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Gambhir powers India into final
Explain ‘shameful’ defeat to India, PCB tells players
SAFF Cup |
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Romania positive ahead of Azzurri clash
Croatia stun Germany Croatian midfielder Niko Kovac celebrates after his team defeated Germany in their Group B match on Thursday at Woerthersee stadium in Klagenfurt, Austria. — AFP
France set for Oranje test
Re-examine ’88 coaches promotion, SAI told
Santosh Trophy
Scolari new Chelsea manager
Nadal begins with win on grass
Saina in Singapore Open quarters
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Gambhir powers India into final Dhaka, June 12 Set 223 to win, India overhauled the modest target with 14.5 overs to spare as the demolishing Indian opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir scorched the Sher-e-Bangla stadium with thundering shots all around the park. Sehwag (58), who hit a blazing half-century, put up 85 runs in just 10 overs for the first wicket along with Gambhir, setting a firm foundation for the convincing victory. Earlier, Raqibul Hasan hit a brilliant 89-run knock to steer Bangladesh to 222 all out in 49.5 overs, after electing to bat on a good bating track. India emerged as superiors side in the tournament, finishing the league match engagements with two victories in as many matches and qualified for the final in style. Pakistan by virtue of their win against Bangladesh entered the summit clash, slated for Saturday. It was Gambhir's second successive hundred against Bangladesh and fifth overall, which was studded with 13 boundaries and one shot over the fence. After Ferhad Reza and Mashrafe Mortaza failed to stopmerciless Delhi duo, skipper Mohammed Ashraful introduce young Dolar Mahmud into the attack in the 10th over. However, Ashraful had no idea what was in store for Mahmud as the Najafgarh marauder creamed him for 22 runs, hitting him for two extra-cover sixes and two leg-side boundaries. In the process, Sehwag completed his 27th one-day half century consuming just 27 balls, though he succumbed on the\ last ball of the over while trying to hook Mahmud for another big shot. Gambhir, who did not get much strike earlier, had reeled off three boundaries in a Reza over, before Sehweag unleashed a flurry of strokes. Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma joined Gambhir as skipper Dhoni opted to continue with the left-right combination. The run-rate did suffer in absence of Sehwag as Bangladesh slow bowlers -- Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak - put the breaks on the free flowing runs for some time. The overs between 10 to 20 fetched India just 48 runs and to break the shackles Sharma (26) went for an extravagant shot of Razzak, mistimed that, and ended up in the hands of Mortaza. Gambhir paced his innings well and along with Yuvraj Singh (26) took India closer to the target. Realising that Gambhir was nearing his hundred, Yuvraj preferred to give more strike to his partner and soon after Gambhir got his ton, Yuvraj perished go\ing for the kill. Mortaza clean bowled him after the Punjab left-hander had gathered 26 runs from 33 balls, helping himself with one four and a six. At the start, Raqibul Hasan played a brilliant innings and shared two crucial partnerships to help Bangladesh set India a modest target of 223. For India, RP Singh, who came in for Ishant Sharma was pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3 for 46. — PTI Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal c Dhoni b Praveen 0 Nafees b Singh 9 Ashraful c & b Y Pathan 36 Raqibul c Praveen b RP Singh 89 Rahim c Raina b Chawla 6 Kapali b I Pathan 20 Mahmudullah c Sehwag b RP Singh 24 Farhad Reza run out 5 Mortaza run out 13 Razzak not out 8 Dolar c Kumar b I Pathan 0 Extras: (lb-2, w-10) 12 Total: (all out; 49.5 overs) 222 FoW: 1-0, 2-17, 3-93, 4-106, 5-152, 6-187, 7-196 , 8-209, 9-222, 10-222 Bowling: Praveen 10-2-32-1, RP Singh 10-1-46-3 , I Pathan 8.5-0-48-2, Chawla 10-0-42-1, Yuvraj 2-0-10-0, Y Pathan 2-0-9-1, Sehwag 7-0-33-0. India Gambhir not out 107 Sehwag c Iqbal b Mahmud 59 Rohit c Mortaza b Razzak 26 Yuvraj b Reza 26 Raina not out 0 Extras (w-5) 5 Total (3 wkts; 35.1 overs) 223 FoW: 1-85, 2-141, 3-216. Bowling: Mortaza 8-0-33-0, Reza 5.1-0-45-1, Mahmud 4-0-42-1, Razzak 10-0-48-1, Mahmudullah 7-0-42-0, Kapali 1-0-13-0.
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Explain ‘shameful’ defeat to India, PCB tells players
Lahore, June 12 The chairman asked the team management to immediately hold a meeting to draw up the strategy for the expected final between Pakistan and India on June 14, and report back within 24 hours. He said it was embarrassing to see his side losing by a margin of 140 runs. “Last night’s performance against India in which we lost by over 100 runs was embarrassing. It is not a question of losing a match but our overall performance and the lack of resolve and commitment bothered me the most,” the Dawn quoted Ashraf as writing in letter. He added: “I am writing this to you in your capacity as chairman of the touring selection committee with copies to Geoff Lawson and Malik. Please discuss these points today and give us your considered response within the next 24 hours so that timely action can be taken before the next match against India on the 14th which will be the final.” Coming down heavily on wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, he said his wicket-keeping was pathetic. He said: “Akmal dropped the catch and pretended that he had held on to it. This is unsporting behaviour. I do not want such behaviour from any Pakistani player. Please warn everyone. We ought to be looking at playing another keeper,” he added. He added in his letter: “Except for a few on the field, the body language was not competitive. We were smiling and joking as if we were some junior team which was happy just to be given the privilege of playing a top team. This has to stop.” He said he would be flying to Dhaka ahead of the final, most likely to be played between India and Pakistan. “I intend to reach Dhaka on Saturday, Inshallah, at noon time and would like to have a meeting first with you, the captain, the coach and the vice-captain immediately. — ANI
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SAFF Cup
Kolkata, June 12 In the last four encounter at the National Stadium in Male, defender Gourmangi Singh emerged as India's saviour and his last gasp goal in the second half of the extra time avoided an embarrassment for the reigning champions who eked out a 2-1 win over a spirited Bhutan. “It was one of those performances when nothing goes right for the team. It happens in football and can happen to any other team," Bhutia told PTI from Male. You should not read too much into the semi-final game. That was just one-off game. We all struggled. It didn't go according to the plan,” said the poster boy of Indian football. India's profligate forwards, including Bhutia, cut a sorry figure in the match and Bhutia did not offer any excuse for the side's poor finishing. —
PTI |
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Romania positive ahead of Azzurri clash
St Gallen, June 12 But the Dutch -- who Romania beat in qualification -- remained their best chance of a victory, Contra believed. “We have to see what happens against Italy. But we believe we can still beat Holland again,” Contra told reporters at the team’s training base. “They (Dutch) played very well against Italy but we have won against them before and we drew in Rotterdam, so we can beat them again. If we don’t lose against Italy we have a chance to qualify against Holland.” Romania play Netherlands in their final group match on Tuesday. Contra believes Italy’s humiliating defeat to the Dutch and Romania’s well earned scoreless draw against France in the other Group C opener, has turned the pressure on the Italians to qualify from the tournament's most difficult group. “Italy are under pressure. They know that if they don’t win against us, they probably go home early, so all the pressure is on Italy,” Contra said. — Reuters
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Klagenfurt, June 12 Germany pulled one back in the 79th minute through Podolski but Croatia held on for a victory that revived memories of their 3-0 triumph over Germany in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals, a match that featured their coach Slaven Bilic. To add to Germany's misery substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger became the first player to be sent off at these finals when he pushed Jerko Leko to the ground in retaliation for a tackle from behind in injury time. Croatia top the group with six points, ahead of Germany on three. The first goal came in the 24th minute, Srna proving too sharp for Jansen. Croatia nearly made it 2-0 when Olic headed down and Niko Kranjcar blasted over. The Germans went close with a Michael Ballack free kick and a header from Metzelder that flashed over. Coach Joachim Loew sent on David Odonkor to add pace on the right and Ballack shot over from the edge of the area. The second goal had an element of luck about it but it was reward for the excellent attitude Croatia showed and they managed to hold on after Podolski netted his third goal of the tournament for Germany. — Reuters
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Lausanne, June 12 Instead, a stunning 3-0 win by the Dutch over Italy and a miserly scoreless draw by Les Bleus against outsiders Romania has totally turned the tables in Group C. Even worse, instead of the usually quarrelsome Dutch, it is France which has a team dispute ahead of its most important game in two years. Veteran defender William Gallas questioned the tactics of coach Raymond Domenech, instead arguing France needs to “play fast, move more. There is something that didn’t work”. It was the last thing Domenech needed, questions from within his own team, while he still is pondering how to counter the sparkling Dutch. “I’m hesitating about four positions,” he said. Hardly the talk of a confident coach who led his team to the final of the World Cup two years ago. Especially with the veteran players eager to discuss with him how to play. The Dutch had this discussion early this spring, switching from the traditional 4-3-3 to the experimental 4-2-3-1 which paid huge dividends against Italy. It made coach Marco van Basten look like a genius. Despite the euphoria moments after the Italy game, soon one feeling united all: Nothing has been achieved yet. “Don’t think we have become favorites after one game,” Van Basten said. Yet, the Dutch lead the championship’s toughest group with three points, ahead of France and Romania with one each and Italy with none. Italy plays Romania just ahead of the France-Netherlands clash. “It will be extremely difficult to play in the same vein as against Italy. Other team, other players, different style,” Van Basten said. One thing will suit the Dutch just fine, the French have to make play since a draw could well not be good enough for them to advance. Against Italy, the Dutch already proved they are the masters of the counterattack, scoring two on smooth passing combinations and speed. It could become vital since the French defence has not become faster with age. Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, could be in the starting lineup, after the aftermath of a thigh strain reduced him to second-half substitute against Italy. The Dutch were always known to be strong on offence, it was their defence, lacking any big name, which surprised against the Italians. It is a daunting prospect for Domenech. “I have known what the Dutch can do for a long time. I know what they are capable of. When they get going, it’s impressive,” Domenech said. “When they play quick one-touch football they are an impressive team”. Domenech’s doubts are partly caused by lingering injuries to some of France's biggest stars of the golden age, when it won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Star forward Thierry Henry has been benched with a thigh strain and midfield mainstay Patrick Vieira has been recovering from a left thigh tear. Especially Henry's scoring class has been missed. In the last six matches, France has scored only twice from open play. Against Romania, Nicolas Anelka and Karim Benzema made little impact. “We can score at any moment,” Domenech said. “We just haven’t found the moment yet.” — AP
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Re-examine ’88 coaches promotion, SAI told
Chandigarh, June 12 The applicants, Ram Krishna, working as boxing coach in the SAI had appealed before the tribunal to re-cast the seniority list and promote the applicant to proper place. In the appeal, Krishna, maintained that he had gone to Germany Democratic Republic on scholarship in 1986 at that time his juniors were promoted. Commenting on the recruitment the CAT headed by Tarsem Lal and Shyama Dogra observed: “In the present case the controversy involved is whether aforesaid selection process was promotion or direct recruitment and after resolving the controversy to assign him correct seniority as was given to applicant by putting him at serial number 58 and then in 1993 pushing him to serial number 158 in the coach grade II.” Furthermore the CAT held: “In our considered opinion the respondents have condemned the applicant. The respondents while upsetting the seniority didn’t afford to give the applicant an opportunity to be heard.” The applicant was initially appointed as coach Grade III-B in Boxing in erstwhile society for National Institute of Physical Education and Sports (SNIPES) on December 24, 1979. SNIPES was then amalgamated with the SAI on May 1, 1987. While amalgamation was in progress a special scheme called “National Sports Talent Contest” (NSTC) was formulated and approved by governing body of SAI. Learning that his juniors had been promoted he submitted a representation to the department with request of promotion on the same date his junior was promoted. Krishna filed an application before the tribunal seeking direction to the SAI to promote him and re-frame the seniority list. Elaborating on it CAT stated: “Upsetting the seniority of the applicant from serial number 58 to serial number 158 is violation of principle of natural justice. Respondents are directed to re-examine this aspect while withdrawing the correct seniority list as per Rules & Policy.” |
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Santosh Trophy Srinagar, June 12 Services, who last qualified for final in 1969, took the lead in the 22nd minute against the run of the play through their prolific striker Raleng, who pounced on a rebound after teammate Shaji D’Silva’s attempt had been blocked by a Bengal defender. Services could have gone 3-0 up in the first half, but D’Silva missed two chances in as many minutes -- first in the 24th, when he shot over a Lal Rautafeal cross from the right flank and then in the following minute he shot wide. Services dominated the first session as the game was largely played in the Bengal half and they went to the breather with 1-0 lead. Although Bengal came out with purpose in the second half, the all-important equaliser seemed to elude them. In the 48th minute, Bengal striker Syed Rahim Nabi came agonisingly close to levelling the scores but his header from a Gauranga Dutta cross went inches wide. Throughout the match, the Bengal players played in bits and pieces. Desperate for an equaliser, Bengal coach Krishnendu Roy introduced strikers Asim Das and Shankar Oaraon. In the 75th minute, Das’ first touch nearly brought the equaliser but the ball sailed inches over the bar. However, Lama produced stunner of a free kick from 25 yards which curled away from the Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal into the back of the net to give Services a 2-0 lead. Bengal, however, pulled one back through Lal Kamal Bhowmik a minute later. With less then 10 minutes remaining, Bengal strikers went for an all-out attack but their hopes of dragging the game into extra time were dashed by Raleng, who scored two more goals in the 89th minute and in the additional time to hit the final nail in the coffin. — PTI
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Scolari new Chelsea manager
London, June 12 Scolari is currently managing Portugal at Euro 2008 and was not expected to make a decision about his future until after the tournament. Chelsea said in a statement yesterday: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to confirm that Luiz Felipe Scolari will be the club’s new manager from July 1, 2008. Felipe has great qualities. He is one of the world’s top coaches with a record of success at country and club-level; he gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours. “He was the outstanding choice. Out of respect for his current role as head coach of the Portuguese national team, and to ensure minimum disruption to this work, there will be no further comment from Chelsea FC nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences.” —
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Nadal begins with win on grass
London, June 12 The top-seeded Nadal arrived in London on Monday, a day after lifting the French Open trophy for the fourth time, to begin preparing for Wimbledon. He practiced on grass and competed in doubles on Tuesday. The Spaniard, who had a bye in the first round of singles, was in control throughout against the 36-year-old Swede, winning in just over an hour without losing serve. “The first day, the sensation is a little bit strange," Nadal said yesterday. “But for sure, this tournament is very important. If I can have a very good result here, it is going to be very important for me.” Second-seeded Novak Djokovic saved three set points in the second-set tiebreaker before overcoming Croatia's Roko Karanusic 6-2, 7-6 (7). Andy Roddick showed no lingering effects of the shoulder injury that kept him out of the French Open, rallying to defeat Robby Ginepri 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1. Federer in
2nd round
HALLE: World number one Roger Federer needed just over an hour to breeze into the second round of the Halle ATP tournament with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Germany's Michael Berrer here. Having been thrashed in Sunday's final at Roland Garros by clay-court king Rafael Nadal, Federer is in Halle, western Germany, to sharpen his game on grass as he bids to win Wimbledon for a sixth time later this month. “That was pretty easy, my first serve was excellent, my movement was good, my reaction was good, I am very happy with my performance," said Federer yesterday. —
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Saina in Singapore Open quarters
New Delhi, June 12 National champion Saina carried on her good form and took just 29 minutes to overpower qualifier and local favourite Juan Gu 21-19, 21-17 to storm into the quarterfinals. She will now take on Indonesian giant-killer Firdasari Adrianti, who stunned top seed Homgyan Pi of France 21-16, 20-22, 21-6, according to information received here. Sridhar bowed down to Sairul Amar Ayob of Malaysia 17-21, 13-21 in a lopsided second round affair that lasted just 33 minutes. Bhatt put up a slightly better show against Joachim Persson of Denmark and managed to snatch a game as well before going down 11-21, 27-25, 15-21 in 53 minutes. — PTI |
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Dhaka, June 12
St Gallen, June 12
Klagenfurt, June 12
London, June 12
