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Opening dilemma hits CT squad selection
Knight Riders pin Royals down on a turning track
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BCCI forces re-vote on FICA representative
Promising archer commits suicide at camp
What must Barca do to recapture former glory?
Malhotra to head IOA delegation
Jaidee leads, Shiv rises to ninth
PV Sindhu beat Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand 21-17 21-11 in the semifinal clash. — PTI
No Pakistani players in C’wealth TT
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Opening dilemma hits CT squad selection
Mumbai, May 3 With Sachin Tendulkar’s retirment from the ODIs and Virender Sehwag’s omission due to poor form, Shikhar Dhawan is almost certain to pair with Gautam Gambhir in the opening slot following his breathtaking onslaught against the Australians in his debut Test. When the selection panel, headed by Sandeep Patil, named the list of probables on April 6, two prominent names — Sehwag and senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh — were missing from it. Since then, the two senior cricketers’ form in the ongoing Indian Premier League would have been monitored by the selectors. But they have hardly done anything extraordinary to merit a comeback even though the ICC rules allow for selection outside the probables’ list for the June 6 to 23
tournament. India are to take on the West Indies at the Kennington Oval in London on June 11 and then conclude the four-team group engagement on June 15 against arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka form Group A. The top two teams from each group would progress to the semi-finals scheduled on June 19 and 20 at the Kennington Oval and Sophia Gardens respectively with the winners advancing to the June 23 final to be played at Edgbaston. This would be the first international engagement for the team after the conclusion of Test series. England call Bopara
Ravi Bopara has been recalled for the Champions Trophy as part of England’s 15-man squad. There is also a place for Chris Woakes, the Warwickshire allrounder, while Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann are back after their respective elbow surgeries. Bopara was dropped after the World T20 in Sri Lanka at the end of a difficult period for him which included him withdrawing from the Test squad against South Africa last summer for personal reasons. His batting form faded dramatically towards the latter part of 2012.
— PTI |
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Knight Riders pin Royals down on a turning track Kolkata, May 3 Royals elected to bat first and hoped to put up a big total but all their plans were throttled by the Knights spinners as Sunil Narine (1/20), S Senanayake (2/26) and Iqbal Abdullah (1/22) bowled a tight line. Senanayake scalped Ajinkya Rahane and D Yagnik cheaply. For Royals, Shane Watson began strongly but in the end could make only 35 runs in as many balls with the help of four boundaries. It was yet again Sanju Samson, the last match’s hero, who scored 40 in just 36 balls with the help of one boundary and two sixes to emerge as the top-scorer for Rajasthan Royals. Rahul Dravid, who came in to bat at No. 8, did not get enough time to make an impact and returned unbeaten with just 6 runs against his name. Stuart Binny was his unbeaten partner as Royals ended the innings with 132/6. Rajasthan made 3 changes from the last match, bringing in Brad Hogg in place of Brad Hodge, while Dishant Yagnik and Ankeet Chavan replaced Sreesanth and Ajit Chandila. Knights made two changes, bringing in Sachithra Senanayake and Iqbal Abdulla.
— TNS Scoreboard Rajasthan
Royals Watson lbw b Narine 35 Rahane st Bisla b Senanayake 6
Faulkner c Gambhir b Iqbal 1 Sanju c Kallis b Bhatia 40 Yagnik b
Senanayake 10 Shah b Kallis 24 Binny not out 3 Dravid not out
6 Extras: 7 Total: (6 wkts; 20 ovs) 132 Fall of wickets:
1-20, 2-27,
3-71, 4-83, 5-117, 6-126 Bowling Narwal 2-0-17-0 Senanayake
4-0-26-2 Abdulla 3-0-22-1 Kallis 3-0-25-1 Narine 4-0-20-1 KOLKATA
KNIGHT RIDERS Gambhir st Yagnik b Watson 12 Bisla c Rahane b Chavan
29 Kallis not out 33 Pathan not out 49 Extras: 10 Total:
(2 wkts in
17.2 ovs) 133 Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-55 Bowling Chavan
3-0-28-1 Faulkner 4-0-16-0 Watson 3-0-21-1 Hogg 3.2-0-31-0 Trivedi
3-0-24-0 Binny 1-0-8-0 Hyderabad face Daredevils Two teams which have only recently recovered from poor form will square off when Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad clash with both sides aiming to continue the winning run and stay alive in the event. The match is crucial for both the teams are in the lower half of the points table with Delhi being second last right now. DD have six points from 10 matches, while SH have bagged 12 from the same number of matches. The Sunrisers have enjoyed a dream run at home, winning all the matches played here so far. The lethal bowling of Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Thisara Perera and Karan Sharma has played a crucial role in their victories against some of the formidable teams like Mumbai Indians. Though batting had been an area of concern, it has also shown marked improvement of late with the return of Shikhar Dhawan and West Indies Captain Darren Sammy. — PTI
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BCCI forces re-vote on FICA representative
Chandigarh, May 3 The Indian board had hand-picked former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan as their candidate for the players’ representative on the ICC cricket committee. A report on South African website BDLive said however, that during the election conducted by email where the 10 Test playing nation’s captains voted, a majority of the captains had picked the Australian incumbent Tim May over the Indian veteran cricketer. “In the first instance, it went in favour of Tim May. But, suddenly we faced a situation where Tim May was said to be ‘unacceptable’ by some board and a re-voting was ordered. Some captains were pressured to change their decision and we all know that Tim is not liked by the Indian board. I don’t want to go into the details. But us and some of the countries’ boards wondered what was the reason for the change,” Irish added.
— TNS |
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Promising archer commits suicide at camp
Pune, May 3 Pratima, in her early 20s, was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her hostel room by using her bed sheet. It is learnt that she was suffering from depression from some time. Her colleagues got suspicious as she was absent for the morning session of the national camp for the recurve event and they had gone to look for her. “When her friends went to her room, they found it locked from inside. They opened it and found her hanging from the ceiling fan using her bed sheet,” according to archery sources. The exact reason for Pratima taking the extreme step was not known. Her body has been sent for post mortem. The sources said that the Army Sports Training Centre where Pratima was found hanging did not have women wardens. Since the Archery Association of India has been de-recognised by the Sports Ministry, the camp for the recurve event was being held at Army Sports Training Centre and not at SAI Centre. Pratima was a member of the Indian recurve women’s squad for the 2009 World Cup Stage IV in Shanghai and World Championships in that year. She was earlier a cadet of Tata Archery Academy at Jamshedpur. Meanwhile, Jayanta Boro, President of Assam Archery Association, has shot off letters to AAI, Army authorities in Pune and SAI asking them to investigate into the incident. “It’s a shock for the entire Assam Archery fraternity. She was one of the brightest archers to come out from Kokrajhar,” he said. Olympian Dola Banerjee, who has been training with Pratima at the same training centre here, said she was shocked when she came to know of the incident. “Everything looked normal in morning as she trained with us in the first session till 7am. But she did not turn up in the 9 am session, saying she was not feeling well. We never had a hint that something was amiss. Everything was normal till we got the shocking news,” said Banerjee who was Pratima’s team-mate in the 2009 World Cup Stage IV. “We were like a family here. Nobody should take such an extreme step,” she said. Dola described Pratima as a hard-working and talented archer. “She was extremely hardworking and disciplined. I have competed in so many tournaments with her but never ever had I heard any complaint about her. “She had represented India at all levels — cadet, junior and senior. She started her career with Tata Archery Academy. I know her since her academy days. Later she joined NF Railway.”
— PTI |
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What must Barca do to recapture former glory?
London, May 3 1. Sign a centre-back: As much as they would love to believe otherwise, Carles Puyol is not Benjamin Button. The 35-year-old defender is not getting any younger. He has played only 19 games this season and no one else has the defensive instinct, the organisation, and physical presence in the current group to replace him alongside Gerard Pique. Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany would fit the requirements perfectly but neither wants to leave their current teams and their clubs have no necessity to sell. Real Sociedad’s 21-year-old Inigo Martinez is another being watched and reigniting last year’s interest in Liverpool’s Daniel Agger has not been ruled out. 2. Messi’s wing men: Cries for Barcelona to sign a centre-forward and move Lionel Messi’s position on the pitch ignore the fact that playing there he scored almost 100 goals in 2012 and has 54 this season. But there must be goals either side of him coming from players capable of attacking the space he leaves behind when dropping deep. Players capable of playing through the middle but willing and able to sacrifice themselves starting in wider areas. Neymar will arrive this summer but may take more than a season to adjust. After scoring 18 goals for the B team this season 19-year-old Gerard Deloufeu may also get his chance but is another who might need time. 3. The clear-out: With those returning from loan spells and various youth team players contracted to step up to the senior squad Barcelona’s numbers could swell to 35 players this summer. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta will need to sell before he buys. Striker Villa, midfielder Thiago Alcantara and full-back Adriano as well as unwanted returning loans such as Bojan Krkic and Ibrahim Afellay could all be moved on. If a good bid comes for Alexis Sanchez he will be first through the door after six goals in 36 games this season. 4. Messi dependence: Before Pep Guardiola took over in 2008 Messi was a player forever wrapped in cotton wool. Under Guardiola he played four straight seasons with barely a fortnight out at any one time. He would come back from international duty and take a taxi straight to training before starting the next league game. Guardiola improved diet and preparation and the idea of resting him was taken out of the equation almost as if it was psychologically negative. Post-Pep the old fear has returned – he is back in that grey area of being neither injured, nor fit. He watched Wednesday’s game from the bench as an unused substitute and then trained the day after. Vilanova said after the match that it was not that Messi had been injured, but there was a fear he might get injured. It is a drama that must not be allowed to turn into a crisis. 5. Losing giants: A brief look at the players they have lost across the last four seasons to age, injury, illness or to rival clubs (Yaya Touré, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Seydou Keita, Puyol, Eric Abidal and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic) and the common link is presence on the pitch. They bounced off Bayern in midweek. Now they need to find some characters who will give the team back its attitude. — The Independent
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Malhotra to head IOA delegation
New Delhi, May 3 The other members of the IOA delegation will be: Squash Rackets Federation of India president
N.Ramachandran, who is also the treasurer of the suspended IOA, headed by Abhay Singh
Chautala, Archery Association of India senior vice-president Tarlochan Singh and S. Raghunathan of the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association. Besides the IOA delegation, the meeting will also be attended by Sports Minister Jitendra Singh and Sports Ministry officials. The IOC had suspended the IOA following the conduct of the IOA elections late last year in accordance with the Sports Code of the Ministry, following a direction by the Delhi High Court, which the IOC had felt was in violation of the Olympic Charter, as the Sports Code had impinged on the autonomy of the National Olympic Committee. The IOA sent the names of its delegation members to IOC president Jacques Rogge following an email communication received from the IOC regarding the composition of the IOA delegation for the meeting. “This should be treated as the only official/authorized communication of the IOA regarding the composition of the delegation for the meeting”, Malhotra’s letter to Jacques Rogge has stated. The IOC letter to the
IOA, dated May 2, had asked the “suspended IOA” that “it is expected that the delegation of the suspended IOA represent and reflect the different views of the national sports federations (members of the suspended
IOA) and the Olympic movement in India, and for that purpose, it is expected that the suspended IOA consult, co-ordinate and agree with its member-federations to submit the names of not more than three representatives of the national sports federations (in order to keep a reasonable size for this meeting)”. Interestingly, though IOC member in India Randhir Singh is still being recognized as the secretary-general of the IOA by the IOC, his name does not figure in the IOA list, as he is likely to represent the meeting as an IOC member, thus allowing an additional member in the IOA delegation. It is learnt that the crucial May 15 meeting with the IOC may end the IOA's suspension as both the IOA and the Ministry seem to have come to the understanding that it would be for the good of Indian sports to end India’s isolation from the Olympic movement by tempering down the Sports Code of the Ministry in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Player representative Bindra meets Minister
New Delhi: Beijing Games gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra today met Sports Minister Jitendra Singh here in connection with his participation in the joint meeting with the IOC on May 15 to find a way for India's return to the Olympic movement. On invitation by the government, Bindra will represent the athletes in the meeting among the representatives of the Indian Olympic Association, Sports Ministry and the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. Bindra, who had a 45-minute meeting with the Sports Minister, told reporters that he was proud that he would be representing the athletes in the meeting. "I want the Indian flag flying in the Olympic Games, it's a great feeling. I am proud that I am representing the athletes in the meeting," said Bindra. — PTI
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Jaidee leads, Shiv rises to ninth
Jakarta, May 3 Scott Barr of Australia trails with a 68, a stroke ahead of countryman Wade Ormsby (68). British Open champion Ernie Els (70) headed a group of five at 6 under. “My wife and two sons are here with me this week. My oldest son followed me for nine holes today but my youngest is at the hotel. I’m very happy with my family support. I want to show them that I can play very well,” said Thongchai. Some of the Indians had a better day today than the first round — three of them carded 69 each to move up the leaderboard. Among them was Shiv Kapur, whose 69 took his two-round total to a five-under 139, which was good for a joint ninth position. Also carding a 69 was Rahil Gangjee, who was a stroke behind Kapur at 140, good for a share of the 13th spot. Anirban Lahiri was the third Indian to shoot a 69 today, and his two-round total of 141 put him at the tied 20th position. Kapur began the day with a bogey on the par-four first, but a birdie on the second put him back on track. He followed with five pars in a row before another birdie on the par-four eighth. However, he made the turn at an even-par 36 when he bogeyed the par-five ninth. Kapur had a better return journey when he managed to card a bogey-free last nine. He had birdies on 14th, 15th and 18th holes to finish with a 69. Apart from Kapur, Gangjee and Lahiri, another Indian made the cut — Ajeetesh Sandhu’s first-round 71 stood him in good stead as despite a 75 in the second round, he finished with a two-round 146, at which score the cut was applied. Himmat Singh Rai and Sujjan Singh finished with 147 to miss the cut by a stroke. Abhijit Singh Chadha (148), Shankar Das (149), Chiragh Kumar and C Muniyappa (154 each) were the other Indians in the field. Digvijay Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, who had 73 each in the first round, did not finish the second round. — TNS
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Sindhu wins comfortably to reach Malaysia GP final
New Delhi, May 3 The 17-year-old Indian shuttler, who was in a full flow against the Thai girl, will face fifth seeded Gu Juan of Singapore in the final. Even though she did not have an ideal start in the opening game, Sindhu ultimately stamped her authority by winning a total of 42 points as compared to just 28 won by Taerattanachai. In the first game, Sindhu was trailing throughout and at one stage she was lagging behind her rival by 10-16 margin. But she got her act together to clinch six straight points to level the score at 16-all before surging ahead to open a 19-16 lead. While Taerattanachai could win a point more, Sindhu sealed the game at 17. There was no stopping the Hyderabadi in the second game. She not only opened up a 4-0 lead but kept on increasing the gap to finally close the issue comfortably. — PTI
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No Pakistani players in C’wealth TT
New Delhi, May 3 India will be looking to improve their fairly decent record when they play host at the Thyagaraj Nagar Stadium here from May 5 to 10. India have till now collected six gold, eight silver and 17 bronze medals from the Commonwealth TT Championship, starting with the 1994 championship held in Hyderabad, though India had first hosted the prestigious event in Mumbai in 1982, just before the Asian Games in Delhi. India’s gold rush in the Commonwealth TT started at the 2004 Kuala Lumpur championship when the country bagged gold medals in the men’s and women’s singles events. From then on, India became a force to reckon with in TT in the Commonwealth.
— TNS |
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The probables list features three specialist openers — Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir and — and it would be very surprising if Sehwag makes it as one of the openers. Dhawan starts as the clear favourite since he is good form in the IPL also. Similarly, for the spinners’ slot, there are five claimants in R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ravindra Jadeja, Jalaj Saxena and Parveez Rasool. There are seven middle-order batsmen, four wicketkeepers —including Mahendra Singh Dhoni, — and 10 medium pace bowlers in the probables mix. India and South Africa are scheduled to kick off the contest on June 6 at the Sophia Gardens at Cardiff, Wales in a Group B match. 
