MUMBAI, May 14: The cricket board will consider its english counterpart’s proposal to split the England team’s winter tour of India into two parts to help its players spend Christmas at Home.............more

India aiming to set right
their poor record abroad

BANGALORE, May 14: Plying high after a series triumph over the mighty Australians, the Indian cricketers are now aiming to set right their dismal record abroad, in the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe......more

India’s chances are
over, says coach

BANGALORE, May 14: India’s chances of qualifying for the second phase of the Asian zone pre-World Cup round are over and the last fixture against Brunei will only be of academic interest, coach.....more

Proposal to name
stand at Wankhede
after Sachin

MUMBAI, May 14: The Mumbai Cricket Association will take a decision tomorrow on a proposal to ....more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: Host 33 Battalion lifted the overall trophy in the CRPF Inter-Bn Wrestling competitions .......more

First phase of stadium at
Gurah Salathia completes

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: In the record time of near three months, the J&K State Sports Council has completed the ......more

Surinder gets another
chance, called by coach

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: Surinder Singh Bagal of Jammu has got another chance of playing........more

Guru Govind Singh Club
wins cricket tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: Host Guru Gobind Singh Cricket Club won the final of the cricket......more

BCCI to consider Christmas break

MUMBAI, May 14: The cricket board will consider its english counterpart’s proposal to split the England team’s winter tour of India into two parts to help its players spend Christmas at Home.

The proposal will be discussed at the board’s technical committee meeting in New Delhi on May 16.

The England and wales cricket board has requested a 26-day break between the two series to help its cricketers go back to their families during Christmas and wanted a 26-day break between the test and one-day series, according to a cricket board source here today.

"They wanted the test series to be played from December 3 to 23 and leave for home on December 24 and be back in time for the one-dayers from January 22 to February 3, 2002, the source added.

The Indians will return from their tour of South Africa on November 28 before taking on the englishmen at home.

Meanwhile, BCCI executive secretary Shard Diwadkar and selection committee chairman Chandu Borde confirmed here that the Indian team for the Zimbabwe tour from May 28 to July 7 would be picked at Bangalore on May 17. (PTI)

India aiming to set right their poor record abroad

BANGALORE, May 14: Plying high after a series triumph over the mighty Australians, the Indian cricketers are now aiming to set right their dismal record abroad, in the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

As the probables engaged themselves in fitness and fielding drills at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the six-day conditioning camp began yesterday, skipper Sourav Ganguly said a series victory over Zimbabwe would set right a "lot of things."

"Our aim is to win a series abroad which will set right a lot of things," Ganguly said and emphasised the need for India to play competitive cricket and as a team to the hilt.

He warned against any complacency, saying that Zimbabwe should not be taken lightly. "They are a good side and have home advantage...Last time we lost a test match which we should have won."

"The team is working on its fitness since it has a hectic international schedule ahead," he added.

Coach John Wright said the focus was on fielding, catching, running between the wickets and improving fitness levels of players. He was interacting with players to find the reasons for India not performing well overseas.

"We have to play the same way as we played against Australia. If we play up to our potential, we can beat good sides," he said.

The Indian team is to be announced on May 17. (PTI)

India’s chances are over, says coach

BANGALORE, May 14: India’s chances of qualifying for the second phase of the Asian zone pre-World Cup round are over and the last fixture against Brunei will only be of academic interest, coach Sukhwinder Singh said today.

‘Our chances are over....This (next year’s World Cup) was the best chance to qualify,’ Sukhwinder Singh told PTI here after the team arrived early today from Bandar Seri Bagawan, where it beat Brunei 1-0 in a pre-World Cup Football qualifier.

In the Asian Zone group 8, India has eight points from five matches. Yemen leads the group with 11 points, followed by UAE, also with eight from five matches.

He said the fight for qualifying from the group is now between Yemen and UAE.

Yemen, which stunned favourite UAE 2-1 in an away match over the weekend, just needs a draw in its final game to enable it to join Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, Qatar and Bahrain in the second phase.

Sukhwinder Singh said India’s away match against UAE proved to be the turning point.

‘If we had drawn with UAE, our chances would have been very much alive. But we played with 10 people. We also missed (skipper Baichung) Bhutia for 35 minutes (he was shown two yellow cards to be sent out of the match),’ he said.

The coach said India was in a position to win its away matches against Yemen and UAE but missed opportunities that came its way.

Sukhwinder Singh disagreed with a suggestion that India should have scored more goals against Brunei, which is yet to open its account.

‘You cannot go by the past performance...Brunei is also improving with each game’.

He said India played good football and its performance was consistent throughout the tournament and that gave him satisfaction.

On the lessons learnt by India in the tournament, Sukhwinder Singh said India needs to concentrate more and prepare well. ‘But we played well and continue to do so’.

India plays its last group engagement, return match against Brunei at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on May 20. (PTI)

Proposal to name stand at Wankhede after Sachin

MUMBAI, May 14: The Mumbai Cricket Association will take a decision tomorrow on a proposal to name the North stand at the Wankhede Stadium here after Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, who was recently awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan award by the State Government, will be felicitated by MCA on May 23 for scoring 10,000 runs in the limited over version of the game.

The Mumbai star became the first cricketer in the world to achieve the feat during the recent home series against Australia. (PTI)

33 Bn lifts CRPF Inter-Bn Wrestling trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 14: Host 33 Battalion lifted the overall trophy in the CRPF Inter-Bn Wrestling competitions which concluded at M A Stadium, here this evening.

Second place went to 21st Battalion, while 136 Battalion finished third in the medal tally.

Prominent among those present on the concluding day were Mr K R Bangra, Commandant 79 Bn, Mr Hawa Singh, Commandant 74 Bn, Mr R K Choudhary, Deputy Commandant 132 Bn and Pardeep Singh Kailey, Assistant Commandant 136 Bn.