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Fielding is India’s worry
India’s B’desh tour |
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Denial of Affiliation
Punjab in finals
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There is hardly any time for international cricketers to spend quality moments with the family and dear ones during festival times but the Indian players would be thankful that at least they got to spend the new year’s arrival at home.
Having played each other over the last couple of months the Indians and the Lankans know each other’s strengths and weaknesses quite well, so the matches between them will be close. It is Bangladesh who could well be the spoke in the wheel. The hosts have a few problems with their designated skipper Mashrafe Mortaza still not fit after his injury but they have an enthusiastic team and they tend to thrive under the fanatical local support. They have had a good series against a Zimbabwe team and are always a dangerous team in limited overs cricket. Shakib al Hassan and Mohammad Ashraful will be the main guys but there are some youngsters who may take the visitors by surprise. India will be without Tendulkar, which means the old firm of Sehwag and Gambhir will open again. The Indian batting remains strong and with Zaheer and Nehra looking good, the new ball also is in good hands. Harbhajan and Jadeja are doing a top job with the spin bowling but as always its the fielding that is the worry. The Lankans have omitted Jayasuriya from their team and that could well mean the end of a glorious career. Upul Tharanga grabbed his chance in India and scored fluently and that may well have sealed Jayasuriya’s fate. Tharanga and Dilshan make as destructive a pair as any seen in limited overs cricket and on the flat Bangladesh pitches they should prosper. The Lankans have made more than one change in their squad after the losses in India and it’s a chance for the replacements to come good. These limited overs matches over the next year or so will be used by most Boards as trial games for preparing the teams for the World Cup 2011 and so there could be a fair bit of churning in the personnel over the year. 2009 was a very good year for all three teams with Bangladesh getting a big series win in the West Indies, the Lankans getting to the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 and India finishing as the number 1 team in the Test rankings. They will all be looking to get the new year off to a winning start and that's what will make this tri-series one to look forward to. — PMG
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India’s B’desh tour
New Delhi, January 2 “I just try to be myself. I know areas where I’m strong at and play accordingly, rather than thinking what Sehwag is doing at the other end,” Gambhir said. “I have my own game, I have my own style. One good thing that happened with me is that I came to know my game much early in my career. I know my strength and I play according to it. That’s what I always try to do, rather than going out of my comfort zone.” “I don’t try things I cannot do. You cannot take challenges which you are not upto,” he explained. Gambhir has evolved from just another swashbuckler from the Delhi stable to a batsman for all seasons. “Batting at number three is the toughest job. There are times when you have lost an early wicket, and you’ve got to consolidate and at the same time, capitalise on the first 10-15 overs of the powerplays. That’s why it’s tough,” Gambhir said. Need to maintain consistency: Sehwag
DHAKA: Ahead of India’s first assignment this year, vice-captain Virender Sehwag today told his teammates to maintain the kind of consistency that has made them the number one Test team in the world. “Our target is to play good cricket. Last two years, we have played very tough and good cricket and hopefully we will do it in 2010 also,” Sehwag said after the team’s arrival. “It’s important for the team to play well consistently. If you do that you will stay there in number one or number two positions,” he said.
— PTI |
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Denial of Affiliation
Chandigarh, January 2 Tormented by continuous denial of recognition as a “democratically constituted unified body of various hockey bodies in the State”, Punjab Hockey has decided to fight “undemocratic, arbitrary, illegal and nepotism” resorted to by the ad hoc committee of Hockey India to keep it out of the January 29 general house meeting where new office-bearers of Hockey India will be elected. Presidents of both Punjab Olympic Association and the Hockey Punjab may address a news conference in the union capital tomorrow to highlight how the state is being denied affiliation by Hockey India without giving anything explicit in writing. Punjab Hockey has been formed under the supervision of the Punjab Olympic Association after merger of Punjab and Pepsu men and women’s hockey bodies. Punjab was, in fact, one of first few states to have formed a unified body of the existing four State Hockey Associations. The Punjab Olympic Association instantly recognised the unified Hockey Punjab. Since then, the unified Hockey Punjab has been in constant touch with Hockey India and sent all resolutions and the subscription required from an eligible State unit. The International Hockey Federation had directed that India must have a unified body controlling the sport in the country in place before it is allowed to hold the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi. The president Hockey Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, also happens to be the Deputy Chief Minister of the State and many rate him as a future president of the Hockey India. This, feel some others, could be the reason for keeping Punjab out of the January 29 meeting. But according to indications available, Punjab does not figure in the list of 21 units given affiliation by the ad hoc committee so far. Among the left out states and units are Jharkhand - the tribal belt that has been an enormous contributor to national teams, both men and women; Kerala, Punjab - the undisputed nursery and feeding line of Indian hockey; Mumbai, Maharashtra and Vidarbha - again a major feeder unit of Indian hockey; Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh - third biggest feeder of national teams; and Tamil Nadu - another major unit with tremendous contribution to the growth of Indian hockey. While there may be some merger problems in case of Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh as well as Mumbai, Maharshtra and Vidarbha, but Punjab has no such issue. If one looks at the origin and growth of Indian hockey, pioneer units were Punjab, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kolkatta followed by Chennai. Oldest hockey tournament of the world - Beighton Cup is older than even the modern Olympics. Aga Khan Gold Cup in Mumbai, Murgappa Gold Cup in Chennai, and Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup in Bhopal had been the oldest and most prestigious hockey tournaments of the times when Indian hockey dominated the world scenario. No one can dispute the contributions of Punjabis, Anglo-Indians, Muslims and tribals to Indian hockey. But some people in the Indian Olympic Association, however, have allegedly been resorting to “illegitimate” means to keep these hockey nurseries out of the new look Hockey India. And if one looks at the present-day Indian hockey, most of the top teams of the country have their base in Jalandhar and the last international hockey tournament - a four-nation event - held in the country was organised by Punjab. And the man who wants to be the president of the Hockey India is even keeping his own State units out so as to avoid a possible and strong opposition from within his home constituency. There are many who know, understand and have contributed much more to the growth and development of hockey in the country than those who aspire to occupy top posts in the new body. It is time for the Union Ministry of Youth Services and Sports to intervene and prevent the governance of our national game being pushed from bad to worse and unending litigations.
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EME win title
Nabha (Patiala), January 2 The dreams of EME, considered to be the fittest of all army sides, laying their hands on the coveted trophy - the Gurdev gold cup - for the first time blossomed like a rose on a cold January afternoon. Keeping in view the intensity of the contest specks of rough play did surface at times but the proceedings were kept well under control. In the early phases, when things had yet to settle down into a groove, the winners’ attack tended to be individualistic, even though Chengappa CK and S Hereng worked hard to create moves. To add to their woes, their principal striker S Munda, fumbled repeatedly. The only solace was the neat runs by Anthony who often seemed to be busy spraying passes to generate the moves. After a barren first half, things started moving for winners and Gurmeet Singh displayed agility and good ball sense as he repeatedly wove his way into the rival territory. On one occasion, he collected a measured pass from the left, side stepped his way past the midfielder and sent in a shot which beat the goalkeeper but failed to beat the vertical. The ball bounced back into play and was cleared out by defender Raj Singh. EME changed strategy and started using the wings and most of their moves were planned and executed from the sidelines which meant enough space was created for the front line. |
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Punjab in finals
Ludhiana, January 2 In the last semifinal played amidst a packed stadium, Punjab registered a nail-biting win over Tamil Nadu by 87- 84. The hosts had a scratchy start and gave away easy opportunities toTamil Nadu cagers, as the latter pounced on the chances and stretched the lead to 10 points in the beginning. It was the magical combination of Jagdeep and Talwinder that did the trick for the hosts and the latter registered a marginally leady of two points 41- 39 at the end of first quarter. The on field rivalry between Tamil Nadu players Robinson and Jagdeep from Punjab, kept the crowd interested as the entire stadium roared in unison and supported the home team. The fresh legs of Talwinder, who was rested for one quarter, worked for the host as he stretched the lead in the third quarter to 67- 57. The duo of Talwinder and Jagdeep further increased the lead to 20 point and at that moment it seemed a game over the Tamil’s. But the visitors were in no mood the surrender and put up a brilliant show. Punjab will take on Indian railways tomorrow and 3:30pm. In the women’s section, Haryana defeated Himachal Pradesh by 69- 34 points to book their place in the semis. The women finals will start at 2:00pm. |
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New Delhi, January 2
Ludhiana, January 2
It is not the playing aspect but the travelling that is most tiresome and it is good that the BCCI has a chartered flight for both teams whenever there is a series in India for it not only saves time but also all the hassle of baggage etc. The Indians and the Lankans play a tri-series in Bangladesh and luckily the travel time there is not much and as far as the Indians are concerned there won’t be much travelling done there either since there will be matches only at two venues.
