Virender Sehwag (L) watches Sachin Tendulkar bat in the nets on Saturday. — AFP

Speaking to the media on the eve of the match, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the team would certainly miss the likes of Zaheer, Gautam, Yuvraj and Bhajji, but they have good bench strength which can deliver on such occasions.

SA a very good side, says Dhoni

“The morale of the team is good. As far as missing a few players is concerned, every series we are missing some player or the other. It is a good opportunity for young players to prove that they belong to the international level and at the same time you get the chance to test your bench strength,” he averred.

“You can say we have quite a few batsmen who can bowl. We are still searching for the perfect all-rounder, a fast bowling all-rounder, because it balances the team combination. In this side it is good that we have batsmen who can bowl like Sehwag, Abhishek, Pathan, Jadeja and Raina. So we have quite a few batsmen who can bowl so there is some extra help in case one of your regular bowlers is struggling a part-timer can make up for it,” he added.

The 28-year-old made it clear that they are not underestimating the Proteas even after a convincing win in Kolkata. “Any side can challenge any side in the world. It is all about how you play on that particular day, your players should be in form, you should not have any injury concerns and you have to do well in all departments. The South Africans are very even balanced side. They have good fielders in the side and have good bowlers and batsmen who can capitalize. They are a very good side and we are expecting three very good ODIs,” Dhoni said.

Lots at stake: Kallis

On the other hand, South Africa too will miss regular captain Graeme Smith, who has been ruled out due to a fractured finger. His absence will give in-form batsman Hashim Amla, to showcase his talent in the one-day arena, while Jacques Kallis will lead the side.

Talking to the mediapersons, Kallis said, “We have a lot at stake in the series. World Cup is here in another year’s time and a lot, including about conditions, can be learnt from this series,” he said.

Curator promises run feast

Meanwhile, curators of the ground have predicted a "run feast" tomorrow. The last tie here in 2007 was a high-scoring one with India coming close to chasing Pakistan’s total of 306. “We’ve prepared a batting wicket. It is a 270 wicket,” curator Taposh Chatterjee said. Fellow curator Ashok Joshi also said, “There is no doubt that it would be a fine batting wicket. People come to watch runs in ODIs and we won’t disappoint them.”

Stadium turns into fortress

In view of the terror threat looming large over India-SA ODI, the SMS Stadium has been turned into a virtual fortress with policemen and private security guards carrying out vigil in every nook and corner of the stadium. 

The two Test series was a close affair with both teams winning one each and thereby showing that they were well matched. If the Proteas caught the home team by surprise in the first Test the hosts showed great character in coming back from such a heavy loss to win the next Test and retain their number one ranking. It was a pity that it was only a two Test series for when it is an unofficial Championship for the number one spot, then it should be a five Test series. That it was at least two Tests is thanks to the initiative taken by the BCCI and the response from Cricket South Africa that made it happen. What the two Tests showed is that when it’s a question of two well matched teams like India and South Africa the contest will be gripping and the public will also support it.

The three one-day matches will be no different as both teams are strong and have a balanced lineup. The South Africans will be without Graeme Smith and that will make a difference since it is never easy to lose the captain of the ship. Jacques Kallis who takes over is an old hand and has loads of experience so it won’t be too much of a problem taking over even if it is for a short while. Ironically India will be without Zaheer Khan who has got Smith out so regularly that the South African skipper can be called his ‘bakra’. It’s almost as if the loss of one has been made up by the injury to the other from the opposition team.

It will really be a battle between India’s batting and South Africa’s bowling and because its going to be played with the white ball which has a limited use the batsmen of both sides should flourish. The pitches where the three games are to be played have been known for their lack of bounce which will only make it easier for the batsmen to plonk their front foot down the pitch and hit.

The Indians will also be without Harbhajan Singh and so they will be a tad short of experience when it comes to the slog overs. R Ashwin who replaces Harbhajan is handy with the bat as well and that may give the Indian skipper some flexibility. How Dhoni uses his fifth bowler’s quota will be the key for it is here that India have lost many a game that they should have won. The fielding will be smarter with youngsters like Kohli, Raina and Jadeja in the team. South Africa inexplicably dropped some simple catches in the Kolkata Test but they are usually a brilliant fielding unit and there won’t be too many easy runs on offer for the Indians.

The ICC World Cup is barely a year away and these games will provide the platform for those fringe players in both teams to stake a claim for a place in their World Cup squads. Just like the two Test series this one day series should also go down to the wire and as was seen in both the Tests the team that fields well will emerge the winner. — PMG 

Chandigarh, January 20
Controversy marked the exhibition match between Bollywood stars and Indian hockey team as the latter refused to play in the match demanding Rs 5 crore from the organisers. The even was being organized to promote the sport. The organizers held a two and a half-hour long meeting with players at a local hotel to solve the issue. But the negotiation failed. Still the Haryana government announced that it will hand out Rs 11 lakh to the team.

Hardeep Singh Sandhu, organising secretary said they had promised Rs 54 lakh to the players besides air tickets for 22 members of the team including coach and manager besides boarding and lodging facilities. He said last night the players demanded Rs 5 crore for participating in the exhibition match. However, as the amount was much higher they expressed their helplessness and offered them Rs 1 crore.

However, Indian captain Rajpal Singh, who along with Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh, told the media that they were in the city only to seek explanation from the organisers who had started disinformation campaign against them since this morning. He said they had not raised any financial demand and their main objection was on the lesser number of air tickets given to them. He said the organisers had promised 22 air tickets, however, later they were handed over only 21 tickets and one of the tickets was given to a person belonging to the organizers.

Sandu said the hockey team players remained adamant on their demand and later agreed to participate in the match if they were given Rs 2 crore. The organiser did not agree to this and decided to hold the match with former hockey players led by Jugraj Singh, Gaganajit Singh and Kamalpreet Singh. 

Another Indian P.T. Raghunath, who bagged the gold in the pairs event with Narang, narrowly missed out on a medal as he finished fourth with a total of 693.2 (592 qualification, 101.2 final). India coach Sunny Thomas was happy with Narang's performance but was disappointed with Raghunath. — IANS

Kila Raipur, February 20
Greyhounds and bullockcart races stole the show on the third day of the 75th Kila Raipur Sports Festival here today. Further, the Ran De Basanti fame, Maghar Singh, a veteran Niahang Singh, who stands astride two horses mesmerised the villagers.

RESULTS:2 mile Cycle Race for Under -19 Boys: Kamalpreet (Mohie)1,Narinder Boys(U-14): Prshant (Ldh.) 1, Vishal (Ldh.) 2,Inderjit (Ldh.) 3 Girls(U-14): 800 Meter-Kulwinder (Hoshiairpur) 1, Amandeep (Hoshiarpur) 2, Yogita (Khanna) 3. Men:100 metre-Amandeep (Ldh.) 1, (10:95s) Satinder (Ldh.)2, (10:99s) Baldev 3 ,1500 metre- Kuldeep (L.K.C.Jal.)1, Ramesh (RCF Kapurthala) 2, Kuldeep(Nirwana) 3, 400 metre Gurpreet (L.K.C. Jal.) 1, (49:50s) Satinder (Ldh.) 2, Arun (Lakhnow) 3, Long Jump: Gurjant (BSF)1, (6.77m), Sandeep (Panchkula) 2, Ravinder (Sunam) 3, 5000 metre:Tejinder (RCF Kapurthala) 1, (15:50:30), Sukhdev (RCF Kapurthala), Ramesh (RCF Kapurthala) Women:100 Metre- Deepti (Sangrur) 1, (13:02 s)Harpreet Kaur(Ldh.)2,(13:14 s) Anju Rani (Jal.) 200m:Harpal Kaur 1,Anupama (UP) 2,Harman (Jal.)3, 800 m: Anupama (UP) 1, (2:24:29), Manpreet (Jal.) 2, Mandeep (Gobindgarh) 3, Long Jump: Kulwinder (Sangrur) 1, distance 4.85 mtrs , Harman (Jal.) 2, Rajinder (Jal.) 3.

Jammu, February 20
A player can fight on the field, but how his own body reacts is beyond his control. That is where Jammu resident Dr Nirmolak Singh, an international footballer-turned-medico comes in. Dr Singh has been appointed chief medical officer of the Commonwealth Games (boxing) being hosted by the country. Already on the international panel of medical experts in International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), Dr Singh would be keeping the participating contingents fit besides keeping an eye on dope tests. Presently heading the sports medicine department of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Jammu, he is also the vice-president of J&K Football Association.

He spoke to The Tribune on a host of issues related to his job, the sport and the difficulties he faces.

Q: What is the role of a doctor in any sport, especially in this injury prone sport of boxing?

A: A doctor is as much important as a coach, even you can say, a doctor is a necessity these days. We examine every player before and after every bout. If there is any injury, we advise him on it.

Q: How is the working of a medical expert in sports medicine is different from a physiotherapist?

A: A sports medicine expert shares ideas, innovations and techniques to avert injury. However, a physiotherapist advises the exercises.

Q: What are the main safety equipments for boxers?

A: Now the techniques have improved and it has become a safe sport as compared to the previous years. The players have headgear, mouthpieces, abdominal guard, shield, and their gloves also.

Q: India has risen on the boxing scene over the past few years. But to be where, say, Cuba is, still looks a long shot. Why?

A: No doubt, Cuba is a boxing hub and that is the reason, every country looks for a Cuban coach but other countries are doing better now. Cubans have a good structure domestically, and to replicate their success, we need to replicate some of their professionalism as well.

Q: What is your comment on doping in the sport?

A: Doping is a pock mark, not only on the player, on the country also. At least our boxers are well prepared and they can tackle their opposition. We are appointed to test doping and conduct several other tests. We collect blood samples of every boxer, before announcing him to qualify for any bout.

Q: It has been observed, there is lack of coordination between a coach and doctor, what is the reason behind it?

A: A coach tells the technique to fight, and we tell a boxer how to prevent an injury. Now, you cannot say that one plays a more important role than the other. Both have equal importance and to keep a boxer in top shape requires team work.

Q: You have helped many boxers but do they give you the same respect as compared to their coach?

A: I have done my duty and will do it with full dedication. I still remember the day, when a boxer from Haryana visited my house and offered me his land, which he had been rewarded with after winning a medal. But, I declined his gift, though I am still touched by his gesture. It stays to be one of the most touching moments for me.

Q: What is the condition of boxing in the state?

A: “Kya puchte ho haal mere karobaar ka, main andhon ke shehar me chashme bechta hoon.” (What to talk about my business. I sell spectacles in the city of blinds).