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Nothing novel, says Tendulkar
KKR to announce captain tomorrow
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SRK apologises to Gavaskar
IPL blessing in disguise: Gambhir
Kolkata Test inspired series win in NZ: Laxman
Jonty moots fielding captain
Jeev gets Asian Tour membership
Sailor Rohini clinches bronze
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Multiple Captaincy
New Delhi, April 14 Ishant had been quoted as saying by a news channel that Buchanan's multiple captaincy idea should be tried if KKR wants to improve its performance this season, but he denied the comments attributed to him. "I have not said anything in support of the idea. It will be good for the team if we have only one captain. I don't know how having four captains will work," Ishant said. "I don't know the team strategy. I will know only after I reach South Africa and meet my team members. So, I can't say anything more. Whatever is good for the team I am for it," said Ishant at the unveiling of KKR team apparel from Reebok, the official merchandise partner of the side, here. Asked which one was more satisfying for him between the tour of Australia early last year and the historic series win in New Zealand recently, Ishant said, "In Australia, I made my name, people came to know of Ishant, the fast bowler. But the New Zealand tour was also a big thing as we won the series after 41 years." Ishant also refused to pick his favourite for the IPL second season starting April 18 in South Africa. "I can't say which team is the favourite to win. It depends on the momentum of a team in the tournament. Keeping the winning momentum will be important," said the 20-year-old pacer who will leave for South Africa tomorrow. Asked whose wicket he would want most to take in the IPL in South Africa, Ishant said, "There are many batsmen whose wicket I would want to take. But Sachin Tendulkar's would be something special. He is legend of the game."
— PTI |
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Nothing novel, says Tendulkar
Noida, April 14 "Let them (Kolkata Knight Riders) do whatever they want. At Mumbai Indians, we will do what we want," Tendulkar told reporters here today. Knight Riders coach John Buchanan set a cat among pigeons with his multiple-captain theory that irked the likes of KKR captain Sourav Ganguly and former players Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, the latter calling it a mockery of the game. Though Buchanan later retreated, saying he actually meant multiple-strategists, Tendulkar didn't see anything novel in the idea for, he said, senior players always chip in with suggestions. "It is not a matter of multiple captaincy but a matter of multiple strategists. Having one captain does not mean he himself does all the jobs. Other players also give him suggestions," said Tendulkar who was named the brand ambassador for Jaypee Cements today. "It is always nice for a captain to have more options. That is what we generally do," he added. He, however, refrained from any direct criticism of Buchanan. "It is just an opinion and there always is two sides of a coin and you see both, that is fine," he added.
— PTI |
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KKR to announce captain tomorrow
Mumbai, April 14 Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan said the captain of his team for the Twenty20 event's second season in South Africa will be named on April 16, two days before the tournament kicks off. "We will decide first and announce (the captain) on April 16," he told television channels. Shah Rukh, who left for South Africa last night, said that he will return on April 28 and to cast his vote on April 30. "I will go back in the first week of May," he said.
— PTI |
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SRK apologises to Gavaskar
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL team Shah Rukh Khan, who had criticised Sunil Gavaskar on the issue of multiple captaincy, has now apologised to the legendary batsman.
"I have not said anything against Gavaskar. I just wanted to have a breathing space to try something new. I have sent him an apology letter if he felt so," he said before his departure to South Africa, last night. "If Gavaskar asks me to walk on my head and run the team, I would. Anything that Gavaskar says that has to do with cricket, if he mentions, should be followed," the actor said. Shahrukh said the controversy had hurt him. "People are making comments without understanding what the concept of multiple captaincy is," he said. — PTI |
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IPL blessing in disguise: Gambhir
Gambhir said getting the opportunity to play some quality Twenty20 cricket during the IPL would definitely act in favour of the defending champions ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup. "It's a blessing in disguise for us to play IPL in South Africa before the Twenty20 World Cup. We hardly get to play Twenty20 matches. “But to get the chance to play 14 to 15 games in IPL against world class players will definitely help us in our preparations for defending the crown," he said. Gambhir, who has been in dream form in the recent past and was adjudged player of the tournament during India’s historic New Zealand tour, feels any player's success in the international arena depends on his security in the team. Meanwhile, Gambhir's Delhi Daredevils teammate and opening partner Virender Sehwag feels the bouncy South African pitches will not only assist fast bowlers but batsmen too can derive benefits from them. "Pacers will undoubtedly have an edge in South Africa because of the pace and bounce but that is good for batsmen too as they can play their shots on such conditions," Sehwag told mediapersons last night during a send-off event of the Delhi Daredevils team. The swashbuckling opener, however, rued the opportunity of missing the home crowd during the second edition of the IPL in South Africa, which was shifted out of the country this year as it clashes with the general election. "We will miss the Delhi crowd in South Africa but hopefully, there will be sufficient support for us in South Africa." Asked about the Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan's controversial ‘multiple captaincy’ theory, Sehwag, who is also the vice-captain of the Indian team, said, "No
comments." — PTI |
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Kolkata Test inspired series win in NZ: Laxman
"Dhoni is one of the best captains I played under," said Laxman, who debuted under Sachin Tendulkar and then played under Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. "He is so calm and composed. He exudes a lot of confidence. It's a great feeling to play under him," he said in an interview today. The 34-year-old right-hander also lauded opener Gautam Gambhir, who was adjudged Man of the series in India's Test series win over New Zealand. "Gautam really played well. Especially, in the second innings of Napier Test. Batting for more than 10 hours requires a tremendous effort. It was great. He carved and then paced his innings well and played his natural game. It was a very important knock during that match. "I always call him 'run machine'. He has the appetite for runs. He was consistently doing well in domestic circuit and it was really pleasing to see him start performing at international level." Laxman felt that in the Delhi duo of Virender Sehwag and Gambhir, India were "lucky to have great openers who demoralise the opposition bowlers." The elegant Hyderabadi batsman also gave credit to coach Gary Kirsten and his support staff for creating a good atmosphere in the Team India dressing room. "Also the way Gary (Kirsten) is coaching, credit should be given to him and the support staff (Paddy) Upton, (Venkatesh) Prasad, Robin (Singh), all of them have been a great help to all the players," he said. Laxman, one of the architects of India's historic win in New Zealand, said the epic Kolkata Test of 2001 was the inspiration for the side when it was forced to follow on in the second Test against the Kiwis in Napier. Laxman said when India was following on after being bowled out for 305 in reply to the Kiwi's 619 in Napier, they recalled the Kolkata Test against Australia. Gambhir went on to score 137 in a marathon 10-hours 43-minute innings. Laxman himself remained unbeaten on 124 to help India salvage a draw in the match. India's series triumph in New Zealand was the team's first in 41 years. "There's obviously a lot of similarities. We always remember the Kolkata Test in such circumstances. It (Eden Test) was a historic one that continues to inspire and give confidence whenever you're in trouble," Laxman, who had scored a career best 281 to turn the table on Australia in the Eden Test, said. The wristy batsman said India - now on the third spot with 118 rating points in the ICC rankings - were close to becoming the number one side in the world. "It was very satisfying for all of us to be a part of history. More importantly, the win gives more confidence now. “We are very close to becoming number one in Tests which is our main aim. We are consistently winning Tests abroad," Laxman said. Laxman said India actually picked up confidence to defeat big teams after their epic 2-1 Test series triumph over Australia, who had won a record 16 Tests on the trot. "It started changing in (March) 2001 after our historic win in the Eden Test. In fact, that series in totality was a turning point for the Indian cricket. Since then whenever we travel abroad, we have been doing very well. "After that my first overseas tour was Zimbabwe and we won there. We won another Test in the West Indies... then in England in 2002. Slowly we started winning abroad. Thereafter, we were all very keen do well
abroad." — PTI |
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Durban, April 14 Rhodes, one of the greatest fielders of the game, and now Mumbai Indians fielding coach said a fielding captain can relieve some of the burdens on the team's regular skipper in a Twenty20 game. According to Rhodes, the man in charge of the fielding would make sure fielders are into their positions quickly so the bowlers could get through the overs soon. "You can have a guy who is responsible for fielding, if you want to call him the fielding captain that's fine," he said at Mumbai Indians base camp here. "Also if there is an instance where the player could dive but doesn't then, without adding pressure on him, you need the guy (fielding captain) to tell him what could've been the result if only he had attempted the dive," Rhodes said. "That's not the captain's role (to advise the fielders). He has many other things on his head. The fielding captain is like a facilitator," he told 'Cricinfo'. Rhodes said his former captain Hansie Cronje had given him the task of monitoring the field to make sure all the players were attentive, and that helped South Africa become one of the best fielding units. — PTI
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Make-or-mar match for Mohun Bagan
New Delhi, April 14 Three-time champions Bagan, who have caught up with table toppers Churchill Brothers of Goa on 43 points from 21 matches, need to win this tie, to be in the reckoning for the coveted crown. But for that to happen, Churchill Brothers will have to lose or draw against Mohammedan Sporting in their last round match on home ground at Margao, as the Goan team, looking for their maiden title, presently enjoy an unbridgeable 14-goal lead over the Kolkata team. All six last-round matches will be held on April 16, at the same time--from 3.45 pm. Air India vs Sporting Club de Goa at Gurgaon, East Bengal vs Dempo in Kolkata, JCT vs Mumbai FC at Ludhiana and Vasco vs Chirag United in Goa. For the first time in the present edition of the I-League, two matches will be held at neutral venues - Delhi and Gurgaon - as Mumbai teams Mahindra United and Air India are unable to host their home matches due to Parliamentary elections. Though Mahindra, with 28 points, are out of the title race, they can spoil the party for Bagan if they score an upset win, to avenge their 0-1 loss to the Kolkata giants in their away match. Mohun Bagan, who last won the I-League crown in 2002, have just one player from that team - Brazilian star Jose Ramirez Baretto. Baretto was the hero of Bagan's 2-1 victory over defending champions Dempo in the penultimate round, scoring the first goal, and setting up the match-winner in injury time for NS Manju to give the finishing touches. Though Bagan have made a remarkable recovery after failing to win their first five matches, their Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa was guarded in his assessment of the team's prospects against Mahindra United, as the Mumbai team are not the ones to be trifled with, with players like NP Pradeep, Chidi Edeh and Steven Dias in their line-up. Bagan have a powerful forward line, comprising Odafa, Mboyo, Baichung Bhutia and Baretto, but the soaring Delhi heat may prove to be a kill-joy. Team standings after 21 matches with points in brackets: Churchill Brothers (43), Mohun Bagan (43), Sporting Clube de Goa (40), Dempo 30, Mahindra nited (28), Mumbai FC (28), East Bengal (27), Air India (24), Chirag United (23), JCT (22), Mohammedan Sporting (22) and Vasco (10). |
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Jeev gets Asian Tour membership
"I think it's a great honour for what I've done for golf in Asia. I'm pretty excited that I've been recognised for my achievements and I want to thank the Asian Tour and all members for considering me for this recognition," said
Jeev. The 37-year-old has become one of the world's leading players in recent years winning eight tournaments in Asia, Europe and Japan over the past three seasons. He has also broken into the world's top-30 and has won two Asian Tour Order of Merits in 2006 and
2008. Jeev was also the first golfer to surpass $ 1 million in earnings on the Asian Tour in a single season last year. "This is where I started from and I will never forget that," said
Jeev. "I will always go back and support the Asian Tour. The way the Asian Tour has grown is fantastic to see. I feel and strongly believe that the Asian Tour will continue to grow and produce top-class players."
Jeev cut his professional teeth in Asia in 1995 and immediately showed his potential by finishing third on the Order of Merit. Between five seasons, he won four titles before enduring a dip in form due to injuries. The Indian went through several lean seasons before coming back with a vengeance in 2006 with a long-awaited victory in the Volvo China Open. It sparked a superb revival in his game as he went on to win three times around the world and lift his maiden Asian Tour's Order of
Merit crown. Last season also, he won four times internationally, including the Barclays Singapore Open which saw him take his season's earnings to $1.45 million and rewarded him with a second Order of Merit crown. Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said he was delighted that Jeev accepted the honorary membership. "As one of the pioneers of the Asian Tour, Jeev's success story serves as a wonderful inspiration to many young players in Asia. He learnt to compete and win on the Asian Tour and is now regarded as one of the world's best players," he said.
— PTI |
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Sailor Rohini clinches bronze
Chennai, April 14 The Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor finished third for her first international medal in the single-handed radial class in the meet, an ISAF Grade 3 event. Elisabetta Macchini of Italy landed the gold followed by Austrian Katharina Roeggla. Despite having the worst possible start to a regatta (DSQ: scoring maximum points), Rohini, a medical student, managed to climb back strongly and win the bronze. "It feels good. I mean I was only two points away from silver and then I messed up my last race. It was the first time I had got two yellow flag penalties in the first race itself (DSQ). “So in spite of all that. I guess bronze wasn't so bad," Rohini, who had teamed up with Pallavi Naik to win India's first woman sailing Asian Gold medal in the 420 Class in January 2004, said. Her coach and Olympian Allen Jullie said, "She kept a cool head and focused right through the regatta. She surprised all of us by winning the bronze after a break of one year from international competition in the radial class. She has the potential to create waves in the international sailing scene," he said.
— PTI |
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