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Cricket season kicks off with Irani Trophy
Sachin to play in Challenger Trophy
Players’ contracts likely by Nov
I am not under extra pressure: Flintoff
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Hayden, Warne bat for Ponting
Expired contract saves Inzamam
Shabbir given clean chit
Leander, Mahesh reach semis
Anand survives a scare
Digvijay shares lead at midway stage
Divya eager to tame the Himalayas
UT shuttlers leave for Udaipur
India face Nepal in opening match
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India start as favourites
New Delhi, September 30 The team comprises Helen Mary (captain), Sumrai Tete (vice-captain), Subhadra Pradhan, Deepika Murthy, Kanti Baa, Vinita Toppo, Pushpa Pradhan, Rajwinder Kaur, Masira Surin, Gurpreet Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Mamta Khrab, Adline Kerketta, Sanggai Chanu, Simarjeet Kaur, Saba Anjum and Sarita Lakra. Other teams in the fray are Malaysia, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. India will take on Malaysia in the opening match tomorrow. The Indira Gold Cup is being revived by the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) after nine years to give Indian girls a chance to prove their mettle at home conditions against some quality opposition. For the first time in India, the women players will be provided the same kind of facilities as the foreign teams, including five-star hospitality. IWHF President Vidya Stokes said the tournament would be kept alive as a biennial event. She said the Indira Gold Cup was expected to provide competitive match practice to the hosts as the presence of Australia and New Zealand would give added thrust to their campaign. Captain Helen Mary, who had the added task of keeping the goal, said it would be a wonderful experience for the girls to get some good match practice against tough opponents in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Coach M.K. Kaushik, a former Olympian who had trained the men’s team to gold in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, said the girls were in great shape after rigorous practice sessions and fitness routines. New Zealand captain Suzie Muirhead said her team was a youthful one, with an average age of 22 years, and hoped to learn a lot from this outing. Australian captain Nikki Hudson said her team, coached by Frank Murray, would play some quality opposition and they were getting used to the hot conditions. Tournament director Anna Puglia put at rest all doubts about the quality of the ageing astroturf when she remarked that everything was okay. India had fond memories of the National Stadium as last year, they won the Asian Championship title here, defeating Korea in a tantalising final. |
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Cricket season kicks off with Irani Trophy
New Delhi, September 30 Gambhir will have to do a fine balancing act as captain since he will have to aim at stopping the Railways from steamrolling them while making sure players who are in the eye of selectors are given space to display their talent. It will be a crucial match for Y. Venugopala Rao and Suresh Raina, who were part of the Indian ODI team in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, to consolidate their positions. The limelight will be on Railways allrounder Jai Prakash Yadav. Yadav should be pumped up after his confident show in the tri-series in Zimbabwe. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik will be high on confidence following some sparkling performances for Lancashire. Both teams have chosen their 12 players, with Rest of India likely to go in with two spinners and three pacers. Gambhir’s task was not made any easier, with no manager to facilitate team practice and other requirements. It was almost a tragi-comedy when at the end of the nets session, North Zone selector Yashpal Sharma declared himself the manager after a communication from the BCCI. With the host-appointed manager failing to turn up, the teams went almost without breakfast in the morning before Yashpal stepped in to the players’ rescue. When the Railways Board sorted out the issue and a manager arrived, the practice session was almost over. Host coach Vinod Sharma said despite their consistent performances, Railways’ players continued to be ignored. Citing the case of Yere Goud, who never got to play for India, Vinod said getting the right breaks at the right time was even more important for a player’s career.
— PTI |
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Sachin to play in Challenger Trophy
Mumbai, September 30 “Tendulkar is playing in the Challenger series. I also spoke to John
Gloster, who said he could play,” said senior selection committee chairman Kiran More from Vadodara. The three teams to take part in the domestic limited-overs tournament — India Seniors, India A and India B — would be chosen in Delhi tomorrow.
— PTI |
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Players’ contracts likely by Nov
Mumbai, September 30 “The board President will form a committee, which will include the selection committee chairman and the coach. There will be discussions with some senior players,” BCCI Secretary S.K. Nair said from Thiruvananthapuram. “The process of forming the committee and other modalities will be started in a couple of weeks’ time. The contracts will be put in place in November,” he said. Last season, 17 players were given graded contracts by the board, with the top players put in the Rs 50-lakh retainership bracket, the middle level in the Rs 35-lakh group and the others in the Rs 20-lakh category.
— PTI |
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I am not under extra pressure: Flintoff
Sydney, September 30 Flintoff arrived in Melbourne today to prepare for three one-day games against the world champions next week. The 27-year-old is also in the World XI Test squad for the six-day match in Sydney, starting on October 14. “I will not be putting pressure on myself,” Flintoff told reporters in Melbourne. “I will just try and go out there and do what I do. I am a cricketer. I enjoy playing cricket. That is what has got me here. I am not going to lose sight of that,” he said. “I still knock about with the same lads back home I enjoy having a pint with, so not a great deal has changed on that front,” he said. Awarded the freedom of his hometown Preston after capturing 24 wickets at 27.29 and scoring 402 runs at 40.02 against the Australians, Flintoff said he was keen to face them again at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium on October 5 in the first of three
one-dayers. “It is going to be great, to be honest. Obviously, I am very pleased to be involved in it,” he said. “Two or three years ago, I probably never had thought I would be here playing in this game. It is a good opportunity to play against Australia again in Australia and it will hold all the same challenges it has done this summer,” he said.
— Reuters |
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Hayden, Warne bat for Ponting
Sydney, September 30 Ponting had been largely blamed for Australia’s 2-1 Ashes series loss to England earlier this month, with influential past players Ian Chappell and Dennis Lillee calling for Shane Warne to replace him as captain. “One billion per cent (backing Ponting). Ricky is a fantastic little leader,” Hayden told reporters in Brisbane. “To be quite honest, I am sick and tired of even thinking about even reading anything about it. It is just ridiculous.” “He has won a World Cup and he has won series away from home, in Sri Lanka and
India.” Warne, who arrived home yesterday, said he also stood fully behind Ponting. “He is his own man and he has done a pretty good job. I am sure he will become better and I am sure we all will.” Amid calls that Warne was a better tactician that Ponting, Hayden said: “I do not think Shane Warne will be better. Four Tests and suddenly now you want change. I do not think so. I do not agree with
that.” Warne said he agreed with Ponting that Australia had not lost their standing as the best team in the world because they had lost the Ashes Test series. “There are two ways of looking at it, like a heavyweight title fight, if Bangladesh beat Australia in a one-day game, they will be the best side in the world.” “You cannot really look at it like that. It is over a period of time in home and away games when you play against most countries, that is when you become the best in the world,” Warne said. “You have got to, over a period of time, prove that. You cannot just have one good series.” “I think everybody will acknowledge that we have been the best team for a long period of time. Hopefully, it is just a hiccup.” Hayden, who had responded to pressure for his Test opening position by scoring 138 in the first innings of the fifth Test at The Oval, had been dropped for the three-match one-day series against the World XI, starting in Melbourne next week.
— AFP |
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Expired contract saves Inzamam
Karachi, September 30 The beefy batsman recently came down heavily on the PCB as well as the ICC for allegedly keeping him in the dark over his selection (or otherwise) in the World XI squads for the Super Series Test and one-dayers. Commenting on reports that disciplinary action was being contemplated against Inzamam for embarrassing the board in the media, a board official said action could only be taken if he was under contract with the board. “The fact is presently neither Inzamam nor any other player is contracted to the PCB. Their old central contracts expired in early June. They have still to sign the new central contracts with us,” the official was quoted as saying by The News International today. He said there was a clause in the central contract that forbade players from giving any statements against the board even three months after the expiry of their old contracts. “The situation is that more than three months have passed since the old contract expired. So technically we cannot take any action against him for giving a controversial statement in the media,” he said. On Monday, Inzamam announced his withdrawal from the Super Series Test in protest, saying all he wanted was ‘respect’ from the board and other quarters and that he had been treated shabbily. The next day, he did a volte face when he announced, apparently on the insistence of the PCB, that he would play for the World XI in the Super Test.
— UNI |
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Shabbir given clean chit
Karachi, September 30 Shabbir was reported for a third time for a suspect action while playing the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados in June by ICC match officials. As a part of a process to correct his action, the bowler underwent extensive tests at the University of Western Australia in Perth. “The experts have recommended that he should continue to bowl side-on. The problem is when he bowls chest-on,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf said. “We are keen to have him available for the home series against England,” Altaf added.
— UNI |
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Leander, Mahesh reach semis
New Delhi, September 30 Bhupathi and his American partner Justin Gimelstob defeated the South African pairing of Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the last four in the tournament being played at the Impact Arena in the Thai capital. However, only one Indian will make it to the final as the Davis Cup teammates will square off for a spot in the championship match. The other semifinal pits the Israeli team of Jonathan Elrich and Andy Ram against Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Australia's Todd Perry. — PTI
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Anand survives a scare
San Luis (Argentina), September 30 After a brilliant first round victory over Hungarian Judit Polgar, the Indian ace was almost out of sorts in the final stages of the game as he first blew away an easy draw, came back, blundered again and eventually clawed back once more to salvage an important half point. With draws being the order of the day, Topalov and Anand remained in the joint lead after the second round, having 1.5 points apiece. With 12 rounds still remaining in the eight-player double-round-robin event, defending champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, Russian duo of Peter Svidler and Alexander Morozevich and Briton Michael Adams were joint third in the standings on a 50 per cent score while Hungarians Peter Leko and Judit Polgar were at the bottom of the tables, with just half point from their two games. In the recent past, Topalov had been giving Anand a run for his money and the second round was almost another indication of that. This time, it was only Anand’s form that deserted him once he seemingly wriggled out of his difficulties with the black pieces after the two stalwarts continued their discussions in the Queen’s Indian defence. Topalov, who had scored a remarkable victory over Anand in the same opening just a few months back during the MTel Masters at Sofia in Bulgaria, could not quite get the similar rhythm this time around as Anand came out better prepared and apparently had only a slightly inferior position after the middle game surfaced. Disaster first struck Anand on move 46, when he missed out on a simple queen manoeuvre, that led to a clearly won endgame for Topalov. The Bulgarian played some precise moves thereafter to net a couple of pawns and just while everyone thought it was all over, Topalov returned the favour to give Anand an opportunity to hold the game. After securing a dead drawn position Anand added to his woes once more by another weak move on his 75th turn and that again gave Topalov some winning hopes, which eventually ended through perpetual checks in this amazing game of tactics, technique and inaccuracies. The marathon lasted exacly seven hours, in which 97 moves were played before the peace agreement
— PTI |
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Digvijay shares lead at midway stage
Beijing, September 30 Digvijay carded a 72 in the second round and was at four-under 140 and shared the lead with upcoming Thai Chapchai Nirat, who shot a 66, including a chip-in eagle and six birdies, besides two bogeys. Digvijay began his second round with birdies on the second and third to go six-under. But then came a mid-round lapse as he bogeyed the ninth and the 10th. He steadied himself with eight straight pars. Marcus Both (69) and Order of Merit Leader Thaworn Wiratchant (72) shared the third place at 141, while two other Thais, Prom Meesawat (71) and Prayad Marksaeng (70), shared the fifth spot, with Ecuadorian Rafael Ponce (68) at 142. Two other Indians, Rahil Gangjee (68) and Shiv Kapur (70), were tied for 10th place at 144 with five others. Vivek Bhandari (73) made the cut at four-over 148 and was tied 48th. Uttam Singh Mundy (76) bogeyed his final hole, the ninth, but just made the cut on the line at seven-over 151. Gangjee moved up from tied 55th and Kapur from tied 24th after the first round. Gurbaaz Mann, 13-over in the first round, made a great improvement for a card of 73, but it was too late. He was way off at 14-over and in 93rd place for two days. K.P.S. Sekhon added a 78 to his first round of 79 and was eliminated in 90th place. Kapur was all set to end fairly high on the leaderboard as he was four-under after 17, but a double bogey on the closing par-five left him at two-under 70 and even par for two days. Earlier, in the morning Kapur finished the remainder of his first round to end at two-over 74. Gangjee made a big move upwards moved from tied 55th overnight, as he shot an excellent four-under 68 to come to even for two rounds. Gangjee had a modest front nine, with just one birdie on the third, but he shot four birdies on the back nine. He had birdies on the 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th and one bogey on the 14th. Only nine players were under par after two rounds. Randhawa tied 51st
St Andrews (Scotland): Jyoti Randhawa carded one-under 71 to be tied 51st at Kingsbarne after the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship. The other Indian challenger, Amandeep Johl, went one-over at the same course and was tied for 95th spot. Johl, partnering former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, had a team score of six-under better ball 66, to be placed at tied 26th. Randhawa, who teamed up with former England footballer Lee Dixon, scored five-under par better ball 67. The team section was led by South African Des Terblanche and amateur Brand de Villiers at 11 under par better-ball of 61. Randhawa had birdies on the first, third, ninth and 11th, while he dropped a shot each on the eighth, 16th and 17th. |
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Divya eager to tame the Himalayas
New Delhi, September 30 “This is one of the biggest rallies in India and risky too. But I want to take up the challenge,” says the 24-year-old Delhiite, who will test her skills in the main race of the rally. Divya, the only woman competing at the National Championship 2005, was adjudged the best novice there. Now she is ready to take her Maruti Gypsy to the Himalayas, covering 1,800 km, with the 100 best rallyists in the country. “My brother had an auto division and I was introduced to various cars — luxury and sports — at an early age. That attracted me to the sport and I decided to train myself for it. My family had some doubts, but now they are very supportive and encourage me a lot,” she said. Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan had been an inspiration for Divya, who felt that the sport was fast catching up because of his exploits in the elite event. Divya looked upon competing with men as a challenge. “At the end of the day, gender does not make a difference. It is proof that we can do whatever men can.” Hoping for a good performance in the Raid de Himalaya, she said, “I want to finish the rally. I am testing the car and making modifications before the rally begins.”
— PTI |
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UT shuttlers leave for Udaipur
Chandigarh, September 30 Announcing the team here today, Chandigarh Badminton Association Secretary T.P.S. Puri said the Chandigarh women’s team for the Chadha Cup would consist of six-time state champion H. Sarda, Isha Sharma and Mala Gaba. He added that Vivek Sharma, Oscar Bansal, Pawan Malik, Mandeep, Gurjeet, Vikas Mahajan and Rajni Kant would represent Chandigarh in the Rahimtollah Cup. He further said the girls under-19 team for the Shafi Qureshi Cup would consist of Purnica, Monica and Seema while the boys under-19 team for the Narang Cup would comprise Mandeep, Oscar Bansal and Ankur Sharma.
— OSR |
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India face Nepal in opening match
New Delhi, September 30 Drawn in Pool B, which also features defending champions Bangladesh and Bhutan, two-time winners India will hope for an improved performance under a new coach — still to be appointed — and avenge their semifinal defeat to Bangladesh in the last edition of the meet. The other group has hosts Pakistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, according to the draw released in Singapore yesterday.
— PTI |
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