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ICC action won't affect team, says Wright
New players to get chance: Wright
England score eighth successive win
Hall reprimanded
Windies’ Australia tour in jeopardy
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Inzamam under fire for team’s poor show
Woolmer insulting players: Miandad
Mongia quits on a bitter note
Hyderabad take on Punjab
Marathon from Chamkaur Sahib
Ajeetesh runner-up in Asian Junior Golf
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ICC action won't affect team, says Wright
Chittagong, December 21 "The team is in pretty good mood and we are looking for 3-0 verdict in our favour," Wright told reporters before the beginning of optional practice session at the M A Aziz Stadium here. He said such things had become a part and parcel of the game these days and a number of bowlers had to go through these kind of tests. It seems to be one of these things which happens in international cricket these days, Wright said. He said Harbhajan would be playing in Thursday's first one-day international and he would announce the team tomorrow after the full practice session. Harbhajan is fine and there is no problem with him. Probably, he has become habituated with these things, Wright pointed out. The Indian chief coach said he and the team manager were informed by the Match Referee that Harbhajan had been reported for a suspected action and would have to go through the six-week test. The team manager had also spoken to the board on the subject. Harbhajan was earlier reported for his suspected action in 1998 but he was later cleared by the ICC. The manager of the Indian cricket team has forwarded the report against a suspected action of Harbhajan to the Indian cricket board. ''We were given the report last afternoon and I have forwarded it to the board,'' Indian team manager Sudhakar Rao said. The ICC said the off spinner would now work with an expert team to mend his action over the next six weeks during which he could play international cricket as well. The news spread here late last night after an official of the Chittagong Test reported that there were doubts regarding Harbhajan's "doosra", the ball that goes away from the right-handed batsmen. ''The board will take appropriate action and plan accordingly. I spoke to the secretary, who confirmed this matter,'' Mr Rao said. Harbhajan, who has been staying at the team hotel with other members of the team, has reportedly spoken to his captain and the manager on the subject. ''Harbhajan will now work with an expert team over the next six weeks to address these concerns. He can continue to play international cricket and cannot be reported again during this period'' ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a communication yesterday. ''At the end of that time the ICC will be provided with a specialist report on the remedial action, if any is required, that has taken place. This report will be circulated to the Emirates Elite Panel of the ICC Umpires and Referees for their information,'' Mr Speed said. Earlier, yesterday the ICC confirmed that Harbhajan had been reported for a suspect action and it was his 'doosra' delivery-- spinning away from the right-handed batsmen--which raised eyebrow. The report was made by the on-field umpires, Aleem Dar and Mark Benson, TV umpire Mahbubur Rahman and ICC Match Referee Chris Broad after watching Harbhajan's action during the second Test match against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Mr Speed explained that the match referee had informed both the ICC and the India team management of the report as per the ICC regulations. ''Having closely reviewed the action Harbhajan Singh employs during this delivery, the match officials decided to report the bowler to the ICC and, in line with the protocol, notified the India team management of this course of action,'' Speed said.
— UNI |
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New players to get chance: Wright
Chittagong, December 21 “Yes, we are thinking of giving chances to the new comers at least in one or two matches. Anyway we will be announcing the team tomorrow after a full practice session,” Wright told reporters here. India had already replaced V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble, Shiv Sundar Pal and Gagandeep Singh, all members of the Test squad, with Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, M.S. Dhoni, Sridharan Sriram, Joginder Singh and Ajit Agarkar in the squad for the one-day internationals. Team India captain Sourav Ganguly also said he would like to give the new comers a chance to prove their mettle in the one-day series against Bangladesh. “We are looking to give all the newcomers games because we haven’t played one-day cricket in the last 3-4 months,” Ganguly said yesterday. He said there was an urgent need to improve the performance in the one-day matches since the team had not done consistently well since the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. “Our one-day cricket needs to be lifted and people need to get an opportunity. Our batting was not always well since the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and we have to improve,” Ganguly said. Wright indicated that he might include M.S. Dhoni in the first eleven in the first one-dayer to give rest to Dravid as an wicket keepr and allow the master batsman to concentrate more on batting. Bangladesh had already made one change in their side for the one-day internationals against India. They have included all rounder Khaled Mahmud in place of Talha Jubair in their 12-member squad. Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar also stressed the need for improving and said, “Batting is the one area where we are lagging behind.” It was learnt that Md Ashraful, who had played a valiant innings of 158 not out in the last Test, might be promoted to number three because of his good performance against the touring side.
— UNI |
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England score eighth successive win
Port Elizabeth, December 21 Andrew Strauss raced to 94 not out as England took only 36 minutes and 9.4 overs to complete their victory. Strauss, who made 106 in the first innings, hit 43 of the 52 runs scored by England today as he and Graham Thorpe (31 not out) took their fourth wicket stand to an unbeaten 95. England’s win beat a record that had stood for 116 years. England won seven Tests between 1884/85 and 1887/88, a record that was equalled between 1928 and 1928/29. England’s record sequence started when they beat New Zealand in all three home Tests earlier this year and followed up by a 4-0 clean sweep at home against the West Indies. The current England team moved into joint fifth on an all-time list that is headed by Australia, who won 16 times in a row between 1999/2000 and 2000/01. England, needing 142 to win, resumed at 93 for three under a heavily overcast sky, with showers predicted. Any hopes South Africa might have had of making England struggle for the 49 runs needed were quickly blown away by Strauss, who hit 19 runs off the first three overs of the day, including a pulled six off fast bowler Dale Steyn. Strauss continued to play aggressively and finished the match in style with two boundaries off Makhaya Ntini. Although Strauss was the outstanding individual performer in the match, the foundation for the win was laid by England’s bowlers, who bowled with discipline and accuracy to restrict South Africa to 337 in the first innings. Strauss then played the major role in ensuring that England took a vital 88-run lead on the first innings. The second of five Tests starts at Kingsmead, Durban, on December 26. Scoreboard SA (1st Innings): 337 England (1st innings): 425 SA (2nd Innings): 229 England (2nd Innings) Trescothick c Tsolekile Strauss not out 94 Butcher c Smith b Ntini 0 Vaughan b Steyn 15 Thorpe not out 31 Extras
(lb3, nb2) 5 Total (for 3 wkts, 40.4 overs) 145 Fall of wickets:
1-0, 2-11, 3-50. Bowling: Pollock 11-2-36-1, Ntini 6.4-1-24-1, Hall 9-1-14-0, Steyn 6-1-29-1, Smith 8-0-39-0.
—AFP |
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Hall reprimanded
PORT ELIZABATH:
South Africa all-rounder Andrew Hall was officially reprimanded for breaching the ICC code of conduct during the third day of his country’s first cricket Test match against England.
Hall was found guilty of gesturing towards the pavilion in an aggressive manner upon the dismissal of England captain Michael Vaughan here on Sunday, a Level One offence, after the charge against him was brought by Australian on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel and South African third umpire Ian Howell. “Players are not permitted to gesture towards the pavilion in such a manner and although Mr Hall provided an explanation of his actions I found him in breach of the ICC Code,” said match referee Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain. — AFP
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Windies’ Australia tour in jeopardy
Georgetown, December 21 The West Indies Players Association demanded the fees for the 14-member team in addition to match, tour fees and incentives, said Singh. The demand once again “puts the tour in jeopardy”, he said. The players association declined to comment on the claim, and criticised Singh for making statements while the two sides were still at the bargaining table. “They are talking about breaching the protocol of negotiations, yet at this time Singh is citing figures when we are locked in serious negotiations with the board,” Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the players association, said yesterday. “This is not in keeping with the spirit of the negotiations.” Ramnarine is due to lead a delegation to Grenada tomorrow so both sides can meet with Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, who appointed Judge Adrian Saunders as arbiter to settle the dispute. His findings are expected to be discussed at a meeting tomorrow. Saunders is acting chief justice of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the board announced yesterday that it would not name the team to tour Australia tour until after tomorrow’s meeting, despite calls from the players association to do so. Coach Bennett King and the selectors gave the squad list to the board last week. The team is scheduled to leave for Australia on December 29. Plans for the limited-overs series involving Australia, Pakistan and the West Indies were almost derailed last month. Most of the West Indies team, including captain Brian Lara, refused to accept invitations to a training camp because of a conflict over personal endorsements.
— AP |
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Inzamam under fire for team’s poor show
Islamabad, December 21 The country’s Sports Minister Muhammad Ajmal Khan said Pakistan cricket needed spirited and aggressive captain to rejuvenate the team. “Though I am not a cricket expert I believe that an aggressive and energetic captain would definitely help improve Pakistan’s performance. We need a captain like Imran Khan or anyone near his capabilities. A slow moving captain can in no way help the team’s cause,” he told the media here yesterday. “Inzamam looks too unimaginative and so far has failed to handle the team,” he said while suggesting for a change in captaincy. Pakistan lost the first Test by a huge margin of 491 runs at Perth on Sunday, which was the fourth highest margin of defeat in cricket history and the country’s worst-ever loss. The minister also took on the Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and said he was personally against appointment of foreign coaches. “How can one expect a foreign coach to communicate effectively with players who know little English,” he said questioning PCB’s spending £ 80,000 a year on the English coach. “I am all for local coaches, because having them would mean better communication with the players and also we wouldn’t have to pay exorbitant salaries.”
— PTI |
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Woolmer insulting players: Miandad
Islamabad, December 21 “Criticising one’s own team with such remarks is an insult of not only the players but of the entire nation and it would be better if the coach handles the situation by motivating the players,” Miandad was quoted as saying in the daily ‘Dawn’. “The boys need motivation and not criticism from their coach as they have a long and exacting tour ahead in Australia,” Miandad said. The remark which has irked Miandad pertains to the one in which the current Pakistan coach said, “obviously there is an element of mental confusion or mental awe within the
performance”. Miandad said: “You have to show loyalty to the country from which you are earning your bread and butter but by making such remarks you are insulting them and as a Pakistani and former coach of the same team I am deeply hurt as well as disappointed.” “To me by using the word mental confusion, the coach is labelling his players as mentally disturbed and that is also the insult of the nation,” he added. He said New Zealand had recently been defeated by Australia but their coach did not criticise his players, instead he boosted their morale.
Miandad also criticised Woolmer for saying he would consult some people to look for a solution to the problem. “Consulting others shows a lack of confidence to tackle the situation but even I would advise him to spend more and more time at the nets with the players and give more attention to other ground activities.” He said the PCB had not learnt a lesson from the previous experience of hiring foreign coaches.
— PTI |
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Vadodara, December 21 But, ironically, the veteran cricketer’s hope was shattered when his name was excluded from the 15-member Vadodara Ranji Trophy team which is scheduled to take on last year’s runners-up Tamil Nadu in its fifth Ranji match in Elite Group “B” beginning here from tomorrow. Expressing his shock and anguish over his unexpected exclusion from the team by the selection committee, headed by Kiran More who is also chairman of the National Selection Committee, Mongia told a press conference today, “I am hurt at the manner in which the team management treated me at the fag end of my cricketing career despite doing reasonably well in the ongoing Ranji season.” When asked, More told UNI that the selection was done purely on the basis of player’s performance, and denied that the team management had ever ill-treated and pressurised any of its senior players to retire. More said he received Mongia’s letter of retirement on his return from Bangladesh on December 18 but the BCA Selection Committee, that met the same evening, could not consider his name for the next Ranji match against Tamil Nadu, obviously for his poor performance. Mongia was replaced by young wicket Keeper-batsman Vimal Joshi. However, taking a dig at what he called “autocratic selection process”, Mongia severely criticised the continued “import of outsiders” to the Vadodara team and expressed grave concern for the future of local youngsters. On his decision to retire, Mongia, who was aspiring to play for India again till recently, said he took the decision after consulting his family and friends. “Though I had sent my fitness certificate for the remaining two Ranji Trophy matches of Vadodara, and wanted to retire on a high note, I was dropped from the team in an unceremonious manner,” Mongia alleged.
— UNI |
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Hyderabad take on Punjab
Hyderabad, December 21 Arjun Yadav will lead the team for the first time, after Venkatapathi Raju announced his retirement last week, and it remains to be seen what the new-look team has in store. Trained by former Pakistani international Intikab Alam, Punjab look a formidable team with Pankaj Dharmani leading from the front. Openers Riteender Sodhi and Ravneet Ricky are in cracking form along with a strong middle order and has a strong pace bowling back-up to subdue the opponents. Daniel Manohar, Sashank Nag and Vinay Kumar continue to be the scoring batsmen for Hyderabad while Ambatti Rayudu was a disappointment throughout the season. Rayudu will be under scanner and will have to score good runs to retain his reputation as a successful junior India player who has centuries under his belt. Narender Pal Singh, Hyderabad’s main weapon, has been the most sucessful bowler this season picking up the major chunk of wickets. His new ball partner, Vishnuvardhan has done well in the match against Uttar Pradesh claiming three wickets in the second innings to script a memorable win which turned out to be a farewell gift to skipper Venkatapathi Raju. Teams (from): Hyderabad: N. Arjun Yadav (Captain), S. Daniel Manohar, P. Sashank Nag, Anirudh Singh, D. Vinay Kumar, A.T. Rayudu, Ibrahim Khaleel (wk), Narinder Pal Singh, S. Vishnuvardhan, Fahad Shahnawaz, P.S. Niranjan, P. Indra Sekhar Reddy, Shiv Shankar and Abhinav Kumar. Coach: Rajesh Yadav. Punjab: Pankaj Dharmani (Captain), Riteender Sodhi, Ravneet Ricky, Navdeep Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Binwant singh, Love Avilesh, V.R.V. Singh, Amit Uniyal, Sandeep Sawal, Munish Sharma, Ankur Kakkar and Gaurv Gupta. Coach: Intikhab Alam.
— PTI |
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Punjab Police, PSB advance
Jalandhar, December 21 While Punjab Police scored an impressive 7-1 victory over Canada XI, bankmen routed Malaysian XI 6-0. In another match, Indian Airlines settled for a draw 1-1 with BSF. The match between Indian Airlines and BSF was played on a very fast note. BSF took the lead in 8th minute, when Sushil Khajur dodged the defence circle of the rivals to net the ball. Indian Airlines paid for the mistake of its Arjuna Halapa, who failed to convert a penalty stroke in 13th minute. BSF were leading by a solitary goal till the lemon break. In the second half, Indian Airlines entered with full confidence and made some attempts to score an equaliser, but to no avail. It was only in the 53rd minute of the game, when V.S.Vinay of Indian Airlines scored a field goal to finally settle for a draw (1-1). Continuing with its winning spree, start-studded Punjab Police defeated Canada XI 7-1 with the help of Olympian Baljeet Singh, who scored three goals Baljit Singh opened the account for his team in the 8th minute through penalty corner conversion (1-0). Tejbir Singh consolidated the lead, when he scored a field goal in 14th minute (2-0). Gaganajit Singh made no mistake in converting a penalty stroke (3-0). Canada XI received a jolt in 21st minute, when Baljeet Singh again converted a penalty corner (4-0). Canadians managed to reduce the lead in 34th minute through penalty corner conversion by its Dharminder Singh (4-1). In the second half, Punjab Police struck again in 37th minute as Sarabjeet Singh scored a field goal (5-1). Baljeet Singh, became the only player of the tournament to score a hat-trick. He made no mistake in converting a penalty corner in 45th minute (6-1). Finally, it was turn of Tejbir Singh to seal the fate of the opponents when he hit the box in 68th minute (7-1). In other matches of the day, Punjab and Sind Bank defeated Malaysian XI 6-0. In women’s section, Pespsu XI lost to Shahbad XI by 0-5. In boys category, Escorts, Jalandhar won their match against Escorts, Ropar 3-0. |
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Marathon from Chamkaur Sahib
Chandigarh, December 21 Giving details of the marathon, Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, the idea to hold the marathon was conceptualised by Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab. He said it is for the first time that in Punjab, a marathon race of international specification length of more than 42 kilometres will be held. He said runners from various countries such as Sri Lanka, Kenya and UK apart from those from BSF, CRPF, Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Central and state public sector undertakings, universities and various financial institutions will take part. The marathon will have cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for winner, Rs 75,000 for runner-up and Rs 50,000 for third position holder. The marathon will be flagged off by Chief Minister, Punjab, at 11 a.m. from Chamkaur Sahib and would finish at Fatehgarh Sahib around 3 p.m. Rana Gurmit Sodhi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Sports) will preside over the function. Medical centres will be set up after every five kilometres. Refreshment centres will also be there on the route. |
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Ajeetesh runner-up in Asian Junior Golf
A Class X student of St John’s School, Ajeetesh showed brilliant form in the second and third round of the
tournament returning five-under and eight-under scores of 67 and 64, respectively. In fact the Chandigarh boy was going great guns up to the third round. The two leaders, Ajeetesh and Chinarat Phadungsil of Thailand, had identical scores of 204 after three rounds. But on the last day the Thai golfer returned a four under card while Ajeetesh played a one over. This gave the Thai golfer the five-stroke lead to emerge the champion. That Ajeetesh has been showing improvement can be gauged by his performance in the previous Pacific Asia Masters held in May this year. He had finished seventh in that tournament. His victory today has made him the undisputed junior number one in the country. The other Indian juniors Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai finished fifth and eighth respectively. The eight-under score by Ajeetesh in the third round of the Asia Pacific Masters is a record for the course. The scores:Chinarat Phadungsil (Thailand) 71+67+66+68=272; Ajeetesh Sandhu (India): 73+67+64+73=277; Anujit Hiranratanakorn (Thailand): 71+65+73+70=279; Pijit Petchkasem (Thailand): 66+67+74+75=282; Gaganjeet Bhullar (India): 71+71+70+73=285. |
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In video: BCCI to support Bhajji. (
Vadodara, December 21
Chandigarh, December 21
Chandigarh, December 21
