New Delhi, April 8
The world seems to be closing in on Yuvraj Singh, who has become the villain of India’s T20 World Cup campaign after his scratchy knock of 11 off 21 balls at a crucial juncture in the final of the tournament.

Yuvraj has found support from many of his teammates and friends, including Sachin Tendulkar and some other former players. But some former players and analysts have been extremely critical of Yuvraj, like Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri.

Ironically, Shastri himself had been at the receiving end of incessant booing at almost all stadia in India because of his slow batting in the 1980s. Fellow cricketers know — perhaps more than fans and media — that it's not due to the lack of effort that a player fails, and thus former cricketers are expected to be more sensitive in their analysis of players. This is perhaps what India discard Gautam Gambhir had in mind when he chose to blame the media, and not cricketers, for blaming Yuvraj for the team’s failure.

“I don't think any of the cricketers has actually targeted him. It's the media which has been targeting him,” Gambhir said today. “You are the guys who are targeting him. So, what am I supposed to answer!”

“I think you guys need to be really careful because you can't target any one individual in a team sport. He's still the greatest match-winner ever seen in limited-overs cricket,” Gambhir continued angrily when asked about Yuvraj's knock in the final at Mirpur on Sunday.

Gambhir is probably right because in the shortest and most fickle format of the sport, success and failure often boil down to luck, a few balls or runs here or there. Gambhir also suggested that fans and media must not lose their balance when praising or criticising players.

“When he played the 60-run knock against Australia, he became the hero. And he did not perform in the final, people started criticising him!” said Gambhir.

“It's wrong to target Yuvraj. Whoever is singling him out, whether cricketers or media, they are doing a great injustice to his game. You have to acknowledge the fact that the opposition played well on that day.”

Gambhir said that Yuvraj will still be a favourite for him if there were an IPL players' auction today. “KKR went berserk for him at the players' auction in February. We went to Rs 13 crore bidding for him. If the players' auction is held today, KKR will again go aggressively for Yuvraj. He, according to me, is our greatest match-winner till date and (will be ) even in the future as well,” he said.

Asked if the team had become overly dependent on Kohli, just as it had with Tendulkar in the 1990s, Gambhir replied in the negative. “Neither at that time were we dependant on one individual, nor are we now. I think cricket is a team sport and it's won by 11 people on the field and lost by 11 people. You guys need to decide whether it's a team game or an individual sport,” he said. In 2011, Yuvraj was the cynosure of all eyes when his stellar performance in the 50-over World Cup had won him the Player of the Tournament award. His six sixes in an over against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup are also unlikely to be forgotten.

But three years later, his house in Chandigarh was pelted with stones by some miscreants, who blamed him for the loss against Sri Lanka. In the final, the hero of India's famous World Cup victories in 2007 (T20 format) and 2011 (50-over) looked like a pale shadow of his brilliant past. His inability to hit fours or sixers, or even to give back the strike to Virat Kohli, sucked the momentum out of India's innings. Yuvraj made just 100 runs in six matches with an average of 20, his best being a 43-ball 60 against Australia in a league match.

Yet, in the most fickle format of cricket, in which knocks that are termed “amazing” one evening are forgotten two days later, judgments can’t be too harsh or lasting.

New Delhi, April 8
Under-fire N. Srinivasan is all set to attend the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai on April 9-10 as BCCI’s “representative” despite being sidelined from the Board’s affairs following a Supreme Court directive.

A senior BCCI official confirmed that Srinivasan “will attend the ICC Board meeting”, according to a cricket website.

While the Supreme Court had shunted out Srinivasan from all affairs of the board, the two-judge bench had declined to pass an order in relation to his role in ICC affairs, saying it was an “internal” matter.

Normally, the BCCI president is inducted onto the ICC board as a Director and the secretary attends the ICC Chief Executives Committee meetings. At every Annual General Meeting, it is the BCCI president who nominates the Board’s representative at ICC meetings, and at the last meeting held in Chennai on September 29, 2013, it was verbally decided that “Srinivasan will continue to be in the (ICC) executive board and Sanjay Patel (secretary) in the CEC,” said a source. Hours after the Supreme Court order, Patel had said that Srinivasan will remain BCCI’s representative at the ICC.

But since then the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has requested the ICC to sideline Srinivasan from the executive board and to not allow him to take over as the ICC chairman in July, at least until the time he is cleared of all the charges. The ICC has remained tight-lipped over the issue ever since the Supreme Court had Srinivasan removed from his official position of BCCI president. “No comments at this stage,” ICC has been repeatedly saying. The BCCI has expressed confidence that it has not only acquired the apex court’s approval for Srinivasan to continue with his ICC responsibilities, but claimed there will also be no protest from within the ICC Board towards his chairmanship.

Any ICC member can raise questions pertaining to two clauses in the ICC's constitution: Clause 2.1 of ICC's code of ethics which states that “Directors shall not engage in any conduct that in any way denigrates the ICC or harms its public image.”

Under clause 4.11 (F) of the ICC's constitution, an ICC director can be removed as a member of the Executive Board by notice given to him and executed by not less than two thirds of the members of the Executive Board on any one of the following grounds: “(1) he is guilty of any dishonesty, gross misconduct or wilful neglect of duty (whether by act or omission); or (2) in the reasonable opinion of the Executive Board, he commits (whether by act or omission) any act which brings or would tend to bring the Council into disrepute; or (3) he conducts himself in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Council.” — Agencies

London, April 8
After England's calamitous winter — for the men, at any rate — County Championship cricket returns today with its participants under a level of scrutiny unparalleled recently.

Following the sacking of Kevin Pietersen, the retirement of Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott's burn-out and a collective loss of form, the make-up of the next England Test line-up has seldom been so uncertain.

Not eying IPL 7 to prove critics wrong: KP A little more than two months after being dropped from England's international set-up, Pietersen said he has already accepted the harsh reality that he won't be playing for his country again and was trying to move on in life. “The break away from cricket has been fantastic and I'm really looking forward to playing in the IPL. What transpired in March has nothing to do with what I'm about to do now. I'm not out here to make any point and neither do I play cricket for that reason,” he said. — PTI

Only four names – Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – can be regarded with any confidence as safe from the overhaul certain to take place once a new coach is installed.

That leaves 11 of the squad that left for Australia in October looking over their shoulders at a clutch of contenders, with the luxury of time off traditionally enjoyed by contracted players at this time of year likely to be granted only to those, such as Joe Root and Ben Stokes, who are actually injured. England have not played a Test since January's three-day defeat in Sydney completed the Ashes humiliation, and will not play another until they meet Sri Lanka at Lord’s on June 12.

By then, national selector James Whitaker and his colleagues will have had 10 rounds of Championship cricket and the opening exchanges in the new Friday night NatWest T20 Blast, which starts on May 16, in which to look for worthy candidates.

The questions they will be seeking to answer are these:

Who opens with captain Cook?

The incumbent is Michael Carberry, but the Hampshire left-hander did not make a compelling case for himself in Australia and has done himself no favours with some outspoken comments after his non-selection for the one-day and T20 teams. Root opened with Cook last summer but the was dropped down the order in Australia. The selectors will be looking closely at Warwickshire opener Varun Chopra and Sam Robson, the Australian-born Middlesex opener who declared his allegiance to England last September and shone with the Lions in Lanka.

No 3: If not Trott, who?

After his mental disintegration, some doubted Trott would play for England again but after insisting his "stress-related illness" was merely burn-out, early-season runs will put him right back in the frame. Should he struggle, Bell may well be asked to move up from No 5. Somerset's Nick Compton still harbours hopes of a recall, but he will need to begin strongly.

No 4: Who can be the new KP?

Having decided not to seek an Indian Premier League contract for the first time in five years, Middlesex's Eoin Morgan has made it clear he wants to fill the vacancy left by Pietersen's demise, although he has not played Tests — in which his 30.43 average compares with 40.09 in one-day internationals — since February 2012.

If he makes substantial Championship runs he will reinforce his case, but there is strong competition from Nottinghamshire’s James Taylor, who was probably called up too early for his Test debut in 2012 but has done everything asked of him, scoring well in county cricket and for England Lions.

No 5: If Bell moves up the order to bat at three, who goes in at five?

Taylor could equally be an option to bat at five, as would the Yorkshire left-hander Gary Ballance, whose selection for the Ashes tour, on which he made his Test debut in Sydney, followed five first-class hundreds last summer. There will be support, too, for James Vince, the 22-year-old Hampshire batsman noted for his classical technique.

All-rounder: If Stokes is not fit, who takes the slot?

Ben Stokes looked to have nailed the No 6 position until he broke his wrist punching a dressing-room locker during the World T20. Warwickshire's Chris Woakes and Somerset's Craig Overton, whose twin Jamie is also on England's radar, will be trying to get themselves noticed.

Wicketkeeper: Can anyone stop Prior reclaiming the spot?

Matt Prior is adamant that the dip in form that saw him dropped in Australia need not end his England career. Jonny Bairstow is under pressure to prove his worth both as a batsman and wicketkeeper, and Jos Buttler's move from Somerset to Lancashire, to escape the shadow of his rival Craig Kieswetter, will only be of benefit.

In a spin: Is there anyone who can replace Swann?

So far, there is no compelling candidate.

— The Independent

Colombo, April 8
Traffic came to a standstill as thousands of cheering fans lined the streets to welcome home the Sri Lankan cricket team who touched down at Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday following their triumph at the World Twenty20 tournament.

Eighteen years after winning the 50-overs World Cup, the Sri Lankan cricket team again sparked euphoria across the island nation after beating favourites India in Sunday’s Twenty20 final. Following their three-hour flight from Dhaka, the team showed off the World Cup trophy as they travelled in an open-top bus along a 30 kilometre route to Temple Trees, the official residence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“I am thankful for all the Sri Lankan fans, because without them, to have won this tournament, it would have been impossible,” Kumar Sangakkara, who made his final T20 international appearance on Sunday, told a news conference held at the airport. — Reuters

Melbourne, April 8
Australia paceman Ryan Harris, who has played a major role in his country's Test resurgence over the last year, is to turn his hand to bringing through the next generation after being appointed an assistant coach with the 'A' squad.

The popular 34-year-old will help head coach Michael Di Venuto prepare Australia A for a series of first-class and limited overs matches against India A and South Africa A in July and August, Cricket Australia said.

Harris underwent knee surgery last month and faces a long rehabilitation but hopes to be fit for Australia's two-test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in October. “While Harris is expected to use the series as a chance to rehabilitate from his various ailments, it will also provide him an opportunity to hone his coaching skills with an eye to life after cricket,” Cricket Australia said.

Harris will work with the likes of young test pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the 21-man squad, which also features a number of batsmen with international experience, including opener Phillip Hughes and Alex Doolan. With fitness worries forever dogging Shane Watson, selectors are keen to have a replacement for the injury-prone all-rounder. “(We are) especially keen for the potential future international all-rounders, James Faulkner, Moises Henriques and Mitchell Marsh to have this opportunity to develop further and enhance their claims,” head selector John Inverarity said. Though Nathan Lyon has cemented his place as Australia's premier spinner, two slow bowlers have been named in the squad in 29-year-old left-armer Steven O'Keefe and Queensland legspinner Cameron Boyce.

Ian Thorpe (in pic) won three golds in his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games and clinched another two at Athens four years later, but surprised by announcing his retirement in 2006 at the age of 24, citing a lack of motivation. He later revealed in his 2012 autobiography “This is Me” of a near decade-long battle with depression, including suicidal thoughts and regular alcohol abuse.

Melbourne, April 8
Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe is in a Sydney hospital fighting a "serious" infection and is unlikely to swim competitively again, his manager told Australian media late on Tuesday.

The five-times Olympic champion had contracted "two bugs" after undertaking a series of shoulder surgeries, manager James Erskine told Australian Associated Press.

“It's serious but it's not life-threatening. He's quite sick but that's the situation ... From a competitive point of view - he will not be swimming competitively again, I don't think,” Erskine said.

The 31-year-old was being treated with large doses of antibiotics, state broadcaster ABC reported earlier on its website (www.abc.net.au). Erskine said Thorpe had undertaken “two or three” operations on his troublesome left shoulder in the past two months, and suggested the injury, rather than the infection, would force Thorpe from the pool.

“The shoulder operation was a major operation, he's got as many plates as Barry Sheene,” Erskine said, referring to the late British motorcycling champion. Erskine had denied earlier Australian media reports that Thorpe might lose the use of his arm because of the infections, AAP said. The agency added that the swimmer had received a number of visitors at hospital and was said to be in “good spirits”.

Thorpe's management was not available to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Australia's most decorated swimmer with 11 world championship golds, Thorpe was admitted to hospital earlier this year to treat depression after he was found disoriented in Sydney. — Agencies

Munich, April 8
Bayern Munich must be patient in attack and wary of Manchester United on the break in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday, coach Pep Guardiola said.

Holders Bayern have a slight edge after a 1-1 draw in Manchester last week but Guardiola warned of the English team’s defensive tactics and their appetite for quick breaks. “I think United will be again waiting for us at the back. They will be waiting deep, deep in their own half,” the Spaniard said on Tuesday.

“English teams defend and then wait for the quick break (United coach) David Moyes also has eight, nine players at the back. They are waiting for mistakes, set pieces and breaks. That is why we have to be disciplined. We are playing at home and that is important and we know exactly what to do to attack well.”

Guardiola said he was convinced United forward Wayne Rooney would be on the pitch despite a toe injury that has cast doubt over his participation. “He will play, 100 percent,” said Guardiola. “Great players always play the great games and I bet a beer that he will play.”

Guardiola brushed aside their first league defeat after 53 games on Saturday to Augsburg, saying he was not after records.

But after the draw in Manchester and another draw against Hoffenheim it is the first time since 2011 that Bayern, who clinched the Bundesliga title in record time last month, have gone three straight games without a win.

“I knew that we would lose eventually,” said Guardiola, who had fielded a below-strength team against Augsburg to rest key players.

“The team knows how important the Champions League is. Obviously we still have to play the last few Bundesliga games but our targets are now different ones.”

Bayern will be without two key midfielders, with Bastian Schweinsteiger suspended following his red card in the first leg and Thiago Alcantara injured, leaving Toni Kroos and possibly right back Philipp Lahm to occupy those positions.

“Philipp can play everywhere. We are missing many players and he has shown that he can play that position,” Guardiola said. “We know what we have to do and we will apply it. It is little details that will decide the outcome.”

New Delhi, April 8
Pakistan might be keen to revive the bilateral hockey series against India this year but Hockey India is not too optimistic about a 2014 date and feels 2015 would be ideal to renew the event between the two neighbouring nations.

Top officials of Pakistan Hockey Federation had recently announced separate schedules for hosting the bilateral series in June-July but a HI source said they were yet to approach the government for clearance.

The source said HI will seek clearance for the tour only after a new government is in place.

“We are committed to the tour but we haven’t sought permission for it yet. There is no point in putting the request now as a new government will be in place soon,” a top HI source said. “We will try our best to organise the series this year but it’s highly unlikely. I feel whatever will happen it will happen next year as the new government will need time to settle down before taking such important decisions.”

Both the PHF and HI had earlier agreed to hold the series in March-April, but the event got postponed because of the delay in getting permission from the respective governments. The HI source refused to confirm the dates.

“Nothing has been finalised as yet. So there is no question of announcing the dates,” he said. — PTI

New Delhi: Gearing up to present a strong challenge at the upcoming World Cup, the Indian hockey team will head for a tour of Europe tomorrow to play five build-up games, including two against World Cup hosts The Netherlands. The team will also play two matches against Dutch clubs and one against Belgium during the trip which would conclude on April 19. Speaking on the preparations of the team, coach Terry Walsh said the trip to Europe would be of immense help. “This trip will enable the players and staff to simulate major aspects for the upcoming World Cup,” Walsh said. “Our squad has been focusing on several key areas of performance in the camp during last one month and the aspects requiring fine tuning will be identified for the final training phase leading into the World Cup. The experience of playing purely European styles will be important for the team. Our ability to grow and display progression in our self belief as an international sporting team will be under the closest scrutiny. We will be much wiser upon our return I am sure,” he added. — PTI

Kuala Lumpur, April 8
A fine performance at the inaugural EurAsia Cup has boosted his confidence and golfer Anirban Lahiri believes he will have an edge in next week’s Malaysian Open where he is aiming for a fourth Asian Tour victory.

Lahiri defeated Victor Dubuisson of France 2 and 1 in the singles to help Team Asia earn a memorable 10-10 draw in the EurAsia Cup and the 26-year-old hoped to continue his good form when he starts his campaign at the showpiece event at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from April 17-20.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Malaysia. The EurAsia Cup was a phenomenal week for all of us and there will be lots of positivity every time I come back to Malaysia now. I’m playing well and hopefully I can keep the form going in the next few weeks,” said Lahiri.

After winning three Asian Tour titles on home soil, the talented Indian is determined to claim his biggest career victory yet in his burgeoning career.

“I think I’ve learned over the years and improved from the initial hiccups. I’m pretty much at home now with my game. I’ve had some good performances and hopefully this year, I will have a breakthrough performance (winning a co-sanctioned tournament),” he said.

“I have been playing good golf and if I can keep playing like this, I will do well in the time to come. I just have to keep patient and keep doing what I’m doing.” — PTI

Turin, April 8
Fernando Llorente scored twice in three minutes to keep Juventus on course for a third successive Serie A title with a 2-0 home win over Livorno on Monday.

Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda scored his first Serie A goal since joining AC Milan in January to give them a 2-1 win at Genoa in Monday’s other game. Second-placed AS Roma had brought the title race to life by slashing Juve’s lead from 14 to five points in the previous eight days but Monday’s comfortable win left Antonio Conte’s side eight points clear with six matches to play.

Augusta, April 8
Rory McIlroy admits his Masters record is a source of disappointment and he cannot imagine ending his career without a green jacket.

McIlroy is the bookmakers’ favourite for the year’s first major championship, although the former world number one’s best finish at Augusta National remains his share of 15th in 2011, when he held a four-shot lead going into the final round but collapsed to a closing 80.

“I’d be disappointed if I ended my career and wasn’t able to go up and have breakfast in the champions’ locker room,” McIlroy told reporters recently. “The way I play golf, the way my game is, Augusta does set up well for me. And for me not to have a top-10 coming into my sixth Masters...”

McIlroy already has two major titles to his name after winning the US Open in 2011 — just two months after his Masters meltdown — and the 2012 US PGA Championship, both by eight shots.

And the 24-year-old would love to take the third step towards a career grand slam by winning a Masters title that has evaded greats of the game like Greg Norman and Ernie Els.

“You can look at someone like Greg Norman, or the person that I look at is Ernie Els,” McIlroy added. “He sees Trevor Immelman winning, he sees Charl Schwartzel win. He sees all these young South Africans; Louis Oosthuizen (losing) in a play-off.

“He should have won it in 2004 when Phil Mickelson birdied two of the last three. Mickelson was due a major at that point but he had never finished like that to win one, and all of a sudden he does. I think Ernie probably goes back every year and feels like that is the one that got away.

“I don’t want to get to that point but I am 24, not 44. It would be great to win one sooner rather than later. It is the same with every competition; you don’t want to wait too long for these things to happen. You want to take control of them yourself.

“Five players have won the career Grand Slam, I was looking at that the other day. I was looking at the ages; Tiger Woods was 24, Jack Nicklaus was 26. I think three people have done it in their 20s. There is no timescale, I have a lot of years left. I would love to do it. It’s something that would be a huge achievement, to put yourself on that list.”

— The Independent

New Delhi, April 8
India will take on Serbia at home in the Davis Cup World Group play-offs to be held from September 12 to 14, raising the possibility of multiple-time Grand Slam winner and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic touching down in the country.

Bogdan Obradovic-led Serbia will face India for the second time in three years in a bid to maintain their World Group status, having defeated India 4-1 on their most recent foray into the top tier of the competition in the first round in 2011.

The Indian Davis Cup team on Sunday entered the World Group playoffs after notching up a historic away triumph over Korea in the Group I Asia/Oceania second round tie at Busan.

Serbia, who lost 2-3 to Switzerland in the World Group first round in February, has not featured in zonal competition since 2007, the year it defeated Australia in the World Group play-offs to secure top tier status for the first time. — PTI

Rio de Janeiro, April 8
Workers building Rio’s 2016 Olympic Park fought with security guards on Monday but although shots were fired no one was injured in the melee, eyewitnesses said.

BRIEFLY

Gavaskar evaluating Sundar Raman’s role in IPL
New Delhi: Interim president of BCCI-IPL Sunil Gavaskar said he was evaluating the request of Bihar Cricket Association (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma, who wants IPL COO Sundar Raman removed from his post for alleged involvement in corrupt practices. “I am seized of the matter and evaluating all the information that I am getting,” Verma quoted Gavaskar as saying in reply to the CAB official's letter to the former India captain, urging him to take action against Raman.

Baroda, Kerala make winning start
Mumbai: West Zone champions Baroda and South Zone runners-up Kerala made a winning start to their campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali All India T20 tournament by defeating Bengal and Delhi, respectively. Baroda shot out their rivals for a paltry 96 and then overtook the target easily in 14 overs to score a comprehensive win. Kerala overcame a depleted Delhi by 14 runs in the other Group B game at the Wankhede Stadium by notching up a challenging 150/6, with opener V Jagadeesh top scoring with 52 in 36 balls. They then restricted Delhi to 136/9. In another match, Swapnil Asnodkar made an unbeaten 70 as South Zone toppers Goa beat Haryana by eight wickets. Brief Scores: Haryana: 116/9 off 20 overs (Joginder 29, Dalal 25, Sonu 13*, L Garg 3/31, Gauresh Gawas 2/28); Goa: 118/2 in 18 overs (Asnodkar 70*, Suraj 29).

I want to contribute again to Mumbai cricket: Patil 
Mumbai: Former India batsman Sandeep Patil has been named as the chairman of the committee by the Mumbai Cricket Association. “They (MCA) were after me for a long time to join the panel. Last year I quit as I was not able to watch domestic cricket due to my tight schedule with the senior India squad. But this time I was assured they would identify talented players on the fringe and I would have to watch a few games only and I accepted the offer,” Patil said. — Agencies

Sodhi leads India’s field in Shotgun World Cup
New Delhi: Double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi will spearhead the Indian challenge in the upcoming ISSF Shotgun World Cup beginning in Tucson, USA, from tomorrow. Besides Sodhi, Mohammad Asab and Ankur Mittal will be the other two shooters representing India in the double trap event. There will be Manavjeet Singh, Mansher Singh and Kynan Chenai in the trap event. The women’s field comprises Shagun Chowdhary, Seema Tomar and Shreyashi Singh. In men’s skeet, Aroze Pal Singh, PP Singh and Man Singh will be competing.

Kings to host Bollywood night at NBA games
Sacramento (USA): NBA side Sacramento Kings are hosting the team’s first-ever “Bollywood” themed game against the LA Lakers on Wednesday. The game will celebrate Indian culture and cinema with various performances. Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive, the first Indian-born owner in NBA history, has created an NBA 3.0 philosophy focused on cutting edge technology to enhance the fan experience, acting as a positive agent of change in the community and expanding the team’s global brand. This season, the Kings have televised over 20 live games in India, launched a website in Hindi and signed their first India-based sponsor.

Pele’s hair turned into diamonds for superfans
Rio de Janiero: Pele has unveiled an unusual line of diamonds using strands of the football legend’s own hair. The man many regard as the sport’s best player of all time presented the ultimate superfan souvenir in Sao Paulo ahead of the FIFA World Cup that Brazil will host in two months. The diamonds are made using a high-pressure, high-temperature process during which strands of Pele’s hair are charred. The gems cost about $7,500 a piece and come in a gold-plated box featuring Pele on the pitch scoring a goal. — Agencies