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Delhi gets go-ahead to host match
Committee set up to assist DDCA
India have a point to prove
Railways take 46-run lead
despite Dharmani’s ton
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Haryana tighten grip on match
World Cup: India grouped with Lanka
Hinds, Chanderpaul put Windies on top
Randhir confident of
India winning Asiad bid
Narain 18th
in practice session
Anand draws in last round
Gagan Ajit banned for three months
Shiv Chowrasia leads
Harvinder Alamgir is Hind Kesri
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Delhi gets go-ahead to host match
New Delhi, April 1 The high-profile match had run into rough weather after the Delhi and District Cricket Association yesterday said it was finding it difficult to meet the conditions laid down by the security agencies and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. But after a series of meetings with the Delhi Chief Minister and officials from various security departments today, DDCA president Arun Jaitley told reporters that DDCA would move forward to host the game after getting “positive assurances” from the authorities. “In view of the positive assurances and a positive attitude shown by them, the DDCA members would be working towards conducting the game in right earnest. We would be organising the match on April 17,” Jaitley told reporters after an hour-long meeting of the DDCA Executive Committee here. Jaitley said he had presented DDCA’s viewpoint in a meeting with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Jaitley was appreciative of some of the conditions laid down by the security agencies and said DDCA would be meeting them. “The officials of the security agencies also appreciated our difficulty during a visit to the stadium this afternoon. They understood that we had to keep some tickets for sportspersons, common people and students. So they had to relax some conditions. “We have also understood some of their concerns.” Jaitley said the earlier conditions laid down by the security agencies would have meant a drastic reduction in the seating capacity but now the stadium would be able to accommodate about 28,000 to 30,000 persons for the match. Jaitley said the sponsors, with whom DDCA has a 10-year contract, would be allowed to advertise free of cost inside the stadium as a special gesture. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had asserted that the match would be held as per schedule and all the “co-ordination problems” would be sorted out. Dikshit, who had an hour-long meeting with officials of the state government, Jaitley, Central Government representatives, Police Commissioner KK Paul and MCD Commissioner Rakesh Mehta, said the mechanism was being put in place to sort out the problems. Later in the afternoon, several top officials visited Kotla to make further inspection.
— PTI |
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Committee set up to assist DDCA
Chandigarh, April 1 The BCCI advisory committee to be headed by the board President, Mr Ranbir Singh, will have Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, former board President, Mr Kamal Morarka, Mr Jyoti Bajpai and Mr SK Nair, board Secretary, as members. Mr Nair will function as the convener of the committee. Talking to The Tribune on the telephone, Mr Ranbir Singh said the board welcomed the decision of the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) on the Delhi one-day international. He said the board had advised the DDCA to take necessary steps to make arrangements for the match. The board President said the BCCI had “also urged the Central Government and the Government of Delhi to grant all permission required for holding the match as well as extend all possible cooperation to the DDCA.” |
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India have a point to prove
Kochi, April 1 Sourav Ganguly and his men have lost all their last four one-dayers to Pakistan, and the numbing loss in the third and final Test should be the right fuel to fire their motivational levels in the six-match series. Vice-captain Rahul Dravid, one of India’s most consistent batsmen along with Virender Sehwag, has fired the warning shot, saying the hosts will come back hard at the Pakistanis. Dravid said the Test series, drawn 1-1, was a thing of the past and the one-day series would be a new battle fought with full vigour. “It is a little disappointing to lose the last Test, but that is over. We can put up a good performance in the one-day series,” he said. Winning the six-match series would also be a nice farewell gift for John Wright, India’s first foreign coach. The New Zealander would be handing over the reins after a memorable four-year stint that began in 2001. Wright was expected to guide the team till the end of the season, closing with the scheduled five-match one-day series against the visiting Sri Lankans. Ganguly, struggling to find batting form right through the Test series, had a point or two to score with his critics, who talked about a change in leadership following the loss in Bangalore. Ganguly, however, would have to address his own personal form first before he talks about the team’s fortunes. The selectors had thrown more than a hint about their thinking by excluding the talented VVS Laxman from the one-day squad. With only two years to go for the 2007 World Cup, injecting fresh blood would be the primary motto of the five wise men. And with lack of runs, the 33-year-old Ganguly had the guillotine hanging over his head. On the field, India’s major worry would have nothing to do with themselves, but with Pakistan’s batting. The Indians might have finally found a match for their world-class middle order in a line-up featuring Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Asim Kamal, followed by allrounder Abdul Razzaq and wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal. If anything, Pakistan had a more potent batting with a solid opening pair. Salman Butt would need no introduction after his classy century in the BCCI platinum jubilee one-dayer in Kolkata, nor would Shahid Afridi, a menace to bowlers. And the team management was yet to find a place for Shoaib Malik, the off-spinner allrounder. As it were, the flat tracks and the hard outfields of the Indian grounds would add to the misery of the bowlers. With all matches being day affairs, the reverse swing skill would play a crucial role. Again, Pakistan would be better off, with Mohammad Sami proving to be more than handful for the Indians in Bangalore. Sami showed in the series decider that he had finally emerged from the shadows of his celebrity team-mate Shoaib Akhtar. With leg-spinner Danish Kaneria at the other end, the Pakistani pair reminded the cricket fans of the great Australian combo, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. The Indians, on the other hand, had a few worries going into the one-day series. The form of Irfan Pathan would be on the top of the agenda after the 20-year-old’s patchy display in the Test series. The successful return of Laxmipathy Balaji should be a positive sign, but the 22-year-old Tamil Nadu pacer looked lost when the Pakistani big guns got going in the second innings of the final Test. With the shorter version of the game being a batsman’s party, intelligent handling of bowling resources would be the key. That again brought us back as to how Ganguly would handle the challenge. Both captains would be well aware that the wicket at the Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium here was a virgin track and that a limited-overs game was being played at this venue after more than three years.
— PTI |
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Railways take 46-run lead
despite Dharmani’s ton
Mohali, April 1 When Railways were in desperate need to get Punjab wickets to take first innings lead on the third day, Yadav made his presence felt. Though he was not among the wickets yesterday, he bowled a superb line and took five wickets today as the hosts were bowled out for 309 runs, falling short of the Railways total by 46 runs in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group final match on the third day of the match here today. And when Railways, in their second essay, were in a somewhat difficult situation having lost their second wicket at 31 runs, a carefree JP Yadav notched up an unbeaten 64 to give his team a certain advantage on the third day as visitors were in a good position at 123 for the loss of two wickets. For Punjab, stand-in skipper Pankaj Dharmani’s three-figure knock was the only bright spot of the day. As he has done on numerous occasions earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Dharmani again waged a lone battle for Punjab. In fact, it was the dogged effort of Dharmani which saved the hosts from a major embarrassment. Displaying sound defence and temperament, Dharmani kept one end intact, though wickets kept on tumbling at the other end. Resuming at the overnight score of 159 for 4, Dharmani was confidence personified. After the early fall of fifth and sixth wickets, Dharmani was involved in 68-run stand for the seventh with Gagandeep Singh. Though he contributed just 17 runs, Gagandeep kept one end safe for over an hour. Dharmani next contributed 51 runs to the total in partnership with No 11 batsman VRV Singh which went a long way in Punjab crossing the 300-run mark. When he ultimately fell to Yadav, Dharmani had amassed 115. This was his 18th century in the domestic championship in his 78th match. The day, however, belonged to JP Yadav. The allrounder, who played two one-day matches for the country in 2002, proved his credentials as an allrounder of merit. He started the slide with twin blows, sending back overnight not out batsman Munish Sharma and Sandeep Sawal on the same score. Then he castled Gagandeep after the batsman was batting on a determined 17. Then Vineet went for a big heave off Yadav but ended up ballooning the ball to be taken by Madan Yadav at mid on. Harvinder Singh cleaned bowled Rajesh Sharma all ends up. Yadav struck again to claim the scalp of Dharmani to complete his seventh five-wicket haul in his 74th match. After that, Yadav displayed his batting skills when he came in to bat after the fall of S Khanolkar’s wicket at the score of 31. Displaying excellent temperament, Yadav blazed to a 62-ball 64 not out to again tilt the balance in favour of the Railways. Dharmani later blamed poor fielding for the situation Punjab were in at the moment. He observed that still two days were there to go in the match and both the teams had equal chance. “If we are able to grab a couple of early wickets tomorrow, the complexion of the game will change,” he remarked. Scoreboard Railways (1st innings) 355 Punjab (1st innings) Ricky b M. Yadav 47 Sodhi hw b M. Yadav 51 Kakkar c JP Yadav Dharmani b JP Yadav 115 Gupta lbw Parida 13 Munish lbw JP Yadav 18 Sawal c Wankhede b JP Yadav 0 Gagandeep b JP Yadav 17 Vineet c M.Yadav b JP Yadav 10 Rajesh b Harvinder 0 VRV Singh not out 14 Extras
(nb-4, b-6, lb-12) 22 Total (all out, 120.2 overs) 309 Fall of wickets:
1-102, 2-109, 3-109, 4-136, 5-174, 6-174, 7-242, 8-258, 9-258, 10-309. Bowling:
Harvinder Singh 25-7-66-2, JP Yadav 37.2-8-83-5, Sanjay Bangar 12-1-24-0, Madan Yadav 31-12-70-2, K. Parida 13-2-42-1, Khanolkar 2-0-6-0. Railways (2nd innings) Pagnis lbw Gagandeep 0 Bangar batting 43 Khanolkar run out 3 JP Yadav batting 64 Extras
(nb-3, b-10) 13 Total (2 wickets, 29 overs) 123 Fall of wickets:
1-0, 2-31. Bowling: Gagandeep Singh 9-6-14-1, Vineet Sharma 7-0-31-0, Rajesh Sharma 4-0-29-0, VRV Singh 5-1-13-0, Ankur Kakkar 3-0-25-0, Sandeep Sawal 1-0-1-0. |
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Time JP Yadav got his due: coach
In fact, Yadav looked like somebody out to prove a point or two in view of the current one-day series against Pakistan and then the forthcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka. Yadav was in full control bowling his seamers, hastening a Punjab slide after the hosts were comfortably placed at 159 for 4 at close of play yesterday. He took five out of the six Punjab wickets to fall today to complete a well-deserved five-wicket haul. Then from the ease with which he batted, he looked the best batsman on view from both the sides. The Railways were not in a happy situation when he came in to bat, having lost two early wickets. But Yadav batted with gay abandon to alter the momentum of the game abruptly. He welcomed hapless off-spinner Rajesh Sharma with two towering sixes, besides unleashing an impressive array of strokes. “He changed the game in just a couple of overs,” said Vinod Sharma, Railways coach, after the day’s play. “Yadav has been in terrific form this season and has contributed a lot in the success of the Railways as well as zonal team for which he played,” Vinod remarked. Vinod further said it was time the performance of the hard-working allrounder was recognised by the national selectors as Yadav has taken been impressive throughout the season as a bowler as well as a hard-hitting batsman. “In fact, the Railways are lucky to have two genuine allrounders in the side. Both are capable of sharing the new ball, besides having the skills to qualify as good batsmen. Besides, they are god fielders,” Vinod stated, referring to skipper Sanjay Bangar as the second allrounder, who had represented the country in Tests and one-dayers. Punjab will have to claim his wicket early tomorrow morning if they have to save the crucial game from slipping out of their hands. |
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Haryana tighten grip on match
Gurgaon, April 1 At stumps, Haryana were 136 for two in their second innings to stretch their lead to 287 with Ishan Ganda (18) and Sunny Singh (27) at the crease. Earlier, resuming at 102 for five, Services lost captain Sarabjit Singh (9) with just one run added to their score when Joginder rattled his timbers. Other overnight batsman S. Upadhaya (34) and AK Mohanty (40 not out) then steadied the innings and took the score to 140 when Gaurav Vashisth trapped the former leg before wicket. Mohanty waged a lone battle but did not find support from the lower order. Arun Sharma (2) became Joginder’s fifth victim, caught by Chetan Sharma, while Sachin Rana castled both Sudhakar Ghag (6) and Fazil Mohammed (16) as the Services innings folded up for 191.
— UNI |
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World Cup: India grouped with Lanka
London, April 1 India, who had been given the eighth seeding according to their official position in the ICC ODI championship table, would feature in Group 2, the ICC said in a press note here. While the ICC announced the seedings for the 11 teams, the remaining five teams would be ranked according to their performance in the ICC Trophy in Ireland in July this year. Holders and top seed Australia would be based in St Kitts and Nevis. India’s group would be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago while England would play their group games in St Lucia. Host nation West Indies would begin their campaign in Jamaica. The teams, split into four groups of four, would play a round-robin group stage, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the super eights stage. In the super eights, each team would play against every other team they had not already played. The result of the game between the two leading teams in the group stage would be carried forward. The top four teams at the end of the super eights would qualify for the semifinals.
— PTI |
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Hinds, Chanderpaul put Windies on top
The 28-year-old Hinds, vice-president of the West Indies Players’ Association that has been embroiled in the bitter sponsorship row over players’ personal endorsements, was undefeated on 188 at stumps while new West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 102 when bad light ended play 8.1 overs early yesterday.
— AFP
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Randhir confident of
India winning Asiad bid
New Delhi, April 1 India, along with Korea and Jordan, were bidding for the 2014 Asian Games, though it was still not known whether Korea and Jordan had formally submitted their bid applications, by completing all the formalities, by March 31. The bids would be finalised at the OCA General Assembly meeting at Guangzhou (China) in October, 2005. Mr Randhir Singh said the countries willing to bid for the 2014 Asiad had to complete the bid formalities by March 31,which the IOA completed yesterday. But he said he was not aware of the bidding status of Korea and Jordan. Korea, which had hosted the 2002 Asiad, stood no chance of winning the bid while Jordan had never hosted any major international sports event, and therefore, was an unknown entity. Mr Randhir Singh said India’s bid had gathered momentum in the light of the fact that the country would be hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, and therefore, most of the infrastructure would be in place. IOA President Suresh Kalmadi and Randhir Singh today hailed Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for clearing decks for India to bid for the 2014 Asian Games. Mr Randhir Singh said the OCA, after formally receiving the letter of intent from the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) bidding for the Asiad, accompanied by the relevant guarantee or support from the respective governments, would then forward the bid documents to the NOCs to submit all relevant information within three months. Mr Randhir Singh, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, said upon receiving the bid documents, the OCA would appoint an evaluation committee to visit the bid cities and submit a detailed report on each bid city to the executive board of the OCA. He said the executive board would study the report and shortlist a maximum of three bid cities for the OCA general assembly.
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Narain 18th in practice session
Bahrain, April 1 After ending up 15th in the first free practice session, the ‘Fastest Indian on Wheels’ put up another clinical performance in the second to come 18th in the final classification in the desert kingdom. Narain was racing for the first time at the Bahrain International Circuit, where the desert sun and dust storms make life on the fast lane that much more difficult. Jordan were at work in full force, with test driver Doornbas joining Narain’s team-mate Tiego Monteiro at the 5.47-km long track — PTI
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Anand draws in last round
Monaco, April 1 History repeated itself in the 14th edition of the traditional tournament at Monte Carlo Grand as Anand encored his 1997 triumph winning all three titles — ‘rapid, blindfold and combined’ — at stake. Anand recorded an overall tally of 15.5 points, which in the end proved 2.5 points more than Alexander Morozevich, who continued to excel in Amber by finishing a clear second in combined standings. The third place was jointly shared by Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Peter Leko of Hungary who both scored 12 points apiece.
— PTI |
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Gagan Ajit banned for three months
New Delhi, April 1 The three-month ban for Gagan and six-month ban for Daljit prevents the two players from participating in any recognised tournament both domestic and international, the IHF said. The IHF disciplinary committee meted out the punishment after considering the reports of the tournament director, the inquiry committee and the apologies of the two Punjab players. The ban was imposed after the duo barged into the IOC team’s dressing room at the end of their match on March 27 and assaulted Bikramjit with hockey sticks, the IHF said in a press note here. Earlier last month, the IHF had handed Punjab Police defender Kanwalpreet Singh a two-year ban following his attack on IOC captain Deepak Thakur during a match of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Tournament here in February. Foul play, says Punjab Police
Jalandhar: Punjab Police on Friday alleged a conspiracy against the state players following the Indian Hockey Federation’s three-month ban on Gagan Ajit Singh. Gagan himself refused to comment but Gurmel Singh, manager of Punjab Police, Gagan’s employers, alleged that the ban was the outcome of a conspiracy hatched by other players against the players from the state. “It is unfortunate that the IHF has taken partial action against Punjab Police star players while not taking any action against IOC player Bikramjit Singh, who was equally responsible for the brawl at Hyderabad,” he said. Gurmel Singh said the brawl started during the match when Bikramjit abused Gagan. When Gagan objected, Bikramjit apologised for his behaviour, Gurmel said. “After the match ended, Bikramjit, who was standing in the corridor, made an objectionable gesture at Gagan,” he said.
— PTI |
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Shiv Chowrasia leads
New Delhi, April 1 Chowrasia’s tournament tally stood at nine-under 135, while Mukesh was a solitary stroke behind the leader. Another pro from Kolkata Feroz Ali, was third at seven-under 137, while amateur Gaganjeet Bhullar was fourth at 138. Overnight leader Gaurav Ghei slipped to tied-fifth place where he was accompanied by Ashok Kumar, Amandeep Johl and Rafick Ali. Pre-tournament favourite Jeev Milkha Singh staged a recovery with a second round 69 to move to tied-19th, while Shiv Kapur fired an identical number to Jeev’s to squeeze into the final two rounds. Among the Thai players, Wisut Artjanawat was placed 14th at 143, while Chapchai Nirat was tied-35th at 149. The cut was applied at seven-over 151, with 54 pros and nine amateurs making the grade. Among the big names to miss the bus were Amritinder Singh, Harinder Gupta and Indrajit
Bhalotia. Chowrasia’s round, which teed off from the first, was peppered with a series of pars before a birdie on the seventh broke the sequence. However, the very next hole, the par-five eighth, saw the golfer hook his five-wood tee shot into the left thicket. A penalty drop, a nine-iron to safety, another visit to the woods, a sand wedge to the green and two putts later, the golfer woefully scribbled in a double bogey on to his card. Then Chowrasia’s magical putting took over. A 20-feet birdie putt on the ninth was followed by a birdie on the 10th, followed by 15 feet efforts for birdie on the 12th and 17th sandwiched by a similar effort for eagle on the 14th. A birdie finish to his round handed him a card of 66. Mukesh Kumar’s round of seven-under 65 saw him leap into second place. Today he did not err once, posting birdies on the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th and then the second, sixth and eighth. Among amateurs Gaganjeet Bhullar, in serious contention for the main title, led Simarjeet Singh by two strokes with a tally of 138. Bhullar fired a two-under 70.
— UNI |
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Harvinder Alamgir is Hind Kesri
Ludhiana, April 1 In the 96 kg category, Satish Kumar of Punjab beat Vinod Kumar of Railways 9-5 and in the plus 96 kg category, Rakesh Kumar of Railways defeated Satish Kumar of CISF. In the 84 kg category, Balraj of Haryana edged out Sukhraj of Punjab 4-0 and in the 55 kg category, Davinder Singh of Haryana outclassed Bajrangi of Navy. |
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