Lankan caption confident to clinch World Cup

COLOMBO, Apr 25: Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga has said he is "more confident and determined" to clinch the World Cup for the second time for his country.

"I must commend the selectors for giving me more or less the same outfit which surprised one and all by pocketing the last World Cup championship," he said before his team’s departure yesterday for London.

"I am quite sure this combination will click again to bring the World Cup once more to Sri Lanka," he added.

On the deterioration in the team’s performance in the recent past, Ranatunga admitted that "poor fielding" during the past one year had spelt disaster for the Sri Lankans. "Certain victories have turned into defeat as a result of poor fielding," he noted.

Stating that the team had been put through "strenuous" fielding sessions, he exuded confidence that the team would be at their "brilliant best" during their World Cup campaign starting next month.

Though he indicated a change in the team batting order, he did not elaborate.

On this year’s annual general meeting of the Sri Lankan Board of Control for Cricket ending in court, Ranatunga said, "it is pathetic".

"What we need is an administration which will work hard to improve the game. But this sort of thing should not have happened, especially with the all-important World Cup round the corner," he remarked.

"Asked whether he planned to retire in the near future, the Sri Lankan skipper said," I will give it a serious thought after winning the World Cup". (UNI)

India to take on with Pak today in Saff Football

MARGAO, Apr 25: Hosts India have an upper hand over Pakistan when they lock horns with their arch rivals in Group "A" of the Saff Football Tournament here tomorrow.

India, who drew their opening encounter against Bangladesh, need only a draw to qualify for the semi-finals, while Pakistan require a victory. Bangladesh with four points from a win and a draw have already qualified.

India look strong on paper with players like Baichung Bhutia, I M Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Bruno Coutinho in their ranks, who can tilt the match in their favour.

But their midfield, particularly Chapman and Vijayan, who were not at their best in the last match, will have to give off their best.

Indian coach Sukhwinder Singh said his boys will play their usual game and go all out for a big win to top the pool though the team needs only a draw to qualify.

"We cannot underestimate Pakistan on the basis of their performance against Bangladesh in the last match as it was their first tie", he said.

Pakistan, who were beaten 4-0 by Bangladesh, will have to tighten up their defence and midfield. Pakistan has lost to India 0-2 in the last Saff Games and 1-3 in the pre-Olympic under-23 tournament here.

Pakistan face an uphill task as four of their players are injured. Defender Pervaiz hurt his leg yesterday, captain Haroon Yousaf is down with fever, while striker Shahid and goalkeeper Muhammad Younis are doubtful starters. (PTI)

Spain sheds under achiever tag to take U20 World Cup

LAGOS (NIGERIA), Apr 25: Finally, a title for Spain.

Always accorded respect going into a tournament, never awarded the trophy at the end, the Spanish at last have a crown to take home.

And all it took was 90 minutes of dominating, visually esthetic soccer and a pair of first-half goals from Pablo Gonzalez to beat Japan 4-0 on Saturday for the FIFA World Youth Championship.

Despite boasting some of the world’s foremost clubs, Spain’s national teams always have been the great underachiever. Except for the 1992 OIympic gold it won on home soil, it has never shone at world level.

"We’re so proud," team captain Pablo Orbaiz said. Everything is whizzing around. The team has played fabulously. Camaraderie and hard work gets you these things."

The victory avenged somewhat Spain’s 1-0 loss to Brazil in the 1985 U20 World Cup final and the pair of goals for Pablo gave him a share of the tournament scoring crown with Mali’s Mahamadou Dissa with five goals.

In the third-place game earlier saturday, Mali defeated Uruguay 1-0 to earn the bronze medal.

As it had been throughout the U20 World Cup, Spain exploded at the start and within four minutes had taken the lead.

Jose Barkero powered a free kick from just inside the area awarded after Japanese keeper Yuta Minami took too many steps with the ball low past an eight-man wall that left Minami stunned.

Japan coach Phillippe Troussier said the goal opened the door for the rout.

"At this level it’s not fair to award free kicks for such things," Troussier said, but agreed that Spain clearly demonstrated it had "a great future."

Six minutes later, Minami had to finger a drive by Spanish midfield Czar Xavi Hernandez from the edge of the box just over the bar. But in the 14th minute Xavi sent a superb lob from midfield to centerforward Pablo, who drew Minami off his line and then rolled the ball low into the far right corner.

His second in the 32nd and Gabri Garcia De La Torre’s tally in the 51st completed the domination.

Japan, playing its first FIFA final and missing Japanese national team regular and playmaker Shinji ono because of accumulated cautions, spent most of the first half chasing the Spaniards, who were cheered on wildly by an estimated 20,000 in the half-filled national stadium.

Spanish coach Inaki Saez Ruiz took the opportunity to reiterate his claim that the major Spanish clubs are ruining soccer in the country.

He says they ignore native talent, and that Saturday’s victory

vindicates my claim that first-division clubs should give these players the opportunity they deserve because have shown they are the best in the world.

Most of the Spanish youth side play in secondary teams barring Xavi Hernandez, who sometimes plays FC Barcelona, a team replete with foreign stars.

Saturday’s game was attended by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Technical Advisor Michel Platini as well as legends Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton.

The Spanish coach touched a tender chord when he dedicated the trophy to his mother, who died the day after Spain’s tournament-opening 2-0 victory against Brazil. He was unable to attend the funeral.

Spain’s Pablo was awarded the championship’s Golden Shoe Award for his five goals. Mali’s Mahamadou Dissa also scored five but had fewer assists.

Earlier, Mali beat Uruguay on a goal by Seydou Keita, who was voted top player in the three-week championship. (AP)

2nd Rajinder Memorial Cricket Tourney
Impressive 9 wickets win for Dogra Club in inaugural tie

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 25: Star studded last year’s runners-up Dogra Cricket Club(DCC) registered an impressive nine wickets win over the Centre Cricket Club(CCC) in the inaugural knock-out tie of 2nd Rajinder Memorial Cricket Tournament, which begun at Parade grounds, here today.

Dogras faced little difficulty in chasing the target of 87 runs which they achieved the goal in just eight overs. Rajesh and Ranjit Bali opened the innings and scored 69 runs for the first wicket partnership. Rajinder remained unbeaten at 30 in 27 deliveries including four boundaries, while Rajesh made 28 in 30 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Pradeep, who came at number three contributed six runs.

Earlier, after winning the toss and decided to bat first, the whole CCC side bowled out at 87 runs in 18.1 overs. The opening was good as Pawan Mehra(20 off 23 balls, 4x4s) and Kuldeep Kumar (21 off 32 balls, 2x4s) started well and gathered 31 runs for the first wicket partnership.

It was followed by a complete dismissal of middle order and tale-ender. Out of them, four batsmen went to the pavilion without opening their account.

Akash was the bowler, who broke the CCC backbone clinching five wickets for 19 runs in his spell of five overs. Whereas, Vickey and Vinayak bagged two and three wickets respectively.

Messrs Raman Vaid and Sadiq were umpires during the match, while Mohan Lal was scorer.

In all, 16 teams from the Jammu district are taking part in the tournament, final of which will be played on May 9 at Parade ground, here.

The organisers of the tournament had all praise for the Manager, M A Stadium, Mr Ajit Singh, who extended them helping hand in organising the tournament.

Gulbadan Memorial Cricket Tourney
One man show by Dhrub sails KCCC to final

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 25: Glorious all round performce by Dhrub pushed KCCC, Jammu in the semi-finals stage when they outplayed Laxmi Cricket Club(LCC), Jammu by 13 runs in the ongoing Martyr Gulbadan Singh Memorial Cricket Tourney being held at Danger in Akhnoor, 28 kms from here today.

Dhrub, who although came late at number seven position, but played a terrible inning, hitting four six in his short stay at the wicket. He scored 38 runs facing just 30 deliveries.

Ashok, who played at number eight position provided good support to Dhrub and contributed 11 runs which was second highest from KCCC. KCCC lost its all the wickets at 113 in the final 20th over.

For LCC, Basant, Ranjeet, Sham and Ashok shared one wicket each.

No doubt, Varinder, 42 (4x4s) and Shallu (1x4)of LCC chased the runs very well, but dismissal of their middle order followed by the total collapse of the tale-ender denied them of a sure victory.

Again Dhrub played a crucial role in KCCC win. He turned the tables in favour of KCCC when he took two important wickets of Varinder (42) and Shallu, who made 31 runs off 28 balls.

It was followed by a dismissal performance by the tale-enders, Rohit, Sham, Vinay and Ranjeet failed to open their account and LCC lost the match by 13 runs.

Shashi bowled well giving just five runs in his spell of four overs. Whereas, Raju and David bagged one wicket each.

Youth Hostels Asso constitutes body for Udhampur

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Apr 25: Jammu and Kashmir branch of Youth Hostels Association of India has constituted its district unit at Udhampur, here today.

The unit was constituted in a simple function wherein the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Mr Mehboob Iqbal was chief guest, while Mr Sansar Chand presided over.

Messrs Ashok Kumar was elected chairman of the unit, while, Devinder Sharma and Ashok Magotra were elected as secretary and treasurer of the district unit respectively.

Later in the evening a meeting was held among the newly elected office bearers and state team of the Association.

Ajit Wadekar defends captaincy of Azhar

LUCKNOW, Apr 25: National Cricket Selection Committee chairman Ajit Wadekar today defended the captaincy of Mohammed Azharuddin, saying that he had led the Indian side well.

"May be Azhar has given a bad performance in a few matches but it does not warrant a change in captaincy," he remarked, adding that a hue and cry being raised over a change of guard was "uncalled- for at this juncture".

He agreed that stand-in skipper Ajay Jadeja had led the team "admirably well" in three matches of the recently-concluded Coca-Cola tri-nation series and described as "unfortunate" the controversy over the captaincy issue.

"Azhar has been given a consistently good performance as captain in the last few years," pointed out Wadekhar, skipper of the national squad in early seventies.

Hoping the controversy would soon come to an end, he said, "we should now look forward to the World Cup matches commencing next month in England."

Wadekar was extremely hopeful of the Indian team doing well in the World Cup. "Ours is a balanced side and there is no reason why we should not perform well," he said.

Asked about the team composition, the selection committee chairman said emphasis was put mainly on "experience and all-round abilities" of the players.

Citing the success of the Kapil Dev-led team which won the Prudential World Cup, he said the 1983 team too had many established all-rounders.

"This team also has a lot of players who excel both with the bat and the ball... Like Ajit Agarkar, Robin Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. I’m sure they are going to do a good job. On the whole, we have selected the best possible side," observed the stylish left-hander of yesteryears.

As to why the committee had preferred Orissa pacer Debashis Mohanty to Bengal youngster Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Wadekar said, "here again experience was the criterion. Shukla is a talented player but due to his lack of experience, Mohanty, an established swing bowler, was given the nod."

Regarding exclusion of local left-arm spinner Gyanendra Pandey, captain of Uttar Pradesh Ranji team, he said, "Pandey is a good player... He can stage a come-back". Further, Gyanendra had no experience of playing in the English conditions, he added.

Expressing happiness that cricket for the disabled had been well recieved, Wadekar, also president of Disabled Cricket Association, said the disbabled cricket team would soon get international exposure. "First the national team will play a three- nation tournament and then paticipate in the World Cup for the disabled," he informed.

Wadekar was in town to attend the prize-distribution ceremony of the three-day inter-state disabled cricket championship today. He is scheduled to fly to London tomorrow. (UNI)

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