The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Dravid a victim of conspiracy: Patil

Mumbai, October 29
The unceremonious ouster of former captain Rahul Dravid from India's one-day team continued to evoke sharp criticism with two former players slamming Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar and demanding BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar's intervention into the matter.

Sandeep Patil and Sanjay Manjrekar, the two former cricketers, said Dravid got a raw deal from the selectors who showed scant respect for his contribution to the game.

"I had earlier supported the idea that Sharad Pawar, as BCCI president, should not interfere in selection matters. I would revise my decision now and recall how once NKP Salve, as then BCCI president, had intervened and influenced the selectors to include Sunil Gavaskar after he had been dropped," Patil said.

Patil said the latest development was perhaps linked with why Dravid relinquished the captaincy without giving any reasons after a successful England tour and looked out of sorts during the recent ODI series against Australia.

"The national selectors have played a 'planned game'. The manner in which they have dumped a devoted cricketer like Rahul Dravid only reflects the degeneration that has come to dominate Indian cricket on and off the field," Patil said.

"I feel very sad at the treatment given to Rahul. Captain of the team a few months ago, he relinquished the responsibility for reasons he has not disclosed but it is not difficult to understand the game now," he was quoted as saying by 'cricketnext'.

"Now I can understand why Rahul appeared so different during the series against Australia. He was under tremendous pressure and I suspect he is a victim of a conspiracy," Patil said.

He, however, did not put the full blame on Vengsarkar and said other four selectors were equally responsible for the "illogical" decision.

"What is worse is that this ugly episode involves a dear friend of mine. I fail to understand how come a batsman who always played with a straight bat is now indulging in cross-batted stuff. It will be wrong to blame Dilip Vengsarkar alone for the decision because four others also have agreed to this illogical step," he added.

Manjrekar said it was unfortunate that a "selfless" cricketer like Dravid had been given such a raw deal when he needed the support most.

"If Dravid has indeed been dropped, it is unfortunate. Dravid has been the most selfless Indian cricketer that I have seen for the last ten years," he was quoted as saying by the 'cricinfo'.

"If anybody deserved a life jacket in troubled waters it was Dravid. But if his exclusion from the one-day squad is part of a process with a clear vision, then it will make some sense, for it is critical that the process must continue without compromise. Otherwise, Dravid would have got a very raw deal he least deserved," he said.

Manjrekar also lambasted the selectors for not having courage to accept that they had "dropped" the senior player and not "rested" him.

"If Rahul Dravid has been 'rested' after a three-week break, then he has been dropped. 'Rested' has become an interesting term in world cricket these days, especially in Indian cricket. If S Badrinath or Ajit Agarkar is left out of the Indian squad, he has been 'dropped'. But if a heavyweight has been omitted, he is said to have been 'rested'," opined Manjrekar.

"The straight-forward interpretation of the word 'rested' is that the selectors don't have the courage to deal with the heat that comes with dropping a big player. Strong decisions will inevitably invite strong reactions, and if, as a selector, you can't take the heat, then you are in the wrong business," Manjrekar wrote in his strongly worded column in Cricinfo.com.

"If all you want to do is hang on to your job as a selector for another four years, then you are unlikely to make a difference to Indian cricket. The game will carry
on in its usual way and your role as a selector will only be incidental to it," he said. — PTI

Follow a policy of rotation for seniors: Shastri

Dubai, October 29
India does need a coach but it will not be decided by the colour of the skin or the country which he belongs to when choosing the right man for coaching the high profile Indian cricket team, believes former Indian captain Ravi Shastri.

''India does need a coach. It is not a question of whether he has to be an Indian or a foreigner,'' Shastri said when asked whether the Indian team needs a foreign coach.

''What we need is the right man for the job, someone who has excellent man management skills and is in tune with the modern trends of the game.''

The former all-rounder urged the Indian selectors to follow a policy of rotation for the senior players and the need to preserved them.

''One of them should be rested after six games on the trot if we need to preserve them for another two years as Test players,'' he said.

''The fact that Dravid has been dropped for two one-dayers does not mean the end of his one-day career. We would need his experience for the Australian tour. For the amount of cricket that is being played, we will need about 20 to 25 players who are fit all the time.''

''They need to be given exposure and the team building for the 2011 World Cup should start right away,'' the former Indian coach said.

Talking about his role as the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Shastri said, ''I am there to ensure that the academy is run in a professional manner and my role is to oversee its function.''

''Dav Whatmore as the Director of Operations will put the structure in place. It will act as a good finishing school for the elite, especially the Under-19, Under-25, Indian A team players,'' Shastri told the 'Gulf News'.

''Whatmore, with his experience, will be invaluable for the academy.'' — UNI

SA win series as Pak choke

South Africa’s Makhaya Ntini bowls during the fifth and final one-dayer against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Monday. — AFP photo

South African players celebrate after winning the ODI series against Pakistan in Lahore on Monday. — AFP photo

Lahore, October 29
Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 20 runs as South Africa won the fifth and final one-day international by 14 runs today to clinch the series
3-2.

Pakistan were bowled out for 219 in 46.3 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Albie Morkel taking 4-44 and Makhaya Ntini 4-61.

Younis Khan (58) and Mohammad Yousuf (53) had shared a third-wicket partnership of 106 in 134 balls to provide a solid platform but Pakistan lost their last six wickets in 36 balls.

South Africa clawed their way back after Younis was caught at deep midwicket by Morkel off Shaun Pollock in the 30th over.

Three overs later, part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy had Yousuf slashing at a wide ball to be caught behind.

Captain Shoaib Malik then went for 23 before Misbah-ul-Haq (19), Shahid Afridi (9) and Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar and Shoaib Akhtar, who all failed to score, were undone by the swinging ball and some brilliant catching in the outfield.

Earlier, Shoaib Akhtar capped his return to international cricket with an impressive haul of 4-43 to restrict South Africa to 233-9.

The 32-year-old paceman, playing his first one-dayer in 13 months, was ably supported by fellow paceman Rao Iftikhar (3-45) after South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Jacques Kallis top-scored with 86, with Herschelle Gibbs (54) and Jean-Paul Duminy (44) also chipping in with useful contributions on a day when Akhtar’s return was the highlight.

Scoreboard

South Africa

Gibbs b Iftikhar 54

Smith b Akhtar 0

Kallis c Malik b Akhtar 86

De Villiers c Nazir b Malik 17

Duminy c Akmal b Iftikhar 44

Boucher c Malik b Akhtar 5

Pollock c Tanvir b Iftikhar 2

A Morkel b Akhtar 5

Botha b Tanvir 0

Nel not out 3

Ntini not out 3

Extras (lb-4, nb-4, wd-6) 14

Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-87, 3-119, 4-194, 5-20, 6-205, 7-226, 8-226, 9-230.

Bowling: Akhtar 9-0-43-4, Tanvir 6-0-38-1, Iftikhar 10-0-45-3, Afridi 10-0-44-0, Rehman 10-0-36-0, Malik 5-0-23-1.

Pakistan

Nazir c Boucher b Ntini 17

Akmal b Ntini 24

Younis c Morkel b Pollock 58

Yousuf c Boucher b Duminy 53

Malik b Morkel 23

Misbah c Duminy b Ntini 19

Afridi c De Villiers b Ntini 9

Tanvir lbw Morkel 0

Rehman not out 7

Iftikhar c Boucher b Morkel 0

Akhtar c Nel b Morkel 0

Extras (lb-2, w-7) 9

Total (all out, 46.3 overs) 219

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-43, 3-149, 4-160, 5-199, 6-209, 7-209, 8-219, 9-219.

Bowling: Pollock 9-0-34-1, Ntini 9-0-61-4, Nel 10-1-32-0, Albie Morkel 8.3-0-44-4, Kallis 3-0-15-0, Botha 6-0-25-0, Duminy 1-0-6-1.

Result: SA won by 14 runs

Series: SA win 3-2

Man of the match: Makhaya Ntini

Man of the series: Mohammad Yousuf — Agencies

When Freddie came ‘drunk’ for practice

London, October 29
Former England coach Duncan Fletcher said he had to cancel an Ashes tour practice session last year because captain Andrew Flintoff arrived under the influence of alcohol.

England were thrashed 5-0 by Australia in that series and then performed miserably in the World Cup, where Flintoff was disciplined for drink-related incidents. Fletcher's comments appeared in today's Daily Mail newspaper as part of a serialisation of his autobiography.

''We went to Sydney for a vital match against Australia and a fielding practice was arranged for 10am. Flintoff turned up still under the influence of alcohol,'' Fletcher wrote.

''Flintoff was in such a state he could not throw properly. He had to pass the ball to the bloke next to him to do so. And when it came to trying to catch the ball I honestly thought I was going to hurt him, so uncoordinated was he.

''I was fuming and stopped the practice early. Remember: this was the England captain in this state. I had to calm down and think what to do.''

The coach decided against public censure but warned Flintoff about his behaviour.

He said he then had no alternative to strip him of the vice-captaincy during the World Cup after another drinking session, when several other players were also fined.

Fletcher stood down after the World Cup and was replaced as England coach by Peter Moores.

Flintoff continues to be dogged by ankle problems and is currently in the United States undergoing treatment following a fourth operation. — Reuters

Praveen falls from jeep, unhurt

A policeman attends to cricketer Praveen Kumar after he fell from a jeep on his arrival in Meerut on Monday. — PTI photo

Meerut, October 29
Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Praveen Kumar, the only new face in India’s one-day squad for the first two matches against Pakistan, today escaped unhurt after he fell from an open jeep during a reception organised for his homecoming.

The incident occurred on the Delhi-Meerut road when the cricketer had stopped to acknowledge the fans who were following his motorcade.

It was not clear how Praveen fell from the jeep but it could be because of the jostling and shoving by fans who wanted to garland the city boy for his achievement of making it to the national team.

He was rushed to hospital, but the X-ray did not reveal any injury, the police said. Praveen then went for a practice session at a nearby ground.

His performance during the domestic season fetched him a berth in the team for the first two ODIs against Pakistan. — PTI

Premier League
Arsenal on top after draw with Liverpool

London, October 29
Arsenal regained first place in the Premier League thanks to a Cesc Fabregas equaliser in an entertaining 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners trailed to Steven Gerrard's seventh-minute free kick but the inspirational Fabregas stole in with 10 minutes remaining to give the visitors a deserved share of the points.

Arsenal have 26 points from 10 matches while champions Manchester United, 4-1 winners at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, also have 26 from 11 but have scored fewer goals. Liverpool are sixth with 20 points from 10.

Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur suffered a third defeat in a tumultuous week to stay in the relegation zone, this time losing 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers for whom Christopher Samba scored a stoppage time winner.

Bolton Wanderers edged off the bottom with a 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa in Gary Megson's first match in charge while Derby County returned to the foot of the table after a 2-0 home defeat by Everton.

Liverpool and Arsenal, both undefeated in the league this season, served up a treat in the weekend's outstanding fixture which was seen as a major test of Arsenal's credentials.

The home side, looking to hit back from a damaging 2-1 Champions League defeat by Besiktas on Wednesday, made a stirring start with Gerrard forcing a fine early save from goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

A minute later, they went ahead when Gerrard's fierce free kick from the edge of the area flew through a hole in the Arsenal wall into the bottom left corner.

Gerrard stung Almunia's fingers with another shot soon after but Arsenal, seeking a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, hogged possession for the rest of the half with their fluent passing game forcing Liverpool deep.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez sent on Peter Crouch for the injured Fernando Torres after the break and the giant striker forced a great save from Almunia and then missed narrowly with another chance.

Fabregas wasted a glorious chance to equalise after 53 minutes when Emmanuel Eboue's low shot hit the base of the post and rebounded to him but he fired wide with the goal gaping.

He made amends with 10 minutes remaining, however, running on to Alexandr Hleb's astute pass before toe-poking a shot past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina yesterday.

Fabregas then hit the post with a curling effort and William Gallas went close as Arsenal went for the victory in a breathless finish. — Reuters

Jai Bhagwan eyes Olympic berth

Chicago, October 29
Jai Bhagwan punched his way to just a step away from an Olympic berth while Dilbag Singh fell by the wayside on the sixth day of the World Boxing Championship here.

Bhagwan brushed aside Georgian Vasil Qazishvili's challenge 23-16 in a 60 kg second round bout to set up a pre-quarterfinal date against Darley Perez of Colombia on Wednesday.

Dilbag Singh, however, could not make it a double treat as he was outclassed 9-22 by Zoran Mitrovic of Serbia in 69kg second round fight at the University of Illinois - Chicago Pavilion yesterday.

Jitender Kumar (51kg) and Anthresh Lalit Lakra (57kg) had earlier stormed into the pre-quarterfinals on Saturday.

Bhagwan was not outright superior but never allowed his Georgian opponent to fight him on equal terms. The Indian took a slender 4-3 lead at the end of the first round and was four points ahead (17-13) after the third.

The Haryana lad did not take it easy in the final round and sent a flurry of punches to score three more points from his opponent to walk away 23-16 winner.

For Dilbag, it was surrender after a brief resistance. Dilbag started on a shaky note but hung on for a while. At the end of the second round, the Indian was 3-6 down.

But in the last two rounds, Dilbag could not face his Serbian opponent's ferocious offensive and conceded 16 points in the last two rounds to his six to surrender tamely.

Eight Indians took part in the biggest ever boxing championship and three have moved into the round of 16.

They are just one bout away from booking a berth in next year's Olympics.

Making it to quarter-finals of the championship would be enough for the Indians to secure a berth for Beijing.

Vijender Singh (75kg) exited from the championship in the second round while Balbir Singh (48kg), Jasveer Singh (81kg) and Suresh Singh (54kg) had crashed out in the first round.

More than 650 top pugilists from 120 countries are vying for honours in the championship, making it the largest ever boxing championships. — UNI

3 Punjab teams in hockey semis

New Delhi, October 29
Three teams from Punjab made it to the last four in the 25th Nehru Sub- Junior Hockey Tournament here today.

Former champions Birsa Munda Vidyapitha, Rourkela, had booked their berth in the semifinals yesterday.

Springdale (Amritsar), Government School, Harnam Dass Pura (Jalandhar) and Malwa Khalsa School, Ludhiana, had to battle it out against their spirited rivals before emerging victorious.

Springdale overcame another Punjab team, Mata Gujri School, Ferozepore, 3-1 after being level 1-1 at the breather.

Ramandeep Singh gave Springdale the lead in the 13th minute, but his namesake from the Ferozepore school drew parity seven minutes later by converting a penalty corner.

Kanwar Subeg Singh put Springdale ahead again in the 37th minute and Jujhar Singh completed the tally for the winners in the 50th minute.

In the second match, a brace by Gursahib Singh helped Government School, Jalandhar, down Army Boys Sports, Bangalore, 3-1. The two teams were locked 1-1 at the lemon break. The Bangalore team took the lead in the sixth minute through Anthony Jesu but the Jalandhar boys equalised 12 minutes later when Harjinder Singh converted a penalty corner. In the second half, Gursahib Singh struck twice.

Malwa Khalsa piped Government Model School, Ladowali (Jalandhar), 1-0. The all-important goal was scored by Taran Deep Singh. — UNI

Surjit hockey
Indian Oil sail into semis
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 29
Last year’s runners-up Indian Oil beat Punjab Police, Jalandhar, 4-1 today to enter the semifinals of the 24th Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium.

Deepak Thakur put Indian Oil ahead in the 29th minute in the Pool C match. Olympian Gagan Ajit Singh scored the equaliser for Punjab Police in the 38th minute with a powerful shot from the right flank.

Indian Oil’s Raghunath converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to put his team 2-1 up.

In the next minute Punjab Police earned a penalty corner but Jugraj Singh failed to convert it.

In the 66th minute, Prabhjot Singh consolidated the lead with a field goal from the left flank (3-1). In the dying minutes of the game, Raghunath scored off a penalty corner to make it 4-1.

In a Pool B match, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Punjab State Electricity Board played out a 2-2 draw. Both teams got one point each. After wasting two penalty corners in the 5th and 13th minutes, RCF took the lead in the 32nd minute when Satinder Pal Singh sounded the board with a cracking shot off a penalty corner.

In the next minute, PSEB equalised through a field goal scored by Ravinder Singh. At the lemon break, both teams were level at 1-1.

In the second half, PSEB exerted pressure by earning two penalty corners, but they were not able to convert any of them. In the 50th minute, RCF took a 2-1 lead when Roop Singh scored from the right flank. In the 56th minute, PSEB equalised again, with Hardayal Singh netting the ball from the left flank.

In the junior category, Punjab & Sind Bank Academy edged out Chandigarh Hockey Academy 1-0 in a Pool B match. The goal was scored by Ajay Kumar in the 64th minute.

PSB Academy wasted six penalty corners, whereas Chandigarh Academy failed to convert four.

Churchill meet HAL in Durand opener
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 29
Churchill Brothers, Goa will meet Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), Bangalore in the opening match of the Osian's 120th Durand Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here tomorrow.

Tata Football Academy (TFA) will meet Central Railway in the second match, which be held under floodlight.

The field is led by defending champions Dempo and runners-up JCT. Twelve seeded teams have been joined by New Delhi Heroes, Indian Air Force, Assam Rifles and Border Security Force who came through the qualifying route.

The other teams in the fray are Air India, Salgaocar, Viva Kerala, Sporting Clube-de Goa, Army XI and Mahindra United.

The absence of Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan is a major disappointment for fans of these clubs in Delhi.

The final, which was originally scheduled to be held on November 8, has been advanced by a day due to the one-day international match between India and Pakistan at Mohali to fecilitate live coverage.