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India hold their nerve |
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Lee, Tait in Aus WC squad
Solve zero infrastructure problem: Houghton
Anand held by LAmi
IOA omits HOA details on website
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Earlier, Hosts South Africa laboured their way to a modest 220 all out in the third ODI beign played at the Newlands ground in Cape Town on Tuesday. Debutant du Plessis and JP Duminy lend some stability to the innings with half-centuries after four wickets had fallen for only 90 runs. For India, Zaheer was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets and was ably supported by Munaf and Harbhajan. Earlier, a shaky Graeme Smith was the reason South Africa crawled at the start, and it was also due to him that they stayed afloat for a while. But his dismissal in the 23rd over left them facing a crisis. India, led by Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, strangled the hosts with some skilful bowling on a slow track and were all over them like a rash by the half-way mark. India's domination was perfectly captured by the stunning image of Harbhajan, bowling with four men around the bat. It was a torrid struggle for Smith, first against Zaheer, and soon against everyone. It was one of those nightmarish days that batsmen dread. For a long while, nothing, absolutely nothing, seemed to find middle of the bat. He groped inside the line, stabbed outside the line, stuttered on the front foot, seemed shaky on the back, shuffled tentatively, and mostly lived off the edges. Zaheer repeatedly teased the outer and inner edge of the bat, Munaf Patel pinged his pad a couple of times and Harbhajan made him look silly with the variations in pace. Agencies
Scoreboard India
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Pak announce WC squad sans captain
Karachi, January 18 Former captain Yousuf, a veteran of 90 tests and 288 one-day internationals was named in the preliminary squad of 30 players for the World Cup. But the selectors decided today to show faith with youngster Asad Shafiq instead of Yousuf who was captaining the Lahore team in the ongoing national one-day championship in a bid to convince the selectors he was fit and in form for the tournament. All the players who are presently touring New Zealand for the one-day series were named in the 15-member squad indicating that the selectors had faith in their ability to do well in the mega event that begins in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19. But the decision to not name the captain for the World Cup although Shahid Afridi has led the team in T20 and One-day internationals since last year and is also presently captain for the series in New Zealand, indicates that test captain Misbah-ul-Haq remains a strong choice to also lead the one-day squad. Pakistan squad: Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir. PTI
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IPL teams missed broader picture: Lara
New Delhi, January 18 "I am not overtly disappointed. I understand that every franchisees have their reservations. But I think they may have missed the broader picture, because apart from my (cricketing) abilities, I bring along a lot of experience and knowledge of the game," the 41-year-old Lara said on the sidelines of a cricket clinic at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here today. Lara, who retired from international cricket after the 2007 World Cup, found no takers when players went under the hammer for the fourth edition of the hugely popular league. "Almost 75 per cent of the players in every IPL team are youngsters. But don't worry, I would still come across, maybe next year," Lara said. The flamboyant left-hander revealed that playing the entire IPL season was not at the back of his mind. "I really never wanted to get out there and compete for 19-20 games. Just wanted to be part of a good unit, attending meetings, training sessions and helping the youngsters," he said. Lara aside, heavyweights such as Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting were also ignored by the Indian Premier League franchises. "Players like Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke (not part of the league), it's a bit strange." Asked if he was keeping a tab on the auction, Lara answered in negative. "Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to IPL auction. But one thing I like about IPL is, the private ownership. That's the way cricket can compete with a sport like football. "The World Cup is the biggest event in football, but it's club football which is more popular. Look at clubs like Manchester United. Like club football, it will be good for football if leagues like the IPL and BigBash in Australia do well," he said. When asked about Sourav Ganguly, who too met with a similar fate, Lara said, "Missing out on IPL auction will not tarnish his image. He has done enough, and has been a great servant of Indian cricket, and has been a very good friend of mine." PTI
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Sydney, January 18 While captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have also made the final cut for the upcoming World Cup to be held in the sub-continent from February 19, despite suffering from injuries. Ponting is recovering from a finger fracture, while Hussey suffered a serious hamstring injury on Sunday. The latter, who is almost certain to miss the seven-match ODI series against England, will have his rehabilitation programme determined in the next 24 hours but he will have to face a tough race against time to get fit for the mega-event. Shaun Tait, who missed the last match because of back stiffness has also been picked. Making it to the elite list are the left-arm pair of Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson despite their wayward performances. Talking of the selection committee's decision in finalising the 15-man squad, Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the squad was selected keeping in mind the balance between youth and experience. "One of the major decisions to be made in this squad was ensuring the balance was right in the squad to provide the best cover for all positions in the event of injury, illness or form issues that may arise," Hilditch said. Squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White. PTI
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Melbourne, January 18 Nadal, the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open champion, was leading 6-0, 5-0 when Brazilian journeyman Marcos Daniel threw in the towel after being troubled by a left knee problem. Andy Murray went through in similar circumstances when Slovakia's Karol Beck retired with a shoulder problem while trailing 6-3, 6-1, 4-2, during an action-packed day two. Swedish fourth seed Robin Soderling beat Italy's Potito Starace in straight sets and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro enjoyed a successful return to Grand Slam tennis after being injured for most of last year. Nadal will play American qualifier Ryan Sweeting next as he targets the Rafa Slam the first time one man has held all four major titles since Rod Laver in 1969. The Spaniard, forced out of last year's quarter-final against Murray with a knee injury, said the disconsolate Daniel would be feeling "terrible". "It's a terrible feeling to pull out of a match with an injury and I wish him all the best and a fast recovery," said Nadal. "If you are feeling bad you should not go on and it's best for the recovery." In the women's draw, Belgium's Clijsters steamrolled the distraught Safina in just 44 minutes for her fourth whitewash at the tournament, but the first against illustrious opposition. Earlier Murray, last year's runner-up and the world number five, was cruising when Beck gave in to a serving shoulder problem. The in-form Soderling eased past Starace 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, raising hopes of another rousing run after reaching at least the quarter-finals at the last three Grand Slams. And Argentina's del Potro, who has barely played since last year's Open following wrist surgery, overcame Israel's Dudi Sela, 7-6 (15/13) 6-4, 6-4 to help banish a nightmare 2010. Women's second seed Vera Zvonareva moved towards her third consecutive Grand Slam final with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over Sybille Bammer and Australia's Samantha Stosur crushed American wildcard Lauren Davis in just 53 minutes. Elsewhere former world number one Jelena Jankovic, seeded seventh, ended a six-match losing streak as she went through 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia. There were also wins for Croatian 15th seed Marin Cilic and Russian world number 10 Mikhail Youzhny, while Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic beat Jeremy Chardy of France in straight sets. AFP
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Solve zero infrastructure problem: Houghton
Doha, January 18 "You are talking about a country that has zero football infrastructure. We have, I think, one stadium in the whole of the country that meets the criteria to host a World Cup qualifier and that's in Chennai, where there is no football and it's an athletics stadium," Houghton said. "We have no training facilities - and I mean that - which is why when we get the national team together we have to go outside the country to find somewhere to train. If you have no infrastructure then it's almost impossible to organise a league because there are no grounds to play the matches. "Our matches kick off at 3 o' clock in the afternoon and are played on surfaces that no self-respecting top player would play on and in 35 degrees of heat at least. Therefore, the games are very slow and maybe players run three or four kms compared with the 10 or 11 you've got to do when you come to Asian Cup," Houghton told the official AFC website. "The AFC President came to India three years ago and said India is 100 years behind and then he came last year and said nothing has changed. I don't know how long or how many times people have got to say that to get the authorities to come to grips with it but it's not being done," he said. The Englishman who took charge in mid 2006, however, is confident that football landscape in India is set to change after the Asian Cup participation, the first time after 1984. "I think there is a determination now in the country, from the AFC, from FIFA that Indian football needs to move on. I don't think people will throw their hands in the air and give up. I think people will do the opposite and people will sit down and focus on what is fundamentally wrong with the game in India and how do we change it. "I genuinely believe that being in the Asian Cup will move everything on," he said. PTI
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Anand held by LAmi
Wijk Aan Zee, January 18 With his second successive draw, Anand took his tally to two points out of a possible three and will now play with white against Wang Hao of China ahead of the first rest in the category-20 round robin tournament between 14 players. In the shocker of the day, World No 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway blundered and went down to talented Anish Giri of Holland in a mere 22 moves. The victory with black pieces was Anish's best till date and this was the first time that the Nepalese origin 16-year old scalped a 2800+ rated player. Anand played the black side of a Bogo Indian defence, he was in a spot of bother in the middle game as L'Ami had better placed pieces ready to cause the damage on the king side. It took a lot of effort for the Indian to find the counter-play and at the same time kept L'Ami's pieces in check. The game took a decisive turn when L'Ami broke the center and Anand countered it with a timely pawn sacrifice ensuring exchanges that led to a level queen and minor piece endgame. The peace was signed on move 34.
PTI |
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IOA omits HOA details on website
New Delhi, January 18 He added that as a result, there was utter confusion regarding the HOA office-bearers in the minds of the officials of the 34th National Games Organising Committee, threatening Haryana's participation in the Games. |
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