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Steve Waugh SYDNEY, Nov 26: Australian test captain Steve Waugh, one of the greatest batsmen in cricketing history who also won millions of Indian hearts for his charity work, today announced his retirement from international competition at the end of the upcoming series against India. ............more Indian bowlers suffer Victoria onslaught MELBOURNE, Nov 26: The Indian bowling attack was made to look mediocre by Australia’s first-class cricketers as Victoria Bushrangers amassed 348 for five on the second day of the three-day cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here today. ..........more Sachin
nominated KOLKATA, Nov 26: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has been chosen for the officers’ choice cricketer of the year 2003, while skipper Sourav Ganguly has been named the best captain of the year. .........more Reactions
Tendulkar SYDNEY:Batting star Sachin Tendulkar today said Australian test captain Steve Waugh’s decision to quit international cricket after the upcoming four-match series will be greeted with sadness in India.............more |
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Olympic flame to make first ever passage through India Excelsior Sports Correspondent New Delhi: Nov 26: India's Capital City, which has never hosted an Olympic Games, suddenly finds itself in the exclusive company of all former summer ......more Council’s Billiards hall in Srinagar non-functional Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: The Billiards Hall, situated within the indoor complex at Srinagar is locked for the last near one year and the players who approached the concerned authorities........more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: Jaideep Manocha and Tariq Maqsood of Srinagar today registered easy wins to enter the next round of senior snooker in the ongoing 13th State and inter-district Billiards and Snooker Championships being .....more Rajouri to host divisional level inter-distt hockey Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: District Rajouri has been assigned the job to host divisional level inter-district hockey (boys and girls) tournaments in under-18 and under-17 ......more |
Steve Waugh announces retirement SYDNEY, Nov 26: Australian test captain Steve Waugh, one of the greatest batsmen in cricketing history who also won millions of Indian hearts for his charity work, today announced his retirement from international competition at the end of the upcoming series against India. The 38-year-old Waugh, a living legend who turned the Australians into an invincible team in world cricket, will bring his illustrious 19-year-old career to an end after the fourth test in early January. "My present form and fitness suggests I could play on but all good things must come to an end and i believe sydney is the perfect place," Waugh told a press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground, televised live throughout Australia. "I want to leave the game on a high and I just think the time is right now," said Waugh, who led Australia to phenomenal 40 test wins from 53 matches, which included only eight defeats and five draws. The Australian captain, a role-model for aspiring cricketers the world over, compiled 10,660 runs in 164 tests at an average of 51.25, being the second highest run-getter behind compatriot Alan Border. He is second to Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar (34) in century makers list with 32 hundreds, three more than Australian great Don Bradman. His records in the shorter version of the game was equally impressive, collecting 7569 runs in 325 matches at an average of 32.90. Waugh, who made his debut in international cricket in 1985-86 against India, will end his distinguished career against the same country, should he be selected for the four-match test series starting on December 4 in Brisbane. "The upcoming Sydney test will be my last for Australia should I be selected to play," he said. During his 19-year international career, Waugh achieved several distinctions, which included leading Australia to a record 16 consecutive test wins and clinching the World Cup in 1999. Known to produce his best when the team is in dire straits, Waugh’s test best of 200 came under trying circumstances against the West Indies at the Sabina Park in April 1995. An emotional Waugh said though he was bit "sad" while taking the decision, he would engage himself in doing other things, which include some more philanthropic works in India. "There is that element of sadness," Waugh said. "But the overwhelming emotion for me is there is a lot more to do in life and I am looking forward to it." The Australian test captain said he was keen to raise more funds to start a new school in India after his retirement. Waugh, who has scored 823 runs from 14 test matches at 41.25 against India, is an immensely popular figure in India for charity work in Udayan, a home for children of leprosy partients located in the outskirts of Kolkata. Fondly called as "Steve Da" by the inmates of Udayan, Waugh said that the children’s home will be the "pursuit of my life". Today’s announcement put an end to speculation over Waugh’s cricketing future though the player seemed to be in an imperious form hitting 729 runs at a staggering average of 130 in his last nine test matches. There was no immediate announcement on a successor, but Waugh said he believes one-day captain Ricky Ponting is most likely to be the next test skipper. "The obvious choice is Ricky Ponting," he said. "He has done a great job with the one-day side. He has been groomed to take over." Waugh said he was now looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Lynette, and three children. "Lynette, Rosy, Austin and Lily have supported my cricket ambitions in a selfless manner," he said. "I now look forward to spending more time with them in a more traditional family unit. "I just feel right now I am playing consistent cricket, I’m really enjoying my cricket. My family and friends will be the re in Sydney, it’s a great place to finish and i think now is the right time," the veteran said. For Waugh, a series win in India remains the final unfulfilled conquest of his test career. Wishing his team-mates well for the 2004 tour of the sub-continent, he said, "it is still going to be a great challenge to the guys going to India next year, and I’ll be supporting them and watching them and hope they do well. I just won’t be there." |
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Indian bowlers suffer Victoria onslaught MELBOURNE, Nov 26: The Indian bowling attack was made to look mediocre by Australia’s first-class cricketers as Victoria Bushrangers amassed 348 for five on the second day of the three-day cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here today. The visitor’s got a taste of the tough task ahead of them in the upcoming series on the very second day of their tour opener as the Victoria batsman, led by Brett Hodge, tore the bowling apart. Hodge, who has scored 2,300 first-class runs this year including 1,467 runs for Leicestershire in the English County, scored a swashbuckling 153 not out to record his 10th century of the year. After the Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly declared the innings on the overnight score of 266 for nine, the Indian bowlers began on a steady note restricting the host to 67 for one in the first session before lunch. But that was to be the only high-point of the day for the visitors as Hodge, first with test discard Matthew Elliot and then with Jonathan Moss, launched an attack on the Indian bowlers. The pounding of the Indian attack was so brutal that the home team gathered 126 runs between lunch and tea and then came back to collect 155 runs in the final session. The Victoria batsmen were most severe on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who gave away 117 runs from his 27 overs. It was an even battle in the morning session as the Indian new bowl bowlers concentrated on a steady line instead of generating pace. Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who is coming back after a long injury lay-off, gave the visitors an early breakthrough when he made opener Jason Arneberger (8) edge an outgoing delivery to vice captain Rahul Dravid in the slips. Hodge, who joined Elliott (48) at the crease at the fall of the opening wicket on 21, then ensured that there were no more casualities in the morning session adding 64 runs for the second wicket in the bargain. Elliott was unlucky to fall two runs before his half century as Aakash Chopra held on to a sharp chance at silly point of Harbhajan. This brought together Hodge and Moss at the crease, who took full advantage of the Indian attack which erred in line and length as well. So impressive was the partnership between the duo that their 107 run association came in just 135 balls. Moss made 42 from 72 balls in 88 minutes and hit six fours. It was a brilliant piece of fielding by Harbhajan off his own bowling which saw moss return to the pavilion. The batsman came down the track to drive the off-spinner who fielded the ball and then fired in a return directly on the stumps. But Hodge continued to play his strokes and picked Harbhajan Singh for special treatment and even went down on his knees to smack the off-spinner from outside the off-stump over the mid-wicket fence for a six. India had a chance to get the breakthrough when Hodge, immediately on completion of his century, drove at a Ashish Nehra delivery away from his body and Harbhajan took a nicely judged catch in the covers, only to find to his dismay that it was a no-ball. The Indians then were really pounded in the final session as Hodge and international cricketer Ian Harvey only dealt in boundaries on a wicket which became slower and slower and offered the bowlers little help. Hodge and Harvey put on a century stand for the sixth wicket in the closing minutes of play in just 107 minutes. As the Victorian player flowed into their strokes, India’s fielding became extremely ragged and overthrows and misfields became the order of the day to the skipper’s dismay. (PTI) |
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Sachin nominated Officers’ Choice Cricketer of the year 2003 KOLKATA, Nov 26: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has been chosen for the officers’ choice cricketer of the year 2003, while skipper Sourav Ganguly has been named the best captain of the year. Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, following his awesome 673 runs in 11 World Cup matches, has been chosen as the cricketer of the year 2003, while Sourav Ganguly was adjudged the best captain for the period for India’s performance under him in the World Cup in South Africa, an official release said here today. From 1998, the first year of the publication of ‘Officers’ Choice Cricket Year Book’, five cricketers Sachin Tendulkar (1998 2003), Steven Waugh (1999), Sourav Ganguly (2000), Muttiah Muralitharan (2001) and Rahul Dravid (2002) have been been chosen for this award. The year book has also hit the stands, the release added. (UNI) |
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Reactions Tendulkar hails "gutsy" Waugh SYDNEY: Batting star Sachin Tendulkar today said Australian test captain Steve Waugh’s decision to quit international cricket after the upcoming four-match series will be greeted with sadness in India. Hailing the 38-year-old Waugh as the one who set great examples for cricketers, Tendulkar said he admired the player for playing the game at a completely different level. "I think he set great examples in the way cricket should be played and in tough conditions he would produce some tremendous performance," Tendulkar told ABC radio today. "Anyone would want to play like him - he was completely at a different level as far as mental toughness is concerned," Tendulkar said. Retirement greeted with mixed emotions SYDNEY: Australian test captain Steve Waugh’s decision to quit cricket after the upcoming home series against India was today received with mixed emotions in the country with Prime Minister John Howard terming it as a "momentous day for Australian cricket". "One of the greatest cricketer Australia produced has announced he’ll retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the test series against India," Howard said. "I know there’ll other opportunities to honour him and to thank him. It will be a very sentimental test match in Sydney commencing on January 2 and I know that cricket lovers from all around Australia will be following the series and Steve’s personal contribution very closely," he said. "He’s been a wonderful captain, a wonderful batsman, a gritty, determined competitor," said Howard. (AGENCIES) |
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Olympic flame to make first ever passage through India Excelsior Sports Correspondent New Delhi: Nov 26: India's Capital City, which has never hosted an Olympic Games, suddenly finds itself in the exclusive company of all former summer Games sites that will help define a precedent-setting route for the upcoming "ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay." Officials of the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (ATHENS 2004) and Relay Presenting Sponsor Coca-Cola have now made it official: New Delhi and just a handful of other international cities have been added to a historic, global Relay schedule that includes each host city for the summer Games since their revival in 1896. The worldwide route - the first of its kind - has been designed to retrace the path of the modern Olympic Games. The Olympic flame for the XXVIII (28th) Olympic Games in Athens, Greece is expected to arrive in New Delhi on June 10, 2004. This was announced here today by Coca-Cola India. New Delhi has been chosen as one of the 34 cities across the globe to host next year's ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. This is for the first time in the Olympics history that India has figured in the global route map of the Olympic Torch Relay. Beginning in early June 2004, the Olympic Flame will embark on a 21st-century-style tour that circles the earth. The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Torch Relay route includes every city that has hosted the summer Olympic Games, plus Beijing (the 2008 Games host). Other cities en-route are: New Delhi, India; Brussels, Belgium; Cairo, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa; Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland; Istanbul, Turkey; Kiev, Ukraine; New York, USA; Nicosia, Cyprus; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Sofia, Bulgaria. |
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Council’s Billiards hall in Srinagar non-functional Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: The Billiards Hall, situated within the indoor complex at Srinagar is locked for the last near one year and the players who approached the concerned authorities for practice were never allowed. This was disclosed by a promising snooker player, Owais Dar, when asked by EXCELSIOR why players from Kashmir lag behind than those from Jammu in the cue game. "At Jammu the hall is open for practice, but in Srinagar, we just do a little bit in the private pools because the Billiards hall is not open for play, ever since two new tables were installed over there", said Owais adding that the fresh tables and the an old one remained covered for the last nine months, so how one can expect better show from those from the Valley. Since Srinagar boys practice only in the private pools, they are only participating in the snooker events in both junior and senior groups in the state championships. No doubt, the game of Billiards and Snooker is popular in Kashmir but no one has been able to place himself among the first eight seedings in the senior group. However, in junior Snooker, four players (Owais Dar, Umar Jan, Umar Farooq and Umar Hamayoo) were there in the seedings last year, but this time only two of them turned-up for the competitions. Owais said that the number of youngmen playing Snooker in Srinagar is more than Jammu. In Srinag alone over hundred Snooker pools are being run by private people. Budding cueists also approached the Joint Secretary, State Sports Council, Srinagar and appraised him about their problems, but no action was initiated till date. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: Jaideep Manocha and Tariq Maqsood of Srinagar today registered easy wins to enter the next round of senior snooker in the ongoing 13th State and inter-district Billiards and Snooker Championships being organised by the J&K Billiards and Snooker Association at M A Stadium, here. Jaideep outplayed Zahir Choudhary in easy straight frames 64-9, 51-18, 78-16, while Tariq’s victim was Rajan Mahajan, who also lost in straight frames 63-19, 53-11, 57-23. Whereas, Sunil Jain and Nikhil Kapahi had to undergo full five frames before they emerged winners. The detailed results: Jaideep Manocha bt Zahir Choudhary 64-9, 51-18, 78-16; Ishan Choudhary bt Rahil 66-42, 58-48, 48-66, 57-44; Sunil Jain bt Sahil Nath Sharma 49-60, 62-40, 51-61; 49-30, 76-28; Tariq Masood (Sgr) bt Rajan Mahajan 63-19, 53-11, 57-23; Ankit Khajuria bt Sunny Sharma 48-17, 58-23, 58-51; Nikhil Kapahi bt Akhil Sharma 64-35, 44-48, 53-61, 50-45, 52-23; Umar Hamyoon (Sgr) bt Amit Gupta 72-17, 50-26, 55-23; Ishuk Choudhary bt Gurdev Singh 51-38, 72-42, 60-23; M N Khan (Sgr) bt Karan Badyal 62-2, 56-44, 54-29. |
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Rajouri to host divisional level inter-distt hockey Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 26: District Rajouri has been assigned the job to host divisional level inter-district hockey (boys and girls) tournaments in under-18 and under-17 year age groups at Higher Secondary School, Nowshera from November 29. According to district officer, Mohd Din, a committee, involving various officials and prominent people has been framed for the smooth conduct of the competitions. New Zealand leaves for Pak one-day series WELLINGTON, Nov 26: The New Zealand cricket team appeased by International Cricket Council security assurances left today for Pakistan to resume a tour twice previously diverted by terrorist acts. (AP) ROHTAK, Nov 26: Hosts Haryana ultimately succeeded in beating Jammu and Kashmir by eight wickets in their plate a Ranji Trophy league cricket encounter at the Maharaja Aggarsein Stadium here today, but not before facing some anxious moments. J&K, resuming at the overnight score of 229 for five were all out in their second innings for 309, forcing the hosts to bat second time to score 102 runs to win the tie and collect four points from this outing. In the process Haryana lost the wickets of opener Chetan Sharma(33) and Sunny Singh (zero) while skipper Jitender Singh (56 including of eight to the fence) and Ishan Ganda (nine) remained unbeaten to score the require runs. The highlight of J and K second innings, after they were forced to follow on with a first innings deficit of 208 runs, included 63 by Dhruv Mahajan, 50 by Majid Dar and 44 by Ashwani Gupta. Scores: Haryana first innings 304 J&K first innings 96 J&K second innings 309 Haryana second innings 102 (for two) (UNI) More, Roy asked to furnish details about allegations VISAKHANATNAM, Nov 26: The Cricket Board’s Inquiry Commissioner D V Subba Rao today said he has asked national selectors Kiran More and Pranob Roy to furnish details about their allegations against Abhijit Kale before attending the hearing here on Saturday. "I have sent both More and Roy fax messages asking them to elaborate their charges against Kale. I have also asked both the selectors and the player to attend the inquiry on Saturday," Rao, also the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, told reporters here. Rao said Kale, against whom More and Roy levelled charges that he tried to offer them Rs 10 lakh each for a place in the national team, would be given "a chance to submit his explanation." He, however, said that if any of the three failed to depose before him on Saturday, he is ready to fix a new date for the hearing. "But they need to let me know in advance that they would not be attending the hearing on Saturday. If any such thing happens, we can fix another date," he said. The Commissioner has been asked to submit his findings within 15 days. The report would be referred to the Board’s disciplinary committee for final adjudication and till that time Kale would remain suspended from participating in any tournament conducted by the Board. Kale, who has denied the charge, has already appeared before the the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s three-member inquiry committee in Pune. Former BCCI secy says Kale’s version must also be believed BANGALORE: Another former cricket board secretary today criticised the BCCI’s decision to suspend Abhijit Kale saying the selection scandal cannot be a "one-way traffic" and the cricketer’s version must also be taken into account. "The board’s decision without proper inquiry is uncalled for and hasty. It is hard to believe that Kale offered bribe," C Nagaraj told PTI here. Nagaraj was joint secretary of BCCI from 1985 to 1990 with a one-year break in-between, its secretary from 1991 to 1993 and secretary of Karnataka State Cricket Association from 1978 to 1998. Nagaraj said the board should not be guided only by the version of the two selectors that Kale offered Rs 20 lakh to secure a berth in the national side. "The cricketer’s version must also be believed. It cannot be a one-way traffic," he said. Nagaraj also criticised the two selectors for submitting a report to the BCCI which subsequently made it public. "The move has opened a pandora’s box with all kinds of allegations being made now which is not good for cricket. Instead, both parties — the two selectors and Kale — should have been made to depose in-camera," Nagaraj said. The veteran administrator said during his tenure he had not come across instances of bribery. "There were certainly allegations of favouritism and pressure from all quarters but we could withstand those pressures". He called for doing away the practice of having five zonal selectors as such a system put the panelists under pressure from their respective zones. "It is absolutely time such a practice is given up. One must go for three national selectors who are men of integrity, high standard and above suspicion. "Otherwise, the english model can also be looked at where the selectors are professionals who are bound to pick the best team as they are responsible for its performance and are accountable." (AGENCIES) |
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