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Indians party late into night Sweet victory
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Beginning of a new era in Indian cricket Shaharyar rules out drastic changes Shoaib flying to India for ad campaign Pak media spews venom Pak tour
India beat SA, enter hockey final Bilaspur, Solan qualify
for super league
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Tumultuous welcome to cricket team
New Delhi, April 17 Among the crowd was Mr Abid Ali, a relative of teenage fast bowling sensation Irfan Pathan. Ali has come all the way from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, to greet his cousin and the rest of the team. “We are very proud of Pathan. He has made the entire country happy with his superb performance,” Mr Ali said. India made history by beating their arch rivals both in the one-dayers and Tests in their own backyard, feats which no other Indian team had achieved in the last five decades. Led by Saurav Ganguly, the triumphant cricketers enjoyed every moment of the reception as more and more people continued to pour in and join the frenzied celebration. BJP supporters and personnel of team sponsors Sahara and tournament sponsors Samsung were also present in large numbers to welcome the heroes. There was considerable excitement for Delhi’s own hero Virender Sehwag. Amidst high decibel Bhangra beats, BJP supporters waved saffron flags and chanted the names of Sehwag and Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma. — PTI
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Indians party late into night ISLAMABAD: The jubilant Indian cricketers celebrated their historic Test series triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan till late into Friday night at a dinner party as well as the discotheque. After the team returned to the hotel here following the victory in the series-decider in neighbouring Rawalpindi,
the players assembled for a get-together. The Indians congratulated each other and cheered loudly even as champagne flowed freely. After the get-together, which was also attended by the support staff, manager Ratnakar Shetty and Media Manager Amrit Mathur, the entire group proceeded for a dinner party thrown in by team manager Ratnakar Shetty at a posh restaurant in the city.
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Sweet victory ISLAMABAD: Giving credit for the first-ever series victory on Pakistani soil to the fighting spirit in the Indian side, veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble on Saturday said it was “very satisfying” to beat the arch-rivals in their own den. “This victory is sweet. It is special to come and beat Pakistan here. It is very satisfying,” said Kumble, who took 15
wickets in the three-match series to emerge as the most successful bowler on the tour. Kumble, who missed the five-match one-day series due to a shoulder injury but recovered in time to play in the Test matches, said the win highlighted the never-say-die attitude of the Indian players. “There is a lot of talent in the team and the youngsters have made a lot of progress. I think one of the main reasons for our success is we don’t give up easily and keep fighting till the very end.”
— PTI
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Beginning of a new era in Indian cricket The Indian cricket team attained new heights in Rawalpindi on Friday. In my opinion, this is the best-ever team in the last three decades. India has produced some good cricketers in the past, but this current side has some great players. Similarly, our team had played good cricket earlier but this time it has been playing some great cricket. Sense of commitment and alignment are the two main characteristics behind this extraordinary achievement. Forty days ago, just back from the exhausting tour of Australia, this very team was a rather reluctant starter for the tour. There were security fears, anxieties and feelings of too much pressure. But the boys were brave enough to put all that thoughts behind and performed to the fullest. The on-field performance made it amply clear that India were definitely the better of the two sides. But the pressure was certainly more on the Indians than the hosts. On the other hand, with quite a few players trying to establish themselves in the international arena, the Pakistan team is currently undergoing a period of transformation. Indians are a more experienced side. That made a difference. Virender Sehwag, the hero of the new generation Indian cricket, has redefined the art of batting. Calculated aggression and free mind is the framework of his batting. Yuvraj’s hundred was a revelation. The circumstances under which he got is maiden hundred would go a long way in helping him to be a more matured player. I am sure, the big guns in the team were able to make him understand that Test cricket is the one which brings stability in one’s cricketing career. The southpaw Irfan Pathan, I am confident, is a 300 Test-wicket material. At 19, the Baroda lad has shown tremendous maturity. He has understood the nuances of fast bowling well enough to become a strike bowler. Cricketing sense is what is required at the highest level. In years to come, he will surely add a few more yards of pace. In fast bowling, you always get to see a raw pace bowler entering the international cricket. Within three to four years, the same boy starts working more on the line and length, sacrificing the pace. Here, it appears that this lad is already there with four years of experience and few yards of pace still in the kitty. I can promise you this bowler will be a devastating fast bowler. Balaji has proved to be the dark horse of Indian cricket. He is another bowler who has performed beyond expectations. The Tamil Nadu bowler operates with simple philosophy of line and length. He has understood the relevance of corridor bowling. His immaculate line and length gives credibility to the bowling department itself. The fitness of this guy is equally commendable. Balaji’s economical, open-chested high arm action is an injury-free action. In my opinion, Balaji will seldom have injuries because of his action. I still have a lot of hopes on Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra to come good in the future. Is it almost an embarrassment of riches in the Indian fast bowling department. Now, sitting far away from the scene of action, I feel that my decision to quit international cricket is fully justified. After all, had I continued playing, it would not have been beyond the Australian series. But that could have delayed the emergence of the two new stars, who have the potential to serve the country for a long time. In hindsight, my decision to quit cricket has come good for the team. It is evident that the senior members of the squad along with the back-up team have done a lot of good work on the new entrants. It’s only when the younger lot delivers, the team wins consistently. If Rahul as a senior delivered with the bat, the young bowling attack perfectly complemented his efforts.
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Shaharyar rules out drastic changes Islamabad, April 17 With the hosts humbled by arch-rivals India 2-1 in the Test series, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan said he was planning a revamp but it would not be drastic. “Don’t expect any radical changes or steps to be taken because we have lost the series to India. But, yes, we have pinpointed some areas of weaknesses where more expertise is required and we will be making some changes,” he said. The PCB Chairman said the board’s Advisory Council had taken note of certain “things that are not good for the team spirit and unison”.
— PTI |
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Shoaib flying to India for ad campaign
Islamabad, April 17 Shoaib turned out to be the whipping boy for the media, which vent their frustration today on the bowler for not taking the field when the team needed him the most. Expressing surprise over the ease with which the speed demon batted on the fourth day when all was already lost, some reports even questioned his sincerity, suggesting that he may have feigned the injury. Noted cricket writer Omar Kurieshi wrote in his column in ‘Dawn’ that he was surprised to see the bowler come out to bat. “His wrist injury had been complicated by a back pain which turned out to be a rib injury and we were told that he would be out of cricket for six weeks. Either he had made a visit to Lourdes for a miracle cure or bathed in some sacred water, for he showed no signs of injury. He glowed with good health as he strode to the wicket.” But Shoaib vehemently defended himself and denied that his absence from the field had anything more to it than injury. “I am surprised how can anyone think I was not badly injured,” said the ‘Rawalpindi Express’. “I fell down while bowling on Wednesday and that hurt my back, you need the whole body to be perfect when you bowl while it is different when you are batting,” said the 28-year-old paceman. On skipper Inzamam-ul Haq’s threat to take a disciplinary action against him, Shoaib said, “I can call anyone from Wasim Akram to Waqar Younis to Latif but it was just an advice seeking call to gain my rhythm and I never complained about anything,” he said. Shoaib was quoted as saying by former captain Rashid Latif that he was not happy with the field placements of Inzamam in the decider. “I am disappointed we lost the home series against India and with my own form but saying that my attitude and effort were not up to the mark is wrong,” said Shoaib, who finished with just seven wickets in the three-match series. The bowler also objected to criticism directed singularly at him for the failure in the Tests. “I failed to deliver but the defeat is not of one man, it was a defeat of 11 against 11, just like our last two series wins were wins of the team.” Shoaib is all set to leave for India towards the end of this month for the promotion of a yet-to-be-launched bike of TVS motor company. — PTI
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Pak media spews venom Islamabad, April 17 The Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharayar Khan and CEO Ramiz Raja also did not escape the media fury and were slammed for hosting VVIP dinners and doing TV commentary. “No one had thought our cricket would die as it did on the fourth day of the final Test,” said local English daily ‘Dawn’. “It was a sad day as the last rites of Pakistan cricket were performed at the Pindi Cricket Stadium... Indian spinner Anil Kumble, paceman Laxmipathy Balaji made the coffin in front of handful of mourners,” it said. Terming the defeat as “disgrace”, ‘The Nation’ called for introspection to determine reasons for why a “potentially world beating side” has been reduced to a “mob of disheartened defeatists”. “It is no use consoling ourselves that it is merely a game. The third Test defeat, which handed India the three-match rubber on a platter after the 3-2 one day series win is a calamity,” it said in a hard-hitting editorial. It said India were not able to win a series abroad since 1993-94 losing nine out of 13 series. “But this pathetic record has been interrupted, courtesy the Pakistan team. India has beaten Pakistan in Pakistan first time ever.” Noted cricket columnist Omar Kureishi termed the defeat in his column in ‘Dawn’ as “Pakistan cricket’s blackest day, a tame surrender which resembled the silence of the lambs”. “The Pakistan team broke a lot of hearts and has turned many away from the game itself. And to think that they call themselves professional cricketers... “Pakistan just threw in the towel. It has lost before this and has been outplayed. But it never capitulated in this manner as it did at Rawalpindi. It makes one angry. No one is bigger than the game and no game is bigger than one’s country,” he said. ‘The Nation’ said the defeat suggests Pakistan cricket is still in “doldrums” after its miserable performance in last year’s World Cup. “Though there is not that much difference in ability between India and Pakistan, India’s team rose to the occasion, while the bunch of prima donnas playing for Pakistan buckled under the pressure. “Defeat and victory is part of the game. But to see such shambles is truly painful, particularly against India.” Calling for introspection, the newspaper termed captain Inzamam-ul Haq an introvert lacking in communication skills to motivate players and mocked at Shaharyar for hosting VVIP dinners than looking into team’s poor performance. It also had a dig at Raja saying “he cannot be blamed, for he has little time to spare from his lucrative duties to pay any attention to what is happening in Pakistan cricket.
— PTI |
Pak tour KOLKATA: Encouraged by the huge success of the Indian cricket team’s Pakistan tour, the BCCI is now working on a return tour of Pakistani team to India towards the end of this year or early next year. Cricket board President Jagmohan Dalmiya said here on Saturday that, “the discussions between the two boards are already on to finalise the timing of the return tour by Pakistan”. However, Dalmiya said “the timing of the tour is not yet final” as it will depend on the international commitments of both the teams. “We have to see what are the slots available to both the teams and work out the details”, Dalmiya said.
— PTI
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India beat SA, enter hockey final
Canberra, April 17 Trailing 3-2 at half-time, India were jolted again when Greg Nicol sounded the board to score the fourth goal for the Africans. However, India came roaring back with Arjun Halappa scoring in the 46th minute to bring his team back into the match. Deepak Thakur then scored a field goal in the 50th minute to attain parity and seven minutes later converted a penalty corner to give the Indians the lead. Buoyed by the turn in fortunes, Indian attacks gained in incisiveness and Gagan Ajit Singh scored India’s sixth in the 65th minute to complete the comeback. In the first half, Gagan Ajit Singh provided India an early lead by scoring in the 10th minute, followed by Arjun Halappa who sent the ball home in the 17th minute doubling the Indian lead. But the South Africans hit back with Greg Nicole scoring in the 22nd minute followed by a penalty corner conversion by Ian Symons in the 26th minute. Denzil Dolley struck a minute later, taking South Africa’s tally to three at half-time. In the day’s second game, Australia hammered nine goals past a hapless Malaysia to confirm their berth in the final. India beat Malaysia 4-1 in the opener before going down to Australia 5-0 in their next match. — PTI
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Bilaspur, Solan qualify
for super league Chamba, April 17 In today match Bilaspur beat Chamba by 5 runs. Bilaspur won the toss and elected to bat. Bilaspur were all out for 133. Vijay scored 40 and Rohit 22, Chandan got 2 for 10. In reply, Chamba were all out for 128 runs. Scoreboard: Bilaspur: 133 all out. (Rohit 22, Vijay 40, Chandan 2 for 10, Gaurav 2 for 15, Abhubey 2 for 20). Chamba:
128 all out. (Chandan Puri 20, Raghav 25, Priyan 12, Vijay 3 for 26, Vishal 3 for 18,Raman 2 for 24. |
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Islamabad, April 17
