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Inept batting display by India
Bucknor right man for friendship series? |
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Notes from Pakistan Hospitals respond to cricketers’ appeal
SAF Games: India finish on top Davis Cup: Amritraj to open campaign Suraj Lata to lead India Punjab roller
skating trials
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Inept batting display by India Lahore, April 7 At 149 for five at close of the third day’s play, the visitors were still behind by 53 runs and only rain, of which there is little prospect, or another massive innings by dashing Sehwag can come in the way of Pakistan squaring the series. Faced with a big 202 first innings deficit, the Indians capitulated again on a wicket which even Pakistani tailenders had enjoyed earlier in the day. Sehwag alone stood among the ruins and lived to fight tomorrow. The visions of a great Indian fightback faded fast when opener Aakash Chopra was declared leg before wicket to a doubtful decision,, stand-in captain Rahul Dravid (0) ran himself out without facing a ball, Sachin Tendulkar (8) fell leg before to an incoming delivery for the second time in the match and VVS Laxman (13) too perished soon. First innings centurion Yuvraj Singh (12) also faltered, leaving the side to3tering at 105 for five before wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel (13 not out) joined Sehwag in the unbroken 44-run partnership. The visitors may have given away the match when Dravid, in a fit of misplaced bravado, chose to bat on a green-top wicket specially tailored for desperate Pakistani fast bowlers. If the wicket was the cause for first innings failure of India’s top guns, there was no explanation for the rot in the second innings. The day had begun very well for the Indian bowlers who removed Pakistan’s two best batsmen, skipper Inzamam-ul Haq and his deputy Yousuf Youhana very early. Inzamam fell lbw to Irfan Pathan in the very first over the day at his overnight score of 118 and L Balaji got rid of Youhana for 72. India’s hopes of restricting Pakistan’s lead were further raised by quick dismissals of Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Sami, but then Asim Kamal (73) joined hands with remaining tailenders to carry the score to 489, in reply to the visitors’ first innings tally of 287. The Indian innings could not have started on a more disastrous note as they lost five of their top batsmen within the first 25 overs against a charged up Pakistani pace bowling attack. Chopra was adjudged leg before wicket off fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and then Dravid was run out by a direct hit from Imran Farhat just at the stroke of tea to leave the visitors in a daze before a small but vociferous home crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium. The Indians then suffered a big blow when Tendulkar was trapped leg before by Mohammad Sami with a ball that kept a trifle low while first innings’ bowling hero Umar Gul brought Laxman’s 44-minute stay at the crease to an end with a gem of a delivery which moved out to knock down the stumps. Yuvraj paid the price for poking at an away-going delivery from Sami as Kamran Akmal took a smart catch behind the stumps. The third day’s play began in dramatic fashion as the Indians fought back brilliantly by snapping four quick wickets in an eventful first hour’s play which saw the home team slump from a comfortable overnight score of 355 for three to 386 for seven. Balaji then brought cheers for the team by removing Yousuf Youhana who fished at an away going delivery and only succeeded in edging it to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps. Youhana’s 72 came off 153 balls and was laced with 13 fours. Kamran Akmal (5) and Mohammad Sami (2) also did not last long, both of them being removed by Pathan who produced a tidy opening spell. But newcomer Kamal and Shoaib Akhtar hung around resolutely and even punished the loose balls to the boundary to add vital runs to the Pakistani lead. The visitors were rewarded immediately after the lunch break with leg spinner Anil Kumble accounting for the stubborn Akhtar who went for a shot on the on-side but failed to time it properly and Yuvraj Singh latched on to a brilliant catch in the mid-wicket region. New man Umar Gul, who came to the crease after Akhtar’s dismissal, frustrated the Indians by hanging around for some time and adding vital runs alongwith Kamal who unleashed some stunning shots on both sides of the wicket to force the pace of scoring.
Scoreboard India (1st innings): 287 Pakistan (1st innings):
overnight 355-3: Farhat c Patel b Balaji 101 Umar b Balaji 24 Hameed c Dravid b Agarkar 19 Inzamam lbw b Pathan 118 Youhana c Patel b Balaji 72 Kamal c Patel b Kumble 73 Akmal lbw b Pathan 5 Sami b Pathan 2 Akhtar c Yuvraj b Kumble 19 Gul hit wicket b Tendulkar 14 Kaneria not out 0 Extras:
(b-4, lb-18, w-4, nb-16) 42 Total: (all out, 160.1 overs) 489 Fall of wickets:
1-47, 2-95, 3-205, 4-356, 5-366, 6-379, 7-386, 8-432, 9-470. Bowling:
Pathan 44-14-107-3, Balaji 33-11-81-3, Agarkar 23-5-80-1, Kumble 44.1-5-146-2, Tendulkar 12-1-38-1, Yuvraj 3-0-7-0, Sehwag 1-0-8-0. India (2nd innings): Chopra lbw b Akhtar 5 Sehwag batting 86 Dravid run out 0 Tendulkar lbw b Sami 8 Laxman b Gul 13 Yuvraj c Akmal b Sami 12 Patel not out 13 Extras:
(lb-7, w-1, nb-4) 12 Total: (5 wkts in 40 overs ) 149 Fall of wickets:
1-15, 2-15, 3-43, 4-88, 5-105. Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 11-3-37-1, Mohammad Sami 17-5-61-2, Umar Gul 9-1-42-1, Danish Kaneria 3-1-2-0.
— PTI |
Ganguly leaves
for Pakistan KOLKATA: India’s regular cricket captain
Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday left for Delhi en route to Pakistan after recuperating from his lower back injury which had sidelined him during the first two Tests. Ganguly was accompanied by orthopaedic specialist Dr Kalyan Mukherjee who had been treating the cricketer since his return to the city midway into the tour. Ganguly left by a Sahara Airlines flight, from the NSC Bose International Airport here. “He is completely fit and I don’t see any reason why he cannot play the third Test,” Dr Mukherjee said. The third and final Test in the ongoing series is scheduled to begin at
Rawalpindi from April 13. Ganguly was issued a fitness certificate on Tuesday by Dr Mukherjee following which the BCCI sent the player’s medical record to Dr Anant Joshi, the board’s chief medical consultant. The BCCI gave the nod for Ganguly to rejoin the team after clearance from Joshi.
— PTI |
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Bucknor right man for friendship series? The Indian cricket team and Steve Bucknor do not share a good chemistry. The Jamaican from the elite panel of international umpires has so often been unkind to them in his decision-making that it comes as no surprise that Indian cricketers perceive a certain bias in his work. Lending some credence to theory about some animus existing was the leg before appeal that Bucknor turned down against Umar Gul. The cultured sportsman Anil Kumble is too refined a person to have let go a few slang words. But had he felt like it on the third day of the second Test, he would have been readily forgiven. The best days of
Bucknor, once a leading official in the game, are far behind him. He shocked the Sri Lankans recently with his trigger-happy finger when they were batting and an extreme reluctance to give anyone out when they were the ones preferring the appeals against the Australians. Bucknor’s presence in the middle in such an emotion-wrenching series has done nothing to foster India-Pakistan friendship. It’s a pity that shoddy umpiring on his part should be a blot on what has otherwise been memorable cricket. Surely, we don’t need a West Indian spoiling an Asian party. The ICC well knows that bad blood exists, especially after the series Down Under where Bucknor annoyed the Indians no end, first in ruling Sachin Tendulkar out lbw at the ‘Gabba and then mocking Dravid in the Test in which the Bangalorean was pulled up for ball tampering. Whenever the Indians are bowling, Bucknor seems to be a representation of the three monkeys, in this case refusing to hear an appeal, sense one or give a batsman out except in the most obvious of instances by refusing which he can only get himself into trouble. He did rule in favour of India when the Pakistani innings was nearing its logical end, but that in a dubious decision against Kamal. He is far more animated when the Indians are batting, possibly because the index finger is itching as it proved in the case of Akash Chopra. Having turned down any number of shouts for leg before for the whole of the second day and a major part of the third day when he ruled Gul not out even though he had not bothered to offer a shot to a googly, Bucknor suddenly came to life. The reason why Simon Taufel is rated the best umpire in the world now is fairly obvious. He may make genuine errors as in ruling Youhana not out when he was caught behind. But he does always give them as he sees them as he did in upholding Pathan’s appeal for leg before against the home captain in the first over of the day. The Indians can be hysterical in their appealing. They can rev up the histrionics if the game is not going their way. The match referee is there to control such excesses as indeed Ranjan Maduaglle did in hitting the diminutive ‘keeper Parthiv Patel in the pocket with a hefty fine. Just because their ways of preferring appeals can be irritating, Bucknor cannot pretend that the lbw law does not exist when the Indians are bowling. In days in which sharp electronics keep exposing the fallibility of umpires every playing day, the dual standards employed by umpires like Bucknor come out rather clearly. The ICC cannot accept such claims of bias that will debase the very foundation of international umpiring. The least the world body could have done was to appoint, at least in this series, umpires who have never been suspected of harbouring any prejudices against one of the participating nations. Bucknor had stood exposed very early in his career when he refused to consult the television umpire after declaring before the India-South Africa Test 11 years ago that he had no faith in electronics. The poor guy was to find out from the replays that evening that Jonty Rodes had been about a yard short of the crease while he himself was hopping around way out of position to make a judgment. Rhodes’s innings made a world of difference to the verdict in the drawn Test. Bucknor is not to blamed for all of India’s current woes. He had nothing to do with the strolling Rahul Dravid failing to complete the run on Sehwag’s call even before he had faced a ball. Batting in the face of a lead in excess of 200 is never easy. But Bucknor, in a clear depiction of his double standards in interpreting Law 36 may have put a comma, if not quite a full stop, to the distressed opener Chopra’s career. Already under pressure to keep his place ahead of Ganguly’s impending return, the opener who pinched the ball on to his pad was mowed down by an unsympathetic umpire who is suspected of working to a hidden agenda. A great pity this.
— UNI |
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Irfan moves to top spot Mumbai, April 7 Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar continued to hold the top slot In ODI batting list while Pathan’s fine showing in Australia and Pakistan, with a tally of 24 wickets from 13 matches, has earned him 157 points to top the bowling list, a press note said here today. The Indian team climbed to the second spot behind world champions Australia after their sensational one-day series win against their arch-rivals Pakistan while Tendulkar, with 89 points, continues to lead the pack, the note added. Aussie stumper Adam Gilchrist (84) is in the second spot behind Tendulkar while India’s V.V.S Laxman (75), Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting (70), Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (69) and South African batsman Jacques Kallis (68) are in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively. Rahul Dravid (67), Chris Gayle (66), Virender Sehwag (65) and Yasir Hameed (64) are the others in the top 10 list. In the bowling list, Pathan is closely followed by Mohammad Sami (144), South African Makhaya Ntini (140), Aussie seamer Brad Williams (135), Pakistani Shoaib Akhtar (128), India’s Zaheer Khan (125), Aussie speedster Brett Lee (120), Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak (118), Lee’s team-mate Jason Gillespie (116) and India’s L Balaji (112). The Indian team is placed second 67 points behind Australia on 76 followed by South Africa (63), Pakistan (59), New Zealand (56), Sri Lanka (54), England (45), West Indies (37), Zimbabwe (23), Kenya and Bangladesh (five points each).
— PTI |
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Notes from Pakistan Having heard so much about Lahore’s famous Food Street from the players, with its array of mouth-watering dishes, Indian cricket board officials and selectors could not but find time to go there. The officials, who are here to watch the second Indian-Pakistan Test, have all visited the Food Street that houses rows of eateries dishing out a variety of delectable wares, at least once. In fact, the board’s vice-president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, treasurer Jyoti Bajpai, former treasurer Kishore Rungta and his family, were on Tuesday spotted having dinner at the eateries along with Punjab cricket secretary MP Pandove and some other officials. Even those like the Rungtas, who are vegetarians, had no problem as they enjoyed chole-bhaturey, a popular dish in India as well. The Anarkali market was the other attraction for the Indian officials. The four senior national selectors, who had arrived earlier, visited the market, a bustling shoppers’ paradise reminiscent of Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Cricket fans come in all sizes, and their heroes are not necessarily just cricketers. There are some ardent fans of umpires too, and two of them met their “heroes” - Australian Simon Taufel, West Indian Steve Bucknor, who are officiating the ongoing second Test here, and Pakistan’s Asad Rauf - at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday evening. The young boys came armed with a huge banner and photographs of the three umpires with slogans written on them. At the end of the second day’s play, the youngsters presented the banner to Taufel and Bucknor, who were impressed with the handiwork of their young fans. There was just one little problem. The boys had got the spelling of the two umpires wrong. But it seems Taufel has got used to his name being wrongly spelt. When pointed out, he said: “This is much better. Elsewhere, it has been spelt even more badly!” Pakistan has its share of illegal immigrants to tackle. But Pakistan is not asking them to leave the country immediately. The government has come out with a law asking those who have been living illegally in the country since July 2000 to register themselves with the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA). There are two ways to go about this. They can either register for three years by paying Rs 250 for each year of stay or obtain a work permit by paying Rs 2,500 to “lawfully seek employment or do business”.
— IANS |
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Hospitals respond to cricketers’ appeal Lahore, April 7 The Christian Medical College in Vellore, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore and Tata Memorial Hospital (Bombay) have responded to the appeal and have offered to treat Ms Huba Shahid, daughter of a Lahore-based journalist Shahid Chhina. The girl suffers from rabdomy sacrcoma (facial cancer), the treatment for which is available only in India in the South Asia region. “We have already been approached by these hospitals to provide free treatment,” team manager Ratnakar Shetty said. “The request has been forwarded to the girl’s father and we have been assured by the Indian High Commission in Pakistan that it will make the necessary travel arrangements.” The offers have been forwarded to the journalist who had met the players ahead of the ongoing second Test here seeking their help as “time was running out” for his child. The girl’s father said he could not thank the Indian cricketers enough for their gesture. “I was quite desperate for help because the girl was dying,” Chhina said. “I was told the necessary treatment was available in India, so I approached the team for help. They immediately agreed to make an appeal. I will always be grateful to them.” The Indian team, on its first full tour of Pakistan since 1989, is currently playing the second cricket Test here.
— PTI |
Security breach LAHORE:
The Indian cricket team management on Wednesday played down reports of a security breach by some Indian players including Multan triple century scorer Virender Sehwag. Sehwag, along with Ajit Agarkar, his wife Fatima, and Zaheer Khan, created a security scare by attending a dinner hosted by a local friend without informing the security officials, according to report in local daily ‘The Nation’. “These are old stories and we are not reacting to it,” media manager Amrit Mathur told PTI when asked about the report. The four slipped out of the hotel without informing Pakistan’s security coordinator Sohail Khan who has been specially appointed for the purpose. The four were later found having dinner at a local friend’s residence by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, the report said.
— PTI |
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Waqar to retire LAHORE:
Former Pakistani skipper Waqar Younis’ patience finally gave away as he decided to hang up his boots after being ignored by the selectors for historic series against India. According to The News, the former pacer has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about his decision to make a formal announcement after the ongoing Test. The newspaper quotes a source saying Waqar had spoken to PCB chief executive Rameez Raja over the telephone in this regard on Tuesday.
— UNI |
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SAF Games: India finish on top Islamabad, April 7 India finished with 101 gold, 59 silver and 31 bronze medals after participating in 14 events. In the Kathmandu in 1999, they had earned 102 gold, 58 silver and 37 bronze in 12 events. Hosts Pakistan were second with 42 gold, 55 silver and 50 bronze. Sri Lanka also improved its position with 15 gold, 55 silver and 50 bronze while Nepal slid down, from their second place last time, to fourth spot with seven golds, six silver and 19 bronze. Bangladesh finished fifth with three gold, 11 silver and 26 bronze. Afghanistan, who participated in the Games for the first time, got gold in taekwondo and three silvers and 28 bronze. The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan also got their first SAF gold here from taekwondo. Besides, they also had three silver and an equal number of bronze. Out of the three new events — badminton, rowing and karate — India did not take part in karate, participated only in two events of rowing to win a gold and a silver and dominated badminton, claiming all seven titles. Competition was tougher this time. Though India, in terms of numbers, earned less, their performance was better the quality of competition was superior. While Olympian Jaspal Rana won seven gold, including three individual and four from team events, Richa Mishra bagged six titles — four from individual events with new meet records and two from relays. Madhuri Singh also kept her reputation intact gathering gold medals in both the middle distance events of 800m and 1500m. Indian women swimmers excelled taking all the 15 gold medals and improving old records. Indian men swimmers also did well to win all but three events. While Rehan Poncha won three gold medals, creating a record in one, T.A. Sujith won five gold medals, maximum by male swimmer here, with two from individual events and three from relays. Besides, Gairik Bardhan and Mandar Divase and Puneet Rana among men and Nisha Millet, Bhavna Sharma and Sivaranjini in women’s section displayed fine performance here. India also made almost a clean sweep in shooting. While they collected 15 out of the total 16 titles at Kathmandu, this time they finished with 26 golds, nine silvers and seven bronze. In athletics, India had won 12 titles last time, followed by Sri Lanka(7) and Pakistan (1) in Kathmandu. This time out of the 32 events, India won 15 titles and were chased by Sri Lanka, who won 12 gold with Peadeep Rohan earning a treble for them. Hosts Pakistan also improved their performance, picking up five gold from the track and field events. India fared poorly in boxing. Though six boxers reached the final, only Harpreet Singh in light heavyweight won. Hosts Pakistan won all the other titles. In table tennis, Indian faced hardly any competition and took all seven gold. Squash saw India and Pakistan sharing the gold in equal number. While the hosts, true to expectations, won the men’s team event and individual titles, India won both the team and individual gold through their women. In taekwondo, introduced in last SAF games, Nepal continued its domination with six gold while India could win two golds in fion weight and fly weight for men. In weightlifting, India had to be satisfied with just three gold and four silver. In wrestling also, India could win only four gold and three silver here against their previous haul of seven gold and one silver. Among the team games, India could keep her top billing intact in volleyball and kabaddi.
— UNI |
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Davis Cup: Amritraj to open campaign Osaka (Japan), April 7 A singles clash between Prakash Amritraj and Gouichi Motomura will open the five-match encounter in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group-One second round from Friday to Sunday here, following a draw today. Indian ace and playing captain Leander Paes was drawn to face Japanese No 1 Takao Suzuki in the second singles at Utsubo Tennis Centre in Osaka, western Japan. “We need to crush Paes. That will be the key to our success,” Kamiwazumi told reporters after the draw. “The doubles will be a tough match. We aim to chalk up three wins in the singles.” India have defeated Japan 17 times in their 19 Davis Cup encounters, or 17 times in a row since Japan won 5-0 in 1930. Japan also triumphed 5-0 in 1921. The five Japan-India matches will be fought on hard courts, generally favoured by the Japanese players. Japan beat Indonesia 3-2 in the first round in Jakarta in February. In India’s first round, Paes won two singles and combined with Mahesh Bhupathi to take the doubles as India whipped New Zealand 3-2 in Invercargill. The draw: Day one (April 9): Gouichi Motomura (JPN) vs Prakash Amritraj (IND), Takao Suzuki (JPN) vs Leander Paes (IND) Day two (April 10): Takahiro Terachi/Thomas Shimada (JPN) vs Leander Paes/Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) Day three (April 11):
Takao Suzuki (JPN) vs Prakash Amritraj (IND), Gouichi Motomura (JPN) vs Leander Paes (IND).
— AFP |
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Suraj Lata to lead India New Delhi, April 7 The team will play four Test matches each in Australia and New Zealand. The Test matches in Australia will be played on April 28 at Murwillumbah, April 29 at Toowoomba, May 1 at Buderin and May 2 at Buderim. The Tests in New Zealand will be played on May 4 at Dunedin, May 5 at Oamaru, and May 9 10 at Christchurch. The team: Goalkeepers: Helen Mary and Dipika Murty; full-backs: Suman Bala, Kanti Baa, Binita Toppo and Pushpa Pradhan;
half-backs: Suraj Lata Devi, Masira Surin, Asunta Lakra, Sumrai Tete and Subhadra Pradhan;
forwards: Sanggai Chanu, Adline Kerketta, Jasjeet Kaur, Annarita Kerketta, Surinder Kaur, Mamta Kharab and Saba Anjum. Officials:
M.K. Kaushik (national coach), Manjeet Kaur (manager), Vasu Thapliyal (physical trainer) and Shamshad Begum (umpire). |
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Punjab roller
skating trials Patiala, April 7 Trials to select the state teams in speed skating event will be held at Leisure Valley, Ludhiana, on April 10 while the roller hockey squad will be selected at Rink Hall, Patiala on April 11. Mr S.S. Tiwana, secretary of the Punjab Roller Skating Association (PRSA), said for the speed skating event only those skaters could participate who had won medals in the Punjab Roller Skating Championship which was held in Ludhiana from January 9 to 11 this year. Skaters desirous of taking part in trials, both at Patiala and Ludhiana, should bring their birth certificates duly attested by principals of their respective schools. |
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Football trials Chandigarh, April 7 |
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The Indian cricket team and Steve Bucknor do not share a good chemistry. The Jamaican from the elite panel of international umpires has so often been unkind to them in his decision-making that it comes as no surprise that Indian cricketers perceive a certain bias in his work.
In video: A 309 gm gold crown
awaits Virender Sehwag.
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