Ahmedabad, April 1
The Indians had an off day with only the junior players turning up for optional practice under the hot sun at the Sardar Patel stadium here today.

However, the Indian captain Anil Kumble who is suffering from a groin niggle turned up for practice and the final call on his availability for the second Test against South Africa along with that of young speedster Ishant Sharma will be made tomorrow after a fitness assessment of both players.

Both Kumble and Ishant bowled decent spells at the optional nets in the Sardar Patel stadium, Motera, and the Indian team management will be anxious to have them fit in the wake of Sachin Tendulkar's unavailability due to a groin injury.

Only seven players, including Murali Kartik who is recovering from an ankle injury, came to the optional practice session today and the latter was put through his paces mildly by team physiotherapist Paul Close.

Kumble, who has a groin niggle sustained in Chennai, and Ishant recovering from an injured finger and toe - bowled at the nets mostly against Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif who had lengthy stints with the bat.

The Indian captain later indicated that he was feeling better which should bring cheers to the Indian camp.

If nets sessions are an indication, Yuvraj is almost a certainty to take Tendulkar's place in the middle order after he had been asked to bat on three different net wickets by coach Gary Kirsten.

In that case Kaif, who last played a Test for India in June 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica, will have to wait to regain his spot.

The other players who attended the nets were all-rounder Irfan Pathan and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, both of whom warmed the benches in the series opener. — UNI

Ahmedabad, April 1
South African coach Micky Arthur today promised some 'chin music' by their bowlers to the famed Indian batting line-up when the second Test gets underway at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here from April 3.

Speaking to newspersons after the team's first practice session here Arthur said they had come up with a plan to curb opener Virender Sehwag, who had given a royal canning to the South African bowlers with a triple century in the first Test at Chennai.

Elaborating on the plan, he said they were planning to pepper the Indian opener with short balls into his body and thus cramp him for room.

''We had a look at Sehwag's fantastic innings. We saw that he played his first pull shot after scoring 312. He cuts the ball very well. We plan to target him with short balls into his body and cramp him for space and see how he takes it,'' Arthur said.

Speaking about the wicket, Arthur said he was happy to see some grass on the wicket, but either way his side was prepared for any type of wicket.

''We have covered all the bases with out team having bowlers who can swing the bowl, reverse swing it, bang it in shot and also a spinner who can tweak the ball a fair bit.''

He, however, added that they were not been carried away after seeing the grass on the wicket, saying the wicket might be a bit slow. The weather is also dry and we are used to similar conditions at home, like in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Arthur also tried to put behind the issue of the SG brand of balls that is being used in the Test series and said since the team has been here for 15 days the players have hopefully become used to it.

Lavishing praise on his team's batsmen for their fine display in Chennai, Arthur said the Proteas' line-up had gained from their previous tours to the sub-continent and was now comfortable playing spin bowling.

"We have played a lot in the sub-continent. We have kept the same top six in the batting order. We are comfortable playing spin bowling," he said.

Arthur termed his team's bowling attack as well balanced.

"We have a very balanced attack. We have also a very good spinner in Paul Harris who is probably the most under-rated spinner. He was a bit nervous in Chennai," he said.

Arthur maintained that the visitors were not under any psychological pressure after the blitz from Sehwag.

"We have probably taken more positives from the first Test. The top order performed. We have bowlers who can take 20 wickets," he said.

Arthur said in Yuvraj Singh, who was benched in Chennai, and Mohammed Kaif, brought into the squad for the Test here as replacement for the injured Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian team had enough reserve strength, but the point of interest would be whether the home team will field five frontline bowlers.

"Yuvraj Singh was waiting in the wings and Kaif, I have noted, has scored lot of runs in domestic cricket. They have lot of back-up. It will be interesting to see whether India play five bowlers with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni and an all-rounder (Irfan Pathan) coming in at six and seven or six batsmen (like in Chennai)," he said. 
— Agencies 

Karachi, April 1
Shoaib Akhtar said he was ready to take court action to fight a five-year ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today. The 32-year-old fast bowler, punished because of repeated disciplinary violations, described the long ban as harsh and unjustified.

The most recent violation came when Akhtar criticised PCB policies after being dropped from the list of central contracts in January.

''This ban comes as a shock because I had apologised for my statements and actions to the disciplinary committee (in Rawalpindi) today,'' the paceman told reporters. ''I will go to court if I have to and fight this ban.

''I have always given 100 per cent for the national team. How can they accuse me of being a damaging influence on the team?'' PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told a news conference that Akhtar, whose international career will almost certainly be over unless he gets the ban overturned, had the right of appeal.

Ashraf also said the board had lost confidence in the player.

The fast bowler known as the 'Rawalpindi Express' escaped a doping ban in December 2006 when he appealed against a two-year suspension imposed on him after he tested positive for a banned substance before the Champions Trophy in India the same year.

Akhtar, who has appeared in 46 Tests and was ranked among the fastest bowlers of the modern era, said playing for Pakistan meant everything to him.

''I bowled with a high fever during the recent test series in India,'' he said. ''I did it for the team.

''I have had problems here and there but I have always respected my seniors and got along well with my juniors.

''For me, nothing is more important than playing for Pakistan. It is hard to bear with this stigma attached to me.'' In October, Akhtar was put on a two-year probation and banned for 13 international matches for four breaches of discipline including striking team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Hanif Abbasi, a newly-elected member of parliament, also said Akhtar's five-year ban was unjustified.

''The people who have banned him will not stay (in power) for long with the new government in,'' said Abbasi.

''This issue will be discussed in parliament.'' — Reuters 

Mumbai, April 1
The Indian Cricket League will organise a triangular Twenty20 series with ICL's India, Pakistan and world teams vying for the title in a tournament to be played from April 9 to 15.

Named 'ICL 20s World Series 2008', the tri-series, to be played at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, will have seven matches with each team playing against each other twice, followed by the final.

All the matches will be broadcast live on Ten Sports and Zee Sports from 7pm to 10pm.

Announcing the ICL World Series 2008, ICL Executive Board Chairman Kapil Dev said, ''The level of cricket at the ICL is on an ascendancy mode. Throughout the Edelweiss 20s Challenge, we saw our boys come out with stand-out performances, which shaped the results of some high standard cricket matches.

''With the ICL World Series 2008, our promising domestic boys will face the toughest challenge of proving their cricketing credentials against two of the mightiest teams in the world.''

''These Indian players will be selected after a thorough selection process by the Executive Board along with the Selection committee, based on their growth as cricketers and respective individual performance,'' he added.

Kapil praised the Lahore Badshahs for their superb display in the ICL. ''Currently the Lahore Badshahs have raised the bar as far as competitiveness goes. Now it is for the other two teams, especially ICL India to raise their standard of play to match up to the competition,'' he stated. "The final Indian squad will be selected after the Edelweiss 20s Challenge's second semifinals," he added.

Inzaman-ul-haq will lead the formidable ICL Pakistan team, while Chris Cairns will lead a galaxy of international stalwarts representing ICL World.

Moin Khan will coach the Pakistan side while former England off-spinner John Emburey will coach the World team. Steve Rixon, former Australian wicket keeper, will coach the Indian team, while the captain will be selected later.

Banning players unfair: Younis Khan

Karachi: Prolific batsman Younis Khan today urged Pakistan Cricket Board to find a “middle path” to resolve the issues arising out of the players joining the rebel ICL, saying banning them was not a proper solution.

PCB along with many cricket board have adopted a tough stance by banning players, who have joined Indian Cricket League, from selection in the national team.

“Obviously I feel sad. I just think that banning these players is not the solution to the ICL. The Board needs to find a middle path to safeguard the interest of Pakistan cricket,” Younis said.

Former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Sami, Taufeeq Umar have aligned with the ICL and are no longer available to play even in domestic competitions.

Younis opined that absence of these players from the domestic cricket map was a lose to Pakistani cricket but he was happy that they were making big bucks.

“The Board has to take steps to ensure no more players are lost. As a player, I am happy that these guys are earning good money.

There is nothing wrong if cricketers get more money for playing as professionals,” Younis, who will participate in the BCCI floated Indian Premier League, said.

Younis also lauded Inzamam-u-Haq led Lahore Badshah’s good show in the on-going ICL tournament. — Agencies

New Delhi, April 1
Fresh from the debacle at the Olympic qualifiers, Indian hockey received another major shock today with the FIH looking for alternative venues to host the 2010 World Cup.

''The FIH reconsidered the conditional awarding of the World Cup 2010 to New Delhi. After having carefully studied the progress made with the project 'Promoting Indian Hockey' as well as the actions taken in the preparation of the World Cup 2010, the Executive Board noted that satisfactory progress had not been made in either area,'' the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in a statement.

The announcement comes after a two-day board meeting in Switzerland, with the governing body saying it has already started looking for alternative venues in case the event needed to be shifted out of the country.

India's failure to qualify for the Olympics, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) cold-shoulder to Technical Advisor Ric Charlesworth, its long-standing struggle to find a sponsor for the event and the lack of progress on the infrastructure front are reasons for the mess. — UNI 

Miami, April 1
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi set up a quarter-final clash against each other in the $3,770,000 Sony Ericsson Open, ATP Masters Series event, after winning their second round doubles matches here.

Seeded fourth Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas came from behind to beat Russian Igor Andreev and Xavier Malisse of Belgium 2-6, 6-2, 10-5 in the second round of the hardcourt event, being played at the Crandon Park.

Paes, and his Australian partner Paul Hanley, seeded eighth, booked the last eight berth after pipping German-Dutch combine of Kas Christopher and Rogier Wassen 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 in their second round match. — PTI

New Delhi/Kolkata, April 1
Information and broadcasting minister and president of the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said today that the Indian National Football team captain’s decision against participating in the Beijing Olympic torch relay had nothing to do with the AIFF or the football fraternity. In a statement in New Delhi this evening, Dasmunsi said he had a telephonic conversation with captain Bhaichung Bhutia and understood his sentiments.

“Bhutia expressed his desire not to take part in the function for some personal reasons. This is purely an expression of his fundamental right and his own decision, totally unrelated to the AIFF and the football fraternity,” the minister said.

“Bhutia hails from Sikkim and his concern on the Lhasa incident is a concern of any other human rights activist or social activist against this violence,” Dasmunsi said. Meanwhile, Bhutia’s decision evoked reactions from sporting greats, who asserted that the Indian football captain should not have mixed sports with politics.

The decision has not impressed hurdler G. S. Randhawa and ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, who are among the legendary athletes invited to run in the April 17 relay in the national capital, who said a sporting arena was not the right place to make a political statement.

“Personally, I feel sports and politics should not be mixed. And I'll surely take part in the relay,” Singh said.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) also made it clear that it would not persuade Bhutia to reconsider his pull-out, saying it respects the national soccer skipper's “personal decision”.

The IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh said they had received Bhutia's letter detailing his reasons to opt out of the relay.

“As far we are concerned, we have a very simple theory. Sports and politics should not be mixed. It is Bhutia’s personal decision and we respect that,” said Randhir Singh.

Randhawa said Bhutia did what he felt was right but for him, participating in the relay was an honour, which he would not like to miss.

“Whoever takes what stance is completely up to them. I think Olympics stands for peace and harmony and politics should not be allowed to mingle with sport.

“I have received an invitation from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and it's a matter of great pride and honour for me. I’ll be there in the relay,” said the legendary hurdler.

“If government is endorsing the relay and making all the arrangements, I think there is no reason for me to skip it,” he said.

While former footballer Chuni Goswami felt Bhutia did the right thing by standing up for a cause that he believed in, other sportspersons like former Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjee, swimmer Bula Chaudhary and hockey legend Gurbux Singh also harped on the point that politics should be kept away from the sporting arena.