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Indian seamers have Pak on the mat
Shoaib under
scrutiny again
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Notes from Pakistan
Players join hands to fight AIDS
Fast bowlers keep West Indies on top
Crisis in Zimbabwe cricket deepens Expert defends
Murali’s test Dempo keep title hopes alive AITA trying to rope in Shikha School games from May 1 
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Indian seamers have Pak on the mat Rawalpindi, April 13 Put in to bat on a seaming wicket, the hosts were reeling at 137 for eight before the Indians faltered to allow tailenders Mohammad Sami (49) and Fazl-e-Akbar (25) add 70 runs for the ninth wicket. Eventually the innings folded at 224,
Laxmipathy Balaji taking a career-best four for 63. The start to the Indian innings could not have been more dramatic as speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s first delivery took the edge of Sehwag’s bat and Yasir Hameed grabbed a brilliant, tumbling catch in the gully. Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, the other opener, and Rahul Dravid stayed unseparated at the end of a dramatic day’s play to take India to 23 for one in 15 overs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, hosting the 50th Test between the arch-rivals. The Indians did not repeat the mistake of Lahore when they elected to bat on a lively track, and were rewarded in ample measure. Balaji did the bulk of the damage in helpful conditions while Ashish Nehra, playing his first match of the three-Test series, and Irfan Pathan chipped in with two wickets each before Sami’s heroics pulled the hosts out of the pits. The Pakistan innings came to an end about 35 minutes before the scheduled close of play when Sami was run out by a direct hit by Irfan Pathan while trying to steal a a run which could have given his maiden half century. After initially failing to control the swing on a grassy track, the Indian bowlers got their act together to rip through the batting line-up but failed to polish off the tail as Sami and Akbar batted resolutely to give respectibility to the total. The home team lost Imran Farhat (16), Taufiq Umar (9) , Yasir Hameed (26) and Inzamam-ul Haq (15) before lunch and another four after it to lose the plot in the do-or-die encounter. India’s new ball operators — Pathan and Balaji, eager to exploit the conditions, tried a little too hard and as a result were guilty of straying in line and length, allowing the two Pakistani openers to settle down. Just when it looked like Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar would see through the crucial first hour, Balaji got the breakthrough for his team in the first over of his second spell, getting rid of Umar for nine. The left-handed Umar was trapped leg before wicket with a ball that came in sharply, while Nehra, included in the team in place of Ajit Agarkar, evicted the other opener Farhat in the very next over to reduce the home team to 34 for two by the 12th over, justifying Ganguly’s decision to bowl first on a grassy track. Farhat, who looked quite comfortable, was trapped leg before wicket to a gem of a delivery from Nehra. Hameed and the in-form captain Inzamam-ul Haq took the score to 77 before Pathan joined the party by removing Hameed who has struggled right through the high-profile series. The right-hander had himself to blame for his dismissal as he tried to play at a wide outside-the-off-stump delivery and only succeeded in edging to VVS Laxman at second slip. The home team suffered a huge jolt in the very next over when Nehra captured the prized scalp of Inzamam inducing him to edge an outswinger to Parthiv behind the stumps. The Indians continued their good work in the post-lunch session by taking four more wickets to leave the hosts tottering at 137 for eight but allowed the game to drift out of control by failing to clean up the last two batsmen. Balaji snapped up three wickets in the post-lunch session accounting for the wickets of Asim Kamal (21), Kamran Akmal (17) and Shoaib Akhtar (0) in a span of seven overs. The Tamil Nadu paceman first ejected Asim Kamal by trapping him leg before wicket with a superb delivery and then sent back Kamran Akmal, who slammed four boundaries during his brief stay at the crease. Shoaib Akhtar lasted just two balls as he was clean bowled by a gem of an inswinger by Balaji. With his three pace bowlers tiring out, Ganguly introduced leg-spinner Anil Kumble late in the post-lunch session but the experienced spinner was also frustrated for quite some time before he managed to dismiss.
Scoreboard Pakistan (1st Innings): Farhat lbw b Nehra 16 Umar lbw b Balaji 9 Hameed c Laxman b Pathan 26 Inzamam c Patel b Nehra 15 Youhana b Pathan 13 Kamal lbw b Balaji 21 Akmal c Laxman b Balaji 17 Sami run out 49 Akhtar b Balaji 0 Akbar lbw b Kumble 25 Kaneria not out 4 Extras:
(b-14, lb-5, nb-3, w-7) 29 Total: (all out, 72.5 overs) 224 Fall of wickets:
1-34, 2-34, 3-77, 4-77, 5-110, 6-120, 7-137, 8-137, 9-207. Bowling:
Pathan 22-7-49-2, Balaji 19-4-63-4, Nehra 21-4-60-2, Ganguly 2-0-9-0, Kumble 8.5-2-24-1. India (Ist innings): Sehwag c Hameed b Akhtar 0 Patel not out 13 Dravid not out 10 Total:
1 wkt, 15 overs) 23 Fall of wickets: 1-0 Bowling:
Shoaib Akhar 5-4-4-1, Fazl-e Akbar 5-0-14-0, Danish Kaneria 3-0-4-0, Mohammad Sami 2-1-1-0.
— PTI |
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Shoaib under scrutiny again Rawalpindi, April 13 The indication from the International Cricket Council has come in reponse to a letter sent by the Board of Control for Cricket in India after the bowling action of Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was reported by the umpires during the recent home series against Australia, a local daily, quoting a source close to the Indian team, reported today. The BCCI sent a letter to the ICC after the Indian players felt that Shoiab had “chucked’’ quite a few times during an over and the batsmen were facing problems sighting his ball when he bowled short, the paper added. “The News” quoting sources said the Indian team had received official word that the ICC has indicated it would be asking the Pakistan Cricket Board to send Shoaib to Australia for another review of his action. Shoaib was earlier reported for suspect action in 1999, 2000 and 2001. After the February 2001 call during the one-day series in New Zealand, he was sent to the University of Western Australia by the PCB where he worked with biomechanics specialist Dr Bruce Elliot, Australian bowling coach Daryl Foster and former great Dennis Lillee to sort out problems in his bowling action. The department of human movement sciences in its report to the ICC and the PCB had said there was nothing wrong with Shoaib’s action and at times gave the illusion he was ‘chucking’. After this report the ICC had cleared Shoaib’s action on medical grounds and since than he has faced no problems at all from any umpire, the paper said. But the sources said the Indian camp had been persistent in its views that his action was suspect and wanted the ICC to do something about it specially after they had taken action on Muralitharan after such a long time. Critics have been surprised at the ICC decision to scrutinise the bowling action of Muralitharan after he has taken over 500 Test wickets but the sources said that the decision was taken because the ICC was developing cold feet on the fact that a lot of young players were modeling their bowling action after Murali’s action.
— UNI |
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Notes from Pakistan At the farewell dinner of fast bowler Waqar Younis here, there was one cricketer who hardly had time to eat, drink and be merry. Even as the party was in full swing, Indian seamer Laxmipathy Balaji was spotted in a corner, engaged in an animated conversation with Waqar, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday evening. The duo minded little the din of clatter of glasses and plates at the dinner hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board in honour of Waqar. Balaji, it was reported in the media on Tuesday, talked to Waqar about his run up to the wicket as well as bowling the right line and length. Waqar did not disappoint the up-and-coming bowler, giving some valuable tips to the affable seamer who is already popular in this country for his lusty blows and cool approach to the game. One of the pioneers of reverse swing, Waqar suggested him ways to improve the run-up, swing and introducing variation in yorkers. It is learnt that the ‘toe-crusher’ also told Balaji how to go about his diet. * In a stunning revelation, former Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis has admitted that he was approached to fix some matches. “I wouldn’t say that I have never been approached. I have had phone calls from strangers asking me to fix games. I don’t know who phoned. Maybe, someone was just fooling around with me. But that was a long time ago, in the early nineties. But I have never entertained match-fixers,” he said. Waqar however rubbished the allegations that the current India-Pakistan series was fixed or earlier some players were involved in fixing saying such allegations are meant to damage the game. “They never played on my mind. Some loudmouths like to put people down. They (the allegations) made me sad but never affected me. But I think it has stained the game forever. They will always be there. There is so much money in the sport now that these allegations will never die. “Imagine, in this (India-Pakistan) series, a cricketer told me that games were being fixed and huge sums of money involved. If the Karachi one-dayer was fixed then that is great fixing. If the one-dayers were fixed then hats off to the fixers,” he added. In an interview to a website after he announced his retirment from “all form of cricket” the ‘sultan’ of reverse swing said the most unforgettable moment of his cricketing career was “my first wicket in Karachi of Sachin Tendulkar”. “I remember knocking his middle stump out of the ground. It was a precious wicket. I never thought that he would become such a great cricketer. There was a lot of hype about this young kid from the class X and we were wondering what he was all about. I was told that he was the future of India. And how true that was. I am retiring after 15 years and he is still playing well for his country. * Pakistan cricket team’s trainer Dr Tauseef Razzak has left the side following a tiff with skipper Inzamam-ul Haq over the fitness routine for the pacers. The incident comes as an embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which, however, claims that the doctor had withdrawn himself after he hurt his knee. Dr Razzaq has submitted a medical certificate and has asked for atleast two weeks’ rest for recovery. According to The News, the doctor pulled out in protest after differences with Inzamam after the former thought the pacers were being forced to shoulder a heavy workload at the nets. Reacting to the development, Inzamam said,“I only know that the trainer has pulled out because he has injured his knee. That is what he has reported to the board.” Admitting he had differences with the trainer, the captain said, “Yes, he did tell us that the bowlers were being made to work too hard in the nets but I think they need more training.” According to the daily, Dr Razzaq met chief selector Wasim Bari and complained to him that the skipper and coach Javed Miandad were making the bowlers overwork at the nets and they might break down. “He told Bari that the bowlers were not being treated like humans and he wanted to ensure their fitness according to his own training methods,” a source said. — Agencies
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Players join hands to fight AIDS Rawalpindi:
Indian and Pakistani players wore symbolic red ribbons on the opening day of the series-deciding third cricket Test here on Tuesday, reiterating the international cricket’s commitment to raise awarenss about AIDS. As part of the UNAIDS-ICC initiative, a HIV-positive person accompanied rival skippers Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul Haq out into the middle during the toss. In his message to the two teams, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “I congratulate you and the cricket boards of India and Pakistan, together with the International Cricket Council, on their decision to highlight the AIDS crisis during this historic tour. AIDS is a common enemy that both Indiaand Pakistan have to fight together.”
— PTI |
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An Indian photographer, covering the Indo-Pak Test here, was assaulted on Tuesday by a constable, who was suspended pending an inquiry following strong protests from both Indian and local journalists. Kolkata-based lensman Suman Chattopadhyay, working for vernacular daily ‘Pratidin’, was making his way to the ground during the lunch break on the opening day of the cricket Test but was stopped by constable Imtiaz Ahmed. A heated argument ensued following which the constable slapped and kicked the photographer, eye witnesses said. As the word about the incident spread, mediamen of both countries immediately took up the matter with the officer in charge of security at the Stadium. City Superintendent of Police Syed Morayet Ali Shah told reporters that the constable had been placed under suspension and would face an inquiry.
— PTI
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Fast bowlers keep West Indies on top
St John’s (Antigua), April 13 England, resuming on 171 for five, went to the lunch break at 231 for 8 in the first innings. They still trail by a mammoth 520 runs and need another 321 to avoid the follow-on. Andrew
Flintoff, 37 overnight, rode his luck to remain unbeaten on 68. The West Indies, inspired by Brian Lara’s record 400 not out, totalled 751 for 5 declared in its first innings. Fidel Edwards gave the West Indies a fine start as he removed wicketkeeper Geraint Jones in the day’s second over. Jones, on debut, added six to his overnight score in an enterprising 38, before he missed a drive and was bowled. Jones struck five boundaries off 88 balls in two hours. He and Flintoff added a valuable 84 runs for the sixth wicket, but Flintoff was to receive more good support from the
tailenders, who resisted the West Indies battery for long periods. Gareth Batty hung around for 10 overs and 52 minutes before he edged an airy drive to first slip from the first ball he faced from Pedro Collins for 8.
Scoreboard West Indies Ist Innings: 751-5 declared England First Innings: (overnight
171-5) Trescothick c Jacobs b Best 16 Vaughan c Jacobs b Collins 7 Butcher b Collins 52 Hussain b Best 3 Thorpe c Collins b Edwards
10 Flintoff batting 68 Jones b Edwards 38 Batty c Gayle b Collins
8 Hoggard c Jacobs b Collins 1 Simon Jones batting 1 Extras:
(1b, 2lb, 3w,
Total: (for 8 wickets, 82 overs) 231 Fall of wickets:
1-8, 2-45, 3-54, 4-98, 5-98, 6-182, 7-205, 8-229. Bowling: Pedro Collins 23-3-69-4, Fidel Edwards 15-3-51-2, Corey Collymore 14-4-32-0, Tino Best 8.3-2-32-2, Ryan Hinds 13.3-6-22-0, Ramnaresh Sarwan 7-0-18-0, Chris Gayle 1-0-4-0.
— AP
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Hayden congratulates
Brian Lara Sydney, April 13 “I spoke to Brian over the phone this morning and passed on my congratulations for what was a truly amazing effort,” Hayden said here. “I wanted to let him know how appreciative I was when he contacted me in Perth, and I thought it was only appropriate that I pass on my own best wishes to him and his family.” Lara, who scored an unbeaten 400 against England in the fourth Test at Antigua yesterday to became the first batsman in the history of Test cricket to reach the quadruple
tonne, surpassed Hayden’s best of 380 scored against Zimbabwe at Perth last October. “Breaking Brian’s record against Zimbabwe was one of the most memorable days of my cricketing life, but records are made to be broken, and as a batsman, I guess they can fall at any time.
— PTI |
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Crisis
in Zimbabwe cricket deepens Harare, April 13 Hogg declined to say what was in the letter and Venturas was not immediately available for comment. Following an acrimonious meeting last Thursday between
Hogg, ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka with three directors on the one hand and Streak,
Venturas, batsman Grant Flower and bowler Andy Blignaut on the other, the ZCU refused to rescind its decision to depose Streak as captain and the players said they would provide their response on Tuesday. Sri Lanka arrive for a month’s Test and one-day international tour on Saturday, with the first ODI set for next Tuesday in
Bulawayo. The selectors will therefore want to choose the Zimbabwe squad as soon as possible. Whether they include any of the 12 becomes the key question.
— AFP |
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Sydney, April 13 Her comments come after Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist questioned the value of the testing procedures. “I have got to question why they bother doing a test like that, whether it is Murali or anyone else in world cricket,” Gilchrist told Channel Seven on Monday. “Because there is nothing similar between that in a laboratory and what you are facing in the Test matches.” Gilchrist has been in trouble in the past for commenting on Muralitharan’s action, being reprimanded in May 2002 by the (then) Australian Cricket Board for calling him a chucker. — AFP
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Margao, April 13 Dempo thus avenged the defeat they suffered against Mohan Bagan by a solitary goal in the first leg. For Bagan goal came through Renedy Singh in the 8th minute while for Dempo Sunday Seah scored off penalty in the 45th minute and R C Prakash in the 46th minute. Dempo maintained their position at the second spot with 35 points from 9 wins, 8 draws and 1 defeat below table toppers East Bengal with 37 points. East Bengal have played one match less. While Mohan Bagan remained on same 8th position with 19 points from equal number of outings. In an equally contested first half, Bagan shot into the lead as early as in the 8th minute through Renedy Singh on the rebound which he got after Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal palmed Ashim Biswas cross. 1-0. Four minutes later, Dempo had a chance to equalise when Wilton Gomes floated a cross to Sunday Seah but his header missed the mark by inches. Bagan could have increased their lead in the 39th minute when Renedy Singh floated a ball off a free kick to Noel Kasaki but his header was smartly saved by Abhijit Mondal. At the stroke of the first half, Dempo levelled the score through Sunday Seah off a penalty. Referee P K Bose awarded the penalty to Dempo when Bagan’s Renedy Singh brought down Dempo’s R C Prakash in the penalty area. Sunday Seah converted the spot kick correctly and at the half time, both the teams were locked in 1-1 draw. — UNI
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New Delhi, April 13 Shikha is an Indian-origin US citizen and has been representing her adopted country as recently as last week when she played in a $10,000 ITF women’s event here. The AITA is trying to include Shikha in the Fed Cup team in place of Isha Lakhani who is reportedly injured. Sania Mirza, Rushmi Chakravarthy and Ankita Bhambri are the other members of the team coached by Enrico Piperno. If Prakash has a famous father in the legendary Vijay, Shikha has her links to stardom too. She is the first cousin of Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi, her father Mahesh being the brother of Vivek’s dad Suresh. Shikha applied with the ITF to represent India two months ago whereas regulations stipulate that a player has to do so six months ahead of the competition he or she wishes to compete. AITA, however, is confident of getting the ITF approval. “The United States Tennis Association has said they would support Shikha’s move to play for India. And the ITF Board of Directors have the power to relax the rules as a special consideration,” AITA Secretary-General Anil Khanna told PTI. More relevant maybe the fact that Khanna is also a member of the ITF Board which is to meet in Stockholm on Thursday and Friday when Shikha’s case will come up for discussion. “The ITF approval is a formality,” Khanna said. — PTI
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School games from May 1 Chandigarh, April 13 He said the SGFI would be sending the national school teams for various Asian schools competition as per the dates and the inviitation received from various international units. Mr Chhabra said last year the games attracted the maximum number of participant teams. The respective sports departments will issue the gradation certificates to the sportspersons.
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