Kiwi selectors in quandary

CHRISTCHURCH, Mar 7: New Zealand found itself in a selection quandary after the selectors delayed naming the squad for the second test against South Africa by 24 hours today.

Looking to pick at least two batsmen including an opener and a bowler from New Zealand A’s game against the visitors, lack of good first innings performance forced the selectors to delay naming the squad until tomorrow.

Fringe batsmen Bryan Young (36), Mathew Sinclair (14) and Mark Bailey (0) were disappointing in New Zealand A’s 276 for nine declared. This was in reply to South Africa’s 403 for six declared on the first day.

Sinclair, the season’s highest run-getter with 783 runs at an average of 77 is the only uncapped batsmen in contention.

Bailey toured West Indies in 1995-96 as a replacement while opener young is a veteran of 33 tests and appeared in the away series against Sri Lanka last year.

The three-man panel has been forced to dig deep after skipper Stephen Fleming delayed his return after a groin surgery.

Fleming, was expected to return to the side for the Thursday’s second test but has been advised against it.

Also on the injured list are Craig McMillan (broken hand) and opener Matthew Bell, who is suffering from a viral infection he picked up during the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia last year.

Left-arm swing bowler Shayne O’Connor enhanced his chances of being picked in the 12-man squad by claiming 4-27 in the South African second innings of 98 for four at stumps on the second day.

He was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Dale Benkenstein and Daryll Cullinan with successive balls, but Jonty Rhodes thwarted his hopes.

O’Connor, who played the last of his six tests in Sri Lanka in 1997-98, took 1-109 in the first innings.

"It is disappointing that the players we are looking at haven’t come through," said New Zealand coach Steve Rixon.

"The selectors have given the players another chance in the second innings," he added.

In South Africa’s low key approach to the game, the visitors used four wickets keepers Cronje, Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Shaun Pollock.

Bailey was contentiously ruled out to give Pollock his 300th first-class wicket. The no.4 batsman was given caught off his shoulder before lunch on the second day.

Gary stead top scored for the home side with 70 while Robbie Lawson hit 57. Black medium paceman Victor Mpitsang returned the best bowling for South Africa with 3-51. (AP)

Russians set world relay record

MAEBASHI, JAPAN, Mar 7: Russia’s 1,600-metre relay team, anchored by Natalya Nazarova today, shattered the world indoor record Sunday at the World Indoor Championships with a time of 3 minutes, 24.25 seconds today.

The time broke the mark of 3:26.84 set by the Russian at the 1997 world championships in Paris and was the first world record at this year’s meet.

Preceding Nazarova on the relay were Tatyana Chebykina, Svetlana Goncharenko and Olga Kotlyarova. Chebykina and Goncharenko also ran the first two legs on the 1997 record team. (AP)

Karnataka thrash Bihar by innings, 87 runs in semis

BANGALORE, Mar 7: Defending champions Karnataka entered the semi-final stage of the Ranji Trophy in style, beating Bihar by an innings and 87 runs on the final day of their super league match here today.

With this win Karnataka have 29 points and top the table in Group "C".

Resuming on 120 for six in their second innings after being forced to follow on, Bihar were bundled out for 183 as Sunil Joshi picked up five wickets for 48 runs - his ninth five-wicket haul in Ranji Trophy.

The visitors had scored 227 in their first innings in reply to Karnataka’s first innings score of 497.

The final day’s proceedings lasted 87 minutes, which saw 25.5 overs bowled. (PTI)

Disillusionment hits young Olympian boxer

NEW DELHI, March 7: Olympian and one of country’s finest flyweights 27-year-old Dharmedra Singh Yadav claims that he is facing disillusionment and obscurity as far as his boxing future at his work place—Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) goes.

Talking to UNI , Yadav who had the distinction of being the youngest Arjuna Awardee , said "I was not even considered for the Police Games which concluded late last year in Haryana ."In fact I did not even figure in the pre-fight training camp." Yadav who works as an inspector in the CISF was not even aware that his colleagues had already fought their matches and had come back, until one of them told him.

Also Yadav says that he is no longer with the sports cell of CISF unlike his colleagues six of them who are Arjuna awardees despite being fighting fit.

Last year in July Yadav had shot off a letter to the Assistant Inspector General (sports and training) for his attachment to the sports cell at the headquarters. Yadav who had bagged the most promising boxer trophy at the World Cup in 1990 is still waiting for the reply.

Another plea through a letter dated August 98 followed by Yadav this time to the Director General, CISF alleging that his superiors are "creating obstacles for me" DG have told him "forget about boxing, do the job".Copies have been sent to the Home Ministry and several other offices. Yadav is still waiting for action and today is foxed over why all this is happening to him.

Yadav is easily the most decorated of pugilists the country has ever produced. He has won medals in tournaments held in Cuba, the Mecca of amateur boxing. Went down fighting in Barcelona Olympics on points. Participated in two World Cups. Auckland Commonwealth Games Bronze, SAF Games Silver, Gold at the Indo-USSR test series in 1990—the list is endless.

After Dingko Singh, who won the Gold at the Bangkok Asian Games last year was asked about his idol. Singh said the only inspiration and idol was Yadav. (UNI)

J&K Players Forum felicitates medal winning teams

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 7: Jammu and Kashmir Players Forum has congratulated the State Handball, Fencing and Kayaking Canoeing teams for winning medals in the 5th National Games which concluded at Imphal in Manipur, recently.

The Forum also appealed to the State Government to provide basic infrastructure to such games and incentives to the players, who have brought laurels to the State.

18 members state hockey team for nationals

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 7: Jammu and Kashmir Hockey Association has announced the 18 members state team for the forthcoming 59th Senior National Hockey Championship to be held from March 11 to 25 at Hyderabad.

According to a handout issued by the association the team included Mohd Amin, Satvir Singh, Gurdeep Singh, lakhvinder Singh, Inderpal Singh, Bachiter Singh, Jagtar Singh, Sukhvinder Singh, Parvinder Singh, Charanjit Singh, Gurjit Singh, Rajidner Singh, Surinder Paul Singh, Kulbeer Singh(senior), Amarjit Singh, Kulbir Singh(junior), Gurnam Singh and Inderjit Singh.

Mr Jagjit Singh, general secretary of the Association will be the manager of the team, while Mr Vijay Pal will be coach.

To boost the morale of the team, the president of the Association, Mr Narinder Batra has announced cash incentives for the team. He said Rs 2,000 will be awarded to each player, if they qualify the pool and Rs 5,000 to each of them if they reaches the final stage.

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