Chennai, May 9
Having lost their home tie against Chennai Super Kings, Yuvraj Singh would be keen to settle the score as Kings XI Punjab take on the hosts in the Indian Premier League tie at the M A Chidambaram stadium tomorrow.

Absence of Australian players - Mike Hussey and Matthew Hayden - and Kiwi Jacob Oram gives Yuvraj a perfect chance not only to take revenge for the early defeat as well strengthen their chances of making the semifinal stage.

With 10 points in their kitty the Punjab team is placed at the top of the points-table while the hosts are placed at third in the Twenty20 extravaganza.

Punjab skipper Yuvraj would also look to fire big as he is yet to come up with a sterling innings in the tournament. He has aggregated 170 runs from seven matches with his highest being 57.

Dhoni would also be looking at the semifinal spot and would not hesitate in pushing teammates for their second victory over the Punjab team. Dhoni had looked in a good touch in the tournament as he has scored 229 runs from eight matches with a strike rate of 145.45.

Besides Dhoni, local lads S Badrinath and Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan have been among runs and young guns would again need to show maturity to help their team's cause.

The bowling department of the visitors looks better with pace trio of Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, VRV Singh and spinner Piyush Chawla.

The pitch has so far behaved well in the previous four matches here and proved to be a batsmen friendly, the match on the morrow is likely to be an even contest.

However, form of former New Zealand Captain Stephen Fleming is a worrying factor for the hosts as he has not performed well in the last three encounter.

The run-rate of Dhoni's team had seen a slide after the departure of big hitting players and the skipper would hope his batting line-up would fire and bowlers would perform to rein in the opponent batsmen.

With Laxmipathy Balaji getting in to the groove, he along with Manpreet Singh Gony would have to share the burden of taking wickets.

Yuvraj and his men had a strenuous three-hour net practice session today though the hosts, who returned home after their four-wicket over Delhi Daredevils, remained indoors. — PTI

Jaipur, May 9
A swash-buckling 68 off 37 balls by Yusuf Pathan and his brilliant century partnership with Graeme Smith (40) led Rajasthan Royals to a resounding eight-wicket victory over Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, in the IPL cricket tournament at the SMS stadium here tonight.

Asked to bat first, Hyderabad were restricted to only 140 for 8 in 20 overs despite a scintillating 61 by acting captain Adam Gilchrist in the absence of injured skipper VVS Laxman. Rajasthan Royals achieved the victory target losing only two wickets of Yusuf Pathan and Smith with the latter scoring his third fifty in the tournament.

This is the sixth victory of Rajasthan Royals in eight matches they have played so far, while Hyderabad has suffered their sixth defeat in equal number of matches.

Mohammed Kaif and Shane Watson returned unbeaten on 14 and two, respectively. P Ojha and R P Singh shared the two wickets for Hyderabad.

Adam Gilchrist's hurricane 61 runs knock helped Deccan Chargers set Hyderabad a 141-run victory target.

Asked to bat first, Hyderabad were given a flying start by openers Gilchrist and H Gibbs as they put on 61 before the latter was caught by wicketkeeper Mahesh Rawat for 19 off Munaf Patel after having been dropped by Graeme Smith on five off the same bowler. After that none other than S.Styris (13) and tail-ender Venugopal Rao (23) could even reach double figures.

Gilchrist displayed dazzling form as he went on attacking right from the word go, hitting two fours in the very first over of Sohail Tanvir and followed that with three fours in his next over. He earned a life on 52 dropped by Siddarth off his own bowling after having completed 50 in in 37 balls with eight fours and one six.

He was ultimately dismissed by Trivedi for 61 off 49 balls with nine fours and a six, when he edged an outgoing delivery to the wicket keeper. — UNI

Scoreboard

Deccan Chargers:

Gilchrist c Rawat b Trivedi 61

Gibbs c Rawat b MM Patel 19

Styris c Warne b Pathan 13

Rohit run out 5

Afridi c MM Patel b Warne 1

Bangar c Rawat b Watson 3

Ravi Teja lbw b Warne 6

Venugopal Rao not out 23

RP Singh run out 2

Ojha not out 1

Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 1): 6

Total (8 wickets; 20 overs): 140

Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-88, 3-97, 4-100, 5-105, 6-105) 7-126, 8-130

Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-39-0, S Watson 3-0-22-1, M Patel 4-0-28-1, S Warne 4-0-20-2, Y Pathan 2-0-19-1, S Trivedi 3-0-8-1

Rajasthan Royals:

Smith c Ojha b RP Singh 40

Pathan c Gibbs b Ojha 68

Kaif not out 17

Watson not out 5

Extras (b 1, w 10): 11

Total (2 wickets; 16 overs): 141

Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-133

Bowling: D Vijaykumar 1-0-10-0, RP Singh 4-0-24-1, S Styris 2-0-14-0, P Ojha 4-0-47-1, Shahid Afridi 2-0-10-0, S Bangar 2-0-20-0, Y Venugopal Rao 1-0-15-0. 

Dubai, May 9
In a major embarrassment for the BCCI, the ICC today censured the Indian cricket board for preparing a poor quality pitch for the third Test between India and South Africa in Kanpur last month.

The game's world governing body also recommended that the BCCI take remedial action to ensure a similar pitch is never prepared in future at that venue.

To that end, the BCCI's pitch consultant Daljit Singh has been asked to assist the process.

The BCCI, on its part, accepted the warning and has promised to undertake the necessary action to ensure the pitch at Kanpur is improved for future international matches.

"I thank the ICC for its input and decision in relation to this and I can assure everyone that we will take all steps necessary to ensure this does not happen in the future," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah.

The pitch, on which India won the third and final Test to level the series 1-1 against South Africa, saw 32 wickets fall in three days play.

It came in for sharp criticism from the visitors with Proteas coach Micky Arthur saying that the track was one of the most under-prepared in the world.

At that point match referee Roshan Mahanama, who oversaw the Test, submitted a report to the ICC expressing his concern over the quality of the playing surface.

"My considered view is that the pitch was poor as it was too dry and had considerable turn and variable bounce from the first day... The pitch was not up to Test match standards," Mahanama said in his report.

The report said there were "several disappointing aspects of the pitch's performances including dryness, uneven bounce and signs of breaking up, even before lunch on the first day."

Mahanama also noted that the inconsistency of bounce became steadily worse as the game progressed.

Under the clause 3.3 of the regulations governing the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, which is meant to ensure that international cricket is played in conditions of a suitably high standard, the ICC wrote to the BCCI asking for a written report on the condition of the surface, including any extenuating circumstances which may have existed.

In accordance with clause 3.4 of the regulation, the BCCI provided a detailed reply.

ICC General Manager Cricket David Richardson and the chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle then considered all the evidence, including studying video footage of the match, before passing their judgement.

"We have come to a decision that the pitch prepared for the match should be rated as 'poor'," Richardson said. — PTI

Ahmedabad, May 9
The curtain came down on the 'slapgate' involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth after BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati completed the hearing of both the players here today. ''I am satisfied after talking to both Harbhajan and Sreesanth,'' Nanavati told mediapersons after the hearing.

''My investigations are now complete and I will submit my final report to BCCI president Sharad Pawar on Monday.''

''I have talked to Harbhajan for one and half hours and to Sreesanth for half an hour,'' he added. ''I have recorded both their statements and there is no need to cross examine them.''

The Ahmedabad lawyer stated that he has completed his duties and it is now upto the BCCI to get into the picture.

''My role is now complete,'' Nanavati remarked. ''It is now for Sharad Pawar to act after I submit my report to him.''

Apart from Nanavati, Harbhajan and Sreesanth, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah was also present at the hearing.

When asked about the role of Shah in the proceedings, Nanavati said,''Shah is the BCCI secretary. He has an important role in the day-to-day affairs of the BCCI. If I needed any help, I could not have adjourned the proceedings. So he was present here to help me out.''

Temperamental Mumbai Indians off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had slapped Kings XI Punjab pacer S Sreesanth after their IPL match at Mohali on April 25.

Following the incident, Harbhajan was banned from the remaining matches of the IPL and was fined around Rs 2.6 crores.

Nanavati, who had earlier watched the video recording of the match to ascertain the possible provocation behind Harbhajan's actions, had said he was ''shocked'' by what he saw.

Nanavati was appointed under the Rule 32 of the BCCI under which the board president has the power to name a commissioner to assist the disciplinary committee.

After Pawar goes through Nanavati's report, it will then be referred to the committee to decide about the action to be taken against the players. — UNI

New Delhi, May 9
Union Sports Minister Dr M.S.Gill today sanctioned Rs 10 lakh as immediate relief to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the import of ammunition so as not to hamper the training of shooters, for want of ammunition. The Minister today called a meeting of officers to sort out the ammunition shortage and take cognizance of the issues raised by the NRAI.

An NRAI delegation had met Dr Gill 10 days ago and briefed him about the problems being faced by the Association in the import of ammunition and weapons. The Minister assured them all help in sorting out the NRAI's difficulties in the import of ammunition and weapons.

The government spends huge sums for the training of shooters, import of ammunition and weapons. The money sanctioned by the Minister today was over and above the expenses incurred by the Government for giving financial support to the NRAI.

The government spends around Rs 2 crore annually for the training of nine elite shooters, who have qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games, and who are considered medal prospects.

A source in the Sports Ministry said the NRAI has been allowed to make duty free import of ammunition and weapons, as per its requirements, which had been disallowed after September, 2007 on the recommendation of the Department of Revenue Intelligence. Now the NRAI has been allowed to import ammunition and equipment to make the federation accountable for the whole process.

Ipoh (Malaysia), May 9
India paid the price for a sloppy defence to suffer an embarrassing 5-1 defeat against Argentina in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here today.

The jittery Indians, who had lost 4-3 to New Zealand in their opening match, put up a rather pathetic display to find themselves at the bottom of the points table after the first two matches.

The Argentinians relied on the brilliance of Facundo Callioni who struck three goals while Pedro Ibarra and Tomas Incento chipped in with a goal each in what turned out to a lop-sided contest.

Drag flicker Sandip Singh scored the only goal for the Indian team which comprised mostly of junior players who were found wanting against their much faster opponents.

Argentina fired the first salvo in the 12th minute of the contest when the nippy Callioni produced a brilliant back hand flick to take the Indian defenders by surprise.

The goal was the result of a fast counter attack which saw Callioni break through the defence and find the  target.

The Indians, who lacked the sting in the forwardline, restored parity in the 25th minute with drag flicker Sandip Singh scoring his fourth goal in the tournament by converting a penalty corner.

The goal served as a tonic for the Indians who managed to make a number of forays into the rival box but invariably failed to get their acts together at the goalmouth. 
— PTI