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Warne vs Lara in Ranji Trophy?
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Yousuf, Younis shred record books
Kumble spins Surrey to victory
Negi off to a flier
Landis case sent to anti-doping agency
Eves rout Singapore
Rs 5 lakh for Avneet’s training, equipment
Bhutia to join camp today
JCT FA defeat PSEB
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Warne vs Lara in Ranji Trophy?
Ahmedabad, August 6 The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has radical plans to allow participation of overseas players in major domestic tournaments including the Ranji and Duleep Trophies on the lines of the English county championship. “We want to bring in foreign players to play some of the Ranji Trophy matches,” BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told reporters here today. “We want to generate interest among the masses regarding Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. We wish that more and more people go to watch these matches.” Shah also said there were plans to introduce coloured clothing and white Kookuburra balls in the Duleep Trophy. The subject of international stars playing in the Ranji Trophy surfaced when Maharashtra Cricket Association chief Ajay Shirke reportedly said two days ago that the MCA was planning to bring in a few Australian cricketers including Warne, world’s leading bowler with 685 scalps, in order to prop up the state team’s prospects. BCCI President Sharad Pawar had said yesterday that Ranji Trophy rules did not allow for the participation of overseas players but Shah clarified that “provisions to play foreign players already exist.” In fact, England’s charismatic batsman Denis Compton and West Indian pacer Roy Gilchrist had played in the Ranji Trophy in the past. “Today most of the associations have money and they can afford to bring in players (from other countries),” Shah said. “We are open on this matter. This (bringing in overseas players) will generate interest and people will go and watch local Ranji matches.” “(Rahul) Dravid had requested that we should play some of our domestic matches with Kokuburra balls because Indian players lacked the necessary experience needed to tackle these balls, while touring countries like Australia and England,” Shah said while explaining the Board’s decision to introduce Kokuburra balls into domestic cricket in India. Along with the white balls, the board will also introduce coloured clothing for Duleep Trophy and other tournaments, which are played annually on the domestic circuit, he said. Cricketers reassemble for skills camp
Bangalore: After a brush with commando-style fitness training, the Indian cricketers reassembled here on Sunday for a skills-specific camp in preparation for the tri-series in Sri Lanka beginning on August 14. The players, with the exception of Irfan Pathan, trickled in batches for the four-day camp starting tomorrow at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Pathan, who had given himself two days of extra practice ahead of the first camp, arrived yesterday itself and had a bowl at skipper Rahul Dravid in the nets with bio-mechanist Ian Frazer and trainer Gregory Allan King keeping a close watch. Apart from the 15 Colombo-bound players, paceman Laxmipathy Balaji and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik are also here to continue their rehabilitation following injuries. The spotlight would be once again on Sachin Tendulkar in the wake of comments by coach Greg Chappell that the batsman is not 100 per cent fit and would not be able to throw the ball from the deep. The comments of Chappell, who had skipped the first camp as he was on a vacation to the USA, has refuelled the debate on whether Tendulkar is hurrying back his return to international cricket. Tri-series from Sept 12
Ahmedabad: The Malaysia-Singapore tri-series, featuring Australia, West Indies and India will be held from September 12 to September 24, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said here on Sunday. The cricket boards of both Australia and West Indies have given their consent for the tri-series, which will be held under lights, Shah told reporters.
— PTI
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Colombo, August 6 South Africa, who scored 361 in the first innings and bowled Sri Lanka out for 321, batted through a closely fought third day to close on 257 for seven, an overall lead of 297. Gibbs, under pressure after three cheap dismissals in the series, batted positively in the morning and then grafted hard during the afternoon as Sri Lanka bowled tightly to defensive fields. The 32-year-old right-hander stroked 11 boundaries and one six during a 190-ball innings before missing out of what could have been his first Test hundred for 19 months and the 15th of his career. Nevertheless, it was a timely return to form for a batsman who had passed 20 only once in his previous 11 innings. The Sri Lankans were kept in the game by prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who snared three wickets in the final session to finish with four for 86, one short of a record-equalling fourth consecutive 10-wicket match haul. South Africa had dominated the morning, adding 100 runs from 29 overs. The only casualty of the session was makeshift opener Andrew Hall, who was caught behind for 32 off Farveez Maharoof. Hall and Gibbs shared an opening stand of 76 runs, allowing South Africa to tighten their grip on the game after their bowlers stole the initiative on day two. The tension mounted in the afternoon as Sri Lanka applied pressure with two run-outs, the first a controversial decision by television umpire Tyrone Wijewardene who ruled Jacques Rudolph out for 15. Gibbs fell on the stroke of tea after top-edging a sweep off Muttiah Muralitharan, lifting the morale of a previously frustrated Sri Lankan team. After tea the flow of runs reduced to a trickle as Maharoof found some reverse swing with the old ball and Muralitharan plugged away accurately. However, Ashwell Prince (17) and AB de Villiers (33) chiselled out 41 crucial runs for the fifth wicket. The game turned again in the final hour as Muralitharan struck twice in an over, snapping up a return catch off Prince and then the fortuitous scalp of De Villiers, who edged onto his helmet to be caught at short leg. Scoreboard
South Africa (1st innings) 361 Sri Lanka (1st innings) 321 South Africa
(2nd innings) Gibbs c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 92 Hall c P. Jayawardene
b Maharoof 32 Rudolph run out 15 Amla run out 8 Prince c&b Muralitharan 17 De Villiers c Dilshan
b Muralitharan 33 Boucher not out 28 Pollock c Tharanga b Muralitharan 14 Boje not out 5 Extras
(b-9, lb-3, nb-1) 13 Total (7 wickets, 92 overs) 257 Fall of wickets:
1-76, 2-119, 3-131, 4-161, 5-206, 6-207, 7-235. Bowling: Vaas 16-4-41-0, Malinga 12-1-55-0, Maharoof 17-3-34-1, Muralitharan 39-10-86-4, Jayasuriya 8-0-29-0.
— Reuters
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Yousuf, Younis shred record books
Leeds, August 6 Yousuf fell just eight runs of completing the fifth double century of his Test career while Younis was run out for 173 as the touring side, replying to England’s first innings of 515, were dismissed for 538 just before the close of the third day. England, who lead the four-match series 1-0, safely negotiated the last two overs of the day and were 3-0. Yousuf, who made 223 against England in Lahore at the end of last year and 202 at Lord’s earlier in this series, scored 112 in boundaries, 25 fours and two sixes, before he was caught off the glove facing Steve Harmison to make it 399 for three. Younis batted for almost seven hours before he was run out by a direct throw from Sajid Mahmood. He and Yousuf had come together on Saturday with the score on 36 for two. First the duo posted Pakistan’s highest third-wicket partnership against England then, by getting past the 322 of Salim Malik and Javed Miandad at Edgbaston in 1992, they made it Pakistan’s best stand for any wicket against their hosts. By the end, they also boasted the highest third-wicket stand against England by any team, overhauling the 338 compiled by Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell for West Indies in Port of Spain in 1953-4. Such was their domination that there seemed every possibility of them threatening the 451 put on by Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman in 1938, the highest stand of all time recorded against England. Scoreboard
England (1st innings) 515 Pakistan (1st innings) Butt run out 20 Umar c Read b Hoggard 7 Younis run out 173 Yousuf c Read b Harmison 192 Inzamam hw Panesar 26 Iqbal lbw Collingwood 0 Akmal c Trescothick b Mahmood 20 Sami c Harmison b Panesar 19 Nazir not out 13 Gul c Panesar b Mahmood 7 Kaneria c Trescothick b Panesar 29 Extras
(b-1, lb-20, w-5, nb-6) 32 Total (all out, 141.4 overs) 538 Fall of wickets:
1-34, 2-36, 3-399, 4-447, 5-447, 6-451, 7-481, 8-489, 9-496, 10-538. Bowling:
Hoggard 29-4-93-1, Harmison 30-1-142-1, Mahmood 24-4-108-2, England
(2nd innings) Trescothick not out 0 Strauss not out 3 Total
(2 overs) 3 Bowling: Sami 1-1-0-0, Gul 1-0-3-0.
— Reuters
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Kumble spins Surrey to victory
London, August 6 Kumble’s 8 for 100, his best figures in county cricket, gave the Division Two leaders their seventh win of the season in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship. The 35-year-old, who took just one wicket in his previous outing for Surrey, proved too good for his former colleagues, finishing with match figures of 11-183.
— PTI
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Negi off to a flier
Vlissingen (The Netherlands), August 6 All the four Indians in the fray, Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, International Masters Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury and Saptarshi Roy, and Roktim Bandyopadhyay also got off to a flier in the traditional tournament. There were no major upsets recorded on the opening day of the nine-round tournament and all the seeded players sailed through over their lesser known opponents. In the first round, Negi had an easy outing against De Hert Oliver of Holland in a Noteboom variation game where the Indian played with black pieces. In the second round, Negi won with white pieces against Geralt Serdijn. It was a similar story for the other Indians in the fray in the first two rounds as all the remaining three coasted home without much troubles in the event being played in the Swiss format. Harikrishna stretches lead
Paks (Hungary): Former world junior champion P Harikrishna took a decisive step towards his quest to lift the 3rd Marx Gyorgy international chess title after scoring a fine victory over defending champion Zoltan Almasi of Hungary in the eighth round here. With his second victory over Almasi inside a week in this double round-robin tournament, Harikrishna stretched his lead to a full point over nearest rival Grandmaster Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine who drew this eighth-round game, with Grandmaster Ferenc Berkes of Hungary. As the other game of the eighth round between Wang Yue of China and Peter Acs of Hungary also petered out into a draw, Harikrishna’s game was the only high point of this round of the category-15 event. Harikrishna has now 5.5 points and is followed by Efimenko on 4.5, while Almasi and Wang Yue are now joint third with four points each in their kitty. Berkes stands fifth on 3.5 points, while Acs is last on the list with 2.5 points.
— PTI
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Landis case sent to anti-doping agency
Colorado Springs, August 6 The news came after the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced that the analysis of the B sample provided by Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France confirmed the A sample positive result for excessive levels of testosterone. “The UCI has requested USA Cycling to begin disciplinary procedures,” a statement from the US federation said. “As required by its charter with the US Olympic Committee, USA Cycling has formally referred this case to USADA as the organisation solely responsible for the adjudication of anti-doping cases involving American athletes in the Olympic movement. “USADA is responsible for opening a formal disciplinary procedure against Landis based on the analysis and subsequent positive result of both the A and B samples,” the statement said. Landis, who could become the first cyclist to be stripped of the coveted Tour de France title, has denied using performance enhancing drugs and vowed to fight to clear his name. Until USADA has completed the adjudication process, which could eventually include arbitration, USA Cycling will not comment further on the case, the federation said. “To maintain the same level of sensitivity and respect for both the rights of all athletes and due process as the Landis case enters the formal disciplinary phase, we will continue to refrain from comment until USADA reaches a final determination and all appeals are exhausted,” said Steve Johnson, chief executive of USA Cycling. However, Johnson did take the opportunity to reaffirm the federation’s zero-tolerance policy on doping. “Fair play is paramount in maintaining the integrity of our sport and the athletes who participate in it at any level and discipline,” Johnson said. “USA Cycling will simply not tolerate doping in our sport to protect the reputation of all athletes who practise the Olympic ideals.”
— AFP
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Button wins at last
Budapest, August 6 While the 26-year-old Honda driver ended his long wait, triumphant at last in his 113th start, Renault’s world champion Alonso trudged away without a point after leading for much of the afternoon. Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher also failed to score, retiring three laps from the finish to leave the title battle as finely balanced as ever with Alonso 11 points ahead and five races remaining. Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa was second for
McLaren, the best result of his career, with Germany’s Nick Heidfeld third for BMW
Sauber. Alonso’s car slewed and skidded into the tyre barriers with 18 laps to go while in the lead after a breathtaking charge from the 15th place on the grid in wet conditions. “After the stop I had a feeling something was not in order. I wanted to get back to the box, but it was not possible,” said
Alonso. “We were extremely fast at first. It’s a shame. But it happens to everyone,” he added. Button’s win, from 14th on the grid after a 10-place penalty for an unscheduled engine change yesterday, was Honda’s first as a constructor since 1967 and provided a story book ending to a weekend full of drama and surprise. The first British winner of a Grand Prix since David Coulthard for McLaren in Australia three years ago, Button finished 30.8 seconds clear of de la Rosa. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello took the fourth place for Honda, ahead of Coulthard in a Red Bull and Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher. Poland’s Robert Kubica took two points on his debut for BMW Sauber with Brazilian Felipe Massa eighth for Ferrari.
— Reuters
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Eves rout Singapore
Singapore, August 6 The defending champions came up with a clinical display against Singapore and scored at will as they led 3-0 in the break. Rani opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Binita scored in the 11th and 32nd minutes. After the break, Rani pumped in two more in the 49th and 55th minutes. Binita scored her third goal in the 58th minute. India dominated the proceedings but the hosts had their share of chances too which were thwarted by the Indian defence. Indian coach G S Bangu was happy with his team’s performance. “We knew we had to score more goals today after Malaysia scored four past Japan,” he said.
— PTI
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Rs 5 lakh for Avneet’s training, equipment
Bathinda, August 6 The amount was approved by the Chief Minister thanks to the efforts made by Punjab Rifle Association chairman Raninder Singh. Thanking the association and the government for their support, Avneet said it was a morale booster before the forthcoming trials in Bangalore for the Asian Games. Talking about her requirements, Avneet said she would like to have one more rifle as any snag in the gun could spoil her chances in a crucial event. She is also keen to have a shooting range at her home as advised by her coach. She feels that practising with an electronic machine would do a world of good to her game, as after shooting on paper targets one gets slightly nervous in international events, where the former has become a regular feature. “Installing a machine at home is not a priority now as most of the time I am out for shooting events or training camps. I would first like to have a good rifle and other equipment,” she said. On future challenges, she said getting through the trials for the Asian Games was on top on her agenda. “I’ll be competing with Anjali Bhagwat, Tejaswini Sawant and Suma Shiroor for a berth in the Asiad,” she said. Avneet would be felicitated along with other shooters who excelled in the Commonwealth Games and the recent World Championships by the state government on August 14. She would then leave for Bangalore for the Asiad trials followed by a training camp in Indore.
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Bhutia to join camp today
Kolkata, August 6 “I had a talk with chief coach Bob Houghton this afternoon. Following the talks, I have decided to join the camp from tomorrow,” Bhutia told PTI. The dialogue took place soon after Bhutia returned from his native village of Tinkitam in Sikkim. Indian team manager Pradip Chowdhury welcomed the player’s decision saying it will help in boosting the morale of the side. Earlier in the day, Houghton had expressed his desire to have Bhaichung in the camp. “If you ask me whether we want him in the team, I’ll say ‘absolutely’,” Houghton told a press conference here. The Briton said he had earlier spoken to Bhutia before the Indian team left for the Vancouver trip last month. “He then told me that he needed rest. This I found quite natural, as he has been playing for a long time, and taking a lot of pressure as well,” he added.
— PTI
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JCT FA defeat PSEB
Chandigarh, August 6 The match played at brisk pace, saw JCT Football Academy taking an early lead when Balraj Singh found the target in the fifth minute. However, the joy of the visitors was shortlived as PSEB hit back with the equaliser through Gurpreet Singh in the eighth minute. But thereafter, JCT Football Academy took control of the proceedings and once again forged ahead through a goal by Asim Hassan in the 33rd minute. Asim increased the lead to 3-1 with another opportunistic strike in the 75th minute after which the hosts fought a losing battle and eventually surrendered valuable points to their rivals, who appeared determined to clinch the issue in their favour.
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