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‘Success due to team effort’
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‘New Zealand not a tough place to tour’
Powell, Edwards hang on to ensure draw
Skipper Younis wants to do an Imran
RCA poll now on March 1
Carrying Tricolour not enough: Gill
Anand starts with a thumping win
Indian archers impress at Asian GP
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Christchurch, February 20 ''I'm proud to say that this Indian team is not relying on any individual,'' Dhoni told newspersons here. ''Everybody is contributing and everyone has a definite role to play in the side and that's what they are doing. ''If we fail to get a good start from the openers someone in the middle order stands up. If the batsmen do not score many runs it is the bowlers who stand up and take the opportunity to prove themselves and that is why we are winning more games.'' Dhoni felt the core of this side would hold firm after the retirements of the veterans. ''There are people who can fill the gaps who won't really be a Sachin Tendulkar or a Rahul Dravid, but they accept they have been given a chance,'' he said. ''Whoever comes in needs to be himself and play the kind of cricket he loves to play,'' the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman said. India begin their tour on February 25 with the first of two Twenty20 internationals. They also play five ODIs and three Tests. Rain greets Indians
on arrival
A strenuous journey, prolonged by transit layovers at Hong Kong and Auckland, was followed by baggage-collecting hassles and rain as the Indian team arrived here for the cricket series against New Zealand starting February 25. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men struggled to collect their suitcases and cricket kits at the Auckland airport after enduring a 10-hour flight from Hong Kong. They waited for another three hours at Auckland before boarding a flight for here, making it a bone-weary 27-hour trip from Mumbai. Missing a luggage-handler, the players were left to carry their suitcases themselves. "I know the players' problem. It needs to be addressed. Hosts countries have often said that they can't appoint such people because of security problems. But I will write to them and convince them to do something about this," said team administrative manager Niranjan Shah, a former BCCI secretary. "Why should there be discrimination? When foreign teams come to India, we have people carrying their luggage. But when we travel, we have to do it ourselves," fumed a senior player.
— UNI, PTI |
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‘New Zealand not a tough place to tour’
New Delhi, February 20 "I don't think it's particularly difficult (to play in New Zealand). I have always enjoyed touring there. Everyone is basing their assumptions on the last tour (in 2002-03), but it was probably an aberration," Dravid said referring to the 0-2 defeat the Indians suffered six years ago. Dravid, part of only the Test team, is currently practising in Bangalore and will travel to New Zealand when the three-match Test series is played after the two Twenty20 matches and a five-match ODI series. Recalling his Kiwi sojourn six years ago, Dravid refused to blame hostile conditions for the team's poor show, saying that Indians simply did not play good cricket. "We had expect a tough time on the field, but the practice wickets were spicier than what you would expect or want. The wickets were very good, both in Test matches and one-dayers. The wickets were actually fantastic: good to bat on, something in them for bowlers as well," Dravid told 'Cricinfo'. Asked about the specific reasons for India's poor record in New Zealand, Dravid said, "Maybe because we don't tour there very often - we last went there six years ago." "We generally make a trip to England and Australia every three or four years. At least in my generation we haven't gone there enough - I have made three-four trips to every country, and there are one-day tournaments as well. So maybe that (familiarity) is the only issue when people say it's a difficult place for us to tour," Dravid said. Dravid said he was confident of India doing well in New Zealand this time around. "We didn't play particularly good cricket there on the last two trips. I think we have got the kind of team now that should play good cricket," he said. "I would be a little disappointed if we didn't play well and compete there. If we do play well, we might end on the right side of the result," he added. — PTI
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Powell, Edwards hang on to ensure draw
St John's (Antigua), February 20 West Indies, set an improbable 503 for victory, batted through the final day from 143 to 3 to finish 370 for 9 when bad light halted play with four overs remaining at Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday. Powell contributed a disciplined, unbeaten 22 off 55 balls, and Edwards ended 5 not out off 26 deliveries. The pair batted purposefully throughout the last 36 minutes and 10 overs before the darkening skies forced umpires Daryl Harper of Australia and Rudi Koertzen of South Africa to offer the light to the batsmen, who gladly accepted. The result preserved West Indies' 1-0 lead in the five-test series. "Yes, it is a victory for us," West Indies captain Chris Gayle said. "I have to commend the guys for the effort they put in this test match. It's really tremendous to come out with a draw." Gayle praised last man Edwards, whose match-saving innings was his third for "It's like a customary thing for him. He's done it here again today. You have to give credit to him and Powell, the way they batted," Gayle said. "It's something we've been working on, everybody has to step up in a crucial moment of the game. It's not an individual game." England declared at 566-9 and 221-8, while West Indies scored 285 in first innings. After the second test was abandoned as a 10-ball draw on Friday because of a dangerous outfield at nearby Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, England dominated most of this test and sniffed a series-levelling victory. But none of the bowlers could take one more wicket. "It's pretty tough to take," England skipper Andrew Strauss admitted. "We had to work exceptionally hard for our wickets in the fourth innings there. I thought we had just done enough. In that last session, the guys dug very, very deep. Freddie Flintoff was bowling on one leg and the rest of the seamers were very tired. So to get very close was a great effort but it's pretty tough to take." Scoreboard England (1st Innings): 566 West Indies (1st Innings): 285 England (2nd Innings ): 221 West Indies (2nd innings): (overnight 143 for three) Gayle lbw b Swann 46 Smith lbw b Harmison 21 Sarwan b Broad 106 Hinds c Shah b Broad 6 Chanderpaul c Prior b Broad 55 Nash lbw b Swann 23 Ramdin b Anderson 21 Taylor c Bell b Anderson 11 Benn lbw b Swann 21 Powell not out 22 Edwards not out 5 Extras (b-21, lb-7, w-1, nb-4): 33 Total (for 9 wkts, 128 overs): 370 Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-81, 3-96, 4-244, 5-261, 6-287, 7-313, 8-322, 9-353 Bowling: Anderson 25-6-68-2; Broad 21-3-69-3; Swann 39-12-92-3; Harmison 22-3-54-1; Flintoff 15-5-32-0; Pietersen 3-0-15-0; Shah 3-0-12-0. — AP, AFP
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Skipper Younis wants to do an Imran
Karachi, February 20 "In the past whenever I have been offered the captaincy I have kept conditions. This time, however, I kept no conditions. I had mentally made up my mind this time that if the board asked me to become captain I would accept it," Younis told a press conference at national stadium. "When Imran left in 1992 the team he built was one of the top sides until 2000. I want to do something similar. When I leave in two or three years' time I want to leave behind a side that can carry on at the top level for a couple of years," said Younis, who refused the captaincy after the 2007 World Cup debacle. The middle-order batsman said he didn't want the players to support him but to support the Pakistan team. "It really does not matter if they support me, they must support the team and play for Pakistan," he said. Younis said he had insisted on having a four-day conditioning camp at a remote township outside Karachi without the media glare because it was the best way to make the players gel. "I wanted a situation where everyone spoke out and was honest in his opinion about another player. I am a straight forward person and I don’t like back biting or anyone keeping things in his heart. I want the culture of the team to be open," he said. Asked if he had his say in the 15 selected for the first Test, Younis said he had the authority to pick the final playing eleven and the 15 players were given by selectors. Regarding the omission of some players including Sohail Tanvir and Rao
Iftikhar,
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RCA poll now on March 1
New Delhi, February 20 A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said Justice N. M. Kasliwal would act as an observer. The court made it clear that those who had already filed their nominations would continue to be there in the contest and there would be no change in the election officer. Fresh nominations would be allowed for three more days. Earlier, polling had been scheduled for February 22. Appearing for RCA president Lalit Modi, who has challenged the holding of the election under a new RCA constitution, senior counsel Harish Salve said the exercise had been undertaken under political pressure with the association secretary Subhash Joshi and registrar of Co-operative Societies acting in "tandem". Senior counsel A Sundram, appearing for the Rajasthan government, said the elections could not be postponed as the four-year term of the present office bearers would end on February 21. Modi moved the apex court only on February 16, while the poll scheduled was announced on January 30. Modi is also BCCI vice-president and his position at the national level hinges on his status in the
RCA. |
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Carrying Tricolour not enough: Gill
New Delhi, February 20 "It's no use if you carry the Indian flag in your rucksack. All you need to represent the country is an Indian passport in your hand and no other," Gill told
PTI. "Only Indian passport holders would play for the country and India doesn't allow a second passport. So, if a player doesn't have an Indian passport, he or she cannot play for the country," the minister added. The Sports Ministry recently came out with the new policy that slams the door on the tennis trio of Prakash
Amritraj, Shikha Uberoi and Sunitha Rao all US citizens and Gill said it is perfectly in accordance with the International Tennis Federation rules. "I want the country to know that this is not a new policy made by the government. This is only a correct and honest application of the law. We have checked the ITF regulations and only then laid down the same here," Gill said. With Amritraj rendered ineligible to play for the country, Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna will spearhead India's challenge in singles against Chinese Taipei in their Asia-Oceania Group I tie next month, while old hands Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi would team up in doubles.
— PTI |
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Anand starts with a thumping win
Linares (Spain), February 20 With all the other games of the eight-player double round robin tournament ending in draws, Anand emerged as the sole leader on one point after the conclusion of the first round and will next meet Armenian Levon
Aronian. The Indian ace was at his positional best, accurate in converting a slightly advantageous position in to a full point. Radjabov opted for his tested Sicilian Sveshnikov and it was a long theoretical battle that ensued in the early part of the game. Quite a few pieces changed hands as the players followed an earlier game between GM Peter Bobras and GM Yuri Yakovich and it was only on the 28th move that Radjabov deviated and showcased his new idea. An undeterred Anand quickly launched his pieces for an attack against the black king and even though Radjabov managed to reach a queen and minor piece endgame, his problems could never really subside.
— PTI |
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Indian archers impress at Asian GP
Bagkok, February 20 The Indian women's team comprising V Pranitha, Rimil Biruly and Deepika claimed the gold in the recurve event yesterday. Kazakastan got silver while Japan had to be content with the bronze. Pranitha and Rimil added a silver and bronze to the Indian tally after finishing second and third, respectively, in the individual rankings of the Women's Recurve event. In the men's compound team event, the Indian trio of Arjun Rao, Sanjay Swansi and Abhyudaya Srinet took the Bronze tieing with Vietnam. Vietnam won shooting higher nos of 10's 107 vs 102 of India to grab silver. The gold was taken by Malaysia.
Rao claimed another bronze in the individual rankings of the Men's compound.
— UNI
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Karachi, February 20
