By Carl Hooper

KINGSTON (JAMAICA), May 27: I believe India planned to field Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper......more

Pak players will have
to provide a surety
of Rs ten lakh

ISLAMABAD, May 27: Pakistani sportsmen will have to provide a surety of Rs ten lakh if they wish ......more

Gilchrist charged
for comments on
Muralitharan

SYDNEY, May 27: Reacting sharply to vice-captain Adam Gilchrist’s remarks on Sri Lankan spinner .........more

Most open World Cup in
history set for kick-off

SEOUL, May 27: France may be the world champions, Argentina the favourites and South Korea and ....more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: The Division Bench of the State High Court, comprising Justice T S Doabia and Justice S K Gupta......more

Day/Night Cricket Tournament
YCC beat RCC
by 4 wickets

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: Youth Cricket Club defeated Rejuvenile Cricket Club by four wickets in the 3rd Day/Night Cricket Tournament..........more

Madri Meharban
Football tournament
begins from 8th June

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 27: The Madri Meharban Akbar Jehan Junior Football Championship.......more

Venus knocks Lamade into orbit at French Open .....

Kishtwar Sports Federation reconstituted....

Leading positions in ATP men’s rankings.....

Chastened Indians want to lengthen their batting

By Carl Hooper

KINGSTON (JAMAICA), May 27: I believe India planned to field Rahul Dravid as a wicketkeeper in the two one-day internationals at Sabina Park. It came to nought because it hasn’t stopped raining since the test was over last Wednesday. We not only missed a chance to play the two games and keep the winning momentum going, but also to assess first hand how good Dravid is as a ‘keeper.

We know he is a good man to have in front of the wickets. We are not sure how he is behind the sticks. I believe you need to have a specialist wicketkeeper in both forms of the game, be it in the tests or in one-dayers. The Indians obviously want to lengthen their batting as they must be chastened by their experience of tests where batsmen failed them on more than one occasion.

It is not for me to comment on the merit of the choice. I believe if it strengthens a team and makes its chances in a game get better then there is no harm. There is also no point in looking at the negative aspect and wonder if one of your main batsmen could get injured in trying to take up an unfamiliar role.

Unlike in tests, we do not have the first-hand experience of a few specialist Indian one-day players. We saw a bit of Virender Sehwag in Zimbabwe and I believe he is an exciting, destructive batsman in the Tendulkar mode. The Caribbean public would love to see a dasher like him in full flow. I am also looking forward to watching the ability of Yuvraj Singh who is another talented youngster the Indians have.

We have tried to procure videos of Indian players before the one-day series and hopefully we would secure them before the Barbados game. The same was the case before the tests when we tried to get hold of video footage. We must confess we were rather desperate for it. We didn’t get it in time and when we got them it was too late. Fortunately, we have a little bit of first-hand knowledge about most of them and it should come in Ours is mostly a young side and we have tried to assimilate them for a common, collective objective in the last few days. In this respect, rain has been of help in a way. We made sure the younger players are not left to their own devices and allowed to keep a do-not-disturb sign at the door. Rather, we have trained with great intensity together in the gym and tried to make everyone aware of his responsibility.

We are pretty much looking forward to barbados. We don’t want complacency to creep in. We have savoured our test win but it is gone and is history. The important thing was to maintain intensity and train hard at a time when formal practice was not possible. This we managed to our satisfaction.

At the moment, we can’t wait to get out in the park in barbados. We had two boring days because of rain but we could also relax and I had a chance to spend some quality time with my wife and kid. We had a chance to go to the movies and I dealt with a whole lot of pending e-mails.

I didn’t go to Sabina Park in this period, not even to pick up my gear. It was handled by our liaison officer and we were grateful for that. Coach (Roger Harper) did manage to visit the venue a day before the first one-dayer and said the ground was very wet and any chance of play was slim.

I for one have never seen so much rain in Jamaica during my long career. It is un-seasonal and has taken everyone by surprise. I really am struggling to find an instance similar to what we have undergone in the last four days. Even in england, where it rains quite frequently in summer, I can’t recall a situation similar to Jamaica in the last few days.

We are staying in the same hotel as the Indians and it is pretty exciting to see hundreds of fans flocking the hotel lobby and trying to get pictures and autographs of their favourite stars.

Well, we have been to India before and know it is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what it is in the sub-continent. We know Indian fans are fanatical. I don’t socialise much but I was more than happy to sign a few autographs and pose for a few photos with these fans. People have come all the way from India and North America just to see a game and the least we can do is to spend a bit of time in the lobby and speak a few words to them. (PTI)

Pak players will have to provide a surety of Rs ten lakh

ISLAMABAD, May 27: Pakistani sportsmen will have to provide a surety of Rs ten lakh if they wish to represent the country abroad.

The Pakistan’s Sports Authority has initiated this move as many a players have gone missing after stepping on foreign soil.

On one occasion the entire football team defected.

The authority decided on Saturday that parents of sportspersons must deposit the sum before a sportspersons can go abroad to play.

Many feel that this condition as putting a ban on Pakistani players going abroad as apart from cricketers very few sportspersons will be able to afford the guarantee.

Pakistan has been losing a lot of money as many teams have refused to play here due to security reasons. New Zealand cricket team cancelled its tour midway after a massive blast close to their hotel.

Now Australian cricketers are unwilling to come to Pakistan. (UNI)

Gilchrist charged for comments on Muralitharan

SYDNEY, May 27: Reacting sharply to vice-captain Adam Gilchrist’s remarks on Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the Australian Cricket Board today charged the wicketkeeper -batsman under the code of behaviour which pertains to making public comments detrimental to interests of cricket.

ACB laid the charge following Gilchrist’s remarks about Muralitharan’s bowling action that appeared in the media. Gilchrist had answered "yes" when asked if Muralitharan threw the ball while bowling.

ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said he had sought and received an explanation from Gilchrist about his comments. "After reading the statements attributed to Adam, I rang him up and asked him to provide me with more details about the accuracy of the comments and how they came to be in the public domain.

"After considering Adam’s explanation, I have issued a charge under the ACB code of behaviour. An ACB Commissioner will determine whether Adam’s comments are in breach of the code," Sutherland said.

Sutherland said Gilchrist’s comments were not supported by ACB. "Muralitharan’s action has been cleared by the International Cricket Council after an exhaustive review.

"ICC has a rigid and comprehensive process in place to continually assess the legality of bowling actions and ACB supports this process," he said.

The time and venue for the hearing of charge has not been determined as yet. (PTI)

Most open World Cup in history set for kick-off

SEOUL, May 27: France may be the world champions, Argentina the favourites and South Korea and Japan the co-hosts, but there are very few clues as to who will win the most open World Cup in history.

The 17th World Cup kicks off on Friday when France play senegal in Seoul, six years to the day after former FIFA President Joao Havelange announced that the two Asian neighbours would share the honour of staging the tournament.

Since then the Koreans and Japanese have had to put aside a thousand years of rivalry to produce a setting worthy of the greatest event in world sport.

If the dramas that unfold on the field matches the breath-taking beauty of the 20 stadiums being used to stage the games, the World Cup will be one to remember. For the first time since the tournament began in 1930, it is not being held in Europe or the Americas and that fact alone is likely have an impact on the outcome.

Only once, in 1958 when Brazil won in Sweden, has any team triumphed outside their own continent, an achievement that will almost certainly be repeated on June 30.

The Koreans and the Japanese do not expect to win the World Cup and with fellow Asians China and Saudi Arabia unlikely to survive the opening round, the first co-hosted World Cup, the first to be held in Asia and the first of the 21st century is most likely to be won by a European or South American team.

The only threat could come from Africa. Pele predicted an African nation would win the World Cup by 2000 and he might yet be proved wrong by only two years, with African champions Cameroon potentially one of the surprises of the tournament.

First, however, France will have to stumble.

Four years ago as hosts, inspired by a series of superb performances by Zinedine Zidane, France memorably beat Brazil 3-0 in the final to win the World Cup for the first time.

They will defend their crown with something they did not have then — a potent strike force. They won the tournament through midfielders getting forward to score and a rock solid defence.

Now they have players like Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Sylvain Wiltord in attack and look even better than in 1998.

They have lost only three competitive matches in the last nine years and could become the first nation since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to win successive World Cups. Argentina will have other ideas. They romped to victory in the South American qualifying competition and are blistering in attack, with 42 goals in 18 qualifiers.

With Hernan Crespo or Gabriel Batistuta leading the attack supported by Kily Gonzalez, and Ariel Ortega, Juan Sebastian Veron and Diego Simeone in midfield, Argentina have few weaknesses.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa has worked hard at curbing the short tempers that have undermined their progress in the past and although there are questions marks over the defence, Argentina will be too strong for most teams.

Much depends on their first round meeting with England in Sapporo on June 7. England might not have the all-round strength of Argentina, but they could reach the latter stages of the tournament. Much will depend on whether Captain David Beckham is fit enough to play.

With Nigeria and Sweden in the same group, neither Argentina or England are assured of reaching the second round. Whoever finishes second in the group is also likely to play France in the second round, so they face an awesome task.

Traditional powers Germany and Brazil had difficult routes to the World Cup, with the former scraping through the European play-offs and the latter only ensuring their place with a 3-0 win over Venezuela in their final qualifier.

Brazil, of course, are the only country to have taken part in all 16 previous finals and a World Cup without them is almost unthinkable.

They will be desperate to make up for their defeat by France four years ago and Ronaldo, if he is fit, will be on a personal mission to rebuild his reputation after illness forced him to play like a ghost in the 1998 final.

Brazil can never be discounted, but under coach luis "big phil" Felipe Scolari they have abandoned Pele’s "beautiful game" and their more pragmatic style may only see them through to the last eight.

Germany are also going through a period of transition and with several key players ruled out through injury will have one eye on the 2006 finals on home soil.

They look good enough to survive a first round group also comprising Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon, but a quarter-final place would represent a real achievement.

Among those bidding to win the World Cup for the first time , portugal and spain have high hopes, while Italy, under coach Giovanni Trappatoni, believe their 20-year wait for their fourth world title is about to end. They could well be right. (AGENCIES)

PIL for exclusive use of Parade Ground for sports
DB directs Muncipality to maintain all play
grounds in the city

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 27: The Division Bench of the State High Court, comprising Justice T S Doabia and Justice S K Gupta, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Parade Sports Association Jammu directed the respondents that the play grounds located at Parade Jammu be used and maintained only for sports purpose and be not put to any other use except fur function meant to celebrate national festivals.

The judgement written by Justice S K Gupta for the DB referred a judgement of the Supreme Court in case Municipal Council Ratlam Vs Vardhi Chand and others in which the Supreme Court said "we have no hesitation in holding that if these directions are not complied with the Sub-Division Magistrate will prosecute the officers responsible, indeed, this court will also consider action to punish for contempt in case of report by the Sub Division Magistrate of willful breach by any officer".

The DB issued directions that play-grounds would be used for the purpose, it has been earmarked. As a matter of fact, all playgrounds in the city of Jammu whether old or new would be maintained as such. Even round abouts and the central area provided in certain markets, which are accessible to public would also be maintained as open spaces.

The grievences of the petitioners were that Malba has been dumped in the park and this is an encroachment would be taken note of and this would be removed. Malba would not only be removed from the parks but also would be removed from other public parks.

The practise of placing refuse collection bins on the public highways would also be discontinued as this obstructs free movement of the traffic and is a security hazardous also. The DB further observed that there is mixed feeling that the officials of the Municipality permit people to encroach upon public parks, public streets and thereafter soft measures are taken.

The Division Bench directs that the administration shall take steps with a view to dispell this impression. The exercise would be undertaken with a view to mark the area abatting the streets, which vest in the state or Municipality. This boundry would be indicated by markling in red lines.

Thereafter any encroachment beyond this red line would be taken care of by the officials of the Municipality and officials found remiss in performing their duty would be liable for action under Section 188 of the Penal Code as observed by the Supreme Court.

With a view to provide clean environment, the Jammu Municipality shall take steps to plant trees at the boundary of the play grounds. This would held in the removal of air pollution.

For the management of the play grounds the Division Bench directed that the same shall remain with the Municipality and it shall discharge the trust reposed in it to the best of its ability. If financial assistance is required it can seek if from the State and also from the Public Sector Undertakings which are equally keen to meet some of the social commitments.

With these observations, the DB disposed off this PIL. Advocate CM Sharma appeared for the Association whereas Advocate S S Nanda appeared for the Municipality.