India need to break jinx in West Indies: Srinath

Jaipur, May 4
Former pacer Javagal Srinath today said Rahul Dravid’s India would feel the weight of history against them as they attempt to record their first victory in the Caribbean in 35 years.

Srinath said the current Indian team can be expected to break the jinx of not winning a series in the West Indies since their maiden triumph in 1971.

“We can do well there but we need to overcome the jinx,” Srinath, in city to scout fast bowling talent for MRF Pace Foundation, said.

Srinath said the tour would be a good recce for the Indians ahead of the next year’s World Cup to be played in the Caribbean.

“The tour comes at the right time as we will be playing there in World Cup. We may face some of the same guys too. Under Brian Lara they will be tough to beat but once we overcome the jinx, which haunts us, we will do well,” he said.

Srinath was accompanied by former Indian pacer TA Sekhar, who is a bowling coach at the MRF Pace Foundation.

The former bowling spearhead said Sachin Tendulkar had matured with age and he could pull through with his experience and extraordinary talent for a few more years.

“M S Dhoni is doing right now what Sachin used to do in his early age. Age certainly affects. He, too, has matured with age but he can carry on the basis of his experience and talent alone,” he said.

Asked why India were not able to produce a genuine fast bowler like Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar or Australian Brett Lee, Srinath said the current bunch of pacemen was quite up to the mark.

“Now we have a bunch of real quick bowlers. Munaf is bowling at 140-145 km per hour and RP Singh, Sreesanth and the others are not far behind,” he said.

Srinath did not agree with the notion that Harbhajan suffered from inconsistency.

“It may be your view but I feel Harbhajan and Kumble are among the best in the business,” he said.

Srinath also batted for VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.

“Laxman is a fine batsman but unfortunately he finds himself out of the team but he will come back in Tests.

“Regarding Sehwag, how can you question a guy who averages 50 plus. He should be asked to play without any pressure and perhaps the team management is doing the same thing,” he said.

Srinath said the young Indian pacers were shaping up well and described Munaf Patel as the best among the crop of Test bowlers but felt he needed some more time before playing in the one-dayers.

“Bowlers like (Laxmipathy) Balaji and Zaheer (Khan) are out. That speaks volumes about the talent available. The future is bright and to prolong the careers of youngsters load is being evenly distributed.

“Munaf needs more experience before being infused into one-dayers,” Srinath said.

On the burnout issue, Srinath said those who felt the load was too much should take a break.

“I did it myself. When I felt the load, I took a break.”

Asked was it not difficult in the Indian scenario to get back into the team after a layoff, Sreenath said he did not feel so.

“Even if a replacement does well he should be asked to wait if the player returns to the side,” he said. — PTI 

Sreesanth, Raina get contracts

New Delhi, May 4
Young guns Suresh Raina and S. Sreesanth were today rewarded for their impressive performance this season with a Grade C contract by the Indian cricket board (BCCI). Raina and Sreesanth, who have played 15 one-day internationals since October 1, 2005, will each get a retainership of Rs 20 lakh per annum, the BCCI said in a media release.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI that the contracts for both Raina and Sreesanth would be as applicable as to the other members of the Indian team, meaning it would be backdated and run through up to the end of 2006.

Sreesanth made his ODI debut in the first of seven-match series against Sri Lanka at Nagpur earlier this season. He has picked up 22 wickets at 32.21 in 15 matches.

The 23-year old, only the second cricketer from Kerala to have played for India, has also played in two Tests, getting his first cap in the Nagpur Test against England.

Raina has so far played in 21 one-dayers since he made his debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla in July last year.

Group A: Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Anil Kumble, V.V.S. Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.

Group B: Yuvraj Singh, Mohd Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Group C: Murali Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth and Suresh Raina. — PTI, UNI

Pak A set up title clash with India A

Abu Dhabi, May 4
Pakistan A set up a revenge clash with India A after storming into the final with a thumping eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the Eurasia series limited overs cricket tournament here yesterday.

Opener Mohammad Hafeez hit an unbeaten 105 to guide Pakistan past Sri Lanka’s meagre total of 209 with more than four overs to spare in the last Group D engagement of the second league phase at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Captain Hasan Raza made 62 not out and combined with Hafeez for the match-winning 110-run unbroken third-wicket partnership.

Pakistan had lost to their arch-rivals India in a group match of the first league phase in the six-nation tournament.

The final of the tournament will be played tomorrow.

Earlier, Sri Lanka disintegrated from a comfortable 120 for two to be bowled out for 209 in 41 overs in the day-night clash.

An 89-run partnership for the third wicket between Malinda Warnapura and Kaushal Silva was the lone bright spot of the Sri Lankan innings that had extras of 42 as the second highest score. — PTI

Lbw decisions set to be judged by technology
Qaiser Mohammad Ali

Abu Dhabi, May 4
In a revolutionary proposal by the International Cricket Council (ICC), players dissatisfied with umpires’ decisions could ask for technology help for all 10 modes of dismissals, including the controversial leg before wicket, by October.

Batsmen, after being given out, could ask the on-field umpires to refer their decision to the TV/third umpire, who could overrule the decision.

Similarly, the fielding side could also appeal against a decision that had not gone in their favour.

If the ICC Cricket Committee, headed by Sunil Gavaskar, approves its management’s proposal in toto over the weekend here, the changes could be implemented in the 10-nation Champions Trophy to be held in India in October-November.

“The proposal is that run-out and stumping decisions will stay as they are.

The on-field umpire will consult the third umpire in the normal way. Every other decision, including leg before wicket, can be checked — every aspect of every decision,” ICC’s general manager (cricket) David Richardson told IANS in an interview here.

“The proposal is that if your appeal is unsuccessful then you lose that appeal and you are allowed only a certain number. We haven’t decided on the number yet. It could be two or four per team per innings,”

Richardson, 46, a former South African Test wicket keeper, disclosed, who represented the Proteas in 42 Test matches and 122 one-day internationals.

He said it was a compromise formula arrived at after weighing the pros and cons of a research on umpires’ decisions.

“It’s not easy to find a compromise, but by having tried various things over the years we are in a good position now to see what works and what doesn’t.

We are ready for a final push in the direction we want to go, which is a compromise position that satisfies both the traditionalists and those who are for greater use of technology,” he said.

Over the years, the ICC tried ping lines (imaginary wicket to wicket lines), earpieces linked to the stump microphones to help on-field umpires make decisions.

“Our research/statistics has shown that our umpires are getting 94 per cent of the decisions correct around the world,” he said.

“In a one-day match, you have got about seven decisions for instance. In a Test match, 30 decisions on an average. So, out of 30, there are about two or three mistakes at the most. In theory, there should be a consultation happening only two or three times in a match (as per the new proposal), which to us is a very small price to pay for getting a decision right.” He outlined: “The idea is that the on-field umpire doesn’t have to worry whether they should consult or not.” Richardson was sure that the new proposal would not lessen the importance of umpires.

He, however, admitted that the changes could invite some criticism from the purists.

“I suppose so. There would be some who would say it was against the spirit and tradition of the game. But the majority of people in the cricket world are saying that if you’ve got technology why aren’t you using it.” — IANS

Karun to race in Formula Asia

New Delhi, May 4
Karun Chandhok’s motor racing career has received a much-needed fillip in the form of a drive in the all-new Formula Asia Renault V6 series. The 22-year-old Chennai lad will be driving Korea-based E-Rain Racing in the series that will start with its first race at the Sepang F1 circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 13-14.

Seven teams of 14 cars, fitted with 3500cc Renault V6 engines, will compete in races in Zhuhai (China), Sentul (Indonesia), Taichung (Taiwan) and possibly in Bahrain.

For Chandhok, who suffered setbacks with both the Renault World Series and the A1 Grand Prix last year for various reasons, the drive should keep him in news.

Chandhok said racing in Asia, after having competed in British F3 (2003-04) and Nissan World Series (2004) was not a step down.

“This is not a step down for me. It is a side step. The series is of F2 level with cars similar to those of the World Series. This is the best option for me,” he said.

“To be in Europe is always beneficial. And the Renault V6 is a new concept, so it is a bit of a gamble. But if you look at the credentials of the people behind the series, their pedigree, then this not a bad move at all.”

Chandhok said the team, run by Hongsik Jeon, had a funding of Rs. 1.8-2 crore and the promoters of the series were looking at a race in India next year.

Asked where his future lay, Chandhok said the ultimate goal was “some sort of opportunity in Formula One”.

“The immediate next step is Grand Prix 2 but the budget there would be about Rs. 9 crore, or 1.2-million euros. That is a massive step up from the current series,” he said. — PTI

Manpreet, Iktesh emerge champs
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, May 4
Top seed Manpreet Chawla of Delhi in the boys’ section and Iktesh Chahal of Chandigarh in the girls’ section emerged champions in the under-14 category of the inaugural edition of the AITA National Tennis Talent Tournament-2006 organised by the PAU Total Tennis Academy at the Punjab Agricultural University campus here today.

In the boys’ final, Manpreet crushed Archit Sood of Amritsar 6-1, 6-1. In the girls’ section, Iktesh Chahal quelled a strong challenge from her city mate, Shilpa Narula, before winning 6-4, 7-5.

In the boys’ doubles final, Raghav Singal and Gagandeep overpowered Archit Sood and Naveen Shankar 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. In the boys’ (under-12) final, Ajay Yadav of Punjab beat Kamal Madrena of Rajasthan 6-1, 6-3. In the girls’ section, Bhavika Wadhawan routed Anmol Kaur Bawa of Punjab 6-0, 6-1 to bag the title. 

Jeev tied fifth

Incheon, May 4
Leader of the UBS Order of Merit Jeev Milkha Singh kicked off his campaign with a strong four-under 68 for the tied fifth place, while Australian Adam Le Vesconte and golfing sensation Michelle Wie shares the first day honours at the $ 600,000 SK Telecom Open here today.

Among other Indians in the fray, Harmeet Singh Kahlon returned two-under 70 to tie for the 28th place while Amandeep Johl’s two-over 74 had him way down tied at 89th.

Meanwhile, reigning Philippine Open champion Vesconte grabbed the first round lead with a seven-under 65 even though it was Wie who grabbed most of the attention with a battling 70. — UNI

Bumpy surface for top hockey players
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 4
Even as a conditioning camp for Indian hockey players is under way at Bangalore in preparation for the forthcoming eight-nation Azlan Shah tournament, several top players have been made to play on a bumpy and muddy surface here during the 13th Indian Oil Himgold Cup. The players taking part in the tournament include Bimal Lakra, Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay, Dhanraj Pillay and Ignace Tirkey.

The players are at risk of getting injured due to the unfavourable ground conditions, said Vineet Kumar, former Indian player and coach of the Indian Airlines team.

Talking to The Tribune here today, he said the team management had put pressure on the players to take part in the tournament despite the rough surface. He said in the absence of an Astroturf, even a reasonably even grassy field could have been adequate. He said the team’s key forward Dhanraj Pillay received a thumb injury due to the abrupt bouncing of the ball, rendering him unfit for the next match. Vineet said it was a bad decision to make top players play in such conditions ahead of a major international tournament.

Recalling the last Himgold Cup tournament, which Indian Airlines had won at Mandi, he said the grassy surface there had not created any problems. The surface here also hindered the execution of the drag-flick, he observed.

Indian Airlines march into semis
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 4
The Indian Airlines today defeated Canara Bank, Bangalore, 3-0 and secured a berth in the semifinals on the third day of the 13th Indian Oil Himgold Hockey Tournament being held here.

The Indian Airlines took an early lead when Bimal Lakra converted a penalty corner in the third minute of the game. The Indian Airlines increased their lead in the 36th minute through a field goal scored by Jagvinder.

Vikram Pillay struck for the Airlines again in the 54th minute taking the tally to 3-0. Canara Bank, however, failed to capitalise on the opportunities they got in the opponents’ D area.

In another match, the Army XI managed a comfortable win over Himachal-B. The Army team won 6-1. In the last match of the day, Punjab National Bank won 2-1 from Air India Academy.

It, however, failed to secure a berth in the semifinals as it lagged back in the goal average from the Sikh Regiment Centre by a solitary point.

ZCA win by 100 runs
Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 4
Zonal Cricket Academy (ZCA) team thrashed Pakistan’s Peshawar District Cricket Association’s North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) team by 100 runs in a friendly match at the PCA ground here today.

After winning the toss, the NWFP team elected to field first. ZCA lost opener Ian Chauhan when the total was 33. The partnership of 95 runs between Robin Bisht (83) and Uday Kaul (50) enabled ZCA to put on 231 for 4 in the allotted 40 overs.

The Pakistani team made a shaky start, losing the first two wickets when the total was only 24. Sumit Kalia claimed five wickets for 37 runs. Adnan Shahab, who scored 35 runs (5x4s, 1x6), was the only batsman who put up some resistance. The NWFP team was bundled out for 131.