 |
|
|
India look to extend lead
IPL submits revised schedule
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Murali blasts security arrangements
Ashram & Army: A sporting journey
|
|
Wellington, March 5 India’s batting, which had come a cropper in the T20s, revved up into top gear with Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni serving notice with half centuries in the first ODI at Napier. Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan have also been striking the ball well. Even if two of these celebrated batsmen last out the innings, the Kiwis would find the going extremely tough, despite playing in home conditions. The visitors are also dealing with fitness concerns to paceman Ishant, who is nursing a shoulder injury, but the team management chose to play the cards close to its chest, saying a final decision on the bowler's availability would be taken only before the toss. Though Ishant bowled his arm over in practice, the team management does not seem inclined to risk the lean and mean 20-year-old bowler. India would rather have him 100 per cent fit for the rest of the series. “We will take a decision on him before the match. We did not let him bowl too much at the nets as it is part of our rehabilitation programme. But he is certainly improving,” said team doctor Nitin Patel. Ishant’s return would empower the Indian attack which had routed the flightless Kiwis at Napier. But if he doesn't, it would perhaps put Dhoni in a predicament. The Indian captain had hinted at a change in guard in the seam attack, obviously disturbed by Munaf Patel's insipid two-over spell at the McClean park. It wouldn't be a surprise if Dhoni replaces Munaf with either Irfan Pathan or left-arm tweaker Pragyan Ojha. New Zealand has its own injury concerns and they have already made it clear that wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, who had injured his right hand thumb during the first ODI, would play as a specialist batsman. The home side has also drafted Peter McGlashan, whose sister Sarah plays for New Zealand's women team, as a specialist wicketkeeper in the 13-member squad. McGlashan’s inclusion means Neil Broom would do the drink man's job for the Kiwis tomorrow. Skipper Daniel Vettori realises that if India extend their lead tomorrow, it would be a Herculean task for New Zealand to comeback into the five-match series. “We need to draw even here. Else, it would become highly difficult for us to get back into the series,” Vettori said. Realising it is a now or never situation, Vettori had a ten-minute team meeting before nets at the Basin Reserve this afternoon, calling on his bowlers to put the ball in the right areas. “I am trying to find a balance of being tough on them (bowlers) and patting them. But they need to step up their form and ensure that they put the ball in the right areas. If India produce another a big total, it would bring pressure on our batters,” said Vettori. For the record, the teams have clashed in 77 one-dayers so far, with India winning 37 and losing 35. If the predicted showers don't disrupt the proceedings tomorrow, India should positively improve on their statistics. Teams: India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Munaf Patel, Prgyan Ojha. New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (Captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliot, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee. — PTI Match starts at 6.30 am (IST)
|
|
IPL submits revised schedule
New Delhi, March 5 IPL chairman Lalit Modi and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) thus had no choice, but to follow the Government line. Now the ball is in the Home Ministry’s court whether to accept the revised schedule, or insist on postponing the second edition of the IPL, taking into account the security scenario, and whether forces could be deployed for the IPL matches when the Lok Sabha polls would be on. The IPL management’s hands are tied as far as the dates are concerned as a postponement of the event is not possible due to the contractual obligations of the foreign players to their respective cricket boards. The television rights issue is another one, and there are no slots available this year to host the event if it is postponed, which will cause hoge financial losses to the franchisees. The Home Ministry’s insistence on the heightened security cover for the IPL became strident following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan players in Lahore recently, though the IPL management tried to put a brave front, and Modi even insisted that the event could be staged as scheduled from April 10 to May 24, despite the Twenty20 Championship clashing with the Parliamentary polls. The revised schedule submitted by the IPL management to the Home Ministry has redrawn the matches scheduled to be held on the eight venues during the poll dates. So no host city will hold a match two days before and after the polling day. An IPL official said other than the revised schedule submitted to the Home Ministry, the event’s management was ready to answer any query or clarification the Home Ministry may have.
|
|
Murali blasts security arrangements
Melbourne, March 5 “Somehow in this incident there were no police with guns on the bus,” the 36-year-old off-spinner said. “If someone was there with a gun we would have had a chance of defending ourselves,” said the world’s highest wicket-taker in both Tests and one-dayers. “Normally all the buses go and we have four or five escorts,” said the spin legend revealing his anguish that there could have been inside information about the Sri Lankan team bus' route to the Gaddafi stadium. “We left at 8.30am, and Younis Khan (with the Pakistan team) at 8.35am. We divided into two, maybe they knew the information for the right time. They tried to shoot the driver. Then they were shooting both sides of the bus and they counted 39 holes,” he told 'Radio 5AA' in an interview. The off-spinner said he thought Tharanga Paranavitana, who along with Thilan Samaraweera was one of the more seriously wounded players, would die from his injuries. Paranavitana had a bullet lodged in his chest while Samaraweera had a shrapnel in his right leg. “There were gun shots going on and the bullets were passing us. I saw Paranavitana was bleeding in the chest. I thought he was gone, actually. Thilan Samaraweera was bleeding, Kumar Sangakkara was bleeding from the shoulder. There was blood everywhere. It was frightening,” he said. Both Paranavitana and Samaraweera were operated upon after they reached colombo yesterday and were known to be recovering. We were abandoned by security: Taufel
Sydney: Traumatised after surviving the deadly terror attack in Lahore, world's number one umpire Simon Taufel today lambasted Pakistan's security staff, saying they left the match officials to fend for themselves in the war-like situation. “You tell me why no one was caught? You tell me why? Supposedly 25 armed commandos were in our convoy, and when the team bus got going again, we were left on our own,” an angry Taufel told reporters on his return to the country. “I don’t have answers to those questions. I’m angry that we were isolated. I’m angry that we didn’t get the same level of security that the players got. I’m angry that in our hour of need we were left on our own. I’m angry that the team got to the ground and no one came back for us,” he said. The 38-year-old umpire, who is a three-time winner of the ICC Umpire of the Year award and has stood in 55 Tests, said the brazen attack, that claimed eight lives, was nothing short of a war. “On Tuesday morning we were caught in a war ... It’s just a game of cricket, not a war. It’s not the way the way life should be or sport should be,” he said. The Sri Lankan team was ambushed by masked terrorists while on its way to the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.
— PTI |
|
Tharanga, S’weera still in hospital
Colombo: Sri Lanka cricketers Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, who underwent surgeries after sustaining injuries during the terrorist attack in Lahore, would need around six weeks to recover, a government doctor said.
Paranavitana, who had a bullet lodged in his chest and Samaraweera, who had shrapnel in his right leg, underwent surgery at the private Nawaloka hospital here hours after the team returned yesterday. The duo would be discharged in less than a week's time while the other injured players have already been allowed to go home and they could resume training in two weeks' time, informed Dr Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports Ministry medical unit. “Barring Samaraweera and Paranavitana, others sustained only minor injuries and have been discharged,” she said. Wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara, spinner Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Thilina Thushara and assistant coach Paul Farbrace were the others injured when terrorists fired bullets and hurled grenades at the bus carrying Sri Lanka team members to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the second and final Test against Pakistan. |
|
Broad’s remarks obnoxious: PCB
Lahore, March 5 “What he has said about the security is untrue and fabricated. Broad has made obnoxious comments,” Butt told reporters here today. Broad, who was match referee for the ill-fated second and final Test when terrorists attacked Sri Lanka cricketers and also a convoy carrying match officials to the Gaddafi stadium, had said lack of adequate security made them feel like “sitting ducks” when the attack happened. He also said security was not of presidential level as was promised by the PCB. Butt also said the Board would “lodge a complaint with the ICC” regarding Broad’s comments and added that two investigations were being carried out to find out if security had been lax for the visiting players and officials. Butt also insisted security provided to the Sri Lankans was the same as was accorded to them during the one-day series in January. “Broad himself had praised the security arrangements when he came for the one-day series,” Butt said. “A commando lay on Broad to protect him and suffered injuries. I don’t want to use the language I would like to use for him. Even in the past Broad had sent back a security personnel from the airport to receive him and then complained to ICC that security was not provided,” he claimed. — PTI Bangladesh postpones Pak series
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has postponed this month's home series with Pakistan due to security concerns, the board said in a statement on Thursday. “We have been advised by the home ministry to postpone the tour until further notice,” BCB media chief Jalal Yunus said. Pakistan were due to arrive in Bangladesh on Saturday to play two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals against the hosts from March 10 to 22. — Reuters |
|
Ashram & Army: A sporting journey
Jammu, March 5 Along with Rumal Singh, Ratan Lal, Chaman Singh and Sunil Kumar have been adopted by the Army. Outside the secure environment of the ashram, where students can stay upto Matric only, their future appeared uncertain. It was here that the Amry stepped in. “The Army will be funding our education. Now, I can not only live comfortably but arrange for studies and food of my brothers also,” said a beaming Rumal. It was a chance visit by a senior Army officer that brought them this opportunity. Anil Sharma, the district social welfare officer, revealed G. Murli, Brigadier, General Staff Light Infantry Warfare, Udhampur, hit upon the idea of taking over the outstanding inmates into the Army. The officer also informed that all the modalities had been completed including the affidavits citing no objection from the boys. They may be recruited in the Army, once they attain 18 years of age. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Wellington, March 5
New Delhi, March 5
