat against Mexico could well send the South Americans spinning out of the tournament. Ecuador’s task has been made more difficult by the loss of star midfielder and captain Alex Aguinaga. Aguinaga pulled a muscle during the loss to France and is definitely out - but Gomez is refusing to be despondent. “We aren’t giving up just yet,” Gomez said. “Ecuador are proud and we are prepared to fight to the death to get through to the second stage,” said the Colombian, who survived an attempt on his life last year when gunmen pumped several shots into him at close range. Adored by Ecuadorean fans for taking the country to their first World Cup finals, Gomez will be hoping to repay some of the faith shown in him by prising a result from Mexico. Aguinaga will be replaced by Ivan Kaviedes, who scored several important goals for Ecuador in qualifying but who was a surprise non-starter against the Italians in Sapporo last week.
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Keane affair: probe likely London, June 8 Manchester United midfielder Keane was sent home ahead of Ireland’s opening match against Cameroon after a furious row with manager Mick McCarthy. “This will be a wide ranging and thorough investigation of the way we dealt with the Roy Keane issue,” an unnamed FAI official told the London Evening Standard yesterday. “We are not happy that we handled the whole story in the correct manner,” the official added. The investigation is set to be carried out by a Dublin audit firm. Despite the furore surrounding Keane’s exit, the rest of the Republic’s players appear to have put the incident behind them. After a 1-1 draw with Cameroon they achieved the same scoreline in their second group E match against Germany. Ireland play Saudi Arabia in their final group match on Tuesday.
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‘Rent a crowd’ Seoul, June 8 Thousands of local government officials and school children have already been called up in an emergency plan to prevent television pictures of empty seats being broadcast around the world. On Thursday 1,900 volunteers were given free passes to watch the Senegal-Denmark match in
Daegu. “That has been done,” admitted Chun Young-Il, spokesman for the Korean World Cup organising committee
(KOWOC). “Some were done on a voluntary basis.” Since the start of the World Cup both Korean and Japanese organisers have angrily complained about ticket distribution and both have threatened legal action against FIFA and it’s ticket agency
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Paris, June 8 “I want to thank Venus for supporting me all the way and for being the best sister in the world,” the third seed beamed as she collected the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. “I just love playing here.” The Williams family were all smiles after the last ball had been struck but centre court connoisseurs were left to ponder an error-filled, lacklustre final. A feast of screeches, grunts and frustrated screams was served up during the 91 minute contest. Quality tennis was missing from the menu. But despite the scrappy, workmanlike and for the most part ugly manner of the victory, it could hardly have been sweeter for Serena. It avenged her loss to Venus in the US Open last year — the first Grand Slam final between sisters since Maud Watson beat Lillian Watson at Wimbledon in 1884, and leaves her two majors behind Venus. The 20-year-old now boasts one US and one French Open title while Venus has a pair of US and Wimbledon victories. In the entire match, Serena made 54 unforced errors and Venus 47. Serena broke Venus straightaway and held serve in the next game to take a 2-0 lead. Venus struggled with her first serve but still managed to hold serve in the next game. But Serena faltered in turn and double-faulted to let Venus back to 2-2. Experience then seemed to prevail as Venus, just a little bit more consistent than Serena, broke her for the first time to lead 4-2. Having won four games in succession, Venus seemed to have the upper hand but she was again broken in the seventh game. But Serena was unable to level the scoring as she again conceded her serve to love, only to break Venus again as the second seed was serving for the set at 5-3. The match seemed to turn Serena’s way as she took three consecutive games to lead 6-5 and in turn serve for the set.
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Srinath ignored, Patel included Kolkata, June 8 Ace leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who has recovered fully from a jaw injury, has also been included in place of left-arm spinner Murali Kartik in both the Test and one-day teams announced by the cricket board Secretary Niranjan Shah here. The inclusion of Patel as the second wicketkeeper, in addition to Ajay Ratra, meant the selectors ignored the claims of Deep Dasgupta. Javagal Srinath, who recently announced his decision to retire from Test cricket, has not been included in the one-day team with the selectors expressing satisfaction with the current bunch of pacemen. While there is just one change from the one-day team that did duty in the West Indies with Kumble returning in place of Kartik, the 16-member Test team remains more or less unchanged with young Patel replacing Dasgupta. One-day team:
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, V V S Laxman, Ajay Ratra, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Tinu Yohannan. Test team: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Virender Sehwag, S S Das, Wasim Jaffer, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Tinu Yohannan, Ajay Ratra, Sanjay Bangar, Parthiv Patel. The five national selectors and captain Sourav Ganguly were closetted for nearly three hours to finalise the teams for the triangular and Test series during the 83-day tour of England. Announcing the teams at a press conference, Shah did not elaborate on Srinath’s omission, but said the selectors felt that the current bunch of pacemen were quite capable. “The selectors felt that these boys (pacemen) were doing quite well at the moment and did not want to disturb the combination,” Shah said. Asked whether Rahul Dravid would continue to keep wickets in the shorter version of the game, Shah said: “Dravid had kept wickets in the West Indies. He might continue to do so, but it will be a decision of the team management.” “As always, it is the team management which will decide the playing eleven depending on the conditions. The selectors have chosen the best available squad,” he said. Selection committee Chairman Chandu Borde did not turn up at the press conference. The selectors also decided to retain even those players who failed to impress during the West Indies tour. Despite failing miserably in the Test series in the Caribbean, diminutive opener Shiv Sundar Das was retained in the Test squad and was expected to partner Mumbai opener Wasim Jaffer. The Test team has just two specialist openers and Shah indicated that Sanjay Bangar could be used as the third opener if required. Srinath’s decision to retire from Test cricket in order to concentrate on next year’s World Cup has paved the way for Ajit Agarkar to stage a comeback in the team for the longer version of the game. Agarkar was not selected in the Test team during the series against West Indies. The one-day squad would leave for England on June 18, Shah said.
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England tour itinerary Kolkata, June 8 The triangular series involving India, England and Sri Lanka would, however, begin on June 27 when England and Sri Lanka would play the inaugural match at
Trentbridge, according to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah here today. India will play three practice matches before the start of the series on June 22, 24 and 26 against Sussex, Kent and Leicester, respectively. The following is the itinerary: ODI: June 18: Arrival of Indian team in UK. June 27: Triangular series begins with England vs Sri Lanka at Trentbridge (Day and Night). June 29: India vs England at Lords. June 30: India vs Sri Lanka (A M P Oval). July 2 : England Vs Sri Lanka at
Headinglay. July 4 : England vs India at Durham (floodlit). July 6 : India vs Sri Lanka at
Edgbaston. July 7 : England vs Sri Lanka (Old Trafford). July 9 : England vs India (A M P Oval). July 11: India vs Sri Lanka
(Bristol)(floodlit). July 13: Final at Lords. Test: India will play their first Test match at the Lords from July 25 to 29. Before that India will play two three-day matches from July 16 to 18 and July 20 to 22. After playing another four-day match from July 31 to August 3 against Sussex at New Road
TBC, India will play their second Test at Trentbridge. India will play their third and fourth test matches from August 22 to 26 and September 5 to 9 at Headinglay and A M P Oval, respectively. Indian team would also play one more four-day and one more three-day matches during August 14 to 17 and Aug 28 to 30 against Essex and Derbyshire, respectively. Indian team will return home on September 10.
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‘Murali should not skip tour’ Brisbane, Australia, June 8 “That’s a decision that he’s got to make along with his support group,’’ Gilchrist told a news conference in Brisbane following Australian press reports the bowler was reluctant to return to the country. “But I’m sure the Australian team, the Australian Cricket Board
(ACB) and the cricket fans here would love to see him out here again and he’d be most welcome,’’ Gilchrist added. “He’s a very exciting cricketer and a great bloke and I’d be very disappointed and feel sorry if he didn’t come.’’ Muralitharan, an off-spinner who has taken more than 400 test wickets, was no-balled for throwing during previous tours of Australia. The Sri Lankan was reported in Australian newspapers to be anxious to avoid another controversial visit to the country on the eve of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Gilchrist himself thrust Muralitharan’s name back in the headlines last month when he told an Australian Rules football pre-match luncheon in Melbourne that Muralitharan’s bowling action was technically not within the rules of the game. Sri Lanka are scheduled to play in a triangular one-day series against England and host nation Australia later this year. Sri Lanka are currently touring England and Muralitharan bowled for long periods during the second Test which the tourning side lost. The ACB officially reprimanded Gilchrist for his comments on Muralitharan’s action, which has been cleared by the International Cricket Council. Australia will host a three-match one-day series against Pakistan starting on Wednesday in Melbourne. Both teams are in camp in Brisbane. The first two matches of the series will be played indoors at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium on Wednesday and Saturday while the third game will be played in Brisbane on June 19. “It’s major part of our build-up,’’ Gilchrist said on Saturday of the Pakistan series. “We’ve got about 20 one-day games between now and the World Cup, give or take a few finals and the like, and so that’s going to be the main event for us.’’ Reuters |
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Aussies beat India Melbourne, June 8 Olympic silver medallists South Korea beat Malaysia 3-1 and the two replay tomorrow for the bronze medal. Troy Elder’s 54th minute backhanded goal provided the winner for an unconvincing Australia who had gone ahead when Michael McCann tapped in a simple goal after the ball went past Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan. India had the best of the chances and were a constant threat in attack in the first half when Prabhjot Singh should have scored twice. He was denied a goal by Australian keeper Mark Hickman and was then crowded out by a quick-thinking Australian defence after he pounced on Zain Wright’s
mis-hit pass. India’s persistence paid off when Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner to level the score in the 47th minute but a lapse in concentration let in Elder for the winner. India progress to tomorrow’s final where they will be attempting to end Australia’s winning run of six matches.
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Cycling: India
bag 2 gold
New Delhi, June 8 As Sri Lanka are taking part in the road race events only, the contest in men’s and women’s 1500 m team trial events was confined to India and Bangladesh. In the men’s 1500 m team trial Sukhjinder Singh clocked 1.44.593 to win the gold. Paramjit Singh representing India “B” finished second for a silver with a time of 1:50.815. Bangladesh’s Shahidul Islam took the bronze timing 2:09.520.
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AIU sports board meeting in
KU Chandigarh, June 8 A 10-point agenda has been circulated for deliberations during the national-level conclave for the Indian universities under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). It is for the second time that such an AIU sports board meeting is being organised in Kurukshetra University. According to Mr Baljeet Singh Goyat, Director of Sports and host of the AIU sports conclave, Kurukshetra University Vice-Chancellor R.S. Chaudhary will inaugurate the AGM, while Dr V.K. Patil, VC of Raipur will inaugurate the second day meeting. The AIU would decide the sports calendar of the year 2002-03 for the universities, the venues, events and time schedule for the sports of all sort of inter-university sports competitions. Dr Goyat said that three trophies would be conferred on the winner teams of different universities. Dr B.L. Gupta inter-university general championship trophy will be bestowed upon Delhi University with highest 9280 points in inter-university tournaments of both men and women. GND varsity, Amritsar and Panjab University, Chandigarh finished second and third with 6645 and 4965 points, respectively. The coveted Kridamaharshi Shri Meghnath Nageshkar Trophy will go to Delhi University for scoring top position with 6250 points in the men’s section tournaments, leaving behind GNDU, Amritsar and PU, Chandigarh. The Osmania University Platinum Jubilee Trophy will be conferred on the GNDU, Amritsar for
securing first position in the women tournaments with 3700 points, leaving behind Delhi University and PU, Chandigarh. |
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How they stand
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