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I recognise BCCI, says Kapil
Rao Iftikhar to join Pak team for 3rd Test
Police issue notice to Boje
Shastri Hockey
Sipaeya to meet Qureshi in quarters
Volvo Masters starts today
Fisichella, Montagny test for Force India
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Irfan, Ishant, VRV Singh for 3rd Test
Bangalore, December 5 With a number of key players grappling with injuries, the selectors announced a list of 24 probables for the Australia tour, which would be pruned to a 16-member squad on December 12 after getting report on the players' fitness. Among the pacers, Zaheer Khan has sustained a heel injury, S. Sreesanth is nursing a shoulder injury and R.P. Singh is yet to recover from a side strain. Former Test player Chetan Chauhan has been appointed as administrative manager for the Test series in Australia. M.V. Sridhar, vice-president of Hyderabad Cricket Association, has been appointed as assistant manager who will also look after media for the Test series. Going through a bad patch, Virender Sehwag did not find a place in the list of probables, even though his in-form Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir returns to the Test squad. Another Delhi opener, Aakash Chopra, who struck a double century against Himachal in the Ranji Trophy match, is in the list of probables, as is Parthiv Patel, who has been consistent with the bat in the domestic season. Mumbai seamer Ajit Agarkar, rookie pacer Pankaj Singh and Bengal spearhead Ranadeb Bose also find mention in the probables’ list. Squad for 3rd Test against Pakistan: Anil Kumble (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, M.S Dhoni (vice -captain), Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer, Ishant Sharma, V.R.V. Singh and Murali Kartik. List of probables for Australia series: Anil Kumble (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, M.S. Dhoni (vice -captain), Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer, Ishant Sharma, V.R.V. Singh, Murali Kartik, Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel, Ranadeb Bose, Pankaj Singh, Piyush Chawla, Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel and Aakash Chopra. Teams reach Bangalore The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams arrived here today for the third and final Test starting at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Members of the two teams, who flew in from Kolkata where the second Test was drawn, were given a traditional welcome at the team hotel. India is leading 1-0 in the three-match series having won the first Test."The two teams will take rest today," a local organising official said. "They will start net sessions tomorrow." Security was tight at the team hotel. The police said more than 2,000 personnel would be on duty in and around the stadium during the Test. — PTI
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Panchkula, December 5 Batting first, Hyderabad Heroes posted 134 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs. Aided by some scintillating batting by Farhat, Lions cantered home in 16.2 overs for the loss of four wickets. The day belonged to Farhat. Former Pakistan opener did not take long to get into the groove. Once into it, there was no stopping the rampaging batsman. The left-handed Farhat was in control throughout the innings and never played a false stroke. Every stroke of the in-form batsman was cheered lustily by the impressive gathering. The late evening chill was no dampener, as barring certain small areas in one stand, the stadium was brim with the cheering fans. Though all rounder Abdul Razzak got his team of to a perfect start, rattling Hamish Marshall’s timber in the very first over, the dismissal had no effect on the scoring. T.P. Singh impressed with some authentic strokes to keep up the momentum before he gave a tame return catch to seamer Shahabuddin after making 16-ball 19. New batsman Manish Sharma was content to play second fiddle to Farhat, who by this time, was stroking well and playing bold strokes. Not afraid to take the aerial route, Farhat treated left-armer Ambati Rayudu with disdain, hitting him twice over the fence in the same over. An earlier six he hit landed well outside the VIP gallery area. It was the Farhat-Manish stand which brought Lions close to victory and the twin dismissals of Manish and skipper Chris Cairns came a trifle late for Hyderabad Heroes. Farhat, who stayed unbeaten at 74, faced 48 balls and hit seven fours and five towering sixes. Farhat emerged the highest scorer in the tournament, overtaking Ian Harvey, who scored 63 against Mumbai Champs. For his brilliant batting, he was adjuded Man of the Match. The Hyderabad Heroes innings was built around 39-ball 39 by opener Anirudh Singh. He was supported by Rayudu (18-ball 22) and Chris Harris (22-ball 18). Azhar Mahmood gave the late thrust to the innings unleashing two sixes. Chandigarh’s Dinesh Mongia, who recovered to play his first match of the competition, justified his inclusion getting the key scalp of skipper Inzamam-ul Haq before cutting short Rayudu’s stay at the wicket when the batsman was looking good for big score. With this victory, Chandigarh Lions now have four points in the kitty from three games. This brings them on level terms with Chennai Superstars, who have played one match less. Scoreboard Hyderabad Heroes: Sahabuddin b Hall 0 Anirudh run out 39 Rayudu st Sarabjit b Mongia 22 Inzamam c Uniyal b Mongia 8 Harris c Marshall b Hall 18 Boje lbw b Hall 16 Mahmood run out 16 Razzaq not out 6 Khaleel not out 1 Extras (b 5, lb 2, w 1): 8 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs): 134 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-48, 3-63 , 4-80, 5-110, 6-110, 7-133 Bowling: AJ Hall 4-1-18-3; DR Tuffey 4-0-20-0; A Uniyal 4-0-37-0; CL Cairns 3-0-19-0; D Mongia 4-0-21-2; Chetan Sharma 1-0-12-0 Chandigarh Lions: Farhat not out 74 Marshall b Razzaq 4 TP Singh c & b Sahabuddin 19 Manish st Khaleel b Boje 15 Cairns c & b Harris 8 Chetan not out 7 Extras (lb 2, w 7, nb 1): 10 Total (4 wickets; 16.2 overs) 137 (8.38 runs per over) FoW: 1-5, 2-44 , 3-119, 4-128 Bowling: Abdul Razzaq 3-0-23-1; Azhar Mahmood 3-0-29-0; KS Sahabuddin 3-1-17-1; PIS Reddy 2-0-14-0; A Absolem 1-0-16-0; AT Rayudu 1-0-17-0; CZ Harris 2-0-5-1; N Boje 1.2-0-14-1 Man of the match: Imran Farhat
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Kirsten to interact with Indian team in Bangalore
New Delhi, December 5 The BCCI today confirmed the appointment of Kirsten as India’s coach and said the South African will visit Bangalore to spend a couple of days with the team. “Gary will be spending a couple of days with the Indian team at Bangalore during the third Test match,” BCCI said in a press release. Kirsten will formally take over the charge from March next year and has been handed a tenure of two years. “Kirsten has been appointed as the coach of the Indian team for a period of two years starting from March 1, 2008,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in the release. Kirsten will join the Indian team in Australia as consultant. “Gary will be with the Indian team in Australia as a consultant for a couple of weeks probably after the second Test match,” the release added. Kirsten will take over the coaching reins almost a year after Australian Greg Chappell stepped down following India’s disastrous performance in the World Cup. — PTI
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I recognise BCCI, says Kapil
Panchkula, December 5 “I recognise the Indian cricket board,” he stated, adding that it was from the platform provided by the board that he played for the country. Kapil wished the Indian team well which is due to visit Australia on a gruelling tour immediately after the conclusion of the Pakistan series. “I wish them well on the tough tour. They (the Indian team) are my team. These are (referring to the teams playing in the ICL) also my teams,” Kapil, who is ICL’s Executive Board chairman, told mediamen today. Quizzed about the success achieved by the ICL in a short time, he said “We have come close to what we had aimed for. It is good to see the commitment of the players taking part in the tournament,” he said. Kapil looked jubilant about the nascent League as matches being played at Tau Devi Lal Stadium were proving a hit with the crowds. Reiterating earlier views, Kapil said that the trio of Lalchand Rajput, Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh were not treated well by the board. The BCCI ended the trio’s contract with the team after the board roped in Gary Kirsten as India coach. He, however, wished Kirsten well as coach for the series against Australia.
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Kandy, December 5 Muralitharan toiled without taking a wicket for 31 overs as England’s Ian Bell (74) and Matt Prior (63) led a brave rearguard during the afternoon before a deadly triple strike in the final hour of play as Sri Lanka took the second new ball. Minutes before bad light was likely to stop play, Lasith Malinga bowled Matthew Hoggard with a yorker to bowl out England for 261 after 94 overs. Muralitharan finished with 3-85 from 36 overs and was well supported by seamers Chaminda Vaas (3-56) and Dilhara Fernando (2-39). England had slumped to 90 for five, after losing four wickets in the morning session, before Bell added 49 with Ravi Bopara and then 109 for the sixth wicket with Prior. Bell and Prior’s stand frustrated Sri Lanka for 44 overs, taking the game into the final session and giving England hope of salvaging a draw. But Sri Lanka took immediate use of the second new ball and Muralitharan struck in the first over of his final spell, bowling Prior with a ‘doosra’. Next over, Muralitharan also clean bowled Bell, ending a fine defensive innings that spanned 209 deliveries and included six boundaries. With the light fading fast, England still retained hope of surviving but a poor lbw decision against Ryan Sidebottom (1), who edged a ‘doosra’ onto his pads, swung the game towards Sri Lanka. In the first session, Vaas produced an incisive new-ball burst, removing captain Michael Vaughan (5) and nightwatchman James Anderson (11). Fernando deepened England’s woes with a devilish delivery to Kevin Pietersen (18) that crept along the ground and was chopped on to the stumps. Fernando followed up by dismissing Paul Collingwood for 16 as he edged to Kumar Sangakkara at slip. After lunch, spinner Sanath Jayasuriya trapped Bopara lbw for a 42-ball 34.
— Reuters Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st innings) 188 England (1st innings) 281 Sri Lanka (2nd innings) 442-8 dec England (2nd innings) Cook c Silva b Vaas 4 Vaughan c P Jayawardene b Vaas 5 Anderson b Vaas 11 Bell b Muralitharan 74 Pietersen b Fernando 18 Collingwood c Sangakkara b Fernando 16 Bopara lbw Jayasuriya 34 Prior b Muralitharan 63 Sidebottom lbw Muralitharan 1 Hoggard b Malinga 8 Panesar not out 2 Extras (b-5, lb-9, nb-11) 25 Total (all out, 94 overs) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-22, 3-27, 4-55, 5-90, 6-139, 7-248, 8-249, 9-253, 10-261 Bowling: Vaas 17-3-56-3, Malinga 15-3-39-1, Muralitharan 36-12-85-3, Jayasuriya 14-6-28-1, Fernando 12-1-39-2.
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Rao Iftikhar to join Pak team for 3rd Test
Karachi, December 5 Rao Iftikhar flew out this afternoon for New Delhi after much controversy over who would be the player replacing reserve wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who will return home before the third and final Test in Bangalore. Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed and the team management made an official announcement at a press conference in Kolkata that uncapped pacer Abdul Rauf would be joining the team for the Bangalore Test. But a Board official said the decision to send Iftikhar was taken keeping in mind that just one Test remained in India and on the basis of form of the players. “Rauf has done nothing of note this domestic season but Iftikhar not only bowled well in the recent one-day series against South Africa and then in India but is also doing well generally in domestic cricket,” PCB Naghmi explained that not every request of the touring selection committee could be accepted blindly. “We felt Iftikhar was the best choice at the moment for the team,” he said. But cricket analysts noted that this incident was yet more evident that coordination was lacking between the main stakeholders in Pakistan cricket and the captain, coach and chief selector were still not as powerful as the senior board officials.
— PTI
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Police issue notice to Boje
New Delhi, December 5 “A notice has been issued to Boje but no date has been fixed on which he should appear,” DCP, Crime Branch, Madhu Tiwari told PTI.
Boje has been asked to make himself available for investigation in the match fixing case under Section 160 of CrPc, according to Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat. Boje, along with late South African skipper Hansie Cronje and opener Herschelle Gibbs, was at the centre of the scam and avoided touring India for cricket series on previous occasions. — PTI
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Shastri Hockey
New Delhi, December 5 The visitors put up a fine display with their speed and thrust, but the Indian defence stood their ground, particularly custodian Dipika Murty, to baulk their advances to keep the scoreboard barren till the 16th minute of second half. India earned their third penalty corner — after two abortive ones in the first half like the visitors —which was swept from the corner by Ritu Rani and the hosts showed imaginative variation to relay the ball to Mamta, positioned on the extreme left, to deflect the ball in. Five minutes later, Azerbaijan could have easily got even, but Mammadova Zhun’s shot, off a pass from the right, was padded away by goalkeeper Dipika. The Indian goal survived another scare two minutes from close when the visitors earned their third penalty corner, which they tried to convert in an indirect manner, but captain Mirzaliyeva Dilfuza could only put it wide, despite Dipika being at
her mercy. The first half was dominated by Azerbaijan, but they expended their energy in running around and making moves, but lacked finish to apply the killer punch. The Indian moves, mostly fashioned by Gagandeep Kaur, Saba Anjum, Subhadra Pradhan and Mamta Kharab, too had a lot of nip, but a goal eluded them till Anjum came up
with the penalty corner conversion.
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Sipaeya to meet Qureshi in quarters
New Delhi, December 5 Sipaeya led 6-4, 1-6, 4-2 before sixth seed Bopanna, who took a medical break during the second set, pulled out complaining of a back strain. Sipaeya now takes on last week’s Challenger winner Qureshi, who got a walkover into the last-eight stage from German Dieter Kindlmann. Fourth seeded Adrian Menendez of Spain crashed out of the tournament after losing 2-6, 2-6 to Czech Republic’s Tomas Cakl. Frenchman Sebastian De Chaunac staged a remarkable comeback to beat Russian Pavel Chekhov 6-4, 7-6 (11/9), 7-5 in a marathon second-round encounter.
— PTI
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Volvo Masters starts today
Chandigarh, December 5 As many as 55 from the top-60 of the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit are assembled in Bangkok. Shiv Kapur, who has been playing a lot in the European Tour, has played 10 Asian Tour events for his current ranking of 11 and his money earning for the season has been $2,30,021. Gaurav Ghei will also be a golfer to watch in the last event of the Asian Tour.
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Fisichella, Montagny test for Force India
New Delhi, December 5 The duo made their debut runs in the team’s burgundy and white challengers working through a schedule of chassis development. The day was marred by several red flags and spins from both the drivers raising questions about the stability of the car and the work needed to start the season with a stable machine. “Today was a slightly frustrating day of testing, with many red flags and a couple of minor mechanical issues on the cars, which meant we did not get through our whole programme,” said Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer, in a press release.
— PTI
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Farhat (74 n.o.) fashions Lions’ win