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IPL riches dazzle emerging stars
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Football
Year on, Yuvi relives days of agony
Steyn crushes Pakistan
Rhinos beat Punjab 3-2
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IPL riches dazzle emerging stars
Mumbai, February 4 “To be honest it has not sunk in yet because the Irani Trophy game is round the corner and I am more focused towards that. Hopefully, post that or post to having a good IPL, I can think about the money part. As of now that’s not on my mind,” he said after Mumbai’s practice session. Nayar was bought for $675,000 by Pune Warriors at the auction yesterday, and would be moving over to play for a new franchise in IPL-6 after representing Kings XI Punjab last season. Nayar, who scored over 950 runs in the season for Mumbai, said now that he knows his new team, he can concentrate on his preparations. “I am happy and also relieved. I am very happy where I am. Hopefully I can prove (justify) the amount of trust put in me by playing to my potential.” The left-handed batsman, who also bowls right-arm medium pace, has been a late addition to the India A squad to take on the visiting Australian team in Chennai from February 16-18. “I feel it’s just about going there and proving the selectors right,” he said about his inclusion in the team. Coach tells Kane to remain grounded
Darren Berry will be working hard to ensure the riches of the IPL don’t distract young South Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson. The 21-year-old quickie was the subject of an intense bidding war in the player auction and was bought by Pune Warriors. He will pocket a cool $700,000 for less than two months work, nearly almost twice as much as Australian captain Michael Clarke. The total was the second-most for any Australian player, bettered by all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who went for $1 million. Berry is happy that Richardson has got the money, but he also believes that this sort of money for a young player is not really a good thing. Berry was part of the IPL with the Rajasthan Royals, and knows that it’s easy to get carried away in the IPL. “You can’t control the IPL money, so great stuff for the kid, but he’s got to keep his feet on the ground and understand where he’s going rather than get distracted by the bright lights,” Berry warned. “One minute he was taking 0/43 in club cricket — working on his action to get himself ready for selection for Saturday — three hours later he had $700,000 on his head. It’s an extraordinary world we live in.” Richardson called Berry after the auction, to thank him for the support and to reiterate his commitment to South Australian cricket. “We’ve got a big picture, we’ve got the Ryobi Cup and the Shield and we’re a chance to play in both finals and he’s going to be a significant part of that,” Berry said. “He said, ‘Don’t worry, that’s going to be my focus’ — so he was very level-headed in the way that he handled it. “But I’ve seen people go to the IPL and get caught up in the bright lights — it’s another world.” Berry followed the auction online and couldn’t believe some of the prices being thrown around. “Glenn Maxwell, on what he’s achieved, is not worth $1 million in my opinion. It’s inflated, overrated. It’s important to have good people around these people to keep them grounded,” he said. “There’s no rhyme or reason that Phillip Hughes goes for $100,000 and Glenn Maxwell goes for a million. It does not equate . . . it almost becomes an egotistical battle between the franchises.” The bidding war that his name triggered at the auction left Chris Morris’ head spinning. “I have never in my life seen this much money,” said Morris, who was bought for $625,000 by the Chennai Super Kings, 31 times more than his base price of $20,000. Morris was sought by the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore as well but they were outbid by CSK. Morris followed the auction on his iPad and was amazed to see the interest in him. “Neil McKenzie had a little joke with me when it got to $450,000 but nobody could believe what was happening,” Morris said.
— Agencies |
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Huge ring of fixing in Champions League, World Cup dug up
The Hague, February 4 A joint inquiry by Europol, the European anti-crime agency, and national prosecutors has identified about 680 suspicious matches including qualifying games for the World Cup and European Championships, and for the Champions League for European club sides, Europol head Rob Wainwright said. The matches, some of which have already been subject to successful criminal prosecutions, were played between 2008 and 2011. About 380 of the suspicious matches were played in Europe, and a further 300 were identified in Africa, Asia, and south and central America. Football is the world’s most popular sport, watched by billions live and on television around the globe and making huge profits for some clubs and broadcasters. Last year the head of an anti-corruption watchdog estimated that $1 trillion was gambled on sport each year - or $3 billion a day - with most coming from Asia and put on football matches. A German investigator described a network involving couriers ferrying bribes around the world, paying off players and referees in the fixing which involved about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries. “We have evidence for 150 of these cases, and the operations were run out of Singapore with bribes of up to 100,000 euros paid per match,” said Friedhelm Althans, chief investigator for police in the German city of Bochum, said. Investigators said no names of players or clubs would be released while the investigation proceeded. However, the fixing also included top flight national league matches in several European countries, as well as two Champions League matches, including one played in Britain. Singapore police said last month that they were helping Italian authorities to investigate alleged match fixing involving a Singaporean, but said he had not been arrested or charged with any offence there. Althans said that, though German police had concrete proof of 8 million euros ($11 million) in gambling profits from the match fixing, this was probably the tip of the iceberg. Investigators described how gang members immediately subordinate to the Singapore-based leader of a worldwide network were each tasked with maintaining contacts with corrupt players and officials. Laszlo Angeli, a Hungarian prosecutor, gave an example of how the scam worked. “The Hungarian member, who was immediately below the Singapore head, was in touch with Hungarian referees who could then attempt to swing matches at which they officiated around the world,” he said. Accomplices would then place bets on the internet or by phone with bookmakers in Asia, where bets that would be illegal in Europe were accepted. “One fixed match might involve up to 50 suspects in 10 countries on separate continents,” said Althans. “Even two World Cup qualification matches in Africa, and one in Central America, are under suspicion,” Althans added. Tough To Fix
“World Cup qualifying matches are tough to fix as a general rule, since the World Cup is the biggest event for teams and above all players,” he said. “We’re obviously still keeping a very close eye but as yet there have been no suspicions of fixing.” Althans said there was a need to coordinate match fixing legislation around Europe. “In many countries, including Germany, fixing a match only becomes a crime if you then place a bet on the outcome,” he said, adding that proving a bet had been placed was often difficult. Last year Chris Eaton, director of Sport Integrity at the International Centre for Sport Security, an anti-corruption watchdog, gave the $1 trillion estimate for global sports gambling.
— Reuters |
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Year on, Yuvi relives days of agony
New Delhi, February 4 But over the next 12 months, it was a long and terrible journey—but a courageous one at that. In the end, he not only conquered cancer, but also regained his passion for cricket, of yore. And he returned to the India team sooner than expected. But he has now realized that adulations, high days and high life are all tenuous. “Life is more than a sport”, he admits now. Yet, when he looks back at those painful months, when he watches video clippings of the terrible pain he endured while undergoing chemotherapy sessions in a hospital in the United States, Yuvraj Singh gets a lump in his throat. He shed silent tears as video clippings of his treatment ordeal was replayed in the presence of a select gathering of cancer patients, survivors and those on the road to recovery at a function held to mark the World Cancer Day at Gurgaon today. But even in those hopeless days, he maintained his positivity, to keep his hopes alive. And he never lost his sense of humour, either. He learnt a vital lesson in those trying days that there will be “no gain without pain”. And all through that treatment phase, his mother Sabnam Singh, close friends and family, and millions of his fans stood by him, prayed for him, to enable him get back on his feet. “Without my mom, I could not have survived. I was crying all the time, but mom never cried. She would only run away from the room when I took injections on my stomach”. Yuvi said he was lucky to meet the right doctors, timely detection of his cancer and get the right treatment. “But millions of Indians are not so lucky and I wanted to do something for them, leading to the setting up of YOUWECAN—a non-profit organization that generates awareness and facilitates early detection of cancer. “This is something very close to my heart, something I want to give to the society”, Yuvi explained. But the ordeal widened his world, and now he has a greater capacity to laugh. Even when he was losing his thick mane due to chemotherapy, his weight was losing rapidly, he never lost his sense of humour. In fact, he used to banter his mother that he would get married after recovering from the decease. “But now mom says that she is not that old, and I can marry only when she gets grey hair!”. The remark created a cascade of laughter, with both mother and son joining the fun. But Sabanam playfully rebuked the anchor for replaying the videos of Yuvi’s painful treatment. “You made my boy cry”. She said it was a tough journey ‘but I take a lot of inspiration from him, for never giving up”. “I am very proud of you for being your mother. Every day, you make me proud”, the mother said tenderly. |
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India, Lanka eves in must-win game
Mumbai, February 4 With all the teams in Group A having won a match each, the hosts would try to keep their dreams afloat in the series, by winning the crucial league game tomorrow, if they want to qualify for the knock out stages. A record opening wicket stand of 175 between India’s first-ever World Cup centurion Murugesan Tirushkamini and Poonam
Raut, set up a huge total for the hosts to defend against the Caribbean island side in the first game and India would hope the openers provide them a good platform, after they missed out against England. With vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur notching up her maiden century (unbeaten 107) in the previous game, India’s middle order would be bolstered, though other players would have to pitch in to support her. India has maintained a clean sheet against Sri Lanka in their 17 matches so far, winning 16 of them, while one was a no result. However, India are in no mood to take their neighbours lightly.
— Agencies Squads India: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (VC), Ekta Bisht, Amita Dass, Jhulan Goswami, Karuna Jain, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Thirushkamini Murugesan, Sulakshana Naik, Niranjan Nagarajan, Rasnara Parwin, Poonam Raut, Shubh Lakshmi Sharma, Gouher Sultana Sri Lanka: Shashikala Siriwardena (captain), Sandamali Dolawatta (VC), Chamari Attapaththu, Eshani Lokusooriya, Lasanthi Madushani, Dilani Manodara, Yasoda Mendis, Udeshika Prabodani, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Deepika Rasangika, Sherina Ravikumar, Chamani Senevirathne, Prasadini Weerakkody, Sripali Weerakkody
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Steyn crushes Pakistan
Johannesburg, February 4 Having set Pakistan an improbable 480-run victory target, South Africa bowled them out for 268 in their second innings, the new ball doing the trick as the visitors lost their final six wickets for 59 runs before the lunch break. Steyn picked up five second innings wickets to finish with 11 for 60, his fifth 10-wicket haul which also earned him the man-of-the-match award. In a match of records, South African wicketkeeper AB de Villiers equalled Englishman Jack Russell’s world best of 11 dismissals in a test that came in the same ground in 1995. Pakistan had added 26 runs to their total in the morning session before the first wicket fell. Steyn got a delivery to nip away from Asad Shafiq. and the edge was pouched low.
— Reuters SCOREBOARD SA 1st inngs: 253 Pak 1st inngs: 49 SA 2nd inngs: 275-3 d Pak 2nd inngs (overnight 183-4) Hafeez c Villiers b Philander 2 Jamshed c Peterson b Steyn 46 Ali lbw Kallis 18 Younis c Villiers b Morkel 15 Misbah c Villiers b Steyn 64 Shafiq c Kallis b Steyn 56 Ahmed b Philander 6 Umar c De Villiers b Steyn 23 Saeed c Villiers b Morkel 11 Junaid lbw Steyn 9 Rahat not out 3 Extras: 15 Total: (all out; 100.4 ov) 268 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-64, 3-70, 4-82, 5-209, 6-210, 7-218,8-240, 9-261 Bowling: Steyn 28.4-10-52-5, Philander 22-3-60-2, Morkel 25-7-89-2, Kallis 15-5-35-1, Peterson 10-3-24-0
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I have added pace, variations: Dhawal
Mumbai, February 4 “I have worked more on my fitness, worked hard in the nets. The aim before the season was to bowl at a consistent pace which was not there earlier and I worked on that. I wanted to increase pace and that’s what I did,” said the 24-year-old bowler. “When I was bowling, it was like a one-way traffic for the last two three years. I have developed two-three variations in my bowling which has helped,” he said. Kulkarni also credited Sachin for the tips he gave. “Before the semifinal he (Sachin) worked on my bowling, (as he) stood watching during the net session. There were minor mistakes, like the position of the wrist, which we rectified.” said Kulkarni Agarkar to miss tie
Mumbai will be without captain Ajit Agarkar because of a groin injury. Abhishek Nayar will be the captain in his absence.
— Agencies |
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Rhinos beat Punjab 3-2
Jalandhar, February 4 With pressure building, the Rhino's defence started committing mistakes. In the dying minutes of the first half, Simon Orchard successfully dribbled the ball through left-flank and served Kieran Govers.The latter, with no mistake, pushed the ball over the goal line to make it 1-0, in the 34th minute. A minute after, the Rhino's counterattacked and attained their first penalty corner of the game. Substitute Justin Reid Ross reduced the margin to 2-1 after successfully defeating goalkeeper Stockmann. Rhinos soon levelled the score through youngster Mandeep Singh, who brilliantly collected a pass by Austin Smith and placed it in the nets to put the score at par in the 58th minute. With climax yet to come, Justin played a real hero for the visiting side and put his team ahead with his second goal of the match. Taking full advantage of the penalty corner, he defeated Stockmann to seal the match at 3-2 with two-minutes left on the match clock. |
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Mumbai’s leading run-getter of the season, Abhishek Nayar, is focused on the Irani Cup game against the Rest of India, commencing on February 6, and is not exactly celebrating the steep price of Rs 3.5 crore that he commanded at the IPL auction.
“To be honest it has not sunk in yet because the Irani Trophy game is
round the corner and I am more focused towards that. Hopefully, post
that or post to having a good IPL, I can think about the money part. As
of now that’s not on my mind,” he said after Mumbai’s practice
session.
World football’s governing body FIFA issued a statement pointing to quotes from its Director of Security, Ralf Mutschke, before a match-fixing conference in Rome last month.