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Itinerary of Pak tour likely
next week Pak cricketers lose but win hearts
Indian hospitality bowls Pakistanis Pakistan tour test of India’s ability, says Amarnath
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India upset Hong Kong in Uber Cup
Players resent music show in stadium
Pantani’s parting
shot from grave
Nadeem to lead Pak
team Jalandhar DAV to meet Patiala
Khalsa College in final Sports meet concludes
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Itinerary of Pak tour likely next week
Kolkata, February 19 The much-awaited itinerary and venues for the high-profile tour, hanging fire for some time because of security concerns at some of the venues, “is likely to be finalised early next week,” BCCI sources said here today. The sources said the BCCI, on the return of its President Jagmohan Dalmiya to the metropolis tomorrow, would first take up the report of the three-member delegation which spent eight days in Pakistan last week to assess the facilities and ground realities particularly on the security front. The board, after going through the report, would send its recommendations to the Pakistan Cricket Board about the itinerary and venues. “The official announcement about the itinerary can be made only after both cricket boards agree to the recommendations, which may take a few days,” the sources said. Meanwhile, the delegation, led by the BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty and including senior official of the Intelligence Bureau Yashwardhan Azad and BCCI Communication Director Amrit Mathur, is believed to have recommended that India should not play any three-day matches during the tour, indicating a shorter trip than the originally proposed six weeks. The BCCI delegation, which has already submitted its report to the government, also suggested “minimum exposure” of the team at Peshawar and Karachi. The delegation felt that it was not appropriate to make a “detailed exposure” of the cricketers in the two cities because of fears of violence. The government decision on the report is expected shortly. The historic tour, coming after a 14-year hiatus since the last visit of the K Srikkanth led team in 1989, looked a non-starter till Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who convened a high-level meeting on February 14, intervened and the gave the go ahead to the series. The board, however, has assured cricketers — some of whom reportedly had shown concerns over security matters — that no player would be forced to go on the tour. Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, on the other hand, yesterday asserted that the entire team would tour the neighbouring country. “We are still concerned about security, but the government is looking after it. We hope there will be tight security,” Ganguly said adding that “everybody will be going”. The Indian team is likely to play three Tests and five one-day international matches in Pakistan. — PTI NEW DELHI (OSR): The BCCI will hold an emergency meeting of the working committee in New Delhi on February 28 to discuss the “report on the developments with regard to the Indian team’s tour of Pakistan, and to take necessary decisions”. Five items have been listed in the agenda of the meeting, circulated to all the BCCI working committee members by the board secretary. The meeting will be preceded by the marketing committee meeting and the CK Nayudu Awards Committee meeting a day earlier. The other items listed in the agenda include the “recommendation of the marketing committee with regard to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the board” and “the recommendations of the Col. CK Nayudu Awards Committee”. Deliberations will also include the confirmation of the minutes of the BCCI Working Committee meeting held on January 4 at Taj Bengal in Kolkata and also matters arising out of the minutes of the same meeting. But the most important item on the agenda, of course, is the one related to India’s tour of Pakistan. The Committee will discuss the report of the three-member board team who visited Pakistan to make a first-hand assessment of the security situation there. The meeting has been strategically scheduled in Delhi so that the board could clarify any point related to the Pakistan tour with the Government before taking a final decision.
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Pak cricketers lose but win hearts Patiala, February 19 The match, played as part of the Patiala Heritage Festival, saw a cricket team from Pakistan playing in India for the first time since the winter of early 1999. That was the last time when India and Pakistan played in a bilateral series. For the capacity crowd which exceeded 10,000, the match was of little consequence and they cheered every ball, every
hit, every four and every miss with enthusiasm, never mind even if the four had been hit by a batsman from across the border. More than the cricket it was seriousness of the players of both teams which is worth emulating for youngsters. It is at Patiala where the Punjab Cricket Association runs a coaching centre for young cricketers and it is for them that today's match was a learning experience. For many of the players in both teams the mind might have been willing but the flesh was weak but then there were players like Ajay Jadeja, who still would like to prove a point or two, and Dinesh Mongia, who still dreams of a comeback into the Indian squad after his disastrous showing in the World Cup last year. On the Pakistan side players like Shahid Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed, who must carry very happy memories of their last tour of India, playing in Punjab must have been an experience which they would cherish for a long time. For the record, the Punjab Chief Minister's XI won the match by eight wickets but the bonhomie and the friendship which the match generated should serve future cricketers well, as the match, as promised by Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, President of the Punjab Cricket Association, is scheduled to become an annual affair. The biggest hero of the Patiala crowd today was undoubtedly local hero Navjot Singh Sidhu, now basking in his new found status as a politician. Although he did not play in the match it was he who was mobbed by the autograph hunters the most. He did not disappoint anybody, smiling always and willing to answer any question. Initially Navjot was billed to play in the match and he surely would have been a hit with the crowd but he opted not to play as he has a tough schedule ahead, both in cricket as well as the political field. Navjot is scheduled to go to Pakistan as part of the Ten Sport TV commentary team along with Sanjay Manjrekar and then take part in the Lok Sabha campaign. Coming back to the match, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat and scored 243 for seven in their allotted 45 overs with Shahid Anwar making 36 and Manzoor Elahi scoring 53. In reply, the home team knocked up the required runs for the loss of just two wickets with Dinesh Mongia scoring 108, Akash Chopra 39 and Ajay Jadeja an unbeaten 69. The way Dinesh was caught and bowled by Shahid Anwar only proved a point, that a master will always be a master never mind if age is not on his side. |
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Indian hospitality bowls Pakistanis Patiala, February 19 Naeem Quyoum said, “We are more than ready to welcome India. Security concerns will be well taken care of. Security for India becomes all important also because the Indian team is normally accompanied by many media representatives. We are wonderstruck over the way cricket is loved here.” Veteran Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmad, who captained Pakistan Invitation XI against the Indian Punjab CM XI team today, were all praise for the Punjabi warmth. Both said the reception began at the Wagah where local Khalsa College girls treated them to the traditional Punjabi dance of Sammi. Bowler Mohammad Asif was happier than others because his ancestors had migrated to Pakistan from Patiala. So it was homecoming for him. Left-arm spinner and batsman Javed Hyat was excited over the pop numbers of Daler Mehndi and Jazzy B that were played every time a batsman headed back to the pavilion. Daler’s “Ranjha miyaan chhado yaari....” was particularly a hit. As for Anwar, who has invariably played fantastic innings against India, the current match was an opportunity to reassert friendship. Talking to The Tribune he said “Every time I have played here, I have been welcomed warmly. The nature of friendliness is common to Indians and Pakistanis. We are looking forward to India’s visit.” Ijaz Ahmad added that being in India was always a wonderful experience. “In the view of the recent thaw in relationships, everything seems to be heading just in the right direction. I am lucky to be in Punjab for this friendship match which will bring hearts together, apart from infusing goodwill. We are prepared to host India.” While the entire Pakistani team is scheduled to return tomorrow, Saeed Anwar and Zahoor Ilahi will proceed to Delhi to pay obeisance at the mazaar of Nizamuddin Aulia. Sharing his Indian experience, Naeem Quyoum said three main Pakistani players Saqlain Mushtaq, Salim Ilahi and Imran Farhat were eager to come to Patiala for the match. “But the Pakistan Cricket Board asked us not to consider their names because they are the probables for the forthcoming series between India and Pakistan. Those who are here are excited over the way Indians have received them. They want to go around Patiala to buy Punjabi kurtas which are a craze in Pakistan. But I wonder if we will be allowed to do that. The security is very tight.” In fact, as soon as Pakistani players arrived in Patiala last night, they were lodged in their rooms in Narain Continental and were not allowed to go down to the bar for long. Mr Quyoum said, “We could go to the bar but only when we were
accompanied by five security personnel. This shows the security concerns are very high. Back home in Pakistan we would also be equally worried about India’s security. In fact, every city in Pakistan seems to be vying to host India. But Lahore will finally be chosen over others.” |
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Pakistani
cricketers enthral fans
Patiala, February 19 This was much in evidence at the overflowing Dhruv Pandove Cricket Stadium, the venue of the `friendship match’ played today between Pakistan Punjab XI and Punjab Chief Minister’s XI. More than 10,000 fans, fanatics and cricket connoisseurs flocked the 100 year old ground, which is wrapped in layers and layers of tradition. It was indeed a special occasion. So was the cricket put on display by men in blue and green as the spectators sat rivetted to their seats for the entire day. Never has a sporting event attracted such a massive gathering and this despite the fact that the Australians under Mark Taylor and the Hansie Cronje’s South Africans have already played at the ground. Loudspeakers blaring Punjabi music only added to the colour and the ambience at the stadium. The crowd not only intensely watched the proceedings but also got actively involved in the contest. And when the bearded Saeed Anwar, whose century against India in a league match of the 2003 world cup is something which he can talk to his grandchildren by the fire long years from now, took guard the roar was so loud that it could be heard in the alleys surrounding Lahore’s Gadaffi Stadium. The same held true for former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed, whose lusty but brief innings of 30 was cheered wildly. School children had every reason to indulge themselves under the warm sun as the district administration had ensured that their schools were closed. While players from this side of the border appeared fresh and ready to go, their opponents could be seen fielding some players who were at the age where they feel comfortable sitting in commentators boxes. And when Mohammad Asif, who seemed to be wearing a tyre around his waste, came in to field, he instantly became the crowd ‘s favourite. Yuvraj Singh could be seen more in the company of autograph seekers, of which there was no dearth. Navjot Sidhu, supporting a pink pugree with a track suit, too could be seem mingling with the excited crowd. Yet another great, Mohinder Amarnath, was more happy to melt into the hordes of spectators and they were all too happy to shake hands with a cricketer whose comebacks to the Test team are legendary. The security was tight and rude. Perhaps they carried themselves in such a manner because they were sensitive to the situation. One incident could have left egg on the faces of the hard working organisers and an intruder, during Punjab CM’s innings, left many of them red faced. The crowd had one big disappointment. Many had come to see Saeed Anwar fire on all cylinders. For it can be a high octane ride when Anwar waltzes at the crease, finding open spaces with the ease of a jet boat driver handling the turns, changing gears in a jiffy. However, there were many sad faces when he was caught by keeper Ajay Ratra for not too many.
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Pakistan tour test of India’s ability, says Amarnath Patiala, February 19 This was the comment of Mohinder Amarnath, a veteran of three tours to Pakistan, the first in 1978, second in 1984 and then again in 1989, the last time Indian team visited Pakistan. Mohinder was here to play in an exhibition cricket match as part of the Patiala heritage festival. Mohinder was of the view that India had better batsmen while Pakistan had better bowlers. How one performed on a given day could decide the course of a match. He admitted that the Indian tail was up after the wonderful showing in Australia but then Pakistan would turn out to be an altogether different cup of tea. He was quick to warn that the Indian players should not be overawed by the occasion and should play their natural game. He admitted that playing the reverse swing, an area where Pakistani fast bowlers had specialised over the years, was yet to be mastered by the Indian fast bowlers but then batsmen of the experience of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid,
V.V.S. Laxman or Sourav Ganguly should be able to tackle any bowler in any type of conditions. Touring Pakistan is always tough and given the current security scenario the players might find it tough and demanding but then playing Pakistan in Pakistan is the toughest assignment any Indian cricketer can have. The security hassles cut both ways. In Patiala the Pakistani players, who were here to play in the exhibition match, were not permitted to leave their hotel by the security men and even in the stadium they were not allowed to move out of their designated area. In Pakistan the Indians would also be get very heavy security cover. Mohinder was not willing to hazard a guess how the Indians were preparing for the tour but he hoped that John Wright had worked out the necessary game plan. Agreeing that Indian fast bowlers had performed well in Australia, he said they should find the pitches in Pakistan to what they see in north India and should find the conditions to their liking. Another player who was a member of the 1989 team to Pakistan, Navjot Singh Sidhu, shared the sentiments of Mohinder. “The tour would be tough and the players would have to pull off their best if India are to do well,” he said. Navjot was of the view that the team should work out their strategy well in advance and give their best if India are to come back victorious. Referring to the incident of the last tour when a fan tore the shirt of Krish Srikkanth at Karachi, Navjot said one “mad” person should not be allowed to sour the feeling of a great tour. Navjot was of the view that the Karachi incident was blown out of proportion. |
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India upset
Hong Kong in Uber Cup New Delhi, February 19 The Indians, led by national champion Aparna Popat, made the 2002 Uber Cup bronze medallist look mediocre throughout the tie to come within striking distance for a berth in the finals to be held at Jakarta, Indonesia in May, according to information received here. The Indians now have two wins from three encounters and will take on the host in the final league encounter to decide the second team to qualify for the semifinals. All the four semifinalists would join host Indonesia and defending champions China in the finals. The Indians were given a flying start by Popat, who has not lost a single match so far, thrashing Wan Ting Ling 11-3 11-6. The 1998 Commonwealth Games silver medallist took full advantage of the absence of world No. 4 Wang Chen, who opted out due to injury, to put India in the driver’s seat in just 18 minutes. The experienced B.R. Meenakshi then crushed Ng Ka-Shuu 11-1 11-5 in just within 25 minutes to increase the lead to 2-0. The result was confirmed beyond doubt when Trupti Murgunde stepped on to the court to send Yip Pui-Yin packing 11-9 11-2 in 32 minutes. But the ‘dead rubber’ syndrome seemed to catch up with the Indians in the first doubles as the pair of Shruti Kurien and Jwala Gutta surrendered to Koon Wai Chee and Li Wing Mui 6-15 12-15.
— PTI |
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Players resent music show in stadium Jalandhar, February 19 The district administration maintained that a sum of about Rs 10 lakh, expected to be collected from the show, would be used for welfare activities to be undertaken by the District Red Cross Society. It is not the first time that the stadium is being damaged by holding such shows. Sportspersons have always protested against
such functions.
“In fact, hosting such shows in stadium is totally against the spirit of sports. Besides, it becomes difficult for the players to attend practice sessions for several days due to damaged ground after such shows. Football players are already finding it difficult to continue due to shortage of funds while such anti-sports activities on the part of the administration demoralise them further”, says Mr Ramanjit Singh, a football player and general secretary of the District Congress committee (rural). Earlier, hundreds of sportspersons led by former MP Mr Umrao Singh held a protest inside the stadium of Wednesday demanding a ban on holding of the show. A group of sportspersons were of the considered opinion that the stadium should not be allowed to be used for non-sporting events as its ground are damaged and left unfit for players after such functions, causing disillusionment among the players. “I come for morning walks here it is disturbing to witness brutal digging of the track just for a five-hour show while hundreds of morning walkers have been disallowed to enter the stadium on the pretext of preparations for the show. You see, we are lacking behind in the sports arena just because of such mismanagement,” rued Ms Nimisha Mehta, a student of the local Lyallpur Khalsa College. When contacted, the president of ETC Punjabi channel, Mr Rabindra Narayan, maintained that they were going to hold the show as per schedule on February 21 while the Deputy Commissioner Mr Ashok Gupta said the administration would ensure complete restoration of the stadium. “We are bound to repair the ground. Besides, about Rs 10 lakh, expected to be collected through show, will be go to District Red Cross Society for carrying out welfare activities,” Mr Gupta added.
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Pantani’s parting shot from grave Cesenatico, February 19 “My story is an example to others in sport. Yes, there should be rules but everyone should be treated equally,” wrote the 34-year-old Italian, the last man to win the Tour De France and Giro D’Italia in the same year, 1998. “There is not a job that exists where one is required to give blood and be subjected to these daily tests.” Pantani’s career went off the rails a year after his double triumph when he was ejected from the Giro D’Italia for failing a test for haematocrit — an indicator but not proof a rider may be using the endurance-enhancing drug EPO. He was at the centre of another doping scandal during the 2001 Giro D’Italia when a syringe containing insulin was found by police in his hotel room. Pantani insisted the syringe had been planted in his room but despite his pleas was banned for six months by the cycling authorities. The pressure did little for his ego and his mental state, a point Pantani made in the notes that were found in his passport close to his body. “I was humiliated in the courts for four years and I lost the desire to be like other athletes,” he said. “I’m not a cheat. I feel hurt and all the boys that believe me should speak out. Ciao, Marco.” — AFP
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Lahore, February 19 Sarwar had announced his retirement from international hockey after he was dropped from the team for the Champions Trophy held in Amstelveen, Holland last year. Team: Goalkeepers: Ahmad Alam, Salman Akbar Defenders: Ali Raza, Sohail Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf. Halves: Ghazanfar Ali, Muhammad, Saqlain, Dilawar Husain, Wasim Ahmad, Adnan Maqsood. Forwards: Muhammad Nadeem (capt), Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali Khan, Kashif Jawwad, Shabbir Husain, Shakil Abbasi, Muhammad Sarwar, Salim Khalid. — UNI
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Jalandhar DAV to meet Patiala Khalsa College in final
New Delhi, February 19 The final is slated for tomorrow. In the semifinals, Khalsa College overpowered College of Arts and Education, Annamalai (TN), 3-0 while DAV ousted Faculty of Humanities Varanasi 3-1. In a fast-paced match, Patiala boys dominated the proceedings for most of the time. In fact, they should have won by a bigger margin but for the poor finishing by their forwards. The winners, who led 1-0 at half time, surged ahead in the 10th minute through Rajinder Singh, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to shoot home (1-0). The Tamil Nadu boys tried hard for the equaliser but could not penetrate the crowded rival defence. They, however, did well by not allowing Patiala boys to score any more goal in the first session. Patiala boys went on the offensive from the very start of the second half and it took them 12 minutes to score their second goal. This time Gurvinder Singh made it 2-0 off a penalty corner. Ten minutes later, Shailender Yadav sealed the match in Patiala team's favour. Having conceded three goals, Tamil Nadu virtually threw in the towel but were lucky that their rivals failed to score more because of faulty marksmenship. The second semifinal between Jalandhar and Varanasi teams was keenly contested with both the teams muffing up chances as the first half failed to produce any goal. Seven minutes into the second session, DAV, Jalandhar, earned a penalty corner and this time Navpreet Singh scored to put his side ahead 1-0. Varanasi boys launched several counter-attacks and managed to equalise 13 minutes later through R Pratap Singh(1-1). But within two minutes Jalandhar regained the lead when Navpreet Singh converted a stroke(2-1) and this quick goal had a demoralising effect on the Varanasi team. Four minutes before the final whistle Roop Singh completed the tally scoring the third goal to put the issue beyond Varanasi team. — UNI
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Sports meet
concludes Barnala, February 19 According to Dr Jasvir Singh Dangon, secretary Kartar Singh Sarabha Sports Club, Punjab Police cornered glory in basketball whereas Bathinda were runners-up. Dr Dangon disclosed that in volleyball, Sehjara annexed the title and Kirpal Singh Wala volleyball team got the second position. Kabaddi results: (Open) 1. Guram 2. Changli, 62 Kg. 1.Dhaula 2. Bandar Dor. 57 Kg: 1.Dhanaula 2. Gurman 52 Kg: 1.Pannwa 2.Barnala and 47 Kg. 1.Kothala 2.Bhadaur. |
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