New Delhi, December 25
After India defeated the mighty Australia at Perth, the Dhoni-led team inflicted more humiliation on Ricky Ponting’s men by defeating them 2-0 at home.

It was Australia’s worst series loss since a 3-0 setback against the West Indies in 1983. As India prevented Australia from a record 17-match winning run for the second time, the signs were clear that the balance of power was finally shifting away from Ponting’s men.

India also humbled South Africa and England in the year, which proved to be annus mirabilis for the team.

India, placed second in the ICC Test rankings are now in race to topple Australia from the number one slot.

Australia, struggling in the post-Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath era, failed to prevent South Africa from completing the second-highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test history.

Indians found themselves in various controversies such as the racial row involving Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds.

The bitterness was, however, forgotten as Symonds fetched the second highest bid after Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the players auction for the year’s biggest cricketing extravaganza - the Indian Premier League.

The IPL was the most significant development in the sport since Kerry Packers World Series of 1970s as $43.54 million auction took place that finally placed cricket alongside the big-money sports of the world.

The sport, which was struggling to draw big crowds was revived with the culture of clubs, Bollywood and cheerleaders and spectators returned to stadiums while millions others relished the excitement through televisions at prime time slot.

The Twenty20 league captured the imagination of cricket fans so much so that purists feared it would ruin the future of Test cricket, which indeed witnessed low crowd, making the International Cricket Council sit up and take note of the fact.

Tendulkar showed critics, who thought he was past his best, that he had no reason yet to walk out as he took his Test career tally past 11,955 runs, surpassing Lara.

Sachin achieved a statesman like stature when he dedicated his 41st Test ton to the Mumbai terror victims.

Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma had an outstanding year. Gambhir amassed 1,134 runs in the calender year, which saw him cracking the top-10 barrier in the ICC rankings.

Ishant got lavish praise from Australian captain Ricky Ponting for his nine-over spell at WACA in Perth which cost Australia the Test.

India’s player of the series against England Zaheer jumped up to 12th position in the ICC rankings. The year also marked the end of an era with Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble bidding adieu to international cricket.

As Ganguly and Kumble left, a new era heralded under the charismatic captaincy of Dhoni who cleverly camouflaged the vacuum created by the departure of the two veterans and led the team with aplomb. — PTI

Colombo, December 25
The Sri Lankan cricket team will require a clearance from the foreign ministry before going ahead with its proposed tour of Pakistan, sports minister Gamini Lokuge said.

Well-placed sources said the fate of the series hangs in balance after the Sports Ministry sacked the interim committee of the Sri Lankan Cricket which had committed to a tour of Pakistan starting January 20.

Lokuge said security clearance was required before giving giving a go ahead for the tour. “We also need the foreign ministry clearance for the cricket tour to Pakistan and will be discussing the matter soon,” he said.

Lokuge had earlier said that he would hold discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the issue.

Meanwhile, sources told PTI that though Sri Lanka wanted to help Pakistan host some international cricket at home soil, it was apprehensive of doing something that might go against India's interest.

“Pakistan is our good friend and has supported us on many occasions. Sri Lanka has also always expressed its solidarity with Pakistan. But decisions also cannot be against India's interest,” they said.

Last Friday, Ranatunga had confirmed the island cricket team's tour to Pakistan saying the country had a duty as a friendly neighbour to Pakistan when it was needed most.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had sent an invitation to the Sri Lankans after India cancelled its tour of Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attacks. — PTI

Mussoorie, December 25
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is taking some well-deserved time off from the gruelling cricket schedule.

He arrived in Mussoorie late last evening with his wife and two children and was spotted taking a quiet walk in the Lal Tibba area of Mussoorie in the morning today.

Speaking to the media Tendulkar, expressed deep grief at the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

“It was a most unfortunate incident and I express my deepest condolences to
the families of those who lost their near and dear ones in the terrorist attacks,”
Sachin said.

Reacting to the government’s decision to call off India’s tour to Pakistan Sachin said, “I respect the decision of the government to call off the tour to Pakistan.”

Speaking about the recent performance of the Indian team Tendulkar praised Dhoni’s captaincy but at the same time said the current team had a good bunch of players.

“Obviously he is a good captain but at the same he also has a good team at his disposal,” he said.

According to Tendulkar, it was a great team effort which accounted for the team’s success during the year.

“A team can win consistently only due to a collective effort. A few individual performances can never bring consistency to the performance of a team,” added the master blaster.

Speaking about the upcoming tour to New Zealand, Tendulkar, who was in a relaxing mood, said cancellation of the Pakistan tour would give the players much-needed rest before they tour New Zealand.

“All of us are quite keen to carry our winning streak into 2009 as well and hopefully we will do very well in New Zealand,” said an upbeat Tendulkar.

It must be noted that Tendulkar had also spent some time in Mussoorie earlier this year and quite obviously the master blaster has been bowled-over by the beauty of this hill resort.

“I love the peace, tranquility and natural beauty offered by this town,” Tendulkar said. Tendulkar is staying at the cottage of one of his friends near Lal Tibba.

Meanwhile, a large number of fans gathered in the area since morning just to catch a glimpse of the cricket maestro.

Patiala, December 25
Indian archers have again hit bull’s eye by winning eight medals in 1st Asian Open Compound Championship that was held at Yangon, Myanmar from December 9 to 14.

The team comprising Surinder Singh, Amarinder Singh, Ch. Lenin, Jiwanjot Singh, Amandeep Kamboj, Gurnehal Singh, Manveer Kaur, Gaganjot Kaur and Ch. Yogitha won one gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

Out of a squad of nine, as many as seven players were from Punjab. The Punjab players returned to the city recently.

Family members of the players reached the railway station to receive the players. They were given a warm welcome and were lauded for their exceptional showing.

\In the women’s category, Manveer Kaur won two bronze medals i.e. in the overall category and Olympic round. She defeated Khin Lay Nu of Myanmar (107-103) to win the bronze medal.

Women’s team comprising Manveer Kaur, Gaganjot Kaur and Ch. Yogitha won silver medal. They lost the final match to Myanmar with 204-191.

In the men’s category, Amarinder Singh ans Ch. Lenin stood second and third, respectively, in the individual ranking.

In the Olympic round, Ch. Lenin won silver medal whereas Jiwanjot Singh won the bronze medal. Men team bagged gold medal by defeating Myanmar by a narrow margin of three points.

Patiala, December 25
Holders BSF, Jalandhar, outgunned CRPF, New Delhi, 4-3 via tie breaker on the fourth day of the 33rd All-India Liberals hockey tournament played at the Ripudaman college grounds here today.

The proceedings in the first half matched the dull and grey weather with both teams dishing out insipid hockey.

However, once the sun broke through the dark cloud cover the action on the field
too enlivened.

For the Jalandhar security men the spotlight was on strikers M.Lakra and Mandeep Singh (senior), both of whom made repeated forays into the rival striking circle.

However, whatever good work they did was undid by CRPF custodian Y.Robindro Singh who gave a slick display under the bar.

Midway into the first half, BSF missed a sitter when John Jojo, finding himself all alone in front of the goalkeeper, lost his nerve and shot wide off the mark.

Play gathered momentum in the second half with BSF strikers repeatedly testing the
rival custodian.

Some of Y.Robindro Singh’s acrobatic saves were roundly applauded by the holiday crowd, which flocked the venue in good numbers once the weather improved.

For CRPF, the only worthwhile move in the second half came from striker Simon Tirkey. After receiving a diagonal from Dilip Barla, Tirkey made his way dangerously past the 25 yard line and while he was all set to take a shot in the striking circle his stick came down in a wild arc which meant his shot sailed over the horizontal.

Goalless at the end of regulation time, BSF made their way into the quarter finals through the tie breaker, which they won by registering a 4-2 margin.

After today’s card, the decks have been cleared for the quarterfinal stage. The other teams to have made the last eight cut are Northern railway, Delhi, who grounded Air Force, Delhi, 4-2, Namdhari XI who sunk SEC Railway, Bilaspur, 3-1 and 10-time champs Punjab Police, playing with internationals Jugraj Singh and Kamalpreet Singh, who downed RCF, Kapurthala 1-0.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 25
Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and Punjab State Electricity Board today entered in the finals of Shaheed Baba Jorawar Singh Baba Fateh Singh Football Tournament held today at Mata Gujri College.

While the Rail Coach Factory beat CRPF, 2-0, in the first match, in the second match PSEB beat JCT Academy, Phagwara, 2-1.

In the first match RCF forward Abhishek took an early lead for his team by scoring the first goal in 12th minute.

In the 15th minute another RCF forward Pankaj pushed the ball into the goal and gave his team a sound lead of two goals wit the score 2-0. RCF maintained the lead till the last minute and did not allow the PSEB men to score any goal.

In the second match played between JCT Academy, Phagwara, and PSEB, Hoshiarpur, the first goal was scored by Hardeep Singh of JCT Academy in 10th minute. Sandeep Singh of PSEB drew level for his team in the 18th minute.

While JCT players tried their best to score another goal but they could not breach the tight defence being put up by PSEB. PSEB forward Gurdeep Singh scored second goal for his team in 23rd minute and brought the score to 2-1.