Sydney, January 31
Facing severe criticism for his unimpressive captaincy and performances in Test cricket, under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni has offered to quit the leadership role in the longer format of the game if the BCCI feels there is a better replacement waiting in the wings.

Dhoni said if somebody could do a better job than him in Tests, then he will be more than happy to step down as captain for the sake of the team. "It (captaincy) doesn't belong to anyone. It's a position I hold, and it's an added responsibility. I always like to do well till I am in job but it's not something I want to stick to. If there is a better replacement, he can come in," Dhoni said today ahead of tomorrow's first Twenty20 game Australia.

"At the end of the day, you want India to perform. If there is someone who can do a better job, captaincy should be given to him. It's not something you have to cling on to," said Dhoni as speculation grew over his Test future both as a batsman and captain.

Dhoni now has lost seven straight Test matches abroad as captain and as a batsman, his stocks have really fallen low on foreign pitches. While he made 220 at 31.43 from four Tests in England, he scored 102 from six innings of three Tests at 20.40 on the present tour.

"The responsibility was given to me three-and-a-half years ago. I am trying to fit into the shoes, get along with the team and perform well." Dhoni had earlier dropped hints during the Test series that he might leave Test cricket altogether by 2013 to make himslef available for the 2015 World Cup.

"It's two years to 2013. I don't know whether I would still be alive! There would be IPL, Champions League, back-to-back series. It's not a calendar you can decide in advance or if there is a lot of rest", Dhoni said. "I would have to decide by 2013 but it's two years away. I can't say in 2014 that I am not playing next World Cup and give a player of 25-odd matches (a chance to prove)," he said.

Dhoni, however, made it clear that his journey as a Test cricketer was far from over but believed the decision was not entirely in his hands. "I am still on my way (through the journey). I haven't reached anywhere. But it's not an individual who decides, it's others who decide whether you are good enough or not.

"As a player, I am giving my 100 per cent. I am still doing what I was doing. Test cricket is real cricket, but I am not discarding other formats. Every format has its own challenges," he said.

The India captain made a tongue in cheek remark about the dressing room, which according to him is humming with the noise and bubble of the youngsters - much in contrast to the staid, sober and solemn environment when the seniors were around. "Our one-day squad looks very different. It's lot more noisy and lift the dressing room atmosphere. People pull each other's legs and it's more lively. It's very, very different," he said.

"It's like you have come from Kishore Kumar to Sean Paul! It's that kind of difference. It's very noisy. It's a very different generation of players. As for me, I keep adjusting. A mix of everything is good. From classical to rap music of latest version," he said.

Without mentioning any names, Dhoni also took pains to emphasise the importance of senior players in the team and said the criticism coming at their door after the Test debacle was unjust.

"Age is just a number. If people keep scoring runs, nobody would talk about it. When you don't score runs, everything comes out — how fast you can run, your turning speed. But we don't get worried about it."

Looking ahead, Dhoni expects good performances from the team in the shorter formats of the game over the next few weeks. "Raina and Kohli have been around. Then there is Rohit Sharma who is very talented but not part of our Test side, we are not able to give him adequate chances," he said. — PTI

Sydney, January 31
Under-fire Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni got much-needed support from former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram who said the "hullabaloo" about his leadership is "ill-timed" as speculated replacement Virender Sehwag is not qualified for the job.

"The entire hullabaloo around MS Dhoni's captaincy is extremely ill-timed. Captain-bashing is a favourite pastime of cricket pundits in the Indian sub-continent and the media just loves it," wrote Akram in his column for 'espnstar.com'.

"...I believe Dhoni is the best man to lead India and will remain so in the immediate future...In recent times, BCCI's planning has reflected poorly on India's overseas performances. So, it would be unfair to make Dhoni a scapegoat.

"There are two names - Sehwag and Virat Kohli -- doing the rounds as 'next' captains. In my book, none of them qualify for the job," he said.

Akram said while the pressure on Dhoni is understandable after consecutive Test whitewashes on foreign soil but Sehwag was not too impressive either when he got the chance to lead the side in the final Test against Australia.

"Sehwag was very unimpressive when he led the Indian team at Adelaide and Kohli is a kid who has just begun his career.

He can wait for another five years. I had expected better body language from Sehwag and his team during the Adelaide Test, but I was disappointed," he said.

"This 'I give-a-damn' attitude is counter-productive when the chips are down. What did Sehwag do to salvage India's pride at Adelaide? I sometimes see streaks of Shahid Afridi in Sehwag. That dreadful propensity to self-destruct!" he explained.

"Dhoni may not have done enough as skipper, but two bad series does not mean he should be derided and kicked out. Does the BCCI really have an option?"— PTI

Sydney, January 31
Their reputation bruised and battered after the humiliating loss in the Test series, India will be desperate to turn their fortunes around and restore some pride in the limited overs matches, starting with the first T20 against Australia here tomorrow.

The Indians slumped to their lowest ebb in the longer version of the game last week when Australia mauled the visitors by a 4-0 margin in the Test series. The drubbing at the hands of Australia was also the current ODI world champion team's eight straight overseas Test defeat following the series loss by identical margin in England last year.

But with some fresh legs - Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Ravidra Jadeja and Rahul Sharma - joining the team for the limited overs matches, Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be hoping for lady luck to smile on him in the first of the two T20 matches tomorrow ahead of the tri-series, featuring hosts Australia and Sri Lanka.

With India's famed batting line-up failing miserably in the Test series, there is a scramble for early berths in opening Twenty20 match at the ANZ Stadium. There is competition for each spot in the team, especially after the debacle in the Test series.

The opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have time and again failed to give India a good start in the Tests. To add to it, skipper Dhoni himself has looked a pale shadow of his former self with the bat as well as his leadership qualities.

But though there is little threat to their positions in the playing eleven as of now, the trio knows it better that it is high time for them to perform or make away for youngsters like Manoj Tiwary and Parthiv Patel, who are waiting in the wings for their opportunity.

Talented Rohit Sharma is at last expected to get a match after spending the entire Test series on the sidelines. Apart from Rohit, the middle-order will have Raina, Virat Kohli and Dhoni with Ravindra Jadeja will play the role of an all-rounder.

India's bowling department will be led by Zaheer Khan.

He is expected to have Umesh Yadav and Praveen Kumar for company, even as left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan stands with an outside chance because of his batting abilities and experience of playing in Australian conditions.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to spearhead the spin department in Jadeja's company.

But all said and done, one thing that stands against India is their record in T20 format. — PTI

New Delhi, January 31
The Sports Ministry has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 7.95 crore from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for imparting customised training to elite athletes, who are medal prospects in the London Olympics and other major international sports events.

The financial assistance that will also include air fare has been granted to 45 sportspersons and 12 coaches and support staffs under Operation London Excellence 2012.

Out of this, a sum of Rs 4.21 crore has already been released to the sportspersons. The aid sanctioned is towards extensive training abroad, engagement of personal coaches both foreign and Indian, competitions exposures abroad, scientific back-up in terms of sports psychologists, physiotherapists, masseurs etc.

So far, 18 sportspersons have been given financial assistance from NSDF under OPEX 2012 that include four shooters, eight athletes and six tennis players for training abroad.

In addition, two teams of four male and five female gymnasts were sponsored by NSDF for training while the participation of Indian boxing team in three competitions was also financed from NSDF.

The NSDF assistance in all these cases has been processed after the approval of the Steering Committee for OPEX 2012.

Most of these sportspersons are undergoing training and money will be released in installments after getting statements of accounts, mostly on quarterly basis, and periodical performance report from the institutes/coaches. — PTI 

New Delhi, January 31
Hockey India today announced a 18-member women’s squad for the London Olympic qualifiers, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium from February 18. Led by midfielder Asunta Lakra, the team features most of the players who played in the four-Test series against Azerbaijan early this month.

Joydeep Kaur, who made a comeback in the 32-men probable after recovering from an injury sustained during the Australia tour in 2011, has been retained and will be joined by Jaspreet Kaur and Subhadra Pradhan in the defence line.

Lakra, her deputy Kirandeep Kaur, P Sushila Chanu, Deepika, Ritu Rani and Mukta Prava Barla will mend the midfield during the event which features Canada, Italy, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine, besides India.

Poonam Rani and Anuradha Devi will lead the forward line, which also has Rosaline Dung Dung, Jasjeet Kaur Handa and Vandana Kataria, while Yogita Bali and Savita are the goalkeepers in the final 18.

The team was selected on the basis of performances of the core group probables during the Azerbaijan Series by HI selectors, Olympians Col. Balbir Singh, BP Govinda, Syed Ali and Rekha Bhide and government observers Harbinder Singh and Dilip Tirkey.

The Team: Goalkeepers: Yogita Bali, Savita Defenders: Jaspreet Kaur, Joydeep Kaur, Subhadra Pradhan. Midfielders: P Sushila Chanu, Asunta Lakra, Kirandeep Kaur, Deepika, Ritu Rani, Mukta Prava Barla. Forwards: Poonam Rani, Vandana Kataria, Rani, Soundarya Yendala, Anuradha Devi, Rosaline Dung Dung, Jasjeet Kaur Handa Standbys: Rajani Etimarpu (Goalkeeper), Pinki Devi (Defender), M N Ponnamma (Midfielder), Deep Grace Ekka (Midfielder), Anupa Barla (Forward), Lily Chanu (Forward). — PTI 

Munich, January 31
Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to a Formula One team owner in a nightclub confrontation in China and given an 18-month suspended sentence today.

The Munich district court passed the verdict and the sentence after a two-day trial. The prosecutors had asked for a 21-month suspended sentence. Sutil was also fined $262,200, to be paid to charities.

"The defendant knew that he had this glass in his hand. The glass was moving in an intended direction," judge Christiane Thiemann said in her ruling.

Sutil was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Renault team executive Eric Lux at a party following Lewis Hamilton's victory at the China Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 17. Lux needed two dozen stitches after being cut in the neck by a broken glass.

Sutil, in his final statement before the verdict, apologized once again to Lux and said he had not realized he was still holding the glass in his hand at the time of the incident. — AP

Yangon, January 31
An in-form Rahil Gangjee and Gaganjeet Bhullar will spearhead a 10-strong Indian challenge at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open golf tournament starting here on Thursday.

There will be as many as 10 Indians who will tee up at the $300,000 event, which is the curtain raiser to the 2012 Asian Tour season.

Other Indians in the field include Chiragh Kumar, the PGTI topper in 2011 Order of Merit, Sujjan Singh, the seasoned Gaurav Ghei, Manav Jaini, Digvijay Singh, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Feroz Ali.

Kunal Bhasin, Australian of Indian origin, and the Bangladeshi duo of Shakhawat Sohel and Zamal Mohammed play regularly on the Indian Tour.

Gangjee, who is fresh from three seconds in his last three starts – once each in the PGTI Tour, Asian Tour Q-School and last week's Gujarat Kensville Challenge will be looking to get a win now.

"I have been playing well. It is just a matter of staying in contention and it will ultimately happen," said Gangjee, who lost to German Max Kieffer in the play-off at the European Challenge Tour event. — PTI

New Delhi, January 31
Canada hockey captain Ken Pereira has admitted that it will be extremely tough to beat India at their own backyard in the upcoming Olympic qualifiers to be held here next month.

"Indian side is always a strong team, they always play well at home. We saw them play in the recent Champions challenge and they looked very good. Few new players and a new coach but I am sure they are adjusting well," Pereira told PTI from Canada.

"I am sure they will be ready to play at home, and after missing out on the last Olympics they are very motivated and ready to play," he added. The two-time Olympian Pereira also said though Indian team is a good mix of youth and experience, his side was all prepared to face the hosts.

"Whenever you get to play at home, its great and there may be a small advantage, but it does not mean other teams don't have a chance. I do love the crowd in India as they really get into the games. It makes it very exciting and coming from Canada where the crowds are significantly smaller, its always fun," said the 39-year-old midfielder.

London Olympic qualifiers will be held at Major Dhyanchand Stadium here from February 18 to 26 and feature hosts India, Canada, Italy, Poland, Singapore and France in the men's category. — PTI