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Let the action begin
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Irritate opposition, not own team, Sree told
Akhtar dope-tested
Jeev fights back to shoot four-under 68
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Dhaka, February 17 Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the event open amid thundering cheers from a packed crowd at the renovated Bangabandhu stadium, marking the return of the showpiece event to the sub-continent after a gap of 15 years. The evening sky lit up with spectacular fireworks as the high-profile 14-team competition was declared open in front of a host of dignitaries and top ICC and Cricket Board officials. Captains of all the 14 participating nations got an unforgettable ride on tri-cycles while music, folk songs and dances, breath-taking fireworks and the collective enthusiasm of the Bangladeshi capital ushered in the event in a two-hour spectacle. Bryan Adams' mesmerising act was the highlight of the show that also had Indian musicians Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy belting out the World Cup theme song 'De Ghuma Ke' composed by the trio. Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam and top Bangladeshi vocalists — Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin and Mumtaz — also crooned in front of a capacity crowd which was treated to a musical extravaganza in three languages — English, Hindi and Bangla. Singer Ebrar Tipu and others set the tone for the evening as he arrived in a bedecked car to sing the welcome song, "O Prithibi, Ebar Eshey Banglake Nao Chiney…" (Hey world, come and know Bangladesh). All the 14 captains came into the arena on decorated rickshaws with Australian captain Ricky Ponting coming in first followed by the other captains. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni drew a loud applause while the biggest cheer was reserved for host captain Shakib Al Hasan as he waved to the crowd. — PTI
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Kohli has edge over Raina: Dhoni
Dhoni said he also wants Yuvraj Singh in the playing eleven for the event starting February 19. "Major difficulty will come when Yuvraj gets going and scores one or two 50s, that will be the time we will be in a dilemma. The number four slot is very important for us. Right now it is a slot war. It is the number four slot where Kohli needs to bat with Gautam Gambhir at number three," Dhoni said after the 117 win over New Zealand in the second and final warm-up match here last night. "To perform to his potential, Virat needs to bat up the order. That is where Raina can score batting down the order as well and he has done very well batting at number five and six. So, it will be a slot war more than for a place in the playing eleven. "Kohli is sort of a player who likes to spend little bit of time early and then go after the bowlers. Still, there is a bit of chance where Virat may get an edge over Raina seeing the current form he is in," he added. Talking about importance of having Yuvraj in the team, Dhoni said, "What is important is we are playing with four bowlers. A part-time spinner is really important especially if it is a left-arm away going spinner. That really adds on to the bowling strength, that's the one big advantage he has got over others. Once he gets going, it is difficult to stop him (Yuvraj) from scoring runs." Asked whether he is worried that Yuvraj has not been scoring big in recent times, Dhoni explained, "Today, he did not get an opportunity. It would have been nice for him if he had batted. It is important to have runs under your belt. You may be talented but at the end of the day you need those 30 or 40 runs and then you start thinking positively. Then you look to dominate the bowlers. "Positive thing about Yuvraj is once he scores, he scores through the series. Being a left-arm bowler, he has been contributing right from South Africa, he has been a big strength for the team. If we play with three seamers and one spinner or two seamers or two spinners, Yuvraj role becomes important. "He gives us the odd breakthroughs required in the middle overs. That is a big asset he has got where he edges over the others. If all the batsmen are in good form, I do not mind one batsman out of form. But the amount of talent he has got I will back him fully. We are not playing with seven bowlers," said Dhoni. On the decision to send Raina ahead of Yuvraj after he got himself promoted up the order, Dhoni said, "That was the decision taken by Gary (Kristen). I was in the middle (batting). Both of us were padded up. We wanted a left-right combination. Virat got out and that is the reason why I got promoted. If Gautam had been out, Yuvraj would have come in. "I feel batting at number five to seven is a bit difficult as you have to bat according to the demands of the game at that point of time. Especially when you see Virat in a good form, he can play to his potential if he is played up in the order rather than batting at five six or seven," he explained. On the positives gained ahead of the World Cup, Dhoni said, "We have achieved whatever positives we can from practice games. From here on we have to start from scratch. We are playing on February 19 and hope we will perform to our potential."
— PTI |
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Irritate opposition, not own team, Sree told
Chennai, February 17 "I am very specific to him and told him that he should not cross a few boundaries. It is better that you do not cross those boundaries. If you want to irritate someone that should be the opposition and not your side," Dhoni said of the Kerala bowler, who has a reputation of losing his cool and coming up with animated gestures in the heat of the moment. Dhoni said he has no issues with Sreesanth's behaviour as long as he keeps the aggression within limits. "Till he does both these things, I am really happy to let him do whatever he wants to do," he said. Sreesanth was at his usual aggressive self in the two pre-World Cup warm-up matches that India won and he hit the headlines by getting into an argument with Australian skipper Ricky Ponting during one of the games. However, in the second warm-up match against New Zealand, Dhoni said he was satisfied with the way the pacer conducted himself. "I do not think there was much. I must say that bit of chit chat is always fine. It does not mean that whenever we play cricket such things do not happen," Dhoni said. "As I said, there are certain boundaries that you should not get too personal with a player. If these guidelines are followed I am quite happy with it. More often than not it is the batsman and Sreesanth who knows exactly what is going on," he explained.
— PTI |
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Akhtar dope-tested
"These are normal procedures and players from every team will be tested," Alam said. Akhtar, recalled for the World Cup after being out of action for a major part of the last three years due to a spate of injuries, tested positive for a banned drug nandrolone in 2006. There was further trouble for Akhtar after he and fellow paceman Wahab Riaz were fined $42 each for returning late from a private dinner on last night. "We want players to follow team rules," said Alam. "The two have been warned not to keep late nights in future." Pakistan face England in a practice match in the Bangladeshi town of Fatullah tomorrow, a game the ageing Akhtar needs to perform in to make the team for their World Cup opener against Kenya on February 23. Akhtar did not bowl against Bangladesh on Tuesday with coach Waqar Younis admitting the fast bowler had yet to regain full fitness. Akhtar, who last played a Test match in 2007, has claimed 244 one-day wickets in 160 matches at an average of 24.78.
— AFP |
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— Allan Donald
We are avoiding Pak players: Broad
Wankhede gets green signal from ICC
Barath, Baugh in injury scare
Colombo: West Indies opener Adrian Barath and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh junior are injury doubts for their World Cup clash against South Africa, a team spokesman said today. "Both players are struggling with hamstring injuries and had scans. The outlook is not good. If replacements are required they will be named in the next few days," a West Indies media spokesperson told the cricinfo website. Baugh retired out on 29 during the warm-up match with Sri Lanka and Darren Bravo was required to keep wicket during Sri Lanka's chase. Barath did not take any part in that game. |
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Arsenal down Barca
Paris, February 17 They appeared destined for defeat until Robin van Persie drew them level in the 78th minute and five minutes later substitute Andrey Arshavin rolled in the winner to put them in the driving seat ahead of the March 8 return leg. "It is one of the special nights," said Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger. "The game promised a lot and it didn't disappoint. "We will go to Camp Nou now and play our game again because we cannot go there and defend. We will go and give our best." Wenger's captain, Cesc Fabregas, warned that there was still work to do. "They are the best side in football's history in my opinion," said the one-time Barcelona trainee of his former club. "That is one game and this is half-time. It is a nice victory but that's all. If we show it here and not at Camp Nou, it is nothing for us." Arsenal were completely over-run in the first 20 minutes of last season's quarter-final first leg, but they threatened first this time around when van Persie's half-volley was well saved by Victor Valdes. The visitors quickly assumed the upper hand, though, and on 26 minutes Villa put them ahead. Having spurned a fine opportunity moments earlier, Lionel Messi reprieved himself with a neat through-ball for Villa, who raced through before posting the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Messi had a close-range header ruled out for a contentious offside and Arsenal were perhaps fortunate to reach the half-time break only a goal behind.
— AFP |
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Jeev fights back to shoot four-under 68
New Delhi, February 17 The Chandigarh golfer was even par after 14 holes but he fought his way back to finally finish with a four-under 68 at the DLF Golf and Country Club here. "That finish brought in a lot of cheer and my son, Harjai, was there to see it," said Jeev, cuddling his son soon after the round. With a good number of golfers yet to finish, the clubhouse leader was Robert Jan-Derksen of Denmark, who came in with a six-under 66. Argentine Julio Zapata and Mark Foster of England were second with a 67 each. Among those at 68 were Jeev and India's new young pro Rashid Khan. Although Jeev has achieved much success globally, it is still a home win that has eluded him. Despite nursing a back injury, the 39-year-old opened his campaign impressively with a four-under-par 68. "My iron-play was great today and I was feeling good on the putts. The course is in excellent shape but the conditions were a little tricky due to the wind," said Jeev, who marked his card with six birdies, one eagle and two double-bogeys. "I started off well with a 30 feet birdie putt on the 11th. I then ran into some trouble on the 13th where my drive hit the floodlight tower. I should've replayed that stroke as per the local rules but I obviously did not pay attention and overlooked that particular clause in the local rules. "I went on to play my second shot from the spot where the ball had landed after rebounding off the pole. That error cost me a two-stroke penalty," he explained. Jeev was penalised for knowing that he had hit floodlight unit and yet playing the next shot from the spot where the ball landed. The referee then told him to go back and play the tee shot again, as the local rules demand, but he still incurred a two-shot penalty. "The two-stroke penalty acted as a trigger for me to raise my game. At that point I decided to focus really hard and make the most of my opportunities. I hit it really well from there on. I closed the round on a high as I converted a monstrous 45 feet eagle putt on the ninth," Jeev said. "I'm taking three weeks off after this and I think I should be ready in another month's time," said the six-time Asian Tour winner. Jeev, who was Asia's number one in 2006 and 2008, said this week's Avantha Masters reflects well on the growth of the game in the country and paid tribute to Avantha Group's Chairman and CEO, Gautam Thapar, who is also a Board member on the Asian Tour.
— PTI |
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Mon, Jyoti fastest athletes
Ranchi, February 17 Continuing his fine run here, where he already had two titles in the Indian GP and Fed Cup, Mon clocked 10.55s en route to the gold in the men's 100m. Abdul Najeeb Qureshi of Andhra Pradesh finished a close second with 10.62s, while Sujith Kuttan of Kerala won the bronze with a timing of 10.65s. Karnataka girl Jyoti clocked 11.84s for the gold medal in the women's 100m as Andhra's G Mounika (11.87s) and Priyanka Panwar of Uttar Pradesh (11.98s) won the silver and bronze respectively. After their races, both Mon and Jyoti blamed it on the chilly condition for the poor timing. "Weather changed suddenly since last
evening. I am running from an infection so I could not prepare well. But I was confident for the gold," Jyoti said.
— PTI |
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Chennai, February 17
Dhaka, February 17
"The ball has to swing. That’s where reverse swing is a massive thing and a huge key for me in this World Cup. That’s where games are going to be won and
lost"
