Brisbane, March 3
Outplayed on the field and dogged by persistent reports of a rift in the team, the demoralised and jaded Indian cricketers left for home today after the worst tour of Australia in the last 45 years.

As soon as Sri Lanka pipped Australia at the post in Melbourne last night, the Indian players started making their reservation plans to return home after a long and grueling tour during which most of the players struggled to perform.

The players with bases in Mumbai and south India -- Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and the entire support staff -- took a morning flight to Singapore where they would board respective connecting flights to Mumbai and Chennai.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar and Rahul Sharma left Brisbane this afternoon, again for Singapore where they would take the flight to Delhi.

Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel, with bases in Gujarat, will leave for home tomorrow.

The Indians were not exactly glued in front of their TV screens yesterday to watch the outcome of the Australia-Sri Lanka match which the latter won by nine runs in the final over.

The Indians were whitewashed 0-4 in the Test series and won just three matches, tied one and lost four during the subsequent tri-series which had Sri Lanka and Australia as the two other teams.

The last time the Indians suffered a 0-4 whitewash on Australian soil was in 1967-68. Twice they had lost a five-match series 0-4 in Australia -- in 1947-48 and 1991-92.

This was the third whitewash Down Under.

As the crucial Australia-Sri Lanka match was going on in Melbourne, a few Indian cricketers wandered around in the market while a small group had dinner together. Only a few hooked themselves in front of television screens last night.

India had raised hopes for making it to the finals of the one-day series with an astonishing chase of 321 in 36.4 overs against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval, Hobart earlier this week.

The Indians had finally liberated themselves on an otherwise suffocating three-month trip to Australia during which they were blanked 4-0 in the Test series and claimed just two matches in the triangular series. — PTI

Brisbane, March 3
A woeful India out of the equation, Australia and Sri Lanka will battle it out in best-of-three finals with the spirited islanders well-equipped to upstage the hosts in the summit clashes starting on Sunday.

Mahela Jayawardene and his men have beaten Australia in three straight games and what's more, have bowled them out thrice which should matter more now that the first final is on a pacy and bouncy strip.

Lasith Malinga is obviously the spearhead of Lankan ambitions and his slinging action has claimed 14 scalps so far in the tournament.

He recorded his series best of 4/49 on Friday to secure a thrilling nine-run win for his team in Melbourne and a passage to the finals.

Nuwan Kulasekara has been a source of strength at the other end with nine victims at an economy rate of 4.89 in the tournament.

Angelo Mathews (7) and Thisara Perera (9) have been more than adequate support at the other end though the latter will not be there on Sunday due to injury suffered in Friday's match.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been outstanding with his economy rate of 4.17 in six matches even though he has had no more than three wickets. He conceded 43 runs in his 10 overs for the wicket of James Pattinson in Melbourne.

Sri Lanka's strength has been the solidity of their top order with all the top four looking more than good with the bat.

Young Dinesh Chandimal has been in fine nick with 383 runs at 63.83 average and a strike rate of 82.36. Every second innings of his in the tournament have been a score in excess of 50 runs.

Jayawardene's move to the top as an opener has been a masterstroke for his side. The Sri Lankan captain failed in the last match but he still has 297 runs at 42.42 average and a tremendous strike rate of 87.86.

Kumar Sangakkara has slowly picked up the threads and has 308 runs at 38.50. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has played the highest knock of the tournament -- a mammoth 160 against India at Bellerive Oval, Hobart where he carried his bat through.

Sri Lankans are also blessed with athletic fielding. Dilshan has been outstanding inside the ring and a few of the catches effected have been breathtaking -- like David Warner's catch at short cover and Sachithra Senanayake's low catch off his own bowling on Friday.

The aggressive and imaginative captaincy of Jayawardene has also been the talking point of this tournament.

The Australians, on the other hand, haven't been able to break the shackles imposed by the Lankans in this triangular series. David Warner and Matthew Wade have been a disappointing presence at the top, scoring 195 and 214 runs at 24.37 and 26.75 average. Their best opening stand has been 70 against India at this very venue. The innings has often been redeemed by David Hussey who tops the list with 412 runs at an average of 82.40 and a whopping strike rate of 104.56. — PTI

Brisbane, March 3
Sri Lankan cricketers, who have punched much above their weight by reaching the finals of the ongoing ODI triseries by ousting India, will not get a single penny for these matches even after the release of their outstanding payments dating back to last year's World Cup.

Sri Lanka's cricketers are set to get more than more than $5 million in outstanding payments but that won't cover the money they ought have made for the ongoing triseries also featuring Australia.

The general secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association, Ken de Alwis, told the 'Sydney Morning Herald' that payments are set to transferred to players' accounts by Monday.

"We are concerned the full contractual terms have not been met by the cricket board, which we are not happy with. Under the circumstances, being paid up till January 31 is good enough for now," De Alwis said.

Meanwhile, Australian Cricketers Association is fighting a battle of its own with Cricket Australia to ensure good contracts for the players.

"We think it's a model that has been set up for players to go backwards. Let's just say the benchmark they've set is considerably higher than our historical record in all three forms," ACA chief Paul Marsh said. — PTI

New Delhi, March 3
Sports Minister Ajay Maken had expressed his surprise at Hockey India’s decision to select 48 probables for the Olympic hockey preparatory camp, even though only 34 players had been called for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament coaching camp, when he came to watch the Delhi leg of the World Series Hockey (WSH) between Delhi Wizards and Karnataka Lions at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here last night.

Maken also added in good measure that he was in favour of WSH as it was providing a platform for the players, and Hockey India’s move to stonewall the national campers from participating in the cash-rich league, which has got more sponsors than many major sports events, has not gone down well with other well wishers of Indian hockey, including former Sports Minister Dr M.S.Gill.

And now, WSH has started cracking the whip against players who backed out of the league, after signing the “Player Agreement” on December 20, 2010 with Nimbus Communications Ltd, the promoters of the WSH.

Shivendra Singh, who played a pivotal role in the forward line to help India qualify for the London Olympics in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, has been served a notice by the WSH, dated 28 February, for “breach of contract” after agreeing to “provide services as hockey player for the World Series Hockey (the “League”) for 3 seasons”. (Shivendra is among the 48 probables for the Olympic camp, who have been banned from playing in the WSH by Hockey India).

“You are hereby formally notified in accordance with Clause 13.6 of the agreement that the Agreement has been assigned by Nimbus to World Series Hockey Private Ltd (WSH)”.

The notice further states: “In accordance with the Agreement, you have been paid the amount of Indian rupees one lakh (including tax deductions) as advance payment of your Player Fee.

“In breach of your contractual agreement, you have failed to report for and participate in the league’s training camp on 19 February, 2012.

The agreement clearly requires you to report punctually for and participate in all designated training camps, training sessions and squad or team meetings during the availability period (i.e 1st October 2011 to 30th April, 2012) (see schedule of the agreement).

It has also come to our attention that you are seeking to renege on your obligation to participate in the League”.

Shivendra has been warned that the WSH will be “constrained to take appropriate action” for his decision “not to play in the league” which would “constitute fundamental and material breach of the agreement for which the WSH will be entitled to pursue all available remedies against you”.

According to sources, the World Series Hockey has also not paid the promised amount of Rs 5 lakhs to the Indian team for winning the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Delhi, to book their berth for the London Olympics, after missing the Beijing Olympics for years ago.

Chandigarh, March 3
It seemed even the presence of a big audience failed to boost the home team of Chandigarh Comets in their match against Cheenai Cheetahs at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.

The home team tasted their second defeat in their match of World Series Hockey (WSH) Championship here. The team compromising of young players playing under guidance of experienced players like Rehan Butt and Bharat Chikarra failed to catch the eye.

On other hand Imran Warsi was the star of the day. He scored three goals out of his four penalty corner attempts for the Cheenai Cheetas to defeat the home team 5-2.

Giving an early shock to the home team penalty corner specialist and full-back of Chennai Chetas, Imran Warsi opened the account in the 7th minute of the game after converting the penalty corner.

On other hand, after missing a chance to score the lead in his first match against Shere-E-Punjab, Adam Sillicar today doubled the lead after diverting a pass by Jospeh Reardon, over the goal line in the 9th minute move the score to 2-0.

Soon after the start of second quarter, Imran Warsi struck again in the 22nd minute through a penalty corner and took the score to 3-0 but the home team reduced the margin through rolling substitute Ramandeep Singh , who made it 3-1 in the 26th minute by scoring a field goal.

With three minutes left for the second half , the Cheetas got two penalty corners but in the absence of Imran Warsi, the team failed to add goals to their camp. On other hand, showing his class Rehan Butt took full advantage of a mistake committed by defender Sunil in the 36th minute and took the score to 3-2. The home team again got a chance to reduce the margin but stopper Ranjodh Singh failed to take full advantage of the penalty corner just before the end of third quarter.

Chandigarh, March 3
More than 100 amateur golfers from the city got a chance to compete with star golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar, the official brand ambassador of Mercedes, at the Chandigarh qualifier of Mercedes Trophy at the Panchkula Golf Course on Saturday.

This is the 12th edition of Mercedes Trophy in India. In India qualifying rounds are being held in 10 cities - Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi,

Chandigarh, Kolkata & Bangalore. Chandigarh qualifier is the only event where amateurs got to compete with Gaganjeet Bhullar in “closest-to-the-pin contest”. Out of 108 amateur golfers who participated, 12 amateurs were able to win “Beat the Pro” event against Gaganjeet.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhullar said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the day competing against keen amateurs some of whom gave me a tough fight. The amateurs expressed the same zeal to win that drives professionals to the golf course every day”.

The four winners from the city will participate in the national final to be held on April 13-14, 2012 in Delhi.

The four winners are: YS Bains (nett score of 69.6), Bhupinder Singh Sr (nett score of 70), Anurag Chopra (nett score 70.8) and Sandeep Palta (nett score 70.8).

The three winners at the national final will participate in the Mercedes Trophy World Finals at Stuttgart, Germany against winners from all over the world.

Chandigarh, March 3
Chandigarh Health And Wellness Association (CHAWA) held a successful Beat the Pro charity golf tournament sponsored by Alchemist, Shipra World and Citi Bank, at the CGC here on Saturday.

Over 46 gofers participated in the tournament which was held to raise resources for increasing the awareness in surrounding areas, and also helping in diagnosis and treatment of poor and needy patients with rheumatological diseases in general and systemic vasculitides in particular at PGIMER.

Jeev Milkha Singh participated in the tournament and gave an opportunity to those taking part to beat his shot at hole no.3. Col KS Thandi, Col HS Chehal and RPS Mann were able to beat his shot.

Following are the prize winners of tournament supervised by Jessi Grewal: Varinder Kumar (closest to pin), Dr Satbir (winner), Selipe Solis (runners-up), Justice MMS Bedi (2nd runners-up).

The prizes were given away by Jeev Milkha Singh. Jeev praised the PGIMER for its contribution to the ailing society of the region. He affirmed his continuous support to CHAWA in the future.

Jagdeep Singh Cheema, President (CHAWA), said further efforts will continued to be made to raise more resources.

Patiala, March 3
These days when minor ailments takes a toll on people making them feel handicapped, city resident Bant Singh not only won his battle for life but created a name for him in the field of sports. Having getting his lung removed at PGI, Chandigarh, almost 10 years back after many hospitals in New Delhi refused to operate him stating that it might be risky for his life, veteran athlete Bant Singh has not proved various doctors wrong but also won numerous national and international medals in Master Athletics Championships.

Talking to The Tribune on reaching the city after winning a silver medal during the 33rd Master National Athletic Championship recently, Bant Singh, who is currently working in Diesel Motor Works, Patiala, said he was delighted over his achievement. "I had never even thought about entering into the field of sports. After I was operated, the doctors advised me to remain fit and ensure that there were no lapses on my part. So, I made brisk walk a daily routine and within a couple of months, I started feeling much better. After that, I noticed that my stamina had really improved and i started training for long distance races. To my amazement, I started clocking timings that were good to win medals in national-level mater championships and that's how I took up athletics," he added.

Throwing light on his achievements, Bant Singh said that he had won various positions in past 10 years, including four international medals. "I won two medals during Indo-Pak-UK Master Athletics Championship and two bronze medals during Inter-National Veterans Athletics Championship and Inter-National Delhi half marathon.

Colombo, March 3
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been dropped from Sri Lanka's 14-member squad for the Asia Cup, to be held in Dhaka from March 11 to 22. Off-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna will take Herath's place in the squad, to be led by Mahela Jayawardene. Apart from Herath, pacers Dhammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara, who were part of the Sri Lankan squad for the ongoing tri-series in Australia, have also been dropped from the Asia Cup-bound team.