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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
S P O R T S

Fixing Row
ICC will take action against guilty: Pawar
New Delhi, September 16
The ICC today warned of stern action against players found guilty in the spot-fixing scandal and dismissed suggestions of an India hand in the whole episode that has rocked the cricket world.



ICC president Sharad Pawar (L) and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt after their meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

ICC president Sharad Pawar (L) and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt after their meeting in New Delhi

Flintoff bids adieu to international cricket
London, September 16
England's Andrew Flintoff, regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the game, today announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down the curtains on a 12-year career which was marked by nagging injuries and controversies.



EARLIER STORIES

Nadal joins tennis elite
September 16, 2010
Nadal tames his final frontier
September 15, 2010
Sushil eyes CWG gold
September 14, 2010
The Annhilator
September 13, 2010
Clijsters outshines Venus
September 12, 2010
Final heartbreak
September 11, 2010
Federer sails past Soderling
September 10, 2010
‘Leading batsman played suspiciously in IPL’
September 9, 2010
Nadal rolls on as Wawrinka shatters hopes
September 8, 2010
I was tricked, blackmailed: Hameed
September 7, 2010


Mumbai Indians beat Guyana by 31 runs
Durban, September 16
Keiron Pollard produced a scintillating 72 off 30 balls as Mumbai Indians defeated an improved Guyana by 31 runs to keep their semifinal hopes alive in the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here today.

Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard (R) plays a stroke against Guyana in Durban on Thursday.
— AFP

Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard (R) plays a stroke against Guyana in Durban

In-form RCB to take on South Australia
Durban, September 16
A battle of strategy is on the cards when in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore take on an impressive South Australia in the Champions League Twenty20 Group B encounter here tomorrow.

All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament
Reliance-I defeat BPCL by 4 runs
Chandigarh, September 16
If Yusuf Pathan had wielded his willow yesterday to pull off win for Reliance-I, today he put up his brilliant bowling skills to guide his team to register 4-run dramatic win against the BPCL on the second day of the17th All India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament for Pearls Trophy at St John’s High School ground at Sector 26, here, today. For a set target of 269, the BPCL needed 7 runs in the last over of the game with three wickets in hand.


BS Tommar of BSNL team plays a shot against Punjab Cricket Colts in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

BS Tommar of BSNL team plays a shot against Punjab Cricket Colts in Chandigarh


Qatar presents a model of its Al-Rayyan stadium as it bids to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup during the FIFA Inspection Tour for the country's bid, in Doha
Qatar presents a model of its Al-Rayyan stadium as it bids to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup during the FIFA Inspection Tour for the country's bid, in Doha on Thursday. — Reuters

Davis Cup
Somdev, Bopanna hope to take lead against Brazil
Chennai, September 16
Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna today refused to be intimidated by the superior ranking of their rivals and exuded confidence of giving India a 2-0 lead against Brazil on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie, here tomorrow.

Games Village is best ever, says Kalmadi
New Delhi, September 16
Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi today claimed that the standard of training facilities available at the Delhi Games Village is best in the world. "The standard of training facilities that are available here are not available anywhere else in the world. This is one of the best Games Villages that anyone has seen," Kalmadi said on the occasion of the soft launch of the Commonwealth Games Village here today.





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Fixing Row
ICC will take action against guilty: Pawar

New Delhi, September 16
The ICC today warned of stern action against players found guilty in the spot-fixing scandal and dismissed suggestions of an India hand in the whole episode that has rocked the cricket world.

ICC president Sharad Pawar, who had an hour-long meeting with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt at his residence here, indicated that Scotland Yard’s probe against the three Pakistani cricketers implicated in the scandal would be over soon. Pawar said the ICC would maintain the sanctity of the game and would never tolerate any corruption in the game of cricket.

“The ICC wants to maintain the sanctity of the game and all member countries, including PCB, are assisting in preserving it. The PCB is not a separate entity, it is also a part of the ICC,” Pawar said after the meeting, which was shrouded in mystery. Butt’s surprise arrival in Delhi and his meeting with Pawar came amid intense speculation that he was under pressure from certain quarters in the PCB to seek leniency for the accused players.

Butt, however, denied any such agenda and said the PCB had no tolerance for corruption and would provide all cooperation to the ICC and the investigative agencies.

Pawar said the ICC would not jump into any conclusion till the probe was complete. “Till the Scotland Yard probe is complete how can we comment. But if anything is established, we will take strong stand. Without information we should not jump into any conclusion,” Pawar said.

“Prima facie there are some allegations and we have suspended the players on the basis of that. The Scotland Yard has permitted them to go back to Pakistan and the PCB has also promised to make them available to the investigators if and when required. A major investigation agency is carrying out the probe and that will not take long. PCB or ICC will not interfere in the process,” he added.

Contrary to speculation in Pakistan that India was behind the entire drama, Butt cleared the air saying, “I don't believe in any conspiracy theory. I’m a businessman and a cricket administrator”. Pawar also made it clear that India had no role in the entire episode.

Butt also claimed that the PCB was not offended with the ICC’s move to provisionally suspend the three cricketers - Test captain Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif.

“We are not offended. The ICC asked them to individually answer and all of them have done so. If anyone is found guilty, we will not show any tolerance. ICC's Code of Conduct is very clear regarding this matter,” he said.

The PCB chief also said he raised the issue of resuming Indo-Pak cricketing ties with Pawar, but did not elaborate. — PTI

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Flintoff bids adieu to international cricket

Andrew Flintoff

freddie’s journey

1995: Makes Lancashire debut

1996: Captained England Under-19s against Pakistan and Zimbabwe

1998: Test debut against South Africa at Trent Bridge and awarded county cap

1999: Scores 50 on one-day international debut against Pakistan at Sharjah.

2002: Scores maiden Test century against New Zealand

2004: Named ICC one-day player of the year

2005: Named man of the series after England's Ashes win

2009: becomes the highest-ever-paid IPL playe when the Chennai Super Kings bought him for £1m. In July announces retirement from Test cricket

London, September 16
England's Andrew Flintoff, regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the game, today announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down the curtains on a 12-year career which was marked by nagging injuries and controversies.

Flintoff, 32, who had announced his retirement from Test cricket after the 2009 Ashes triumph in the Oval Test, decided to quit all forms of the game with immediate effect because of a long-standing knee injury.

He played 79 Tests and compiled 3,845 runs and claimed 226 wickets and was considered one of the most talented cricketers to emerge from England in recent times.

Though there were some critic who felt he did not justify his immense potential.

His achievements in the cricket field were at times overshadowed by a series of controversies, which ranged from waving his shirt during England's 2001-02 India tour to the infamous pedalo incident during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

After quitting Test cricket, Flintoff underwent a series of knee surgeries and hoped to return to action this season, but that was ruled out last month.

“It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am today announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket,” said Flintoff.

“The decision to end my career came yesterday after consultation with medical advisers.

I was told that the problems I have been trying to overcome in rehab for the last year following the latest in a series of operations would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback.

“Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative but to retire,” he added. — PTI

 

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Mumbai Indians beat Guyana by 31 runs

Durban, September 16
Keiron Pollard produced a scintillating 72 off 30 balls as Mumbai Indians defeated an improved Guyana by 31 runs to keep their semifinal hopes alive in the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here today.

Pushed up the order, Pollard hammered Guyana bowlers for nine sixes and a boundary to pile up a mammoth 85 runs off the last five overs and muscle Mumbai to 184 for four at the Kingsmead here after they were down at 99 for three at one stage.

Guyana's had a horrible start to their run chase as they lost Sewnarine Chattergoon early when he gave a simple catching practice to Duminy at first slip off Lasith Malinga. — PTI

Scoreboard

Mumbai Indians:

Dhawan c Crandon b Bishoo 39

Tendulkar st Christian b Bishoo 48

Pollard not out 72

Tiwary c Barnwell b Bishoo 0

Rayudu b Crandon 4

Duminy not out 14

Extras: (LB-2, W-5) 7

Total: (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 184

Bowling: Wintz 4-0-46-0, Crandon 4-0-44-1, Barnwell 4-0-33-0, Crandon 4-0-25-0, Bishoo 4-0-34-3.

Guyana:

Dowlin c Tiwary b Bravo 7

C’goon c Duminy b Malinga 1

Sarwan c Malinga b Harbhajan 46

Deonarine c Dhawan b Bravo 27

Barnwell c T’dulkar b Harbhajan 24

Crandon not out 16

Foo c Rayudu b Khan 1

Crandon not ou t 2

Extras: (B-8, LB-4, W-17) 29 Total: (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 153

Bowling: Zaheer 4-0-17-1, Malinga 4-0-28-1, Bravo 3-0-18-2, Harbhajan 4-0-33-2, Pollard 2-0-22-0, Murtaza 3-0-23-0.

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In-form RCB to take on South Australia

Durban, September 16
A battle of strategy is on the cards when in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore take on an impressive South Australia in the Champions League Twenty20 Group B encounter here tomorrow.

Both the teams have started their campaign in the T20 championship on a winning note and would strive to register another victory tomorrow to consolidate their position on the points table.

Anil Kumble-led Bangalore side, who finished third in the Indian Premier League III earlier this year, started their journey in the tournament by crushing a low-profile Guyana by nine wickets.

On the other hand, South Australia first snatched an 11-run victory over Lions and then inflicted a humiliating five-wicket defeat on another IPL side, Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians.

For Kumble's men everything fell in place against Guyana and now they have to guard against complacency before tomorrow's tough encounter at the Kingsmead ground.

Experienced all-rounder Jacques Kallis commendably led Bangalore bowling attack, while pacer duo of Dale Steyn and Praveen Kumar had extended excellent support to him.

Kumble, who had managed just one wicket against Guyana, would now expect another all-round performance by his bowling department to break South Australia's batting line-up.

Kallis and Rahul Dravid had also clicked with the bat and produced a 78-run opening partnership, while at one-down Robin Uthappa cracked a quick unbeaten 25 off just eight balls to complete the task.

But other batsmen, including New Zealander Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli, whose mettle have not been put to test in the event so far, should also be ready this time make a decent contribution with the bat.

Skipper Michael Klinger and his opening partner Daniel Harris have played crucial roles in South Australia's consecutive wins.

The duo had shared a 112-run partnership against Mumbai Indians to lay the foundation stone for their second win in the show-piece event. — PTI

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All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament
Reliance-I defeat BPCL by 4 runs
Akash Ghai/TNS

Chandigarh, September 16
If Yusuf Pathan had wielded his willow yesterday to pull off win for Reliance-I, today he put up his brilliant bowling skills to guide his team to register 4-run dramatic win against the BPCL on the second day of the17th All India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament for Pearls Trophy at St John’s High School ground at Sector 26, here, today.

For a set target of 269, the BPCL needed 7 runs in the last over of the game with three wickets in hand. Reliance-I skipper Pathan, who took the final over, produced hat-trick on third, fourth and fifth balls to snatch the victory from the jaws of the rivals. He dismissed Bhavin Thakkar (19), S Bahutule (16) and Rajesh Verma (0) to complete the feat. The elated skipper returned with the figure 4 for 47 in 10 overs. The BPCL were bowled out for 264 in 49.5 overs.

Earlier, sent to bat first, the Reliance-I made 268 for 9 in 50 overs with the help of half century by S Gaekwad (50) and Mohnish Parmar’s 44-run knock. Yusuf Pathan displayed average show with bat today as he made 26 off 13, smashing three sixes. The successful bowlers of the BPCL were Rajesh Verma (3 for 51), Bhavin Thakkar (2 for 38) and S Kotak (2 for 31).

The team was at 262 for 7 at the end of 49 overs, but Pathan turned the tables on the rivals in his last over. Besides Yusuf, the man of the match, the other notable wicket-taker for the Reliance was Mohnish Parmar (2 for 54).

Brief score: Reliance I: 268 for 9 in 50 overs (Yusuf Pathan 26, S Gaekwad 50, Mohnish Parmar 44, Rajesh Verma 3 for 51, Bhavin Thakkar 2 for 38, S Kotak 2 for 31).

BPCL: 264 in 49.5 overs (V Indulkar 60, O Khanvilkar 34, Uday Kaul 42, Yusuf Pathan 4 for 47, Abhimanyu 1 for 34, Yogesh Nagar 1 for 38, Chetanya Nanda 1 for 35, Ishan Malhotra 1 for 23).

II

In another match, local outfit Punjab Cricket Colts (PCC) started their campaign with a winning note by defeating BSNL by one wicket at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.

The win was made possible by former Indian cricketer Manpreet Goni, who smashed timely unbeaten 47 off 30. Set target 293 in 50 overs, the PCC overhauled it in 49.2 overs.

The BSNL garnered 292 for 7 in 50 overs. Arindam Das made 35 off 36 before being castled by Rajwinder. Replying, the PCC scored 294 for 9 in 49.2 overs. Before Goni, Ravi Inder Singh struck 55 off 58 with four boundaries and two sixes while Mandeep Singh’s valuable 87 off 90 was another notable performance. Mandeep Singh was declared man of the match.

III

In the 3rd match the FCI defeated Railways by five wickets. For a set target of 245, the FCI achieved it in 45 overs, losing five wickets in the course. Their main scorers were man of the match Ankur Julka (91 n.o.) and Paras Dogra (56 off 68).

TOMORROWS FIXTURES

PCA Colts Vs D.Y. Patil Dhruv Pandove Stadium Patiala

Bishnoi Vs ONGC, Sector 16, Chd

All-India FCI VS Indian Oil, DAV Sector 8, Chd

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Davis Cup
Somdev, Bopanna hope to take lead against Brazil

Chennai, September 16
Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna today refused to be intimidated by the superior ranking of their rivals and exuded confidence of giving India a 2-0 lead against Brazil on the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie, here tomorrow.

Bopanna was today drawn against world number 27 Thomaz Bellucci, while 113th ranked Somdev will play the second singles against Ricardo Melo, who is 38 places above the Indian in the ranking chart.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow’s match. Go out there and play to my capabilities and give India the first point of the tie. My confidence levels is high,” Bopanna said after the draw ceremony.

Somdev, too, was upbeat about his prospects. “Obviously, he is 75 in the world right now, but I had few good wins during the past two months. I will come and play well and have good chance to win against Ricardo Mello,” he said.

Brazil's non-playing captain Joao Zwetsch was also confident of a solid start for his side. “I am happy Thomaz is playing first. I am sure Bopanna will be high on confidence after reaching the US Open doubles final, but this is a singles match and Thomaz is well-prepared for it,” Swetsch, who is Bellucci's personal coach, said The visiting captain though said rankings do not matter in the Davis Cup ties.

“Thomaz has developed his game over the past few years and no one will see him only as a clay court player. He is tough to beat on any surface.

“However, I do not think draw or ranking makes any difference. Davis Cup is all about emotional feelings as the atmosphere and pressure is very different as you carry pride playing for the country. It is going to be a tough and very close tie,” he said.

India's seasoned doubles pro Leander Paes, who will enter into his 21st year in Davis Cup, said a good start was key to any tie. “In modern day tennis or for that matter in any game, a draw can make or mar your chances. A draw can help you to have a rousing start which might help you in the end, particularly when the two sides are balanced.

“Positive result depended on who display success in making good use of the chances during the competition,” Paes said. — PTI

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Games Village is best ever, says Kalmadi

New Delhi, September 16
Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi today claimed that the standard of training facilities available at the Delhi Games Village is best in the world.

"The standard of training facilities that are available here are not available anywhere else in the world. This is one of the best Games Villages that anyone has seen," Kalmadi said on the occasion of the soft launch of the Commonwealth Games Village here today.

"All the facilities in the Village are top class and I am sure the athletes are going to love it. The training areas comprising of the swimming pool, athletic track, gymnasium, weightlifting and wrestling areas are simply wonderful. In a Games Village, generally, all these facilities are not available at such a large scale," he added.

Putting to rest all rumours about the readiness of the Games Village, Kalmadi, himself led the media contingent to the various parts of the Games Village.

"The whole village is ready. The international, the training centres and the accommodations are all in place. The Games Village will open from September 23 and we will have a lot of athletes coming in on September 23, 24 and 25 and they will continue to come till October 2," said Kalmadi.

CWG theme song tweaked, to be peppier

Amid criticism that it failed to meet the expectations of the people, the theme song of the Commonwealth Games composed by A R Rahman will be tweaked a bit to make it peppier like the popular Bollywood number 'Chak de'.

The original version of the song 'India bula liya' was panned by critics and was also criticised by CWG Organising Committee's executive board member V K Malhotra and other leaders for "falling short of expectations".

A Group of Ministers on CWG gave the green signal to the theme song after agreeing to certain changes in it. “The final rendering of theme song by Rahman along with the visuals were shown today and it is being cleared," said Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, after the GoM meeting.

About the new version, Sports Secretary Sindhu Shree Khullar said: "There will be more music, particularly instrumental, in the opening theme song of the Games." — PTI

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 BRIEFLY


French slalom olympic champion Jean-Pierre Vidal participates in ‘l’Odyssee du Flocon a la Vague’, in the French Alps on Thursday to promote the Annecy candidacy for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games
French slalom olympic champion Jean-Pierre Vidal participates in ‘l’Odyssee du Flocon a la Vague’, in the French Alps on Thursday to promote the Annecy candidacy for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. — AFP

Sania-Edina in doubles QF
GUANGZHOU:
Continuing her good run at the Guangzhou International Women’s Open, Sania Mirza sealed a berth in the doubles quarterfinals along with Edina Gallovits, following a straight-set win over Sally Pears and Jermila Groth here. The Indo-Romanian pair beat the Australian combination 6-4 6-3 in the first round of the event. — PTI

ECB to suspend Mascarenhas
LONDON:
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has handed a two-week ban, starting next season, to all-rounder Dmitri Mascarenhas for his twitter outburst against national selector Geoff Miller. Mascarenhas will have to shell out another £500 towards the cost of the hearing. — PTI

NADA collects samples of athletes
Patiala:
After the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made a surprise visit to the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, to collect the sample of weightlifters, boxers and athletes, now the NADA team has also finished collecting the samples of boxers, athletes and lawn bowl players, the results of which are likely to be out by Friday. Giving information in this regard, Director General of NADA, Rahul Bhatnagar, said the agency had collected samples of 10 boxers, 21 athletes and 15 lawn bowl players. He said NADA had been successful in controlling doping to a great extent. Strict sampling by NADA has certainly affected the mentality of players and many of the samples have been found negative as well. — TNS

Yuki BhambriYuki-Ryler in quarterfinal
Bangkok:
Yuki Bhambri and his partner Ryler Deheart advanced to doubles quarter-final of the ATP Challenger event after their second seed rivals Evgeny Kirillov and Alexandre Kudryavtsev retired mid-way here. The unseeded Indo-American pair was leading 6-2 6-6 when the Russian players opted out of the first round contest. The lower back injury to Kudryavtsev forced the Russians to retire. Yuki and Ryler will next take on Taipei pair of Chu-Huan Yi and Tsung-Hua Yang. — PTI

Many posers on IHF elections
NEW DELHI:
The Annual General Body Meeting of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) will be held at the Russian Culture Centre, 24 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi on October 3. The agenda for the election, circulated by incumbent president KPS Gill, are: Confirmation of the minutes of the previous AGM held on September 9, 2010; adoption of statement of accounts for the year ending 2009-2010, election of the office-bearers; and any other matter with the permission of the chair. All nominations will be submitted on the floor of the house and elections will be held after that. — TNS

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