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Shoaib’s pullout linked
to PCB list?
Hanif heads PCB guest list for tour
Cricket visas for Pakistan fans
Pacemen hold the key for Pak
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Bowden shrugs off umpiring row
Federer regains winning aura
Sania will have to wait for wild card
Sasikiran settles for a draw
India beat Pak in golf tourney
Mumbai port retain trophy
Dempo beat Vasco
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I’m fully fit, says Sachin
Hyderabad, February 21 “I’m fully fit and preparing for the big series ahead,” Tendulkar told reporters before going to nets at the Visakha Stadium, which will host the Duleep Trophy match between West Zone and South Zone from tomorrow. On the Indo-Pak series, Tendulkar said, “Pressure will be there as any sport at the
highest level has its own pressure”. But he did not agree that the recent performance of Pakistan against Australia and the Indian show across the border would be indicators for the coming series. “Every series is fresh and we have to play the game as per our strength,” he said. The seniormost player in the Indian squad, Tendulkar evaded a direct reply when asked if he was in favour of shuffling the batting order. “It’s for Sourav and others to decide as to who will play in which slot,” he said. On his condition, the master blaster said, “Whatever my doctors and physio have asked me to do, I have done and I think I’m well and looking for a good season ahead.” Sachin, who was wearing an elbow strap during the nets yesterday, said he had been advised to wear it in practice sessions as a precaution and he has absolutely no problem. “Last week, I had a session with my physio John Gloster, who is the best in the field, and I am doing what I am asked to do. He has a vast experience and is extremely good,” Sachin said. “I’m here for
preparations for the big day and will eventually do what specialists say is right for me as I have no knowledge about the science,” the ace batsman said adding that, “I have to wait and see how it works.” Sachin said his physio advised to prepare in a particular way for the Duleep Trophy match and he would be following those instructions. Asked if he was fully confident of his fitness and the physiotherapy he had undergone, Sachin said, “I think I’m fit, that’s the reason why I’m here to play the match. If something happens in the course of practice or a match... well, we can’t say.” On the controversy over cricketers being advised not to wear the
Tricolour on the playing gear, Sachin said it was for the cricket board to decide on the issue and not the players. “As an Indian, I feel that we should wear Indian colours. But it’s for the BCCI to decide on the issue. As an Indian I feel proud to wear Indian colours,” he said.
— PTI |
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Shoaib’s pullout linked to PCB list?
New Delhi, February 21 Shoaib pulled out on Friday citing a hamstring injury, a day before the PCB announced a 16-member squad for the three Tests and six one-day
internationals. Shoaib had been in the news since he was sent back midway through the Australian tour because of the injury. The PCB slapped a $500 fine on him on Thursday for breach of contract. The fine came after he refused to play a domestic match to prove his fitness. According to highly placed sources close to the PCB, the board had prepared a list of 30 players well before the selectors actually met on Saturday, when they announced a 16-member squad for the pressure cooker tour — the first to India in six years. “The PCB had indeed drawn a list of 30 likely players who were in the frame for selection. Shoaib was not included in this list,” the source said on the condition of anonymity. “It is quite possible that Shoaib came to know about the contents of the list and he felt slighted and withdrew as a consequence,” she said. The official said it was strange that the PCB drew a list of probables and stranger that it sent the list to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. “It is quite unusual that the PCB sends a list of players to its counterpart. Will the PCB explain publicly why did it pick the list and why Shoaib’s name was not there,” said the source, familiar with the working of the PCB. Incidentally, all 16 players and two of the three
standbys announced by the PCB were from the 30-player list. Only batsman Faisal
Athar, one of the standbys, was from outside the list. The source, however, said the PCB must have consulted the selectors before preparing the list. “It clearly seems that the selectors had a role in making that list, otherwise how can one explain the omission of (fast bowler) Umar Gul from the list,” she asked. Umar Gul was nursing an injury and was apparently not considered by the Wasim Bari-headed three-man selection
committee. Shoaib had captured 144 Test wickets in 36 matches at 24.78 and 186 in 120 one-day internationals at 23.04.
— IANS |
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I’m being pushed
into a mental problem: Shoaib
Islamabad, February 21 Shoaib pulled out on Friday, a day before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the tour, beginning February 28 that comprised three Tests and six one-day internationals. “This is strange that I am being forced to accompany the team to India when I am not fit to play. What kind of professionalism is this,” Shoaib said. The 29-year-old said he was disturbed by reports that he was avoiding the Indian tour because he feared poor performance there. “Tell me just one person who has performed excellently throughout his life in any field, what to talk about cricket,” he said at a gymnasium in nearby Rawalpindi, when asked if he was afraid of a poor performance. “Ask my doctors and they will tell you how fit I am. Even the board doctors have examined me. I am having physical problems and some people are pushing me into a mental problem,” said an apparently disturbed
Akhtar. Shoaib had been in all kinds of trouble since he left the team’s recent tour of Australia because of the hamstring injury. He then refused to play a domestic match to prove his fitness, as PCB ordered, further annoying the officials and inviting the media wrath. On the other hand, PCB officials had been quoted in the media as saying that Shoaib was not going to India fearing poor
performance. Shoaib, known as the “Rawalpindi Express” and widely regarded as the world’s fastest bowler, had performed in patches on the Australian tour. Former captain Wasim Akram defended Shoaib and wondered how could he perform with an injury. Javed
Miandad, another former captain, said consistency and maturity were missing from the team’s performance. “There is neither stability in Pakistan’s batting nor accuracy in the bowling section,” said the former Test cricketer. “The question arises how Pakistan can give tough times to a well-knit Indian team with such a struggling bowling and batting (line-up),” Miandad said in a television interview. He said to face India at their home grounds, Pakistan needed a formidable batting line-up and a bowling attack that could pose a real challenge to them.
— IANS |
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Hanif heads PCB guest list for tour
New Delhi, February 21 These guests apart, some 10,000 Pakistani fans are expected to watch the matches, especially the first Test at Mohali and the sixth one-day international at Delhi, the two cities closest to the Wagah border, the only land entry between the two countries. Many of the fans are expected to cross into India on foot through Wagah and then travel by bus or train to Mohali, about 200 kilometres from the border, for the Test, beginning March 8. Thousands people who live in Pakistan’s Punjab province have their relatives in India’s Punjab state and many of those who will come to watch cricket will have an opportunity to meet their relatives. According to highly placed sources in the PCB, the guests will include families of several former and current Pakistani team members, PCB officials and their families and journalists who will be covering the 50-day tour. “It will be a high-profile series and so it is natural that a number of Pakistanis will take this opportunity to travel to India to enjoy the country and the cricket,” a PCB official said from Lahore. “And of course, when we will be in India, we will be meeting our relatives and also go shopping,” he said. A source said the PCB had written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India about the guests who would be travelling to India for Pakistan’s first Test tour of the country in six years and requested that about 200 seats be reserved for them at various venues. Two members of the Pakistan selection committee — former Test players Wasim Bari and Iqbal Qasim — would also be in India to watch the series. The cynosure of all eyes would be 70-year-old Hanif, who batted for 970 minutes for his 337 against the West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958.The original “Little Master” of Asia is based in Karachi was at the port city’s National Stadium, along with his wife, to watch the first one-day international when the Indian team toured Pakistan last year. Also visiting India would be PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, along with wife Najma and two sons. He originally belongs to Bhopal and is closely related to former Indian captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. PCB’s director (board operations) Abbas Haider Zaidi, newly appointed director (cricket operations) Salim Altaf and former Test pacer Zakir Khan, senior general manager (cricket operations), and a host of others are also expected.
— IANS |
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Cricket visas for Pakistan fans
Islamabad: The Indian High Commission will open special counters in Lahore and Karachi to issue visas for Pakistani fans wanting to cross the border to watch the upcoming Indo-Pak cricket series.
The special counters for “cricket visas”, which will be issued to those having valid tickets for matches, will also be opened at the High Commission office here and visas will be granted in 24 hours, according to a High Commission press note today. The counters will remain open throughout the series and will function five days a week from Monday to Friday. Those applying for visas on Friday will receive these on Saturday. The first visa camp will be held in Lahore from February 25 to 27 and another will be opened in Karachi in the first half of next month.
— PTI |
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Pacemen hold the key for Pak
Fast bowlers hold the key for Pakistan in the forthcoming Indo-Pakistan series which will mark the return of the most competitive and festive cricket. Ashes are also much awaited but no contest can match the battle between the sub-continental neighbours.
Most of the Pakistani and Indian players are good friends. But the charged atmosphere by thousands in the stands and millions in front of television, has its effect on players. Some tend to raise their levels like never before and provide cherished memories. The incredible runfeast at Karachi set the tone for the last series. The triple hundred of Virender Sehwag and double ton by Rahul Dravid are like badges of honour. When Australia visited India at the start of the season, their fast bowling trio of Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz got 43 wickets (63 per cent) while Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz and Shane Warne had 25 scalps (37 per cent). In the last series between India and Pakistan, 21 wickets (66 per cent) of visitors were claimed by the Pakistani
pacemen. Indeed, fast bowlers hold the key for Pakistan. Mohammad Sami is a match-winner but he needs a show of confidence from the captain and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Waqar Younis as coach will start with an advantage since he has seen all these bowlers from close quarters in Australia. Pakistan have left behind Abdul
Rauf, Shahid Nazir and Mohammad Irshad from the touring party and they are all worthy youngsters. I would have preferred Mohammad Irshad as he is genuinely quick and with Sami his pace could have been disconcerting.
Pacemen, of course, will be assisted by SG balls, to be used in the series instead of the Kookaburra ones. SG balls in India are quite hard with a high-up seam. The first 20 overs with an SG ball by genuinely fast bowlers can daunt any batting line-up of the world. It has good graze resistance, hardness and thus is able to retain its shape longer. It also helps good spinners. It tends to reverse swing a lot and batting line-ups can suffer sudden collapses. If Sami and company can play havoc in the Indian line-up, high-action leg-spinner Danish Kaneria with the harder ball can play the key role with quick wickets at critical stages. Arshad Khan will be a very good spinning foil. Pakistan, unfortunately, do not have a quality left-arm spinner and it could tell in the series as you need bowlers to exploit the roughs on the fourth and fifth days. Shahid Afridi was a spinner reborn in Australia. He is an automatic starter in one-dayers but if Pakistan find an under-prepared wicket in a Test, Afridi should be an automatic choice. He also can score quickly which could be telling in a low-scoring encounter. Pakistan need a left-right batting combination at the top of the order to counter the left-arm pacemen of India. Thus Yasir Hameed and Salman Butt should be the first choice openers. Both are attacking players and that is how modern Test openers approach their cricket. Hameed needs confidence from the team management. He is a very good, aggressive player and well-suited to all conditions. Percentage of strokeplay would come with
time. Younis Khan is one of the bravest players in the team and has a record better than Mohammad Kaif or Yuvraj Singh. He should come at one down. Number four and five are preserves of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana. At their best, they easily match the brilliance of Rahul Dravid and Sachin
Tendulkar. Asim Kamal should make the number six spot his own. Technically speaking, Asim is one of the best going around. Kamran Akmal has been preferred ahead of Moin Khan and it could be make or break the tour for him. A wicketkeeper will find the spotlight particularly harsh — a bad performance and it is not the selectors but the cricket fans of Pakistan who would decide his fate.
Arshad, at number eight, can bat well and his off-spinners could trouble the four left-handers in the Indian line-up. Sami is developing as a reliable number nine. Although Naved-ul Hasan Rana played with infectious zeal in Australia, he is more suited to one-dayers like my good friend Shoaib Malik. I feel too many all-rounders in Test matches is not a good policy. Coming to Shoaib Akhtar and his pullout, controversy could have played a part in it. Why does it always involve
Shoaib? It is because the Pakistan team management for the past two years has been weak. One cannot be strict and lax at the same time. Management, too, needs to be consistent. Shoaib is a natural gem and it all depends on the leader how and when to use him. Most of the times he was misused during the Australian
summer. Shoaib and Inzamam need to sit together and sort out their differences. It cannot be all that distinctive and sharp. Both of them want to do well for Pakistan cricket. They are the flagships of Pakistan’s batting and bowling. They are keys to overall strategy and have a role to play in grooming youngsters. They might have different views about taking Pakistan cricket forward. Honest dialogue between them, carefully facilitated by the PCB, can bring about a common vision. If both play together with pride and passion, Pakistan can beat any team in the world. I feel both sides have an equal chance of winning the Test and one-day series. The team which shows better nerves and plays as a well-knit unit will come out with flying colours.
— PTI |
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Bowden shrugs off umpiring row
Wellington, February 21 Bowden, who will also stand in the second one-dayer tomorrow, was involved in an angry exchange with New Zealand spin bowler Daniel Vettori when he rejected one of the several confident lbw appeals during Australia’s innings. He had earlier refused an appeal for caught behind against Australia’s Matthew Hayden when replays showed the opening batsman had gloved a leg-side delivery from Kyle Mills to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. Hayden, then on 31, went on to make 71, the top score in Australia’s innings of 236-7. Australia dismissed New Zealand for 226 to win the first of the five limited-overs matches by 10 runs. Bowden later declined an appeal against Hayden, who had played back and was hit on the back pad in front of middle stump, sparking an outburst from Vettori. Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar later gave New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming out lbw for five when replays suggested the delivery from Brett Lee was missing leg stump. Bowden said he hadn’t seen replays of Saturday’s controversial decisions, but didn’t think it would effect his preparations for the next match. “I’ll have a look at the highlights,” he said. “But whenever I umpire I do so to the best of my ability. “As a batsman or an umpire a ball always has your number on it and if I made a mistake so be it.” Bowden said it was unlikely there would be any lingering ill-feeling with Vettori. “I haven’t got a problem with Dan,” he told today’s Dominion Post newspaper. “I’ve umpired him a long time and I think we have mutual respect. “There won’t be a problem in Christchurch, in fact I hope he bowls at my end. I would be disappointed in myself if I couldn’t be professional and look any player in the eye the next day.” Umpiring of the Australians became controversial last month when Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer suggested close calls averaged almost 6-1 against his team during their recent Australian tour. Recently retired New Zealand opener Mark Richardson added to the debate, saying that umpires were in awe of the Australian team and yield to pressure to give them favourable decisions. Bowden, who officiated in several matches on Pakistan’s tour, denied being swayed by the Australians and said his performance had been “brilliant”. He also fended off criticism by former New Zealand captain Ken Rutherford that he was too often appointed to Australia’s matches and had become overly familiar with the Australian players. “I don’t appoint myself to umpiring Australia, that is the ICC,” he said.
— AP |
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Rotterdam, February 21 Federer, who had defeated his Croatian opponent in the Doha final in January, wore down Ljubicic to add his name to the billboard of champions that circles the Ahoy arena’s centre court. The top seed’s triumph handed Ljubicic a hat trick of final defeats this year. The Croatian number one also lost in Marseille last Sunday. Mauresmo wins
ANTWERP: France’s top seed Amelie Mauresmo won the $ 585,000 WTA tournament here after beating Venus Williams in the final. Mauresmo beat the American third seed 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, just one week after losing to Russia’s Dinara Safina in the Paris final, for her first victory of the season. Mirnyi upset
MEMPHIS (USA): Kenneth Carlsen claimed his first ATP title in more than two years, defeating eighth seed Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-5, 7-5 in the final. The unseeded Dane had advanced on Saturday when top seed Andy Roddick withdrew from the tournament with an ankle injury, and he made the most of his opportunity against Mirnyi on Sunday. He earned his third career title and his first since Tokyo in 2002 which was also his last appearance in a final.
— Reuters/ AFP |
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Sania will have to wait for wild card
Chandigarh, February 21 The organisers will announce the wild card for the event on February 26. Signed up for the event are number 1 Lindsay Davenport, Williams sisters Serena and Venus and Australian Open quarterfinalist Alicia
Molik. Defending champion Russian Anastasia Myskina and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova will also return to Dubai for another shot at the title. Thirteen of the top 20 women players have signed up for the showpiece tennis event.
— UNI |
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Moscow, February 21 The positions atop the tables remained unchanged on a draw-marred day and overnight leaders Emil Sutovsky of Israel and Andrei Kharlov of Russia continued sharing the lead on five points each out of a possible six after splitting the point between them. Right behind the leaders was a pack of six players on 4.5 points apiece. They were Russians Vladimir Malakhov, Sergey Volkov, Valerij Filippov, Alexander Motylev and former world champion Alexander Khalifman and Moldovian Viktor Bologan. With just three rounds remaining in this tournament, 14 players, including top seed Etienne Bacrto of France and highly regarded Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, were next in line on four points while Sasikiran was on three. Only a strong finish could now propel the second highest rated Indian to a respectable position in the standing list. In the next round, Sasikiran would play Ashot Anastasian of Armenia. Things did not move as expected for Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Sandipan Chanda in the sixth round as the former could only manage a draw with Igor Kursnov of Russia and Chanda lost his second game on the trot, bowing to Robert Kempinski of Poland. Surprisingly enough, both Indians were yet to score a victory in this strong open only for players above 2550 ELO rating. In the ‘A2’ section, Tejas Bakre was jolted by Denis Khismatullin of Russia. Having done quite well so far, Bakre’s tournament standing suffered a severe setback as from joint 12th before the commencement of this round, he was pushed way down to joint 41st. Taking advantage of a safety first approach from most of the contestants, Wang Hao of China emerged as the sole leader here with a fine victory over Russian Alexei Iljushin. Hao on 5 points was now followed by 12 players with 4.5 points. The other Indians in this section failed to impress as well. International Master S. Kidambi signed peace with Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran while Parimarjan Negi achieved the same result against Igor Drozdov of Russia. Women Grandmaster Eesha Karavade was on the receiving end against another Russian Igor Zakharevich while former Asian junior girls champion Tania Sachdev’s quest of final Women Grandmaster norm suffered a near-decisive setback after she went down fighting against GM Enrique Guerrero of Spain. Sasikiran was surprised by a modest choice of opening by Galkin, who did not want to risk anything despite playing white. Looking forward to play the sharp Arkhengelsk variation in the Ruy Lopez, the Indian was forced in to an early endgame by Galkin and it was just a level position thereafter.
— PTI |
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India beat Pak in golf tourney
New Delhi, February 21 However, India nudged ahead thanks to their opening day, stroke-play performance which earned them five
points. The final scoreline at the end of the two-day event on Saturday read 8.5 - 4.5 in favour of the hosts. The opening match witnessed Fayyaz Raja and Wadood Afridi beat the duo of construction magnate K.P. Singh and IGU president Prakash Bhandari on the 18th hole. The team of Shafique Haider and Abbaz Mirza nudged ahead of the team of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Indian captain Ranji Chaudhri, also on the 18th hole, while Omer Faruque and Arshan Khan got the better of Ranjan Bhattacharya and Parminder Singh yet again on the 18th hole.
— PTI |
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Mumbai port retain trophy
Paradip Port, February 21 H. Vatekar made 51 off 71 balls and K.N.V. Krishnamohan contributed 23 off 46 balls. Asghar Ali Kalu of Mumbai bowled 9 overs and took 3 wickets for 24 runs and Sanjeev Srivastav took 3 wickets for 28 runs in his 7 overs. In reply, Mumbai scored 163 losing 5 wickets in 42.2
overs. K. Narayan Swamy of Vizag took 1 wicket in his 8-over spell, giving away 16 runs, and H. Vatekar bowled 9 overs and took 1 wicket for 24 runs. |
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Harjinder
Kaur wins shot put event Patiala, February 21 Other results: Tug-of-war (girls): Dr Ambedkar Hall-1, Mata Gujri Hall-2, Bibi Sahib Kaur Hall-3. (Boys): Homi Bhaba Hall-1, Bhai Veer Singh Hall-2, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hall-3. 400m (girls): Shoba (Mata Gujri Hall)-1, Gauri (Mata Gujri Hall)-2, Namrata (Silver Jubilee Hall)-3. 400m (boys): Harjeet Singh (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hall)-1, Nirmal Singh (Bhai Veer Singh Hall)-2, Bhagwant Singh (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Hall)-3. 100m (girls): Ramneet Kaur (Silver Jubilee Hall)-1, Ketaky Sharma (Silver Jubilee Hall)-2, Sandeep Kaur (Mata Gujri Hall)-3.
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Dempo beat Vasco
Margao, February 21 For Dempo, goals came through Clifford Miranda in the 39th minute and Prakash in the 48th minute. For Vasco, the lone goal came in the 21st minute through Alex Ambrose.
— UNI |
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Indian men win
Allahabad, February 21 Uzbekistan women’s team emerged as the winners with 124.70, followed by hosts, India (120-.85).
— PTI |
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Modi group ends Rungta clan’s reign
Jaipur, February 21 Modi defeated Kishore Rungta in a direct fight for the post of RCA president by a margin of eight votes in the elections conducted under the supervision of former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court Anil Dev Singh.
— PTI |
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Basketball meet Cr PNB win 3-0 S
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