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Modi warns Aussies
Players may walk away: Agent
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Yuvraj gets tips from Tendulkar
Double tons by Chopra, Manhas
DLF wins title sponsorship rights for IPL
F1 pre-season testing
Rajpal, Carvalho make up
Women sports fest starts today
W’lifting coach goes into hiding
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Modi warns Aussies
Sydney, February 13 The chairman of the IPL, Lalit Modi said all the players will have to return their signed contracts by Sunday so that the they could be auctioned to the eight franchises next Wednesday. ''They are running out of time,'' Modi told the Herald. ''We will gladly take the Australian players without NOCs, we don't want to go down that path but if we have to, we will. ''I am not the type that won't follow through with what I say; if the contracts are not signed and returned by Sunday the Australian players will not be allowed to take part in the IPL for three years. ''We are taking a list to owners on Monday. IPL is a temptation that is hard to resist and a three-year ban would mean that veterans like Matthew Hayden, who are likely to retire by then, will be denied a chance to earn huge money at the end of their careers. ''Each franchise has a $ 5 million cap for their team, and the contracts are for three years, so when they bid for players at the auction they will use up all of their cap - there will be no money to buy other players later. he said. But the issue about which Cricket Australia (CA) is most concerned is that the Australian players will have to advertise rivals of their own sponsors, and Modi reiterated last night that global protection for CA's sponsors would not be given ''under any circumstances''.
— UNI
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Support for players pours in
Canberra, February 13 ''There's probably been, since the real professional age has come in, maybe there's been a tendency for guys to hang on too long and we don't see younger guys getting in as young as they used to,''Gilchrist said. ''So it might be an evening out process, now there's something for the older guys to move in to. That Twenty20 format is just entertainment, I don't see that as a cricket career. ''It's part of a greater cricket career but that segment is entertainment now and I think everyone identifies that,'' he added. Gilchrist said he believed the allure of international cricket would overcome the temptation to retire early in order to earn quick money in the IPL. Stating that the IPL has the potential to change the existing structure of cricket, he said, ''This might be the beginning of a total change in the cricket structure as we know it. It may not, it might just be another tournament, but we've got to give it time.'' Gilchrist dismissed suggestions that the commercial complexities between the IPL and Cricket Australia had the potential to damage the sport.
— UNI
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Melbourne, February 13 Throwing his weight behind BCCI's lucrative Twenty20 venture, Warne said IPL is an "exciting and wonderful" opportunity for the game and should be embraced, keeping aside the conflicting issues that have cropped up before the start of the inaugural edition. "It's a very exciting time for the sport and to market the brand. We should all be embracing the IPL rather than trying to fight it. "From the international boards' point of view and the bosses around the world at county clubs and in domestic competitions, I understand there may be issues about players missing for a certain time or a clash of sponsors. "But here in Australia, each state has cricket sponsors that differ from our national ones, so I don't buy that argument. This issue can be overcome," Warne said in his column in 'Daily Telegraph'. Warne said IPL should be included in the international schedule and urged the administrators to find a solution to the possible conflict with the Future Tours Programme to facilitate the running of the Twenty20 League. "International cricket for your country must be the No 1 priority, but let's throw the common sense hat on and say the IPL is not going anywhere and it's a wonderful opportunity for players, spectators and all the fans.
— PTI
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Players may walk away: Agent
Melbourne, February 13 Maxwell, who manages Brett Lee and Mike Hussey, said if the conflicting issues are not resolved, the lure of money may persuade players to opt for the IPL instead of their national teams. "The cricket world is going to have to respond to the IPL, given the magnitude of it," Maxwell said. "I know (Australian players' union boss) Paul Marsh made the logical suggestion that ultimately there needs to be a six-week window carved out of the playing itinerary, the Future Tours Programme. "Otherwise, players will be leaving. Players will be retiring. Unfortunately at the moment we have a conflict. If that is taken out, there won't be conflict," Maxwell was quoted as saying in 'The Courier Mail'.
— PTI
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Jolt to PCB: Sami, Naved, 6 others join ICL
Karachi, February 13 Apart from Sami and Naved, spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, Humayun Farhat, Shahid Nazir, Hasan Raza, Imran Nazir and Riaz Afridi are among those who have signed their contracts but an announcement will come from the ICL soon. The decision by the players to join the ICL despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) imposing a domestic as well as international ban on the six players who had earlier joined the Essel group-backed venture last year is sure to cause worry within the establishment. The authorities had hoped the domestic ban would serve as a deterrent to players approached by the ICL. Sources said the ICL has signed the players as it plans to field a team from Pakistan in its second tournament in March-April. Sami toured India recently while Nazir and Naved have recently played for Pakistan. Arshad toured India in 2005. They will join Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Taufiq Umar and Azhar Mahmood in the ICL. Former captain Moin Khan, who is an ICL representative in Pakistan, told PTI he could not confirm or deny anything. "Our policy is simple if any new player is signed the announcement will come from the headquarters we are not supposed to make any announcements," Moin said. But he did confirm that the ICL had been in touch with some players for the last few weeks. The PCB had banned the six players who played in the inaugural edition of the ICL last December and they are planning to appeal in court against the domestic ban. The domestic ban affected Farhat, Umar, Shabbir and Razzaq who were active on the first class scene. One of the players, who did not wish to be named, said the decision for him to join the ICL was not difficult. New entrants: Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Humayun Farhat, Shahid Nazir, Hasan Raza, Imran Nazir and Riaz
Afridi.— PTI Adams also takes plunge
Christchurch: Former New Zealand all-rounder Andre Adams, following his team-mate Shane Bond's footsteps, has signed a two-year contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League
(ICL). ''It's an opportunity I simply can't turn down. It also offers me the chance to play in India for the first time with and against some high profile players. I'm excited about the challenge,'' Adams told the 'New Zealand Press Association'. Adams' decision to join ICL comes after the
all-rounder's recent outburst criticising New Zealand coach John Bracewell and the rest of the selectors for continuing to exclude him from the national squad. ''I'm pretty disappointed with the treatment I've received over the past year, especially not being picked for the World Cup. ''I don't have any loyalty to New Zealand Cricket
(NZC). I have done my bit for them and if it means I had to knock my aspirations of playing test cricket again on the head, so be it,'' Adams said. ''I've watched some players who were picked ahead of me have a pretty average time of it, and they just keep playing. ''When I was also left out of the Twenty20 world champs, I thought `well, if I can't get in ahead of Bradley Scott I must be a fair bit off the pace,'' Adams said.
— UNI
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Yuvraj gets tips from Tendulkar
Adelaide, February 13 The batting prince of India's next generation of cricketers, Yuvraj is finding the ground slipping fast under his feet. The coronation is nowhere near; the banishment after an innings or two is more of a possibility. His mother Shabnam was with him in Australia for the last eight days. She wouldn't be around to see his 200th match, the one against Sri Lanka here on the 19th of this month. The match could be a cause of celebration — or the one when he returns to the starting blocks. The left-hander has scores of 2, 0, 5, 12, 0 in his last five Test innings. In
one-dayers, it is 2,3 and 6. He has not played 100 balls yet in Tests or
one-dayers in this series. His failure has befuddled everyone, more so the dashing left-hander who just cannot understand why every second shot of his is going up in the
air. Yuvraj's dismissals in this series, flicking or driving into the hands of short extra cover or short midwicket, has been a norm. Now an advice has come his way from none other than the master himself, Sachin
Tendulkar. Tendulkar has advised Yuvraj to have a round-handed top grip on his bat: ostensibly it would give him better control on his top hand and stop shots from going into the air. It's an interesting advice full of common sense but no less significant is Tendulkar's observation about his stance. Apparently Yuvraj's left shoulder is sagging in his batting stance as he awaits the bowler to deliver his stuff. In Tendulkar's opinion, it is because he is expecting every delivery to be a bouncer hurled at him. This notion of bowlers testing him out with short-pitched stuff is keeping Yuvraj pinned back on his
backfoot. Consequently, he is late in coming on to the front foot and not always in full control of his drives. The little master wants Yuvraj to correct this
anomaly. Tendulkar feels Yuvraj has no reason to be overtly concerned by bouncers: he must trust his reflexes and he is good enough to tackle them
competently. Tendulkar has cited him the example of his best, certainly the most famous, innings to date. In the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, Yuvraj hit six sixes and all of them, except the last one which he thrashed over point for the maximum, were delivered off the front foot. It was not, Tendulkar has reasoned, as if he was batting on a sub-continent pitch. This innings came about in
Kingsmead, Durban, and against a frontline international fast bowler Stuart Broad.
— PTI
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Double tons by Chopra, Manhas
Rajkot, February 13 After North declared their innings at 459 for two in their second innings, East in reply made 28 for one at close. Captain S S Das and Arindam Das were batting with 18 and two runs respectively. Wriddhiman Saha who was remained not out on 56 in first essay, got early exit in second innings as he was bowled by medium pacer Rajat Bhatia after scoring only two. Earlier, North declared their innings after Akash Chopra and Captain Mithun Manhas notched up unbeaten double centuries as East Zone bowlers failed to grab a single wicket today. The duo added 368 runs for the unbeaten third wicket. Akash Chopra double ton included twenty boundaries and came from 301 balls. Captain M Manhas's knock was studded with twenty six fours and two mighty six. Brief score: North Zone Ist Innings 360 East Zone Ist Innings 143 North Zone 2nd Innings 459 for two declared in 103.5 overs ( A Chopra not out 205, M Manhas not out 205) East Zone 2nd Innings 28 for one in 12 overs ( S S Das batting 18, A Das batting 2 Rajat Bhatia one for 2).
— UNI
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DLF wins title sponsorship rights for IPL
New Delhi, February 13 Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL, Lalit Modi said, ''The title sponsorship race was tightly contested between three participants, with DLF emerging the final winner through a fair and transparent process. I am truly happy to have India's leading real estate company DLF as our title sponsors as they happen to share a common vision with the BCCI to make the Indian Premier League, one of finest cricketing leagues in the world.'' ' 'It is exciting to have an eclectic mix of elite Indian businessmen, Bollywood personalities and corporates as our allies, working collectively as one to ensure the success of the IPL. On behalf of the IPL Governing Council, I would like to thank everyone who participated and supported us throughout the bidding process,'' he added. The IPL will kick off on April 18, with some high voltage action expected between Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata franchise and business baron Vijay Mallya's Bangalore Team at the Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bangalore. The IPL will feature eight franchises who will play each other on a home and away basis with seven matches at home. The tournament will run for 44 days with the semi-finals and final to be played in Mumbai.
— UNI
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F1 pre-season testing
Jerez De La Frontera (Spain), February 13 Briton Lewis Hamilton emerged fastest in his McLaren-Mercedes when he completed a lap in 1:19.102, ahead of Spanish team-mate Pedro de la Rosa (1:19.287). Poland's Robert Kubica was third fastest (1:19.539) in his BMW-Sauber. The test session lasts for three days and Force India will have Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella as its drivers on the remaining two days. Force India focussed on new gearbox development items, the 2008 electronics package and brakes. "Today was a good day. We managed to do a lot of mileage, which was the target today following the shortened days we have had at the previous tests," Liuzzi said. "We had a few items to test for the new car and managed to complete the programme with some promising progress. As I had a full day, I was able to get more comfortable in the car and feel very positive about it. "We now need to put all the information together, look through the data and keep everything going forward," the Italian said. Force India's chief race and test engineer Dominic Harlow was also satisfied with the day's work. "A day of very different conditions morning and afternoon. The circuit was near perfect at the start of the morning session with the usual quick lap times for some teams," he said. "We concentrated instead on race fuel levels and building gearbox development mileage. Tonio (Liuzzi) also completed a number of tests on some new braking system components and revised electrical hardware," Harlow added.
— PTI
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Rajpal, Carvalho make up
Chandigarh, February 13 Though Rajpal, who is in Perth (Australia) with the Indian team to play practice matches, could not be contacted, his brother Gurpreet Singh claimed that things are back to normal between the two following the intervention of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K. P. S. Gill. “I called up Rajpal today and he said he got a call from Gill to sort out all differences with the coach,” Gurpreet said. Sources said Rajpal has been given an assurance that he will be included in the squad for Olympics qualifiers. Gill told The Tribune that there was no issue between the player and the coach at any time. “What has been published is false. Everything is fine in the Indian hockey team,” he said. Rajpal had informed mediapersons on Tuesday that he would not participate in the qualifiers because the players were not being treated well by the coach. “For me, my self-respect is the priority and even my career comes after that,” he had said.
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Women sports fest starts today
Jalandhar, February 13 Punjab Sports director Pargat Singh, while talking to media persons here today said the year 1975 was celebrated as International Women’s Year and the Government of India then decided to hold an annual sports festival for women with an aim to involve larger number of women in sports activities at various levels. Earlier, all the games were held together but later, for the convenience of the organisers, the games were divided into three groups accordingly, he said adding that badminton, lawn tennis, table tennis and swimming taken in Group I, while athletics, handball, kabaddi and volleyball were adjusted in Group II and basketball, hockey, kho kho and gymnastics were shifted to Group III. — UNI
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W’lifting coach goes into hiding
Patiala, February 13 Egypt-born Salama, who has his permanent base in Austria, had reportedly been contracted by the IWF to train the senior squad for the Beijing Olympics and the Asian weightlifting championship to be held in Japan from April 27, suddenly disappeared this morning. It may be mentioned here that Salama had claimed that the senior national camp at the NIS had been called off due to ‘rampant doping’ among top Indian weightlifters. The foreign coach was particularly severe on some top women lifters whom he had claimed were high on performance boosting drugs. However, these claims of Salama have been rubbished by both the SAI and IWF. SAI officials have also gone on record saying that the camp was called off midway because of ‘thin attendence’. Salama, who till this morning was putting up in room No.10 in the NIS guest house, did the disappearing act and till evening nobody had a clue about his whereabouts. Sources reveal that he had allegedly been instructed by some senior IWF officials to ‘go into hibernation’ for some days to evade any sort of controversy which would have brought a bad name to the IWF. The Indian teams preparation for the Asian meet have now been hit hard and if the Indian lifters do not perform well in the Asian meet, which is also acting as qualifiers for the Beijing olympics, the IWF will be left at the mercy of the International Weightlifting Federation to give the Indians a wildcard entry. Sources disclose that Salama reportedly got infuriated when he went through the details of a scientific chart prepared by the NIS which showed that the testosterone levels of women lifters were almost equal to their male counterparts.
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Support for players pours in
