 |
|
|
Behind-the-scene efforts did the trick
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Judgement proper: Pawar
Mood upbeat at Bhajji’s house
Munaf to replace RP in tri-series
Delhi Jets triumph
Play attacking hockey: Davidson
Jyoti Randhawa India’s No. 1
Set up academies: Shyam Thapa
|
|
Behind-the-scene efforts did the trick
Adelaide, January 29 The push towards an amicable solution happened when the two parties signed on a joint statement which stated that Harbhajan had indeed made an offensive statement but it was not a racial attack. Importantly, Australians, on their part, agreed that they were okay with the assertion of Indians. During the hearing, both the parties were made to give their statements in private, as well as in front of each other. The statement also highlighted - and accepted by Andrew Symonds - that the Australian allrounder had indeed provoked the Indian in using an offensive language. The statement was signed by both parties, including Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, and it cleared the decks for settlement. The video as well as the audio transcript of the incident was played and listened in front of the judge which was no different to what was presented at the time of hearing in Sydney. Indians had no problem with Harbhajan being charged with section 2.8 of Code of Conduct which, in essence, amounted to a player 'using offensive language' against a fellow player or official on the field of play. It was the same stance which the Indians had offered to accept in Sydney but which was thrown out of hand by the Australians. After the hearing, Anil Kumble presented himself in front of the media and expressed his gratitude to the board as well as all those who had stood by his team in this moment of crisis. He also did not want to rake up the issue as to why Andrew Symonds was allowed to go scot free while Harbhajan Singh was charged with 50 per cent of his match fee. Or why the Indian camp did not press for some punishment for Symonds also for causing the provocation. "I feel it's time we move on. There is no point in lingering on the issue," said Kumble. A joint media release by Cricket Australia and the BCCI said Harbhajan and Symonds had resolved the on-field issue between them in Sydney and intended to move on. "They said they intended to make no further comment on the issue and intended to go on with the game of cricket, which is the most important issue for each of them," the release said. "Both captains also said they were satisfied with the outcome between their respective players and they looked forward to the cricket battles that lie ahead of the two nations which are currently the top two ranked Test nations in world cricket. "As with Singh and Symonds, they intend to make no further public comment on the issue, preferring to leave on-field performances between the teams to speak for themselves," the release added.
— PTI
|
|
New Delhi, January 29 "The judge has given a proper judgement. The BCCI was consistently taking only one stand that it was practically impossible for us to accept the racist charges against any Indian player. And the honourable judge has accepted BCCI's view and racist charges have been dropped," Pawar told reporters. Pawar praised VR Manohar, the BCCI-appointed lawyer for Harbhajan in the hearing against the three-match ban, for his support. "I thank Mr (VR) Manohar. He has done well. He did not even charge us any fee and worked on honorary basis and worked for the player's cause," Pawar said. In Adelaide, Hansen, a New Zealand High Court Judge, heard Harbhajan's appeal against the ban slapped on him by Match Referee Mike Procter on charges of racial abuse. Manohar, who took part in the hearing via tele-conferencing, said it was proved that Harbhajan did not say anything racial. "Racial remark is a very big crime. He (Harbhajan) has been acquitted from that and now he has been charged for other type of abuse," Manohar told reporters after the hearing. "He himself admitted that he abused Symonds but said he did not call Symonds a 'monkey' or a 'big monkey'. The court did not accept (Symonds' claim)," he added. Manohar said BCCI was concerned about its image and fought for it. "BCCI only said that the racial abuse charges against Harbhajan affected its image and the nation." While welcoming the outcome of the hearing, chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar demanded action against Match Referee Procter, who found Harbhajan guilty and slapped a three-Test ban on him. "The racist tag has been removed and it is a good thing for us. Full marks to BCCI for standing behind Harbhajan the entire time," he told Times Now news channel. "Procter has not done his duty properly. I would like to know what action is being taken against him," he said. Vengsarkar backed the Indian players for defying sledging by the mighty Australians during the Test series. "Indians are not the first to sledge their opponents but again we would not take anything lying down. It's very clear in the message," he said.
— PTI
|
|||||||||||
|
A fantastic result, says Kumble
Adelaide, January 29 ''I would like to express my thanks to all those who have supported our cause - the Australian cricket team, Cricket Australia - for coming together with us to ensure we move on,'' Kumble said after Justice Hansen cleared Harbhjan Singh of racial abuse charges. Justice John Hansen, the ICC appointed Appeals Commissioner, overturned the racial-abuse case against Harbhajan but fined him 50 per cent of match fee because of using abhorrent words against Symonds during the second Test at Sydney. The 38-year-old leg-spinner welcomed the result and said, ''This matter was lingering for the last two weeks although we played cricket. I am happy and relieved not only for Harbhajan but also for cricket... It's been a fantastic result and I am sure cricket would be the winner.'' Kumble will be back home before the triangular series commencing on February 3. ''I take the opportunity to wish everyone in the Indian one-day team - skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni and his young team — best of luck and I am sure they would play the game in the spirit of the game, and the prestige and honour of our country will be upheld,'' he said.
— UNI
|
|||||||||||
|
Mood upbeat at Bhajji’s house
Jalandhar, January 29 Terming the decision as the victory of truth, Harbhajan Singh’s mother Avtar Kaur said, “It is not in the nature of my son to make such comments against anyone and I knew from the very first day that he would be declared innocent.” Several relatives and friends, who gathered at Harbhajan’s house after the ICC’s decision, were seen exchanging sweets and performing ‘bhangra’. Interestingly, one of Bhajji’s friends, Teji Sandhu, who is also a singer, could not help himself from singing songs in Bhajji’s glory. Harbhajan’s cousin Vivek Yeeshu and his niece Sandeep expressed their gratitude to the entire nation especially the Indian team, the BCCI and the media for showing firm solidarity with the off spinner over the issue. A large number of cricket lovers expressed happiness and exchanged sweets in different parts of the city.
|
|||||||||||
|
Munaf to replace RP in tri-series
New Delhi, January 29 R.P. Singh, who suffered a hamstring injury during Australia's first innings in the drawn fourth and final Test at Adelaide, has been ruled out of action for three weeks. "Chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar along with the BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah spoke to Sanjay Jagdale, Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chetan Chauhan and the other two selectors presently in Australia, V. Raju and Ranjib Biswal and decided to send Munaf Patel as replacement for R.P. Singh," said a BCCI statement. Yuvraj Singh, too, is nursing an injury to his knee and is hopeful that he would be fit for the second ODI. He will be shown to an orthopaedic surgeon in Melbourne tomorrow, it said. Manoj Tiwari has been selected as backup for Yuvraj. He will be flying to Australia as soon as formalities are completed. The triangular series, beginning on Sunday, will also involve hosts Australia while Sri Lanka will be the third team featuring in it.
— PTI
|
|||||||||||
|
Sydney, January 29 Tait's shock announcement came just three days after Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement. Australia have been hit by a series of retirements in the past 14 months with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn all quitting during last season's Ashes. ''This is a very difficult situation for me to be in at this time,'' Tait said in a statement. ''This is not an overnight decision but something that I've been struggling with for some time.'' The 24-year-old said he had lost his motivation after being hampered by injuries and struggling to cement his place in the Australian side. Tait is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket and was named in 2007 as the International Cricket Council's emerging player of the year. But he has struggled to secure a place in the Australian test team, making just three appearances in his career. Tait said he was taking an indefinite break from the game in the hope that it would help him regain his enthusiasm. ''A break from professional cricket will hopefully give me a clear mind and a chance for my body to rest and recover,'' he said. Tait played two Tests on the 2005 Ashes tour of England but did not break into the side for another two-and-a-half years after being hampered by shoulder problems. He was recalled for this month's third Test against India in Perth but failed to take a single wicket in the match.
— Reuters
|
|||||||||||
|
Chennai, January 29 Batting first, Mumbai Champs scored 304 for six with captain Kiran Powar hitting a strokeful 52-ball 92 and Nikhil Mandle scoring an unbeaten 60. Dheeraj Yadav chipped in with 49 runs. Jets knocked off the target in just 38.4 overs losing four wickets. Sachin Dholpure led the way and J.P. Yadav (82), Abbas Ali (49) and Dhruv Mahajan (32) came good with the bat as the match turned out to be a one-sided affair. Brief scores: Mumbai Champs: 304 for six in 50 overs (Kiran Powar 92, Nikhil Mandle 60 not out, Dheeraj Yadav 49, Ali Murtuza 2-45) Delhi Jets: 307 for 4 in 38.4 overs (Sachin Dholpure 103, J.P. Yadav 82, Abbas Ali 49, Rakesh Patel 1-18).
— UNI
|
|||||||||||
|
Play attacking hockey: Davidson
Chennai, January 29 In a chat with mediapersons here, “Promoting Indian Hockey” project director Davidson said, “They play an effective and attractive game. But they have to play more and more attacking hockey, which is required at the international level,” he added. The Dutchman, who is here to witness the India-Belgium five-match Test series said, “For attack, you need to have a good defence. But a lot of hard work is required by the team in the Olympic qualifiers.” “Though not overwhelming, the team has been producing good results,” he added. The former international umpire said the task force for implementing the project would meet here this week to review and assess the work done so far in infrastructure development and work at grassroots level and administration. On the progress made by the IHF in the “four areas of concern” outlined in his report, Davidzon said some progress has been made in evaluating and implementing the various operational plans. “The appointment of Ric Charlesworth as technical adviser is a step in the right direction. He is working closely with the chief national coach and the team. He is also working with the junior and the sub-junior teams keeping in mind 2010 and 2012.”
— UNI
|
|||||||||||
|
Jyoti Randhawa India’s No. 1 Golfer Ranking Jyoti Randhawa 84th Jeev Milkha Singh 89th Gaurav Ghei 231st Shiv Kapur
267th
New Delhi, January 29 Randhawa, who has been consistent on the European Tour and finished a creditable tied seventh in the Qatar Masters on Sunday, rose to the 84th position leapfrogging
Jeev.
Jeev, who had a wonderful 2006 before his form took a nosedive in the subsequent year, is now ranked 86th after his lowly tied 56th finish in Doha. Next Indian on the ranking ladder is seasoned campaigner Gaurav Ghei at 231, while European Tour regular Shiv Kapur is 267. Meanwhile, world number one Tiger Woods' fourth consecutive Buick Invitational title extended his lead over Phil Mickelson at the top of the ranking table to 11.02 average points.
— PTI
|
|||||||||||
|
Set up academies: Shyam Thapa
Dharamsala, January 29 He is presently the chief coach of Nepal’s national football team. He was in town recently on vacation to spend a few days with his in-laws. Football, the most popular game in the world, has gradually lost its sheen in India in the past three decades. In 1956, India was fourth at the Melbourne Olympics. The country won gold at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games. In 1970 Bangkok Asian Games, India won the bronze medal. Shyam Thapa maintained that India has the capability to produce good players but lacks in planning and thinking at the level of All-India Football Federation (AIFF). The government is making the youth lose interest in the game. “Every state or professional club in the country is demanding ready made players for their teams without thinking of setting up nurseries to develop their own talent,” he said. India has a professional coach in Bob Houghton who imparts modern coaching in football but coaches like him cannot make much difference in the performance of the senior team players. Therefore, coaches like him should be hired for professional academies where young talent is being groomed for the future, he said. According to Thapa, Japan is planning to win the World Cup in the next 50 years. For that purpose, it has already set up a number of modern football academies and hired foreign coaches. Adding that gone were the days when there was a shortage of funds for sports academies. Nowadays, things had changed entirely and there was no dearth of funds and sponsors provided one drafts a proper plan. Shyam Thapa represented India in the 1970 and 1974 Asian Games, Merdeka International Tournament in 1970 and 1971, Pesta Sukan International Tournament 1971 (winners) and highest scorer in 1976 and 1977 national championships. He had represented professional clubs like East Bengal, Mohan Bagan, Mafatlal Mills between 1966 to 1984. Shyam Thapa is now planning to join Mohan Bagan to groom its youngsters.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
