 |
|
|
India-Lanka-NZ Tri-Series
Stat Pack
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Champions League T20
Modi’s recusal demand rejected
Murali magic at coaching clinic
Blatter wants answers from North Korea
FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a news conference in Singapore on Wednesday. — Reuters
I have been made a scapegoat: Darbari
SMAM locks horns with OC
Women’s hockey looks for new start
Indian Hockey needs a
Sharad Pawar: Negi
Hockey’s man friday! Mir Ranjan Negi (R), who inspired the movie Chak De!
|
|
Bounce did us in: Dhoni
"We are very disappointed with the way we played. We got couple of chances but we didn't accept it. Probably we are on the losing side because of that," Dhoni said after his team was bowled out for a paltry 88 chasing 289 to win. "We didn't bat well at all. When we got into batting, they got a kind of bounce that put us in awkward situation," he added. Dhoni, however, praised the bowlers for their performance on a pitch which was favouring the bowlers. "The bowlers did well. More than the pace it was the bounce here. The wicket had spongy bounce and that was what did the trick. Ashish (Nehra) and Praveen (Kumar) bowled well. For them Ross and Styris batted really well," he said. His New Zealand counterpart Ross Taylor acknowledged that Nehra and Praveen bowled well but said with three seamers in their rank, they knew anything above 250 would be competitive. "It was a tough decision to leave out Jeetan Patel today. We are happy with the way we came back today. Nehra and Praveen bowled really well. But we had three seamers and so we just wanted to push the score. "We wanted not to lose too many wickets and get a partnership going and thought it would be great to reach 250-260 but we reached 288. So we are very happy," he said. — PTI
|
|
# New Zealand (288) recorded their highest total against India in Sri Lanka and their fifth best against India overall. # Ross Taylor (95 off 113 balls) has posted his first fifty against India, surpassing the 31 at Napier on March 3, 2009. # India have recorded their biggest defeat to New Zealand in terms of runs, surpassing the 108-run loss at Dunedin on March 1, 1990. # India's 200-run defeat is their fourth largest in terms of runs. India lost to Sri Lanka by 245 runs at Sharjah on October 29, 2000, by 208 runa to Australia at Sydney on February 8, 2004 and by 202 runs to England at Lord's on June 7, 1975. # India have recorded their lowest total (88) against New Zealand, obliterating their 108, registered twice — at Christchurch on January 1, 2003 and at Auckland on December 26, 2002. # India's 88 is their fifth lowest total in Limited-Overs Internationals - their lowest is 54 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah on October 29, 2000. # Praveen's figures of 3 for 43 are his best against New Zealand, surpassing the 2 for 28 at Napier on March 3, 2009. # Praveen, during the course of his aforesaid performance, has completed 50 wickets in 41 matches at an average of 32.62. # Ashish Nehra's excellent figures of 4 for 47 are his best against New Zealand, obliterating the 3 for 24 at Colombo (RPS) on September 11, 2009. # Ross Taylor has got the Man of the Match award for the sixth time - his first against India. — PTI
|
|
‘Sachin's exceptional leadership to help MI’
Johannesburg, August 11 Duminy believes that if Tendulkar continues with his menacing form of this year's Indian Premier League, MI will go all way through. "He (Tendulkar) obviously leads from the front and that lifts his teammates. He is very inspiring and exceptional captain. If he fires, others also perform better by another 20 per cent. "He has been in fine form in the IPL and for India. Hope he does the same for us to win this tournament," Duminy told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of Champions League T20 here. "Sachin helps everybody out and he tries to engage every player. I get along with him very well and had discussions on batting and other cricketing things," said the 26-year-old batsman, who was the inaugural CLT20's top scorer for Cape Cobras, but will play for Mumbai Indians this time. Duminy conceded that the two South African sides, Warriors and Highveld Lions, would have a bit of edge in the tournament as they are playing at home condition. "I think, they (South African sides) will have a bit of edge. They practice at home ground and prepare according to what they want. IPL teams are in a bit of disadvantage in that they have only four foreigners and they are not playing at home. But in Twenty20 you cannot pick favourites and all teams here are champion sides of their countries," he said. "We have a very balanced side with Tendulkar leading from the front followed by the likes of Kieron Pollard and myself. In bowling we have Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, all big players," he added. — PTI
|
|
Modi’s recusal demand rejected
New Delhi, August 11 Apart from Amin (the interim IPL chief) and Jaitley (BCCI vice-president), the three-member panel also comprises Congress MP and Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chief Jyotiraditya Scindia. The panel has met thrice so far and Modi has been absent on all occasions, leaving it to his legal team to present his case against allegations of financial irregularities. The last hearing of the panel took place on August 1 after which the committee reserved its order on the contentious recusal issue. Modi's lawyer Mehmood Abdi had then stated that the arguments on their demand of recusal of panel members Jaitley and Amin were complete. Modi has been insisting that Jaitley and Amin recuse themselves from the panel, as they are also part of the BCCI, which has made the allegations against him. Modi camp hits out
Mumbai: Slamming the BCCI for rejecting Lalit Modi's demand for recusal of Chirayu Amin and Arun Jaitley from the disciplinary hearing against him, the suspended IPL Commissioner's lawyer Mehmood Abdi today threatened to take legal action against the Board. "We don't consider it as a fair order. We will take appropriate legal steps after consultations with senior counsels," said Abdi, reacting to the BCCI decision. Asked whether it meant going to a court of law, Abdi said, "That is not ruled out."
— PTI |
|
Murali magic at coaching clinic
Chandigarh, August 11 Murali, who will be representing the Chennai Super Kings in the CLT20, enjoyed interacting with the children, saying: “ It’s fantastic to be in South Africa, I always love playing here. SA has proven that they can host big tournaments before and I am sure the 2010 Airtel CLT20 will be a success. “The youth are the future and it is always important to remember to give back where you can. The young guys today were wonderful and showed great enthusiasm for the game.” |
|
|
Blatter wants answers from North Korea
Singapore, August 11 It followed new, unspecified, evidence brought to its attention by Chung Mong-Joon, the powerful South Korean former chairman of Hyundai, who is also the President of the South Korean Football Association. “We sent a letter to the football federation to tell us about their election of a new President and to find out if the allegations made by the media that the coach and some players were condemned and punished are true,” said Blatter. “We are doing this as a first step and we will see how they answer. But it is not easy,” he added. “We once had a case in another country where it was said players were also condemned and under physical pressure and we sent someone and it turned out not to be true. So let's see what we hear before we make an official statement.” North Korea bowed out of its first World Cup since 1966 after an impressive performance during a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in South Africa before being routed 7-0 by Portugal and 3-0 by Ivory Coast. The showing of live games in the impoverished communist state had been banned to avoid national embarrassment, but the state television made the Portugal match its first live sports broadcast ever. They could not have picked a worse game, with the hail of goals from the European side leaving the commentator speechless. According to Radio Free Asia, on their return team members were made to stand on a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture in the capital Pyongyang and were subjected to “ideological criticism” for six hours. Citing sources in the country, it said around 400 officials including Sports Minister Pak Myong-chol, other athletes and sport students were part of the audience. The players were apparently forced to criticise coach Kim, who was punished for “betraying” Kim Jong-Un - one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il's sons and heir apparent. He was reportedly expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea and sentenced to hard labour on a building site. — AFP
|
|
I have been made a scapegoat: Darbari
"My role in the QBR launch was ceremonial. It had nothing to do with any negotiation of short-listing vendors, financial transaction, reimbursement or recommendation of advance", he said. Darbari, along with Sanjay Mahindroo and
M Jayachandran, had earlier been suspended by the executive board of the OC, following a report submitted by the three-member panel constituted by it to inquire into the alleged financial corruption in awarding the contract to AM Films during the QBR launch. Darbari was later sacked from the OC, as the Sports Ministry was not happy with his mere suspension. "Whatever has happened, it is unfortunate. I am unnecessarily being targeted and being made a scapegoat," he claimed. Darbari said he had not received any letter from AM Films. "If there is any letter, it should have my signature. If someone is concocting any letter, it is his problem, not mine,” he added. Darbari, who was perceived to be a close alley of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, clarified that "I am not a party to any contract, never I was a recommending person. There was a committee constituted for this purpose, which has recommended and competent authority has approved it.” He said neither he could deny, nor he could confirm the authenticity of the e-mail from a junior functionary in the Indian High Commission in London, Raju Sebastian, as "I was neither an addresser, nor I was the addressee.” The e-mail had recommended various services providers for the QBR launch in London, though the External Affairs Ministry had said the e-mail was doctored. The e-mail was made public by Suresh Kalmadi to justify payments made to AM Films for its services without floating a
tender. President Pratibha Patil and Queen Elizabeth-II also attended the QBR launch. The e-mail was reportedly first sent to OC director Raj Singh, who forwarded it to suspended deputy-director general Sanjay Mahindroo, and who in turn forwarded it to Darbari. But Darbari had told the three-member inquiry panel headed by Jarnail Singh that he had nothing to do with the e-mail, as he neither received it first-hand, nor forwarded it to anyone else. Mahindroo had refused to comment on the matter, till the investigation was over. Darbari said he was not aware whether Kalmadi was aware of the deal with AM Films. "I just know that Darbari was not in the
knowhow. I never knew Ashish Patel (of AM Films) and I don't want to have a discussion of a third person. I have
to safeguard my self respect and I know I am not a party to anything,” he asserted. |
|
|
SMAM locks horns with OC
“Despite generating a record income of Rs 400 crore, the manner of termination is not only counter to the agreement and inconsistent with the interest of staging successful Commonwealth Games in India, but also detrimental to the goodwill and reputation of the Commonwealth Games Movement,” SMAM said
in a statement. SMAM contended that the OC's allegations and grounds for termination "are imaginary and concocted and an attempt to deviate attention from the more serious issues and charges related to the upcoming Delhi Games". "We also believe that the OC has served the alleged termination to SMAM, as it does not intend to honour its financial commitments to SMAM.” The OC recently terminated the services of SMAM on the ground that it had failed to fulfil its contractual agreement of getting the required number of sponsorships for the Games. It said the amount had been the highest-ever in the history of the Commonwealth Games, surpassing the revenue achieved for the Melbourne 2006 Games. "Further sponsorships are expected to materialise in the coming weeks,” SMAM noted. SMAM asserted that the games organisers had failed to recognise that the sponsorship revenue targets that the OC set, and identified as one of the main grounds for termination, represent just one of several important objectives in the agreement. The Australian firm claimed that it had been delivering an extensive range of marketing services to the OC since 2007, and "these services have been provided to the OC by experienced and specialised executives from India and abroad, many of whom have delivered the then record-breaking and most successful 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games". SMAM claimed that all services, personnel and related costs provided to the OC had been in accordance with the agreement and funded solely by SMAM for more than three years and the OC "has not had to incur any risks or costs related to the services SMAM has provided". |
|
|
Women’s hockey looks for new start
Patiala, August 11 Female coaches Pritam Siwach and Sandeep Kaur are working hard for a new beginning of the game. They said they were honoured to serve the country and would give their best in order to being girls to the top. Talking to The Tribune, Pritam Siwach said she was delighted to be a part of the squad. “I am happy I have got a chance to serve India. I have played with these girls and know them properly. Therefore, it’s a little easy for me to train these girls as I know their strengths and weaknesses,” she added. On being questioned about the alleged sex scandal that has taken the hockey fraternity by storm, she said she didn’t want to comment on the situation. “I have asked the girls to forget about what has happened and concentrate on the upcoming tournaments. The girls are looking forward to perform well in World Cup, Asian Championship and the Commonwealth Games. I can’t assure you about the World Cup but we will certainly reach the final of the Commonwealth Games. Therefore, I don’t want any kind of distraction for these girls,” she added. |
|
Indian Hockey needs a
Sharad Pawar: Negi
With
the worst crisis in the history of the Indian hockey, where girls have
spoken against a coach and women teams participation in the world cup
still in doubt, former national hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi speaks at
length, in a telephonic interview to The Tribune, on the recent sex
scandal and state of affairs in the sport
What do you have to say
about the sex scandal in the national women’s hockey team? Do you
believe in what former coach MK Kaushik is saying that he has been
framed? I was deeply hurt, as I have not only played with MK
Kaushik, but also assisted him as national coach both in men’s and
women’s hockey. He had been at the helm of affairs of women’s hockey
for around 18 years. He had become very powerful, as his word was the
final in terms of selection and other matters. It is still hard to
believe that power could have corrupted him. Let’s wait and see the
outcome of the enquiry. Do you think a male coach can easily become
a soft target in female sports, if a certain faction dislikes him? I
have my own academy with 120 girls. Girls may have differences with
their coach, but they will never go to such an extent as to tarnish his
image forever. At this juncture, wouldn’t it be appropriate to
have a woman coach for the women’s hockey team? Most of the
hotels have male chefs. Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra’s coach was a lady
in the last Olympics. Man or Woman, whosoever can deliver the best
should be made in charge of the team. You were last associated with
the women’s team as assistant coach in 2004. What have you been doing
all these years? I can say with pride that I am one of the few
former national players, who are still attached to the ground. For the
last 25 years, I have been into coaching after I left playing
competitive hockey. Talking about the men’s hockey, why is the
performance constantly plummeting? It’s all about the shift of
focus. Former world champion France lost badly in the FIFA World Cup
2010, as they had a fight with their coach. Men’s hockey team could
not do well during the last World Cup in Delhi because of the
controversy created due to money matters. It’s not the tactics alone
that win matches. There are numerous stories that confirm that the unity
and motivation of the team gives results. While a small country like
Holland has 900 turf surfaces, in India you can count their number on
your fingertips. Doesn’t this speak volumes about the neglect the game
is facing in our country? Not only hockey, but also all other
sports are not being given the preferential treatment that is required
to excel at the Olympic level. There is no money or future for the
upcoming players. A state-level player can get a maximum of class IV
job. The administration is doing nothing for the game. The confidence of
every sportsman is shaken. Something drastic needs to be done. How
can the past glory of the Indian hockey be regained? Unless glamour
and money don’t come into the sport, the younger generation is not
going to pick up the stick. We require a man with a vision to run the
affairs of the Indian hockey. We need a man like Sharad Pawar today. One
last question, what is common between Chak De’s Kabir Khan and Mir
Ranjan Negi? Both are fanatic about their nation... Chak de!
|
| 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 | |
FIFA President Sepp Blatter today demanded answers from North Korea after reports that its World Cup squad was publicly humiliated and coach Kim
Jong-Hun sentenced to hard labour. World football's governing body this week opened an investigation and sent a letter to the North Korean football authorities.
Joint-director general of the Organising Committee of 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games TS
Darbari, who was sacked a couple of days earlier for his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds during the Queen's Baton Relay
(QBR) launch in England, today tried to come clean saying that he was not involved in any of the dealings with AM Films and was made a "scapegoat".
"My role in the QBR launch was ceremonial. It had nothing to do with any negotiation of short-listing vendors, financial transaction, reimbursement or recommendation of advance", he said.
With
the worst crisis in the history of the Indian hockey, where girls have
spoken against a coach and women teams participation in the world cup
still in doubt, former national hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi speaks at
length, in a telephonic interview to The Tribune, on the recent sex
scandal and state of affairs in the sport.
Dambulla, August 11
New Delhi, August 11
Karachi: 
London: