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India-Lanka-NZ Tri-Series Virender Sehwag raises his bat after India beat Sri Lanka during their tri-series ODI match in Dambulla on Monday. — AFP
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Former players hit out at ‘unsporting’ Randiv |
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HI can send team to World Cup: SC
Old horses give Man U galloping start
Modi at loggerheads with RCA again
OC bid to ensure dope-free Games
Fennell to visit CWG venues
Sanawar soccer tourney gets underway
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Lanka to probe no-ball incident
Dambulla, August 17
The apologies prompted the Indian team management to declare the episode a “closed chapter” while the BCCI also made it clear that it would not pursue the case any further. "Sri Lanka Cricket officials have requested the Sri Lanka national team Manager Anura Tennekoon to conduct an immediate internal inquiry and forward a comprehensive report in this regard, where action will be taken accordingly," SLC said in a statement. “We are perturbed and disconcerted by the news reports which indicate that Virender Sehwag had been deliberately deprived of reaching a century by Suraj Randiv bowling a no ball in the last over,” the statement read. “Sri Lanka Cricket, being winners of the ‘ICC Spirit of the game’ award for two consecutive years, is extremely proud of its team and their achievements and conduct both on and off the field, as such it is necessary to clear the good name of Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka as a sporting nation, on a priority basis,” it added. Sehwag was just one short of his 13th ODI hundred when Randiv, who had not bowled a no ball in the Test or ODI series this season, bowled one which was hit by the opener for a six. However, it did not count because the no ball amounted to India's winning run. Randiv apologised to me: Sehwag Virender Sehwag today said Sri Lankan off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who denied him a hundred in last night's ODI tri-series match by deliberately bowling a no ball, has apologised for his conduct. “Randiv came to my room and apologised,” Sehwag wrote on his Twitter page. India comprehensively won last night's match by six wickets but the conduct of the Sri Lankan team upset the visitors' camp. Minutes after the game, a livid Sehwag told reporters that Sri Lanka had used such tactics earlier also, pointing out that they had left Sachin Tendulkar stranded at 99 with a similar strategy in a match in Cuttack. Sangakkara under scanner The Sri Lankan Cricket Board was examining stump microphone audios to determine whether captain Kumar Sangakkara or any of his teammates had played a role in coaxing Suraj Randiv to bowl a “no-ball” to prevent Virender Sehwag from scoring a century. Sources said the SLC had sought the tapes from the official broadcasters to investigate as what transpired between the bowler and his teammates during the fag end of the tri-series match. According to audio tapes, captain Sangakkara had heard instructing Randiv in Sinhalese “If he hits the ball, he gets the run”. BCCI wont take up issue with SLC Mumbai: With Suraj Randiv and Sri Lanka Cricket apologising for the deliberate no-ball which denied Virender Sehwag a hundred in a tri-series match last night, the BCCI today decided against pursuing the matter any further. The Board made it clear that it had no intention of lodging a protest with its Sri Lankan counterpart. “Of course not. We are not thinking of lodging any complaint. These things happen in cricket. What is there to take up? Did New Zealand take up with Australia when the under-arm incident happened,” a Board source said. Another BCCI source said that it was upto the ICC to take up the case if it wants. “ICC may want to take a look at this case and review its laws concerning no balls," the source said.
— PTI
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Former players hit out at ‘unsporting’ Randiv
“On certain things, I do not want to react. It is not worth talking about. Some players are playing the game in their own ways. To me, it is important that India won the match. Sehwag deserves appreciation for the manner in which he handled the situation in scoring the 99-run knock,” Kapil told PTI. Former stumper Kirmani said cricket's reputation as a gentleman's game is getting tarnished due to acts such as these. “These days, no team appreciates an opponent's good knock or good work with the ball. The game is played like a war between the teams. It is not in the spirit of the gentlemanly game,” Kirmani said. "Sehwag was magnanimous in his comments. To many followers of the game, including myself, it looked like unsporting behaviour by Randiv. I would not have done it. Randiv was bowling well and he is a capable bowler. He had the ability to take Sehwag's wicket and delay the proceedings instead of bowling a no ball,” he added. A disgusted Sehwag later criticised Randiv in the post-match press conference but the matter seems to have been settled amicably after Sri Lanka Cricket and Randiv offered apologies for the incident. But Kirmani felt such unsporting acts should not be forgiven. “I do not know whether it was a team strategy, if it is, it is an unpardonable act,” he said. Former all-rounder Madan Lal and ex-captain Ajit Wadekar echoed the sentiment. “It’s not cricket. That's not fair, not done in cricket. But a no-ball is a no-ball and the umpire had to declare it. It comes first and the ball becomes dead. Poor chap, Sehwag. He deserved a hundred,” said Wadekar. “I do not like teams to behave like that in matches. To me, it looked like a deliberate attempt. I appreciate Sehwag for the bold manner in which he remained not out to give India the important victory. However, Suraj Randiv's actions were in bad taste and it could affect the future matches of tri-series,” felt Madan Lal. Former chief selector Chandu Borde, however, felt the Lankans should not be singled out for criticism as all teams have employed such tactics, including India. “No team wants to allow a batsman to cross the century mark and all the teams in the world have succeeded on number of occasions in denying the batsman of a century. Even we Indians have followed this and never gave freedom to the batsman to set a mark. It was a brilliant knock by Sehwag, he deserves all accolades,” he said. “I would not say it as ‘not cricket’. Some people are generous to a fault but others, like the Australians, won't give you an easy hundred to take. There can be two opinions on this; whether Sri Lanka were unsporting or not. I remember (In Delhi in 1958-59 series) against the West Indies I had scored a century (109) in the first innings and was 96 batting in the second with (fast bowler Roy) Gilchrist repeatedly bowling bouncers at me. When two balls remained non-striker Vijay Manjrekar came and told me you have to get to the century. I hooked the next ball, it went for a four but I disturbed my wicket and was hit-wicket,” he recalled. “In the same match, we didn't allow Gary Sobers to get to his double hundred when he was on 199. It's part of the game. We Indians have also adopted such strategies. Even local cricket in India is played in that manner,” he said. — PTI
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HI can send team to World Cup: SC
A Bench comprising Justices RV Raveendran and HL Gokhale passed the order after rejecting the pleas of the Union Government and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) that they should be allowed to select and send the team, not a private body like HI which stood de-recognised by the Centre. The court observed that when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which was also a private body, could select the national cricket team for international events, there should not be any objection to such entities in other sports disciplines. The Bench granted an hour’s time to the Centre to give in writing that the International Hockey Federation (FIH) would recognise its team for the World Cup. When the court took up the matter after one hour, the government admitted that it had no assurance so far from the FIH though it constantly remained in touch with the international body on the issue. The apex court issued the directions on a petition filed by HI challenging the government order derecognising it. The Bench, however, clarified that allowing HI to send the team would not have any bearing on the
HI petition. “It is made clear that this order is not intended to accept the contentions of HI. This is only a temporary arrangement having regard to the fact that the team has to be sent on August 21,” the Bench said. The court took note of the fact that the team selected by HI and IOA “are the same players who are also identified and selected by the Sports Authority of India” run by the government. It allowed HI secretary Narendra Batra to be impleaded as the second petitioner in the case. During the arguments, senior counsel Indu Malhotra, appearing for IOA, the second respondent, said HI was the only body recognised by the FIH. However, the IHF said only it had government recognition. Senior counsel Ashok Desai and Rohinton Nariman contended that the government’s de-recognition was in a way violation of the apex court’s July 30 order allowing HI to hold elections to the executive body. The SC had observed that HI election was necessary to enable HI to meet the FIH deadline so that India would be able to participate in international events such as the Commonwealth Games in October. The next hearing is on August 25. |
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Old horses give Man U galloping start
Manchester, August 17 Berbatov finished off a fine move with just over half an hour gone before Fletcher's close-range effort made it two at the interval. And substitute Giggs extended the advantage with a third goal with five minutes remaining maintaining his extraordinary record of having scored in all 19 seasons he has played in the top flight. Chelsea ended United's run of three successive Premier League titles with their victory last season but Sir Alex Ferguson's side began their attempts to win the crown for a record 19th time in some style. Newcastle's survival chances will never be judged on trips to Old Trafford but they showed they are well-organised and Andy Carroll looks like he might manage the step up to the top flight. They began by managing to contain their hosts and Rooney's hopeful curled effort as the only occasion that the Old Trafford side threatened in the early stages. And the newly-promoted side should have taken the lead when Carroll met Joey Barton's corner unmarked from six yards but glanced his header wide. — AFP
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Modi at loggerheads with RCA again
Jaipur, August 17 The RCA cited violation of some norms for the dissolution. RCA secretary Sanjay Dixit said Modi had corruption charges pending against him and was therefore ineligible to fight elections of any RCA body. The RCA also contended that any person suspended by the BCCI with an inquiry pending against him could not hold a position in a district cricket association. Reacting to the RCA move, Modi’s counsel Mehmood Abdi said, “We will move the court against formation of parallel body in the district cricket association of Nagaur. The RCA must explain on what legal grounds it has initiated such an action.” After his suspension as the IPL commissioner, this has come as a major jolt to Modi, as now he would have to fight a legal battle to save his chair in the district cricketing body to keep his chances alive to contest the RCA elections which will be held after three years. |
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OC bid to ensure dope-free Games
New Delhi, August 17 The OC has set up dope testing facilities at all competition and training venues in Delhi, at par with international standards. The OC has trained more than 450 dope control officials and the selection and training of these officials have been done in accordance with the standard of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The officials include doctors, sports medicine experts, physiotherapists and science graduates. “We have international standard testing facilities and qualified officials to ensure proper dope testing”, said Dr Munish Chander, deputy director-general (dope control) of the Commonwealth Games OC. “So far, about 50 professionally-trained officials used to do this job in India, but the Commonwealth Games is a very big event, and we have got sufficient number of officials to ensure proper dope testing. The OC and the CGF will certify these officials and leave a legacy for the country to use the services of these officials even after the end of the CWG”, added Dr Chander. India used the Commonwealth Games to get WADA accreditation to the NADA Laboratory at the Nehru Stadium complex in 2008. |
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Fennell to visit CWG venues
New Delhi, August 17 The OC’s top officials in a press conference had yesterday announced that the stadiums are ready to face the games anytime and only some landscaping and cleaning are still unfinished. They have set August 25 as the deadline for the stadiums to be done with finishing touches. Fennell’s visit in the backdrop of controversies relating to the overlay procedures and corruption in the procurement of sports equipments is expected to spark debate on the role of the organisers. The CAG of India had also dragged Mike Fennell in the controversy by saying that the broadcasting rights were awarded at his behest along with Mike Hooper and Suresh Kalmadi. It said Fast Track Sales Ltd, had been appointed as consultant for international broadcasting rights on suggestions made by Fennell, Hooper and Kalmadi.
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Sanawar soccer tourney gets underway
Chandigarh, August 17 The four-day soccer tournament unfolded with the opening ceremony that witnessed the traditional march past by participating teams namely, APS Dagshai, Sherwood College, Nainital, Durga Public School, Solan, YPS Patiala, YPS Mohali and the hosts. The inaugural match played between APS Dagshai and the Lawrence School, Sanawar, saw a perfect blend of skill and stamina. The opening goal was scored by Sanawar through a corner converted by Vaibhav Nagpal, whose inch-perfect shot hit the goalpost and deflected in. There was no looking back after that. Soon, Aman Suyal scored through regulation field play. The second half put Sanawar into a comfortable score of 5-0 by three more goals scored by Sartaj Singh and Ankush Hooda while grand finale came from team captain Digvijay Singh. In another match played between BCS, Shimla, and DPS, Solan, the two played out a draw (1-1). |
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Embarrassed by Suraj Randiv's no-ball that denied Indian opener Virender Sehwag a century in an ODI tri-series game, Sri Lanka Cricket today initiated an inquiry into the incident even as the bowler and top SLC officials offered apologies to calm the furore.
New Delhi, August 17
New Delhi, August 17
New Delhi, August 17
Billiards World
Championship
New Delhi: 