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Wednesday,
December 25,
2002, Chandigarh, India  
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ICC, BCCI
heading for another showdown Luck saw us through in
second Test |
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| SA look
to top ICC ratings Durban, December 24 South Africa will be seeking to snatch the International Cricket Council Test Championship when they take on a depleted Pakistan team in the first Test starting at Kingsmead on Thursday.
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Sunita
Rani a step closer to getting medals back
Azad
elected IGF chief SRC
scrape past Signals PSB
retain hockey title Durand
Cup from Dec 26 Churchill
overcome HAL
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ICC, BCCI heading for another showdown Kolkata, December 24 An attempt to break the deadlock via a tele-conference between top ICC bosses and BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya last evening also failed as both sides stuck to their respective stands, according to sources. Dalmiya refused to comment on the tele-conference, but reliable sources confirmed that the stalemate continued. This puts the focus on tomorrow’s crucial meeting when the last offer by the ICC will be put before the general body of the BCCI, the highest decision-making body, for consideration and a final decision. The ICC made its final offer to the BCCI last week after making some concessions in the players’ terms for the World Cup beginning in South Africa on February 9. It also threatened that the Indian board faced the prospect of damage claims being made against it if it failed to send its best team to the World Cup. Dalmiya, however, clearly indicated after a meeting of the BCCI officer-bearers here last Friday that the ICC offer in its current form would be unacceptable to the board. The issue, which had led to a similar deadlock before the ICC Champions Trophy in September, mainly revolves around the restrictions on personal endorsements by players and use of their images by the official sponsors of the World Cup. As per the original terms, players were not allowed to do personal endorsements of any product which comes in conflict with those of official sponsors during the tournament and 30 days on either side of the event. The official sponsors were also given the right to use images of players, including of those with pre-existing conflicting contracts, for six months after the tournament. Dalmiya, however, had said restriction on endorsements could not be accepted before and after the tournament because, “it was with great difficulty that the restrictive clauses during the event could be agreed upon.” The Indian board has also insisted that the images of players with pre-existing conflicting contracts should not be used while for others it should be used only for two months after the meet. In the current circumstances the Indian board would have to pull out of the World Cup if it refused to accept the terms offered by the ICC as it could not even send a second string side because the world body has clearly said that India has to send its best team as per the Playing Nations’ Agreement signed by all the boards. The problem emanates from a number of top stars of the Indian team having pre-existing personal endorsement contracts with companies whose products are in conflict with the official sponsors of the World Cup. As per the agreement the BCCI has to announce its final team of 15 members by December 31 and all the selected players have to sign the players’ terms by January 14.
PTI |
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Sachin sprains right ankle Auckland, December 24 Tendulkar was bowling at the nets and complained of pain in his ankle after completing his quota of overs. He was undergoing ice-treatment. Team manager N.R. Choudhary said Tendulkar felt confident he would be fit in time for the first one-dayer. “I had a word with Sachin and he seems confident he would be fit for Thursday’s game,” Choudhary said. He said as of now the injury did not appear to be a fracture or ligament tear. “We are all keeping a close eye on his injury and hopefully he should be fit for the game. At present it is too early to commit yourself on it,” he said. Tendulkar had missed the entire seven-match one-day series at home against the West Indies last month because of a hamstring strain.
PTI |
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Luck saw us through
in second Test A 2-0 Test win against a quality side like India would please any captain, and I’m no different. The way the team fought and the aggression with which the bowlers bowled was fantastic. However, I have to admit that the second Test was a bit of a lottery. I was lucky that Ganguly called wrong again, and that luck saw us through in the end. The pitch was not up to the usual standard at Hamilton, and that was because of an unusually heavy downpour for two days, just before the Test. According to the local groundsmen in Hamilton, they had the equivalent of a month of rain in just two days. The result was an under-prepared pitch on which batting was very, very difficult. It is grossly unfair to judge the Indian batting line-up on the basis of their performances in the Test series. As far as I am concerned, batting was tough, period. Our batsmen, with the exception of Mark Richardson, had a poor series as well. It was very tough in the middle and particularly so for the Indians who had just finished a series in hugely different conditions and had had very little time to
acclimatise. The Indians would have been better off if they had left more balls. During my 32 in the second innings. I played as few balls as possible. The only Indian batsman who was trying to do that was Rahul Dravid. The Indians like to play many balls and that mindset led to their downfall. We had noticed this tendency among them and our bowlers used it very well. The picture might be slightly different for the bowlers from both sides in the
one-dayers, though. The conditions will definitely be more batsman-friendly, the weather a lot warmer. The Indians, smarting from their defeat in the Test series, will go all out to make amends, and the conditions will favour them. I anticipate a very closely-fought one-day series, with both sides eager to head for the World Cup with a series win behind them. Shane Bond, who for a change had to take a backseat to Tuffey and Oram will be eager to take the centrestage once again, and I feel the key to the series lies in how the Indians play him early in the innings. We will be missing three of our regular professionals Chris Cairns, Chris Harris and Andre Adams due to injury. In their absence, some youngsters are being tried out with an eye on the World Cup. Among them is wicketkeeper Brendon
McCullum, Kyle Mills and Paul Hitchcock, McCullum had made his debut against Australia, but had disappointed. Hopefully he will have a better time against India. Matthew Sinclair will also be eager to earn a place in the side for the World Cup. There has been dome debate over my decision to open the innings. In the one
dayers. However, I plan to open in the first two one-dayers and will then decide on what to do next.
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SA look to top ICC ratings Durban, December 24 If South Africa win the two-match series they will overtake Australia on the ICC log, despite having been heavily beaten in home and away series by the Australians last season. “It’s testament to how well we’ve played around the world,” said South African captain Shaun Pollock. “We beat India in India and Australia couldn’t. And we beat the West Indies in the West Indies.” South Africa’s average points tally is boosted by series wins against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, while Australia have not yet played series against the two lowly nations. The only team not to have been defeated by South Africa in a recent series at home, apart from Australia, are Pakistan, who shared a three-match series five seasons ago. It is because of that result that South Africa can improve their points tally, while Australia cannot gain extra points from their current series against England. Pakistan will start the series as underdogs after being trounced 1-4 in a one-day series, followed by an unimpressive performance in a three-day warm-up match against South Africa A in Pietermaritzburg in which they facing defeat when rain ended play early. Skipper and fast bowler Waqar Younis will carry a huge burden for the tourists following the decision of fellow veteran Wasim Akram not to play in the Tests and the withdrawal because of a knee injury of Shoaib Akhtar. The promising Mohammad Sami did not play against South Africa A because of a groin injury but is expected to be fit for the Test. Fellow fast bowler Mohammad Zahid is set to make a comeback to Test cricket after a four-year absence because of a back injury which required surgery. Zahid took five for 43 against South Africa A. Also in line for a recall is
Fazl-e-Akbar, who made his debut against South Africa at Kingsmead five years ago but has only been selected for three Tests since then. Akbar was called up as a replacement because of Pakistan’s injury problems. Pakistan have reason to be concerned about the form of their batsmen on a pitch which usually helps the fast bowlers. Their openers, Salim Elahi and Taufeeq Umar, are both inexperienced, while their middle order stars,
Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan, performed below their best during the one-day series.
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Pressure
on Waugh, Hussain Melbourne, December 24 The Ashes are long gone for England: 11 playing days was all it took for the Australian juggernaut to wrap up the series in the third Perth Test against the crisis-prone Englishmen. All England have left to play for is pride, while Australia are chasing only their second five-nil Ashes series sweep since 1920-21. Yet the showpiece Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground - the biggest day of the Australian cricket calendar with upwards of 80,000 fans expected - is a study of two captains under pressure. For Hussain it is the ignominy of more pain from a tour which has steadily gone downhill since the first match at Perth’s Lilac Hill on October 22. But even for 154-Test veteran Waugh there is the personal challenge of proving that he still has it as a Test batsman to prolong his glorious career beyond the new year fifth Test against the Englishmen in Sydney. Australia’s selectors have informed 37-year-old Waugh that his selection beyond the fifth Ashes Test is not guaranteed, a symbolic tap on the shoulder that his time to step down is near. Whether the flinty Steve Waugh heeds the call is another matter. He has already spoken of playing on to tour India in 2004.
AFP |
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Sunita Rani a step closer to getting medals back New Delhi, December 24 The report, which was anxiously awaited ever since the OCA Secretary-General Randhir Singh announced in Hyderabad on Thursday that the IOC medical commission had concluded there were discrepancies in testing procedures in the dope laboratory in Seoul, finally reached the OCA’s office this evening. The IOC’s report was immediately referred to a five-member task force which will take a final decision in two-three days on the return of the medals, now considered a formality. “We have sent the report to the OCA task force which hopefully will reverse its decision to take away the medals in two to three days,” Randhir Singh told reporters here today. It would be the first instance in the history of Asian Games that the medals of an athlete were being returned after being taken away on doping charges, Randhir Singh said. Sunita, who had won a gold in 1,500m in a record time and a bronze in 5,000m in Busan, was the only athlete to have tested positive for a banned drug at the September 29 to October 14 games. The return of her medals will see India climb back to its original seventh position in the medals tally with 11 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze. It had slipped to eighth position, behind Taiwan, following the decision to strip Sunita Rani of her medals after she tested positive for nandrolone. Asked whether there was any move to take any action against the doping laboratory in Seoul, Randhir Singh said, “It is a matter between the IOC and the laboratory. The OCA has nothing to do with it. We are only concerned about the athlete.”
PTI |
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Punjab team wins inter-state golf Chandigarh, December 24 It may be recalled that Balwant Singh, an officer with Punjab and Sind Bank, had been a member of the Punjab hockey team. After hockey, he took to golf and has been regularly bringing laurels for his state. Sandy Lehal of Punjab won the individual title with a score of 151. Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, gave away the prizes to the winners in the function held late evening in the sprawling lawns of CGA Range. In the team championship, Chandigarh were a close second with a score of 479 and team consisted of Sujan Singh, Sandeep Sandhu, Dinesh Kumar and Kuldeep Singh. Uttar Pradesh were the second runners-up with score of 494 and team had Dr Kashmir Singh, Raghav Jaggi, Rakesh Sharma and Raj Singh. In the individual section, Sujan Singh with a score of 157 was the first runner-up, while HS Kang of Punjab finished as the second runner-up. The best gross score of day one was of HS Kang at 75 while on day two, it was of Sandy Lehal with a score of 75. |
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Azad elected IGF chief Chandigarh, December 24 Mr Kashmir Singh, a senior IPS officer and President of the Uttar Pradesh Golf Association was elected general secretary. Mr HGS Dhaliwal, also an IPS officer who represented Delhi unit was elected as Treasurer. Later while talking to newspersons, both Mr Azad and Mr Kashmir Singh said as many as 14 units across India took part in today’s election proceedings. They said the basic idea was to promote golf among the amateurs, who would then have the option of taking part in various nationals in different age groups. The IGF also announced the holding of the first national golf meet under their aegis at Lucknow in the first week of February. Mr Azad said they would seek recognition from the Indian Olympic Association so that in important meets like National Games and so, golf stays an integral part. Kashmir Singh said more nominations would be made when the association met the next time to deliberate on the action plan. |
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SRC scrape
past Signals Nabha, December 24 The Ramgarh lads opened the scoring through Rajpal Singh, who deflected a cross from the right wing and minutes later found themselves up 2-0 when Daljit Singh scored off a rebound. However, P.Kujur and D.N. Kushawa put the Jalandhar team on an even keel by scoring two quick goals. Rajpal made it 3-2 for the armymen with a goal scored off an acute angle but within a minute this effort of his was cancelled by a brilliant solo from right in Pawan Verma. Trouble stared when Ramgarh’s full back Satnam Singh sounded the board off a stinging drive from just inside the striking circle. The Jalandhar lads vehemently protested that the shot was taken from outside the circle and this led the match to be stopped for 12 minutes. It was only after both the umpires, P.V. Patel and P.S. Bhandari, deliberated for quite some time that the goal was allowed in favour of SRC. This led to frayed tempers and the Signals’ coach, sitting on the bench, was flashed the yellow card. In the last minute Chandrajit Singh equalised with a brilliantly executed goal. The issue was finally settled in favour of SRC 6-4 in the tie-breaker. AIPS were found lacking in technique and temperament but not in fighting spirit as they managed to keep their rivals at bay during the regulation time. SAIL took the tie-breaker route to post a 4-1 win. Last years runners-up, Centre of Excellence , playing without Olympian Deepak Thakur, paid dearly for having missed a penalty stroke awarded towards the fag end of the match and went down 1-2. BRC, Danapur packed enough firepower in their game to outclass Ropar Hawks 1-0 who fought hard but ended up the second best. |
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PSB retain
hockey title Jalandhar, December 24 Sandeep Singh and Kulwinder Singh scored for the winners while Harbhajan Singh found the mark for BSF. With today’s win, the bankmen have won this tournament for the fifth time. Though BSF dominated the proceedings in the initial stages of the game but it was Punjab and Sind Bank which shot into the lead when Sandeep converted a penalty corner in the 17th minute. Seven minutes later Kulwinder Singh was on target when he neatly deflected the ball from inside the penalty circle to give the bankmen a 2-0 lead. In the second half, BSF took control of the match and put pressure on the rival defence but they either failed to find the mark or were foiled by the Punjab and Sind Bank defence. BSF received seven penalty corners but failed to capitalise on any, while on the other hand, the bankmen got only one penalty corner which was converted. It was in the dying minutes of the match that BSF was awarded a penalty stroke which was converted by Harbhajan Singh to reduce the margin 2-1. BSF had a chance to equalise in the last minute of play but the bank custodian brought off a fine save. |
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Durand
Cup from Dec 26 New Delhi, December 24 Reigning champions Mahindra United, 16 times champions Mohun Bagan and 14 times champions East Bengal have also confirmed their participation. The quarterfinal league will commence on December 31 and the final is slated to be held on January 10, 2003. Coached by former international Mohammad Habib, Mohammedan Sporting have assembled a formidable combination this year with the likes of Nigerian striker Abdul Latif Seriki, India junior striker Syed Rahim Nabia and Dipendu Biswas joining their fold. The Durand Cup carries a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh for the winners and Rs 2 lakh for the runners-up. The losing semifinalists will be richer by Rs 1 lakh each. The Durand Cup introduced prize money to make the tournament more attractive during its centenary year in 1987. |
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Churchill
overcome HAL Margao, December 24 The all-important goal came in the 15th minute through Yakubu Yusuf. He was also adjudged the man of the match. With this win, Churchill came on par with Salgaocar Sports Club with 13 points with three wins, four draws and a defeat and moved on to the fifth place below table toppers East Bengal with 18 points.
UNI |
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AFC dilutes ban New Delhi, December 24 |
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Injury scare hit the Indian
camp ahead of the first one-day international against New Zealand
on Thursday with Sachin Tendulkar today spraining his right ankle
during practice.
