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Special coverage
Sudhir-Bashir forging Indo-Pak partnership
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Baz sets up a comfortable win vs Netherlands
Sehwag to go IPL way to win back place in Team India
Gavaskar briefed on IPL
MSD mum on quitting as CSK skipper
Anand sets up Carlsen clash
BSF win Dashmesh Hawks hockey title Sindhu all set to renew rivalry against Shixian Wang
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Special coverage
GOOGLE, R Ashwin, Saeed Ajmal and Sunil Narine and look up for their images in action. You will find one notable difference between the pictures of the Indian spinner and his counterparts from Pakistan and West Indies — the Indian offie will be seen in half sleeves while the other two will be full-sleeved in almost every frame. If you are wondering what the point is, Ashwin broke it down to basics for everyone's benefit while explaining why he opted for a Narine-like action in the recently held Asia Cup. “I want to do something different. Unless you try, you don't find out what can work. I'd never bowled in full-sleeves before, so I wanted to see how it would feel,” he said. “And I just wanted to see if you can get more revs on the ball if you can do a little bit with your elbow, as much as that is. That's what it was all about. You can get a lot of advantage with these things. So why should I lag behind if someone else is getting a competitive edge?” That's about as much direct as one could get on the tricky issue. Whether he was gunning for someone or just got a little carried away by another question on his action, which raked up quite a storm when he made the switch, only he would know. Anyhow, it was quite a comment to make at a time when there's already enough trouble brewing off the field, and courting a controversy would be the last thing on the mind of the team. Or maybe the fabulous run in the T20 World Cup, with spinners in the middle of a purple patch, had emboldened the off-spinner to stir what could turn out to be a hornet's nest. Apart from this off-the-cuff comment, everything else on the day pointed towards India looking really determined to give themselves the best chance to lift the T20 World Cup. Despite having made the semis already, which leaves their last game against Australia on Sunday of mere academic interest, and Saturday being the optional practice session, the entire squad showed up for a long training session. Much of the energy during the training session was directed towards giving Yuvraj Singh, who's still searching for some sort of form, to help him regain his touch, so much so that the skipper took it upon himself to give him throw-downs. That also suggested that there won't be any tinkering with at least the batting line-up in the game against Australia on Sunday. Off the field, the focus seemed to be on presenting themselves as one happy group, devoted to the job at hand. When asked what was keeping the team focussed in such tumultuous times, MS Dhoni put it down to a positive and amiable environment in the team. “A good dressing room atmosphere, having belief in yourself and enjoying each other's success, you can put everything down to it,” he said. “A lot of things happen around cricket but you have to be focussed when you are representing your country. That is one thing this team has done really well,” said the skipper.
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Sudhir-Bashir forging Indo-Pak partnership
Mirpur, MARCH 29 Having seen Sudhir Kumar and Mohammed Bashir, perhaps the biggest fans of Indian and Pakistan cricket teams, at “work”, it's difficult to picture them together outside the stadium. "It's nothing like that… we love the sport and want our team to win. He plays his role, I do mine,” said Bashir, as the duo sat down for dinner in a hotel in Mirpur. “I invited him over for dinner and a casual chat. We are both hoping for an India-Pakistan final, it will be awesome if that happens,” said the 58-year-old Karachi-born Bashir, who now runs a restaurant in Chicago.
From a distance, it might look the two super fans are having a time of their life. They of course love what they do but it's not easy following the team around. “It's tough to show up for almost every match India play, but I try to make it to as many as I can. Some people think players help me out, but it's not like that… I don't take money from any of them. I just get a pass from the team which Sachin sir continues to arrange for me. Other than that I am pretty much on my own,” says Sudhir, who hails from Bihar. “I had just Rs 4,000 when I came to Dhaka. I had planned to cycle down but the person I had requested for a cycle refused at the last minute and I had to take the bus; much of the money went in buying the ticket. Now I barely have enough to get back home,” said Sudhir. Money may not be an issue for Bashir but he has his share of problems to deal with. “I have high blood pressure, am diabetic and have had a heart-attack already. I literally live on medicines, and my family is always on tenterhooks when I am away. Whenever I check into a hotel, I brief the hotel about my condition and instruct them to check on me at particular hours,” said Bashir. And that's not all. Sometimes they are heckled by the crowd. "A few days back I had a harrowing experience. When the Bangladesh Cricket Association banned carrying flags into the stadium, the crowd heckled me for coming in my usual all-green attire, and some even abused me," said Bashir. With all these problems, is it worth the trouble? Utterances like “love of the game” and “passion of their life” won't convince a rational mind, but that's the last thing on their minds. And even as one struggles to find a shred of logic in their pursuit, they are already busy making plans for their next excursion. “I want to go for the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. I can't manage it on my own. I will talk to Sachin sir, and I am sure he will help me out,” says Sudhir. “You don't worry, I've already booked a room in New Zealand. Just get there, and you can stay with me,” says Bashir. Good luck.
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Baz sets up a comfortable win vs Netherlands
Chittagong, March 29 The Dutch captain made his highest T20 score of 49 and Cooper scored 40 not out during their invaluable 60-run stand for the fourth wicket off just 35 balls. Borren hit seven boundaries and a six off 35 balls to improve on his previous best T20 score of 38 not out that he made against Afghanistan at Sharjah last year. Cooper knocked two sixes and four boundaries off 23 balls to help his team add 43 in the last five overs. The Netherlands were off to a steady 34-run start with opener Stephan Myburgh hitting a boundary and a six before he holed out to paceman Trent Boult, who replaced Tim Southee in the team.
Netherlands skipper Peter Borren said, “It was a reasonably comfortable chase for NZ. Saying that it wasn't the easiest wickets to start on. Brendon got them through, but if we'd got him early something could have happened. [Batting circumspectly] I don't really know how to do that myself, I just play a lot of hockey shots. The bowling was decent, but we may have bowled a little too full tonight. Obviously, we've competed alright, but we were not favourite to win it.” — Agencies
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Sehwag to go IPL way to win back place in Team India
New Delhi, MARCH 29 But, of late, the runs have dried up, even in the domestic arena, and the shot selection has become questionable. For more than a decade, Sehwag ruled the batting charts and made mincemeat of opposition bowlers, but the bespectacled 35-year-old ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ now cuts a sorry
figure. It's been more than a year since Sehwag last played an international game and the out-of-favour India opener was candid enough to accept that he had not scored enough runs to win back the confidence of the national selectors. “Last season was not good for me. I did not score enough runs. My job was to play well and score runs, but unfortunately, runs off my bat just dried up,” Sehwag told reporters here. Sehwag was right in his self-assessment — he averaged 19.50 from 13 innings, with a highest of 56 against Vidarbha, in the Ranji Trophy. He failed to convert starts and looked confused about his place in the batting order too, having batted at different positions in the middle-order before returning to opening the innings. Sehwag knows a good show for Kings XI Punjab in IPL-7 can open the doors for his selection to the Indian team. “I know if I do well in the IPL, I may get a chance to come back in the national team,” he said. Sehwag was speaking at a programme to launch the U-14 cricket league for boys in the NCR region. Sehwag, who had last played for India in a Test match against Australia in March 2013, refused to set a time-frame for his return to the national side. "It's not my job; it's the duty of the selectors. What I know is that I have to score runs to get back into the side,” he said. “I was never low on confidence even when I was not scoring. It's just bad days which every player has to experience in his career,” he said. Sehwag recently showed a glimpse of his daredevilry when he scored a century for Marylebone Cricket Club against English county side Durham in Abu Dhabi this week. |
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Gavaskar briefed on IPL
New Delhi, March 29 “I had a meeting with
Ranjib Biswal — Chairman, IPL, and the management staff, in Dubai,
earlier today. They briefed me on the various aspects related to the IPL
2014, and updated me on the current status of this year’s season,
which will commence on 16 April 2014 in the UAE,” Gavsakar said in a
statement. Handed over the reins of BCCI for IPL-7 by the Supreme Court
yesterday, Gavaskar is confident of hosting a successful event. He said,
“I am confident that the upcoming season of the IPL 2014 will be a
successful one.” The BCCI already has a proper set-up in place for
running the IPL and there had been speculation about what role Gavaskar
would play during the league. Gavaskar had earlier said he will “give
it his best shot” while discharging duties during the T20 league. —
PTI |
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MSD mum on quitting as CSK skipper
Mirpur, March 29 While the skipper made it clear that he won't take any questions outside World T20, he did say that the key to success in trying conditions depends on team members. While the media manager had said that Dhoni will come only if India loses any match, the skipper was there at the scheduled press meet. He ducked a question on whether talks about him wanting leaving captaincy were true or not. “I won't answer that. (Will answer questions) Only on World T20. Forty minutes ka flight hain, India jaake puch lena na (It's only a 40-minute flight back to India. Ask me there),” Dhoni said. The skipper also did not put too much thought into India qualifying for the semis for the first time since 2007.
— PTI |
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Anand sets up Carlsen clash Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), March 29 The win gives Anand the winner's cheque of 135000 Euros and the right to a match against Magnus Carlsen who dethroned the Indian champion at Chennai in November last. It was a marathon against Karjakin and the rest day did Anand a world of good. The Indian held on to his own in the endgame that lasted more than five and a half hours. The draw helped Anand reach eight points and he benefitted from the biggest upset in the tournament when top seed Levon Aronian of Armenia lost to lowest ranked Dmitry Andreikin of Russia. On a day that saw Vladimir Kramnik avenging his earlier loss in the tournament against Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan played out a draw with Russian Peter Svidler to seal the fate in Anand's favour irrespective of the results tomorrow. With Anand on eight points, Karjakin, Kramnik, Mamedyarov, Andreikin and Aronian are now 6.5 points each. Peter Svidler stand seventh on six points while Topalov reamined on 5.5 to fill the last place. In the last round Anand meets Svidler and a draw is a likely result as the Indian will play with white pieces. In the game against Karjakin, Anand equalised quite easily with the Queen's Gambit declined and had no troubles whatsoever in finding a thematic pawn sacrifice that made his position easier to play. However, while trying to work out the right path, Anand erred slightly and faced a difficult but possible defence when he parted with two pieces for Karjakin's rook. The ensuing endgame was easier for Karjakin and the defence was not easy, yet Anand kept finding the right moves and obtained a passed pawn on the king side that proved vital. Karjakin was aware at this point that the fight was over but he played on till 91 moves before signing the peace treaty.
— PTI
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Incredible comeback ensures draw in EurAsia Cup Chandigarh, March 29 It was a proud moment for the two Indians on the team, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar. Lahiri, who was all square after the 15th, showed his class and won the 16th and 17th holes to record a two-up victory in his match against Victor Dubuisson, while Bhullar defeated Thorbjorn Oleson comfortably, finishing the day at four-up with three to play. "Today from tee number one, I was just so positive. I was ready to take on anybody, and I guess that’s what we guys needed today, and all the points, the seven points, they were very important," said an ecstatic Gaganjeet. Lahiri, whose pressure-packed putt yesterday changed the momentum for Asia added, "We had everything to gain. All the boys, everybody in the team, really wanted to prove a point. A lot of people wrote us off. I was reading a lot in the media and there was a lot of backlash. But I think all of us found that strength deep within us to come back and show them that, you know, we are golfers as well. Everybody puts European golf up there, and I think it’s time that Asian golf gets the credit we should get." Content with their performance, he summed it up by saying, "I think most players do aspire to play in America and in Europe, but as you can see, we are not doing too badly here in Asia either." Asian skipper Thongchai Jaidee led by example, beating Graeme McDowell three-up with two to play and it almost seemed possible that the Asians would walk away with a victory but Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano held his nerve and managed to salvage half a point on the last hole to ensure a draw.
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BSF win Dashmesh Hawks hockey title
Ropar, March 29 While no team could score in first quarter, BSF took the lead through a field goal by Lakhbir Singh in the 29th minute. In the third quarter, Hitender Singh consolidated their lead through a brilliant field goal in the 35th minute. In the last quarter, EME got one back through captain Gurjinder Singh in the 50th minute. However, Mukhjinder Singh converted a penalty stroke in the dying minutes as BSF eased to victory. The winning team received a cash prize of Rs. 51000, while the runners-up received Rs 31000. Haryana draw with UP in junior men’s Nationals
New Delhi: Haryana played out a 3-3 draw against Uttar Pradesh on the opening day of the Hockey India junior men’s National Championship (Division A) in Chennai today. Uttar Pradesh went 3-2 ahead in the 35th minute after Nikhil Saroha and Kambir had brought Haryana level. Manpreet found the equaliser in 55th minute to salvage a draw for Haryana.
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Sindhu all set to renew rivalry against Shixian Wang New Delhi, March 29 Sindhu holds a 3-0 record against Wang, beating her in the World Championships and Badminton Asia Championships on earlier occasions, and time has come for the Hyderabadi star to renew her rivalry against Wang in front of the home fans. Sindhu will look to dish out yet another emphatic performance to tame the Chinese and brighten her chances of a possible face-off against her senior compatriot Saina Nehwal in the semifinals of the $250,000 event. Though Sindhu described the women’s singles draw as “tough”, she remained confident of putting it across Wang one more time on Wednesday. “I know I have won against her three times. I hope I win this time also in front of the home fans," Sindhu said at the launch of the India Open. “I played against Wang just weeks back (in the Swiss Open). I didn't think ever that I will play her in the first round again, so for me it was like 'Oh, again!' But I will have the crowd support, so I hope I can play well. If I win again, I will play Sayaka Takahashi in the second round. I lost to her once but it was long back, in Malaysia in 2012. So I’m hoping for the best," she said. Sindhu said she would look to better her last year's semifinals finish at the Indian Open. She had reached the quarterfinals in the 2012 edition. “I really played well in the Swiss Open. I reached the semifinals and with just one more point, I could have gone further. I hope to play with the same tempo and go further in the India Open this time,” she said. The Hyderabadi said she worked on her defence during her two-week break after returning from the Swiss Open. "After Swiss, it was back to training because the draw was like Wang again! A Chinese player... They just go to youtube.com and check out our matches and immediately catch our mistakes, so we have to work harder."
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one notable difference between the pictures of the Indian spinner and his counterparts from Pakistan and West Indies — the Indian offie will be seen in half sleeves while the other two will be full-sleeved in almost every frame.
Khanty Mansiysk (Russia), March 29
New Zealand also brought in allrounder Jimmy Neesham for Colin Munro from the line-up which beat England on Saturday. Michael Swart made a run-a-ball
26.
influence on the team. He is one who does not get worked up or anxious over any situation. He does not panic at all and has a calming influence on us,” Badree said ahead of the
match against Australia that his team won on Friday.