Dubai, November 29
After their drawn series against South Africa, Team India made a significant move up the ICC ODI ranking, jumping three rungs to the fourth place.

The 2-2 result sees Rahul Dravid’s men gain two points, lifting their rating to 109, and although that is the same points tally as Sri Lanka and England, India are now above both of them — and New Zealand — when the ratings are recalculated to three decimal places.

The importance of being in the top six of the ICC ODI Championship assumes massive significance over the next six months as the teams in those positions on April 1, 2006, will automatically qualify for the second stage of the ICC Champions Trophy, to be staged in India later in the year.

The four sides below the sixth spot will have to take part in a preliminary round to qualify for the second stage although India, as hosts, will automatically be in that second stage no matter where they are in the table on April 1.

South Africa do not appear to be in any danger of slipping out of the top six at this stage as, although their rating has slipped by two points, they are still in second spot, albeit now 18 points behind runaway leaders and world champions Australia.

In the ICC ODI player rankings, Jacques Kallis’ consistency in the India-South Africa series sees him move up 10 slots into the top 10 and he is now on tied ninth. His rise maintains the presence of two compatriots in the top 10, with Graeme Smith holding firm at number three. Herschelle Gibbs, who opted not to make the tour, has slipped six places to 15th.

Sachin Tendulkar has slipped 13 places on the back of a modest series and now lies at 22nd in the batting list. Two India players lie ahead of him — captain Dravid in seventh, and Virender Sehwag, who moves up seven places to the 18th spot.

Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan are two other Indian batsmen making moves up the player rankings. Yuvraj is 26th, up five places, and has his highest-ever ranking points tally, while Pathan has moved up 10 places to joint 59th.

Pathan has also made a positive move in the bowling list. The left-armer is up two places to joint eighth, consolidating his position in the top 10, and he is India’s highest ranked one-day bowler, just ahead of Harbhajan Singh, who lies in 11th. Ajit Agarkar has dropped seven places to 23rd. — UNI

Kolkata, November 29
Former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya today expressed dismay over the role played by the Supreme court-appointed observer T. S. Krishnamurthy during the BCCI elections in which Sharad Pawar-led group triumphed.

Talking to reporters here after the elections, Dalmiya said, “it was not a debacle for us. One of our genuine voters was asked to sit out while a complete stranger who had nothing to do with cricket was allowed to vote,” Dalmiya said.

“The observer was there to see elections are held properly. But surprisingly, he started giving affiliations,” he said.

He also hinted that his group would place their point of view in the Supreme Court when the case would come up for hearing on December 12.

Dalmiya said at best the verdict could have been 16-15 in favour of Pawar.

On whether there was any political pressure in favour of the Pawar group, he said, “I do not want to go into this. But, if a politician contests for a post in a sports body, it is always bound to make some difference. If you want to involve politicians in cricket affairs, then it’s better to nationalise BCCI.”

However, Dalmiya said he accepted the verdict and extended support for the newly elected BCCI President.

“I accept the verdict. My good wishes are with their team and if they require my support or cooperation in running the affairs of the BCCI, I will always be there,” he said.

The Dalmiya-backed outgoing BCCI chief Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who lost to Pawar, also criticised the decision of the observer in depriving Himachal Pradesh of its vote.

“Everything was working against me. First, I was deprived of my vote. Then Himachal Pradesh was debarred,” he said.

On whether some of his supporters went against him, Mahendra said, “Everybody played his part.”

He, however, said that he was a happy man at the end of his tenure as the Indian team was playing well during his regime.

“The Indian team is playing well and I am confident the team will continue to perform this way till the 2007 World Cup,” he said.

Anurag Thakur to move court

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s Anurag Thakur, who was not named as the authorised representative of the state body, on Tuesday threatened to move the Supreme Court against the ‘injustice’ meted out to him in the BCCI elections.

“I will move the Supreme Court soon,” he said.

As per the voter’s list, released by T. S. Krishnamurthy, Rajinder Zar was named authorised representative of the HPCA and allowed to attend the AGM.

However, earlier this morning, Krishnamurthy in a ruling said Thakur would also be allowed to cast his vote but it would be kept in a sealed envelope and produced in court. Zar’s vote, however, would be counted. — PTI

Chandigarh, November 29
With the election of Punjab’s M.P. Pandove as Joint Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Kolkata today, a former first-class cricketer will hold a major post in the board after a long time.

Pandove, however, is no stranger to the board’s working. As Secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association, he has interacted with senior functionaries of the board, both current as well those who have demitted office. Also, he has served in both the junior selection committee of the board as member and chairman (from 1993 to 1996), as also the senior selection committee. He has also served in various board committees in the past years. Therefore, his rich experience will be a big help to board’s other functionaries. However, all those elected to the board this year, barring the President, Mr Sharad Pawar, have previously held some office in the board.

Pandove first played in the Ranji Trophy in 1960. He continued to play till 1976, when he retired. He also has the distinction of becoming the youngest captain of a first-class team at the age of 18 years and six months. He captained Southern Punjab from 1964, four years after he started playing first-class cricket, to 1967 and Punjab from 1973 to 1976.

Two years after he retired from first-class cricket, Pandove became joint secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association in 1978 and secretary in 1981, a post which he still occupies. As Secretary of the PCA, he is actively involved in the development of cricket in Punjab.

A law graduate from Punjabi University, Pandove is currently a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission. 

Mumbai, November 29
South African bowler Andre Nel has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the fifth one-dayer against India.

Nel was found guilty of using obscene language by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe of New Zealand in a hearing after India won the match by five wickets to level the series 2-2 here last night.

The paceman was found to have breached Level 1.4 of the ICC Code which relates to “using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting” which includes swearing in frustration at one’s own poor play or misfortune.

“While not wanting to stifle the character of a lively player such as Andre, his explicit obscene language that was witnessed by TV viewers is unacceptable,” Crowe said in a statement.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.

The charge was brought by on-field umpires Daryl Harper, K Hariharan, TV umpire I Sivaram and fourth umpire Ravi Subramanium.

Jeff Crowe reached his decision after a hearing attended by Nel, South Africa captain Graeme Smith, South Africa team manager Goolam Rajah and the umpires. — PTI

Adelaide, November 29
Australia made a clean sweep of their three-match series against the West Indies with a seven-wicket victory over the tourists in the final Test at Adelaide Oval today.

The Australians mopped up the required runs to finish at 182 for three 16 minutes after lunch on the final day.

Matthew Hayden remained unbeaten on 87 off 174 balls with first-innings centurion Mike Hussey not out 30.

The pair guided Australia to victory in an unfinished 72-run partnership.

West Indian batting superstar Brian Lara, who has most probably played his last Test in Australia, was named man of the match for his first innings 226 which made him Test cricket’s all-time leading run-scorer.

Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden was announced man of the series for two centuries and his unbeaten 87 here today.

Australia won the first Brisbane Test by 379 runs and the second Hobart Test by nine wickets to clinch the series ahead of the Adelaide Test.

It was Australia’s 12th win in their last 13 Tests with the West Indians stretching back to 1999.

The West Indies have won only three of their past 21 Tests overall and three of their last 15 Tests against Australia stretching back to 1999.

It was Australia’s fifth straight series win in the Frank Worrell Trophy.

The West Indies have not won a Test series against Australia since Richie Richardson’s team won here in 1992-93.

The Australians lost only the wicket of Brad Hodge in the morning session and had few problems as they steadily accumulated the runs needed to complete a series clean sweep.

Dwayne Smith further enhanced his growing reputation as an exceptional fielder with a sensational diving catch in the gully to dismiss Hodge off Daren Powell.

Hodge was unconvincing in his 65-ball knock for 23 as he put on 55 for the third wicket with Hayden to leave Australia chasing a further 72 runs for victory at 110 for three.

Hussey on one was almost caught in another acrobatic dive by Fidel Edwards but the ball just flew past his fingers to the boundary.

Umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar, criticised for four questionable decisions that went against the West Indies on yesterday’s fourth day, called on West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul to temper his players’ over-exuberant chatter.

Bowden looked to have triggered the situation when he first spoke to Chanderpaul about players talking as Corey Collymore was running in to bowl.

The tourists’ response was to turn up the volume when motivating each other, which caused the umpires to intervene to calm the situation.

Sangrur, November 29
A contingent from Punjab will take part in the National Women’s Sports Festival (Group IV) to be held at Safai (Uttar Pradesh) from December 1 to 4. Giving this information, Gursharan Singh, District Sports Officer, informed that competitions in kabaddi, kho-kho and volleyball would be conducted.

Punjab secured the first place in kabaddi and kho-kho and the second spot in volleyball in the festival last year at Sangrur.

The contingent: Kho-kho: Paramjit Kaur, Jasvir Kaur, Nazia Bhatti, Sukhwinder Kaur, Seema Rani, Narinder Kaur, Monika Rani, Jasvir, Pooja, Palwinder Kaur, Paramjit Jr and Jasvir Kaur. Coach - Surinder Kaur.

Kabaddi: Baljinder Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Santosh Sharma, Puri Kaur, Parminder, Mandeep, Jasbir, Satinder, Nitu and Mandeep Jr. Coach - Palwinder Kaur.

Volleyball: Gurkirat, Gagan, Parminder, Ruchi, Davinder, Navjot Inder, Rajwinder, Pushpinder, Parsanita, Karanjot and Hukamjeet. Coach - Abdesh Kumar. 

New Delhi, November 29
The Premier Hockey League got a big boost today as President APJ Abdul Kalam gave a pep talk to the five captains of the Tier I teams in the tournament.

Dilip Tirkey (Hyderabad Sultans), Gagan Ajit Singh (Sher-e-Jallandhar), Viren Rasquinha (Maratha Warriors), Arjun Halappa (Bangalore Hi-Fliers) and Rajpal Singh (Chandigarh Dynamos) — called on Dr Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“You must always think that you are winning when you are practising. This habit along with hard work and God’s blessings will help you win. You should become ‘captain of the problem’ and defeat the problem itself,” 
Kalam said.

Dilip Tirkey said the President’s words would inspire and encourage the players.

“The PHL could not have asked for a better boost. President Kalam’s gesture will inspire us to scale new heights,” he said.

Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill and Secretary-General K Jothikumaran were also present on the occasion. — PTI

Ludhiana, November 29
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, entered the quarterfinals in the men’s as well as women’s sections of the North Zone Inter-University Table Tennis Tournament here today. In the men’s section, PAU paddlers scored a comfortable 3-0 win over SCSK University, Palampur, while in the women’s section, PAU got a walkover against JB Pant University, Pant Nagar.

Other results: (Men)- Kurukshetra University b HNB University, Garhwal, Srinagar 3-0; Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, b Lucknow 3-0; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, b Allahabad University 3-1; Punjabi University, Patiala, b CSJM University, Kanpur, 3-0; Kurutkshetra University b HP University 3-1; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, b Kumaon University, Nainital, 3-2.

Women: Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, b Jammu Univerity 3-2; Punjabi University, Patiala, b CSJM, Kanpur, 3-1; Kurukshetra University b PTU 3-0. 

Ropar, November 29
Fine overall performance by Raj Kamal (87 and 60 runs and 3 wickets) could not save Sangrur, who lost to Ropar in the final of the Minor (U-14) Inter-District Cricket Tournament 2005-06 at Government College grounds here today.

Ropar won the trophy on the basis of the first innings lead of 82 runs.

Bhawesh of Ropar claimed four wickets whereas Gurjant and Anjit took three and two wickets, respectively. In reply, Ropar made 252 runs with the fine performance of Rahul, who put on 68 runs. Aman of Sangrur removed three wickets for the team.

In the second innings, Sangrur was on 103 for 9 when the umpires decided to call off the play in favour of Ropar. Vivek and Bhawesh of Ropar got five and three wickets, respectively, in the innings.

The chief guest, Dr R.S. Parmar, gave away the trophy to the winners.Brief score: Sangrur (Ist innings): 169 all out (Raj Kamal 87). Ropar (Ist innings): 252 all out (Rahul 68, Ranjit 48, Nitish 46).

Sangrur (II nd innings): 103 for 9 (Raj Kamal 60). TNS