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Lalu to head
bcci in 2008?
WC final officials may miss Twenty20 Cup
Clean sweep will push India to 4th slot
Dav eager to take up Pak challenge
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Now, row over backdoor entry to new units
Too many tasks and too little time
Aerosvit Chess
AIBA considers longer bouts
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Lalu to head
bcci in 2008?
New Delhi, June 21 Although Lalu himself has not made his position clear, people close to him have already begun lobbying among key officials of the BCCI. Should this happen, it will be the culmination of a journey that Lalu Prasad, who is the president of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), began in 2001 when he backed industrialist A. C. Muthiah against Jagmohan Dalmiya for the presidency of the BCCI. Muthiah lost and Dalmiya regained control of Indian cricket after completing a two-year term as head of the ICC. One of the first things that Dalmiya did as BCCI chief was to disaffiliate the BCA that Lalu Prasad headed and enabled him to vote in the BCCI elections. Lalu became the BCA president after stepping down as state chief minister. Since then, Lalu Prasad has become a confirmed Dalmiya baiter as the BCA did not have a vote for four years, three years under Dalmiya and for the one year when Ranbir Singh Mahendra was in power. In 2005, when Mahendra bid for re-election, Lalu Prasad played a key role in ensuring the support of institutional voters like the railways, services and universities to enable Pawar wrest the post. Now making a secret pitch for Lalu, who has never played cricket himself, are BCA officials, including several former Bihar players who have turned out for the domestic Ranji Trophy cricket tournament. “I think Laluji is the ideal person to run the BCCI. After the way he stood up to Dalmiya when the BCA was removed from the BCCI and Jharkhand given its vote, Laluji has been closely following the goings-on in Indian cricket,” a senior BCA official, who did not want to be identified, told IANS on telephone from Patna. “It is only a question of convincing the members, and several affiliated units are keen on the idea of Laluji taking over from Pawar next year after the way he has turned around the fortunes of Indian Railways,” added the official. The official appeared to suggest that the succession issue was already decided and had the blessings of the current BCCI brass. After all, with the Dalmiya faction likely to make a pitch once again, the ruling clique needs a strong candidate to maintain its hold on the cash-rich BCCI. The recent fiascos over players’ contracts and TV rights for offshore games as well as the Afro-Asia Cup may have strongly dented the hopes of the likes of vice-presidents Lalit Modi and Shashank Manohar as Pawar’s likely successors. Modi, known for his marketing acumen, has filled the BCCI coffers with innovative selling of Indian cricket rights, while Manohar, a Pawar confidante, is a leading advocate from Nagpur. And though strong on legal issues, he has little backing from fellow BCCI administrators. The situation is thus ripe for Lalu Prasad to throw his hat into the ring, say many of Lalu Prasad’s backers in the BCCI. With his political clout in the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), it may not be very difficult for the railway minister to gather enough support once more for the ruling group. The only hitch in Lalu Prasad taking over the BCCI is the strong Maratha lobby led by former BCCI chief Rajsingh Dungarpur, who has on several occasions publicly opposed any suggestions by the Bihar strongman to project himself as Pawar’s likely successor. This lobby’s West Zone covers only two states, Maharashtra and Gujarat, but commands a whopping six votes, including that of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) run by Dungarpur. The CCI chief wields considerable influence in the West and can prove a stumbling block for the railway minister. BCCI officials refused to comment on the succession issue. “We have to first get the next elections out of the way, before we can even think about 2008. Right now everybody is busy finding a new coach,” Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI’s chief administrative officer, said from Mumbai. Such a line of thinking would appear to give Lalu Prasad a head-start since he has started testing the waters through the BCA officials close to him. Institutional votes from railways, services and universities are seen as a mere formality for the former Bihar chief minister. Besides, he could trigger a split in the votes from eastern states like Jharkhand and Orissa, both of whom are known Dalmiya backers. If that happens, Lalu Prasad would be a shoo-in to take over from Pawar as the next BCCI chief in September 2008.
— IANS
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WC final officials may miss Twenty20 Cup
Melbourne, June 21 On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor, television umpire Rudi Koertzen, reserve umpire Billy Bowden and match referee Jeff Crowe may have to sit out of the September tournament, to be hosted by South Africa, as a consequence of their blunder, Herald Sun reported today. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has neither confirmed nor denied the report and said a decision on who would stand in the Twenty20 World Cup would not be made until next month. ICC spokesman Samiul Hasan said last night “we are not in a position to confirm or deny this.” The World Cup finale became a subject of hot debate after the teams, Australia and Sri Lanka, were recalled to the field in semidarkness to complete the remaining overs in the rain affected match. Dar, Koertzen, Bucknor, Bowden and Crowe ignored the rule that once each side has played 20 overs, the match would be considered to have been completed in case play was interrupted permanently. Dar, on the advice of Koertzen, told the Australians that the teams would have to return to the field the following day, rest day, to complete the remaining three overs. The ground announcer in the meantime had declared Australia as winners, prompting celebrations among Ricky Ponting’s men. But after Bowden brief Ponting about the rules, the teams agreed to play in dark and finish the match. The furore that followed the incident forced ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed to issue an apology.
— PTI
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ICC to discuss Mali’s successor next week
Dubai, June 21 Another important issue on the ICC board’s agenda would be Zimbabwe’s possible return to Test cricket in November. Speculation was rife that BCCI chief Sharad Pawar and his only rival David Morgan of the England and Wales Cricket Board had struck a deal to occupy the ICC’s highest post when their regions stage major events. With England hosting Twenty20 World Cup in 2009, Morgan would like to be at the helm of the sport’s world governing body from 2008-10 while Pawar would prefer to be in the command from 2010-2012.
— PTI
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Clean sweep will push India to 4th slot
Dubai, June 21 Rahul Dravid’s side, which reached Belfast yesterday on a 80-day tour of UK, will leap-frog Sri Lanka and Pakistan if it wins each of its five matches during the tour of Ireland and Scotland. A clean slate would put the Men in Blue on 111 rating points, just two behind New Zealand in third position and one ahead of Pakistan, who would drop to 110 rating points. Any reversal, however, might see India drop below England to seventh position, which would be the lowest it has been in the ODI Championship since April, 2005. England can rise further still as it is set to play seven ODIs against India in August and September, according to an ICC statement here today. If the Irish can pull off victories at home to India and South Africa, it will gain 14 rating points, putting real pressure on Bangladesh in ninth spot. Shukla, Rocky appointed admin managers
New Delhi: BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and Rocky Rufus of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) were today appointed administrative managers of the Indian team for next month’s one-day and Test series, respectively, against England. “Rocky Rufus of BCA is appointed as administrative manager for the NPower Test series against England and Rajeev Shukla is appointed as administrative manager for the NatWest ODI series against England,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a press release. The 15-member Indian team, currently on a 80-day tour of the United Kingdom, is accompanied by cricket manager Chandu Borde, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh, besides five other support staff. — PTI India will play three Tests (July 19 to August 13) and seven one-dayers (August 21 to September 8) against England. Rahul Dravid’s men will first play a three-match one-day series against South Africa in Ireland beginning on June 26. They are scheduled to play a warm-up match against Ireland on Saturday. The Men in Blue will then leave for Scotland where they will play a one-off match against arch-rivals Pakistan, the proceeds of which will go to Prince Charles Charity Trust.
— PTI
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Dav eager to take up Pak challenge
Lahore, June 21 “Every team poses different challenges and Pakistan would be a challenge, but I am confident. Given the chance I would do my best,” Whatmore told reporters after his two-hour interview. The PCB is looking for a replacement to Englishman Bob Woolmer, who died in March at Jamaica during the World Cup. The other contenders for the post are Whatmore’s compatriot Richard Done and Geoff Lawson, who were interviewed earlier this week. Whatmore, 53, was associated with the Bangladesh team till his contract ended last month. “This is a great opportunity (of) working with a good board and a team, so I am eager on this. Pakistan is a top team and my priority will be to help them improve and produce best results,” he said. Whatmore will also meet the Pakistan team that is currently training in Abbottabad for the next month’s tour of Scotland. “A good team learns from its mistakes and Pakistan will have to do that after a disappointing World Cup,” said Whatmore, when asked about Pakistan’s first round exit from the World Cup after a shocking loss to minnows Ireland. The PCB panel will submit its report on the next coach to the board in the next few days and a final decision is expected next month. Whatmore, who represented Australia in seven Tests in the 1980s, has international coaching experience with two spells with Sri Lanka, during which he guided the team to victory in the 1996 World Cup. He also helped Bangladesh improve their standing at the international level, as the team qualified for the second round of the World Cup. Before leaving Bangladesh, Whatmore had expressed his interest in coaching India following the resignation of compatriot Greg Chappell. The Indian cricket board, however, has other plans though it is yet to select a coach.
— IANS
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KP says no to ODI captaincy
London, June 21 “It’s something I’ve thought about long and hard but it’s not the right time for me to do it,” said the Hampshire batsman, who was largely tipped to succeed Michael Vaughan, who vacated the ODI top job on Tuesday. “Now is the time for me to be doing team stuff, playing and supporting.” The 28-year-old was considered to be more progressive by many pundits, including batting legend Geoffrey Boycott and former English bowler Darren Gough. The hard hitting batsmen said, “At this stage of my career, I’ve only played 50-odd one-day internationals and 20 or 30 Tests.” Pietersen promising full support to the future captain said, “Whoever does get the job will get my full support. It’s a new era, with new coaching staff and a good time for England cricket to go forward.” Blaming Duncan Fletcher and the previous regime to neglect the one-day form of the game Pietersen said he hoped the one-day game would assume more significance within English cricket. Pietersen said, “Ever since I have been playing in one-dayers, for almost the last three years, we have not won too many trophies. The one-day scene has been neglected. It has been more of a Test match environment. Although not closing all the doors on captaincy Pietersen said, “I would be humbled in future to be given the opportunity to captain my country but not now.”
— UNI
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Sania banking on expatriate support
“I think I get more support at Wimbledon when I play because there are so many Indians out there and I think during that season a lot of people are visiting England as well,” Sania told BBC. “It’s great, it almost feels like you’re playing in India,” said the Hyderabadi, who was ousted in the second round at the French Open after losing to eventual finalist Ana Ivanovic. “When I won my first round in Paris my phone was going off the hook,” she said. “Everyone was very excited. “I was not playing tennis at all for two and a half months - I started playing a week before I went to Paris. It’s very hard, especially after you have surgery. “If you just have an injury and you come back I think it’s a bit easier but I literally had to start from scratch. My left leg had so much more power than my right leg. “I probably thought I would take longer to start hitting the ball as well as I was when I stopped playing. It’s been a hard process. “We’ve worked very hard in the gym - the rehab started two days after the surgery with little exercises. It’s been very, very hard,” said the World No. 46, whose short career has been marred by injuries. Regarding all the media attention she gets in India Sania said: “I try not to read papers as much as possible and I try not to watch too many news channels when the sports news is going on. “Every athlete in India has the pressure of the whole country on them when they play, more so the cricketers than me, but that’s something that we try and block out as much as possible. But it’s impossible to do it completely,” she added.
— UNI
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COA Tangle
Chandigarh, June 21 Interestingly, some units have decided to requisition a special general meeting on June 24 at Punjab Bhavan here to hold the much delayed election of new office-bearers of the body, objections have been raised over the units invited for the meeting. Chander Shekhar, senior vice-president of the COA, has in a letter to president Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi and secretary-general Ravinder Talwar, has demanded a meeting of the executive committee immediately to resolve various controversies facing the parent sport body of the Union Territory. Chander Shekhar, who was the first one to demand audited statement of accounts of previous years, including the first Chandigarh State Games in March this year, has held that no general house meeting of the COA had been convened since September 27, 2005. Even minutes of the last general house meeting were yet to be circulated. “The addition of new games and members amounts to a figment of imagination or mischief or cheating which amounts to misrepresenting the house and is a trick being played to out manoeuvre any contest that may emerge at the time of elections,” wrote Chander Shekhar in his latest letter today. Tracing the history of the COA, he held that in the past this parent sport body of the Union Territory always functioned in a democratic manner in which election of the President used to be by unanimous choice. “But the atmosphere this time is not congenial due to various reasons,” he said. Rana Sodhi held a dinner in Panchkula on March 20 where he broke the subject of holding elections. Once he knew that there would be a contest, agenda was circulated among members by mentioning a back date. A Chandigarh hotel was fixed as a venue for the June 24 meeting. But the notice, which did not reach many members, was subsequently withdrawn. Since a demand for auditing of accounts had been raised, neither the president nor the secretary-general took any action and the issue continued in a limbo till now. Not even the executive committee has been called since Chander Shekhar wrote his last letter.
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Too many tasks and too little time
New Delhi, June 21 A coach with 14 years of experience, Bucan has been given a six-month contract and the Serbian says it’s too short a time to deliver the goods. “My contract is up to December. I think it’s not a big period to make the standard of Indian basketball better,” he told PTI in an interview from Bangalore. What worries Bucan is the fact that coaching the side is not the only work he has been entrusted with. “I also have to educate the coaches here,” he said. A week after taking over the job, Bucan thinks an overhauling of the system is needed to enable the team match the standards of top international sides. Identifying the flaws that needed to be mended, Bucan said some key modifications were a must in order to raise India’s standard significantly. “We must modify the selection process and the functioning. More indoor stadiums are needed. India don’t have very tall players. Then the marketing should be done properly. “If some top Indian players play abroad (in leagues) for 5-6 years, it would help the game in the country.” Bucan, however, felt that it was too early for him to give a proper perspective about the status of Indian basketball. “I have spent only a week in India. I saw the junior nationals in Anantapur. Then I am in Bangalore to coach the senior team for the Asian Championships in Japan (July 26-Aug 5). I have not got enough time to speak to the players. “But, I think it should do better. My job is to ensure that we have a better tomorrow,” he said. — PTI
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Aerosvit Chess
Yalta, June 21 The draw helped Sasikiran reach 1.5 points out of a possible 3. The Indian will take on Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine in the next round. The third day provided less fireworks on the chequered board as only two games ended decisively out of a possible six. Sasikiran played the white side of a Benoni defense and even though he got an optical advantage, the game remained within the boundaries of a draw. Ivanchuk went for quick exchanges at the cost of a pawn in the middle game and recovered quickly to reach a level rook and pawns endgame. The peace was signed in just 28 moves. Spanish Grandmaster Alexei Shirov’s party was spoiled by tailender Loek Van Wely of Holland who came up with an inspired performance to register his first victory after losses on the first two days. Eljanov was the other winner of the day accounting for Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania. Shirov, who was in sole lead at the start of this round, was joined by Ivanchuk, Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine and Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia in lead on 2 points out of a possible three. Sasikiran remained in joint fifth spot along with Eljanov, Alexander Onischuk of USA, Lenier Dominiguez of Cuba and top seed Peter Svidler of Russia.
— PTI
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AIBA considers longer bouts
Lausanne, June 21 AIBA’s medical commission is studying the proposals after a reform committee suggested the changes at a recent meeting, according to spokesman Richard Baker. If approved by the medical committee, AIBA would try having boxing matches last for three rounds of three minutes each, rather than the current four rounds of two minutes each. This change, along with the removal of protective headgear worn by amateurs, could apply to selected competitions from August onward, but not at the 2008 Olympics or the 2007 worlds, Baker said. He also confirmed that plans to scrap AIBA’s electronic scoring system in favour of a more transparent one would not be implemented until after the Beijing Olympics.
— AP
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Paes-Damm in semis
Hertogenbosch, June 21
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Tharanga ruled out
Colombo, June 21
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London, June 21
