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Opening blues
Wisden recognises Raina’s genius
Lanka score consolation win
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Cramped schedule
Maninder gets bail
Dabbling with drugs
ESPN-Star deal with ICC in jeopardy
Bhupathi wants to tango with Paes
Sania-Chan enter quarters
Sharath-Roy advance
Bonanza for GND varsity players
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Opening blues
Dhaka, May 23 The opening slot continues to be Achilles’ heel for Team India. Jaffer is talented, but inconsistent to say the least.
Even in South Africa late last year, India’s opening problems continued to worry the team with Jaffer hitting the rock bottom with a string of failures before doing himself a big favour by hitting a century to book a berth for Bangladesh squad. The Mumbai willower’s ‘pair’, including the first ball dismissal in the first innings in the Chittagong Test, has also triggered wide-ranging speculations, with Yuvraj seemed to be the likely replacement. The reason of course would be not to dislodge the players doing well in their respective slots and Ganguly returned with roaring success in the middle-order. Yuvraj had been reasonably successful in the opening slot whenever opportunities came his way before his knee injury took over. The other possibility would of course be Ganguly being asked to open and V.V.S Laxman coming in to bolster the middle order. The Bengal southpaw has been successful as an opener and has said he was willing to bat anywhere. Young Dinesh Karthik, who partnered Jaffer in Chittagong, came good in the first innings scoring a classy half century. He perished early in the second innings, but that was the result of his bid to accelerate the run rate following instructions from the dressing room. He will keep his place at the top of the order. The 29-year-old Jaffer’s inclusion in the squad had raised many an eyebrows after the BCCI repeatedly stressed on choosing a relatively young squad for the Bangladesh tour. It is certain that skipper Rahul Dravid will not come out to bat first up at least on the flat tracks of Bangladesh, though he has said he is game for it if the conditions are difficult and the ball does a bit off the seam. Meanwhile, the Indian team has been invited to an official dinner tonight and even when the pleasantries will flow Dravid will be wearing his thinking cap forking on the opening slot.
— UNI
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Wisden recognises Raina’s genius
London, May 23 The latest issue of the Wisden Cricketer magazine clubs Raina with Australians batsman Michael Clarke, paceman Shaun Tait, all-rounder Shane Watson, England batsman Kevin Pietersen, Pakistan’s fast medium seamer Mohammad Asif, Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Lasith Malinga, West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and Bangladesh vice-captain Mohammad Ashraful as the players who will define cricket’s next decade. Well-known British cricket writer Lawrence Booth states in the article that Raina had the talent to be a left-handed Sachin Tendulkar with even more intuitive flair. “But he needs to be sensitively handled by India. The way he dismantled England during an ODI in Faridabad in March 2006 hinted at a rare genius, and Greg Chappell never stopped singing his praises. Aged 20, he has plenty of time on his side,” he said. Paying glowing tributes to the hard-hitting Pietersen, the article said that he finished the World Cup at the top of the one day ratings and he has the ability to stay there. “Only if he grows fed up with his teammates’ failings, will his potential be threatened but Pietersen - flamingo shot, left-handed sweep, bottom-handed cover drive and all - is well on course to fulfill Ponting’s prediction that he is world cricket’s next great phenomenon,” it said. On Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif, the writer said that if he could put the drug scandal behind him and rise above Pakistan’s intriguing politics, anything was possible.“There are few more apparently effortless fast bowlers in the world; willowy, snaking, subtle and accurate, he already has figures to die for (49 Test wickets at 20 with a strike rate of 39). Expect them to get better.” The writer was full of praise for middle order batsman Clarke, who always had the class but the World Cup inspired him to new levels of maturity. “Australia will relax in the knowledge that once Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have packed it in, they will be able to base their batting around a man with a strong enough sense of his own destiny to tattoo ‘carpe diem’ on his fore-arm.” Describing Dwayne Bravo as a “genuine all-rounder”, the article said that the player might emerge during the post-Lara years as his side’s most central figure. On Ashraful, it said the young cricketer was the star Bangladeshi player in the World Cup. “Of all the young Bangladesh stars to rise at the World Cup Ashraful’s could twinkle brightest. Things went quiet for a while after he became Test cricket’s youngest centurion in 2001 - on debut against Murali, no less-but his 87 against South Africa in Guyana was full of inventive cheek. The scoop over fine-leg might soon need to be patented.” The article also mentioned that a host of top players like Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul Haq, Glenn McGrath and Anil Kumble have either completely retired or given up the shorter version of the game which has made the winter of 2006-07 “as much like an epoch-breaker as an epoch-maker”. — PTI
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Abu Dhabi, May 23 With Pakistan already having secured the series with victories in the first two matches at Sheikh Zayed stadium, Sri Lanka reached 296 for nine from its 50 overs and then dismissed Pakistan for 181. Pakistan lost openers Salman Butt for two and Mohammed Hafeez for 34 and never seriously challenged the Lankan total. Then Dilhara Fernando did the early damage, claiming three wickets including Mohammad Yousuf (5) and debutant Fawad Alam (0) in successive deliveries. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik delayed the inevitable with a defiant 79 not out. For Sri Lanka, the match marks the end of Australian Tom Moody’s regime as their coach. Moody, who took charge in 2000, guided the islanders to the final of the World Cup in the West Indies in April. Scoreboard
Sri Lanka Tharanga c Akmal b Iftikhar 40 Jayasuriya b Iftikhar 19 Kapugedera c Akmal b Iftikhar 15 Jayawardene
b Hafeez 83 Silva b Rehman 64 Maharoof c & b Hafeez 10 Lokuarachchi c Butt b Asif 2 Dilshan not out 28 Jayawardene run out 2 Malinga run out 11 Extras (b-4, lb-5, w-9, nb-4) 22 Total (9 wkts; 50 overs) 296 Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-73, 3-101, 4-225, 5-240, 6-244, 7-252, 8-258, 9-296. Bowling: Asif 10-1-76-1, Shah 10-1-59-0, Iftikhar 10-0-53-3, Rehman 10-0-44-1, Hafeez 10-0-55-2. Pakistan Butt b Maharoof 2 Hafeez run out 34 Hameed c Kapugedera
Yousuf lbw Fernando 5 Malik not out 79 Alam c&b Fernando 0 Akmal run out 2 Rehman b Lokuarachchi 10 Iftikhar c H. Jayawardene
Asif run out 3 Shah lbw Maharoof 0 Extras (lb-1, w-1, nb-4) 6 Total (all out; 42.5 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-61, 3-66, 4-68, 5-68, 6-70, 7-114, 8-166, 9-180. Bowling: Maharoof 8.5-0-43-2, Malinga 8-0-33-0, Fernando 7-1-20-3, Dilshan 4-0-19-0, Lokuarachchi 10-1-32-2, Jayasuriya 5-0-33-0.
— AP
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Cramped schedule
Mumbai, May 23 “I don’t agree with the fatigue factor. Our cricketers don’t play more than our tennis players. Even the Australian and English cricketers play more. We are playing the same amount of cricket as in the past. It’s just that we have marketed it better,” BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said. Modi was reacting to Dravid’s remarks in Bangladesh yesterday that the schedule for the team was over-crammed. “Ideally, the timing of the series could have been better. But schedules are crammed, over-crammed if you ask me. I don’t know how we are going to fit everything in,” the Indian captain had said in Chittagong after the rain-marred drawn first Test against Bangladesh. But Modi dismissed suggestions that the BCCI was bent upon thrusting meaningless ODIs on the overburdened team. “We are still playing around 100-110 days’ of cricket in a year as in the past. The schedule may look a bit skewed in favour of ODIs because of the cycle. We play more ODI’s this year but next year will be playing more Tests against Australia and South Africa,” he elaborated. “The more we play the better it is for the team,” was Modi’s parting shot on the subject. — PTI
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Maninder gets bail
New Delhi, May 23 On account of quantity being small, you are released on bail, Additional Sessions Judge S. C. Malik said granting bail to Maninder on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of like amount. Maninder, a former player and commentator was arrested yesterday from his residence in a posh locality in East Delhi on the charge of possessing cocaine. Sayyam Siddique, a Nigerian national suspected to be a drug peddler, arrested along with Maninder, was remanded to two days police custody. Meanwhile, Maninder has reportedly confessed to the police that he was going through a rough patch in his personal life and resorted to drugs to de-stress himself. The police claimed that the 41-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator was a regular cocaine user and was planning a getaway in Mumbai, where he was to stay at the Wankhade stadium, to unwind.
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Dabbling with drugs
New Delhi, May 23 Maninder, caught with 1.5 gm of cocaine, today admitted that he was in a habit of using it once or twice in a month for around 10-15 years. Top cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies and Pakistan also have been named time and again for using such substances. Former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram was alleged of carrying marijuana during the team’s tour of the West Indies in 1993 while Waqar Younis, Aquib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed were arrested on the charges. The matter was redressed only after then Grenada Prime Minister intervened as Pakistan Cricket Board had came in defence of its players. Consequently, the opening Test in Trinidad was delayed by a day.England all-rounder Ian Botham is also listed among the substance abusers. He was charged with the habit of consuming ‘ganja’ in 1986. Botham, after an initial resistance, was reported to have admitted it following which the England and Wales Cricket Board had suspended him it for two months. Stephen Fleming may have helped New Zealand reach the semifinals of recent World Cup in the Caribbean and the Champions Trophy last year but he was caught for using ‘ganja’ during their tour of South Africa in 1993-94. Fleming shocked everyone by disclosing that half of his team was involved in it but the country’s cricket board fined only Fleming and Matthew Hart. Six members of South African team were also fined for using narcotics while celebrating their win in the Caribbean in 2000-01. Herschelle Gibbs, Andre Nel, Justin Kemp, Roger Telemachus, Paul Adams and physio Craig Smith were fine $13000. West Indian player David Murray had admitted that he used marijuana before and after the match and it was easy for him to get the substance in India. Murray started using the substance in 1978. In recent cases, Australian legend Shane Warne and Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were caught for using performance-enhancing drugs before 2003 World Cup and last years’ Champions Trophy, respectively. Warne used diuretics while Shoaib and Asif used banned steroid nandrolone and were suspended from the respective teams. — PTI
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ESPN-Star deal with ICC in jeopardy
Sydney, May 23 According to media reports, ESPN Star Sports is yet to sign any contract with the International Cricket Council (ICC), sighting regulatory changes in India as as the main reason. However, ESPN Star Sports spokesman in Singapore denied there were any concerns over the contract. “We’re not renegotiating with the ICC. We’re pretty happy.”
“Everyone was disappointed with India’s performance (in the World Cup) but I’m sure they’ll bounce back,” The Australian quoted the spokesman as saying. The ICC has also denied any approach by ESPN Star Sports to re-negotiate their existing agreement. In December, the ICC announced that it had sold the rights to 18 events over the next eight years, beginning with the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September, to ESPN Star Sports for an undisclosed sum believed to be around $1.1 billion. India’s early exit from the showpiece event cost broadcasters millions and raised concerns it could happen again at future big events costing even more. ESPN Star Sports paid twice as much as the previous seven-year ICC deal for the rights. This would be a crushing blow for the game’s governing body and its 10 Test-playing countries as the crisis once again highlights the economic hold India now has over cricket globally.
— UNI
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Bhupathi wants to tango with Paes
New Delhi, May 23 “I think ideally we (himself and Leander Paes) should team up. It’s a logical choice. It will give us (India) the best chance to win a medal,” Bhupathi said. To a question from mediapersons whether he would partner Paes at the 2008 Olympics, Bhupathi said with a slight smile on his face, “I was expecting this to be asked a hundred times. “Like we did in the Asian Games where we won the gold medal, we should ideally get together for the Olympics too if we want to win a medal in Beijing. “Considering our current doubles rankings, I guess that is what we should do.” He, however, said he had not approached Paes till now as the Beijing Olympics was 15 months away.” “Olympics is far off now. There is no need to start talking right away. We should just shut our mouths and play now,” he added. On whether he would partner Sania Mirza in mixed doubles at next week’s French Open, the former doubles world number one said, “Nothing is decided as of now. We will decide in the next few days,” adding he would be leaving for Paris on Friday. He also said he is practising regularly to put up a good show in the prestigious French Open. “Sania is performing well and has just won the doubles title in Morocco Open. We should not put pressure on her. It’s clay court season now, she will do better in the grass court,” Bhupathi, who was here as a brand ambassador to unveil Apollo Tyre’s plans of pumping in Rs 100 crore over the next 10 years to produce India’s first Grand Slam winner, said. — UNI
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New Delhi, May 23 Sania and Yung-Jan will take on the Greco-German duo of Anna Polunina and Stella Menna in the last eight stage of the Tier III WTA Tour event. The top seeds overcame a patchy start to storm past their unseeded rivals for a comfortable victory. Sania and Yung-Jan were broken twice in the first set but more than made up for that with four breaks of their own in the opening set. The Indo-Taiwanese combination put up an even better display in the next set and held their serve besides breaking the Romanians twice to clinch the match. Earlier, Sania bowed out of the singles competition in the first round itself, losing to American Meghann Saughnessy. — PTI
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New Delhi, May 23 The duo’s win was the only highlight of an otherwise disappointing start made by the Indians in the main draw of the competition. However, the Indian campaign in women’s doubles came to an end after national champion Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak surrendered 6-11, 5-11, 9-11, 6-11 to the Spanish pair of Galia Dvorak and Sara Ramirez in the first round. Mouma’s singles show was no better as she lost to Russian Irina Kotikhina 8-11, 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 in the first round. Further disappointment for the Indians came in the mixed doubles event with Sharath and Poulomi losing 9-11, 13-11, 5-11, 6-11 to the Chinese pair of Xin Xu and Yan Guo in the first round. — PTI
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Bonanza for GND varsity players
Amritsar, May 23 The university syndicate has already approved these incentives. According to the vice-chancellor, Dr Jai Rup Singh, the university has increased the cash prize money of the position holders of the university in the inter-university, national and international championships. The decision would be effective from the academic session 2007-08. He added that the university would award Rs 25,000 to the winners of senior and recognised international tournaments. The runners-up of these competitions would get Rs 20,000, third position holders would receive Rs 15,000 and for participation Rs 5,000. The winners of the national sports competitions would now get Rs 5,000, runners-up Rs 3,000 and third position holders Rs 2,000. Similarly, the All India Inter-University winners would be awarded Rs 7,500, runners-up Rs 5,000 and third position holder would get Rs 2,500. The vice-chancellor said the university had also decided to provide more incentives to its university campus players admitted in the various teaching departments of the university from the academic session 2007-08. He said the university would accord remission of full fee and other funds along with blazer and a piece of cloth for university campus colour, for those campus players who secure first place in All India Inter-University tournaments and first place in recognised national tournaments. He added that the university campus players who secure second or third place in inter-university tournaments and in recognised national tournaments; the university would give them remission of full fee and other funds along with a track suit. Those university campus players who secure first place in Guru Nanak Dev University inter-college tournaments and participation in All India Inter-University competitions, the university would provide them remission of full fee and other funds.
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Kickboxing panel Harinder loses
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