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Ignore small incidents, PCB tells BCCI
Only Shoaib can win Pak series, says Akram Zaheer not worried by injuries |
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‘Choker’ Indians not favourites, says Latif Kasprowicz routs Lanka as Aussies take 3-1
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JCT rally to hold Churchill
Inter-polytechnic meet results “Weird” haircuts Kabaddi meet
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Ignore small incidents, PCB tells BCCI
Islamabad, February 27 “Small incidents should not take away the political importance of the Indian tour to Pakistan which was taking place after a gap of 15 years,” PCB spokesman Sami-ul Hassan told PTI, reacting to BCCI's condition in the MoU that crowd violence, even an incidence of stone throwing, could result in the tour being called off. The PCB has expressed its reservations towards such a clause in the MoU finalised by the two boards and said small incidents should be not be allowed to affect the spirit of the tour. “This tour is too important not simply from cricketing point of view but also very significant from the point of view of improving relations between the two countries,” he said. He said Pakistan had been doing all it could to make fool-proof security arrangements and the two countries should take larger picture in mind. Local media reports have quoted PCB officials as saying that they would want the BCCI to make identical arrangements, when Pakistan toured India. “We have been accepting all their demands, which at times are irritating but we would want the same set of procedures and facilities when we tour that country,” an official has been quoted as saying by the local daily ‘Dawn’ here today. Like the BCCI, the PCB, too, would send an advance party to assess security for their tour and reserve a right not to play Test matches at centres like Mumbai, the stronghold of Shiv Sena, in retaliation to India skipping centres like Karachi and Peshawar on the grounds that the cities were prone to violence, the PCB officials were quoted in the reports. They said Pakistan in turn would play three Tests and as many one-day Internationals during their tour likely in next February. “We will assess ground realities before the tour and only if our security concerns are addressed, we will play at a certain venue.” A three-member Indian officials' team recently visited all the six centres in Pakistan to review the security arrangements and agreed to play only one-day internationals at Peshawar and Karachi and declined to play Test matches there. India would play three Test matches and five one-day internationals during their 40-day tour beginning on March 10. — PTI
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Only Shoaib can win Pak series, says Akram
Islamabad, February 27 “In my days, I used to go to (Malcolm) Marshall and Kapil (Dev) and others,” said Akram, the only bowler in the history of the game to have 400 or more wickets in both Tests and one-day internationals. The former captain was caught in a controversy after he was reported to have been approached by the Indian cricket board to be the fast bowling coach of the national team two months ago. Although the controversy died down after Akram himself denied any such offer from the BCCI, he invited the wrath of the critics when he offered advice to rookie Pathan on India’s tour of Australia. Coach Javed Miandad even accused Akram of providing the arch-rivals with the Pakistan’s traditional “secrets.” Akram said express bowler Shoaib Akhtar was the only player who could help Pakistan beat India in the upcoming cricket series next month. “In my view, Shoaib is the one-man team Pakistan has against India and it depends on the captain as to how he uses the bowler,” Akram said. Commenting on the lack of consistency of the Pakistan team, the record breaking fast bowler said it was a part of the whole system. “When consistency is not being seen in any department of the country how can Pakistan team be consistent. There is politics at every place. In 1999 alone three captains were changed and still we talk about inconsistency.” Intikhab Alam, another former Test cricketer who appeared on the TV show, stressed on the need for a full time psychologist for the national team. “There should not only be a cricket analyst but also a psychologist with the team,” he said. — PTI
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Zaheer not worried by injuries
New Delhi, February 27 "Injuries are there to make you fitter, because you know you get the time off, you can work on your fitness more and then you come back," Zaheer Khan told Karan Thapar in BBC World's Face to Face programme to be telecast tonight. I think I take everything in a positive way and look forward. So I think whatever has happened, has happened for a reason. "And you must find that reason and work doubly hard to get back," he said. Zaheer, whose brief career has been plagued by injuries, is fighting a strained hamstring that forced him to miss two Tests during India's recent tour of Australia. The 25-year-old from Srirampur in Maharashtra says he was not surprised by his quick rise to become India's pace spearhead in a short time since making his debut. "I think before I played my first game probably I would have been surprised but once I made my debut, once I started picking wickets and performing at the international level, I knew that one day I am going to be the spearhead of the Indian attack." But Zaheer, who terms his journey from a small town boy to be the leading new ball bowler for the country as 'a miracle', puts down his success to destiny. Yes, I do believe in fate. Because, coming from a small town and reaching the stage where I have reached, now I think it has to be destiny and the grace of god. "It is a miracle I feel and that is why I always say that there is someone who is pushing me all the time and just keeping me going." Zaheer, who has taken 82 wickets in 28 Tests so far, says taking wickets does not necessarily make him happy. "Well, I think I am happy only when I am in good rhythm, bowling well. Wickets are secondary. "I mean, it (taking wicket) is very important for the team. Yes, that is also there. But if you are bowling in good rhythm, then sooner or later wickets are gonna come." Looking back at the memorable World Cup in South Africa last year, where he picked 19 wickets in 11 matches, Zaheer concedes the team failed against Australia in the final because the players tried too hard. "Yes, I was no exception to it. I was really trying to go flat out and giving that extra bit. I was really charged up an probably because of that things did not fall in place." Zaheer says the turn of events in his life has taught him to be 'very quiet' and he is nevertheless a 'different personality' when he steps on the field. — PTI
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‘Choker’ Indians not favourites, says Latif
Islamabad, February 27 “To me they are not the favourites for this series. Simply because, you look at their recent record. They have not achieved anything notable in Test cricket and in one-day internationals they have choked in the big matches,” Latif was quoted as saying by the local media today. India will play five one-day internationals followed by three Tests in the historic tour next month. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who lost his place in the squad to Moin Khan, said the Indians had struggled to bowl out the opponents twice in a Test in recent years. “You can count the occasions when they have bowled out sides twice in a Test. Which is why they have not won many Test or series. Plus they are prone to playing negative cricket. “Even in Australia, the Indians did not have the confidence to enforce the follow-on after scoring 700 runs in the deciding Test despite the fact that Australia was struggling with its bowling,” the veteran of 37 Tests and 164 ODIs said. — PTI
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Kasprowicz routs Lanka as Aussies take 3-1
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Colombo, February 27 Man of the match Michael Kasprowicz routed Lankan batting taking five wickets for 45 runs in his nine-over spell. Earlier, Sri Lanka spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Upul Chandana shared six wickets as Australia collapsed to 233 all out. Muralitharan ripped through Australia's middle order, claiming the wickets of Ricky Ponting (67), Andrew Symonds (53) and Michael Bevan. Scoreboard Australia: Gilchrist c Sangakkara b Zoysa 14 Hayden c Zoysa b Vaas 15 Ponting lbw b Murali 67 Martyn c Zoysa b Lokuarachchi 1 Symonds c Jayantha b Murali 53 Bevan c and b Murali 14 Clarke c Dilshan b Chandana 36 Harvey run out 4 Hogg lbw b Chandana 0 Kasprowicz c Sangakkara Gillespie not out 8 Extras:
(lb-3,nb-6,w-12) 21 Total: (all out in 47.4 overs) 233 FoW: 1-28, 2-42, 3-62, 4-136, 5-177, 6-201, 7-205, 8-205, 9-206. Bowling:
Vaas 10-0-45-1, Zoysa 8-0-40-1, Lokuarachchi 8-0-40-1, Murali 10-0-44-3, Jayasuriya 4-0-24-0, Chandana 7.4-0-37-3. Sri Lanka: Atapattu c Bevan b Hogg 19 Jayasuriya c Gilchrist Sangakkara c Gilchrist Jayawardene c Gilchrist Jayantha c Gilchrist b Harvey 1 Dilshan run out 9 Chandana c Gilchrist Lokuarachchi lbw Vaas c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 0 Zoysa lbw Hogg 1 Muralitharan not out 2 Extras: 4 Total:
(all out, 43.4 overs) 193 FoW: 1-0, 2-80, 3-143, 4-148, 5-150, 6-158, 7-189, 8-189, 9-190. Bowling:
Gillispie 8-2-20-1, Kasprowicz 9-1-45-5, Harvey 7-0-34-1, Symonds 10-1-47-0, Hogg 6-4-0-32-2, Clarke 3-0-13-0.
— Reuters
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England A restrict East Zone Amritsar, February 27 Inviting East Zone to play first after winning the toss, the visitors restricted them at 283 all out in 88 overs. Tredwell, an off-spinner, bowled 18 for 101 runs. The Kent county player said the seamears’ spells had softened the wicket, which helped him. Other successful bowler for the visitors was Graham Napier who claimed three wickets for 54 runs. S.S. Das’s ton helped East Zone to reach a satisfactory total as at one stage they lost three wickets for seven runs. At one time East Zone were 92 without loss but slumped to 97 for three. Das remained unbeaten on 124, which included 10 fours and two sixes. Despite getting camp in his left leg at 55, he continued playing with a runner. Mahindra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper) played well in the morning when ball was coming slow on the bat so he just hung around to support him. But in the next session he got his rhythm and started playing his shots. Besides Das, Dhoni contributed with 52 runs (12 fours). After him, no East Zone player could not support Das for long. Scoreboard East Zone:
S.S. Das n.o. 124, M.S. Dhoni c Smith b Kirby 52, Arindam Das lbw Napier 0, Deepdas Gupta lbw 0, Devang Gandhi c Peterson b Tredwell 7, Kiran Power lbw Tredwell 13, L.R. Shukla c Newman b Tredwell 8, Laheri run out 17, Chaterjee c and b Tredwell 23, Mohanty c Peterson b Tredwell 0, S.S. Paul b Napier 9. Extras: (Byes 5, lb 9, nb 16) 30. Total: 283. Bowling:
Mahindra 19-7-42, Steven Kirby 15-6-41-1, Napier 18-6-54-3, Tredwell 24-0-101-5, Wagg 12-3-31-0. |
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West Zone put North
on backfoot Dharamsala, February 27 North batsmen dished out an average batting display and only Pankaj Dharmani played a resolute innings. His stay was laced with nine hits to the fence and out of all the strokes he played the most pronounced was the lofted six he hit off Munaf Patel into the stands. The Patiala batsman looked all set for a three-figure knock till he went for an ambitious paddle sweep off Sairaj Bahutule and found himself trapped in front of the wicket to a ball that straightened after pitching. Dharmani brought all his experience and expertise in play to thwart the bowlers for 204 minutes. Earlier in the morning, a blanket of dark clouds forced the umpires to delay the start by 90 minutes. Conditions at the HPCA ground were most favourable to seam bowling and that enabled West to draw first blood when the strapping Munaf Patel teased and taunted Gautam Gambhir before trapping him leg before as the batsman made the mistake of moving far too across the line of the ball. Akash Chopra too followed his Delhi team-mate when he tried to steer the ball through backward point region but played away from his body to see the resultant snick being safely pouched by Parthiv Patel. From 21 for two, North found themselves placed at a shaky 77 for three when skipper Mongia, after pushing his way to 25, had his edge brilliantly taken by a diving V.Mane at second slip. At 165 for six, North were struggling to stay afloat and resolute innings by Sangram Singh and Joginder Sharma, coupled with a cameo unbeaten 23 by Sarandeep, who used the long handle, enabled North to wind up at 254 for eight. Scoreboard North Zone (1st innings):
A. Chopra c P. Patel b M.Patel 6, G. Gambhir lbw M. Patel 6, P. Dharmani lbw S. Bahutule 73, D. Mongia c V. Mane b S. Trivedi 25, M. Manhas c V. Mane b R. Pawar 21, Sangram Singh b R. Pawar 34, A. Ratra c D. Jhadav b R. Pawar 15, J. Sharma c D. Jhadav b S. Bahutule 33, Sarandeep Singh 23 n.o, Gagandeep Singh 1 n.o. Extras:
17. Total: 254 for 8. FoW: 1-7, 2-21, 3-77, 4-131, 5-145, 6-165, 7-221, 8-252. Bowling: M. Patel 15-3-54-2, Rakesh Patel 15-1-62-0, S. Trivedi 10-1-32-1, R. Pawar 23-4-56-3, S. Bahutule 19-6-45-2. |
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JCT rally to hold Churchill Ludhiana, February 27 Backed by a huge crowd which lent vociferous support from the stands, JCT took some time to settle down although the diminutive Baldeep, who was named in the starting line-up, boosted his team's morale with an opening-minute move which looked threatening. A snap shot by Baldeep who had raced into the box like lightning saw the ball going out after grazing the
horizontal. With Joe Paul Ancheri back in the team after missing the previous tie, JCT showed early promise but against the run of play, it were Churchill Brothers who provided the first shock. Finding a gap in JCT's wall of defenders, Benjamin cut through only to find goalkeeper Mansuru Mohammed rushing forward to tackle him but in one deft move, the Goan striker side-stepped him and calmly slotted home to make it 1-0. Thereafter the Goans continued to press hard keeping the Punjab outfit under pressure. After Noel Wilson's long ranger landed in the safe hands of JCT custodian Mansuru Mohammed, Benjamin struck in the 14th minute when after trapping the ball inside the box, he shot to the left of Mansuru to make it 2-0 in favour of Churchill Brothers. However, JCT hardly displayed signs of nervousness and went on the offensive. In the very next minute, a cross by Joe Paul Ancheri from the left was followed up by Baldeep's excellent volley which sailed into the net giving Marc Mascrenhas absolutely no chance (1-2). Thereafter JCT kept up the pressure and on one occasion, Harvinder's pass to Stephan Abarowei went waste as the latter shot wide. In the 37th minute that Harvinder sent JCT's spirits soaring. After racing in from the left, Harvinder shot into the far corner leaving Mascrenhas dazed (2-2). Thereafter, JCT had another good chance when Stephan floated the ball inside the box but Sukhjinder's header, though accurately taken, was punched over by the goalie at the cost of a flag kick. Churchill Brothers mainly attacked through star Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif and Benjamin with Osumanu Husseni lending solidity to the defence. The roving Somatai Shaiza did look threatening in the midfield with Rajesh Meetei and Noel Wilson lending support to the attack. However, the JCT
defence, except for a few lapses in the first quarter, withstood the test with fortitude and did not allow them much freedom. The second half once again saw JCT in the attacking mode and Stephan's pass to Joe Paul saw the latter putting Harvinder in possession but the ball was timely deflected away by Mascrenhas. Thereafter, a faulty clearance by Noel Wilson saw Ram Pal attempting a power-packed volley but the ball narrowly missed the target. JCT again came close to scoring when Harvinder only had the goalie to beat but failed . The substitution of Stephan Abrowei and Joe Paul Ancheri did not change the complexion of the game with IM Vijayan looking a bit off-colour and eventually the mill men seemed satisfied with the single point gained from today's draw.
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Inter-polytechnic meet results Kangra, February 27 In a closely fought final, Manoj of Sundernagar scored two goals and Sandeep of the same college scored one goal, defeating Hamirpur by 3-1. The hosts Govt. Polytechnic College, Kangra, defeated Dr. B.R. Ambedker Polytechnic Govt. College Ambota in kabaddi final by 38-34, Jeevan of Kangra team left the spectators’ spell bound by his excellent raids and was adjudged as the best raider of the match. In the basketball final, Govt. Polytechnic College, Hamirpur, defeated Polytechnic College Sundernagar by 29-27. Mandal Lal and Satish of the winning team scored 13 and 9 baskets, respectively. Daneshwar of Sundernagar scored the maximum baskets (8) for his team. The badminton final (Girls) won by Govt. Polytechnic College Kandaghat defeating Govt. Polytechnic College Ambota in both the singles and doubles. In first set Surche of Kandaghat defeated Madhu of Ambota by 11-1 and 11-8. In second set Mamta of Kandaghat defeated Sapna of Ambota in a one-sided game by 11-0 and 11-1. Mamta and Amita of Kandaghat defeated Sapna and Madhu of Ambota by 11-7 and 11-7. The final of the badminton (boys) Govt. Polytechnic College, Sundernagar emerged winners defeating Govt. Polytechnic College Hamirpur. Girishwar of Hamirpur in the first set defeated Vendant of Sundernagar by 15-9 and 15-9. Piyosh of Sundernagar defeated Ajay of Hamirpur by 15-6 and 15-7 in the second set. In doubles, Girishwar and Basant of Hamirpur defeated Vedant and Suresh of Sundernagar by 15-5 and 15-4.
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“Weird” haircuts BEIJING: David Beckham may be one of China’s most idolised football stars, but his ponytail hairstyle, and other “weird” cuts, have been banned among China’s under-17 team who must learn how to become “true men”. “Dyed hair, long hair and weird hairstyles are all strictly prohibited in the training camp and all players must cut hair short,” said the ruling issued by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), according to the Xinhua news agency. Feng Jianming, director of the CFA youth department, told the players: “You must learn how to behave as a true man before becoming a soccer star.”
— AFP
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Kabaddi meet Sangrur, February 27 Besides, competition in under 75 kg category and Bal Kesari category would also be held at the same venue. The winner of the kabaddi competition will get Rs 1.5 lacs and runners up Rs 1.0 lacs. The third and fourth place holders would get Rs 51,000 and Rs 21,000,
respectively. |
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New Delhi, February 27
