SPORTS

DDCA runs short of time on stadium work
M.S. Unnikrishnan

New Delhi, May 30
The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is running short of time to complete the new stadium in a bid to host one of the Tests against Australia, who will come calling to India in September-October this year.

It’s Delhi’s turn to host a Test match, after a gap of almost two years, and the DDCA does not want to miss out on hosting the Aussies in Delhi. But work on the new stadium on the Ferozeshah Kotla ground is only half-way through, and the preparation of the pitch is yet to begin. So the DDCA top brass, though putting a brave face outwardly, are keeping their fingers crossed.

The Australians are scheduled to play a five-Test series, and Delhi is likely to host one of the five Tests, probably the third or fourth. The Test series will be followed by a one-day tri series, featuring South Africa also, in November. Delhi is line to host an One-Day International too. If the DDCA fails to host these matches, the association will miss an opportunity to make a tidy profit.

The DDCA has raised huge amounts for the construction of the stadium, though a lot of money has come from the sponsorship channel too.

The DDCA is learnt to have already sold out the 37 corporate boxes, with 20 seats and 30 seats, for Rs 24 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, respectively.

The sale of the pavilion stands at the Ambedkar Stadium end and the Ferozeshah Kotla end, to Tatas and ITC respectively, has reportedly fetched Rs 5 crore each.

The new stadium, with a capacity of over 45,000, is expected to cost around Rs 40 crore, including Rs five crore for flood lighting. The players’ dressing rooms will be shifted from the present main club on the south-east to the swanky new club house coming up on the north-west of the stadium.

There are divergent views among the DDCA top guns about the possibility of Delhi hosting both Australia and South Africa, though it is leaving no stone unturned, literally, to finish work on the new stadium well before the scheduled matches.

Otherwise, Delhi will have to wait for Pakistan to come late next year to host an international match. And it will be a long and costly wait.

Sandeep Sharma hits century for ONGC
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 30
A power-packed 160 by Sandeep Sharma, which contained 19 huge sixes and ten boundaries, helped Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) defeat National

Stadium Cricket Centre (NSCC) by 153 runs in a DDCA Super League Super A Division match on the Mohan Meakins ground.

ONGC won the toss and opted to bat, and made merry with the National Stadium bowling to run up a huge total of 361 for 4 in 40 overs. In reply, National Stadium folded up for 208 in 38.2 overs, with Randeep Singh scoring a stubborn half century.

Scores: ONGC: 361 for 4 in 40 overs (Sandeep Sharma 160, 19x6, 10x4; Mithun Manhas 70, Gagan Khoda 60, Rizwan Shamshad 62). National Stadium: 208 all out in 38.2 overs (Randeep Singh 52, Nitin Sahni 32, Amit Sharma 5 for 35.

Satyam, Vatsal shine

A fine half century by Satyam Kumar and deadly bowling by Vatsal Kumar (3 for 30) helped Satpal Rawat Combined XI defeat Modern School, Vasant Vihar by 20 runs in a league match of the second Chetan Sharma Academy Under-14 Cricket Tournament on the S S Khalsa School ground, Lajpat Nagar.

Scores: Satpal Rawat Combined XI; 147 all out in 28 overs (Satyam Kumar 58, Prashant Sharma 34, Mahabir 3 for 41, Vijay Kumar 3 for 24, Dhruv Shorrey 2 for 32). Modern School: 127 for 10 in 28 overs (Luv Shorry 32, Vijay Kumar 30, Vatsal Kumar 3 for 30, Prashant Sharma 3 for 31).

Gold Star sail into Cambridge Cricket semi-final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 30
Gurpreet Singh Namdhari played an all-round role to help Gold Star Academy defeat Golden Club by 10 wickets and enter the semi-final of the second Cambridge Foundation Under-19 Summer Cricket League on the Cambridge School ground, Rajouri Garden.

Golden Club won the toss and opted to bat. But due to the deadly bowling spells of Gurpreet Singh and Vikram Singh, Gold Club were driven to their backfoot, to be all out for 118 in 23 overs.

Gold Star Academy, in reply, rushed to the victory tape without losing any wicket. Kunal Dalal and Gurpreet Singh hit unbeaten centuries to ensure that the other batsmen did not have to pad up and come out to bat.

Scores: Golden Club: 118 all out in 23 overs (Sumit Kumar 45, Arun Kumar 30, Puneet Anand 3 for 27, Gurpreet Singh 2 for 1, Vikram Singh 2 for 18). Gold Star Academy: 119 for no loss in 11.1 overs (Kunal Dalal 55 n o, Gurpreet Singh 53 n o, 8x4, 5x4, 2x6).

Star Sports ropes in sponsor for UEFA Euro
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 30
Samsung would be the ‘presenting sponsor’ for the live and exclusive telecast of UEFA Euro 2004. The UEFA Euro will be played in Portugal from June 12 to July 4.

The growing popularity of soccer in India has led to an increase in corporate interest for UEFA Euro. The Euro is expected to attract a lot of viewers since Indians follow European teams closely. Most of the live action will happen at Indian prime time, which will also add to the increase in interest level for the popular championship.

With top European nations competing, UEFA Euro 2004 is a high quality, stylish and entertaining football event.

ESPN will also provide special Hindi commentary and analysis of the event, in addition to the English programming. Indian soccer captain Baichung Bhutia has been signed as an analyst for the championship. Bhutia will be based at Star Sports’ Singapore studios during the duration of the tournament to analyze the game for Indian fans. In addition, Bhutia has also been involved in promoting the championship.

Besides telecasting the matches, Star will also produce daily half-hour pre-match highlights, complemented with four weekly one-hour highlights. This will include the ‘The Story of the European Football Championship’, ‘The Road to UEFA Euro 2004’, ‘The Golden Moments’ and “The Stars of the UEFA’.

UEFA Euro will showcase 31 matches, including 24 first-round matches, four quarter-finals and two semi-finals from June 12. The final will be played in Lisbon on July 4. Eight cities of Portugal will host the matches—Braga, Guimaraes, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon and Faro-Loule.

G G Dutt beat DSJA
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 30
G G Dutt Tournament Organising Committee XI defeated Delhi Sports Journalists’ Association (DSJA) by 52 runs and lifted the Chaman Lal Katyal Memorial Trophy on the Sant Longowal SGTB Khalsa College ground. R S Gambhir received the man of the match award.

Scores: G G Dutt XI: 187 for 5 in 25 overs (Sushant Gambhir 49, R S Gambhir 22 n o, Vikas Katyal 28, Adesh Gupta 3 for 11, Karan Dhawan 12). DSJA: 137 for 8 in 25 overs (Vijay Kumar 47, Suresh Kaushik 22 n o, G S Vivek 16, R S Gambhir 2 for 25, Mahender Kohli 2 for 9, Karan Dhawan 2 for 6).

ADMINISTRATION

Stern action against illegal occupation of sabha land
Our Correspondent

Noida, May 30
The newly appointed Chairman of the UP Revenue Board, Mr Brijesh Kumar, said illegal occupation of gram sabha land will not be tolerated in any case.

Strong action will be taken against the guilty officials and employees if an illegal occupation comes to notice, he said.

The Revenue Board Chairman, Mr Brijesh Kumar, was giving guidelines to the officials while inspecting village Sadopur in Dadri Tehsil.

He said the Tehsil employees should show integrity in issuing copies of Khasra number and Khataunis.

If some revenue official (lekhapal) shows carelessness in issuing these copies, he will face stern action.

The formalities regarding the records of the land should be completed with extreme caution, he said.

Mr Brijesh Kumar said all employees indulging in manipulations and frauds will be identified so that action could be taken against them. Officers should solve the people’s problems expeditiously, he said.

During his visit to Sadopur village, the UP Revenue Board Chairman examined all relevant records like, revenue, hereditary matters, Kisan credit cards, details of old age pension, etc.