Melbourne, October 14
Intentionally or inadvertently, Sourav Ganguly continues to rub Australians the wrong way and the media here poured vitriol on the former India skipper, accusing him of indulging in delaying tactics to ensure that the Bangalore Test ended in a draw.

The popular belief here is that Australia were destined to win the Bangalore Test but the existing light rule, coupled with Ganguly's delaying tactics, denied Ricky Ponting's men victory in the first of the four-match Test series.

A member of the 'National Nine News' sports team took a potshot at anyone and everyone but was particularly harsh on Ganguly, whom he described as a "serial offender".

"Serial offender Sourav Ganguly firstly persuaded the umpires to go off. Then when play resumed, Ganguly made Australia's fielders and partner VVS Laxman wait an eternity because he'd apparently 'forgotten to put his thigh pad on'.

"Please! Can't you be timed out in this game?" he wrote.

According to him, the spectators were the obvious losers in the entire exercise.

"The players got something out of it. Pedantic officials got their moment of the glory. But billions of fans and more importantly - the game itself - got nothing out of this farcical finish in Bangalore," he remarked.

Criticising umpire Asad Rauf and Rudy Koertzen, the writer said, "With the match in the balance, a crucial hour's play on the final day was lost, with not one, but two stoppages for bad light - when at times the sun was shining!

"Umpires strutted about like Emperor Penguins, holding out their light metres - a device that like performance enhancing drugs should be banned."

He went on to say, "If Test cricket continues to produce farcical finishes like this one in Bangalore, this great game's Bradmans, Gavaskars, Tendulkars and Pontings will also be soon forgotten... Even by their mothers-in-law!"

A 'Fox Sports' cricket commentator went on to demand amendments in light rules.

"I thought the light was fine and they really need to change the rules regarding that aspect of the game," he said.

"There has to be some pressure placed on the ICC over this as there was no danger at all out there. I'm standing out here half an hour after play has finished, and while it's getting a bit dark now, it was fine half an hour ago and they first came off several hours ago. People come to the ground to watch Test cricket and the light was pretty good and not dangerous at all," he asserted.

'Fox Sports' also invited readers to comment whether poor light should be allowed to influence the outcome of a game and whether India played the match in the right spirit. — PTI

Dubai, October 14
Australia's Michael Hussey has returned to the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after he scored 177 runs in the Bangalore Test match against India, including a knock of 146 in the first innings.

Hussey (33) was placed third before this match, just behind Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies. But his efforts in Banglalore have put him back on top, a position he held for a short time earlier this year during his side's tour of the Caribbean.

It isn't all good news for the batsmen with Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Rahul Dravid, Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar all slipping places.

Hayden now lies in ninth spot with Clarke further back in 15th position and Dravid managing to stay in the top 20 at 18th.

VVS Laxman gains one place to 14th position but Virender Sehwag falls back one spot to 11th and Sachin Tendulkar drops back another place to 24th.

However, things look better for Man of the Match Zaheer Khan who has gained no fewer than seven places in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers. The 30-year-old took six wickets in the match, including 5-96 in the first innings. He now sits at the 11th spot in the rankings.

Pacer Ishant Sharma also proved to be a tricky customer in Bangalore and has gained a place on the rankings for each of the seven wickets he took in the match. He now sits in 40th position and ready to make an assault on the top end of the ladder during the rest of the series.

Anil Kumble is not so fortunate as he has lost eight places in the bowling rankings, plummeting from 10th position to 18th. The India captain bowled 51 overs in the match without picking up a wicket. — UNI 

Toronto, October 14
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, with his trademark big-hitting, and newboy Ajantha Mendis, delving into his bag of bewildering spin tricks, led Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Canada Twenty20 final here.

Chasing 133 to win, Sri Lanka registered their first win over Pakistan in the new-style, wham-bang format with six balls to spare.

He may be pushing 40 years old but Jayasuriya (40 runs) showed little sign of ageing as he and fellow opener Mahela Udawatte (25) put on 66 in 6.6 overs.

They took advantage off a wayward Pakistan attack with Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul being hit to all parts of the ground in front of 9,000 fans at King City.

Jayasuriya was particularly harsh on Akhtar, flicking the recalled quick for four in his first over and then pulling him for consecutive sixes over midwicket.

Desperate Pakistan, who had won the group match between the two sides by three wickets on Saturday, turned to spin and Shahid Afridi dismissed Udawatte while Shoaib Malik accounted for Jayasuriya.

But despite losing skipper Mahela Jayawardene for just five, Kaushalya Weeraratne (12) and Chamara Kapugedera (17 not out) saw Sri Lanka home.

Earlier Mendis, 16 years Jayasuriya's junior, took 3-23 for a tournament total of 11 wickets as he put the brakes on the Pakistan middle order.

Dubai, October 14
In a bid to resolve the spat between the BCCI and the ICL, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked Indian board president Shashank Manohar to meet officials of the rebel T20 league.

''Manohar agreed to provide the Board with a full written report of those discussions in due course,'' the ICC said in a release today.

The ICC took the initiative after the Indian Cricket League (ICL), submitted a formal application for approval to world cricket's governing body.

The ICC's move is expected to be a major boost for the ICL, which has been trying hard to get rid of the 'rebel' tag and become an officially recognised competition.

The ICC board also discussed new regulations regarding official and unofficial leagues and formed a sub-committee comprising legal head David Becker, Manohar, Giles Clarke, Norman Arendse and Lalit Modi to look into the matter.

It was agreed that a final draft would be submitted to the directors for approval.

ICL hails decision

New Delhi: The ICL has welcomed the ICC decision to ask the BCCI to meet its officials. ''The ICL has always worked towards promoting the game and players,'' ICL Business Head Himanshu Mody said in a release.

''We hope the outcome of discussions between the BCCI and ICL will benefit players at large. We look forward to an early resolution.'' The ICC took the initiative after the ICL submitted a formal application for approval to world cricket's governing body. — UNI

Manchester, October 14
India's campaign in the World Open squash did not proceed beyond the first round with national champion Saurav Ghosal biting dust against Shahier Razik of Canada.

Ghosal, the lone Indian in the main draw, put up a stiff resistance in the first two games before gradually fizzling out as Razik chalked out a 12-10, 12-10, 11-4 win in 56 minutes.

With Ghosal's defeat, the Indian challenge ended in the elite event where none of his compatriots could reach the main draw.

Former national champion Ritwik Bhattacharya was one step away from barging into the main draw before Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet thwarted his bid 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 11-5 in the qualifying finals. — PTI

Sydney, October 14
Match referee Chris Broad finds nothing wrong with the heated confrontation between Australian wicketkeper Brad Haddin and Indian speedster Zaheer Khan during Bangalore Test.

The incident renewed memories of the controversial Sydney Test during India's ill-tempered tour Down Under earlier this year.

However, Broad was unwilling to give too much attention to the matter.

''It's a Test match involving Australia isn't it,'' Broad was quoted as saying in 'The Australian'. ''There's always a bit of chat. Nothing was reported to me.'' Zaheer, who was apparently sledged by Haddin, had an animated exchange of words with the keeper. — UNI

Chittagong, October 14
Ross Taylor hit a fighting hundred to help New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 79 runs in the third and final one-day international here today for a 2-1 win in the three-match series.

The 24-year-old Taylor, who scored 103 for his third one-day century, carried New Zealand to a decent 249-7 in 50 overs. Then, the visitors restricted Bangladesh to 170-8.

Bangladesh were seeking their first series win over a major Test playing country before a 14,000 capacity crowd at the Divisional Stadium, but it was the tourists who took the honours.

Only Tamim Iqbal (35) batted with some authority for the hosts as paceman Kyle Mills initiated the slump by removing opener Zunaed Siddique (1) before Jacob Oram dismissed debutant Imrul Kayes (12) and skipper Mohammad Ashraful (8) in his incisive five-over first spell.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel then took over, dismissing the dangerous-looking local boy Iqbal and then accounting for Shakib Al Hasan (1) to end all hopes of Bangladesh successfully chasing the target.

From 98-7, Naeem Islam (46 not out) and Abdur Razzak (28) gave the score some respectability but it only delayed the inevitable.

Earlier, it was Taylor who was the hero for New Zealand after the visitors won the toss and batted. — AFP

Scoreboard 

New Zealand:

Ryder b Syed Rasel 3

McCullum lbw b Mortaza 6

How lbw b Islam 73

Taylor c Rahim b Mortaza 103

Styris lbw b Al Hasan 12

Oram c Iqbal b Al Hasan 3

Flynn c Islam b Razzak 5

Vettori not out 19

Mills not out 18

Extras: (lb-4 w-3): 7

Total: (in 50 overs for 7 wickets): 249

Fall of wickets: 1-5 2-13 3-138 4-172 5-179 6-201 7-219

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-2-50-2, Syed Rasel 10-0-40-1, Abdur Razzak 10-0-52-1, Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-41-2, Naeem Islam 8-0-50-1, Shahadat Hossain 2-0-12-0

Bangladesh:

Iqbal c McCullum b Patel 35

Siddique c Ryder b Mills 1

Kayes c McCullum b Oram 12

Ashraful b Oram 8

Al Hasan c Ryder b Patel 1

Islam not out 46

Rahim c How b Southee 15

Mortaza c McCullum b Mills 9

A Razzak c McCullum

b Ryder 27

S Hossain not out 12

Extras: w-4: 4

Total: (in 50 overs for 8 wickets): 170

Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-49 3-49 4-57 5-59 6-77 7-98 8-144

Bowling: Mills 8-1-24-2, Southee 10-0-40-1, Patel 10-3-29-2, Oram 8-2-16-2, Vettori 10-0-39-0, Ryder 3-0-16-1, Flynn 1-0-6-0

New Delhi, October 14
Thirty national sports federations and the organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games owe Rs 3,51,27,959 as outstanding dues towards unpaid rent, water and electricity charges as on March 31 to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for occupying spaces at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

This issue came up during the SAI Governing Body meeting here today, chaired by union minister of state for youth affairs and sports Dr M.S. Gill, and it was decided to write off the outstanding dues of the National Sports Federations to the SAI.

These dues were outstanding since 1991, but the Governing Body's decision to waive off the amount was primarily to help the federations utilise this amount towards promotion of sports and sportsmen.

The Governing Body also decided to clear the proposal for laying of smaller synthetic hockey surfaces for broad-basing and promoting hockey on a large scale across the country.

This issue had been raised by many former hockey Olympians and the IOA Ad Hoc Committee, headed by Ajit Pal Singh, as they argued that smaller synthetic surfaces would help hone the technical skills of the players in popular hockey belts.

The body gave its "unanimous" approval for this pilot project. The Technical Committee on hockey, comprising Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Pargat Singh, have been rooting for smaller training surfaces and the Governing Body has seen merit to their viewpoint.

It is felt that the smaller hockey turfs, of the sizes of 21x41 metres, will ensure proper development of hockey skills and stamina due to the enhanced speed of the ball as the ball is always in play because the turf is surrounded by wooden planks all around. This apart, smaller synthetic turfs will also help save enormous quantity of water, otherwise used to water bigger turfs.

But the smaller turfs, 20 of which will be laid initially, would not be at the cost of the bigger turfs, proposed to be installed at various centres in the country.

Bathinda, October 14
“One thing of which I am sure is that whenever the marketing of hockey as a sport begins, it will begin from India and with the Indian team,” said Pargat Singh, former India hockey captain, currently posted as the director, sports, Punjab.

“The main factor behind this is that in countries like Malaysia, Australia, Germany or Holland, which love hockey, if the Indian hockey team is not participating, then the presence and enthusiasm of the spectators remains a low-key affair,” the hockey veteran added.

While talking to TNS, Pargat Singh said that there were around 200 companies that wished to promote their products through sports. For promotional deals, cricket had become too expensive and in the two other major spectator sports - football and volleyball - India lags behind. In such a situation, hockey definitely stands to gain.

“It is a matter of pride that despite a number of internal and external hurdles, Indian hockey ranks ninth in the world, a fact that has started attracting investors,” he added.

Expressing regret over the pathetic condition of the Indian hockey in the recent past, Pargat Singh said, “It is painful that in the last 25 years, only one major hockey match (India versus Pakistan) was played in Punjab, the state which has produced a number of passionate players.”

“Now, we are going to arrange a four-nation double leg hockey tournament in which India, Holland, Germany and Pakistan will participate.”

Giving details, he said that the first match would be at Chandigarh and the final would be arranged at Jalandhar. Though he was not sure about the schedule, he said that it would take place at January-end or February first week.

Naming a number of “stalwarts”, he mentioned that it was the administration and selectors, who were actually causing harm to the game.

Sangrur, October 14
Spring Dale Senior School, Amritsar, won the winners trophy at the Sardar Gurbaksh Singh Sibia Memorial Inter Public School Shooting Competition, held at the General Gurnam Singh Public School here.

The first runners-up trophy had been won by Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and second runners up trophy by General Gurnam Singh Public School, Sangrur. Gaurav Seemar of Bishop Cotton School and Rubani Sidhu of Spring Dale Senior School emerged best shooters among the boys and girls respectively.

The competitions were held in .177 bore air rifle (national rifle), .177 bore air rifle peep sight (NR) and air pistol (NR) events.

Jalandhar, October 14
Sports Department, Punjab, would distribute equipment in different disciplines to around 14,000 young players of the state at a function to be held at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park, Jalandhar, tomorrow.

Pargat Singh, director, Sports, Punjab, said that the cost of the equipment would be around Rs 1 crore. “This time, the department has admitted 3000 boys and girls in the sports wings of schools and colleges during the current financial year.”

He said the sports-wing players would also be provided complete sports kit like track suits, sports shoes along with sports equipment of their respective games.

BRIEFLY

New Delhi
Time up for Kumble: Akram: Former Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram feels that Indian skipper Anil Kumble should give up captaincy after his insipid performance in the Bangalore Test. Kumble, who was suffering from a sore shoulder, turned in one of his worst Test performances at Bangalore. He failed to pick up a wicket, returning match figures of 0 for 160. “Yes, Kumble looked out of sorts with his bowling. His bad shoulder in the second innings let him down. I feel if the captain doesn't perform, he has to go and it is only a matter of time before Kumble bows out gracefully. In fact, both spinners looked very average. But for me, Kumble was a huge let-down. — UNI

Bopanna in 2nd round: Rohan Bopanna set up a second round clash with top seed Lu Yen-Hsun after winning a tough first round of the $1,25,000 ATP Challenger tournament in Tashkent at Olympic Tennis School on Tuesday. Bopanna, who entered the main draw via a qualifying competition, quelled the challenge of Ilia Marchenko 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in a first round contest, lasting close to two hours, in the hard court event. Hsun of Chinese Taipei beat former world number one junior Kristian Pless of Denmark 6-3, 6-4 in his opening round match. — PTI

Toronto
Canada unafraid to tour Pak: While setting aside security threats in Pakistan, Cricket Canada (CC) chief executive officer Atul Ahuja said they were ready to send their team to the strife-torn nation to play a one-day series whenever the PCB invites them. “If the PCB invites us we are ready to visit Pakistan any time and we are ready to host any Pakistan team next summer,” he said here on Monday. He said they want to have reciprocal ties with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on a long-term basis to help establish the game in Canada on solid lines. — UNI