Vadodara, September 24
Delhi bowlers wrecked the Rest of India (ROI) batting, dismissing them for 252 in the first innings on day one of Irani Trophy here on Wednesday.

Ishant Sharma (3-22) bent his back to extract bounce from the docile track to trouble India's mainline batsmen. He was well supported by young left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan (3-57) and leg-spinner Chetanya Nanda who got the ball to turn and bounce to claim three for 60.

Openers Akash Chopra (16) and Gautam Gambhir (4) were at the crease at stumps as Delhi ended the day at 21.

For ROI, Wasim Jaffer scored a half century while Rahul Dravid, surprisingly send in to open the batting, scored a wobbly 46. The rest of the batsmen looked rusty and uncomfortable out in the middle.

The ROI openers gave a cautious start to the innings with a 77-run stand. Dravid bided his time as Ishant bowled a terrific first spell. The lanky fast bowler gave only three runs from his five overs, bowling three maidens, though his rewards came later.

Dravid took 34 balls to reach the double figures while Jaffer broke the shackles with two consecutive boundaries off Pradeep Sangwan's first over with a wristy flick to mid-wicket and a fluent cover drive.

Nanda broke the partnership when Jaffer drove the leg-spinner uppishly to be caught at short-extra cover. Jaffer's knock included five boundaries. ROI were 105 for one at the end of first session.

Soon after the lunch, Ishant ended Dravid's stay in the middle with a sharp incoming delivery to get him legbefore. Dravid's 46 came off 95 balls with four boundaries.

Ishant struck again when Subramaniam Badrinath dragged a delivery on to his stumps as ROI slumped to 3-127.

V.V.S Laxman (21) and Mohammad Kaif (29) tried to build a partnership but could not do much. Nanda got rid of Laxman who tried to hit him over the mid-wicket while skipper Virender Sehwag removed Kaif. Sangwan then forced Mahendra Singh Dhoni to edge to slip to expose the tail. 

Scoreboard 

Rest of India:

Jaffer c Kohli b Nanda 50

Dravid lbw b Ishant 46

Badrinath b Ishant 16

Laxman c Manhas b Sehwag 17

Kaif c Gambhir b Nanda 29

Dhoni c Chopra b Sangwan 5

Kumble c Bisht b Sangwan 9

Harbhajan not out 26

Zaheer c Bisht b Sangwan 0

RP Singh c Chopra b Nanda 18

Patel b Ishant 19

Extras (b 3, lb 1, nb 13): 17

Total (all out; 81.3 overs; 360 mins): 252

Fall of wickets: 1-77, 2-112, 3-127, 4-162, 5-172, 6-186 , 7-186, 8-187, 9-225, 10-252

Bowling: A Nehra 14-2-59-0; Ishant Sharma 12.3-5-22-3; P Sangwan 15-1-57-3; R Bhatia 4.5-0-28-0; C Nanda 27.1-3-60-3; V Sehwag 8-1-22-1;

Delhi (1st innings):

Chopra not out 16

Gambhir not out 4

Extras (lb 1): 1

Total (0 wickets; 5 overs): 21

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 2-1-8-0; RP Singh 2-0-7-0; A Kumble 1-0-5-0 — IANS

Mumbai, September 24
The BCCI today said they will follow the government's advice though it had agreed in principle to the itinerary prepared for India's tour of Pakistan early next year by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"We have finalised our Pakistan tour programme with the PCB and in fact have done so till the end of April, which includes our tour of New Zealand. But as the time comes nearer to touring (Pakistan) we will have to wait for the advice (on the itinerary) from our government," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI here.

As per the itinerary finalised and released by the PCB yesterday, Rawalpindi is set to host a Test and a one-dayer during the January-February 2009 tour.

The PCB had also said it might have to review the itinerary in the wake of the deadly blasts in neighbouring Islamabad while declaring the tour programme.

As per the programme, the January 4 to February 19 tour next year would feature three Tests, five one-dayers, a Twenty20 game and a three-day practice match at Hyderabad (Sind), which kicks off the visit. 

Jaipur, September 24
He was christened "Guru Greg" when he took over the mettle of Indian cricket team coach but after World Cup debacle and acrimony with senior players, Chappell could never could not achieve the success he was expected to for the country.

During the current tour involving four Tests, Chappell is expected to play a major role for the visitors as he has been officially engaged with the Australian team along with the regular coach. His continuation as Head Coach to the Future Cricket Academy of the Rajasthan Cricket Association as well has ensured that Chappell remains at the centre of media interest and suspicion. There is no official or player of the Aussie squad who has been hounded by media so much.

Any player or official from the Australian team or the Rajasthan Cricket Association, who agrees to talk to the media, has to answer the queries on what Chappell was doing and what his moves were.

While Brett Lee had allayed fears yesterday about any such unprofessional fears, Hussey gave new life to the debate saying the "wealth of knowledge of Chappell " was of immense use to his team.

"He has a wealth of knowledge on Indian conditions, grounds and the players. We surely are picking up tips from him." He said at media briefing triggering talk of of betrayal by Chappell.

Not only Aussie players, even Lalit Modi also had to be on the back foot regarding media queries on the issue. To question on how Chappell was continuing with the Academy despite being associated with Australian team, Modi said Chappell was the Director of the Australian Centre for Excellence only. He was with the Australian team in that capacity only.

To reports that he had resigned from the Future Cricket Academy, Modi announced Chappell continues at that position and would do so as his advice was vital to the building of infrastructure, training of young cricketers of the state.

Viewed with much suspicion on his chances of leaking vital information about Indian players, their mindset, strategies, due to his stint with the Indian cricket team, Chappell rushed straight to the pavilion away from media glare within second of alighting from the team bus.

While Chappell has said a strict no to any conversation with the media, his every move has been closely followed. When he came out on the newly inaugurated pavilion of the Academy on whose grounds the Australian team was practising, all cameras turned to him rather than to the team coach accompanying the players.

Lalit Modi said media fears on leaking vital information by Chappell were unfounded, "Today technology makes it possible to fully analyse a player. All good players know every thing about each other and all of them keep improving and changing their styles."

Jaipur, September 24
In a major disappointment for cricket lovers in North India, three venues - Mohali, Delhi and Jaipur- have been cancelled for the Twenty-20 Champions League between eight teams of four countries scheduled from December 2-10 this year.

Dew factor and security threat have been termed as the main reason for the cancellation of the venues, Lalit Modi, CEO IPL and Champions League told reporters here at the sidelines of the ongoing net practice of the Australian cricket team.

“The new venues would be decided in a meeting in Mumbai tomorrow,” he said stressing only dew factor was the reason behind the sudden cancellation of the venues. Intelligence agencies had yesterday warned cricketers could be targeted by terrorist outfits.

Two teams each from Australia, India, Pakistan and South Africa would slug it out for top honours in the Twenty-20 league.

IPL champion Rajasthan Royals led by Shane Warne and the IPL runners-up Chennai Super Kings led by M S Dhoni would be the two teams from India.

Modi said December marks the onset of winter at these venues, “As the T-20 games are played in the evening, the dew factor can provide undue favour to one team.”

Moreover, it may spoil the fun also for the spectators, who are earnestly waiting for another T-20 tournament, he said.

Almost all the major players of India, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia would be seen in action in the league. Modi said top two teams of those countries would take part.

He said the IPL has provided the right spirit to the cricket matches as players, who earlier played against each other represented one team in the IPL and made many friends.

Chennai, September 24
India 'A' gained a psychological advantage ahead of the final when they defeated Australia 'A' by three wickets in an inconsequential last ODI league match of the tri-series here today.

Under overcast conditions, the home team overhauled the target of 272 set by the Australians with four overs to spare which was largely due to some useful partnerships in the middle overs.

In what was considered a dress rehearsal of the final scheduled to be played on Friday.

Scoreboard

Australia ‘A’

Marcus J North lbw Chawla 40

Adam Voges c Raina b Praveen 5

Hussey b Yusuf Pathan 74

White c Saha b Rohit Sharma 30

George Bailey c Kulkarni 
b Praveen 36

Phillip Hughes not out 49

Luke Ronchi c Uthappa b Chawla 0

Asley Noffke not out 33

Extras (lb-2, w-3) 5

Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 272

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-103, 3-127, 4-168, 5-213, 6-215.

Bowling: Irfan Pathan 10-0-66-0, Praveen Kumar 10-1-43-2, Kulkarni 4-0-28-0, Piyush Chawla 10-0-62-2, Yusuf Pathan 10-0-38-1, Ravi Teja 3-0-17-0, Rohit Sharma 3-1-16-1

India ‘A’

Jayadev c Hughes b Mar Cameron 26

Uthappa b Mar Cameron 7

Ravi Teja c Voges b Doherty 33

Raina c Hussey b Geeves 46

Rohit Sharma run out 51

Y Pathan c Hussey b Noffke 36

WP Saha not out 25

Irfan Pathan run out 14

Piyush Chawla not out 25

Extras (lb-3, w-9, nb-2) 14

Total: (7 wkts, 46 overs) 277

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-58, 3-70, 4-155, 5-187, 6-214, 7-240.

Bowling: Brett Geeves 9-0-61-1, Mar Cameron 9-0-43-2, Ashley Noffke 9-0-54-1, Xavier Doherty 5-0-46-1, Cameron White 7-0-43-0, David Hussey 7-0-27-0. — UNI

New Delhi, September 24
Though Indian football is on the upswing, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the title sponsors of the I-League, being conducted by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), has reduced their sponsorship fee from Rs 7 crore to Rs 6 crore, as the oil major has been hit hard by the soaring price of oil in the international market.

The shortfall in the sponsorship money by Rs 1 crore has forced the AIFF to look for sub-sponsors though the federation will not curtail the total prize money, which will be Rs 1.25 crore.

The title winners will get Rs 50 lakh for the second edition of the I-League, starting on Friday with a match between East Bengal and Chirag United at the Barasat Stadium in Kolkata. Punjab team JCT will take on Dempo in their opening match on September 28 at Panaji.

The runners-up will get Rs 28 lakh while the third and fourth placed teams will be given Rs 20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.

Cash awards of Rs 25,000 will be given to the best player of the league, highest scorer, best midfielder, best defender, best goalkeeper and best coach. The man of the match will be awarded Rs 5,000 in every contest while the fair-play trophy winning team will be richer by Rs 1 lakh.

AIFF president Priyaranjan Das Munshi said here today that Delhi and Gurgaon will be the neutral venues where matches could be held if, for some reason, matches scheduled in other venues could not be held. He said Delhi and Gurgaon will also be the venues for the Federation Cup Championship, to be held from December 4 to 21.

The AIFF president said there were some problems regarding the Cooperage ground in Mumbai, and if matches featuring the Mumbai team could not be played there, then they will be shifted to Kolhapur or either of the neutral venues.

AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco said most of the clubs had fulfilled "almost 60 per cent of the norms laid down by the Asian Football Confederation but unless all the clubs come up to the AFC standard, we cannot play in the Asian Champions League.”

He said three foreign players per team would be allowed to be registered, and all the three would be eligible to play on any given match, though if a foreign recruit is injured, the club would not be able to replace him with another foreign player.

Colaco said the matches of defending champions Dempo would be changed according to the progress they make in the AFC Cup as Dempo have entered the semifinal.

Chandigarh, September 24
A hat-trick by Binod Nayak steered West Bengal into Group A quarterfinal league after beating Tamil Nadu 6-1 in a Cluster I encounter of the 31st Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy in Mahilpur today.

It was their second successive win in the three-team qualifying cluster. Earlier, West Bengal had edged Orissa in their first encounter 5-4. Tamil Nadu and Orissa have made their exit from the competition.

Far superior in technique and ball control, West Bengal had to wait for 30 minutes to open their account through Sangram Mondal.

Two minutes later, a Tamil Nadu defender made an infringement inside the proscribed box and West Bengal were awarded a spot kick which Binod Nayak converted.

Getting a regular supply of passes, Binod struck again in the 44th and 47th minutes to complete his hat-trick and give West Bengal a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Sangram Mondal and Viswajit Patra then added one goal each in the 75th and 80th minutes to complete the winners' tally.

Tamil Nadu were able to score their solitary goal through V Bimlanathan in the 73rd minute.

West Bengal became the second team to qualify for the group A quarterfinal league. Hosts Punjab were the first team to advance to group B quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, in a cluster II match at the Khalsa College ground, Mizoram scored one goal in each half to beat Uttar Pradesh 2-0 for their second successive win.

Lalnunmawai opened the account in the 22nd minute and Lalnunpuia made it beyond doubt with a goal in the 67th minute. Mizoram had earlier routed Chhattisgarh 8-0.

At the Guru Nanak Boys School ground, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh split points after a one-all draw in cluster II match.

Aftab Alam helped Madhya Pradesh forge ahead in the 29th minute while Ravi restored parity with a goal in the 46th minute. — UNI