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Chargers desperate for win
Deccan Chargers' Adam Gilchrist (left) and Andrew Symonds have to come good with the bat in the crucial match against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday. — PTI
photo
Under-fire Gill forms probe panel
Govt nominates
Ajitpal, Zafar as IHF observers
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Super Kings win a thriller
I will give back if provoked: Ishant
Ishant Sharma and Ricky Ponting during practice at session.
‘Let Sachin play for as long as he wishes’
Indian eves in a must-win situation
Jeev gears up for Asian Open
I’ve goals &
they are all important, says Federer
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Hyderabad, April 23
Prestige is at stake for the fancied Deccan Chargers, led by stylish batsman V. V. S. Laxman, who is yet to find his form in the tournament. Though boasting of a strong batting line-up with big hitters like Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Pakistani import Shahid Afridi, the Deccan Chargers have failed to deliver so far. The hosts were reworking their strategies and leaving no stone unturned to pull off a victory against the Rajasthan Royals, led by Australian spinner Shane Warne, who would use his vast experience to spin a web and restrict the hosts to a modest total. The Rajasthan Royals have in their fold two other Australians - S Watson and D Lehmann - who were capable of improving the fortunes of the visitors. The Jaipur team had lost to Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets, but won against Punjab’s King XI by six wickets in their earlier outings. Rohit Sharma is expected to compile a big score for the hosts once again. The team also consists of Indian youngsters and seniors, including Pragyan Ojha, Arjun Yadav, Venugopal Rao and Sanjay Bangar. Teams (from): Deccan Chargers: V. V. S. Laxman (capt), Scott Styris, Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi, Andrew Symonds, Sanjay Bangar, Rohit Sharma, Chamara Silva, Y Venugopala Rao, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Haladhar Das, D Kalyanakrishna, Pragyan Ojha, D B Ravi Teja, P M Sarvesh Kumar, R P Singh, P Vijayakumar and Arjun Yadav. Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (capt), Yusuf Pathan, Mohammad Kaif, Darren Lehmann, Munaf Patel, Shane Watson, Siddarth Triedi, Taruvar Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Pankaj Singh, Swapnil Asnodkar, Neeraj Patel, Mahesh Rawat, Sumit Khatri, Dinesh Salunkhe, Jayadev Shah, Aditya Angle, Parag More and Anup Revandar. — UNI
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Under-fire Gill forms probe panel
New Delhi, April 23 However, there was no respite for the under-fire Gill as the game's governing body, FIH, called for appropriate steps to deal with the situation while Sports Minister M S Gill continued to exert pressure by suggesting that younger administrators should be at the helm in sports federations. "We have taken notice and we are in close contact with the Indian Olympic Association to take proper action as they see it appropriate," FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman said in an official reaction. K P S Gill appointed a three-member committee to probe into the scandal, a face-saving move apparently aimed at pacifying the growing voices of dissent. Formed two days after the expose, the committee will be headed by retired Judge of Madras High court Justice K M N Natarajan and will also include former Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, W I Davaram IPS (retd), and IHF Joint Secretary Rajeev Mehta. Gill told PTI that the committee would look into every aspect of the allegations made in the telecast. "The Committee will meet at the earliest to inquire into every aspect shown in the telecast before submitting its findings to the Federation," Gill said. The Sports Minister, who had only yesterday asked the IHF supremo to step down after being at the helm for close to 15 consecutive years, parried questions on the matter today, saying everything would be sorted out in the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) meeting on Monday. "We have a meeting on Monday where Mr Gill has been invited. Everything would be sorted out there," M S Gill said. The IHF President had brushed aside the minister's call and had instead stated that "whole government does not resign if a minister does something wrong." But the Sports Minister chose a more subtle way to drive home the message by calling for more accountability in sports federations and stressing the need to allow younger people to take leadership positions. "Ultimately, the Olympic movement and the sports federations have an important role to play in bringing India to the top on Olympic ladder. They have to make sure that the money is used cleanly and there is accountability," he said. "We need younger people in the federations for handling management and technical aspects. ...you guys need to have younger staff, who can handle things swiftly and efficiently," he added. Jothikumaran was caught on camera taking bribe purportedly to select a player in a sting operation by a television channel. But Gill has been under fire even before the scandal broke out following India's failure to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 80 years. The former IPS officer has, however, defiantly stood his ground. But the Jothikumaran expose has mounted fresh pressure on him to step down with Members of Parliament and former Olympians accusing him of being solely responsible for the rot in the IHF. — PTI
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Govt nominates
Ajitpal, Zafar as IHF observers
New Delhi, April 23 They will replace Group Captain (retd) R.S.Bhola and former Indian women's hockey team captain Rupa Saini "to oversee, guide and assist the IHF for the promotion and development of hockey". Their brief will also include keeping a "close watch on all selection process". The Ministry has also re-categorised eight sports disciplines by upgrading them to the highest "priority category" The disciplines promoted from the general category to priority category, such as hockey, swimming, basketball and University games, will now be eligible for greater international exposure, while those promoted from the 'others' to priority category will be entitled for additional benefit of engaging foreign coaches. |
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Super Kings win a thriller
Chennai, April 23 Earlier, Looking for their second win on the trot, Chennai Super Kings, put into bat by Mumbai Indians, scored 208 losing five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs led by a brilliant 81 by opener Mathew Hayden and a fine 53 by Suresh Rain and their 104 run stand in the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M A Chidambaram stadium here today. The Super Kings, who had outplayed Punjab in their first outing went into bat to a bright start opening with left handers Parthiv Patel and Mathew Hayden. With both the former India stumper and the hard hitting Aussie opener taking on the Mumbai pace spearheads former Proteas all-rounder Shaun Pollock and the dropped India medium pacer left hander Ashish Nehra. Striking hard blows Parthiv and Hayden put on 34 in 3.4 overs.But the Mumbai Indians, looking to compensate their loss against Royal Challengers, Bangalore on home turf, struck two early blows. Nehra forced Parthiv Patel to nick to wicket keeper Loots Bosman off the first ball of the fourth over. Patel fell for 14 off 11 balls with the help of three fours. Hayden in the meanwhile struck 15 runs including a six and two fours off Pollock as a near full house at the historic Chepauk ground cheered wildly, enjoying every hit by the two batsmen. Harbhajan, leading the Mumbai team for the second successive match in place of the injued Sachin Tendulkar, the original captain, brought in Dhaval Kulkarni in place of an expensive Pollock at the pavillion end. Kulkarni had the no 3 batsman, left handed Aussie Mike Hussey castled missing the line of the ball. Hussey fell for five off nine balls and hit one four.The Super Kings were reduced to 37 for 2 in 4.4 overs. Kings under pressure to post a fighting score, pushed themselves to 88 for 2 posting the 50 run stand and Raina touching 25, in 10.2 overs. It was 90-2 in 10.3 overs. Even the West Indian speedster Bravo who was picked in place of an injured Lankan Lasith Malinga inl the Mumbai Indians XI could not put the breaks on the two Super Kings batsman. Harbhajan Singh took himself off to bring in off spinner Vikrant Yelligetti but he conceded two fours and a single to see Chennai Super Kings posting their 100 mrk off 11.3 overs with Hayden coasting to his 50 batting on 41 and Raina on 31. Hayden was severe on medium pacer Abhishek Nayar. He reached his 50 off 37 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Suresh Raina too posted his 50 in 33 balls with three fours and three sixes. The Super Kings were 143 in 14.4 overs. As Jacob Oram the Kiwi all rounder came in, Super Kings posted the 200 mark in 19.1 overs , five balls remaining in their innings. But Dhoni holed out to The local lad S Badrinath faced the last ball of the Super Kings innings which closed at 208-5. Oram remained not out on 5 with one four and Badrinath on 2.
— Agencies Scoreboard Chennai Super Kings Patel c Ronchi b Nehra 14 Hayden run out 81 Hussey b Kulkarni 5 Raina c Bravo b Khote 53 Dhoni c Bravo b Khote 30 Oram not out 5 Badrinath not out 2 Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-9, nb-2) 18 Total (5 wkts, 20 overs) 208 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-39, 3-143, 4-194, 5-206. Bowling: Pollock 3-0-32-0, Nehra 4-0-35-1, Kulkarni 3-0-25-1, Harbhajan 2-0-14-0, Bravo 3-0-36-0, Yeligati 1-0-16-0, Nayar 1-0-14-0, Khote 3-0-29-2. Mumbai Indians Ronchi run out 2 Jayasuriya c Joginder b Gony 20 Uthappa b Joginder 43 Pollock b Amarnath 17 Bravo c Oram b Joginder 24 Nayar not out 45 Khote c Raina b Muralitharan 9 Harbhajan c Badrinath b Muralitharan 28 Nehra not out 1 Extras (lb-5, w-6, nb-2) 13 Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-30, 3-81, 4-97, 5-130, 6-141, 7-189. Bowling: Oram 4-0-53-0, Gony 4-1-18-1, Joginder 4-0-29-2, Amarnath 4-0-57-1, Muralitharan 4-0-40-2.
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I will give back if provoked: Ishant
New Delhi, April 23 Ishant and Ponting had set up a great rivalry during India's recent tour of Australia but playing for one team in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition has provided them with a chance to become friendly. "It is a privilege to share dressing room with a great player like Ponting. We discussed cricket and joked at each other at the dressing room, we are just like friends now. But it is not that I won't show aggression at him while playing for India against Australia," Ishant said at a promotional programme here. "No colour comes before you when you are donning your national colours. I will give back if I am provoked and the same thing had happened in the Australia series," he added. Ishant said the bad blood with the Australians in the recent India's tour Down Under was past and he would want to forget it and move on. "The bad blood during the Australian series is past. We are professionals, we are friends off the field and don't think of the past," said the 19-year-old gangling Delhi bowler. Asked what Ponting told him before he started bowling during Knight Riders' match against Deccan Chargers in Kolkata, Ishant said, "he (Ponting) told me the first over was very important in any game. You had done well in the past and you should be doing that now." Ishant said he did not share the view of Ponting, Brett Lee and some others that the cash-rich Indian Premier League would mend the bad blood between the Indian and Australian cricketers. "I don't see that way. We are professionals and playing as a unit, so we have to interact, discuss cricket and other things. But, once you are face to face playing for your country it is different," he said. Ishant refused to pick a favourite team in the IPL though rated the Kolkata Knight Riders as very strong with a right mix of stars and youngsters in it. "It is very early to predict who would win the IPL. Moreover, in Twenty20 any team which play better on that particular day wins," he said. Ishant also did not agree that the shortest format of the game was heavily loaded in favour of batsman. "If you are a good bowler, you are a good bowler in any form of the game. A good ball bowled in the right area is a good ball whether ODI or Twenty20. So, it is not that bowlers are always whacked in Twenty20. "I am concentrating on bowling in the right areas. If I do that I think I will do well in the IPL," said Ishant, who had taken two wickets from six overs while conceding 16 runs. On his Delhi team mate Virender Sehwag's swashbuckling innings of 41-ball unbeaten 94, Ishant said it was nothing new for the Delhi Daredevil captain. "Everybody knows what Sehwag can do. I have nothing to add more, he is a great player," he said. — PTI
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‘Let Sachin play for as long as he wishes’
Jaipur, April 23 Warne said cricket fans would have to wait for long to have another player of Tendulkar's calibre, so he should be allowed to continue his career instead of critics suggesting him to retire in the wake of his injuries and occasional form-slumps. "He is a great player. We may have to wait for many-many years to have another player like him. He should be allowed continue till he wants to," said Warne while his stay in the city for a recent Indian Premier League match. Warne, who is captaining and coaching the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League, said Tendulkar was "the best" batsman in the recent times. "I feel West Indian Brian Lara and Sachin are the best batsmen of the recent times but I rate Sachin "the best" not only because of his amazing cricketing ability but also because of the exemplary manner in which he conducts himself on and off the field. "He is a wonderful guy. Naturally and exceptionally talented, affectionate and always smiling. There may be other good batsmen in the world but I feel that the word 'great' has been used most often for him. I feel Sachin is truly 'great' because of the manner in which he conducts himself. He is disciplined, co-operative, naturally talented and dedicated player," he said. Warne, who faced Tendulkar many a time on the field, said the Mumbai batsman was not only his cricketing rival when but also a family friend. The burly
tweaker, who recently had boasted that he has smart brain and out thinks batsmen, said he had still not forgotten the smashing he had got at the hands of Tendulkar.
— PTI |
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Indian eves in a must-win situation
Kazan (Russia), April 23 India needs to win it both the remaining league matches - against the USA and France - in the tournament to keep alive their hope of qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games. The team has lost two of its three matches by an identical single goal margin so far. But the captain and the coach had different opinion on what ailed the players at the critical stage of the tournament. Captain Mamta Kharab insisted that her team members required to be proficient in penalty corner conversions and while coach M K Kaushik feels that forwards need to do their duty with more sincerity. "We are just failing in one area, that is, penalty corners. There is sometimes problem in stopping which affects the rhythm. A couple of drag flicks missed very narrowly. We know this is the area we need to work and we are at it," she said. But Kharab is still optimist as she said the bad days were over and the team would do everything to bounce back in the tournament. "We have to still play two matches, so also all other five teams. No team can be sure they reached the final and we are still in the race," she added. But a dejected Kaushik differed, saying if India had to bounce back into the tournament its forwards should do their duty of scoring. "Yes, stopping is a problem, I agree. Still we perfectly stopped 7, 8 of them on Tuesday, but could not score. The real problem is not scoring. The scoreboard is the proof. Names of senior players like Surinder Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur and Mamta Kharab are not there," he said. "I have no complaints against any individual, but the seniors have to understand just domination won't do, there has to be goals on the field. They need to set standard for the youngsters to pick up," he added. About the fact that of 24 penalty corners in three matches, India had converted only two of them, Kaushik said "our normal conversion rate is 30 per cent". On the prospects in tomorrow's match, Kaushik said, "we should not have any problem if only we don't commit basic mistakes". His American counterpart, Lee Bodemede said "for us every match is a final". With nine points each the USA and Netherlands Antilles are sitting pretty at the moment. The latter, however, is to play against strong teams like the USA and Belgium. Besides India, the USA will take on lowly France in its last match on Saturday. Tomorrow's match between Belgium and Netherlands Antilles is crucial for both teams. One more outright win for the USA and Antilles will take them to the final while Belgium or India can make it with two wins if only Antilles should lose both matches. After three loses, Russia is already out of the contention.
— PTI |
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Jeev gears up for Asian Open
Sanghai, April 23 Jeev have been put in marquee groups as he plays with last week's winner in the Volvo China Open at Beijing, Damien McGrane and David Howell, who won the HSBC Shanghai ahead of Tiger Woods at the same course two years ago. The 36-year-old golfer, who made the cut at his second successive Masters two weeks ago, has been second at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open. Apart from Jeev, seven other Indians - Jyoti Randhawa, SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei, Rahil Gangjee, Amandeep Johl and Digvijay Singh will vie for honours. Randhawa, who played nine weeks in a row at the start of the year and then decided to take a big break said ''Fresh after a long lay-off I am raring to go.”
— UNI |
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I’ve goals &
they are all important, says Federer
Rome, April 23 Federer failed to retain his Australian Open title in January and came away empty-handed from Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami. He won his first title of the year last week at the Estoril Open and is in Monaco for the Monte Carlo Masters this week. ''Some people don't understand how extraordinary the last four years have been,'' Federer, who has been number one since 2004, told La Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview today. ''I can't be finished in February when I had won the Masters Cup in November. Now I'm well. ''I had glandular fever at the start of the year but I wanted to play anyway because I have lots of goals and they are all important. ''Winning my first Roland Garros, my sixth Wimbledon title, the Olympics and beating Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slams,'' he added of his goals for the rest of the year.
— Reuters |
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Hyderabad, April 23
A spirited late assault from Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh threatened to gatecrash the Chennai Super Kings' first home game, but the Mahendra Dhoni-led side held their nerve to clinch a thrilling six-run win. A 104-run stand between Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina lifted the hosts to 208, but Nayar nearly pulled off a stunning victory for Indians with his 20-ball 45.
New Delhi, April 23
(The) whole government does not resign if a minister does something wrong.
