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India take 283-run lead
Endorsement Rights |
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B’desh dissolves
cricket board
Monty wins Asian Achievers Award
Sania sizzles in Stanford Sania Mirza will face top seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in the summit clash of the Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament. Head to head, Chakvetadze is 2-0 up. — AP/AFP photo
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India take 283-run lead
An ultimately patient 91 by Sachin Tendulkar, supplemented by a classy 79 from Sourav Ganguly, not to mention a blossoming 54 from VVS Laxman before it was cut short, gave India a commanding 283-run first-innings lead, leaving England a Himalayan task to save the second Test. At stumps on the third day, England, despite not losing a wicket, still needed 241 runs to make the Indians bat again. Tendulkar, who lost his wicket in the 90s for the third time on this tour of the British Isles, was unfortunate to be a victim of a misjudgement by umpire Simon Taufel, as was Ganguly, for whom this venue is his happiest hunting ground in Tests and where he continued to average close to 90. The two realised 96 runs for the third wicket, thereby crucially thwarting England’s ambitions with the second new ball. This laid the platform for a substantial enough surplus, which was augmented by a 50-run stand between Laxman and Anil Kumble for the seventh wicket. But the wicket has eased considerably; and while India are in an unassailable position, sensible batting by England could delay — perhaps even deny — an Indian victory. Patience, though, has become a casualty in the modern game and there is also the likelihood of the wicket deteriorating on the fourth and fifth days. Weather forecasters had been unanimous in writing off play on Sunday. Yet, it turned out to be the brightest so far, with a packed stadium for a third consecutive day and Indian flags fluttering in the gentle summer breeze complementing the sunshine. Ryan Sidebottom, playing at home, bowled a magnificent spell of nine overs (eight of them to Tendulkar), conceding only seven runs; and more importantly beating the Mumbai master several times. But England were denied any inroads. Ganguly, at the other end, confronted by a less tormenting line and length, kept the scoreboard ticking. He cut and drove crisply to the cover fence and once even helped (rather than hooked) a ball from Chris Tremlett to square leg for six — the only one of the match thus far. He handled the aerial movement with finesse and treated spin with contempt. Twice in one over, once from the crease and the second time by using his feet, he cover drove Monty Panesar against the spin. But this left-arm spinner emerged as the most successful with figures of four for 101. Tendulkar entered the 90s with an uppish cut for four. But in the same over — the first after lunch — was adjudged leg before wicket. While Hawkeye indicated contact outside the off-stump, the Little Master would have been wise not to pad up in such a marginal situation. Punters at the betting shop at this ground who had gleefully accepted odds of 6-1 on a Tendulkar century before he commenced his knock on Saturday, must have cursed their luck. In an action-packed over, Ganguly was close to being lbw, responded with a boundary to third man, but was then given out caught behind down the leg side. He could not conceal his disappointment with the decision. Scoreboard England (1st innings) 198 India (1st innings) Karthik c Cook b Panesar 77 Jaffer c Prior b Tremlett 62 Dravid c Bell b Panesar 37 Tendulkar lbw Collingwood 91 Ganguly c Prior b Anderson 79 Laxman c Prior b Tremlett 54 Dhoni c Prior b Sidebottom 5 Kumble c Prior b Tremlett 30 Zaheer not out 10 RP Singh lbw Panesar 0 Sreesanth lbw Panesar 2 Extras (b-16, lb-16, w-1, nb-1) 34 Total (all out, 158.5 overs) 481 Fall of wickets: 1-147, 2-149, 3-246, 4-342, 5-409, 6-414, 7-464, 8-473, 9-474. Bowling: Sidebottom 36-11-75-1, Anderson 33-4-134-1, Tremlett 40-13-80-2, Collingwood 16-3-59-1, Panesar 33.5-8-101-4.
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BCCI calls the shots, not players
New Delhi, July 29 “The players can enter into an agreement for rights which only belong to them and not those which pertain to their performance on the field representing Team India, which is selected and promoted by the BCCI,” the apex cricket body said in its reply to anti-monopoly watchdog Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC). Making a submission in the case between global sportswear majors, Nike and Adidas, over the rights to use Sachin Tendulkar for promotions, the BCCI said the endorsement and ad rights pertaining to Indian players had an overriding effect on all other contractual agreements that individual players have with different companies. “The BCCI is the body responsible for promotion and administration of cricket in the country and the players who play in matches representing the country so do under the agreement entered into with BCCI,” it said. While Nike has a five-year contract with BCCI for the cricket team’s on-field uniform, Adidas has signed up Tendulkar for its promotional campaigns. Adidas has alleged that Nike was violating its exclusive personal endorsement agreement with Tendulkar by using his name for promoting its products and has sought compensation. In its five-page reply, dismissing claims of Adidas on Tendulkar, the BCCI also washed its hands of the matter, saying that it had no control over Nike. “Answering respondent (BCCI) could not ensure that Nike India does not include in such advertisements because it has no control over the affairs of Nike India, which is a separate corporate entity,” the BCCI said, advising Adidas to approach the civil court over the issue as the MRTPC was not the appropriate forum. Moreover, the BCCI also accused Adidas of harassing it by filing frivolous allegations as it “failed to procure the contract” for supplying footwear and clothing apparel and related cricket accessories for the players. — PTI
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Karachi, July 29 Inzamam, who retired from one-day cricket after the World Cup in March, confirmed today that ICL had made an official offer to him and he was looking into it. “I am excited at the prospects of playing alongside other great players and if the terms are right I will certainly play in the league,” Inzamam said in an interview. The senior batsman, however, made it clear he was not acting as an agent on behalf of the league organisers and was not aware if any other Pakistani player had been signed on. Inzamam retired from one-dayers and left the captaincy after Pakistan was knocked out of the World Cup in the first round. The ICL Twenty20 cricket has been launched by Essel Group, which owns Zee Telefilms. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India has warned all its affiliated units and players not to play in the league or face disciplinary action. Despite the stand-off, the organisers have managed to sign on former West Indies skipper Brian Lara who will come out of retirement to captain one of the sides in the league while talks are also on with Australian stars, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. The league will feature an annual tournament featuring foreign players and some current Indian players. Inzamam did not mince any words while voicing support for the ICL. “I think the official boards have cold feet about it because of the long-term repercussions they fear will occur. Obviously, if the league pays good money to the players, then other players would be demanding the same sort of treatment from their boards,” he said. “At the moment, I do not think the boards pay their players money which matches the earnings they make from their various sponsorship, advertising and broadcasting deals,” he said. “There are players who feel the officials need to be fair with them on some issues, including the number of matches they are made to play each year.” Inzamam also felt the ICL could survive alongside official tournament. “If the boards agree, a proper time slot can be set for it. But I don’t think the organisers of the ICL are going to back down now.” On his own future, Inzamam said he had every intention of playing in Test cricket. “It is my ambition to score 10,000 Test runs and I think my form and fitness allows me to achieve this target.” “I have heard that they (selectors) are worried what sort of influence I will have on the dressing room and on the new captain if I am back in the team,” Inzamam said. “But that should not be an issue to worry about for anyone, if the senior players are treated with respect and the captain is given support and confidence. “The captain’s biggest challenge comes when the team is losing and is down. That is when his skills are tested the most. When the team is winning everything a captain says is right and there is no pressure on him.” Ponting hits out
at ‘rebel series’
Melbourne: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has hit out at the proposed Indian Cricket League (ICL), saying the million-dollar “rebel series” threatens to tempt ageing cricketers into early retirement while luring youngsters away from national duty. “It’s only a concern if there is huge money involved in it,” Ponting said. “If this sort of stuff gets off the ground, these guys won’t even be playing with their mates, they’ll be thrown into made-up teams. You’ll be out there by yourself and trying to win some money,” he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun. “The other thing being talked about is this Allen Stanford guy in the West Indies. The $23 million he’s said to be offering is a concern because the way I look at it is people getting towards the end of their international career will think, ‘If I’m guaranteed that, this kind of money might be a good thing’,” he added. Ponting felt such rebel series suited only the likes of Brian Lara, for whom money can be a motivation to carry on for bit longer after giving up his international career. Former Australian coach John Buchanan, meanwhile, felt that Allen Stanford’s proposed Twenty20 bash in West Indies was a bigger revolution waiting to happen than the ICL.
— PTI
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B’desh dissolves
cricket board
Dhaka, July 29 “The board has been dissolved as most members have
resigned voluntarily,” the sports ministry said in a statement. “It
is hoped that the interim committee will soon take up charges and will
take steps to organise a permanent committee.” Jamali, chief of
general staff of the Bangladesh army, will head an interim committee
that includes Fahim Munaim, principal press secretary of Fakhruddin
Ahmed who is head of the army-backed interim government. Industrialist Salman Ispahani, a leading sports organiser, is the only member of the dissolved 31-member board to be included on the interim committee. Seventeen
board members, including general secretary Mahbub Anam and
vice-president Gazi Golam Dastagir, resigned last week following the
interim government’s plans to depoliticise the governing body. The
authorities had criticised most board members for being linked to major
political parties, which they said jeopardised the normal running of the
game.
— Reuters
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Monty wins Asian Achievers Award
London, July 29 The only Sikh cricketer to play for England, Monty has quickly gained in reputation among his team-mates and oppositions besides spinning the English team to several victories. Lord Karan Billimoria, leading NRI entrepreneur presented the award to Panesar at a glittering ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, last night. Among those present on the occasion were Keith Vaz, leading NRI Labour MP and former minister, S Jagadeesan, Minister, Economics in the Indian High Commission, Lord Bhiku Parikh and yoga expert Swami Ramdev.
— UNI
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Sania sizzles in Stanford
Stanford, July 29 The unseeded 20-year-old Hyderabadi, whose only singles Tour title came in Hyderabad in 2005, outfought the Austrian 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 under the hot sun in two hours and 14 minutes yesterday. Sania meets top seed Russian Anna Chakvetadze, who overcame third seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal. Chakvetadze, though, has a 2-0 record against Sania, including her semifinal victory in Cincinnati last week. Sania is also in sight of her third doubles title of the year as she and Israel’s Shahar Peer stormed into the final. The third seeded pair accounted for the unseeded duo of Hsieh Su Wei (Chinese Taipei) and Alla Kudryavtseva (Russia) 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal. Bopanna-Qureshi clinch title
London: Third seeds Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi clinched the doubles title of the 21,000 euro ATP Nottingham Challenger with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Mustafa Ghouse of India and Joshua Godall of UK in the final of the grasscourt event. The Indo-Pak pair won to walk away with their second title in two weeks on the ATP Challenger circuit this year. The duo had won the Manchester Challenger last week. In singles, top seed Qureshi faltered lost to second seed Alun Jones of Australia 3-6, 6-4, 4-6 in the final.
— UNI Pak beckons
Lahore: Pakistan has requested the Indian Lawn Tennis Federation to field Sania Mirza and Leander Paes for a series to be played there in November this year. “We have proposed to the ILTF to add mixed doubles matches during the series and have asked whether they can bring in Sania to add glamour to the contest,” Pakistan Tennis Federation secretary Major Rashid Khan said.
— UNI
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Incredible Iraq lift Asian Cup
Jakarta, July 29 Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud scored the winner in the 71st minute when he climbed above the defence at the far post and headed a perfectly-weighted corner from Hawar Mulla Mohammed into the net. Saudi Arabia had been bidding to become the first country to win the Asian Cup four times but were outplayed by an Iraqi team riding high on a wave of national support. This was Iraq’s first title victory in the event. Iraq’s unexpected victory not only captured the imagination of the sporting world but helped unify a country ravaged by war and ripped apart by sectarian violence. Earlier, the Iraqi team was given an extra $50,000 for reaching the final, with the Asian Football Confederation suggesting that prize money would soon be introduced to the tournament. Currently, there are no cash rewards, although the AFC gave $40,000 to each team this year to help with travel expenses with the competition co-hosted by four countries. In addition, it decided today to hand war-torn Iraq another $50,000. — Reuters, AFP
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An ultimately patient 91 by Sachin Tendulkar, supplemented by a classy 79 from Sourav Ganguly, not to mention a blossoming 54 from VVS Laxman before it was cut short, gave India a commanding 283-run first-innings lead, leaving England a Himalayan task to save the second Test.
Stanford, July 29
Sunil bags gold in C’wealth boxing
Contador wins Tour de France