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Tuesday,
March 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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A real challenge for
Aussies Martyn ruled out Aussies may target
Jayasuriya again
Conditions loaded in favour of Sri Lanka Muralitharan must fire for the Lankans |
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Kenya not short on confidence Recognise Kenya for what It is time for Kenya to bid goodbye Karim plotting India’s downfall Astrologers differ over India’s chances
Henry Olonga may seek asylum in England CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK Rathore misses Olympics berth Pawandeep Kaur wins gold Neelam flays Punjab Govt BSF qualify for
final round
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A real challenge for Aussies
Port Elizabeth, March 17 Ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan would undoubtedly pose a few problems to the Australians, who were given a scare by the 39-year-old
Aasif Karim who ripped through the middle order with figures of 3 for 7 in their last Super Six match against Kenya. Muralitharan, who has often troubled the famed Australian, batting line up, could not have asked for better conditions to stop the Aussie juggernaut in what promises to be a thrilling contest. “It is a pitch that will suit us. Anything can happen on the day and we will be playing hard cricket just like we have done in the past” said a confident Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya. The confidence of the Lankan skipper stems from the fact that the low bounce of the St George’s Park would suit the slow bowlers. And the islanders, besides the wily Muralitharan, will depend on veteran Aravinda de Silva and Jayasuriya himself to contain the run flow. After being rather unimpressive in the league stage of the mega event Sri Lanka managed to sneak into the semi-finals after beating Zimbabwe in the last Super Six match but are now determined to put up a good show against the defending champions. The Aussies said they were not unduly worried about the Muralitharan threat despite the embarrassment caused by the unheralded
Aasif Karim and had a plan in place to counter the off-spinner. “I thought we played very well against Muralitharan in the last time we met, and I am hopeful that we will do the same again”, Australian captain Ricky Ponting said. But Ponting, whose team has not lost a single match in the tournament yet, conceded that the pitch could favour the Sri Lankans. “It is pretty well known that Sri Lanka do not like the faster types of wickets but we have played in Port Elizabeth twice so we will know the conditions better than they do,” Ponting said. The Sri Lankans will seek solace from their recent record against the Australians as they are the only team to have defeated the defending champions this year. Australia have lost only two of their last 24-one-day internationals and both to Sri Lanka. But Jayasuriya knows that his batting line up, which has not performed upto expectations, has to click to turn the applecart of the Australians. Barring Marvan Atapattu and De Silva, none of the other Sri Lankan batsmen have shown the desired consistency. “Thay are a very good side. They are clearly the in-form team. If we can muster up a total close to 250, it will be very interesting. The conditions will suit us,” Sri Lankan coach
Dev Whatmore said. The islanders have to counter speedsters Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, both of whom have been in very good form right through the tournament and would no doubt be the main threat even on a slow track. But coach Whatmore felt that his wards were now better prepared to handle the Aussie fast bowlers in the
semifinal. “We had our goals. Our first goal was to reach the Super Six. Our second goal was to make the semi-finals. Now that we have done that, the boys are all determined to put is across the Aussies”, Whatmore said. Australia’s key middle order batsman, Micheal Bevan, who missed the Kenya game due to an injury, is expected to be fit for the crunch game. Teams (from): Australia:
Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Nathan Bracken, Nathan Hauritz. Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold, Jehan Mubarak, Avishka Gunawardena, Hashan Tillakaratne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Prabath Nissanka, Charitha Buddhika. Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng) and Rudi Koertzen (RSA). TV umpire: Billy Bowden (Nzl) Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WI).
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Martyn ruled out
Port Elizabeth, March 17 The 31-year-old Martyn suffered the injury in his right index finger while fielding in the five-wicket win against Kenya on Saturday in Durban. Martyn, one of just four players to have figured in all of his team’s nine matches so far, needed an X-ray on his finger after Saturday’s Super Six game in which he didn’t bat. “Damien developed some pain overnight and we just wanted to check it out,” said a team spokesman. Martyn’s injury means a recall for Michael Bevan, who missed the five-wicket win over Kenya with a back strain. It also looks like solving a tricky selection headache for skipper Ricky Ponting who was facing having to drop either Andrew Symonds or Ian Harvey to accommodate Bevan.
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Aussies may target
Jayasuriya again
Port Elizabeth, March 17 When the two teams met last in the Super Sixes match at Centurion earlier this month, Australian fast bowler Brett Lee forced Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya to retire hurt with a bruised forearm and a chipped bone in the thumb. Australian captain Ricky Ponting said later they had deliberately targeted Jayasuriya and he would probably order an encore at the St George’s Park tomorrow. In their previous encounter in Sydney in January, Australian batsman Darren Lehmann was banned for five matches for racial abuse against the Sri Lankans after being run out. Ponting said he had forgotten about the incident till someone reminded him of it in the bar a few nights ago. “We had a bit of a joke about it at Darren’s expense,” he said. The Sri Lankans forgave Lehmann following an apology, but they have not forgotten the treatment meted out to star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan by Australian umpires, players and fans. Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing for the first time in his international career in 1995 by Australian umpires Darrel Hair and Ross Emerson, and again in 1999 by Emerson. Earlier this year, Muralitharan vowed never to play in Australia again after fans jeered him and shouted “no ball” each time he bowled. Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning captain in 1996, was never a favourite with the Aussies — and they made no bones about it.
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Conditions loaded in favour of Sri Lanka THE World Cup enters its last leg, and the excitement hots up as four teams vie for a place in Sunday’s final, and the coveted trophy. Of the two semis, the first between Australia and Sri Lanka promises the more engrossing fare simply because both are renowned sides with loads of one-day cricket experience. Without taking anything away from Kenya’s wonderful performances, they have only just begun their journey in international cricket and that will be relief for India. Australia have so far looked the best side in the tournament (followed closely by India), but they will not have it easy against the Lankans who have got here with a lot of luck but also some pluck. Even when the chips were down, they have hung on to hope, and fortune has favoured them. This is not the best Sri Lankan side I have seen. The batting is too inconsistent, and if Chaminda Vaas and
Muralitharan were not in such splendid form, they would have been home already. But a place in the semi-final can charge any side up, and I believe that the Australians will see a completely different side from the one they played earlier in the tournament. In fact I think that the Lankans can upset the applecart of the Aussies because the conditions in Port Elizabeth will favour them. The wicket here has been helpful to the slow bowlers, and the Lankans have a variety of them-from
Muralitharan, De Silva, Arnold and Jayasuriya himself. Vaas has been the most successful bowler in this World Cup. I anticipate a low-scoring match, and if the Sri Lankans can get to 225 or thereabouts, the Australian batsmen will have a task on hand. Conversely, they will have to score about 250 to make it difficult for the Lankans. Jayasuriya’s form is important for Lanka’s success. While Atapattu has been in the thick of runs, Jayasuriya is the kind of batsman who can take the game away from the opposition. He has been off-on in this tournament, but a crunch match could bring out the best in him. Aravinda de Silva is the other batsman to watch out for. He has been a loyal servant of Sri Lankan cricket and would like to go out with a bang. While the Australian batting has struggled a bit, their bowling has been superb throughout and the Lankans will have to cope with the three-pronged attack of McGrath, Lee and Bichel who have been the most destructive pace trio in the tournament. Lee in particular has bowled fast and with control. The batting will rely on a good start from Gilchrist and Hayden, the letter still a dangerous man though he has done little of note in the World Cup yet. Ponting has led from the front, but it is Michael Bevan who has pulled the side out of deep trouble on a couple of occasions with the help of the tail-enders. That may not work every time.
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Muralitharan must fire for the Lankans WHEN Pakistan played at Port Elizabeth around two months ago, it was the only pitch on which we were able to score 300-plus. The wicket has changed dramatically since then, as teams have been struggling to get to 200 at the St. George’s Park during this World Cup. The Australians have complained about the unsuitability of the ground, and they do have a point. A World Cup game, and particularly a semifinal should be played on a track that is true and batsman-friendly. These are top games, and should showpiece the best of the sport, therefore it would be incorrect if factors like the toss and a slow wicket mars the game. If the evidence of Australia’s games against England and New Zealand are anything to go by, the defending champions will be praying that Ricky Ponting wins the toss. If that happens they will bat first, and this should negate the impact of Muthiah
Muralitharan on the game. The Australians are still in smashing form, and I think players like Matthew Hayden can not be discounted at all. He is a very good player of spin and could have a big role in this game. Hayden has superb technique and he should just go back to the basics for the first five overs. He can be a very dangerous customer once he gets his eye in. The Aussies are on a roll right now, and there is every chance that their bowlers would have learnt from their experiences against England and New Zealand in order to put in an even better performance this time round. I was particularly impressed with Brett Lee, who extracted prodigious reverse swing during their game against the Kiwis. The Australians have never tried to reverse in the past, and seeing the way the ball was darting back, the control and pace suggests that Lee has been working on this aspect for some time. The wicket at St George’s Park is pretty dusty, and I think reverse swing could play an important part in the game yet again tomorrow. For the Sri Lankans, Muthiah
Muralitharan must fire. If the pacemen are going for plenty he must come in in the first 15 overs itself. I know that he does this rarely, but for a change he must try this, because if the Australians get off to a good start, they are almost sure to pull away to a good score, and then the Sri Lankans will have a tough time. When the Lankans bat, Sanath Jayasuriya will have to be unbeaten at 15 overs if they are to pose any challenge for the defending champions. The middle order is still not in good form so they will be relying on their openers yet again. The Indians must be pleased that they are meeting Kenya in the semifinals. At least now they must not be worried about the fact that theirs is a day-night semifinal. Of course the Indians did get a scare early in their run chase against the Kenyans during their Super Six match, but they must be favoured to make the finals against a raw team like Kenya. Recriminations and post mortems continue in the host country. I always felt that Shaun Pollock is a fine captain, and it is sad to see him go like this. Our own team to Sharjah is yet to be announced, and since I have not announced my retirement, I guess I am still in the fray. Right now I’m in a farmhouse far away from Lahore trying to decide on my future.
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Lanka have to believe they can win AUSTRALIA have been going through this World Cup campaign as favourites should, winning every game that they have played so far. Some of the victories have not been convincing but they have been winning just the same. Australia are a very confident team and that’s part of the reason why they have been able to win continuously even when they have found themselves in seemingly losing positions. Another reason is, of course, ability but one major reason could be the fact that some teams don’t really believe they can beat them. The West Indies of the 70’s and 80’s had that effect on a host of teams who basically had already lost in their minds before the contest had started. Sri Lanka in their semifinal contest, have got to believe that they can win, not just say it in team meetings and hope for the best but actually believe what they are saying. If they need hard evidence to support that belief, they need not look further back than the ICC Trophy 2002 in Sri Lanka last September. Australia were looking just as devastating then and started the game against Sri Lanka as if it was just going to be another obstacle easily overcome on their way to another title. It was an unexpected bowling change when Hayden and Gilchrist were looking well set for another demolition job with the bat that changed matters and Sri Lanka went on to win comfortably. Surely the coach, captain and management have been reminding their troops of that game in their build up to this very important clash. Sri Lanka have a few problems of their own within the team though, that they have to overcome before the coin is thrown into the air for the toss. Their campaign has not been the smoothest. They have had their good and bad days and could, by no stretch of the imagination, consider themselves to be playing at their best. Mahela
Jayawardene, a class batsman and one of their best, has been totally off colour, to the extent where he was dropped for their last game against Zimbabwe, a game they had to win to advance to the semifinals. The question is, do you still leave him out against Australia, another must-win situation or do you trust his proven ability and hope that the big occasion will instigate a welcome return to form? It should all depend on
Jayawardene's state of mind. Only he would know what that is but if he thinks mentally he is ready for the encounter, he should be selected, it may be a risk but a risk worth taking considering his proven class and ability. That’s not an easy decision for the selectors but life wasn’t meant to be easy, neither will the encounter against Australia.
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Kenya not short on confidence
Johannesburg, March 17 The east Africans flourished while co-hosts South Africa and the troubled Zimbabwe side floundered, progressing to a semifinal against India in Durban on Thursday. Defending champions Australia play 1996 champions Sri Lanka in the other semi in Port Elizabeth tomorrow. New Zealand left for home after the conclusion of the second round yesterday convinced they would have clinched a semifinal place if they had gone ahead with their first round game in Nairobi. The New Zealanders forfeited four points when their governing board decided it was unsafe to play in Kenya. In retrospect, though, a New Zealand win was by no means certain. Kenya defeated 1996 champions Sri Lanka with home advantage and the Kiwis’ batting and support bowling in the Super Sixes proved frail. Kenya also defeated three test nations in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, a task beyond South Africa, West Indies, England and Pakistan who all failed to advance past the first round. Yesterday, Kenya batted throughout their 50 overs against the mighty Australians.
Left-arm spinner Aasif Karim then gave the defending champions a real fright with three for seven from 8.2 overs before Australia recovered to win by five wickets. In an age of professional overkill featuring far too many one-day matches, which has been reflected in some weary performances, Kenya have brought a refreshing exuberance and an uncomplicated approach to the World Cup. They still have yet to convince that they are essentially any better than a team representing the best club cricketers in Hong Kong or Singapore and their power base is limited. Yet, preying on Indian minds will be the effect of playing under the lights in Durban. India, arguing that the toss had a disproportionate effect on the result of the match, had an appeal to switch the game to an earlier start rejected by the International Cricket Council. India struggled against Kenya after batting second in their day-night Super Six match in Cape Town, with even Sachin Tendulkar failing, before captain Saurav Ganguly came to his side’s rescue. After discovering Australia were not infallible, Kenya do not fear India. “If we get about 230 or 240 then it will be all right,” said opening bowler Martin Suji. Hitesh Modi, acting captain on Saturday when Steve Tikolo left the field, paid tribute to the Kenyans’ team spirit. “It’s the first time we’ve played in the semis,” he said. “We’ve got nothing to lose, we believe in ourselves now. “We can go out there and do it, we have done it in the past. They’d better watch out,
AAasif’s bowled well, our batsmen are getting runs and we are coming into form. Let’s win the toss and see what happens.” Despite Kenyan optimism, India have pedigree and current form and must be favourites on Thursday. Tendulkar is clearly determined to seize the moment, knowing this is the time to demonstrate he can not only perform great individual deeds but also consistently win matches for his team. Uniquely, India have relied on pace to make their mark in the 2003 Cup, with Harbhajan Singh, the latest in their line of bewitching spinners, used as a backup rather than potential match-winner. Sri Lanka, the other team from the subcontinent to make it to the final four, defeated Australia on merit in the 1996 final. Australia were a good side in 1996. They have taken a quantum leap since and only the West Indies’ teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s could challenge them as the best one-day team in history. Sri Lanka have the players to take advantage of a slow pitch in Port Elizabeth, but they are essentially the same side who transformed the one-day game seven years ago with their dynamic hitting in the first 15 overs. In the meantime, Australia have evolved and changed, dropping the Waugh twins, brushing off the departure of Shane Warne and revelling in the speed, verve and youthful vitality of Brett Lee. Lee took a hat-trick against Kenya and is currently bowling at a frightening pace, using the classic fast bowler’s weapons of terrifying bouncers, now allowed in one-day cricket, and devastating yorkers. Although Kenya and Sri Lanka will not agree, Tendulkar at the height of his powers against Lee with the new ball is the final the tournament needs.
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Recognise Kenya for what they are IT is now time to stop belittling Kenya and to recognise them for what they are. Hard working, committed, disciplined, and above all -semifinalists of the World Cup 2003. The game against Australia was billed as a no-hope affair for them and at one stage it certainly looked that way when Brett Lee took a hat-trick and had them going down the river without a paddle. However, true to their style they fought themselves out of a corner and transferred the pressure onto the probable champions. After their innings, once again they were placed in a very embarrassing situation when the Aussies climbed into their attack and got to 50 in just six overs, but again they held tight and came back into the game via their spinner who is old enough to be the father of more than a few players on either side! It is not a well-known fact that this tournament is in actual fact costing the Kenyan cricket establishment more than they will get in. The players will share in a huge amount of cash once they convert it for local currency at home, but the actual board does not receive a cent due to being only an affiliate country to the ICC. Test nations get to share the huge pie. Kenya is basically asked to just come along and play in the tournament and see how you do. They do have a team sponsor back at home but unfortunately the beer clashes with the official sponsor. The strategy of the Kenyans to leave out certain key players for the Aussie clash was a wise one. In defeat they will feel they could have done better and it will surely give them confidence going into the semi final against India. The support for Kenya was unbelievable. They themselves probably cannot believe it. What they now need to do is to make sure they harness the support and make it their biggest ally. No team likes to feel under pressure before they even walk onto the park. The Aussie juggernaut came away from the Kenyan match with a win but will not have felt too comfortable with their performance. One consolation could be that Hayden looked the part if only fleetingly. Lee is in great form and coupled to Bichel and McGrath, the attack looks to have the edge over everybody. The real burning issue is whether Kenya can beat India. Yes, they can-we all know that. It has happened before but somehow they will need players like Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly to self-destruct and place their team under pressure.
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It is time for Kenya to bid goodbye
THE Kenyans have regaled everybody with their cricket in this tournament. The small
jigs on field are just an indication of how they enjoy every single moment. That’s how cricket ought to be played. Big money and competitive schedule of the game had weaned away the ‘fun’ factor of the game, and cricket was seen as a game of professionals whose only objective was look good on field and earn handsome bucks. I feel happy to see Kenya breathing some fresh life into this game. There has been some debate over whether Kenya deserved to be in the last four stage of a championship which decides who rules the cricket world for the next four years. I would like to defend Kenya once again, here. The very format of the Cup does not allow to determine the ‘real winner’ of the throne. There has been instances where a team has been losing continuously until the last possible stage but bounced back just in time to claim the title. South Africa could not make it to the finals in the last 12 years despite being effectively second best in the game. What I mean to say is there are several loopholes in this format of the championship and the team which plugs in those gaps in the best manner lasts the distance. However, every team is given ample chances to present its case for the title. Kenya merely cashed in on their chances and that’s the reason there are in the last four. But as all good things come to an end, I feel it’s time Kenya bid goodbye to this World Cup. With all due respect to Kenyan abilities and being a great fan of their cricket myself, beating India is too much to ask from Steve Tikolo’s men. India have performed exceptionally well after that defeat against Australia and are looking rock solid in all departments of the game. Their medium-pacers are lethal to say the least, a world class spinner is lurking around without needing much to do and the batsmen have blazed the South African soil. Sachin Tendulkar would be keen to made amends for the missed opportunities last time around while Sehwag will have similar thoughts in his minds. On the other side, Kenya have suffered mostly from their batsmen’s lack of runs. Whenever Kenya’s batsmen have put a decent total on board, the bowlers have made most of the occasion. Though Steve Tikolo is back among runs, I don’t see the African nation putting up a good fight against a formidable and in-form Indian bowling. Kenya’s best chance lies in winning the toss and batting first and try put up a decent score. That way they have a reasonable chance of stopping the Indian juggernaut. If they can once again dismiss Sachin and Sehwag early on and get one more extra wicket before long, Asif Karim and Obuya can make an impression. It would not be a bad option of opening the bowling with Asif Karim as Sehwag tends to get impatient and steps out against the spinner on the first possible chance. The only thing which might work against the Indian side is complacency. Saurav and his team are already speaking on the Aussie match-up and how they would instead prefer Sri Lanka in the finals. Even back home the preparations are hectic for the finals, which is a forgone conclusion for every cricket fanatic. The ‘Men in Blue’ have done all the hard work till now and it’s upto coach John Wright to keep the good work going and warn the cricketers from being complacent. |
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Karim plotting India’s downfall
Durban, March 17 The elder Karim is in a Mumbai hospital for the last three weeks after a knee replacement operation while his son is planning to make the Indians buckle under his guiles in the semifinals at Kingsmead on Thursday. The 39-year-old
Aasif conceded only seven runs from his 8.2 overs and picked three wickets to upstage Brett Lee for the Man of the Match Award — his first in an international career which started 23 years ago! And
Aasif is hopeful of carrying his good form into the semi-final match against India. “If anything, the noble five-wicket loss to Australia has emboldened our fledgling team ahead of the India match,” said
Aasif who is also an accomplished lawn tennis player. Aasif played (and lost) Davis Cup against Egypt in 1988, and juggled between the two sports until Kenya’s World Cup qualification in 1994. During that eventful match against Australia, Karim first forced Australian skipper Ricky Ponting back on to the crease and then trapped him leg before wicket. Soon afterwards, he slid a ball across the left-handed Darren Lehmann that caught his outside edge and then with a slower delivery coaxed Brad Hogg to spoon up a return catch. Australia were reduced to 117 for five and neither Ian Harvey nor the notoriously destructive Andrew Symonds could fathom his deliveries. “Morally, we won the match,”
Aasif said. “I think what came out of it was that we believe in ourselves now. We were playing against Australia and were 3-3 at one stage but we finished the 50 overs. They were 100 for 1 at one stage but we put the pressure back, says it all.” Aasif
is a cricketing ‘dinosaur’ at 39 and could find a place in the Kenyan World Cup squad only after the cricket body over-ruled captain Steve Tikolo and lured him away from his Nairobi insurance broking business. Tikolo’s objections were understandable. Karim had never taken a wicket at a World Cup and had hardly played the game since his retirement after captaining Kenya at the 1999 tournament in England. “Before the World Cup, we had a tour to Zimbabwe which was not going very well. We needed some experience,” said Nipun Patel, the head of the Kenyan delegation, who approached
Aasif. “There was apprehension because the place of a young cricketer was being given to a senior, but our options in Kenya are very limited.” Though Patel insisted the “apprehension” was not shared by the players, it is learnt Tikolo expressed frustration that two promising young cricketers had been overlooked for
Aasif and 28-year-old Alpesh Vadher. But all that is history now as Kenya have developed a delightful and daring habit of upsetting the balance at this World Cup. For
Aasif, his performance against the world champions has vindicated his controversial selection. “I was very busy with my business and my family, but when my country called, I moved everything around to come to this World Cup,” he said. “It was a bold decision, but the results speak for themselves. By the grace of God, it is working,” he said.
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Astrologers differ over India’s chances Kolkata, March 17 First, there is the category of astrologers who insist that the planetary positions are favouring India. Their opponents, however, are skeptical because skipper Saurav Ganguly’s own astral disposition is, at present ominous. “After making all the calculations, I’ve come to the conclusion, India has the best chance of lifting the World Cup. Ninety-five per cent chance,” asserts Jogacharya Sri Kalpataru, known to run a brisk fortune-telling business here. He says if Australia, with five per cent chance of winning the World Cup, go on to become the champion, “then it will be very big shock, an accident”. Popular astrologer Priyanka, however, doesn’t have a pleasant prediction. “I would have been happy if I could say Saurav Ganguly is winning. But, that is not so.” Gautam Jyotirvinod, another soothsayer, says: “The result will depend on the planetary positions of the two finalist countries on Sunday and that of the two captains as well. So, it would be wrong to make a prediction now.” None of the astrologers, however, seem to have any doubt about India’s entry into the final. India play Kenya in the second semifinal on Thursday while Australia take on Sri Lanka in the first semifinal on Tuesday.
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I was sure my time would come: Kaif
Durban, March 17 “I always went in with the hope of big score. I never lost hope when I got out cheaply because I was sure my time will come,” Kaif said. Talking to newspersons here last evening, Kaif said: “We all (players) support each other. When we lose, we don’t drift apart. We stuck together in New Zealand and it was the same when we lost against Australia in a group A World Cup match. That bonding has gone a long way in our development as a team.” Kaif said he was hopeful that India will do well in next two matches. “They are crucial but I am confident that we will pull through.” He said the side was looking good under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy and the team was confident of going all the way. “The entire team has had a good run in the last two years or so and as I said, we compliment each other really well. If we can get our acts right for the last two games, we will achieve what we have set out for.” The batsman from Allahabad said he cherished his batting in the NatWest Trophy finals at Lords against England along with Yuvraj Singh. “That final remains a special moment of my career. It’s a great feeling because NatWest Trophy win remains special, partly because I played a part in the final. We won nine games to win the Trophy and it was a great experience,” he added. The batsman claimed that barring the New Zealand tour, India has had a great run especially in one-day cricket and said “It is due to the team spirit.” He said the healthy competition in the team has motivated one and all. “Sachin has been getting a lot of runs. Whoever gets a chance likes to get stuck in. I was promoted to number four against Pakistan which gave me an opportunity to pace my innings and I played my part. It’s a great feeling to be with the team.” Kaif said he was upset with the fans’ reactions after India lost to Australia. “If one’s house is attacked, one feels sad. We were a bit sluggish in the first game against Holland and lost to Australia but it was the initial stage of the tourney. We have peaked at the right time, and now, I am sure the entire nation is behind us,” he said. Kaif said the family atmosphere inspired him to take up the game when he was a boy and refuted reports that Mohd Azharuddin was his role model. “Everyone tells me I bat like Azharuddin. People come to me and say my mannerisms are like him but I never had any role model as such. I just played cricket like any normal kid. I played junior cricket for the country and then I got a chance to play for my state in Ranji Trophy. Soon, I was picked for the senior team.” He said he was initially overwhelmed when he made it to the senior team. “There were big players like Sachin who I had only seen on TV. I was a bit overawed but he made me feel comfortable and so did the rest of the players.”
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Henry Olonga may seek asylum in England
London, March 17 According to the Daily Telegraph today, the fast bowler, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, could face treason charges after his high-profile protest against President Robert Mugabe’s government. Olonga, and team mate Andy Flower, made headlines when they wore black armbands “to mourn the death of democracy” for Zimbabwe’s opening World Cup match in Harare. Olonga told the Times today that he had received threatening emails, one of which said he was a “sell-out” and that he would be a “marked man” if he returned to Zimbabwe. Olonga, the first black player to represent Zimbabwe at cricket, and Flower were protesting against Mugabe’s land reform policy. He said he was asked to play in Zimbabwe’s final match against Sri Lanka in East London on Sunday but declined. “I believe that if I continue to play for Zimbabwe in the midst of the prevailing crisis I would do so only by neglecting the voice of my conscience,” Olonga said, when announcing his retirement on Saturday. Olonga is in hiding in South Africa, while his wife Becky, and three children, have already left for England according to reports. “I might still have taken the chance (to return to Zimbabwe) until (my father) strongly urged me not to come back,” Olonga was quoted as saying in The Times. “‘His was the voice of reason and he’s very relieved that I’m staying here in South Africa. “I don’t feel 100 per cent safe (in South Africa). I’m hooking up with a friend here, but if necessary I’ll keep moving as you never know. “You have to remember that the ANC and Zanu-PF are bed-fellows. I’ll only feel completely safe once I get to England.” A Suffolk-based businessman offered to pay English county side Essex for Olonga’s services next season, but if he does move to England he plans to take a break from the game to concentrate on his other passion - singing. Barrington Pheloung, an Australian conductor living in London, has approached Olonga, a gifted tenor, with a view to working with him. “I’ve been in touch with him in the last day or two,” said Olonga who turned down the chance to work with Pheloung in 2000. “The idea is to make a double CD with classical music with an eclectic edge.” “I’m known there (England) and maybe I can exploit that. I just hope the British authorities will look kindly on me.”
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CONTROVERSY OF THE WEEK DURBAN: South African cricket has been plunged into further crisis with the removal of Shaun Pollock as the captain of the national side. Graeme Smith comes in his place as the youngest captain ever-the luckiest one too since only a month ago he wasn’t considered fit enough to be a part of the World Cup squad. The fallout hasn’t been restricted to Pollock alone. Gary Kirsten has announced he is no longer part of the one-day circus; Lance Klusener has been dumped on to sidelines as have been Nicky Boje, Charl Longoveldt and Monde Zondeki. Pollock’s removal has taken a lot of experts by surprise. Australian captain Ricky Ponting is shocked beyond words while former South African great Barry Richards has been taken aback. Steve Tikolo, the Kenyan chief, said he never thought Pollock would be unseated in such a manner. Shaun’s departure doesn’t mean the Pollock dynasty will no longer be visible on the South African scene. Shaun had vowed to give his best for the country and you could be sure he would be around for many more seasons. Pollock was catapulted into captaincy which he did not seek. If the cricket administrators made a mistake then in choosing him as the successor to Hansie Cronje, they have now chosen the wrong time to admit their mistake. The inescapable impression is created that he is being blamed for South Africa’s poor performance in the World Cup, when it is obvious to most observers that there was something drastically wrong with morale and motivation of the South African side as a whole. That is likely to have been due to a combination of factors which could include coaching, interference by administrators and attitude of individual players, as much as captaincy. To simply sack the captain is too glib and superficial. Smith might well have superior qualities as a captain. But there is time and manner to have him inducted. As it is, he is being sent out to bat on a queered pitch. Smith’s sole experience as captain was when he recently led South African A squad to Zimbabwe. He now faces his biggest test when he leads South Africa on a foreign tour for at least 10 one-day internationals in Sharjah and Bangladesh, followed by a taxing tour to England in summer. Gerald Majola, the chief executive of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) is relieved the nation finally has a captain who doesn’t suffer from the baggage of Hansie Cronje years. Pollock might have been all that and more but he completely denies he had any role to play in the
Duckworth Lewis debacle against the Sri Lankans the other day. “I didn’t know what was happening. People must remember I had just been dismissed and went to the dressing room. The sheet of Duckworth-Lewis equation was with the coach, Eric Simons.” Pollock, while leaving the baton, might have made his point. It seems the last hasn’t been heard on the issue.
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Rathore misses Olympics berth
New Delhi, March 17 The Indian, who won the Commonwealth gold last year, pipped Italy’s Danielel Dispigno 11-10 on a tie to win the bronze and Rs 10 lakh announced by the National Rifle Association of India. The two shooters were locked on 185 points in the final forcing the tie-breaker. However, Rathore missed a chance to grab the lone quota place on offer which went to the UAE’s Ahmed Almaktoum, who won the gold with 187 points. Australin Adam Vella took the silver with a score of 186 points. India also won the team bronze behind Australia and Italy, who bagged the gold and silver medals, respectively. “I am really happy with my performance for I was under tremendous pressure to deliver, this being a home competition,” said the 33-year-old soldier. Rathore who was leading mid-way through the final said “the thought of winning an Olympics berth undid me” as he missed a few in the latter part and fell back. “Rathore is really good. It could have gone either way,” said Amaktoum after winning his first gold medal in World Cup at the Dr Karni Singh shooting ranges here. It is not the end of the road for Rathore as he will get a few more chances to qualify for the Olympics through the World Cup competitions coming up.
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Pawandeep Kaur wins gold Patiala, March 17 Bittu Bhatley of Madhya Pradesh finished second while Paramjit Kumari of CRPF and Usha Kumari of Haryana annexed the first and second bronze medals respectively. Sydney Olympian Brojeshwari Devi of the CRPF lived up to her top billing as she pocketed the gold with embarrassing ease in the 57 kg weight class. Harpreet Kaur of the hosts annexed the silver while Nidhi of Haryana and Rashmi Rani of BSF clinched the first and second bronze respectively. Other results: 100 kg (men):
Virender Kumar (ITBP)-1, Pawan Kumar (Punjab)-2, Jitender (PSCB) -1st bronze, Jagesh Kumar (Assam)-2nd bronze.
66 kg (men): Litesh Rai (Punjab)-1, Bhupendra Singh (PSCB)-2, Naresh Arya (Delhi)-1st bronze, Virender Kumar (ITBP)- 2nd bronze.
52 kg (women): Anita Chanu (CRPF)-1, Janisir Jati (West Bengal)-2, M. Ibethoi (Manipur)-1st bronze, Sarabjit Kaur (Punjab)-2nd bronze.
90 kg (men): Pardeep Kumar (CRPF)-1, Sarabjit Singh (BSF)-2, Somnath Yadav (UP)-1st bronze, Anil Kumar (Delhi)-2nd bronze. |
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Neelam flays Punjab Govt Patiala, March 17 Neelam was left out in the cold when the Punjab Government organised a function in November last year at Chandigarh to give cash awards to medal winners of the Busan Asian Games. The reason forwarded by the Secretary (Sports) Mr Arun Goyal for withholding the cash amount was that the athlete had not turned out for Punjab in the domestic circuit. During the inauguration ceremony of the Senior National Judo Championship held at the polo grounds here yesterday, Neelam, who was given the Arjuna Award in 1999, managed to meet Capt Amarinder Singh. However, the Chief Minister reportedly cold shouldered the athlete in the presence of Mr Jagdish Tytler, leading to her outburst. Mr Tytler, who was the Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent at Busan, even failed to recognise her. A highly agitated Neelam said “I was quiet all these months since the Chief Minister himself had personally assured me that his government would hold a special function at his office in Chandigarh where I would be given my cash award. However, the CM has gone back on his promise.” |
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BSF qualify for
final round New Delhi, March 17 BSF led by two goals at the break. In a lop-sided encounter, BSF called the shots as PSEB suffered their second successive 0-3 defeat. They had lost by a similar margin to Delhi League champions Hindustan Club yesterday. BSF forged ahead in the 21st minute when inside-right PH Boy Singh found the mark with a stiff shot. Five minutes later, outside-left Sarbjit Singh enhanced the lead. On crossing over, PSEB tried to fight back through their wingers Parminder Singh and Jhujhar Singh but forwards Gurdish Singh and Kuldeep Singh failed to cash in on the openings created by the wingers. Substitute Parsanto Das slotted in the third goal for BSF in the 59th minute. BSF completed their engagements securing seven points from three matches to qualify for the final round to be held at Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala) and Jamshedpur (Bihar) simultaneously from March 26 to April 6. PSEB bowed out with just one point in their kitty from three matches. The second berth for the final round from North Zone will be decided after the match between Hindustan Club and Jammu and Kashmir Bank tomorrow. Hindustan Club are on four points from two matches while Jammu and Kashmir Bank have only one point from two matches. The bankmen need to win by a bigger margin to pip Hindustan Club to the post. |
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Football meet Phagwara, March 17 |
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London, March 17
