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Pathan puts India in driver’s seat
Parliament lauds Sachin’s feat
SC disposes of pleas against BCCI poll
Place telecast tender decision on record: HC
Akmal, Shoaib star in Pak win
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Flintoff wins BBC award
PCB surprised at Akram’s remarks
Thomson blasts ICC
Punjab crush Hyderabad
India take on Australia today
Chinese cyclists clinch two gold medals
Harbhajan soccer from January 14
Chetan Anand wins Irish Open
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Pathan puts India in driver’s seat
New Delhi, December 12 India, who took a 60-run first-innings lead in the morning, were 237 for 5 off 68 overs in their second essay at draw of stumps. The hosts have taken an overall lead of 297 runs, and with five second-innings wickets in hand and two days of play remaining, India can go for the kill tomorrow itself to maintain their record of never losing a Test to Sri Lanka at home. Sourav Ganguly was batting on 22 and Yuvraj Singh, who turned 25 today, was unbeaten on 28. In the morning, Sri Lanka, resuming at 198 for 6, could not survive for long as Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan made the life of the tailend batsmen miserable, though Jehan Mubarak, batting on 10 overnight, defied them to remain unbeaten on 29. Lanka lost their last four wickets for 32 runs to fold up for 230 after 55 minutes of batting today, with Kumble claiming two, and Pathan and Harbhajan one wicket each. Kumble’s haul of 6 for 72 was his 30th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and his effort put to shade Muttiah Muralitharan’s spell of 7-100. In the second innings, India played a master stroke when Pathan was promoted to open with Gautam Gambhir. It was a calculated gamble by coach Greg Chappell which paid off as the aim of taming the Lankan bowling with aggressive batting was effectively achieved by Pathan. Muralitharan was firmly put in his place after he was hit for two huge sixes, and the pace and intimidation of Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando also made no impact on Pathan, who blasted the ball all around the ground. However, Pathan fell on the threshold of his maiden Test hundred due to an indiscreet snick. Yet his 93 left far behind his previous best Test score of 55 against Australia at Bangalore last year. Muralitharan was so rattled by the Pathan assault that the spin wizard failed to take a wicket today. Vaas, who trapped Gambhir lbw for three off the third ball of the opening over to do an encore, claimed his 300th Test wicket. The loss of Gambhir’s wicket so early in the innings was compensated for by Pathan with his strokeplay, though VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar also did not last long. Pathan’s assault took the sting out of Murali’s spin as his stock delivery and the “doosra” made no impact on India’s new allrounder. Muralitharan was carted over the long-off fence for a huge six off the last ball of his first over, and hit for another soaring six in his sixth over. Pathan also picked Fernando for some good hits. But the bowler kept rattling Pathan with short-pitched stuff and deliveries outside the off stump. Eventually, Fernando had the last laugh when Pathan fished at an away-going delivery to snick a catch into the gloves of Kumar Sangakkara. But his 93 (10x4, 2x6, 143b, 207 minutes) had the stamp of class and authority as he never gave out the impression of being a rookie Test opener. Before exiting, Pathan, in the company of skipper Rahul Dravid, anchored India to a safe position. Dravid could have had a long rein at the wicket, but took the risk of going for a cheeky single off Murali, which proved fatal as the throw from mid-on rattled his bails before he could regain the crease, leaving Sourav Ganguly stunned at the other end. Dravid, who survived a chance at 19 off Bhandara, however, reached the milestone of 8000 Test runs when he scored 34. He then completed his first Test half century after taking over the reins of captaincy, driving Fernando through the cover region. Scoreboard India (1st innings) 290 Sri Lanka
(1st innings) Gunawardene lbw Pathan 25 Atapattu c Gambhir b Kumble 88 Sangakkara c Kumble b Pathan 3 Jayawardene lbw Kumble 60 Samaraweera b Kumble 1 Dilshan lbw Kumble 0 Mubarak not out 29 Vaas c Harbhajan b Kumble 2 Bandara b Pathan 1 Muralitharan b Kumble 9 Fernando c Ganguly
b Harbhajan 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-2, nb-1, pen-5) 12 Total:
(all out, 83.3 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-62, 3-175, 4-179, 5-179, 6-198, 7-200, 8-204, 9-219. Bowling:
Pathan 22-8-34-3, Agarkar 16-4-40-0, Kumble 28-6-72-6, Harbhajan 15.3-0-67-1, Tendulkar 2-0-6-0. India
(2nd innings) Gambhir lbw Vaas 3 Pathan c Sangakkara b Fernando 93 Laxman c Sangakkara b Vaas 11 Tendulkar lbw Bandara 16 Dravid run out 53 Ganguly batting 22 Yuvraj batting 28 Extras
(b-2, lb-4, nb-5) 11 Total (5 wkts, 68 overs) 237 Fall of wickets:
1-12, 2-42, 3-86, 4-178, 5-190. Bowling: Vaas 17-3-58-2, Muralitharan 25-3-86-0, Fernando 14-3-57-1, Bandara 12-1-30-1. Dravid completes 8,000 Test runs New Delhi: Rahul Dravid on Monday added another feather to his cap by becoming the third Indian to aggregate 8,000 runs in Test cricket. Dravid achieved the milestone when he reached 50 with a cover drive for four off Dilhara Fernando in India’s second innings on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka here. Only Sachin Tendulkar (10,281) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) have scored more runs than Dravid. Dravid (32) also became the 15th batsman to join the elite run getters list headed by West Indian Brian Lara with 11,204 runs. Besides Lara and Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul Haq (8,052) is the only other current player to aggregate more than Dravid who reached the landmark in his 94th Test. — PTI |
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Parliament lauds Sachin’s feat
New Delhi, December 12 Soon after the Lok Sabha met, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said it was a unique achievement by a great cricketer. “We are extremely proud that it is an Indian sportsperson who has earned this great distinction.” He said Sachin is indeed the great little master who has brought tremendous laurels to the country and he exemplifies what a true sportsman should be. “Tendulkar would no doubt continue to inspire the youth of the country to strive to take part in sports and achieve distinction by discipline and sincere efforts. “We convey our best wishes to Sachin Tendulkar and we are sure that he will continue to make the nation proud by his future attainments,” he said. Congratulating the cricketer for his unique feat, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said Tendulkar has brought laurels to the country. Immediately after Special Mentions, Mr K. Rahman Khan read out a statement saying that Tendulkar had brought honour to the nation and hoped that he would continue to bring laurels to the country. “The House congratulates Tendulkar for having brought honour to the country. The House hopes that Sachin and other players continue to break records bringing honour to the nation,” the Deputy Chairman said. |
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SC disposes of pleas against BCCI poll
New Delhi, December 12 Disposal order was passed by a Bench of Mr Justice P.K. Balasubramanyan after perusing the report of Krishnamurthy, in which he had suggested certain steps how the BCCI elections should be conducted in future. The court said if any party had any objection to the election process or any related matter, it was free to move the appropriate forum to challenge it. The court further said each litigating party would be supplied the copy of the observer’s report after following the due process. It was to the credit of Krishnamurthy, appointed observer by the court for the BCCI elections, that it was held in peaceful and orderly manner this time after he was given freedom by the court to lay down his own procedure to determine the status of members who could vote. |
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Place telecast tender decision on record: HC
New Delhi, December 12 The directive came from a Division Bench of Mr Justice M K Sharma and Mr Justice Sanjiv Khanna which is hearing a petition filed by Zee Televisions challenging the BCCI’s earlier tender condition as arbitrary and aimed at ousting Indian bidders. Appearing for the BCCI, senior counsel G L Sanghvi requested the court to dispose of Zee TV’s petition as the board had already taken a decision to invite fresh bidding for grant of telecast/broadcast rights. However, on behalf of Zee TV, senior counsel Rajiv Nayar submitted that the court should not dispose of the matter unless the BCCI’s decision to invite fresh bids is placed on record on an affidavit. Following this, the court asked the BCCI to file an undertaking with regard to the decision and posted the matter for further hearing on December 16. BCCI notice
on fresh bids
The BCCI today issued a notice inviting fresh tender bids for corporate sponsors interested in associating with the Indian cricket team. The sponsorship is open for a period of three years from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2009, a press statement said here today. There are separate tenders for main sponsors and official kit suppliers. The tender for sponsors has been further divided into two categories — team sponsor for all matches to be played on home and away basis and another sponsor for all ICC tournaments like the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. Lalit Modi, BCCI Vice-President and a key member of its Marketing Committee, said he was looking forward to a good response from the corporate sector. — PTI |
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Akmal, Shoaib star in Pak win
Lahore, December 12 Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (31 not out) steered his side to their target of 231 with six overs to spare. Pakistan dominated from the start, with fast bowler Shoaib taking five for 54 to bowl out England for a modest 230 in 48.4 overs. Scoreboard England: Trescothick b Shoaib 16 Prior b Razzaq 32 Strauss c Akmal b Shoaib 0 Pietersen b Naved 28 Flintoff c sub b Naved 0 Collingwood c and b Kaneria 23 Jones c Younis b Shoaib 7 Blackwell b Shoaib 10 Plunkett c and b Shoaib 56 Solanki not out 38 Harmison run out 0 Extras:
(b-5, lb-6, nb-6, w-3) 20 Total: (all out, 48.4 overs) 230 Fall of wickets:
1-30, 2-30, 3-74, 4-74, 5-89, 6-103, 7-120, 8-130, 9-230. Bowling:
Shoaib 8.4-1-54-5, Naved 8-0-42-2, Sami 10-1-33-0, Razzaq 8-0-25-1, Kaneria 6-0-24-1, Malik 5-0-26-0, Arshad 3-0-15-0. Pakistan Butt b Flintoff 43 Akmal c Solanki b Harmison 102 Younis b Collingwood 15 Yousuf not out 28 Inzamam not out 31 Extras:
(lb-4, nb-3, w-5) 12 Total: (3 wickets, 44 overs) 231 Fall of wickets:
1-86, 2-113, 3-187. Bowling: Flintoff 8-1-30-1, Harmison 10-0-52-1, Plunkett 7-0-63-0, Blackwell 7-0-28-0, Collingwood 9-0-43-1, Solanki 3-0-11-0. —
AFP, Reuters |
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Flintoff wins BBC award
London, December 12 The 28-year-old all-rounder was the favourite to win following his man-of-the-series role in the summer Test success over
Australia. Flintoff, who is currently in Pakistan on tour, topped the public poll ahead of his captain Michael Vaughan, Liverpool’s Champions League-winning skipper Steven
Gerrard, record-breaking yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur, tennis star Andy Murray and light-welterweight boxing champion Ricky Hatton. Second went to MacArthur and Gerrard finished
third. Flintoff captured the public imagination after a series of outstanding performances — scoring 402 runs and taking 24 wickets — in England’s first Ashes win since 1986-87. The rest of the side were also recognised with the Team of the Year
award. Flintoff accepted his award from Ian Botham in Lahore just hours ahead of the second one-day international against Pakistan. “Being involved in the Ashes was something special, a great thing. It was a real team effort,” he said. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who received the overseas sports personality award, paid tribute to
Flintoff. — AFP |
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PCB surprised at Akram’s remarks
Islamabad, December 12 “He may have just made off-the-cuff remarks like it generally happens. But when he returns from India the board will have a word with him because he is a big name and such statements attributed to him are not good for his image or that of Pakistan cricket,” a senior PCB official said. “It is only when he returns home that we will talk to him and find out what has happened and why he made these remarks,” he was quoted as saying in local daily The News. Akram had recently said the ICC is nothing but a forum for white cricketers while also slamming its President Ehsan Mani. In a rebuttal to Akram yesterday, Mani said the Pakistani paceman’s remarks were ill-informed and offensive.
— PTI |
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Thomson blasts ICC
Sydney, December 12 Thompson, renowned as one of Australia’s most aggressive bowlers, slammed the sport’s international governing body and said they were taking the fun out of the game. “They ought to get their own house in order rather than worry about the players, the ICC do nothing,” Thomson said today. “They do nothing about blokes chucking, they do nothing about all this other stuff, they are more worried about words, that is all they are, full of words the ICC. “They always look like they are doing something but they do nothing. They are the biggest bullshitters in the world, the ICC. What a waste of space.” His comments follow warnings from the ICC to players earlier today to cut down their verbal sparring or risk disciplinary action. The body singled out Australia and South Africa for their so-called “war of words” before the three-Test series starting in Perth on Friday. Australian leg spinner Shane Warne yesterday suggested the South Africans might need a psychologist after his team had finished with them. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said there had been a spate of code of conduct reports since the Ashes series which finished in September and pointed to a slight increase in the number of players charged this year over their sledging. “There have been a series of comments by players and former players ahead of the Australia versus South Africa series that I believe make it necessary to remind the players of the importance of playing within the spirit of the game ahead of this series,” Speed said in a statement. Thomson and fellow former Test bowler Terry Alderman felt the ICC comments showed they were trying to sanitise the sport and make players more robotic. “You have got to have a bit of gamesmanship, that is what it is all about,” Thomson said. He believed the ICC’s actions were taking the focus away from the actual game. “They are bagging the game rather than promoting, it’s highlighting things that aren’t worth highlighting,” he said. Alderman said the ICC hierarchy were trying to justify their six-figure salaries following the recent move to Dubai. “We need some characters in the game, we don’t need assaults on players out in the middle, but the banter that does go on — there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
— AFP |
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Punjab crush Hyderabad
Mohali, December 12 Resuming at 168 for seven, Hyderabad could put on only 31 runs before being dismissed for 199. With the win, Punjab earned five points, including one bonus point, to reach the top of tally with nine points. Earlier, Punjab has earned four points by beating Services in the first match. Facing a big defeat, Hyderabad batsmen threw away their wickets in just 32 minutes after play started today. Ibrahim Khalil (102 off 119 balls) could add only one run to his overnight score before offering a simple catch to Gaurav Gupta at second slip off Gagandeep. K Reddy was bowled by Gagandeep for 33. Pragyan Ojha, who failed to open his account, was of Gagandeep’s third victim today. NP Singh remained not out on 12. Gagan got seven wickets in the match to take his tally to 17 in two matches. (He claimed 10 wickets in the match against Haryana). Hardevinder also put up good show with the ball and picked up six wickets in his first match. Expressing satisfaction over the allround performance of the team, Punjab coach Intikhab Alam said, “We overcame our batting weakness, and the bowlers, too, did very well. We are looking forward to our next match against Uttar Pradesh". The Punjab team would leave on December 16 for Lucknow to take on Uttar Pradesh from December 18. Scoreboard: Hyderabad
(1st innings): 200; Punjab (1st innings): 550 for 7 declared;
Hyderabad (2nd innings): Daniel Manohar lbw Hardevinder 9, Abhinav Kumar lbw Gagandeep 0, Anirudh Singh c Dharmani b Gagandeep 1, AS Yadav b Hardevinder 0, SA Pai b Love Abhilesh 11, Ibrahim Khaleel c Gaurav Gupta b Gagandeep 102, Amol Shinde b Love Abhilesh 0, Alfred Absolem c Ricky b Hardevinder 19, Kaushik Reddy b Gagandeep 33, NP Singh not out 12, Pragyan Ojha b Gagandeep
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Champions Trophy
Chennai, December 12 After a none-too-impressive show in their opening match against reigning champions Spain which they lost 1-2, the Indians came up with attacking and aesthetic display, which turned out to be a Sunday treat for the crowd at the packed Radhakrishnan stadium. What was more remarkable was the pugnacious display showed by the home team, especially in the last ten minutes, transforming a situation of despair into hope and clinching the first win of this edition. This was possible because of a stunning display by drag flicker Sandeep Singh. After dominating the contest, Indian were down 0-2 and their arch-rivals were threatening to run away with the match. Came the turnaround in the form of striker Tushar Khandekar, who provided the impetus with a cracker of a goal, before Sandeep emerged the saviour with two penalty corner conversions in the dying moments to keep the hope’s alive. With the confidence high after yesterday’s dream contest, the Indians would be keen to carry forward it against the mighty Aussies, who looked awesome in the two outings so far against Germany and Spain. Fully aware of the strength of the Barry Dancer trained rivals, the Indians would have a video session later in the evening before finalising the strategy for the all important match. They could also draw a leaf out of the “Spanish book”. The Spaniards had kept the Olympic gold medallists Australia on a tight leash before the Aussies mowed them down. — PTI
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Chinese cyclists clinch two gold medals
Doraha, December 12 In the time trial (25 km) for elite women, Lei Mei Fang of China won the gold medal with a time of 33.07.89 sec, while Han Song Hee (34.59.03 sec) from South Korea won the silver. Huang Ho Hsun (36.46.51 sec) of Taipei took the bronze. Indian cyclist Gogoi Himajoti finished in the 8th position. In the second event of the day, individual mass start (70 km) for junior men, a major accident was averted. About 1.5 km from the finishing line, a cyclist lost control of his bicycle and fell down. Around twenty cyclists, who were following him, collided with him. Nearly 12 of them were given first aid on the spot, while five others, including one each from Kazakhstan, Iran, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, were rushed to a nearby hospital. After the necessary treatment and tests, they were discharged. The remaining participants went on to complete the event and Kilibayev Alexandr from Kazakhstan took 1.35.03.07 sec to win the first gold for his country. He was followed by Japan’s Nakano Akihito (1.35.03.16 sec) in second place, while Bin Took Mohammed (1.35.03.28 sec) of the UAE won the bronze medal. In the individual time trial (20 km) for junior women, Chen Jing of China with 28.19.85 sec clinched the gold medal. South Korea’s Ha Seon Ha (29.01.20 sec) won the silver, while Dombiskayal of Kazakhstan (29.35.14 sec) finished third. |
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Harbhajan soccer from January 14
Chandigarh, December 12 A meeting of the organising committee held under the chairmanship of Mr HS Bains today decided to introduce a women's category in the week-long competition, which is now an annual feature. Accordingly it was decided that the winners in this category would be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 while the team finishing second would receive Rs 8,000. In the club category, all top outfits of the state are expected to participate and the winners will pocket Rs 50,000 while the cash prize for runners-up will be Rs 40,000. In the college category, the winners will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000 while the runners-up will get Rs 15,000. In the school category, individual prizes will be awarded.
— TNS |
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Chetan Anand wins Irish Open
Bangalore, December 12 In the semifinal, he beat England number one Aamir Ghaffar 15-8, 15-9, according to reports received here. The Indian had won the Welsh Open last week. In the mixed doubles semifinal at the Irish Open, the Indian duo of V. Diju and Jwala Gutta lost to the Scottish number one pair of Andrew Bowman and Kirsteen McEwan Miller 15-3, 4-15, 9-15.
— PTI |
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Irfan Pathan played the opener’s role to perfection to put India in the driver’s seat on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here today.
India, who took a 60-run first-innings lead in the morning, were 237 for
5 off 68 overs in their second essay at draw of stumps.
In
video: Kumble continues to charm. (
Cyclists from China gave a stupendous performance today as they got the better of their rivals from Korea. The Chinese won two gold medals in road races on the second day of the 25th BSA Asian Cycling Championship and the 12th Junior Asian Cycling Championship being held on the National Highway No. 1 between Doraha and Khanna.
