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IPL: Foreign players in two minds
Fletcher blasts security system in India Duncan Fletcher |
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Involve players
in security assessment: May
Lanka players recall scary moments
Saina, Chetan crash out of All-England Super Series
Sutil comes up with 5th best lap time
Vijay
Hazare Trophy
2011 WC: Complete security overhaul needed: PCB chief
Tiwary takes Bengal to semifinals
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IPL: Foreign players in two minds
Melbourne, March 4 Considering Pakistan's proximity to India, many players are assessing their decision. "It does hit home a lot more considering being a cricketer," legendary Australian pacer Glenn McGrath said. "With the IPL coming up there's concerns there too, being quite close to Pakistan," he added. Compatriot Shane Watson, who won the Player of the Tournament in last year's IPL playing for the Rajasthan Royals, said the incident left him shocked and he would consider touring India if FICA gives a green signal. "I was extremely shocked, I didn't expect anything like this to happen to any cricket team travelling around the world - it's blown me away," he told AAP. "You're never safe anywhere, to be fair. It's part and parcel of the world environment at the moment, more than just a certain region. "I love playing cricket and if the opportunity is there to go to India, I will be there with bells on," Watson added. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who had already withdrawn from this year's IPL, said the participation of other Australians in the tournament could not be guaranteed. "I sat with Pup [Michael Clarke] last night, and he was saying how happy he was not to be in the IPL. But some of the other guys who potentially could be going there will have all those things now they have to think about, more so than they did before," Ponting said. Australian bowler Nathan Bracken, who is signed up with Bangalore, however, has no issues playing in the IPL. "If it is unsafe, I wouldn't be asking him to go - but at this point of time, he'll be honouring his contract," Bracken's manager Rob Horton said. NSW coach Matthew Mott, who is also the assistant head coach of Kolkata Knightriders, said he would reconsider his decision of touring India. "It's rocked everyone I know. We've probably got a couple of weeks to really consider it and we'll listen to all the experts," he said. IPL agent Neil Maxwell said he was not clear what action would be taken against the contracted players who decide to skip the IPL starting in April. "They would probably lose their revenue but that would probably be the extent of it," he said. "I don't think there would be any formal situation against them unless it was en masse and then the IPL might have to look at it. I don't think a player could be held to ransom over that sort of thing," he added. PTI
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Wellington: New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram today said he was having second thoughts about travelling to India for the Indian Premier League following the terror attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore. Oram, who turned out for Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural edition of the IPL, said the Mumbai massacre too had made him feel a bit jittery. "I think there are definite questions to be asked. The IPL is a question that I will have to answer at a later date. The trouble in Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been going on for a while. But the Mumbai attacks really made me think," the 30-year-old said. Oram admitted that the lure of money was strong enough but he has a family to take into account as well. "The IPL has given me an economic freedom that I didn't even dream about, but I have a family now," said Oram, who made his Test debut against India here in 2002. "Cricket's important, but it is not as important as my life. Lalit Modi and the IPL have given assurances that the security will be beefed up for the event." However, he said he would be talking to the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief Heath Mills before taking a final call. "I will be talking to Heath Mills before taking a final decision. If everyone's happy with the situation in India, then I don't think I will have a problem going." He said he would think twice before playing in the sub-continent again. "I'll be thinking twice, before going to play in the sub-continent," the all-rounder said. PTI
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Fletcher blasts security system in India
London, March 4 Fletcher, who has been roped by Cricket South Africa to work with its national team as a consultant, said it would be wise of English players if they take second opinion before travelling to India in the aftermath of the Lahore terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers. "If I were one of the England guys who signed up for the Indian Premier League, I would be concerned," Fletcher said. "Less than four years ago I was part of the England tour party to Pakistan that came in for criticism from sections of the media for going overboard on security. "But if yesterday's events in Lahore showed us anything, it's that you can never be too careful," the former Zimbabwe skipper wrote in his column for 'Guardian'. The 60-year-old felt travelling on Indian roads can make players feel vulnerable and the traffic often makes them sitting ducks to terrorist strikes. "There were times on that tour of Pakistan when the security was at a presidential level - with the exception of Karachi, they cleared roads for us on the way to stadiums and lined them with armed guards. "India is different. The traffic is often so bad in the big cities where a lot of the cricket is played that the coach can move along only slowly at times, which turns it into a sitting duck for terrorists. "There's nothing stopping a tuk-tuk pulling up alongside and detonating a bomb. I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is much easier to carry out in India - and these guys can attack when they like," said Fletcher. PTI
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Involve players in security assessment: May
Melbourne, Mar 4 "We have written to the Indian Premier League on behalf of our members requesting an ability for player representatives to be involved in the evaluation and construction of security for the event," May said today. He added that a number of players have expressed concern over travelling to India for the IPL and would like an independent security assessment prior to the tournament. "An increasing number of players have expressed a desire for an independent level of comfort surrounding security arrangements for this event," he was quoted as saying by 'Super Sport'. May said he has had a meeting with ICC officials last week wherein he had raised a number of security concerns following a survey conducted into player safety. "At this time it's not appropriate to go into the detail of either the survey or the meeting, but there was a general acceptance that cricket needs to construct firm processes involving both players and administrators to address any effects on cricket that an escalation of terrorism may have in cricket playing countries," May said. The 47-year-old former Australia all-rounder pledged his support for the creation of a Security Summit to find ways to nullify the security threat to players. "We owe to it the game and all of its stakeholders to ensure that at all times cricket has not only access to, but implements "best practice" security - we should leave no stone unturned in the search and implementation of such advice and procedures," he said. May, meanwhile, condemned the Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers. "Our thoughts and prayers are with not only the Sri Lankan players, officials and security personnel that were subjected to such an attack, but also to the cricket loving people of Pakistan. It is a significant blow to cricket within Pakistan and of concern to the international cricketing community."
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Lanka players recall scary moments
Colombo, March 4 The cricketers are considering themselves simply lucky as they could safely return to home after the terrorist attack, which left six Lankan cricketers including skipper Mahela Jayawardene and star spinner Ajantha Mendis injured. "Everyone is safe. Nothing bad has happened. Lot of guys are really lucky as there were bullet holes everywhere in our bus. I am very happy that I could see my family and came back to Sri Lanka in one piece. None of the members believed that they could come alive out of that situation," Jayawardene said. In yesterday's audacious terror attack, batsman Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were hospitalised while Jayawardene, his deputy Kumar Sangakkara, Mendis, Thilina Thushara and Suranga Lokumal received minor injuries, mostly shrapnel wounds. "It was a terrible incident. We were going to the ground and were ambushed on the way. We were lucky to get away. We were in shock, but very very happy to be back home," Sangakkara said. But the 31-year-old cricketer wants to move ahead with the game, leaving the incident behind. "The best thing we can do is go on playing cricket," he added. Batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan recalled those terrifying moments: "It was a sound like that cracker set on fire, I didn't take it seriously... A shot landed very close to the driver. I then realised we were being fired at. "I heard some of the players shouting that they have been hit. The firing continued for more than three minutes. The driver was in shock and the bus was stationary for over a minute. I asked the driver to drive fast and we left the site. Later yesterday, the cricketers were airlifted from the Gaddafi Stadium by a special helicopter before a chartered plane brought them back home. "We all got scared. At that time all that I could think was who had been shot and who escaped. The driver of the bus saved us," spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said. Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan today said that security cover for the two-match Test series was relatively less than that was provided to the visitors during the ODI matches. "I think, security arrangement for the Test tour was relatively relaxed when compared to the three-match ODI series. There was a massive security cover for the ODIs, but I think they may not have expected such attacks on cricketers," Dilshan told reporters after their arrival at Katunayake Bandaranaike International airport this morning. Emotion ran high after the cricketers' arrival at the airport as members squad and their relatives greeted and hugged each other with sodden eyes. Dilshan was seen embracing his little son after getting down from the special chartered flight of Sri Lankan Airlines. Meanwhile, the five injured Sri Lanka cricketers - Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mendis, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera - were taken to hospital by ambulances. Mendis was treated on the rear side of his head with a plaster bandage stuck on the injured portion, while Sangakkara was administered medicines and was seen sleeping in hospital. Relatives of the injured cricketers accompanied them from airport to the hospital. The Lankan cricketers also paid tribute to the police officials who laid their lives shielding the visitors and driver of the bus who held his nerve to drove away the vehicle. "We pay tribute to them for sacrificing their lives only to save the lives of our cricketers. And the driver was real hero here," Jayaewardene said. PTI
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Saina, Chetan crash out of All-England Super Series
New Delhi, March 4 Saina hopes of a successful comeback after an injury lay-off went up in smoke after she went down fighting 15-21 16-21 against Hongyan Pi of France, while Chetan squandered a first game lead to go down 21-6 17-21 12-21 against Englishman Andrew Smith in the first round of the event. World number 10 Saina, who had to skip last month's national badminton championship owing to her shoulder injury, played better from the nets but was outdone by her rivals' smashes in the 34-minute gruelling battle. The eighteen year-old Hyderabadi had 18 net winner against Pi's 17 but could fetch only seven smash points against PI's powerful 12 points. In contrast, Chetan started off well, pocketing the first game 21-6 but eventually as the match progressed he ran out of steam. World number 13 Chetan played better from the nets and had better smash points then world number 21 Smith. Both had identical number of smash points, while Chetan grabbed 26 net points against Smith's 25. Among other Indians in fray, Anand Pawar put up a brave fight before bowing out 20-22 15-21 against fifth seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in a battle that lasted for 36 minutes. Indian women's double pair of Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian also could not get past Malaysian duo of Chiou Hwee Haw and Pek Siah Lim and went down 9-21 21-19 18-21 in a 41-minute clash.
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Sutil comes up with 5th best lap time
Jerez (Spain), March 4 Sutil managed 63 laps and was within one seconds of Toyota's Timo Glock who completed 141 laps with quickest lap time of 1:19.814 among eight drivers who tested on the third day yesterday. The young German was lucky to have tested on a dry track while his more experienced team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella had to counter wet conditions for the two consecutive days. "I think today was a good day," said Sutil. "It was important to get into the car again and to get confident. The car was OK. There is definitely potential, and we were able to do more mileage and find some reliability in the afternoon. "In the morning we had a little problem but we could fix it over lunch and start to do our programme. The tyres dominate a lot and the different compounds react differently.
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Tamil Nadu stun
Mumbai, storm into semis
Agartala, March 4 Put to bat at the Polytechnic Institute Ground, Tamil Nadu had problems in the beginning as they lost opener Abhinav Mukund for a duck. However, Junior Srikkanth, Anirudha came up with a defiant 67 and later skipper Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with a quickfire 46 as Tamil Nadu notched up a challenging 252 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs. Aniruddha hit six fours and one six in his 88-ball knock, while Ashwin had two sixes and one boundary from 37 deliveries. Mumbai left arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla bagged three for 43, while Ajinkya Rahane and Usman Malvi took two wickets apiece. Chasing 253, Mumbai did not have any partnership going and lost wickets at regular intervals as they were bundled out for 196 in 45.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Vidyut Sivaramakrishan was the most successful bowler bagging three for 32 from 8.5 overs. Bengal
oust Delhi in quarterfinal
In another quarterfinal at Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium, Bengal, a side which was promoted to Ranji Trophy Super League this season, upset Delhi by two wickets. Electing to field first after skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla won the toss, Bengal stuck to their task with tidy bowling to restricted Delhi at 209 for eight in the stipulated 47 overs. Delhi struggled to have a partnership going with opener Manan Sharma returning with a top-score of 43. The match had a 45-minute delay start as the pitch was wet. Both the umpires after consulting the two team captains curtailed the match to a 47-over affair. Chasing 210, Bengal also struggled as wickets kept on falling at regular intervals. Skipper Shukla made 18 and departed in 23.3 overs. But the stylish Bengal batsman Tiwary, who has been made the East Zone captain for the upcoming Deodhar Trophy to be held in Cuttack, held on to his end and single-handedly steered the side home. Tiwary faced 106 balls in his undefeated knock which was laced with nine boundaries. Bengal
will face Baroda, while Tamil Nadu will take on Uttar Pradesh in their
last-four matches to be held here on March 6. PTI |
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2011 WC: Complete security overhaul needed: PCB chief
Karachi, March 4 Butt said the future of international cricket in Pakistan is grim and there has to be a complete overhaul of security for foreign nations to even consider touring the strife-torn nation again. "I don't know but in current situation you can't expect teams to come to Pakistan. How can we force them to play here if the security situation doesn't improve," Butt told reporters today. "If the situation improves in next six months or one year then I am hopeful we can also have the 2011 World Cup matches in Pakistan," he added. Six Sri Lankan cricketers, including Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana, were injured and eight people were killed after 12 masked gunmen attacked the team convoy on its way to the Gaddafi stadium yesterday. Butt said even in times of crisis the Lankan team kept its cool and he was grateful for the way they conducted themselves during and after the terror attack yesterday. "I can't express myself in words the way they responded to this crisis when I met each of them personally. They had no complaints against anyone and were just grateful to the bus driver who drove them to safety," Butt said.
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Tiwary takes Bengal to semifinals
Agartala, March 4 Chasing a modest 210 to win, Tiwari stood tall in the ruins as he single handedly steered Bengal to victory in the quarterfinal match reduced to 47 overs per side. Bengal had lost five wickets for 132 at one stage and two quick wickets in the dying moments raised Delhi's hopes but Tiwary held his nerves to romp home his team in the first ball of the last over. Earlier, Bengal bowlers did extremely well to restrict Delhi to 209 for eight. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Iresh Saxena, and R Kundu took two wickets apiece for Bengal. Openers Aakash Chopra (29) and M Sharma (43) gave Delhi a good start, forging a 79-run stand but the middle-order collapsed, leaving Delhi gasping for breath. Puneet Bisht (36) and Pradep Sangwan (22) shared an unbeaten 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket to help Delhi cross the 200-run mark. Bengal's top-order struggled to weather the Delhi attack but Tiwary ensured his team reach the last-four stage.
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The lethal terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore has left international players in two minds on whether to participate in the second edition of the Indian Premier League to be held next month.
Former England coach Duncan Fletcher today blasted the security system in India, which he feels is far more casual than anywhere else in the subcontinent and asked Kevin Pietersen and Co. to think twice on travelling there for the Indian Premier League.
