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Yuvi out for 1st Test today
Pak can turn tables on India: Akhtar
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Make maximum use of new ball: Asif
Yuvraj’s omission surprises Kapil
PCB postpones Asia Cup for IPL
ICL: Prasanna, Wadekar named match referees
Archers set world record
Nehru Hockey
2 Indian pugilists in medal rounds
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Yuvi out for 1st Test today
New Delhi, November 21 Though it will be Kumble's debut as the Indian Test captain, he has the experience of 123 Test matches to fall back upon, and this fact was acknowledged by Shoaib Malik at a media interaction. "In cricket, every day is a new day, it does not matter whether you have captained 100 Tests or not. Kumble has the experience of playing 123 Tests, and that matters", Malik said. He said though Pakistan narrowly lost the ODI series 2-3, he was not putting his team as the underdogs for the Test series. "No team has an edge", he stated. Kumble has very happy memories of the Ferozeshah Kotla ground as the last time India and Pakistan battled in a Test match here in February, 1999, Kumble scalped all 10 Pakistan second innings wickets to equal Jim Laker's record and guide India to a thumping 212-run victory to draw the series. Kumble made it clear that Yuvraj Singh will not be playing in the Test as vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who suffered an injury in the third ODI at Jaipur, is fit and ready. "Dhoni looks fine, and he did everything that needs to be done (to prove his fitness)", Kumble explained. Kumble said it was "tough for Yuvraj" to sit out of the Test, particularly after his splendid performances in the ODI series. "But he will have to wait to become a regular member of the Test squad. It is unfortunate, but at least for this game for sure, he will have to wait", Kumble emphasised, without beating about the bush. The Ferozeshah Kotla ground pitch has always provided interesting results and a sporting one is once again on offer. India will be banking on their batting might and the spin craft while Pakistan will be looking towards to their pace bowlers to deliver the results. "Shoaib Akhtar will be our trump card", said Shoaib Malik, while acknowledging that India have "very good spinners in Kumble, Harbhajan and Murali Kartik". Malik said he would not worry wether the pitch aided the spinners. "On any wicket, fast bowlers will get wickets even if it's a spinners' track", he stated. Pakistan will decide about the final team only late in the everning after a team meeting while India will be fielding their tried and Test players, barring the exception of Munaf Patel, who has come in place of two other pacers, R.P.Singh and S.Sreesanth, who have been ruled out due to injuries. Understandably, Kumble will not be under any pressure, even though he will be making his debut as Test captain. "We respect Pakistan as an opposition, but we have the potential to go out there and win the series, and we will do everything that is in our hands to do that", Kumble added. But Shoaib Malik said Pakistan had the necessary batting and bowling strengths to get even with the hosts. He said Shoaib Akhtar will be the key man in Pakistan's game plans in the Test series, despite his limited success in the ODI series. He said if Shoaib Akhtar was not in full flow in the ODI series, it was because "I told him to run with a shortened run up to save time". The Pakistan bowling will mostly depend on Shoaib, Mohammad Sami and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. Kumble also indicated that Murali Karthik may have to sit out for this match. "I certainly look at going with the best combination that will get us 20 wickets. At this point, Harbhajan and me who will probably be the spinners for this game", the captain noted. Though the captaincy has come a few years too late for Kumble, he was eagerly looking forward to his new responsibility. A few years after he did that splendid "perfect 10" act in Delhi, when Kumble was asked at an ICC-organised function in Delhi whether he nursed the ambition of captaining the Indian team, he had remarked that it was "too late" for him to think of captaincy. But a few years down the line, at the ripe age of 37 years, the much coveted job has come to the gentle trundler, who wants to make the best use of the opportunity. Pakistan have not lost a Test series in India since 1979 and Malik wants to maintain that record, if not bettering it like winning the series. India have an enviable record at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground as out of the 28 Tests played, the hosts have won nine.
India and Pakistan have played four Tests here, with India winning two and drawing two. The last time they played here, India decimated Pakistan by 212 runs, with Kumble playing a spin trick.
And he hopes to do an encore to give his captaincy a great push forward. For Harbhajan too, the Kotla ground brings back pleasant memories as he had given a turn-around to his sagging carrier with a match-winning second
innings spell against Sri Lanka last year, which India had won by 188 runs.
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"Ishant Sharma has been asked to join the team for the first Test match at Delhi in addition to Munaf Patel," the BCCI said in a statement. The right-arm medium pacer has one Test wicket to his credit in the lone match he has played so far, against Bangladesh this year in May.
— PTI
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"Gul complained of stiffness and pain in his lower back and we got it scanned," Pakistan media manager Ehsan Malik said today. "We're going to consult with orthopaedic surgeons. So, he is ruled out of the Delhi Test as a precautionary measure." Gul, 23 had suffered stress fractures in his back in 2004 which sidelined him for several months.
— Reuters
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Pak can turn tables on India: Akhtar
Jaipur, November 21 The flamboyant paceman said the hosts were the better outfit in the ODI rubber, but Pakistan would make every effort to tame the home team in the longer form of the game. "Our bowlers and batsmen did not click as much as the Indians. India played better cricket than us," the 'Rawalpindi Express' said in an exclusive interview Akhtar said Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq would be the cornerstones of Pakistan batting in the upcoming series. "Even our captain (Shoaib Malik) got his form back in the final ODI," he said. The bowling also has a strong look to it, Akhtar felt. "The return of pacer Mohammad Sami and spinner Danish Kaneria is definitely going to strengthen our bowling attack in the Test matches, not to forget myself," he stated. The Indian team included some of the best players in the world, but Akhtar believed it could be beaten. "We will leave no stones unturned to win the Test series and despite the fact that they (India) have the world class trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid and a bowler like Anil Kumble, we will play to our potential." However, Akhtar said he did not consider any specific batsman as his target in the coming series. "For me, every Indian batsman is a target. I can't say that I would be looking for wickets of Sachin and Sourav and would spare others." Akhtar has often been in the news for the wrong reasons, the latest being his scuffle with fellow paceman Mohammad Asif in South Africa. The star pacer, however, blamed the media for blowing things out of proportion. "I am a person who is very good at heart and I trust everyone. Sometimes I become a soft target for mediapersons," he said. Indian speedster S Sreesanth's aggressive on-field demeanour has been the topic of much discussion, but Akhtar said such antics helped a paceman get wickets. "I think, especially for a fast bowler, it is very necessary to put psychological pressure on the batsmen. Some batsmen get carried away with such things while some play their natural game. "But I think aggression is a must for a bowler and a bit of such antics as well as line and length definitely helps him," he said. Contrary to some perceptions, the media commitments of Pakistan players were not coming in the way of their on-field performances, Akhtar maintained.
— PTI
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Make maximum use of new ball: Asif
Karachi, November 21 "From the look of things they are going to have tracks that help the spinners. So one has to ensure that he makes maximum lethal use of the new ball and work on extracting reverse swing," Asif said before the opener to be played at Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi. Asif, who pulled out of the one-day series against India due to elbow injury, will also miss the three-match Test series as he has not recuperated properly. "I don't know whether I will require a surgery or not for it. But right now I am following a rehabilitation programme advised by the team physiotherapist. I am being sent to Australia to get a final diagnosis for the elbow," Asif said. The mainstay in the Pakistan bowling attack, Asif also said he was extremely disappointed not to be in India.
— PTI
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Yuvraj’s omission surprises Kapil
Jaipur, November 21 "It is surprising to see Yuvraj is not there for the first Test match. The way he is playing his cricket presently makes one thing clear in everyone's mind that he is the best left-handed batsman in the world presently," Kapil said. "In his absence, others who have been given a chance will have to play with extra responsibility as his absence means all who are present in the squad are better than him," he added. India take on the arch-rivals in a three-Test series starting in Delhi from tomorrow. On being asked about the need of a new coach for the team, Kapil said, "What is wrong in Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh? They are doing their job well according to me." "The 11 players who are playing international cricket for India are already trained. But, you do need a manager. Sometimes even a player like Sachin (Tendulkar) may feel low and in such circumstances you need to have managers who are known as coaches in cricket these days," Kapil said. ‘No harm in Shah Rukh watching matches’ Kapil Dev defended Shah Rukh Khan's presence at cricket matches, saying association of a celebrity like him would popularise the game. Kapil said Shah Rukh was a cricket fan and watched the fifth ODI between India and Pakistan here for his sheer craze about the sport.
— PTI
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PCB postpones Asia Cup for IPL
Karachi, November 21 Under the agreement, while Pakistan has agreed to postpone the jinxed Asia Cup by around until June 2008, so that the IPL can be launched, India have confirmed their participation in the Asia Cup. The IPL is a brainchild of the BCCI which is planning to host the Twenty20 event with the help of an international events and sports management company. However, sources in the Pakistan board said the Indian board was finding it difficult to find a time slot for the IPL because of its own hectic international commitments and those of other countries. The commitments of other countries are as important for the holding of the IPL which has signed on around two or three dozen international players for the league. "The only way the Indian board could have the IPL was in April-May around the same time, the PCB was hosting the Asia Cup on behalf of the Asian Cricket Council," one source said. He said the Indians had given clear hints to the Pakistan board and ACC they would definitely play in the Asia Cup if it was moved forward to June. The Asia Cup since its launch has been postponed or cancelled several times due to the strained relations between Pakistan and India. However, the problem arising because of the new arrangement between Pakistan and India is that Bangladesh was keen to host a tournament involving Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in May. "They will also have to reschedule their tri-series now," the PCB source said. He added Pakistan which is invited for the event has as yet not confirmed its participation in the tri-series. The PCB source said the decision to have the Asia Cup only in Karachi and in June was likely to face hurdles as Karachi not only remained a security issue for visiting teams but the weather in June was also hot throughout the country.
— PTI
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ICL: Prasanna, Wadekar named match referees
New Delhi, November 21 Besides Prasanna and Wadekar, a four-member umpires panel comprising Raymond Julian, Jeffrey Evans, Trevor Jesty and Dean Johnson has also been announced. Julian became a first-class umpire in 1972 and has umpired in over 500 first class games till retiring in 2001. Evans, from Carmarthenshire, Wales, has stood in over 99 first class games apart from officiating women's one-day international matches. Jesty, from Hampshire, has stood in over 180 first class matches while Johnson, from Leicestershire, has umpired in list 'A' matches.
— UNI
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New Delhi, November 21 According to information received here, the three Indian archers belonging to the Tata Archery Academy tabled a combined score of 440 - a feat that has never before been achieved by anyone — in the team’s semifinal and final (2 x 24 arrows). International Archery Body (FITA) has ratified the world record. Archery Association of India president Vijay Kumar Malhotra congratulated the archers.
— UNI
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Nehru Hockey
New Delhi, November 21 Vikramjit Singh was the star in the Bank men's win as he slammed three goals. Earlier, PNB XI stunned the Bharat Petroleum (BP) team, which was packed with Olympians and internationals, 3-1. In the first match, IHF (U-21) overpowered former champion Border Security Force (BSF). No body expected such a rout for Indian Oil as they were locked 1-1 at halftime with PSB. However, the second session saw the bankmen going on a rampage pumping in five goals in a space of 14 minutes to demolish their fancied rivals. It was Indian Oil who took the lead in the 17th minute through Olympian Didar Singh, but the lead lasted barely four minutes as PSB hit back forcing a penalty corner which was converted by Vikramjit Singh. It took another 28 minutes for next goal to be scored and this time it was Parminder Singh who put the bankmen ahead with a fine goal. Vikramjit scored his second and the team's third goal in the 58th minute, converting a stroke and in the very next minute. Kulwinder Singh made it 4-1 for the bankmen. Vikramjit then converted a penalty corner in the 63rd minute and just before the final whistle, Parminder completed the tally for the bank side. PNB XI created a major upset when they collected full points against formidable Bharat Petroleum. Jatinder Saroha scored in the 7th and 29th minutes converting penalty corners but international Sabu Verkey reduced the margin two minutes before the breather. In the second session, BP tried hard for the equaliser but failed, while PNB struck through Banmali to make it 3-1 at the stroke of the final whistle. IHF (U-21) scored two goals in as many minutes at the fag end of the first session and that turned out to be the winner against BSF. AB Cheeyana (33rd) and Deewakar Ram (35th) scored a goal each for IHF.
— UNI
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2 Indian pugilists in medal rounds
Beijing, November 21 While Jitender beat Kazakhstan's Olzhas Sattibayev 25-14 in the 51kg category, Dilbag thrashed
Philipines' Larry Semillano 34-23 in the 69kg division. The tournament is part of the 'Good Luck Beijing' sports events being organised as a build-up to next year's Olympics. Jitender will next take on Thailand's Chatchai
Butdee, who beat Taipei's Jackson Chauke in the quarterfinals yesterday.
— PTI
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Every day is a new day, says Malik
Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma was today added to the Indian squad for the first Test match against Pakistan starting here tomorrow as cover for injuries to the pace duo of S. Sreesanth and R.P. Singh.
Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been ruled out of the first Test against India because of a back problem, a team official said.
