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Ganguly keeps mum on equation with Chappell
Ranbir’s re-election as BCCI chief on the cards
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Murali denies links with bar dancer
Security ring around Sania
Mankad confirmed for Davis Cup tie
Bullfighting a big draw at Sair Fair
Randhawa wins golf trophy
Shiv,
Ghei, Arjun make the cut
SGGS Society, Bassi FC enter final phase
Shooters win 3 gold medals
Gagan’s team fails to reach final
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India wrap up first Test
Bulawayo, September 16 The visitors, who needed to capture just four wickets on the penultimate day, bundled out the hosts for 185 in their second innings barely five minutes before the lunch break to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Resuming at a precarious 67-6 after conceding a 275-run first innings lead, the Zimbabwean lower-order batsmen put up a much better display than the established batsmen and took the score beyond the 150-run mark, which looked extremely doubtful at one stage. Harbhajan Singh, who claimed his 200th Test scalp yesterday, did the bulk of the damage on a wearing track at the Queen’s Club ground as he snared three more wickets to guide India to victory with a full day and two sessions to spare. The off spinner returned with figures of 15.5-1-59-4, while paceman Irfan Pathan was the other successful bowler with 4-53 in a match which saw the Zimbabweans put up a much-improved display. The two teams now travel to Harare for the second Test which begins on September 20. Diminutive Zimbabwean captain Tatenda Taibu stood bravely amid the ruins with a defiant 52, his second half century of the match. Apart from Taibu, the last-wicket pair of Gavin Ewing (34) and Blessing Mahwire (13 not out) frustrated the Indians to some extent as they added 47 runs before Harbhajan brought an end to the partnership. Captain Sourav Ganguly began the day with a two-pronged pace attack with Pathan and Zaheer Khan bowling in tandem but the duo could not separate the overnight batsmen. Taibu, who looked quite composed at the crease, and the hard-hitting Andy Blignaut scored runs at a fairly brisk pace as the hosts adopted a far more aggressive batting approach today. Ganguly introduced Harbhajan after three overs from Zaheer and the off spinner justified the decision by getting rid of Blignaut with a gem of a delivery which saw his stumps being dislodged. Blignaut was completely deceived by the flight as he went for a mighty heave and the ball went through his bat and pad to knock off the middle stump. Taibu produced a delectable drive of Kumble to notch up his ninth Test half century but perished soon after nicking the leg spinner to Dinesh Kaarthick behind the stumps. With Taibu’s departure, it seemed that it was just a matter of time before the Zimbabwe innings folded up but the lower-order batsmen managed to hang around for quite a long time to delay the victory celebrations. Scoreboard Zimbabwe (1st innings) 279 India (1st innings) 554 Zimbabwe (2nd innings) Taylor lbw Pathan 4 Duffin b Zaheer 2 Masakadza c Kumble b Pathan 2 Ebrahim b Pathan 1 Taibu c Kaarthick b Kumble 52 Streak lbw Pathan 0 Coventry c Gambhir Blignaut b Harbhajan 26 Dabengwa lbw Harbhajan 16 Ewing lbw Harbhajan 34 Mahwire not out 13 Extras
(b-2, nb-7, w-2) 11 Total (all out, 47.5 overs) 185 Fall of wickets:
1-4, 2-9, 3-9, 4-16, 5-18, 6-67, 7-110, 8-130, 9-138. Bowling:
Pathan 12-4-53-4, Zaheer 8-1-28-1, Harbhajan 15.5-1-59-4, Kumble 12-2-43-1.
— PTI |
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Ganguly keeps mum on equation with Chappell
Bulawayo, September 16 Ganguly had yesterday caused a storm in Indian cricket circles by acknowledging that there had been pressure on him to step down from captaincy by coach Chappell on the eve of the Test. Chappell, though, took a statesman-like stance on the issue and said if the team focused on success, a lot of these issues would not matter. “Things come up from time to time and people get frustrated. They say things which probably they don’t really mean and are not as important as they are made out to be. I think if we keep looking at success a lot of these issues would fade away.” Chappell said he had been through this all and was only interested in following the right process. “There are some things which you can’t control. We can only concentrate on what we are doing. “I have been through this before. There is always going to be something bubbling around the place. We can’t get worried about it or get involved in it.” Chappell said Zimbabwe were down a bit and his side needed to keep on working on the right process to take on bigger teams down the season. As for Ganguly, the left-hander said the long-awaited hundred in the first Test had given him a new confidence for the second Test, due to start in Harare next Tuesday. “It felt good to be back among runs. I will be more confident in Harare,” Ganguly said. The longest-serving Indian captain reiterated that rediscovering the form of his side was more important than securing a rare series win abroad in Zimbabwe. “More than the series win, how we have played Test cricket in the past four days is more important to me,” said Ganguly. Ganguly also chose the occasion to back Zimbabwe and supported their presence in the Test arena. “It was a good side a couple of years ago. They are down a bit but then there have been a few sides who have slipped in the past. Zimbabwe can be up again and they require the opportunity. “Their batting has gone down a bit but their bowling remains almost same. But of course the absence of the Flower brothers is telling on their batting.” BCCI
refuses to comment
New Delhi: The BCCI on Friday refused to make a comment on Sourav Ganguly’s disclosure that he was asked to step down from captaincy before the Test series against Zimbabwe. “Right now the focus is on winning the series and we do not wish to make any comment” BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla told PTI here. “These are very trivial issues which are being blown out of proportion by the media”, Shukla said.
— PTI |
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Ranbir’s re-election as BCCI chief on the cards
Chandigarh, September 16 The annual general meeting of the Board, including the elections, are scheduled to be held at Kolkata on September 22 and 23. If Mr Pawar wants to contest then he will have to seek a nomination from the north zone since it is the turn of the latter to nominate the BCCI President. That won’t be a difficult proposition since the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), which had last year backed Mr Pawar’s nomination, would like to do it a second time. However, first Mr Pawar has to make his intention clear, according to a senior functionary of the PCA. Last year, Mr Pawar lost the election to Mr Ranbir Singh by the casting vote of the outgoing BCCI President, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, who still carries a lot of clout in the Board. There are reports that Mr Pawar did make an attempt to contact Mr Dalmiya to seek an assurance that the latter would support him for the post of President next year (2006) but the ruling group denies such a promise. At the 2006 annual general meeting of the Board, however, Mr Sharad Pawar can fight for the post of President since nothing will bar somebody from the west zone to contest since it will be their turn for the presidency. However, Mr Ranbir Singh can contest yet again provided he sails through this time. In 2001, for example, Mr Dalmiya toppled the then sitting President, Dr A.C. Muthiah, when the latter sought a third term. Mr Ranbir Singh, however, is confident of getting re-elected since he is already talking of forthcoming engagements. In Chandigarh a few days ago, he talked about the meeting of the cricket review committee, which will take place after the September 22-23 AGM under the chairmanship of the Board President. But more important that the re-election of the President, the election of a new Secretary and a new Treasurer of the BCCI might well be the focus of the Kolkata meeting. The current Secretary, Mr S.K. Nair of Kerala, has already completed three years in office and according to the new amendment he will have to go. Previously, Board secretaries used to serve five years in office. In all probability the post will go to the current Joint Secretary of the Board, Mr Gautam Dasgupta of the Cricket Association of Bengal and a confidant of Mr Dalmiya. The current Treasurer, Jyoti Bajpai of Uttar Pradesh, has also completed three years in office and as per the new amendment he also must demit office this year. But the field seems open for a new Treasurer as no names have come forward for the post so far. This post could well become be the bargaining chip at Kolkata. |
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Murali denies links with bar dancer
Colombo, September 16 Newspaper and television reports claimed he had visited a dancing nightclub called Deepa Bar in Mumbai several times in recent years where he was introduced to a dancer called Tarannum Khan. Indian police are investigating Tarannum’s links with bookmakers in Mumbai after income tax officials raided her home and found $50,000 in cash. “These media reports have insinuated my possible involvement in a gambling and match-fixing controversy with which I have no connection,” Muralitharan said in a statement. “These allegations are shocking and totally baseless. I have travelled to Mumbai on a few occasions in recent years for official award ceremonies and to attend to family business matters. “On one occasion, I met actor Aditya Panscholi who invited me to dinner. Afterwards, we visited Deepa Bar for approximately one hour before I returned to my hotel. “Contrary to media speculation, I have never been introduced to and nor do I have any links whatsoever with a woman called Tarannum. “In addition, this was also the only occasion in my life that I visited this particular bar. “Reports appearing in recent media reports of my close alliance with this bar or the dancer are therefore total fabrications. “I have been associated with a match-fixing controversy on the basis that I innocently patronised a bar a few years ago, which I believe is grossly unfair. Muralitharan met his legal advisors yesterday and has urged them to investigate the possibility of taking legal action. “Representing Sri Lanka as a cricketer is a truly great honour and a source of immense personal pride,” he said. “It is thus deeply upsetting for my family and I that such wild allegations are now being made.
— Reuters |
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Security ring around Sania
Kolkata, September 16 Kolkata’s Jamaet-e-Ulema-e-Hind has allegedly threatened to stop Sania from playing here if she wears dresses which are against Islamic traditions. Additional Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said here today that police personnel would guard Sania in view of a threat issued by an Islamic body over her skimpy attire. “We are not leaving anything to chance. All possible precautions would be taken,” Mr Chakraborty said, adding that spectators would be frisked and vigil maintained to prevent any untoward incident. Sania begins her Sunfeast Open campaign on September 19 in the main draw. Earlier, Sania had refused to be drawn into a controversy over her dress and denied she faced any racial discrimination while on tour. A religious scholar had reportedly issued a ‘fatwa’ about her dress code saying that Islam did not permit a woman to be so skimpily clad. Sania has also decided not to walk the ramp in a fashion pageant featuring competing players at the $ 1,70,000 WTA Tour Sunfeast Open. The 18 year-old, who has bowled over sports buffs in India and abroad, will only be among the audience when the likes of 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and Russian Elena Likhovtseva catwalk to launch a new range of designer wear.
— UNI |
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Mankad confirmed for Davis Cup tie
New Delhi, September 16 Mankad, included as the fifth member of the squad, had expressed his reservation in being just an appendage of the team, instead of being a sure playing member of the squad, to be led by Leander Paes and including Mahesh
Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj. Mr Khanna clarified that the Davis Cup selection committee, headed by former Davis Cup player Shyam
Minotra, and consisting of Krishna Bhupathi and SP Misra, had decided to follow the International Tennis Federation
(ITF) rule book by sending the names of only the first four players to the ITF with Harsh
Mankad, who has played 16 Davis Cup ties, in the reserve category. But it did not really matter in the final composition of the team as the captain could change the combination before the Cup clash. A five-member team was selected to give the captain a choice of players and the leeway to pick the best after assessing their fitness and skills in the coaching camp preceding the Davis Cup tie. Both Leander and Khanna made it clear to Harsh that he was very much part of the team, and the final team would be named only a day before the tie. |
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Bullfighting a big draw at Sair Fair
Arki (Shimla), September 16 The participants displayed feats of daring and strength and were cheered by the spectators. Around 20 bulls with their handlers and trainers participated in the event. Men in the age group of 20 to 35 are generally engaged by the farmers as trainers to goad their bulls.These trainers are mostly young farmers or boys who are either studying or tilling land. “The only thing we see in the trainer is that he should have the expertise to make the animal have an edge over its rival,” said Paras Ram Thakur, the owner of a bull. For these trainers, the job starts right from moment he is introduced to the animal. “ The first time you come across the beast, you have to tease him the maximum so that he gets irritated and attacks more ferociously when the bull fight starts,” said Salig Ram, another participant. It is alleged that the beasts are given alcohol to arouse their anger. In the past there were instances when the bulls ran into the crowd which resulted in many fatalities. But this year, no such incident happened. “ I am ready and prepared for the challenge as I have been working hard on my bull,” said Parsu Ram, another bull owner. Irrespective of the fact that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was the chief guest, was late by an hour, it failed to dampen the spirits of the participants. A cultural programme followed by the much awaited bull fight. To meet with any untoward incident an ambulance and a fire brigade squad was on standby. The bulls were categorised in two categories according to the weight and age of the animal. Later, the CM expressed happiness that the festival still maintained its old rituals and customs. |
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Randhawa wins golf trophy
Bangalore, September 16 Randhawa finished with a six-shot margin with an aggregate of 283, with Mukesh Kumar logging 289 to take the
second spot. The final day saw both the lead golfers scoring a two-over 74. With a lone birdie on the fifth hole, Randhawa made the turn in 35. He bogeyed the 17 after a string of par scores. Jeev slips to tied seventh
TOKYO: A roller-coaster front nine saw ace Indian pro Jeev Milkha Singh carding two-under 70 to slip to the joint seventh place after second the round at the ANA Open Japan Golf Tour here on Friday.
—UNI |
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Shiv, Ghei, Arjun make the cut Taipei, September 16 Gaurav Ghei, on the other hand, looked poised and the Indian carded a two-under 70 to finish joint 19th halfway of the tournament. After his level-par first round, in-form Arjun Singh came up with a steady show and carded a three-under 69 to make the cut which was set at 144. — UNI
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SGGS Society, Bassi FC enter final phase
Chandigarh, September 16 Bassi FC overpowered SGGS Society 3-0 in their concluding fixture to finish on top with seven points, while SGGS Society with six points were placed second. Bassi FC forged ahead through Amarinder Singh in the 18th minute while Samuel Masih made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute. The third goal for the winners came in the 54th minute when Varinder Singh found the target from close range. Earlier today, Sikh National FC, Banga, and GS Parmar FC, Narur Panchhat, played a 1-1 draw to split points. Amardeep put GS Parmar FC in the lead in the 23rd minute but Jatinder’s equaliser in the 53rd minute. In the 19th Punjab State Super Football League, Punjab Police will meet Mahilpur FC at Mahilpur tomorrow. |
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Shooters win 3 gold medals
New Delhi, September 16 Sawant’s personal score of 495.7 (395+100.7) won her the silver — her maiden international medal. The Indian, leading in the qualifying, was pushed back to the second position by China’s Li C in the final. The Chinese won the gold with a score of 496.5 (394+102.5) while the bronze went to Shirur 494.8 (393+101.8), according to information received here today. India won the team gold in the junior men’s air rifle event through the efforts of Navnath Farthathe, Sandeep Tarte and Ashok Kumar.
— PTI |
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Gagan’s team fails to reach final
Karachi, September 16 Played under lights, the match at the Hockey Club of Pakistan saw another Indian, midfielder Viren
Rasquinha, finding himself among the goals when he scored the third goal for the Falcons. Sindh
Qalandars, which have Indian captain Dilip Tirkey in their ranks, and Northern Cavaliers will face off in the final of the tournament on Sunday. Despite being locked at nine points each with Baloch Lions and Shan-e-Punjab, the Qalandars and the Cavaliers reached the final by virtue of a better goal average. —UNI |
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Mansa boy wins tennis title
Mansa, September 16 |
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In video:
Former bar girl,
Tarannum
Khan, arrested. (
