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Tuesday,
January 28, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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8th Grand Slam title for Agassi
Leander-Martina
clinch title BCCI ban on Jadeja quashed |
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Anand wins Corus Chess crown Dharmani cracks unbeaten 230 Wrestling at Rural Olympics
Bevan to play, Samuels ruled out Psychologist for Indian team Unpredictable Pak set to test the best Key moments during the past four World Cups Everything official about it!
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8th Grand Slam title for Agassi
Melbourne, January 27 Awesome Agassi needed just 76 minutes to destroy Schuettler 6-2 6-2 6-1. It was the American’s fourth Australian title from as many finals and eighth Grand Slam crown, placing him sixth on the all-time Grand Slam list. Only five players in history have won more Grand Slam singles titles than Agassi - Pete Sampras tops it with 14 followed by Roy Emerson (12), Bjorn Borg (11), Rod Laver (11) and Bill Tilden (10). Agassi became only the fourth man to win four Australian Open titles, behind Emerson (6) and on a par with Jack Crawford (4) and Ken Rosewall (4). Agassi, at 32, was the oldest player to win a Grand Slam since Andres Gimeno captured the 1972 French Open in Paris. He has now won a record-breaking 21 consecutive matches at the Australian Open, one more than two-time champion Ivan Lendl. Agassi last lost in Melbourne to fellow American Vincent Spadea in the fourth round of the 1999 Open. “Days like this are very rare,” Agassi told the crowd at the victory presentation. “This means the world to me. You never know when it’s your last time and you want to make the most of them.” Agassi broke Schuettler’s service eight times in the easiest win since John Hawkes dropped just five games in beating Jim Willard in the 1926 Australian Open final. It was his 42nd hardcourt title, the most by any man — five more than Pete Sampras — in the post-1969 open era. “Winning Slams is a function of getting through the days when things don’t go as planned. It’s also a question of playing your best tennis when you need to,” he said.
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Leander-Martina
clinch title Melbourne, January 27 The duo beat the pair of Todd Woodbridge and Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 7-5, getting Navratilova her only title that had eluded her glorious 27-year career. She also became the oldest grand slam champion in the history of tennis, breaking the 1924 record set by Norman Brookes who won the Australian Open men’s doubles here. The 46-year-old Navratilova and former World No 1 doubles player Paes combined well to unleash a flurry of winners with some excellent strokeplay. She embraced her Indian partner before hugging Woodbridge, her mixed partner at Wimbledon last year amidst a standing ovation. Her much
younger partner Paes bowed to her. UNI |
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BCCI ban on Jadeja quashed
New Delhi, January 27 A Delhi High Court-appointed Arbitrator today quashed the five-year ban imposed on him by cricket board for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal and cleared him to play at both domestic and international levels. However, with the 15-member squad Indian squad for the World Cup already named, Jadeja cannot participate in the World Cup in South Africa. “I hold Madhavan’s (former CBI joint director) report to be illegal and against the principles of natural justice and contrary to law and I set aside the same and I also set aside the findings of the Disciplinary Committee and ban imposed on Jadeja on December 5, 2000,” Arbitrator Justice J.K. Mehra, a retired High Court judge, said. “Jadeja has a right to play domestic and international cricket at all levels as if the ban was not there, but of course subject to his selection by the concerned authorities,” said the Arbitrator who took just a little over two months to give his ruling. Jadeja had approached the High Court on February 2, 2001 challenging the BCCI order imposed on the basis of K. Madhavan Committee recommendations following a preliminary report by CBI indicting both Jadeja and former captain Mohd Azharuddin. Azharuddin was banned for life by the BCCI. Jadeja in his petition before the High Court had also challenged the notice issued to him by the Sports Ministry asking him to show cause why the Arjuna Award given to him be not taken back, and sought quashing of the CBI report indicting him in the match-fixing scandal that erupted after the visit of South African team headed by Hansie Cronje. When a single Judge of the High Court held that Jadeja’s petition was maintainable, the BCCI had challenged the same before a division Bench of the High Court, which later appointed the Arbitrator on November 1 last year. This decision of the Arbitrator declaring the Madhavan Committee report as illegal and setting aside the findings of the Disciplinary Committee of the BCCI would have its logical echo on the board’s decision to impose life ban on former captain Mohd Azharuddin for his alleged involvement in the scandal. Azharuddin had on January 29, 2001 challenged the decision of the cricket board to impose life ban on him before Chief Civil Judge of Hyderabad. Both Jadeja and Azharuddin had maintained throughout that they had absolutely no involvement in the match-fixing scandal.
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Anand wins Corus Chess crown
Wizk Aan Zee, January 27 The 31-year-old Grandmaster, quickly drew his 13th and final round game against Evegeny Bareev of Russia and took his tally to 8.5 points winning the title comfortably. “It’s nice to win a big title like this at the start of the year. It was a good tournament and I am satisfied with my play as I had four wins, all against good players,” Anand was quoted as saying. Anand’s final round game lasted a mere 14 moves from the French defence, which went into the Burn Variation. Anand playing with White did not feel it necessary to take any undue risks. After his closest rival, Judit Polgar quickly drew her game with Teimour Radjabov, Anand proposed a draw to Bareev, which was accepted after some consideration. That saw Anand sew up the title. Against Bareev, Anand had black pieces in the Caro-Kann game, and at no stage was he in danger.
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Dharmani cracks unbeaten 230
Ahmedabad, January 27 Resuming at their overnight score of 208 for four in reply to Gujarat’s 306, Punjab ended their first essay at 446, with Dharmani remaining unbeaten on 230. MUMBAI: Himachal Pradesh skipper and former India opener Vikram Rathore slammed a quickfire 82 in the second innings after Mumbai took a huge 161-run first innings lead on the third day of the match here. Mumbai, resuming their first innings at 390 for eight, were all-out for 415 off 103.4 overs half an hour into the morning session. Himachal, who had scored 254 in their first innings on the opening day, were 282 for seven in the second innings at stumps today. NEW DELHI: Delhi’s hopes of an outright win received a huge setback after inclement weather wiped out more than three hours of play on the third day of the tie against Bengal at the Ferozshah Kotla ground here. Sharp showers prevented start of play until 12.20 pm and bad light forced early halt, an hour and five minutes before scheduled close. In between Delhi posted 343 for seven before declaring their second innings, and Bengal, chasing a target of 339, were two for no loss at stumps.
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Wrestling at Rural Olympics Kila Raipur, January 27 Mr Grewal said that since the Wrestling Federation of India has banned “mud wrestling”, the bouts in different weight categories would be conducted on internationally approved wrestling mats. Wrestlers from Dara Singh Studio akhara at SAS Nagar, Alamgir, Amritsar, Punjab Police and other places have already confirmed their participation in the Games. Mr Grewal disclosed that the Grewal Sports Association, the organisers of the Games, has also decided to felicitate some eminent sportspersons of yesteryears. Right winger Balbir Singh of the Railways who scored the winning goal in the 1966 Asian Games and footballer Gurdev Singh are among those to be honoured this time. Others to be honoured are Gurdev Singh Ata (kabaddi), Jaswant Singh and Balbir Singh (Hockey), Ranbir Chopra (basketball) and Prem Chand Dogra (bodybuilding). The organisers have also decided to honour Dr S.S. Johl and Dr S.S. Grewal (eminent eye surgeon) for their contribution to the Indian society in general and Punjab in particular. |
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Bevan to play, Samuels ruled out
Melbourne, January 27 National selection panel chairman Trevor Hohns said Bevan, who suffered the injury while batting during Saturday’s second tri-series final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was considered a vital part of the side’s World Cup campaign. “Like Michael, we were all relieved to learn that the extent of his injury was not as serious as first thought,” Hohns said. “Although he will take a few weeks to regain full fitness, the selection panel along with Ricky Ponting unanimously agreed that he should retain his spot in the World Cup squad.” Bevan’s World Cup prospects were given a boost yesterday after diagnostic scans revealed the injury would only keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. “Naturally when I first suffered the injury, I feared the worst and thoughts of missing the World Cup went racing through my head,” said Bevan. “But the groin felt considerably better by the morning and after having scans and speaking to Trefor James (ACB medical officer), things seemed a lot brighter,” he said. ST JOHN’S:
All-rounder Ryan Hinds has been called in as a replacement for the tournament which takes place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya from February 8 to March 23. “We are disappointed but realise how much more disappointed Marlon himself must be,” said Viv Richards, chairman of the West Indies selection committee. “But we believe that our decision to replace him for the World Cup is best both for the team at this time and, more importantly, in the interest of Marlon’s future career. “We see him as an extremely integral part of the future of West Indies cricket and we hope that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will ensure that he quickly gets the best medical treatment available, so that he can begin his return to competitive cricket.”
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Psychologist for Indian team
Kolkata, January 27 Announcing this, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya told newspersons here yesterday that Gordon would have two sessions with the Indian players in South Africa. BCCI sources said that February 9 and 10 have been fixed as tentative dates for the team’s interaction with Gordon. Dalmiya, who had a two-and-half hour meeting with the team management during which various administrative matters, logistics and preparations of the team were discussed, said the Indians would undergo extensive practice routines in two sessions daily in South Africa for 12 days from January 30. The team, which would fly out from India on January 29, would play two practice matches against ‘strong’ local sides in Durban on February 4 and 6. The board has also decided not to allow wives of the World Cup bound cricketers to accompany them in the initial stage of the tournament. “Wives will not be allowed to accompany the players till the team qualifies for the super sixes,” Dalmiya said.
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Unpredictable
Pak set to test the best
Islamabad, January 27 This is a mercurial team, capable of lurching dramatically from the divine to the dregs and back — usually in the face of all logic. Logic and Pakistan cricket performances, in fact, have never enjoyed a close relationship. At their best, Pakistan are the most naturally talented side in the sport. At their worst, they are a disorganised rabble whose commitment has been questioned even by their own supporters. They revealed their true colours at the 1992 World Cup, under the unifying hand of captain Imran Khan. Facing first-round humiliation, they came back to win the trophy after being asked by their captain to fight like “cornered tigers”. Their rock-bottom World Cup display came in 1999, when, with the help of three run-outs and a string of injudicious shots, they inexplicably contrived to lose by 62 runs to Bangladesh. True, the team went on to reach that year’s final anyway, where they were outclassed by Australia, but the result angered many. To put matters into perspective, Pakistan had played Bangladesh in Dhaka just before the World Cup and obliterated them by 233 runs, the second biggest victory margin of all time. The first time they met after the tournament, Pakistan — again in Dhaka — won by 152. Bangladesh, meanwhile, have never won again since the 1999 World Cup. Skipper Wasim Akram, in trying to explain the result, said his side had been “complacent”. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing during a match-fixing inquiry but barred from leading the team again. If Pakistan, who feature in the tougher group A alongside the likes of Australia, India, England and Zimbabwe, can show the commitment and unity of a decade ago, they will certainly trouble the best in South Africa. Their line-up simply bristles with exotic talent. Wasim, in his swansong tournament and Man of the Match in that 1992 final, has taken more one-day wickets than any other player. Skipper and fellow paceman Waqar Younis is the only other man to get past 400. Inzamam-ul-Haq, he of the velvet hands, is the third highest limited-overs run-scorer in history, three places ahead of team mate
Syed Anwar. Shoaib Akhtar is the fastest bowler in the world and world-class off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq one of only two men to take a World Cup hat-trick. Abdul Razzaq is among only a handful of genuine all rounders currently playing. The list of superlatives is virtually endless. Yet Pakistan still managed to make such a mess of their tournament warm-up that they lost a test series against the South Africans 2-0, having been hammered 4-1 in the one-dayers. To make matters worse, rumours of behind-the-scenes problems continued to dog the team, with Wasim and Waqar’s testy relationship at their nerve centre. It may be a case of too many long-in-the-tooth generals and match-winners and not enough foot soldiers willing to do the ‘hard yards’. As Waqar himself says: “When you have six or seven established players — many of them former captains themselves — then you have many different opinions on how to approach a situation.”
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Key moments during the past four World Cups 1987 — Australia beat England by seven runs Background: India and Pakistan, determined in a rare display of unity to move the power base of world cricket away from London and Sydney, combined in a successful bid to stage the 1987 World Cup. To the chagrin of their supporters both national teams succumbed at the semi-final stage to the traditional powers England and Australia. Eden Gardens in Calcutta was still packed with 90,000 people and the atmosphere was electric when England captain Mike Gatting and his Australian counterpart Allan Border walked out for the toss. Key moment: Gatting reverse sweep In the final Gatting was again well set when Border, an occasional left-armer, decided to try his luck. He speared the ball wide of the leg stump and Gatting, already in position for the reverse sweep, top-edged the ball to jubilant wicketkeeper Greg Dyer. Most observers thought the risk outweighed the potential benefit at that stage of the match and Border regarded Gatting’s dismissal for 41 as the turning point. Consequences: Gatting, who had led England to an Ashes triumph earlier in the year, was sacked as captain in 1988, led the final rebel tour to South Africa in the following year and thereafter played a peripheral role in Test cricket. 1992 — Pakistan beat England by 22 runs Background: England, now under Gooch who had already been on the losing side in two finals, were a solid, professional outfit and poised to take the final step at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Key moment — Imran and Miandad
combine In his final appearance for Pakistan, Imran scored 72, combining with Miandad (58) in a perfectly paced third-wicket partnership of 139 which set up his team for a late assault and a total beyond England’s reach. Consequences: 1996 — Sri Lanka beat Australia by seven
wickets Background: The Sri Lankans had always possessed abundant batting ability and now they unveiled a left-hander in Sanath Jayasuriya who did not bother with the formality of playing himself in but simply assaulted the bowling from the opening over. Tensions were also high between the sides after Australia forfeited their opening match in Colombo because of a bomb which had earlier killed around 100 people. Key moment — De Silva hits match-winning
century Only the Indian Sachin Tendulkar matched De Silva for his variety of strokes and ability to score at a run a ball without taking risks and all the compact Sri Lankan’s attributes were on display after Sri Lanka set off in chase of Australia’s total of 241. After Jayasuriya was run out for nine, De Silva stroked his way to an unbeaten 107 off 124 balls with 13 fours and no undue risks to help Sri Lanka win with 22 balls to spare. Consequences: 1999 — Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets Background: Key moment: Pakistan were already in trouble when Inzamam came to the crease and Waugh, sensing the moment had come for the kill, crowded the Pakistani. Inzamam played cautiously against the Australian attack, in which Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne excelled, reaching 15 before a ball from Paul Reiffel clipped his pad and was caught by Adam Gilchrist. “The Australians went up in appeal; umpire Shepherd’s finger in judgment,” Wisden recorded. “An incredulous Inzamam plodded off at funereal pace.” Pakistan succumbed tamely and Australia went on to win an embarrassingly one-sided match. Consequences: |
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Everything
official about it!
Cape Town, January 27 The International Cricket Council could be blamed for carrying things a bit too far but the game’s administrators are making it sure there is no ambush marketing even though it might mean the harmless spectator lands at the receiving end. Clifford Green, attorney for the tournament warned that no branding other than that of the official sponsors would be allowed on spectators’ T-shirts, caps or other clothing. The clothing or any such item will be confiscated and spectators can be banned from the stadium, Green said. Meanwhile, with 12 days to go for the start of the World Cup, the Newlands Cricket Stadium has been placed in the hands of the police for foolproof security during the high profile event. Every
millimeter is being searched by members of the explosives and dog squad units to ensure the optimal safety of supporters. “Anybody who wants to enter to the grounds, be it workers or volunteers who are practising for the opening ceremony, must state their purpose at the gates,” said senior superintendent Denise Brand, spokesperson for the Western Cape police. Entry and security at the stadium has been placed in the hands of the police since the weekend. The security company, Core, is responsible for access control. Last-minute arrangements are still being made at the stadium before the first ball is bowled on February 9 in the opening match between South Africa and the West Indies. A total of 5,200 volunteers — including the youngest at 8 and the oldest at 86 — started with their final rehearsals for the opening ceremony with lights and sound over the weekend. A dress rehearsal for the public is scheduled for February 5 and 5,000 tickets of the total 15,000 tickets are still available for the opening ceremony. But all tickets for the matches, other than for the match between Canada and Kenya on February 15, have been sold out. It is expected that 1.4 billion people will watch the opening ceremony on television.
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