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CAB poll: Dalmiya shows who’s the boss
Ganguly was special, says Wright
South Africa fighting to save Test
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Schumacher races to
victory
Twenty20 given formal approval
Karuna, Mithali guide India to victory
Pak beat Argentina, finish fifth
National Games in February
Punjab cops, PSEB win
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CAB poll: Dalmiya shows who’s the boss
Kolkata, July 30 Immediately after the election results were officially declared at around 11 pm, Mukherjee gracefully conceded his defeat. He congratulated Dalmiya and assured him of all his help and co-operation for the larger interest of the Bengal cricket. He refused to make any comment on the election results and the process of polling held under the supervision of the court’s appointed observer, Justice Santosh Kumar Foujdar, a former judge of Calcutta and Allahabad high courts. The polling, which was conducted under an unprecedented security measures, began soon after the AGM was over and lasted for over two hours in which 117 of 118 eligible voters cast their votes. The process was election was slow since elaborate steps were taken for holding the election free and fair. Already three voters representing three different sports clubs were debarred from exercising their franchise on technical ground and their votes were declared invalid by the observer. But the representative of a sports club of a Calcutta daily newspaper also voluntarily abstained from voting without officially communicating anything to the observer. Interestingly, the voting right of South Subarban Club was initially declared cancelled in the morning by the special bench of the city civil court but subsequently, by the judgment of the Calcutta High Court, the lower court’s ruling was rejected and the SSC representative ultimately could exercise his franchise. The CAB election which had been already assumed much political importance with the involvement of the Chief Minister, several other Left Front ministers and leaders of various opposition parties, including the Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty, Municipal Minister Ashoke Bhattacharyya, RSP’s Kshiti Goswami, TMC’s Ajit Kumar Panja. Never before in the past, the election of an autonomous sports organization had been held under such political as well as legal
entanglements.
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Ganguly was special, says Wright
Christchurch, July 30 The former New Zealand captain has talked about his special “bond” with the tempestuous former Indian captain in a report that appeared in New Zealand Herald today. “He was a special man,” Wright was quoted as saying. “He wore his heart on his sleeve and there was an arrogance that used to get up people’s noses. But I think that was good for us, it was good to have that feistiness as the country learned it was becoming such a powerhouse in world cricket,” said the former batsman, currently in the eye of a storm over disclosures in his book “Indian Summers”. “I tested him and he tested me but there was an inner trust between us. He would often do things which were the opposite to what we had talked about, which always kept me on my toes, but there was a bond that grew, despite how different we were. And we were always a really happy side,” he said. The New Zealander said it took about a year for him to convince the team that running between the wickets and fielding were quite important in one-dayers. It was difficult, however, to point out technical problems to some of the world’s best batsmen. “I didn’t coach Sachin Tendulkar, I gave him gentle advice when he asked for it,” he said. Wright described his job as the “loneliest in the world” but said he gradually developed a liking to it. “It was probably the biggest adventure I will ever have in my life. I miss that thrill of getting on that team bus and going to a big game, with the crowds clapping you all the way to the ground...,” he said.
Wadekar backs ex-coach’s views
New Delhi: John Wright’s controversial remarks on team selection came under flak from former selectors, with one of them even blaming him for keeping VVS Laxman out of the 2003 World Cup squad. The band of former “wise men”, with the exception of Ajit Wadekar, were quick to dismiss Wright’s allegations as “totally untrue” and termed it a ploy to sell his book. Former coach and Selection Committee chairman Wadekar said what was mentioned in the book on selection was not off target. “It has been going on for ages. It has been happening mainly because of the zonal system of nominating selectors,” Wadekar said. Tamil Nadu’s TA Sekhar, who was a selector during Wright’s tenure, said, “Wright is exposing himself by writing totally untrue matters like this after five years. After having earned over $ 200,000 annually for five years, it is obvious that he wants to make some more money by writing such things so that the book sells well.” “Laxman was in great form during 2003 but Wright got his way through by insisting on the selection of Dinesh Mongia in place of Laxman. If the selection process was regionalised, how come the team was able to perform so well in 2003 World Cup,” Sekar said. Former Selection Committee chairman Chandu Borde said Wright’s comments were in bad taste. “After all, he was present at all our meetings as a coach and he never expressed such things in the meetings. He used say that he was happy about the players given to him,” he said. Former BCCI President and Selection Committee chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur said he was not surprised by Wright’s comments. “It is sad but I am not surprised. John was a good friend of mine. He always spoke to me on these matters. He had told me how difficult it was to work with Ganguly,” Dungarpur said.
— PTI
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South Africa fighting to save Test
Colombo, July 30 The South Africans, needing 588 runs to avoid an innings defeat, lost three top batsmen for 20 in the post-lunch session before ending the fourth day’s play on 311-4 in their second innings. The South Africans put up a better display in contrast to the opening-day blues when they were shot out for 169, but still need to bat out a minimum of 90 overs on the final day tomorrow to save the game. The hosts will need six wickets on the fifth-wicket track at the Sinhalese Sports Club to take the lead in the two-match series. South Africa’s hopes of extending Sri Lanka rest on Prince, who shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 77 with Mark Boucher (38 not out) after the tourists were reduced to 234-4. Left-handed Prince, who took over the leadership from the injured Graeme Smith, hung on doggedly for three hours and 24 minutes to score his second Test half century with the help of four boundaries. Herschelle Gibbs, due to come in next after recovering from a stomach bug, is the last specialist batsman in the pavilion. Andrew Hall, who put on 165 for the first wicket with Jacques Rudolph (90), was confident the Proteas can wriggle out of the tight situation. “We are positive and have done well so far, I think it can be done,” said Hall. “We are not a side to give up easily. This game is not over yet.” Sri Lanka’s coach Tom Moody blamed the slow wicket for his side’s inability to run through the opposition a second time. “Ideally a wicket should help the spinners on the last three days, but this one is playing as true as ever,” the Australian said. “The bowlers have to really work hard for the wickets. We knew South Africa would come back hard in the second innings, but we have the bowlers to do the job tomorrow,” he added. The pace-spin duo of Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralitharan, who bagged four wickets each in the first innings, once again shared the spoils after South Africa made a promising start. Makeshift openers Rudolph and Hall put on South Africa’s best-ever stand for the first wicket against Sri Lanka. But Fernando struck 35 minutes after lunch. The tall seamer, playing on his club ground, forced a well-set Rudolph to edge a catch to Chamara Kapugedera at third slip and then trapped new man Hashim Amla leg before wicket. Off-spinner Muralitharan ended Hall’s defiance by claiming him lbw for 64 just before tea as South Africa lost three quick wickets in the afternoon session. Muralitharan returned after tea to trap AB de Villiers lbw for 24 as the batsman, who had publicly announced his intention before the series to attack the spinner, attempted to sweep a flighted ball. Scoreboard
South Africa (1st innings) 169 Sri Lanka (1st innings) 756 for 5 dec South Africa
(2nd innings) Rudolph c Kapugedera
b Fernando 90 Hall lbw Muralitharan 64 Amla lbw Fernando 2 Prince not out 60 De Villiers lbw Muralitharan 24 Boucher not out 38 Extras
(b-10, lb-1, nb-20, w-2) 33 Total (4 wkts, 105 overs) 311 Fall of wickets:
1-165, 2-171, 3-185, 4-234. Bowling: Malinga 14-0-77-0, Maharoof 11-2-30-0, Fernando 16-4-49-2, Muralitharan 40-6-83-2, Dilshan 4-1-10-0, Jayasuriya 20-4-51-0.
— AFP, Reuters
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Schumacher races to
victory
Hockenheim, July 30 While the 37-year-old celebrated the 89th victory of his incredible career, serenaded by air horns and his jubilant army of red-shirted fans, Renault’s world champion Fernando Alonso limped home fifth. The Spaniard’s overall lead was slashed from 17 points to 11, leaving his championship hopes on a knife-edge with six races remaining. Schumacher, in what some fear could be his final race appearance in Germany, took the lead after 10 laps when McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen pitted and the rest was straightforward. On a blazingly hot afternoon in southern Germany, Schumacher and Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa were in a race of their own as they anchored the team’s second one-two finish in three starts and tyre partner Bridgestone’s 100th Grand Prix success. They crossed the line in close formation, just 0.7 seconds apart.
Raikkonen, who had started on pole, was out of sight in third place and 13.2 seconds behind. Briton Jenson Button was fourth for Honda, ending a run of five races without points.
Alonso, who had qualified a disappointing seventh on his 25th birthday, made up two places at the start but then faded. Fisichella finished sixth, with Toyota’s Italian Jarno Trulli seventh and Austrian Christian taking the final point for Red Bull.
— Reuters
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Dope-tainted Gatlin may get life ban
Paris, July 30 “If USADA (the American anti-doping agency) confirms the violation, the sanction laid down by the rules of the IAAF is suspension for life,” said a statement. Gatlin, the joint holder of the world 100m record, said yesterday that he had failed a test in Kansas in April this year. The 24-year-old Gatlin also tested positive for the amphetamine Aderall at the 2001 US junior championships at the University of Tennessee. A subsequent ban was overturned after it was discovered the substances were part of the medication he had been taking to combat attention deficit disorder. “The IAAF can also confirm that Gatlin has agreed to attend a hearing before the USADA Review Board which is expected to take place shortly,” added the IAAF statement. IAAF President Lamine Diack said he was saddened by the Gatlin case. “Although it is a matter of deep regret that one of the biggest stars of our sport is facing serious doping charges, I would take this opportunity to emphasise the IAAF’s total commitment to the fight against doping,” said Diack.
— AFP
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Twenty20 given formal approval
Dubai, July 30 The seal of approval to Twenty20 was given at a recent ICC meeting in London where updated definitions on status on various forms of game were agreed after consultation with ICC Full Members and representatives of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (ACS). Accordingly, Twenty20 would be seen as a form separate from limited-overs cricket, the ICC release said. The ICC meeting also declared that the top six associate teams would qualify for ODI status, while domestic matches of less than three days’ scheduled duration or involving more than 11 players would not be classified as first-class cricket. The ICC also formally adopted “List A” limited-overs matches at the domestic level, as clarified by the ACS. The ACS will also maintain on behalf of the ICC the official record of “List A” matches.
— PTI
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Karuna, Mithali guide India to victory
London, July 30 After being put in to bat, Indian openers provided a solid start by putting up a 78-run partnership. The fall of Monica Surma (40) did not hinder India’s smooth progress as Karuna (56 off 114 balls, including 3 fours) added 77 runs with Mithali (50 off 71 balls). Anjum Chopra, who wore India cap for a record number of 89 one-dayers, scored 28. Later, small contribution by following batters took the Indian total to 212 for 5 in stipulated 48 overs. Jill Whelan was the best of the Irish bowlers returning with figures of 2 for 36. While chasing the challenging target, Ireland were all out for 105 thanks to good bowling performance by the Indians. C. Shillington top-scored for Ireland with 31.
— PTI
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Pak beat Argentina, finish fifth
Terrassa, July 30 Pakistan, who had already beaten the South Americans 2-1 in the round-robin match yesterday, opened up a 2-0 lead in the first half with two field goals by Rehan Butt. The first came from a defensive error which allowed him a free shot on goal while the second was from a deflection off Adnan Zakir’s cross from the right. Sohail Abbas converted the second of Pakistan’s three penalty corners. Argentina grabbed a consolation through a Mario Almada penalty corner. Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa predicted a semifinal place for his team in September’s World Cup. “I’m sure the boys have the potential to reach the last four,” Bajwa said. “If you don’t think about the 2-9 loss to the Netherlands, in the rest of the matches here, I really think we improved a lot and played good hockey.” — AFP
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National Games in February
New Delhi, July 30 Kalmadi said the Executive Committee felt that it was better for the athletes to peak for the Asian Games, to be held in Doha from December 1 to 15, instead of chancing their luck in the National Games a couple of month earlier, and risking injury. Moreover, there will be the South Asian Federation Games in between, to be hosted by Sri Lanka from August 18 to 28, and the sportspersons will have more than a handful of competitions to worry about this year. Kalmadi said the House had authorised him to settle the issue of the Rs 1 crore penalty to be imposed on Assam for the delay in hosting the National Games with the Chief Minister. The IOA President also categorically stated that the Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association would not be allowed to host the 2009 games in Lucknow as a decision to this effect had been taken at the IOA general council meeting in Ranchi six months ago.
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Punjab cops, PSEB win
Chandigarh, July 30 Punjab Police took the lead in the ninth minute through Jaspal Singh but the second goal came at the fag end when Gurpreet Singh netted the ball to ensure full points for his team. In another match played at Hoshiarpur, Punjab State Electricity Board carved out a narrow 2-1 win over qualifiers Bassi FC. It was Sandeep Singh who put PSEB ahead with a fine effort in the 22nd minute but the power men had to wait till the 87th minute to consolidate the lead when Kuldeep Singh scored off a fine move.
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John
Wright’s relations with Sourav Ganguly might have got strained towards the end of his stint as the Indian team’s coach but it was not all love lost between the two.
The former New Zealand captain has talked about his special “bond” with the
tempestuous former Indian captain in a report that appeared in New Zealand
Herald today.
