Saturday, May 15, 1999
today's calendar
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S P O R T | Saturday, May 15, 1999 |
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Ticket shortage disappoints Indian
fans Landmarks beckon World Cup stars Match
fixing: Walcott for life ban Lara,
Williams face fitness tests India’s
record poor in opening matches
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Kuerten shocks Kafelnikov ROME, May 14 — Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten trounced world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the third round of the Italian Open yesterday while Carlos Moya, Kuerten’s successor as French Open champion, was beaten in straight sets. Hingis sails into last
eight Satyapragyan
posts thumping win
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England cruise to 8-wkt win LONDON, May 14 (AP) — A long-overdue 88 by team captain Alec Stewart steered England to an eight-wicket victory over defending champions Sri Lanka in the opening match of the World Cup at Lords here today. With Graeme Hick contributing an unbeaten 73 and finishing the match with a six, England cruised to victory to leave the Sri Lankans worrying about the strong possibility of an early trip home. England left-arm fast bowler Alan Mullally grabbed four vital wickets as the home team restricted the defending titlist to 204 all out with eight balls to spare. The Sri Lankans, the surprise stars of the 1996 championship, looked a dispirited team after this lopsided loss and will have to improve against South Africa, one of the tournament favourites, on Wednesday, with games against Zimbabwe, India and Kenya to come. England also took nine catches, Graham Thorpe and wicketkeeper Stewart contributing three each and Graeme Hick collecting two before Stewart, who has struggled in one-day matches for the past nine months, led the run chase. Nasser Hussain (14) helped the England captain put on 50 for the first wicket before he was superbly beaten by the spin of Muttiah Muralitharan and stumped by Romesh Kaluwitharana, who had earlier pulled Sri Lanka out of the woods with a belligerent half century. Stewart, who had not hit a half-century since scoring 51 against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in August, never looked in trouble this time and reached his 50 out of 83 in the 23rd over and shared another 50 partnership with Hick, the first 100 coming up inside 25 overs. By the time they completed their century partnership off 126 balls, England needed only 53 runs off 85 balls and were cruising to a victory which will give the team a major boost after a gloomy spell of one-day losses. Stewart was 12 runs short of his century when he was judged to have edged a catch to Kaluwitharana off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas with England 30 runs from victory with 50 balls remaining. It was a good all-round performance by Stewart’s team, the bowlers and fielders having excelled earlier in the day. Mullally, England’s in-form bowler, took three wickets in his first seven-over spell before Sri Lanka recovered from 65 for five, due to a defiant 84-run stand between top scorer Kaluwitharana (57) and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (32). He then returned in a second spell to snare the vital wicket of Kaluwitharana before finishing with figures of 4-37 off ten overs. Mark Ealham made the breakthrough, just when the pair looked like taking Sri Lanka to a formidable total. He removed Ranatunga at 149 for six. An outstanding catch by Nasser Hussain at point ended the threatening stand and in the space of three overs Sri Lanka was reduced to 155 for seven. Kaluwitharana, who was forced down the order to make room for Roshan Mahanama at the top, played a firebrand innings, racing to 50 off 52 balls with seven boundaries. He plundered 12 runs from two Andrew Flintoff overs. Ranatunga was happy to let his junior partner dominate, despite depositing off-spinner Graeme Hick in the MCC members’ stand for a six. England came back strongly after the sixth wicket stand and Sri Lanka mustered only 55 runs from the last 14 overs. After losing the toss and sent into bat, Sri Lanka put on 42 runs before losing five wickets in a 30-minute period as England seized the upper-hand over the defending champions. Mahanama vindicated Sri Lanka’s decision to open with him, as he provided solid hand in his alliance with Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 29. But Mahanama, having made 16, was the first wicket to fall, getting a top edge off a Mullally delivery and was well caught by Graeme Hick, who took the ball running back from second slip. Ian Austin, opening the attack with Darren Gough, quickly removed Marvan Atapattu for three before Mullally claimed the wickets of Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva (0) in the space of seven balls. Both batsmen edged catches to the slip cordon as they failed to keep down disconcertingly bounced deliveries. Jayasuriya, playing his first match since breaking his arm against Australia in Perth early this year, was strangely subdued as he tried to come to terms with the pace of the pitch. The left-hander, voted the Most Valuable Player of the last World Cup, struggled for 52 balls for his 29 runs and hit four boundaries. The Sri Lankan openers did well to last 11 overs against the seam and swing of Gough and Austin either side of a 15-minute break for a light shower. Scoreboard |
India take on mighty South
Africa today HOVE, (Sussex), May 14 — Two layers of sweaters over a cricket shirt and a set of thermals underneath will be standard wear at Hove tomorrow when the Indians will face the onerous task of taking on South Africa. It can be forbiddingly cold in May, more so when the wind sweeps in or the mist rolls in from the English Channel into the twin cities of Hove and Brighton.Sussex, home in the hoary past to the incomparable Ranji and his nephew Duleep, has been the base at which the South Africans, the tournament favourites, have prepared for the World Cup and where they have played some of their warmup matches. It is not only the cold that the Indians will be battling but also the feeling that their opponents will be playing in a rather more familiar environment. While the Indians faced some wet weather in the north, the South Africans got in a lot more cricket in the south. But the Indians had more time to acclimatise to the an early English summer conditions. The Indians will be taking something of a gamble in sending Sachin Tendulkar out to open when he is just a shade under done by way of preparation. But opening the innings is such a mind set with him now that probably he will not feel at home anywhere else in the order than at the top where all his world record one-day international centuries have come. Sachin will be taking strike with the same heavy bat (about three pounds, two ounces) which was first rumoured to have been one of the causes for the back spasms he suffered in the course of the Chennai Test against Pakistan in January and which kept him out of action in March and April. His condition was, however, diagnosed to have occurred from dehydration suffered in sapping humidity rather from the weight of his willow. It is around the same heavy bat that India’s fortunes will revolve as they take on the South Africans who have built up a fine record in the preliminary league phase of the last two World Cups. Although Sachin is expected to be far more temperate in the early part of his innings than in the many of his cavalier innings, he is one batsman whose enormous success can be traced to positive cricket triggered by the changed definition of an opening batsman’s role in the game. The two changes possibly contemplated before the World Cup were whether India should continue to open with Sachin and whether he should rely on the same heavy bat of his. Neither change would have suited him and both may have proved counter productive. Ranged against Sachin will be a quality pace bowler Shaun Pollock who will share the new ball with Klusener and the clever changes of pace from Allan Donald, now recognised as a dangerous one change bowler whose variations of pace have become legendary in the one-day game. In spite of the hazards of the job, it is as well that India entrusts their best players with the task of blunting a venomous pace attack. Also the only way to play the South Africans is to try and grab the initiative from them early as Brian Lara did sensationally in the quarterfinals of the 1996 World Cup. The options are also somewhat limited for India. Surely, neither the resourceful and yet risky ways of Nayan Mongia as opener are likely to succeed against a tactically well prepared side nor can Sadagopan Ramesh be asked to take on such performers in conditions helpful to swing and seam. It is in one huge throw of the dice that India will be risking everything with Sachin at the top of the order. The head to head record speaks for itself with South Africa way ahead at 18 wins to India’s eight and one no result. It is a record that has been built up assiduously in the eight years since South Africa made their debut in one-day international cricket losing the series 0-2 in India before winning the third and last game. Their only meeting in the World Cup came in the 1992 edition when Peter Kirsten grabbed a one-handed catch first ball in the covers in Adelaide to get rid of Krish Srikkanth and India then struggled to keep pace with the kind of demands on quick scoring that rain-shortened games demand. The stalwart was in the thick of it in the chase as South Africa met their target and kept their appointed place in the semi-finals where they were hit by a ridiculous rain rule that reduced the target to 21 runs off one ball. India’s recent showing and its pale comparison with South Africa’s fine run against the West Indies at home ensures that the form book points only in one direction. But then there is one player who can be the unmoving object against the unstoppable force and he needs no introduction because he stands head and shoulders above this crowd of contemporary batsmen burdened with trying to deliver every day in the ever expanding world of the one-day international. Who else but Sachin can
counter the dedicated professional force that the South
Africans have become with the help of a computer-aided
English coach? In talent he towers over their collective
might even if he has to cover up his frame with heavy
sweaters in order to fight an enemy the Indians dread
more the cold and the damp. |
Sachin should come as opener: Cronje HOVE, May 14 (PTI) — South African skipper Hansie Cronje fired the first salvo ahead of their opening World Cup league clash suggesting yesterday that India would be making a terrible mistake if they planned to send Sachin Tendulkar lower down in the batting order. Ahead of Saturday’s
crucial clash at the Sussex County Cricket Club ground
here, Cronje said South Africa would not be worried even
if opener Tendulkar’s position in the batting order
was shuffled around.Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad had
hinted earlier that the team might go in for flexibility
in a bid to take the South Africans by surprise.The
Proteas, as is well known, follow a fixed pattern and the
current Indian thinking is to upset this rhythm through
innovative measures in the middle.But Cronje felt it
would be a mistake. “We all know Tendulkar is a fine
player. But his strength obviously is to be there in the
first 15 overs when he can smash the ball around the park
over the in-fielders’ head. If he is brought down
the order, it won’t help India since the field is
spread and he can only work the ball.” “In any
case we are not worried on this count. We have Allan
Donald who is good enough to be tried at any stage of the
innings, be it as a new ball bowler or as first
change.”Express paceman Donald himself was willing
to give the world’s best batsman his due. “He
is a very fine bat. He can produce effortless strokes and
in my opinion is definitely the number one bat." |
India or Pak ‘may
be’ a surprise winner LONDON, May 14 — Former Australia captain Ian Chappell says that though South Africa and Australia are favourites, there is a strong possibility of a surprise winner and in that case it is most likely India or Pakistan. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan feels though Hansie Cronje-led South Africa is a highly efficient squad, they may find it hard to clinch the title. “World Cup is a different ball game and it will be wrong to rule out Pakistan or India from the race at this juncture.” England’s Bob Willis is of the view that India has a good chance. “They (Indians) look like good outsiders.” India look “decent outsiders” because they have some excellent specialists. Their opening seam attack is strong, while Sachin Tendulkar needs no introduction, Ajay Jadeja looks a good allrounder. According to Willis, Pakistan have talent but are an impossible side to predict. It all depends whether Wasim Akram can get them in the right frame of mind. Chappell said there were two players in this tournament who could lead their sides into the super league. They were Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies’ Brian Lara provided they got enough support from their team mates. He said three most likely teams to make the last four stage were South Africa. Australia and Pakistan. The fourth team was not so easy to pick. England will be weighed down by expectancy and this may allow India to scrape into the semis. If Australia meet India it will be a tough contest as Tendulkar had had its measures lately and Pakistan has the capability and potential to upset South Africa. Bob Willis said he would have liked to support his country but the “Aussies are best value for money in my book” about other teams, he said New Zealand were worth talking about more than the West Indies, who were too volatile”. I’ill not be surprised if the Kiwis make it to the last four.’’ About the format of the event, Willis said the structure had its merits but would prove difficult for spectators to get their calculations right. The Duckworth-Lewis system, to set targets for the rain effected matches, is going to be widely criticised. There is bound to be an outcry over a readjusted total. Jacques Kallis is Wills’ player of the tournament, “He is the most gifted of South Africa’s abundant all rounders.” Former cricketer Ravi Shastri was very confident of India making it to the super six. “We have enough talent and potential, the boys should have faith in themselves.” He dismissed the controversy regarding the captainship saying this is no time to rake up such issues and wished Azharuddin and his boys all the very best. Imran said Pakistan would have been in much stronger position had they included fast bowler Mohd. Akram. “I was surprised to hear about his omission.” About the captains in this competition, he said Hansie Cronje looked good, he had led South Africa admirably. Next to Cronje in Imran’s list was Australia’s Steve Waugh. But Imran hastened to add that though both these captains led by example, anybody can lead these two highly disciplined teams. “Case of India and Pakistan is different here. You name a captain and there will be five groups opposing him within the team.” He, however, said that at present Wasim Akram was at his best and had the team fully behind him.” I rate this Pakistan side very high”. Imran was full of praise for Sachin Tendulkar saying it is very rare in modern times to find such a totally focussed and devoted player. “Sachin is very organised, he knows his priorities and like Sunil Gavaskar, he is fully committed and that is the hallmark of a great player.” The former Pakistan
captain also had a word of praise for Sri Lanka’s
Arjuna Ranatunga saying he has led his side admirably. |
Powell could be a revelation BRISTOL, May 14 (Reuters) — Two of cricket’s most attractive but also most volatile teams clash head-on in their opening match of the 1999 World Cup when Pakistan and West Indies meet on Sunday. Brian Lara’s batting genius pitted against veteran bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis may grab the headlines, but each teams contains a player who could be a dominant force in world cricket in the new millennium. Shoaib Akhtar is the fastest bowler in the World Cup and he is now refining his technique, learning from Akram and Younis, both superb technicians in the art of swing bowling. The revelation of the tournament could be 20-year-old Ricardo Powell, called in at the last minute to replace Carl Hooper who shocked selectors by pulling out of the West Indies squad and retiring from international cricket. Powell has played only six first class games for Jamaica but gave the English a glimpse of what is to come on Wednesday when he made an impressive 53 from only 21 deliveries in a warm-up game against Surrey at the Oval. He is an aggressive all-rounder who will probably bat at number six on Sunday against Pakistan and he also bowls off-breaks. At the Oval, he was clinical in his destruction of bowler Gary Butcher, hitting him for 40 in four overs with four fours and three sixes. Captain Lara has not played in the warm-up matches because of a lingering wrist injury, but was busy signing autographs on Wednesday and is expected to play. Lara returned to his elegant best to save the Test series against Australia in the Caribbean in March, hitting 213 in the second Test and 153 not out in the third to tie the four-Test rubber 2-2. “The World Cup is a huge event and the expectation level in the Caribbean is very high. In the past, West Indies have been known for their flair and great individual performances. But now we also have a great team spirit,” Lara said. Lara will also be asking his two veteran pacemen Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose to rouse themselves for one final winning performance at the World Cup before retirement beckons. West Indies won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 and reached the final of the third. Caribbean cricket has faded in the 90s although they did reach the semifinals of the last World Cup in 1996 before losing to Australia. Pakistan have won the Cup once, beating England in 1992, have reached the last four three times and were quarter-finalists in 1996. The weather has hardly been kind to them in their preparations for the tournament. All three warm-up matches were rained out and team manager Mushtaq Mohammad, who clashed with West Indies opposite number Clive Lloyd in the inaugural Cup 24 years ago, has asked to be allowed to play an extra game tomorrow. Mushtaq, who lives in England, was appointed head coach a week ago, replacing former captain Javed Miandad, who resigned after disputes with senior players. Controversy rarely leaves the Pakistan team and Mushtaq — through an official — declared on Tuesday he had taken a vow of silence after apparently criticising the English team. Pakistan’s pace bowlers have shown a tendency to be erratic on English pitches, although Akram is a well-known face in county cricket. Opener Shahid Afridi bruised his arm during a warm-up match in Durham but is expected to be fit to open alongside Saeed Anwar, with Inzamam-ul-Haq adding beef to the middle order. Teams (from): West Indies — Sherwin Campbell, Ridley Jacobs, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara (captain), Jimmy Adams, Ricardo Powell, Phil Simmons, Bryan Henderson, Reon King, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh Pakistan — Saeed
Snwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim
Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram (captain),
Mushtaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar. |
Zimbabwe played ‘schoolboy cricket’ TAUNTON, May 14 (AFP) — Struggling Zimbabwe launch their cricket World Cup campaign tomorrow hoping to sidestep the Kenyan “banana skin”. A month ago the Zimbabweans, fresh from the best season in their short history, had forecast an easy win in their group A opener. Now, after playing “schoolboy cricket” in their warm-up games against English county opposition, they find themselves in danger of tripping up. David Houghton turned on his team after they lost first to Derbyshire, then Warwickshire. “We played almost schoolboy cricket ...We are so short of match practice,” he moaned. “You can see ...That the boys are struggling for form. “Up until Christmas we were playing good cricket and if the World Cup had started on January 1 you would have fancied us, but now we have some catching up to do.” A few weeks before the tournament he had forecast that the team would reach the second round. “In our pool we would expect to beat Kenya comfortably and we’ve beaten Sri Lanka and India 50 per cent of the time over the last 12 months. Our record against England is played six, won five,” he said. The tone, however, has changed after he saw his batsmen struggle to acclimatise on England’s seaming wickets. The form book, however, still says Zimbabwe, even if Kenya, earning the nickname of the game’s latest “banana skin”, produced the biggest shock in World Cup history when they defeated the West Indies in 1996. Zimbabwe, however, beat the Kenyans in that tournament, won four one-dayers out of four against them in a tri-nation event in Nairobi in 1997 and beat them three times in succession in a similar tournament in Dhaka this year. They can call on world-class bowling in paceman Heath Streak and leg spinner Paul Strang and their batting has been bolstered by the recruitment of Natal’s Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin, who has played for Western Australia. Zimbabwe, cricket’s newest Test-playing nation, last year won their first series by beating Pakistan. They look well-placed to improve on a record of three wins in 25 World Cup matches here — so long as they can acclimatise in time. Kenya’s strength lies in a batting line-up led by captain Maurice Odumbe, the exciting Kennedy Otieno and Steve Tikolo, the only fully-fledged professional in the squad. Coached by former West Indian great Alvin Kallicharan who played in the World Cup winning teams of 1975 and 1979, they like playing their shots, Caribbean style. Teams: Kenya: Asif Karim (capt), Maurice Odumbe, Deepak Chudasama, Hitesh Modi, Sandip Gupta, Thomas Odoyo, Steve Tikolo, Mohamed Sheikh, Jimmy Kamande, Kennedy Otieno, Joseph Angara, Ravindu Shah, Alpesh Vadher, Martin Suji, Tony Suji. Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (capt), Andy Flower, Eddo Brandes, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin, Adam Huckle, Neil Jonhson, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Henry Olonga, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Dirk Viljoen, Andrew Whittall, Guy Whittall.
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Sonia wishes team success NEW DELHI, May 14 (PTI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi has wished the Indian cricket team and its captain Mohammad Azharuddin success in the World Cup which began in England today. “I join millions of Indians in wishing you and the entire Indian team a success,” Gandhi said in a letter to Azharuddin. “Representing India on the field means representing India not only in cricket but also in the entire mosaic of the nation,” she said adding that she was confident the team would collectively bring laurels and glory to the nation. Party spokesman Ajit
Jogi said the meeting of the party working committee
would be held in the forenoon tomorrow so that the CWC
members and the party president herself could watch
India’s opening match with South Africa. |
Ticket shortage disappoints Indian fans HOVE, England, May 14 (Reuters) — Thousands of fervent India supporters have been disappointed in their bid to watch their team’s opening match against favourites South Africa on Saturday, because the Sussex county ground holds only 6,000 spectators. “We have had thousands of phone calls. We could have sold the seats a dozen times over,” English Cricket Board official Francesca Watson said. There are some 900,000 people of Indian descent living in Britain and many are as obsessed with cricket as their compatriots back home. World Cup games involving India were the first to sell out and tickets for the Hove match were all snapped up 10 months ago. Although the sleepy town of Hove and the rest of the south coast does not have a sizeable Asian population, thousands had hoped to make the trip from London, just 80 km away. Fans’ frustration is compounded by the match being shown live only on satellite television subscribed to by a minority in Britain rather than on a terrestrial channel. It is the first time the ground, a stone’s throw from the sea and subject to strong channel winds and sudden mists, has hosted a one-day international. “It’s great
publicity for the ground,” Watson said.
“It’s shame we can’t get more people
in.” |
Landmarks beckon World Cup stars MUMBAI, May 14 (PTI) — Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin is well-poised to touch another milestone in his long and illustrious career when India begin their World Cup campaign against strong favourite South Africa at Hove on Saturday. The elegant Hyderabad-born batsman, who has already played in a record 315 limited overs internationals, is only 51 runs short of becoming the first player in the world to complete 9,000 runs in one-day internationals and is also only two catches short of the 150 mark. Several other players, including India’s premier batsman Sachin Tendulkar, are close to achieving personal landmarks in their limited overs careers when the Cup opens today at cricket’s headquarters, Lord’s, with hosts England taking on holders Sri Lanka. A look of the players on the verge of ODI batting, bowling or fielding landmarks prior to the mega event: Australia (1987 winners): A C Gilchrist: needs 39 runs to complete 2,000 runs; needs 20 more catches/stumpings to complete 100 as wicket-keeper. Played in 58 ODI. S R Waugh: needs 159 runs to reach 6,000-run mark, 13 more wickets to complete 200 and 12 more catches to complete a century. Played in 258 ODI. D W Fleming: needs 18 more wickets to complete a century. Played in 51 ODI. P R Reiffel: needs one more wicket to complete 100. Played in 86 ODI. S K Warne: needs 18 more wickets to complete 200. Played in 115 ODI. M E Waugh: needs 19 more wickets to complete 100. Played in 181 ODI. England: D Gough: needs three more wickets to complete 100. Played in 60 ODI. India (1983 winners): M Azharuddin: needs 51 runs to complete 9,000 and 2 more catches to reach 150. Played in 315 ODI. S R Tendulkar: needs 199 runs to complete 8,000 and 22 more wickets to complete 100. Played in 211 ODI. S C Ganguly: has to play one more match to complete 100 ODI appearances. New Zealand: N J Astle: needs 232 runs to complete 3,000. Played in 82 ODI. A C Parore: needs to pouch 20 more catches or effect stumpings to complete 100. Played in 114 ODI. C L Cairns: needs seven more wickets to reach 100. Played in 101 ODI. Pakistan (1992 winners): Ijaz Ahmed: needs 22 runs to complete 6,000 and 17 more catches to reach 100. Played in 226 ODI. Inzamam-ul-Haq: needs 123 runs to complete 6,000. Played in 182 ODI. Moin Khan: needs 105 runs to complete 2,000. Played in 129 ODI. Salim Malik: needs 11 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 279 ODI. Saqlain Mushtaq: needs 13 more wickets to reach 200. Needs to play in two more ODIs to complete 100 appearances. Waqar Younis: needs 17 more wickets to reach 300. Played in 172 ODI. Wasim Akram: needs 322 runs to complete 3,000 and 29 wickets to reach 400. Played in 265 ODI. South Africa: H Cronje: needs 175 runs to complete 5,000. Played in 159 ODI. G Kirsten: needs 185 runs to complete 4,000. Played in 103 ODI. A Donald: needs 10 more wickets to reach 200. Played in 112 ODI. L Klusener: needs 27 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 53 ODI. Sri Lanka (1996 winners): R Kaluwitharana: needs 70 runs to complete 2,000. Played in 112 ODI. A De Silva; needs 17 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 254 ODI. P Wickramasinghe: needs 11 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 111 ODI. West Indies (1975 and 1979 winners): K Arthurton: needs 102 runs to complete 2,000. Played in 104 ODI. Zimbabwe: A D R Campbell: needs to play three more matches to complete 100 ODI appearances. A Flower: needs one more victim to complete 100 as wicket-keeper. Has to his credit 75 catches, 24 stumpings in 105 ODI. P A Strang: needs 45 runs to complete 1,000 runs and 21 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 72 ODI. H H Streak: needs 11 more wickets to reach 100. Played in 73 ODI. Kenya: K Otieno: needs 255 runs
to complete 1,000. Played in 25 ODI. |
Match fixing: Walcott for life ban LONDON, May 13 (PTI) — Former International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Sir Clyde Walcott has called for imposition of life ban on any player found guilty of match-fixing and insisted the message be made clear by the world body before the start of the World Cup (on May 14). “Anyone convicted should never be allowed to play again. Restraints of trade law may prohibit that, but that is my firm belief,’ the former West Indian batting legend and present ICC cricket committee chairman told the British Tabloid “Daily Mirror”. The strong remarks of Sir Clyde, most powerful voices in the game comes close on the heels of the ICC setting up a commission to deal with such acts. “We should take a tough line. Cricket has never had a major case of match-fixing proved, but the whole idea is repugnant,” Sir Clyde told the “Mirror.” Sir Clyde also wanted the ICC to outlaw sledging and felt some of the umpires have been weak in taking action. “I would love to see such things banned,” Sir Clyde, who is here to attend the coming crucial ICC meeting on crowd violence, said. “What they are trying to do is to make the batsman lose concentration and I think umpires should be stern on such things,” he said adding that “some of them have been weak”. The “Mirror” said all players participating in the World Cup had been warned that they would face serious consequences if they were found to be having any dealings with bookmakers, particularly in India, Pakistan and the Gulf. The former ICC chief’s warnings come as match-fixing is assuming wider dimensions with Australian spin wizard Shane Warne making certain allegations against Pakistan players in a recent interview. The Mirror said Sir Clyde remarks were significant in view of the judgement awaited from a Pakistan court probing serious charges of match-fixing against four Pakistan players, including captain Wasim Akram and veteran batsman Salim Malik. Sir Clyde rated Australian players as the worst sledgers and placed England next. He supported the idea of leaving the stump microphones switched on in between overs during World Cup matches. A burning issue in the run up to the championship, Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has supported the idea of leaving microphones “live” throughout the match, but his English counterpart Alec Stewart has opposed it. The two teams clash in the opening encounter on May 14 at the Lord’s. Hailed as one of the three W’s — alongwith Frank Worrell and Everton Weeks — Sir Clyde who managed the West Indies when they claimed their double triumph in 1975 and 1979 did not envisage any crowd trouble during the World Cup, but felt showing action replays of umpiring decisions on giant in-stadia screens could incite the crowd. He said South Africa
appeared to be the favourite and Australia were not far
behind, but felt the semifinal stage could throw up some
dark horses. |
Lara, Williams face fitness tests BRISTOL, England, May 14 (Reuters) — West Indies captain Brian Lara and middle-order batsman Stuart Williams face fitness tests ahead of their opening World Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday. Team manager Clive Lloyd told Reuters Lara would test his injured wrist in a net practice at Bristol’s Nevil road ground tomorrow. Lara, who returned to his best form during Australia’s tour of the Caribbean, had two practice nets this morning and did not mention any problems afterwards, Lloyd said, adding he looked in good form. "We’ll be taking a look at it tomorrow morning. We need to do that, especially as he hasn’t played for a while," he said. The 30-year-old left-hander missed the last three one-day internationals of the seven-match series against Australia and has hardly picked up a bat since. However, it would be unlikely he would be omitted from the team unless his injury was severe. Lloyd said Williams had picked up a leg injury and would also undergo tests tomorrow. He said there were no other injury worries for West Indies. The normally taciturn fast bowler Curtly Ambrose was in a good mood today despite a steady drizzle which forced players off the Gloucestershire ground. "Wonderful weather
you have here in England," he joked as he ran for
shelter during practice. |
India’s record poor in opening matches NEW DELHI, May 14 (PTI) — India, who gear up to take on favourites South Africa tomorrow to commence their 1999 World Cup campaign, will have more than their rivals to contend with as past records show their unflattering performance in opening matches of previous editions. Out of the last six occasions, India lost their opening encounters four times and came up trumps only twice. In 1983, India beat two-times champions and holders West Indies by 34 runs in their first match and went on to lift the cup defeating the same rivals in the final at the Lord’s. India whipped lowly Kenya by seven wickets in their campaign opener in 1996, but their quest for the coveted title ended in controversial circumstances when the semi-final tie against eventual champions Sri Lanka had to be abandoned following crowd disturbance in Calcutta’s Eden Gardens. Hosts England humiliated India by 202 runs in the opening match of the 1975 inaugural edition, while holders West Indies inflicted a crushing nine-wicket defeat on them in 1979. They began their 1987 campaign also on a wrong note, going down by a lone run to ultimate champions Australia. India also suffered a
narrow defeat in their opening tie in 1992 when England
overcame them by nine runs. |
Warne assails Ranatunga LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) — Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne launched a scathing attack on Arjuna Ranatunga today saying he did not like the Sri Lanka captain and the game of cricket would be better off without him. Writing in The Times on the day the cricket World Cup begins with Sri Lanka playing England at Lord's, Warne admitted there was bad blood between Ranatunga and himself. "There is plenty of animosity between Arjuna and myself. I don't like him and I 'm not in a club of one," Warne wrote. He said the decline of Sri Lanka since they won the last World Cup in 1996 could be blamed on Ranatunga. "As far as I am concerned, the problems stem from the captain. Arjuna Ranatunga might be a shrewd, experienced leader but his batting is not what it was and he is terrible in the field." "Frankly, Sri Lanka — and the game overall — would be better off without him." Ranatunga caused controversy in January when he led his team off the field during a world series match in Adelaide after off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had been called for throwing. England captain Alec Stewart described Ranatunga’s conduct as appalling and Warne said: "He was bang on". "I felt sorry for his (Ranatunga’s) teammates because they had to follow him," Warne said. "The trouble is I
don’t know how many more times Arjuna is going to do
the wrong thing and get away with it." |
Kuerten shocks Kafelnikov ROME, May 14 (Reuters) — Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten trounced world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the third round of the Italian Open yesterday while Carlos Moya, Kuerten’s successor as French Open champion, was beaten in straight sets. Kuerten crushed Kafelnikov 7-5, 6-1 and produced some extraordinary baseline tennis on Rome’s red clay to suggest he may once again figure next month at Roland Garros, where he won his first major title two years ago. Moya was beaten 3-6, 5-7 by Argentine "lucky loser" Franco Squillari, who had lost in the qualifiers at the weekend and returned to the frame only when 11th seed American Todd Martin dropped out with an injured shoulder. In the day’s other big tie, US Open champion Pat Rafter produced his best performance for nine months to survive a second set fightback by Andre Agassi and win 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). Kuerten will face Slovak Karol Kucera who came from a set down to beat Britain’s Tim Henman 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in a gruelling floodlit late match which lasted two hours 24 minutes. Australia’s Rafter will meet Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti while Squillari’s prize for defeating Moya is a quarterfinal clash against another Spaniard, world number seven Alex Corretja. Spain’s 15th seed Felix Mantilla against Germany’s David Prinosil completes the quarterfinal line-up. Kuerten, who beat Kafelnikov in the quarterfinals of his triumphant 1997 French Open campaign, broke serve in the first and fifth games of their final set as he raced into a 5-1 lead. He squandered one match point at 40-30 on Kafelnikov’s serve when he overhit a forehand return but created another when he won the next point with a rasping cross-court backhand. The Russian served to stay in the match, Kuerten returned and the ball thudded into the net cord before dropping into Kafelnikov’s side of the court to give the 16th seed victory after an hour and eight minutes. Moya had dropped only nine games in his first two matches but was outplayed by Squillari, ranked 47th in the world. Rafter played faultlessly against Agassi, combining his natural serve-and-volley game with his new-found confidence on clay to take the first set in just 28 minutes with two aces on the final two points. The second set looked to be going the same way when Agassi dropped serve to 30 in the opening game but the rest of the set went with serve as the American found his stride. He saved a first match point at 40-30 on Rafter’s serve and went on to break serve with a brilliant backhand return. The former Wimbledon
champion forced a tie-break but Rafter’s booming
serve won out and the Australian clinched it 7-4 after an
hour and 24 minutes on centre court. |
Hingis sails into last eight BERLIN, May 14 (Reuters) — World number one Martina Hingis cruised through to the quarter-finals of the German Open last night with a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Elena Likhovtseva. Top seed Hingis, chasing her first triumph in the Berlin clay-court event, was leading 4-1 in the second set when a heavy shower halted play. But the sky soon cleared and the 18-year-old Swiss sealed victory. She will now face Austrian Barbara Schett, seeded 16th, for a place in the last four. Schett, a semifinalist in Hamburg earlier this month, beat sixth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 after a close battle. Former world number one Steffi Graf had earlier recovered from a slow start to beat Zimbabwe’s Cara Black 7-6, 6-2 and advance to the last eight. Graf, returning to action after two weeks off with a foot injury, had needed three sets to move past unheralded Sandra Nacuk of Yugoslavia in her first match on Tuesday. Graf goes on to meet France’s Julie Halard-Decugis, who crushed Pavlina Stoyanova of Bulgaria 6-1, 6-0. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, the fourth seed, also qualified by beating Conchita Martinez 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 in an all-Spanish tie. Martinez, seeded 14th in the lion event, won the tournament last year. Sanchez Vicario, warming up for the defence of her French Open title from May 24 in Paris, will now face Serena Williams, the seventh seed, who beat fellow American Lisa Raymond 6-1, 7-6. France’s Amelie Mauresmo, who burst into the limelight by reaching the final here last year, fell to Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir in straight sets, 6-2 7-5. Dragomir, who had knocked out Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna in the previous round, will play Swiss Patty Schynder, the eighth seed, in the quarter-finals. Schnyder was made to
work by Israel’s Anna Smashnova before winning 2-6,
7-6, 6-1. |
Satyapragyan posts thumping win SANGLI, May 14 (UNI) — Orissa lad S Satyapragyan today registered a thumping victory over international master P. Konguvel in the fifth round of the 32nd S.K. Vaidya Memorial International Rating Chess Tournament now underway here. Satyapragyan with 5.0 points is being closely followed by C.S. Gokhale (IA), T.S. Ravi (IOC), IM N. Sudhakar Babu (Indian Bank) and Vishal Sareen (LIC), all having 4.5 points each. Satyapragyan employed sicilian taimanov with black pieces and was up against a maroczy blind set up by Konguvel. Konguvel failed to capitalise on a minor advantage he had in the middle game and a counter-attack by Satyapragyan had Konguvel lost his rook which left his king vulnerable. Satyapragyan exchanged sacrifice and forced a checkmate. IM D.V. Prasad lost unluckily to T.S. Ravi despite employing his favourite sicilian alpine attack but to no avail. As the game proceeded both the players exchanged their pieces. But the draw was awarded to Ravi on his claim by the chief arbitrator. C.S Gokhale defeated N. Sanjay of Central Excise easily by forcing a checkmate. Defending champion Sudhakar Babu taking advantage of oversight by K. Vishshwaran won a pawn. The latter succumbed to Babu’s pressure and lost the match. Vishal Sareen in a
keenly contested match defeated Vikrant Chole when he
latter employed dutch defence. |
Jayalakshmi clinches title LUCKNOW, May 14 (UNI) — Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi won the singles title of the Bank of Baroda ITF Women’s Master Tennis Championship here today. Sai Jayalakshmi defeated Archana Venkatraman in straight sets at 6-1 and 7-5 in 80 minutes and bagged $ 800 while Archana pocketed $ 500. Shruti Dhawan and Sheetal Gautam won the doubles title when Rushmi Chakraborty and Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi conceded the match after first game of the first set due to Rushmi being indisposed. They were leading 1-0 at that stage. Sai Jayalakshmi broke Archana first and third service at 40-0 and 40-15 to take a 4-0 lead. Archana won the fifth game but again her service in seventh game was broken at 40-40, which lost her the first set at 1-6. In the second set, Sai Jayalakshmi and Archana broke each other’s service and levelled the score at 5-5. Sai Jayalakshmi held her 11th game and then broke Archana’s service in twelfth game when she made double fault at 30-40 and lost the set and match at 1-6, 5-7. Archana made four double faults against eleven by Jayalakshmi throughout the match. Sai Jayalakshmi made 34 unforced errors against 39 by Archana. Uttar Pradesh Governor
Suraj Bhan gave away the prizes. |
H
Patiala cricket PATIALA, May 14 (FOC) — Chauhan Cricket Club defeated Friends Club, Samana by 7 wickets to enter the final of the Patiala Hot Weather (U-16) Cricket Tournament played at the MES Grounds here today. Amanpreet Singh, who scored a century in an earlier match, made a fluent 77 for his club. Scores: FCC, Samana: 142 all out (Ashwani 31, Prince Singla 20, Anil 38, Sonu 4 for 17, Rajanpreet 2 for 25). Chauhan CC: 146 for 3 Amanpreet 77 n.o. District cricket meet at Ludhiana LUDHIANA, May 14 (FOSR) — The Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) will conduct the fourth Chaman Lal Malhotra Cricket Tournament (U-16) at the S.D. Government College ground here from May 23, according to Mr Vinod Chitkara general secretary of the association. Entries close on May 21 with Mr Rajeev Bajaj, Treasurer. Players born on or after September 1, 1983, will be eligible to take part in the tournament. Winter Games in Himachal SHIMLA, May 14 (TNS) — The second national Winter Games and the first South Asian Federation Winter Games would be held in Hmachal Pradesh. This was decided in a high level meeting held here today presided over by the Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The Indian Olympic Association has offered Himachal Predesh to organise these events. The national winter Games and South Asian Federation Winter Games would be held simultaneously in the month of January, 2000. The tentative dates for ice skating events have been fixed from January 2 to 6, 2000 and for sking the tentative dates have been fixed from February 3 to 10, 2000. Ice skating events would be organised at Shimla and skiing at Manali. The proposal of Indian Ameteur Boxing Association to hold national championship at Shimla in 3rd week of October, 1999 was also approved. It was further decided to organise "Raid de-Himalya" car rally in Himachal Pradesh this year. The Chief Minister directed that adequate and foolproof arrangements be made to hold these events. He further said that the centre be approached to give liberal financial assistance to the state for organising these events. He further directed that
a committee be set up under chairmanship of Deputy
Commissioner Shimla for organising ice skating events and
for skiing under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner,
Kullu. |
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