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‘ICC lacks common sense’
‘KKR will be more competitive this time’
Kings XI lose to Warriors
ODI rankings: India topple Oz from 2nd spot
Chelsea, Barcelona enter semis
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Do-or-die game for JCT
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‘ICC lacks common sense’
Cape Town, April 15 A vociferous advocate of a separate window for the Twenty20 event, Warne said no international matches should have been scheduled for the month of April to allow all players compete in the cash-rich league. "If the ICC had any common sense, they would create a window for the IPL," Warne, who led the Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale victory in the inaugural edition of the league was quoted as saying by 'The Star'. "No international cricket should be played in April. The IPL could then be cut to four weeks, which would allow all the international players to play in it. "The IPL is a wonderful advertisement for the game. If there was any common sense, the BCCI and ICC, would then compensate all the unions with some money for allowing their players to play in the IPL," said the outspoken Australian. The absence of a separate window hit the Australians most and they would be playing Pakistan in a ODI series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22. Warne's team would miss Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson most but the leg-spin legend felt the new recruits would bolster the side. "Tyron Henderson is a good signing. Shane Harwood also bowled brilliantly in T20 cricket back in Australia, and we've seen what Shaun Tait can do in World Cup's, so that is very exciting," he said. — PTI
Manoj Badale, chairman and co-owner of the Jaipur-based franchisee, said Kaif got the boot as the team management shortlisted 17-18 players for the Twenty20 league starting on Saturday. The only way Kaif would be back is if any other player sustains injury, he added. "It has always been a target to pick a final squad of 17-18 players, and this year we have an even stronger squad than last year. It is disappointing to have to let go of any players, as they are all stars in our view," Badale said. Claiming the franchisee was a close-knit family where a player's participation is not about one season alone, Badale said axed players would have a role to play in future matches and tournaments. "Much of the attention will focus on Mohammed Kaif, who has been a key part of our success to date - not just as a batsman, but as a role model for our younger Indian players. He has been extremely supportive of the decision, which says a lot about him as a person. "Injuries and new conditions mean that the player's participation later in the tournament is not ruled out," added Badale. — PTI
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‘KKR will be more competitive this time’
Cape Town, April 15 The Kolkata franchisee made a blistering start last year but could not continue the momentum after some foreign players left for their national duty, which eventually led to their sixth place finish in the inaugural IPL. This year also Australia skipper Ricky Ponting decided to skip the Twenty20 event and preferred to take rest in the wake of the forthcoming Ashes series but Shah Rukh feels the availability of other international players will boost Knight Riders' chances of a better finish. "Internationally, I think the players will be more available, so we have the whole team to begin with," Shah Rukh told a press conference after arriving here. "We'll have Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, and then David Hussey will join us when Gayle has to leave. Brad Hodge is here, and so is Sourav Ganguly. Everyone has been practising over the past 10 days. "We are working on amazing plans, including the captaincy issue, which has been a controversy over the past month. I think overall we are very well prepared. "Unfortunately, we do have injuries but we'll be there, one hundred per cent trying to do much better than last year," he said. With many English players debuting in the Twenty20 extravaganza this time, one would expect the Kolkata franchisee to have some of them but Shah Rukh said they are too expensive and beyond KKR's reach. "We have gold and black as a uniform, but the gold is not real," Shah Rukh quipped. "We are a poor team and English players are very, very expensive. We would really like to have had them, but the auction rules and it's down to how much money you have." The Bollywood superstar said they are planning to woo the youngsters as public image is very important for the team. "I don't know about cricket but we are coolest-looking team," he said. — PTI
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Kings XI lose to Warriors
Port Elizabeth, April 15 Set a target of 152 to win, Kings XI Punjab could only manage 141 for six as they lost wickets at regular intervals at Sahara Oval St George's Park yesterday. Australian Simon Katich (12), Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara (16) and Englishman Ravi Bopara (24) all got starts before losing their wickets. It was left to middle order batsman Taruwar Kohli to take the charge and he brought Kings XI close to the target with 19 runs needing off the last over off Warren Bell. Kohli's partner at the other end Karan Goel raised hopes for Kings XI when he smashed a straight six from the first ball of ultimate over to leave the equation at 13 off the remaining five deliveries. However, destiny had other things in stored as Kohli was run out by wicketkeeper Davy Jacobs two balls later, and Bell was bang on his task, conceding only two singles in the remaining three deliveries to give see his side home. Kohli made 36 runs off 26 deliveries which was studded with two fours and equal number of sixes. Earlier, VRV Singh picked four for 24 to restrict the Warriors to 151 for five after the South African side were asked to bat first with Colin Ingram hitting an unbeaten half century (57). Shoddy fielding was the order of the day for Kings XI as they dropped as many as five catches.
— PTI |
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ODI rankings: India topple Oz from 2nd spot
Dubai, April 15 With 122 rating points in their kitty, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men are just a point ahead of Australia, while South Africa sits pretty at the top with 127 points. The Graeme Smith-led side's success in winning seven out of nine ODIs against Australia this year has consigned the four-time World Champions to their lowest ranking in the ICC ODI Championship table. Interestingly, out of a total of 79 months since the launch of the ICC ODI Championship table, Australia has held the top spot for 69 months, including 52 straight months from October 2002 to January 2007. However, despite trailing 1-3 against South Africa in the on-going five-match series, Ponting's men will regain their second spot from India if they manage to win the final ODI against the Proteas on Friday in Johannesburg. If Australia end their South Africa tour on a winning note, they will rise to 123 ratings points, one ahead of India and three behind South Africa. New Zealand occupy the fourth spot with 112 points, followed by Pakistan (111), England (108), Sri Lanka (105) and West Indies (92).
— PTI |
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Chelsea, Barcelona enter semis
London, April 15 Chelsea held on to oust Liverpool 7-5 on aggregate after a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the quarterfinals, and two-time champion Barcelona advanced past Bayern Munich 5-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Germany yesterday. The first leg of the semifinals will be at the Nou Camp on April 28. The second leg is set for May 6 in London. Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso scored in the first 28 minutes to give Liverpool hope of overturning the 3-1 loss at Anfield, but Frank Lampard ended up with two goals for Chelsea and Alex and Didier Drogba added the others. Liverpool's Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt also scored late. Aurelio started things off for Liverpool by exploiting a gaping hole in the Chelsea defense to score in the 19th from a free kick on the right flank. Branislav Ivanovic, whose two goals in the first leg had put Chelsea in control, later hauled down Alonso with both hands as the ball was floated into the box and the Spaniard converted the resulting penalty. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech nearly gifted Liverpool a third goal either side of halftime, but it was counterpart Pepe Reina who fumbled the ball into his own net in the 51st to give Chelsea its first goal of the match. Nicolas Anelka crossed low from the right flank and Drogba nudged it inside the near post under pressure from Martin Skrtel and, despite initially blocking it, Reina bumbled it over the line.
— AP |
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Victory due to team effort: Chandi
Jalandhar, April 15 The star hockey player reached home after impressive team performance in Malaysia. India beat Malaysia 3-1 in the final of five-nation hockey championship. Chandi scored a decisive field goal in the league match against Malaysia and ensured the entry of India in the final match. Talking to The Tribune he said the resounding success after a gap of 13 years is the result of collective team effort. “The team has been in good shape. The team members have not been changed over the past some time as a result of which the players now enjoy a fine tuning with each other on the field”, he added. These days Chandi, captain of Indian Junior hockey team, is looking forward to the upcoming hockey camp at Bhopal from April 19 for the Asia Cup to be held at Malaysia soon. A determined, working on improving his stamina and working with Punjab and Sind Bank maintained: “We will surely repeat this success saga in the coming hockey tournaments.”
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Do-or-die game for JCT
Ludhiana, April 15 It will be a do-or-die match for JCT if they have to stay in the league. A defeat will mean that the team might be out of the reckoning for straight entry next year. In that case, the team will have to come through the qualifying rounds. The team has never been relegated out of the series till date. The team was the champion in the first edition, 13 years back. Out of the 21 matches played so far, Mumbai FC has won seven, lost seven and drew in the same number of matches. The JCT has won five matches, lost as many as nine and drew in seven encounters. The visiting team is placed at sixth number in the league tally while the JCT is placed at number 10. Air India, JCT, Chirag United and Mohameddan Sporting are placed in the relegation stage which means two teams will be out of the league. Vasco Sports Club has already been relegated. Churchill Brothers and Mohun bagan are tied at the top of the league with 43 points each. The crucial last match between the one teams is also scheduled for tomorrow. Sporting Clube De Goa has 40 points. They are followed by Dempo (30), Mahindra United (28), Mumbai FC (28), East Bengal (27), Air India (24), Chirag United (23) and JCT (22) and Mohameddan Sporting (22). Mumbai FC don’t have many star names in their squad and yet have exhibited a fine game. JCT will be without star player Julius. Although, coach Sukhwinder ruled out naming any player as key performer saying "football is a team game", a lot will depend on Baljit Saini, Amandeep Singh and Edu Edward in the crucial game tomorrow. The match will kick off at 3.45 p.m.
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Cape Town, April 15
Cape Town, April 15
Ludhiana, April 15
Mohammad Kaif will not feature in the second edition of the Indian Premier League after his team Rajasthan Royals dumped the Team India discard here on Wednesday.
