 |
Wednesday,
January 1, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
India hope for change of fortune Mongia needs to be more consistent Selectors went by reputation, not form
ICC accepts Dalmiya’s resignation |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zimbabwe boycott: Aussies garner
support World Cup squads: Anwar, Azhar recalled; no luck for Waugh Durand Cup ties washed
out Sahil Arora wins badminton title GND varsity win judo title Rain may hamper
kho-kho nationals Gurdaspur, Amritsar judokas
shine
|
|
India hope for change of fortune Chirstchurch, December 31 Tendulkar, who missed the first two matches of the series due to an ankle sprain, is a doubtful starter for tomorrow’s day-night game too even though captain Saurav Ganguly was optimistic that the master batsman would play. Physio Andrew Leipus is said to be not totally certain of Tendulkar’s recovery and unless he gives the go-ahead, Tendulkar might well have to sit out another game. Tendulkar’s fitness is crucial to India’s hopes as they are in a desperate situation now after having lost both the one-dayers to go 0-2 down in the seven-match series. The batsmen have been woefully out of form, managing just 327 runs in the two one-dayers combined, and the fielding also dipped sharply in the last match. However, Ganguly today asked his fans to be patient, saying this was the same team which had been winning matches for most of the year. He derived hope from Virender Sehwag who hit a brilliant century in the previous game after struggling in the earlier matches, and said the dashing opener was the perfect example for the other batsmen to follow. “Sehwag is back in form and it is up to the rest of us to pull our socks and get some runs on the board,” Ganguly said in his pre-match comments today. “For a team to be successful, at least three of the seven batsmen have to score runs in every game. But that is not happening,” said Ganguly, who himself has managed just 43 runs from six innings on this tour. “Most of them (batsmen) are definitely out of form. And our fielding too was bad in Napier. Of course, we are having a tough time. “Sometimes it surprises me, it is the same team which did so well in the last 10 months,” he said. But Ganguly was dismissive of former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe’s suggestion that the Indians were not doing well because their minds were pre-occupied with the contracts row. “We had the contracts problem in England and we had the contracts problem in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka but we hardly lost anything on those tours,” Ganguly said. “When you don’t do well, lots of useless comments go around. When you are in front of television, you have to speak something. So you speak. “If you look through this year, we have won more than we have lost and if you look at the winning margin, its a lot,” he said. India have played 35 one-day matches this year, winning 20 and losing 12 with three no-results. In the Tests, they have won six and lost five from 16 matches. Indian coach John Wright pointed out even the absence of Tendulkar could not be the reason for India’s woeful performance in this series. Poor fielding performance may cost Ashish Nehra his place in the side tomorrow. Nehra bowled decently in Napier but his fielding left much to be desired. According to indications, all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, who is yet to get a look-in on this tour, would replace Nehra. Teams (from): India: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar. New Zealand:
Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Matthew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Paul Hitchcock, Mike Mason, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills. Hours of play: 6.40 am to 10.10 am, 10.50 am till close of play. PTI |
|
Wright optimistic of India’s chances Despite the team’s horrid run on the current tour of New Zealand, coach John Wright today sounded optimistic of India’s chances in the upcoming World Cup. “No matter what happens here, I have a lot of confidence in the side. The boys will perform in South Africa. I am very optimistic of that,” Wright said ahead of India’s third one-day international against New Zealand here tomorrow. India trail the seven-match series 0-2 after being blanked in the two-Test series. The batsmen have struggled to score runs on hostile pitches but the bowlers have done well to exploit the helpful conditions. “As a bowling unit, we have been good. We blew away winning opportunities in both the one-day games. But I can look at the potential of improvement,” Wright said. “However, we do not want the fielding performance like the other day,” he said referring to India’s poor performance in the field in the second one-dayer at Napier. “Some of the fielding in the last match was unacceptable. It can happen once. But if it happens again, that would be serious.”
PTI |
|
Kolkata “The BCCI is trying to send Mongia to New Zealand before the fourth one-dayer on January 7 but everything depends on availability of his visa”, cricket board President Jagmohan Dalmiya told PTI today. He said there was a problem in obtaining a visa for Mongia because of new year holidays and that is why nothing can be said with certainty at the moment. Asked about the reasoning behind sending Mongia to New Zealand, Dalmiya said this would give the young left-hander much needed practice before the World Cup because there are fast tracks in that country similar to those in South Africa. Mongia is being sent to New Zealand on a specific request from the team management.
PTI |
|
Ganguly’s sympathy
for Laxman Christchurch
|
|
Mongia needs to be more consistent India’s World Cup team contained no surprises though I must say I felt sorry for VVS Laxman, who probably had to pay for dismal batting performance of fellow players. I still feel Laxman may have been integral to India’s World Cup plans because he is a fine strokeplayer, very suited to pitches in South Africa, but there was a lot of fuss about his fielding. I won’t say I am a great fan of Laxman’s fielding but let me be very honest in saying that if fielding was the sole criterion for selecting the team, not many of our senior players would have got into the side! At the same time, this is a good opportunity for Dinesh Mongia and if he gets a chance to play in any of the matches, he should score runs to cement his place in the side. He has been lucky in the sense that he has batted up the order, as an opener or No 3 and what he needs to show is consistency. In fact, if Mongia has been chosen over Laxman for the World Cup, I strongly feel he should be on the next plane to New Zealand so that the team management can get him in the thick of things. There are four more one-dayers left, after tomorrow’s match, and that will be pretty useful for Mongia. Sadly, the Indian team’s graph is looking down. They are still to win a match on tour and I am very concerned about their confidence level. I hope Sachin Tendulkar is fit for tomorrow’s match as the team’s balance needs him badly. He has the capability to dominate good bowling attack when in mood and for all the India fans, this will be the best new year’s gift if Tendulkar wins the match for the country. Another thing the Indians need to do is to make Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3 tomorrow. He is the batsman in form and the best equipped to take on bowlers in seaming conditions. India must utilise all his experience to the maximum. New Zealanders are enjoying a very good series but it is largely due to the efforts by the bowlers than batsmen. I think that is India’s best hope. |
|
Selectors went by reputation, not form Chandigarh, December 31 The selectors, it seems, went by the current reputation of the players and not on their current form as shown in the two one-day matches they have played in New Zealand this month while selecting the squad. The one exception that the ‘‘five wise men’’ have done is to axe out-of-form VVS Laxman and bring in Chandigarh’s Dinesh Mongia into the squad that is currently touring New Zealand. Rakesh Patel’s omission comes as no surprise because the Mumbai youngster is yet to be blooded in international cricket and the World Cup is too big an arena to try out youngsters. Dinesh Mongia was included into the squad for two reasons. For one Laxman seems to be totally out of form and his fielding leaves much to be desired. On the other hand Mongia’s recent form in domestic cricket, where he has scored a lot of runs, and his fielding tilted the balance in his favour. He has never played on bouncy tracks in South Africa and will take some time to adjust there. What the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can do is to fly Mongia to New Zealand as quickly as possible so that he can get some experience playing on bouncy tracks. In any case, the Indian batting seems to have gone to pieces in New Zealand and may be Mongia can reverse the fortunes of the Indians there. For India to do well in South Africa the batsmen have to fire on all cylinders in each and every match. It has to be admitted that the Indian bowling has not done anything noteworthy in the recent past and there seems to be a lot of missing links in the bowling. The bowlers cannot pull a rabbit out of the hat in the little time left for the World Cup. So the onus will be on the batsman. In any case it must be remembered that on papers India has one of the best batting line-ups in contemporary cricket and it is time for them to deliver. In the previous editions of the World Cup batsmen have singlehandedly won the trophy for their teams. It was Viv Richards who won, and lost, the cup for the West Indies in the late seventies and early eighties. The Sri Lankans won the cup in 1996 on the strength of the batting of their captain Arjuna Ranatanga and opener Sanath Jayasuriya even when their bowlers did not do anything noteworthy. The 2003 World Cup could well become Sachin Tendulkar’s World Cup. The ‘‘little master’’ is the one person who can swing the tournament India’s way if he can get going. He has the talent and the tenacity. What he needs is motivation. Surely, winning the World Cup for India can be a good enough motivation! |
|
ICC accepts Dalmiya’s resignation New Delhi, December 31 In the battle of attrition, ICC president Malcolm Gray today said the BCCI was still obliged to send its best team to the World Cup in South Africa. The ICC promptly accepted Dalmiya’s resignation from the World Cup Contracts Committee and said it was prepared to begin the “arbitration process” as quickly as possible but warned that BCCI would have to take the blame if it failed to ensure the participation of its top players after having signed the Participating Nations Agreement. “The BCCI would like the matter to go for arbitration process. We would like to do that as quickly as possible but the BCCI has a legal obligation to get their cricketers to sign the player terms agreement,” Gray told Zee News. Gray said the ICC wanted the best Indian team to play in the coming World Cup in South Africa and it was now upto the BCCI to meet its legal obligations. “We want the best Indian team to play, the contractual legal obligation to the BCCI is to field the best team,” Gray said. “If the Indian board is not able to manage its best players, unfortunately there will be large damages and compensation. The ultimate responsibility will reside with the BCCI,” the ICC chief said. Asked whether the ICC had accepted Dalmiya’s resignation from the contract committee, Gray said “Yes, we would welcome his resignation if its going to help solve the problem that we have. But it does not change at all the legal obligation the BCCI has to the ICC”. Dalmiya had resigned from the contract committee in Kolkata yesterday saying it would not be fair for him to continue in the committee when the BCCI was “testing the legality” of the World Cup contracts. Although the BCCI honoured ICC’s December 31 deadline for announcing the World Cup squad, it sought to put further pressure on the world body by threatening to take up the issue for international arbitration in Switzerland. As a first step, the BCCI called for “compulsory non-binding mediation” with the ICC’s marketing arm IDI as provided for in the relevant Disputes Resolution Clauses of the Participating Nations Agreement. Gray said he was still hopeful that a solution would be found to the vexed issue in the coming days. Asked about the ICC’s course of action if Indian players refused to sign the contract, Gray said “I would think the Indian public will be quite outraged if they did not sign. I am sure the Indian public and the world public would want the best Indian team to play in the World Cup.”
PTI |
|
Zimbabwe boycott: Aussies garner support Sydney, December 31 Howard reiterated that his government would not stop the Australian cricket team from playing in Zimbabwe next February, saying that would be unfair to the players and fans. But he said the International Cricket Council (ICC) should reverse its decision to permit six World Cup matches to be played in the strife-torn country. “We would like to see the International Cricket Council collectively change its view, that will only happen if there is a collective view expressed to that council by a number of governments,” Howard told reporters. “I’ve spoken to the foreign minister (Alexander Downer) this morning about the matter, he’s already been in touch with the Foreign Ministers of some other countries and that process will go on. “This is a difficult issue and the way in which it can be satisfactorily resolved is on an all-in, all-out basis, not by unilateral action.” The ICC sent a security and safety delegation to Zimbabwe last month and that group recommended the six scheduled World Cup games could proceed. ICC president Malcolm Gray said yesterday the council was not legitimising Robert Mugabe’s government by proceeding with World Cup matches there. British government minister Clare Short has called on England to pull out of their opening World Cup match in Harare on February 13, saying it would be “shocking and deplorable” to play there. Downer said he he did not know how successful his campaign would be, but that he was confident of support from Britain and New Zealand. SA slam England, Australia CAPE TOWN: Hosts South Africa stepped into a row over the cricket World Cup on Monday, urging organisers to stage games in Zimbabwe and slamming British and Australian government calls for a change of venue. “We will not support any move to shift matches from either Zimbabwe or Kenya and believe that the ICC should be supported by all 14 participating countries in its decision to go ahead with its World Cup programme,” South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour said in a statement yesterday.
AFP, Reuters |
|
World Cup squads: Anwar, Azhar recalled; no luck for Waugh
Islamabad, December 31 Announcing the team, Chairman of national cricket selectors Wasim Bari told the media in Lahore that the team looked formidable to win the World Cup despite recent poor performances and it had the capacity, talent and capability to regain lost glory. “Of the 15 selected players, 11 have previously played in World Cups. Besides, there are 14 boys who are playing or have played on the recent tour to Africa. The only new faces in the squad are maybe Saeed Anwar and Azhar Mahmood,” he said. “Saeed has been included because of his rich experience while Azhar Mahmood has an excellent track record in South Africa. Dale Naylor, Surrey’s physiotherapist, has informed us that Azhar would be ready for the tournament,” Bari said. Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup while losing in the quarterfinals at Bangalore in 1996. They were the losing finalists to Australia in 1999. “It (the team) is a combination of youth and experience. In my mind, there is no doubt that this is the team that is capable of excelling in the World Cup despite a recent poor run of form. But I believe form is temporary and class is permanent and there can’t be two opinions that this team has plenty of class, elegance and natural flair,” Bari said. No luck for Waugh SYDNEY Waugh, who led Australia to victory in the last World Cup in 1999 and also played in the side that won the 1987 World Cup, was the only notable omission from the 15-man squad announced on Tuesday. The 37-year-old was dropped in February after 325 appearances and despite attempts to reinvent himself as an all-rounder, he failed to convince the selectors to give him another chance. Warne, on the other hand, is considered so important to Australia’s hopes of retaining their title that coach John Buchanan said he could sit out the entire pool phase while he recovers from a shoulder dislocation. “We’re going to try to make sure he gets every opportunity to be on that plane across to South Africa,” Buchanan told reporters. Flintoff, White in team SYDNEY Flintoff and Giles both returned home from England’s cricket tour of Australia to recover from injuries. England’s chairman of selectors David Graveney said Flintoff was recovering well from complications after mid-year hernia surgery, while spinner Giles had been given the go-ahead to begin training after breaking his wrist during net practice in Adelaide. Selectors also included sidelined Craig White in the squad after the Yorkshire all-rounder damaged side muscles bowling in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. White is expecting to take three to six weeks to recover, in time to play in the World Cup. Opener Michael Vaughan, who did not play in England’s early matches of the triangular one-day series with Australia and Sri Lanka, is back in the one-day squad after a brilliant 145 against Australia in the fourth Ashes Test last weekend. “I am satisfied that the players selected in this squad represent the best mix of experience and youth that England has available to it,” Graveney said in a statement. “The unavailability of several key players for various reasons over recent months has given us the opportunity to bring in a number of young players into our plans. England have been drawn in pool A alongside Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the Netherlands. Their first scheduled pool match is against Zimbabwe in Harare on February 13. Kiwis to miss deadline AUCKLAND The International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a deadline of midnight on December 31 (5.30 am IST on January 1) in England, for the announcement of the 14 teams which will compete at the World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The deadline passes in New Zealand at 1 PM on January 1, an hour before New Zealand begin the third of seven one-day internationals against India. New Zealand officials said their squad would be finalised and a team list sent to the ICC after that match. India, England, Pakistan, Australia, the West Indies and South Africa have already named their 15-man squads after India had earlier missed a deadline for naming the 30 players from which their team is drawn.
Agencies |
|
Durand Cup ties washed
out New Delhi, December 31 Army XI were to play against Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore at 1 pm in the opening match followed by a tie between JCT, Phagwara and Tata Football Academy. But the rains had left puddles of water all over the Ambedkar Stadium turf, forcing the organisers to postpone the matches to Wednesday. A couple of hundred die-hard soccer fans, who turned up at the stadium despite pouring rain, had to go back disappointed. The ground was soaked in so much water that it looks doubtful if the opening match could begin on time tomorrow. The organisers have been caught in a piquant situation as the loss of a day’s play may cram the schedule of matches. The tournament has to be completed on January 10. |
|
Sahil Arora wins badminton title Patiala, December 31 In the semifinals, Mayank Behl beat Jaideep Kohli 15-3, 15-8 while Sahil upset Mohammed Salim of Sangrur 15-10,15-10. Other results:
Men’s doubles (final): Mayank Behl/Varun Khanna (Amritsar) b Harinder Singh/Narinder Singh (Patiala) 12-15, 15-13, 15-12. Women’s singles (final): Navita Thakur (Jalandhar) b Arti Verma (Ropar) 11-9, 10-13, 11-9. Doubles: Sumit Kalra/Navita Thakur (Jalandhar) b Heena Kapur (Jalandhar) /Arti Verma (Ropar) 11-2,11-2. |
|
GND varsity win judo title Chandigarh, December 31 In the individual matches Pawandeep of GND University won the gold medal in the 78kg category (women) while in the men 56kg event, Chap Singh of Delhi University won gold medal. |
|
Rain may hamper
kho-kho nationals Rohtak, December 31 The competitions are to be held on league-cum-knock-out basis. However, the wet weather conditions may force the organisers to convert it into a knock-out affair only. The overnight rain has left the ground soggy, hampering the
preparations for smooth conduct of the games. Haryana Kho-Kho Association in coordination with the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the event which is being held in Haryana for the third time. |
|
Gurdaspur, Amritsar judokas
shine Bathinda, December 31 The results: Junior boys: 40 kg: Ramchand (Gurdaspur) 1, Anil (Patiala) 2; 45 kg: Parveen (Ludhiana) 1, Puneet (Jalandhar) 2; 50 kg: Jagpreet (Amritsar) 1, Tarun (Ludhiana) 2; 56 kg: Raman (Amritsar) 1, Harpreet (Amritsar) 2; 60 kg: Rajneesh (Ludhiana) 1, Naresh (Sangrur) 2; 66 kg: Harpreet (Ludhiana) 1, Gurjit (Amritsar) 2; 73 kg: Satinder (Amritsar) 1, Shamsher (Bathinda) 2; +73 kg: Harjit (Amritsar) 1, Yadwinder (Patiala) 2. Junior girls: 36 kg: Neena (Amritsar) 1, Ruchika (Hoshiarpur) 2; 40 kg: Neena (Amritsar) 1 Gagandeep (Hoshiarpur) 2; 44 kg: Monikadeep (Patiala) 1, Ramandeep (Bathinda) 2; 48 kg: Ravinder (Amritsar) 1, Reetu (Patiala) 2; 52 kg: Turinder (Amritsar) 1, Sukhpal (Bathinda) 2. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
