 |
|
|
Zaheer, Patel
likely for crunch match
Atapattu keen to maintain winning streak Murali not to play today Malik caught Indians unprepared |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
India’s downfall plotted to perfection Pakistan criticise bonus point system
WFI grapples with pleas
for personal coaches Junior archers win silver in world championship Aslam, Gurdeep enter semis Kamble clinches chess title District
shooting meet on Aug 1 |
|
Zaheer, Patel likely for crunch match
Colombo, July 26 The Indians have no option but to put it across the in-form hosts to keep Pakistan away from the summit showdown, a daunting task for a team which has been struggling to find peak form after a three-month break. Captain Sourav Ganguly’s sound of relief in having all fit men for the tournament has come back to haunt him again as first paceman Zaheer Khan and then middle order batsman VVS Laxman joined the casualty list. Zaheer has recovered to be available for selection but Laxman is through with this tournament as his swollen knee has stiffened to the point where he cannot even bend leave alone play cricket. Laxman’s absence will leave India short by a batsman. It is a psychological trauma for a team whose founding philosophy is to go into a one-day game with seven batsmen. They went for five bowlers yesterday and paid a heavy price. It may now be assumed that Parthiv Patel would be asked to come in as a batsman who would be asked to do the ‘keeper’s role than vice versa. Paceman Laxmipathy Balaji too is certain to face the axe after his dismal figures of none for 61 in seven overs against Pakistan. Zaheer Khan is tipped to regain his place and India were also likely to omit either of the two spinners Harbhajan Singh or Anil Kumble. India’s ails have been on all counts and it is a mix of rustiness and a strange lack of intensity from the players who are returning after a break. Captain Ganguly cracked the whip with some tough words following yesterday’s 59-run defeat against Pakistan and expects his players to pull up the socks before its too late. “The problem is more in the head. But it was the same when we started the last season against New Zealand at home,” he said. “We have played poorly in this tournament. We gave away far too many runs on the pitch than we should have done against Pakistan. If we play this way, we don’t deserve a place in the final,” he said. Three key Indian batsmen — Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh — failed against Pakistan. The three were the lynchpin of Indian batting in the series against Australia and Pakistan last season. Dravid scored in all the previous matches but his cheap dismissal against Pakistan served to underline his importance in the team. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, could not be in a happier position. Their batting is firing well with Sanath Jayasuriya back in form with a cracking hundred the other night. Avishka Gunawardene is a bonus for them in the batting line-up which has players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumara Sangakkara and captain Marvan Atapattu. The Lankan attack is perhaps the best mix in the competition. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan have been experienced campaigners but if anything, they have been upstaged by left-arm pacemen Nuwan Zoysa and new find Ferveez Maharoof. The hosts will no doubt go into the match in a more relaxed frame of mind having assured a berth in the final on August 1, gathering the maximum 12 points from two matches. India were second with seven points and a win tomorrow will take them to the final, even if Pakistan collects the full six points against minnows Bangladesh on Thursday. Hours of play: 2.15 to 5.45 p.m; 6.25 p.m till close of play. — PTI
|
|
Atapattu keen to maintain winning streak
Colombo, July 26 “We have been consistent lately and have won 10 matches on the trot. I think we are beginning to gel well. We would like to continue this form,” said Atapattu after nets today. Atapattu refused to be drawn into speculating whether he would like to meet India or Pakistan in the final. “India has a very strong batting line-up. Pakistan, on the other hand, is very good with their bowlers. They are also a bit unpredictable. As for our opponents in the final, we are not worried about it. We would rather concentrate on our game.” But Atapattu was worried about his players being affected by flu in the past two weeks. “The latest is Chaminda Vaas. He is recovering well but given a choice I would give him a rest. Two days back it was Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Chandana. Earlier, Jayasuriya wasn’t well. So we have had our bad luck with flu but the only silver lining in this, unlike injury, is that it comes and goes.” Atapattu expressed optimism on Kumara Sangakkara being available for tomorrow’s game even though he was running high fever. — PTI
|
|
Colombo, July 26 Sri Lanka, who have already qualified for the final with two wins in the Super League stage, are also likely to be without wicketkeeper-batsman Kumara Sangakkara, who is running a high fever. Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas could also be rested for the day-and-night encounter at Premadasa Stadium. Vaas could be replaced by seamer Lasith Malinga while Romesh Kaluwitharana could come in for Sangakkara, sources said. The absence of the three seasoned players from the Sri Lankan squad would immensely benefit India, who need to win the match in order to make it to the August 1 final. —PTI
|
|
Malik caught Indians unprepared After the defeat against Pakistan, it’s only fair to say that the Indians may not be fatally wounded, but have surely received a serious blow. And if they fail to make amends in the next game, then one is afraid that Shoaib Malik’s innings has already put an end to Indian hopes of playing the final. Batsman Shoaib Malik caught the Indians completely unprepared. In Pakistan, the juniors, who aspire to play for their country, hero-worship the already established stars. These juniors not only go to the extent of copying the actions and mannerisms of the stars, but even go further in replacing their role models in the side as well. Leg-spinner Mustaq Ahmed was a classic example of this trend. He was almost a replica of Abdul Qadir and finally replaced the latter. So is the case with Shoaib Malik. He has not only replaced Saqlain Mustaq as a bowler but has also stunned the opponents with his batting prowess. The Indian team might not have discussed Malik much as a batsman in their team meeting. But Malik has got runs off late and has been pretty consistent too. Yet, the mindset of the opponents would be to treat him more as a bowler than a batsman. Malik looked more in command than any other Pakistan batsman did. He did play the best knock of his life. On a flat afternoon track at the Premadasa Stadium, it was a daunting task for the Indian fast bowlers. Irfan Pathan, who bowled a dream first over by removing opener Imran Farhat, failed to get adequate support from the other end. In conditions like his, pressure from both the ends can only put the batsman on the defence. Balaji seems to have been struggling to put the ball in the right areas. He is rather eager to make quick strides in trying to be more penetrative. Having got a nod ahead of seasoned campaigners like Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, it’s very natural that Balaji’s mind will be to try and get early breakthroughs. His penetration mainly comes through accuracy. The movement or the variations he brings into his bowling must come along with accuracy. At this juncture. Balaji has to work backwards to find the right areas to bowl before looking for wickets. I am sure the seniors would put their heads together for Balaji’s cause. If he finds himself out of the eleven in the next game, it will be big psychological blow for the youngster. The Pakistani bowlers bowled with alacrity. The late evening factor also added that extra bit to the wicket. Although Shoaib Akthar had an ordinary game, his very presence plays as a factor on the batsmen’s minds. The escalating run rate also boost the bowlers and makes them appear more confident. It was a pitiable sight to see the lower order batsmen scampering through to get past the 240-run mark to deny Pakistan the bonus point. I hope the team management had conveyed it to the boys well in advance. It’s unfair to say that the team think-tank had not thought over the bonus points. It has often been seen that the Indians need that vital push to kick-start the winning process. For the crucial game against Sri Lanka, they need to spend more time in the drawing rooms than at the net.
— PTI |
|
India’s downfall plotted to perfection
Colombo, July 26 Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said his team had perfectly implemented the strategy drawn up for the crucial Asia Cup match against India yesterday. “Inzamam was perfect with his planning against Sachin. We wanted to keep him off the strike and succeeded to the extent he scored only 40 runs from the first 27 overs,” said Woolmer as he looked back at that successful outing which Pakistan won by 59 runs. Time and again, Tendulkar was bowled on his pads and two men were kept in the deep behind square leg, resulting in only a single and the strike being transferred to the non-striker. Woolmer also had his plans against Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, aimed at capitalising on his perceived weakness to short-pitched deliveries. “Shoaib Akhtar came round the wicket to Ganguly and aimed short-pitched deliveries at his chest with a short square leg, short mid-on and short midwicket-fielder in place. “We saw what happened to him against Nuwan Zoysa in the league game in Dambulla. He pulled a catch straight to mid-on. When I was with South Africa, we had this plan against him where we tried to pick him on the onside. I could have perhaps helped him if he was one of our boys. But he has to sort it out himself,” said the coach.
— PTI |
|
|
Pakistan criticise bonus point system
Colombo, July 26 “There is a flaw in the bonus point system. We beat India by 59 runs and did not get a bonus point. If India had lost by 20 or 30 runs and got that point, it would have been okay”, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said after the match. Captain Inzamam-ul Haq also expressed his unhappiness over not gaining the crucial point that could make a difference in deciding the second finalist for the title clash on August 1. Pakistan, who had to win the match against India, managed to get only five points and India by making 241 for eight in 50 overs, clinched the important bonus point. Woolmer, who took over from Javed Miandad a month ago, said “We played much better than Sri Lanka. Still there is room for improvement.” — UNI
|
|
London, July 26 Giles completed match figures of nine for 210 to help dismiss the touring side for 267 in their second innings, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul left unbeaten on 97 after his second defiant knock of the game. Giles had struck the crucial blow in the morning session when West Indies captain Brian Lara was bowled for 44 by a delivery which spun sharply out of the foot holes, the slow left-armer’s 100th Test wicket. Debutant Dwayne Bravo (10) then gave Giles a simple return catch and four balls later seamer Matthew Hoggard tempted Ridley Jacobs to edge a catch to Graham Thorpe in the slips. Man-of-the-match Giles had Tino Best and Pedro Collins stumped to complete second-innings figures of five for 81, and with Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff grabbing a wicket each England polished off the tail quickly. Chanderpaul, who made 128 not out in the first innings, defied the bowling in the latter stages but was left three runs short of emulating England captain Michael Vaughan by scoring a century in each innings. Scoreboard England (Ist innings) 568 West Indies (Ist innings) 416 England (2nd innings) 325-5 declared West Indies (2nd innings) Gayle b Harmison 81 Smith lbw Giles 6 Sarwan lbw Hoggard 4 Lara b Giles 44 Chanderpaul not out 97 Bravo c and b Giles 10 Jacobs c Thorpe Banks b Harmison 0 Best st G. Jones b Giles 3 Collins st G. Jones b Giles 2 Edwards c G. Jones Extras: (b-5, lb-9, nb-3) 17 Total:
(all out, 79.3 overs) 267 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-35, 3-102, 4-172, 5-194, 6-195, 7-200, 8-203, 9-247. Bowling:
Hoggard 14-2-65-2, Harmison 21-2-78-2 (nb-3), Giles 35-9-81-5, S.Jones 8-3-29-0, Flintoff 1.3-1-0-1.
— Reuters
|
|
|
WFI grapples with pleas
for personal coaches Patiala, July 26 Even as the federation has disallowed the request of the lone Greco-Roman wrestler selected for Athens, Mukesh Khatri, to take his personal coach to the Olympics, the name of Sukhchain Cheema has been recommended by the WFI to the Sports Ministry as a personal coach to accompany his son Palwinder Cheema, who has qualified in the 120 kg category. Sukhchain’s name was forwarded by the WFI earlier this week. This decision may well spark off a controversy as the WFI has so far been steadfast in its refusal to allow Khatri the luxury of taking his personal coach Rampal Thakran along to Athens. Khatri resides and trains at a Delhi-based akhara, Sonkar Vyamshala, which is run by former Olympian Prem Nath. Interestingly, Prem Nath was named the new WFI secretary after Punjab Director (Sports) Kartar Singh upstaged Mr M.S. Malik as the WFI President in a recent upheaval and both Khatri and Rampal are perceived to be close to the Kartar Singh faction. The WFI top brass has made it clear on numerous occasions in the recent past that only Gyan Singh will go to Athens as the coach of the one-man Greco-Roman squad and that in no way does Rampal figure in the scheme of things. Earlier this week, Palwinder Cheema had shot off identical letters to the WFI and the Sports Ministry in which he urged them to allow his father to go as his coach as he had been training under him since the time he was initiated into the sport. Acting on his letter, the federation forwarded Sukhchain’s name to the ministry. Among the Athens-bound grapplers it is only Cheema who has an outside chance of winning a medal. Keeping this in view, the ministry is likely to grant permission to the freestyle wrestler to take his father along with him. If Sukhchain’s name is cleared by the ministry, the WFI may well have to do a re-think on the Khatri case. In fact, sources said instead of giving in to Khatri’s request of taking a coach of his own choice, the federation may even go to the extent of dropping him and go in for last-minute trials to pick his replacement. On the other hand, observers at the national camp here feel that Sukhchain’s name has been recommended by the federation since he backed Mr Malik when the latter was “ousted” by Mr Kartar Singh. |
|
|
Second-string Brazil win Copa America
Lima (Peru), July 26 It was Brazil’s third title in four Copas, and the team’s seventh overall. It capped an unexpectedly successful campaign by a second-string side. Cesar, who had blocked a shot in the shootout against Uruguay in the semifinals, dove to his right to stop D’Alessandro’s opening attempt for Argentina. Defender Heinze then missed the second shot. However, Brazil made all of its penalty kicks, capped by defender Juan for their seventh Copa title. Adriano, Edu, Diego and Juan all scored for the world champions, while only Cristian Gonzalez and Juan Pablo Sorin netted for Argentina. Brazil had to equalize twice in injury time of each half, the last time in the third minute of second-half injury time by Adriano, the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals. Argentina had only gone ahead in the 87th minute, when replacement striker Javier Delgado’s powerful shot appeared to have won the Albiceleste’s record 15th Copa title. But Adriano’s equalizer began a squabble between both teams on the field when Argentina players took exception to taunts from Brazil’s bench. Referee Carlos Amarilla requested riot police to separate the sides. Midfielder Cristian Gonzalez had put Argentina ahead with a penalty in the 20th after Brazil defender Luisao brought down midfielder Luis Gonzalez inside the box. Luisao then made up for the penalty-kick foul when he headed in a free kick from playmaker Alex a minute into first-half injury time. Luisao would miss his team’s celebrations. He was carried off in the 82nd minute bleeding from the nose following a clash of heads with Argentina captain Roberto Ayala, and immediately taken by ambulance to hospital. Team doctors said Luisao lost his memory but was conscious at the hospital and not seriously injured. For Argentina, which hasn’t won a title anywhere in 11 years, the loss to Brazil’s ‘B’ team could be devastating. Its demanding fans were just starting to get over the first-round elimination in the 2002 World Cup, but now the pressure back home was likely to build up again. Argentina controlled most of the match, pressuring up front and keeping Brazil from threatening. Brazil, with Adriano well defended, could not find spaces to penetrate Argentina’s back line. — AP
|
|
Junior
archers win silver in world championship New Delhi, July 26 Prof Malhotra said the team, comprising N. Ravindra, Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Prabhat Kandir, gave a remarkable performance. The team was accompanied by coaches Dharmendra Tiwary and Purnima Mahato and manager VVSN Rao. The Indian team defeated Malaysia 237-224 in the pre-quarterfinal, Italy 239-231 in the quarterfinal, and Australia 243-235 in the semifinal. However, in the final, India lost to world champions Korea 241-253, albeit after putting up a tough fight. Prof Malhotra said the boys triumphed after battling with 397 archers from Europe and Asia. He said in the qualification FITA round, the boys finished third with a score of 3,844, behind Korea (3,900) and Australia (3,859), while the girls slumped to the eighth position, securing 3,798 points. In the individual Olympic round, Rahul Banerjee defeated archers from Italy and Russia before losing to an Australia archer. Jayanta Talukdar, Ravindhar and Prabhakr Kandir also put up a stiff fight. Prof Malhotra said most of the teams had fielded their top archers, who would be competing in the Athens Olympics too. |
|
Aslam, Gurdeep enter semis Sangrur, July 26 Results (All quarterfinals);
Girls singles U-16: Lubna (Mk) beat Simerpreet (Dhuri) 11-4, 11-5. Zeenia (Sang) beat Manpreet (Dhuri) 11-3, 11-6. Smiran (Sang) beat Ritika (Mk) 11-6, 11-7. Sweta (Sang) beat Akriti (Dhuri) 11-2, 11-7. Boys doubles U-16: Aslam & Gurdeep (Mk & Sang) beat Karan & Ruldu (Sunam) 15-6, 15-4. Mahul & Tajinder (Dhuri) beat Dushiant & Rohit (Sunam) 15-2, 15-3. Inderdeep & Farooq (Dhuri) beat Sandeep & Varun (Sunam) 15-6, 15-7. Zeeshan & Acchardeep (Mk) beat Piyush & Abhishek (Dhuri) 15-6, 15-8. Girls doubles U-16: Shweta & Simran (Sang) beat Arti & Arpana (Sunam) 15-6, 15-7. Trida & Kirti (Dhuri) beat Nandini & Shagun (Sunam) 15-6, 15-4. Richi & Zeenia (Sang) beat Neha & Geetanjali (Sunam) 15-3, 15-9. Lubna & Reetika (Mk.) beat Shivali & Robina (Sunam) 15-6, 15-8. |
|
|
Kamble clinches chess title Patiala, July 26 V.Kamble began with the King’s Indian defence variation which seemed to catch his opponent off guard. By the 20th move R.Bala managed to claw back in to the game and it seemed that he would salvage at least a draw. However, that was not to be as in sudden death Bala blundered by playing d5 after which he lost his queen pawn which opened up the board for Kamble. V.Kamble, who topped the points table with eight points, was followed by K.Ratnakaran and R.P Sharma (both of Southern Railway) both of whom finished with seven points apiece. |
|
|
District
shooting meet on Aug 1 Patiala, July 26
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
