AHMEDABAD, Dec 4: Having taken a one-zero lead in the five-match series, India are likely to opt for the left arm spin of S Sriram rather than Reetinder Singh Sodhi’s medium pace as they take on Zimbabwe in the second one-day cricket international at Motera here tomorrow...............more

Pakistan shows
readiness to play
India in Bangladesh

KARACHI, Dec 4: Pakistan, which had threatened to skip every tournament where India featured following New Delhi’s refusal to allow its team to play across the border, has relented, showing interest in playing a triangular series in Bangladesh even if India participated in it.........more

South Africa complete
series victory against
New Zealand

PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Dec 4: South Africa clinched the series against New Zealand today with a seven-wicket win on the fifth day of the second test at St George’s Park.........more

Steve Waugh admits
brother’s plight affected
his own game

PERTH, Dec 4: Australian captain Steve Waugh has admitted pressure on twin Mark adversely.....more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Three days Bharat Scouts and Guides camp organised by the Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary school for ‘Parvesh and ......more

Majalta Club wins
Durga Dass Memorial
Cricket Tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Majalta Cricket Club won the Pt Durga Dass Sharma Memorial Cricket Tournament beating .........more

Degree College boys,
Ram Nagar girls win
in Distt Volleyball

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 4: Degree College, Udhampur boys and Ramnagar girls claimed the titles beating.....more

3 Valley cueists clear pools for first time
Pre-quarterfinals position
cleared in Senior Snooker

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: With the end of the first round of league matches of eight different pools, the....more

A Pool-F league match of the 60th Senior National Hockey between Chandigarh and Bhopal in progress at K K Hakhu Astro Turf Stadium at Jammu on Monday. -Excelsior/Ashok

Sriram likely to replace Sodhi for 2nd one-dayer

AHMEDABAD, Dec 4: Having taken a one-zero lead in the five-match series, India are likely to opt for the left arm spin of S Sriram rather than Reetinder Singh Sodhi’s medium pace as they take on Zimbabwe in the second one-day cricket international at Motera here tomorrow.

Skipper Saurav Ganguly told reporters after nets today that he was satisfied with the condition of the pitch and there might be some turn in the later stages of the match and hence "we might play Sriram who can bowl left arm spinners in place of (seamer) Sodhi."

‘However, the final decision on the playing eleven will be taken only after inspecting the pitch tomorrow morning’, he added.

Sriram hurt his right cheek during fielding practice and needed two stitches. However, Ganguly later clarified that the injury was not serious and Sriram, an opener, would play as a middle order batsman if selected.

Off spinner Nikhil Chopra, whose name also figured in the betting and match-fixing controversy along with five other cricketers, and opening batsman Shiv Sunder Das would be left out along with Sodhi or Sriram.

Asked about the controversy surrounding Chopra, Ganguly said ‘it is for the board to sort out the matter. As far as I am concerned when he (Chopra) is in the 14-member squad he is very much a part of the team’.

"I don’t want to be part of any controversy and it is better you ask the board for further clarifications’, Ganguly said to a query on Chopra’s selection in the Indian team.

About tomorrow’s clash, he said it always feels good to go into any match one up in the series.

Praising middle order batsman Hemang Badani’s fine batting in the first one-dayer at Cuttack which India won by three wickets, Ganguly said ‘he (Badani) has got runs whenever he played for the country and it was good to see him win the match for us’.

"After Rahul Dravid’s run out, Badani not only took the initiative but also guided the team to victory with an unbeaten half century’, Ganguly added.

‘It is very good for the team and I hope the youngsters come up with more and more such performances in future as it is not humanly possible for just three or four batsmen to perform all the time’, he said.

About the poor fielding by the Indian team in the last match where as many as eight catches went abegging, Ganguly said the catching was very poor and ‘I just could not believe the end result despite fielding poorly’.

"However, it (bad fielding) will not happen again’, he added.

Coming back to Chopra’s selection in the Indian team, Ganguly said ‘the Board told us he (Chopra) was available for selection and that is how he came into the side." (PTI)

Pakistan shows readiness to play India in Bangladesh

KARACHI, Dec 4: Pakistan, which had threatened to skip every tournament where India featured following New Delhi’s refusal to allow its team to play across the border, has relented, showing interest in playing a triangular series in Bangladesh even if India participated in it.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, has said Malaysian cricket officials were trying to stage a triangular series in Dhaka in January with Pakistan, India and Bangladesh as participants.

"So far nothing is confirmed, no itinerary has been finalised and I’m not very hopeful India will play. But if they do, Pakistan will have no problems going to Dhaka,"

He said the Malaysian Cricket Association had taken the initiative of organising the series in Dhaka after their plan to host one in Kuala Lumpur fell through because of the short time available to have international facilities ready in time for the event.

"We’ve no part to play in the organisation of this event. It’s Malaysia who are doing everything and if they succeed in their move, good luck to them."

PCB chairman’s statement about playing India has come as a clear shift from his earlier threats that Pakistan would consider breaking all ties with India.

The idea to host the triangular series in Dhaka has come about after India refused to visit Pakistan this winter, and also after Pakistan shot down a proposal to play host to Bangladesh in an alternate test series. (PTI)

South Africa complete series victory against New Zealand

PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Dec 4: South Africa clinched the series against New Zealand today with a seven-wicket win on the fifth day of the second test at St George’s Park.

Opening batsman Gary Kirsten shepherded South Africa to their second win of the three-match series, making 47 not out after South Africa had been set a small target of 86.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming blamed his side’s defeat on a "disastrous session" yesterday, when New Zealand lost five wickets between lunch and tea before being bowled out for disappointing 148.

"You just can’t afford that against a good side," he said.

Fleming admitted his team had been affected by a string of injuries and by the difficulty of playing against a strong South African team.

"With the frustration, the pressure builds," he said. But he said he was pleased with the progress made by young players like Chris Martin, Brooke Walker and Kerry Walmsley, who had come in for injured bowlers.

South African captain Shaun Pollock, after his first test series win since taking over from the sacked Hansie Cronje in April, paid tribute to a fighting performance in which South Africa had struggled in the first innings.

"It’s great to have wrapped it up in the second test. It was a big effort to bowl New Zealand out in the second innings," he said.

Pollock said the match had been evenly poised before a 136-run eighth wicket stand between man of the match Neil McKenzie and Nicky Boje enabled South Africa to take a 63-run first innings lead.

"If you are going to be one of the best sides in the world, you have to be able to fight back," he said.

As in the first test, which South Africa won by five wickets, the New Zealand bowlers and fielders showed spirit in defending a small target.

After dismissing Boeta Dippenaar sunday, they claimed the wickets of Jacques Kallis (26) and Daryll Cullinan (11) before conceding defeat.

Kallis struck five boundaries and was looking in good form until he top-edged a hook against Martin and was caught at deep backward square leg.

Cullinan drove at an inswinger from Walmsley and was bowled between bat and pad.

The third test starts in Johannesburg Friday.

South African fast bowler Allan Donald is a doubtful starter for the final test because of a stomach muscle injury. Mfuneko Ngam, 21, from Eastern Province, is on standby and is likely to win a first cap.

South African physiotherapist Craig smith said Donald would not play if there were any signs of the injury on the day before the game. (AFP)

Steve Waugh admits brother’s plight affected
his own game

PERTH, Dec 4: Australian captain Steve Waugh has admitted pressure on twin Mark adversely affected his own performances during the first two cricket tests against the West Indies.

Waugh gave an insight into Mark’s troubles when revealing his own pride as his brother scored a fighting century in the second test here on Saturday.

Mark Waugh’s 119 relieved some of the strain which he had been experiencing for the last five weeks, giving a clear sign he would not let corruption allegations end his 105-match test career.

"It was really important for him. He’s been under a lot of pressure but he had self-belief," Steve Waugh said today.

"I feel more emotions for mark than other players being brothers and you feel a bit more about what’s happening and how he’s going.

"It’s probably affected my game a little bit as well".

"It’s not easy going into matches when Mark is under a lot of scrutiny and he’s part of the family.

"It’s been tough all round but to get a hundred like this against a good quality attack and in difficult circumstances — I’m really proud of how he’s played."

Mark Waugh has denied allegations from an Indian bookmaker that he once accepted 20,000 US dollars in exchange for match information.

He admitted five years ago to accepting 4,000 US dollars, but he said the latest allegation was incorrect, insisting he had nothing more to add to evidence he gave to two previous inquiries into match-fixing. (AFP)

Three-day Bharat Scouts and Guides Camp held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 4: Three days Bharat Scouts and Guides camp organised by the Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary school for ‘Parvesh and Tritya’ test in collaboration with Tawi Welfare Society (TWS) at Apna Van, village Sure Chak in Tawi Island, concluded here today.

Earlier, Mr R C Gupta, general secretary, TWS welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the importance of such camps. Chief guest, Mr O P Sharma, president, TWS and Dr Surinder Kohli, managing director, Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School also spoke on the occasion.

Mrs Shakti Kohli, Principal of the school extended vote of thanks.

During the camp, training was given by Fazal Ahmed, HWB Scout Master and Ms Gurmeet Kour, Guide captain.