Mumbai, October 24
The Indian cricket team’s itinerary is packed like a can of sardines. No sooner than the ODI series against England is over, the West Indies will be here and as soon as that series is over, the Indian players will be off to Australia and so on.

This ODI series has been a walkover for India with England not playing good enough cricket. The selectors will now meet in Chennai on October 28 to pick the team for the three Tests against West Indies.

That team will look a little different from the ODI squad and the selectors will have to decide on some tricky questions — whether Ajinkya Rahane should be in or Suresh Raina should be included etc. But the most crucial choice the selectors will have to make is one concerning the future of Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan was overlooked for this ODI series and his place went to R. Ashwin. In the four matches of this series, Ashwin has picked seven wickets and was very impressive in Mumbai, where he claimed three for 38. In all, he has played 20 ODI’s and has picked 32 wickets. Now the selectors have to decide whether he deserves a break in the Test matches as well.

Harbhajan, on the other hand, a veteran of 98 Tests, has claimed 406 wickets. He also has the backing of captain M.S. Dhoni. The West Indies team is not so strong and both Ashwin and Harbhajan will be licking their lips (and fingers) in anticipation.

Dhoni was asked here last night whether Ashwin had done enough in this ODI series to be considered for the Tests against the Windies. “I cannot comment on that. The selectors will be deciding that,” was his response.

This is how the scenario looks: Harbhajan is desperate to get back into the team. Dhoni will be going all out to support him. Chief selector Kris Srikkanth is in favour of Ashwin for the Tests as well. North Zone selector Mohinder Amaranth will not be fighting too hard for Harbhajan’s inclusion. Nobody knows for sure whose side president N. Srinivasan is on.

Against the West Indies, even Ashwin is likely to prove quite a handful. Of course, Harbhajan will get his share of wickets. It’s the series immediately after that one (against Australia) that is quite important and Harbhajan’s experience will count in his favour. Also, if Harbhajan is omitted now from the Test side, then it will become very difficult for him to get back in.

With his good performances, Ashwin has surely made a strong case for himself and Harbhajan’s future is looking increasingly fragile. But for the moment though the selectors will be including Harbhajan in the Test squad for the series against the Windies starting next month. 

Zirakpur, October 24
With the Formula One fever gripping the entire nation, ace Indian boxer Vijender Singh too has jumped on the bandwagon and come out to support the only Indian team in the fray, Sahara Force India.

Speaking at an event organised by Sahara here today, Vijender said, “I am a big fan of speed and I love motor sports. I think it is a matter of great pride that India is organising a race of this magnitude. What makes it even more special is that there is an Indian team in it as well. As of now they are in sixth position, but with support and love of the Indian people, I am sure that they will better their performances in the time to come.”

He also took part in a signature campaign for the Sahara Force India team, wishing them luck and success in the upcoming inaugural Indian Grand Prix on October 30. Asked about the rise of sports apart from cricket in the country, Vijender added, “It is great that more sports are coming up and catching the imagination of the country. We are looking beyond cricket and that is a great thing. It will help lots of youngsters and give them more avenues to do well. Sports helps one grow as a person, and inculcates values of team spirit and honesty.

“Boxing has done it in the past and now one of the most popular sport in the world, F1, is doing it too. Let’s hope many more disciplines can come forward and replicate their success.”

Speaking about his boxing career and qualification for the London Olympics, Vijender said, “I have been training hard and I will always continue to give my best for the country. The Olympics are a big occasion and all of us want to do well there. We have some time before the next qualifying event in March and I am going to give it my all to succeed there.”

He also said he would want to see more support for other sports from the Government. “Although there has been a lot of improvement from where we were earlier, there is definitely room for more. India has the potential and we need to take good care of sportspersons and groom talent at the right age, be it in any sport.”

Chandigarh, October 24
Former Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay is set to make a comeback to the sport as he has joined the World Series Hockey (WSH). The mercurial striker has been signed to play and also work as a mentor in the league that is scheduled to begin from December 17.

There have been clouds of uncertainty over WSH, with Hockey India taking exception to any of its players becoming a part of the league. But with the mercurial forward joining their ranks, it can surely be seen as a shot in the arm.

Speaking about his involvement with the league, Pillay told The Tribune: “It is a fantastic feeling to be back in action with the global hockey superstars. I have always maintained that the hockey players need to be better looked after and I am proud to be associated with WSH.

“The league will provide young Indian players with an ideal platform to showcase their talent on a global stage. I have been undergoing intensive training to compete with the best in the world,” he added.

Dhanraj, who was conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1999, the country's highest sporting honour, had mesmerised the hockey world with his dazzling ball control and stick-work. He also has the distinction of donning India colours at four Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004) and four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002).

One of the most popular stars in India hockey, Dhanraj represented the country for over a decade and stamped his mark on almost all major tournaments around the world with his precise goal-scoring abilities.

Besides his internationals exploits, Dhanraj also represented a number of overseas clubs, including the Indian Gymkhana, London; HC Lyon, France; HTC Stuttgart Kickers, Germany, and BSN HC & Telekom Malaysia HC, Malaysia. 

Perth, October 24
Despite losing out in the final, Indian women's team coach C R Kumar took positives from his side's performance in the Lanco International Super Series Hockey 9s here, and exuded confidence that the team was heading in the right direction for the Olympic qualifiers. The Indian eves impressed all and sundry with their performance in the three-nation tournament despite losing 1-4 to Australia in the summit clash yesterday.

"I often said that Hockey 9s is a fun variety. This modified version helps to sharpen reflexes and scoring prowess. We also tested our players' readiness to adopt to different formats," Kumar said.

"However, our main focus is not this three-nation tournament, but playing against Australia. They are a top team, ranked many steps above us and playing them will help us," he said. "Our target right now is Olympic Qualifiers that will be played on traditional format," he added. — PTI

London, October 24
Manager Andre Villas-Boas criticised referee Chris Foy after his Chelsea team had two players sent off in a shock 1-0 defeat at west London neighbours Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. Right back Jose Bosingwa and striker Didier Drogba were dismissed in the first half after the visitors had fallen behind to a 10th-minute penalty by Heidar Helguson awarded after the Rangers striker was bundled over by David Luiz.

The defeat was Chelsea's second in the Premier League this season and left them in third spot, six points behind leaders Manchester City who thrashed Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the day. "I just cannot understand the difference of judgement from the referee, not only the major decisions but the fouls, the throw-ins," Villas-Boas told a news conference. I was aggressive to him (after the game) but I think I have to be. I don't care if he is okay or not. Everybody can have a bad day but this was not a bad day for us, it was a good day for us and a bad day for the referee. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

Shara: Top spot no priority
ISTANBUL: World number two Maria Sharapova is just happy to be competing at the season-ending WTA Tour Championships this week and is not thinking about her outside chance of usurping Caroline Wozniacki as number one. "It's tough to talk about (number one) coming off the injury in Tokyo and not even knowing if I'd be able to compete for the rest of the year. I think I'm just fortunate enough to say that I'm here and I'm going to be competing," Sharapova told reporters. — Reuters

Javier signs new Man U deal
MANCHESTER: Mexico striker Javier Hernandez has completed the formalities of a new contract with Manchester United and pledged his future to the club for the next five years, the English champions said in a statement on Monday. The 23-year-old, nicknamed "Chicharito", made a big impact with United in his first season, scoring 20 goals from 45 appearances. United manager Alex Ferguson said, "Javier’s talent for creating space in the box and his finishing ability mark him out as a natural goalscorer. Off the pitch, he is a pleasure to manage. He works very hard and is a popular member of the squad." — Reuters

Thierry IRB player of the year
AUCKLAND: France captain Thierry Dusautoir was named on Monday as the International Rugby Board's World Player of the Year after a storming 12 months in which he drove his side to within a whisker of their first World Cup title on Sunday. The 29-year-old loose forward was named man of the match in the final, which was won 8-7 by the hosts New Zealand to give them their second Webb Ellis trophy. It was the first time Dusautoir had won the award and he succeeds All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who is the only player to have won the award more than once. McCaw has won it three times. — Reuters

Atwal finishes 59th
Lake Buena Vista: Arjun Atwal, who began the week by sharing the lead after the first round ended the tournament in tied 59th place at the Children's Miracle Network Classic. The Orlando-based golfer had three birdies against four bogeys in his round of one-over 73 and ended at three-under 285 in tied 59th place after being tied 49th at the end of third round. Tiger Woods, who played just nine events in the season was 128th. World number one Luke Donald won the title. — PTI

Saina seeks redemption
New Delhi: Still smarting from her second-round exit in Denmark last week, Saina Nehwal will seek redemption when she starts her campaign at the French Open Super series, which begins with the qualifiers at Paris tomorrow. Fourth seed Nehwal suffered the ignominy of crashing out of the Denmark Open, when she went down to Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei, and the Indian ace will now have to ensure that there are no such hiccups when she takes on Holland's Jie Yao in her first match on Wednesday. — PTI

Gill for Delhi Championship
New Delhi: Ace rally driver Gaurav Gill will spearhead India's challenge in the Delhi Championship with MRF, an official support race of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix on October 30 at the Buddh International Circuit at Greater Noida. Apart from Gill, seven other Indians - Kartik Shankar, Ashwin Sundar, Zaamin Jaffer, Arjun Balu, Ameta Walavalkar, Amrittrajit Ghosh and G Vikash Anand - will be seen in action in the two-race championship to be held alongside the Indian GP. — PTI

Prasad wins Castrol award
Chandigarh: City mechanic . Kalka Prasad has won national finals of the Castrol Golden Spanner Awards - a search for India’s best car mechanic. Cricket maestro and Castrol brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar, presented the All-India Castrol Golden Spanner Ustaad Mechanic Award to Kalka Prasad who works as mechanic in West Motors, Sector 38 West. The competition which was held over two months, across 16 cities, drew participation from over 300 mechanics competing to showcase their skills and knowledge about car repair and maintenance. — TNS

SA beat Aus by 80 runs
Port Elizabeth: Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel stood out as South Africa scored a convincing 80-run win in the second ODI against Australia at St George's Park here. The win levelled the three-match series at one-all. Kallis hit 76 in a South African total of 303 for six, yesterday and Morkel bowled with pace and accuracy to take four for 22 as Australia were bowled out for 223 in reply. Kallis became the third batsman, after India's Sachin Tendulkar and Australia's Ricky Ponting, to reach fifty on 100 occasions in one-day internationals. — AFP