Dhaka, May 8
Often criticised for lacking in aggression, Team India skipper Rahul Dravid today asserted that they have come to Bangladesh to play good ‘hard cricket’ while paying the due to respect to a young and resurgent Bangladesh side.

Talking to the media, after the injury-streaked practice session, Dravid said, “Any international series is significant. Irrespective of what happened before, we have come here to play good tough cricket and we hope to do well.” He was reacting to a question on whether the series had any extra significance for him after being handed out a defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in World Cup. India play three ODIs with Bangladesh commencing May 10.

Asked if the young Bangla side was an advantage for the hosts, he said, “They do have a young side and the players have done well for the team. The fact that they have done well in the World Cup is a big boost for the side. They have a good future.” The skipper who just recovered from a knock on his helmet grill, when asked if the Indian selectors were taking a leaf out of the neighbourer’s book, Dravid said, “It’s certainly up to the selectors. But its good to have a right blend of youth and experience. After all you need a team that has a perfect mix that can help you play a good game and win matches. That is most important.”

Asked how well prepared was the side to counter the hot and humid weather, he said, “it would be hot for both the teams. We have had a tough and successful camp at Kolkata and it has always been a challenge to stay fit in the heat.

“It’s how you hydrate yourself and we have a keen eye on that. We have seen it is tough for the bowlers, but we have our methods to keep them fit and going.” About the camp in Kolkata, he said, “It was very successful as it gave the coach and the support staff a chance to meet all the 22 players from close and assess them. It also gave them a chance to interact closely with some of the young players in the country. We had tough sessions under tough conditions and we are very happy.” On whether he had seen the wicket, Dravid said, “I had a quick look at the wicket. It looks like a good flat wicket that has a little grass on it. It will go low as the match progresses.

Sydney, May 8
If Habibul Bashar, Mohd Asraful and Tamim Iqbal are out to prove in the home series against India that their win against the visitors at the World Cup was no fluke, coach Dav Whatmore has one more reason to eke on his boys-to impress upon the BCCI for a possible call up to coach India.

Should Whatmore, who threw himself into the ring for the India job after the 1983 world champion side’s debacle in the Caribbean World Cup, succeed in inflicting more pain upon the Indians, he will be in an even stronger position to get the call from the BCCI.

“I guess there’s an opportunity to impress if we go well, and an opportunity to look bad if we don’t,” Whatmore was quoted as saying from Dhaka by Sydney Morning Herald.

“But it’s difficult to say what the future holds. The only certainty is that I will be unemployed at the end of the series, but I can’t afford to be unemployed for too long,” said the Aussie who had guided Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup title before taking Bangladesh to the Super Eights phase in the Caribbean World Cup last month.

Whatmore’s name is doing rounds as one of potential candidates to occupy the vacant post of head coach for India and the BCCI has directed Bangladesh tour manager Ravi Shastri to keep an eye on Whatmore’s performance against his side.

A seven-member committee headed by BCCI chief Sharad Pawar will decide on India’s permanent coach in the third week of this month. — UNI

Dhaka, May 8
After raising the bar with their stupendous show at the just-concluded cricket World Cup, Bangladesh all-rounder Saqibul Hasan today admitted that expectations would be sky high in the ODI series against India.

“That we won (against India) in the World Cup is now a thing of past. Now it’s a big series for us. We will be under big pressure. It’s a home series. The people have lot of expectations from us,” Saqibul, who struck a fine half-century to power his side to a five-wicket upset win over India in the World Cup, said.

The 20-year-old emerged as one of the star performers for the team in the West Indies, scoring 202 runs with two 50-plus scores besides picking up seven wickets with his left-arm orthodox spin.

Speaking about the upcoming one-day series starting May 10, Saqibul said he did not consider Rahul Dravid’s men as favourites to win.

“The team which plays well on the match days will win the series,” he said after his side’s practice session here.

“Our guys are all enjoying the game. Hopefully, it will be a good contest and we will do well,” he added.

Asked whether the pressure of playing at home would tell upon his side, Saqibul said, “We have played lots of cricket here. And whenever we play there will be expectations. We are now used to that. It doesn’t affect us.” The all-rounder also dismissed Rahul Dravid’s assertion that the Indians were well prepared to handle the Bangladeshi spin attack after having done their homework.

“Had that been so easy, then every team would have done the same and succeeded,” he said with a smile.

Asked about his preparations for the series, Saqibul said, “Nothing particular. I am prepared for all types of situations. If the game requires that I play a few dot balls, it’s fine. Again, if I can save a few runs during fielding, that’s also OK for me. If I can do well, I’ll be happy.” Saqibul said winning the one-day series, if it happens, would be a good farewell gift to coach Dav Whatmore, who would be stepping down after the Test series that would follow the one-dayers.

The all-rounder parried a query on the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly from the Indian side, saying, “We are not thinking about them.” — PTI

Melbourne, May 8
Australia’s World Cup-winning team may not be in need of it but a hi-tech bat to help big hitters like Adam Gilchrist smash the ball even further could be on the market within 18 months.

The Australian-developed, Smart Cricket Bat, has been patented as the world’s first bat with active vibration control, a system already in use in baseball bats and tennis racquets, reports The Australian.

The bat’s key to reducing the “zinging effect” felt by big-hitting batsmen is in its innovative handle. It can reduce vibration by up to 42 per cent.

Melbourne’s RMIT University has developed the bat in conjunction with the Australian Research Council, bat manufacturer Kookaburra Sport and sensor company Davidson Measurement.

The $600,000 project uses electro-mechanical sensors and actuators, built into the bat’s handle. The technology is used in collaboration with a vibration-absorbing polymeric-based synthetic material.

The materials convert shock waves into heat and dampen vibration by generating waves in the opposite direction.

RMIT project leader Sabu John said the technology had increased the “sweet spot” of the cricket bat, the area in which the batsman experiences least impact when hitting the ball hard, providing greater control. It may also reduce the injuries experienced by top-level batsmen.

“The big push for this is going to be players who want a bit of technology in the bat and it would make them feel slightly better when the ball hits the bat away from the sweet spot,” said Associate Professor John, who is based in RMIT’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Associate Professor John said an additional $600,000 was needed to prepare the Smart Cricket Bat, co-developed by Tom Molyneaux from RMIT’s School of Civil and Chemical Engineering, for commercialisation.

The bat is expected to cost $100 more than the most expensive bats in the market today, which are priced at $500 to $600. — PTI

Melbourne, May 8
Cricket Australia has shot back at its Sri Lankan counterpart for terming Adam Gilchrist’s squash ball tactic as “unethical” and defended their vice-captain as a “highly principled man”.

CA Spokesman Peter Young refused to admit that Gilchrist gained an unfair advantage by batting with a squash ball in his glove when he scored a match-winning 149 in the World Cup final.

“It’s a storm in a teacup, or a batting glove,” Young said.

“He (Gilchrist) is a highly principled person. You’re going to have to go a long way before you find a cricketer who has higher moral standards than Adam Gilchrist,” he was quoted as saying by The Age.

Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan has said “we are of the opinion that it was unethical for Gilchrist to use a squash ball to give unfair advantage” and added Sri Lanka was considering taking the matter to the International Cricket Council.

Young said there was no rule which prevented a batsman from using any such tactic to enhance his grip but if it was so useful it could rather be made compulsory.

“To the best of our knowledge it’s no different to, say, putting two or three grips on the bat handle, or batting with two pairs of gloves or having inserts sewn into the palm of gloves. All these are things which now happen. This is in the same category”, he said.

“It’s been suggested that if shoving a squash ball into your bottom glove makes you bat like Adam Gilchrist then perhaps the ICC should make it compulsory,” Young said.

Batting coach Bob Meuleman, who introduced Gilchrist to the technique some years ago, said there was nothing “sinister” about it.

“Actually it’s just a little bid sad that some people think there’s something sinister in it. There’s not,” he said.

Senior Australian umpire Bob Parry, who stood in a limited overs match in Perth last season in which Gilchrist had a squash ball in his glove while scoring a century against Queensland, said he had no problem with it.

“I don’t see it being outside the spirit of the game. It’s the same as wearing an extra inner inside a batting glove,” he said.

Ipoh, May 8
With both the semifinal berths from their group up for grabs, India will take on Argentina in their concluding league match of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here tomorrow.

India have three points from their 5-4 win against China that followed a 0-1 defeat to Australia on the opening day in the eight-nation hockey tournament.

Argentina lead the table with six points after their 1-0 win against Australia and 3-2 triumph over China, which made the group wide open, as far as the semifinal spots are concerned.

The Aussies take on China in the first match tomorrow and the Indians will have the benefit of knowing what is required of them to advance to the semi-finals as they face Argentina later on.

“The game against Argentina will not be a cakewalk for sure. We need to be at the top of our game and our deep defence will have to perform exceptionally well. We had a bad game against China when we committed mistakes inside the circle and conceded nine penalty corners. We cannot afford to repeat that tomorrow,” Carvalho told PTI.

Argentina too have fielded a young team in this tournament and are in the process of rebuilding their side.

Their coach Sergio Roberto Vigil has a healthy respect for the Indian team and he said, “The Indians are very skillful and fast. I expect a close match.”

Argentina were not impressive against China last night.

Carvalho, however, refused to underestimate the opponents and said, “Every match is different and anything can happen on a given day. You cannot predict results in modern hockey. Like us, every team would like to have a good outing.”

Meanwhile, after a day’s break, the Indian team was back in training this morning. During the two-hour session on the stadium pitch this morning, the Indians focused on penalty corner defence and also dead-ball situations outside their circle.

“We committed far too many mistakes against China in these two areas and we are working on these aspects,” said Carvalho.

The coach has also insisted on the forwards to learn defending skills. Thus the accent this morning was on having all the 11 players inside the circle, facing free-hits and defending set-piece moves with the forwards forming the first wall of defence.

The Indian players appeared to be in a buoyant mood and the team has no injuries to deal with. Midfielder Bimal Lakra, who suffered a groin injury during the China match, has since recovered and is back to full fitness.

The league phase of the tournament concludes tomorrow with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals that are scheduled for Friday. The final is slated for Sunday.

Wednesday’s fixtures (IST): Pakistan vs Korea (2 pm, continuation of Monday’s match); Australia vs China (3.35 pm); India vs Argentina (5.35 pm). — PTI

Ipoh, May 8
Two first-half goals powered Pakistan to a comfortable victory over lowly Canada in a group B match of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today.

The Pakistanis were rarely in trouble, especially after Shabbir Khan deflected home an Akhtar Ali reverse hit in the fourth minute. Ali then came up with a brilliant solo run in the 33rd minute and capped it with a carpet shot to the boards for the second goal that effectively killed the Canadian challenge.

The victory, their first in two matches following a draw with Malaysia, took Pakistan to four points while the Canadians completed their league engagements without a win.

The closest Canada came to scoring was in the 67th when Anthony Wright got a touch to Wayne Fernandes cross, but the ball struck the upright and rebounded into play.

For the best part of the game, the Canadians were pegged inside their own half, but the Pakistani finish was simply woeful with the forwards repeatedly penetrating into the circle only to get it all wrong.

Further, the Pakistanis wasted five penalty corners as all their attempts were easily parried. — PTI

Hosts Malaysia stunned Asian Games champions South Korea 1-0 to book a place for the semi-finals in a Group B match of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here today.

Ismail Abu’s field goal in the 60th minute gave the Malaysians a rare win over the Koreans. They are now on top of the group with seven points from two wins and one draw. — PTI, UNI

Kuala Lumpur, May 8
FIFA today urged Manchester United to postpone a planned Asian tour in July, backing Asian soccer chiefs who called the team “immoral” for scheduling a visit that clashes with the region’s top tournament.

Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Macau, which hope to host Manchester United, should select new dates that do not clash with the July 7-29 Asia Cup tournament of the Asian Football Confederation, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.

“It is legitimate to say you are welcome but please not at a time when we are playing, according to an international calendar accepted by the whole football family, our biggest competition in July here in Asia,” Blatter said in a speech to the AFC’s annual congress.

AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said that Asian countries welcomed cooperation with European clubs to share experience, noting that the AFC has cooperated well with teams such as Chelsea.

However, he said some foreign clubs often “impose themselves on Asia without any care or thought about our football.” He said Manchester’s planned visit would come at a crucial time because it would compete directly with the AFC Asian Cup for spectator interest, television viewership and ticket sales.

“This is a lack of respect. This is completely unethical, immoral and unacceptable,” he said.

He called on the countries involved to reschedule the tour. “This is the time for us to demonstrate our unity and solidarity by putting Asian football first in Asia,” he said.

Blatter echoed Hammam’s views. “As president of FIFA, I appeal to your solidarity ... solidarity and respect are two things that go together.” Malaysian officials recently announced that Manchester United would play a friendly soccer match in Malaysia on July 27. The match follows a deal that United signed last year to support tourism in this Southeast Asian country.

The Football Association of Malaysia has denied the United match would undermine attendance at Asian Cup pool games to be staged in Malaysia, which is co-hosting the tournament with Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. — AP

Rome, May 8
They’ve met on clay, grass and hard courts, and even in a half-grass, half-clay court exhibition last week. On Monday, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played another type of game - doubles.

Nadal teamed with Carlos Moya to beat Federer and his Davis Cup team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of the Rome Masters.

“I’m getting to know him pretty well,” Federer said. “It was fun.” In singles, Nadal holds a 7-3 career edge over Federer and has won all five matches on clay. Nadal also won his only previous meeting with Federer in doubles, teaming with Tommy Robredo to beat Federer and Yves Allegro at the 2004 Indian Wells Masters.

Nadal was not reading anything into the latest victory over his rival. “We’re in the second round in doubles, that’s it,” Nadal said. “Doubles is not the same tension as singles. But it’s good practice for singles. It’s a good start for singles.”

In last year’s Rome singles final, Nadal outlasted Federer and won in a fifth-set tie-breaker. Yesterday’s doubles match went by a lot faster.

Nadal and Moya broke Federer’s serve to win the first set when Wawrinka netted two backhand volleys. — AP

Baddi, May 8
Pakistan hockey Olympian Mohammad Usmaan is all praise for Himachal Pradesh. “This is my first visit to this state and I have found everything the same as I have heard,” said Usmaan, while talking to reporters en route to Solan to participate in the Him Gold Hockey Cup. Usmaan and other players seemed overjoyed after getting a rousing welcome from the locals here after they arrived from the Wagah Border.

“We are looking forward to playing at Solan. It will be a challenge for us to play in a hill station with different circumstances and conditions, asserted Usmaan, who is representing the Shadman Hockey Club from Rawalpindi (Pakistan). The club team includes another Olympian Babar Abdullah and nine international players.

Commenting on the present state of hockey in both India and Pakistan, Usmaan advocated the need for more focus and professionalism in the game. He said to regain the past glory; the need of the hour was to find talent at the junior level.

The hockey in the sub-continent should be a mix of traditional and modern styles, he pointed out. There is also the need to nurture penalty shooters, Usmaan suggested.

The Olympian added that to compete with European teams we had to match their physical and mental strength. Ironically, while the performance of the Indian and Pakistan teams was not up to the mark, the team from China was performing well, he maintained. The team left for Solan by 8 pm.