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| India at the receiving end as Pakistan reach 355 for 3 From M R Mishra LAHORE, Apr 6: Pakistan rode on centuries from Imran Farhat and skipper Inzamam-ul Haq to set the stage for a huge..............more Pak upset
India to ISLAMABAD, Apr 6: India paid dearly for lapses in defence as Pakistan shocked it 1-0 in the final to win the SAF Games.........more Parthiv
Patel LAHORE, Apr 6: India’s wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was today summoned by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle for a...........more Selectors
drop SYDNEY, Apr 6: Australian selectors today ignored batsman Michael Bevan and all-rounder Andy Bichel while offering...........more |
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Appointment under SRO 349 13 out of 49 candidates found eligible By Sanjeev Sharma JAMMU, Apr 6: Of the 49 applications received by the State Sports Council for considering the eligible sportspersons for appointment under SRO-349, finally 13 such candidates were found eligible by the Committee constituted for the purpose........more Ganguly
speaks on his KOLKATA, Apr 6: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly today shot a special episode for ESPN Star Sports on his experiences in Pakistan.........more Inzamam
looking to bat LAHORE, Apr 6: Describing his first Test century against India here today as one of his best knocks, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq......more Pak fans
keeping away LAHORE, Apr 6: Even the prospect of Pakistani batsmen making merry against India and avenging the humiliating defeat.........more |
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make way for captain courageous?....... Tendulkar is best batsman I have played against: Ponting....... |
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India at the receiving end as Pakistan reach 355 for 3 From M R Mishra LAHORE, Apr 6: Pakistan rode on centuries from Imran Farhat and skipper Inzamam-ul Haq to set the stage for a huge first innings lead over India in the second cricket Test which was marred by some controversial umpiring decisions on the second day here today. After 22-year-old Farhat laid the platform with a sparkling 101, Inzamam led from the front with an unbeaten 118 as Pakistan reached 355 for three at stumps in reply to India’s first innings score of 287. Inzamam’s unbroken 150-run partnership with his Deputy Yousuf Youhana, batting on 62, saw the hosts gain the upperhand over the visitors for the first time in the series, which Pakistan trail 1-0, with a lead of 68. After the historic innings and 52-run victory in the first Test, Rahul Dravid and his men were at the receiving end for most part of the day, claiming only two wickets on a track which had lost its juice and gave little support to the Indian bowlers who toiled without much luck. There were three close decisions which went in Pakistan’s favour in the final session of the day. First it was young Irfan Pathan whose luck ran out when his incoming deliveries to Inzamam and Youhana rapped them on the pads but umpire Steve Bucknor shot down the appeals. The skipper was on 65 and his deputy on 35 then. Youhana again survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Anil Kumble three runs later with umpire Simon Taufel ruling in favour of the batsman. Inzamam curbed his natural strokeplay to notch up his 19th Test century while Farhat (101) also brought the spotlight on himself with his second century before a small but boisterous crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium. It turned out to be a nightmarish day for the visitors as all the Pakistani batsmen, seeking to make amends for the Multan debacle, played with a sense of responsibility and caution. The Indians managed to get the wicket of Taufiq Umar (24) in the first hour of play but Inzamam’s third wicket stand of 110 runs with Farhat followed by his association with Youhana virtually took the game away from India’s control Resuming at the overnight score of 61 for one, Farhat and Yasir Hameed (19) played cautiously in the initial stages, leaving deliveries pitched outside the off stump. Leg spinner Anil Kumble began the bowling operations and Farhat, who seemed to continue from where he had left yesterday, pulled a short delivery to the square leg boundary. Farhat was the more aggressive of the two batsmen as he glided Pathan to the third man boundary and then produced an elegant cover drive to the fence off the same bowler to help the home team consolidate its position. Just when it looked that the two overnight bastmen would play out the crucial first hour of play, Ajit Agarkar struck in his very first over of the morning by getting rid of Taufiq Umar who had himself to blame for his dismissal. Umar played away from his body to a wide outside the off stump ball and only succeeded in edging it to captain Rahul Dravid at first slip. The dismissal of Umar brought Inzamam to the crease and the in-form batsman immediately got into business by producing a delectable square cut to the point boundary to open his account. Farhat and Inzamam continued to frustrate the visitors who looked desperate to break the partnership and stop the home team from taking a big first innings lead. Kumble, the bowling hero in India’s historic test triumph in Multan about a week ago, also failed to make much of an impact with the track easing out considerably. In fact, he gave away quite a few runs as Inzamam square cut him to the point boundary and then Farhat spanked him for two boundaries in the same over to bring off 150 on the board. The left-handed Farhat survived a confident shout for caught behind off Balaji when on 99 but completed his second Test century a few balls later by taking a quick single. But Farhat’s luck ran out a few minutes later when L Balaji claimed his wicket to terminate the 110-run third wicket partnership. The opener fished at a widish delivery, edging it to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps. Farhat’s 204-ball knock spanned 266 minutes and was laced with 14 boundaries. Youhana, who had scored a century in the Multan Test, joined the action after Farhat’s dismissal and appeared a trifle tentative in the initial stages of his innings but grew in confidence with time, clobbering Agarkar for two consecutive boundaries twice. The Indian captain Rahul Dravid claimed the second new ball as soon as it was due but without much luck as Pathan and Agarkar bowled their hearts out but could not give the team the breakthrough. With neither the verdict nor luck going in their favour, the Indians seemed to be demoralised lot in the last hour of play which saw Inzamam and Youhana collect the runs more easily against a tired bowling attack. (PTI) SCOREBOARD India 1st innings: 287 Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 61-1): I Farhat c Patel b Balaji 101 T Umar b Balaji 24 Y Hameed c Dravid b Agarkar 19 Inzamam-ul Haq batting 118 Y Youhana batting 62 Extras (lb-15, w-3, nb-13) 31 Total (for 3 wkts in 113 overs) 355 Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-95, 3-205. Bowling: Pathan 30-10-68-0, Balaji 26-9-63-2, Agarkar 18-2-68-1, Kumble 28-2-106-0, Tendulkar 7-1-20-0, Yuvraj 3-0-7-0, Sehwag 1-0-8-0. (PTI) |
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Pak upset India to claim SAF football title ISLAMABAD, Apr 6: India paid dearly for lapses in defence as Pakistan shocked it 1-0 in the final to win the SAF Games Football title at the Jinnah Stadium here. The winner came in the 29th minute through Abdul Aziz who exposed the chinks in the Indian defence that came up with a shaky performance in the match last night. After a series of exchanges between the rival players, the ball was in front of Indian defenders Gurpreet and Subash Mondal who took a long time in clearing it. Pakistani striker Aziz, lurking around, took advantage of the situation latching on to the ball and flicking it in. India, coming to the tournament with a second-string team, were favourites to win the match but they played without any plan in the whole of the first half. The Pakistanis, on the other hand, were in an attacking mood right from the beginning. Earlier, Sri Lanka defeated Bhutan 4-3 via tie breaker in the bronze medal match. India went to the half time trailing 0-1 and as the game resumed after the break they stepped on the gas in a bid to score the equaliser. But the Pakistani defence stood firm, not allowing the Indians any chance to make any attempt on the post. In fact, the hosts hardly gave any scope to their desperate opponents to make any incisive move. Pakistan also failed to grab a few chances that came their way to increase the lead. Aziz himself frittered away a couple of opportunities. On both the occasions hard working Zahid Ahmed gave flawless passes to the Aziz to set the stage but the Forward’s weak shots were stopped by Indian custodian Subhasish. On another occasion, Essa relayed the ball to Attiq ur Rehman and the latter drove the ball straight to goal keeper Subhasish. In the closing stages too, Pakistan were thrustful although the Indians also showed glimpses of counter attack but the rival defense was more authoritative in its display. Just before the final whistle, Pakistan almost scored but Essa’s shot at the open post hit the cross bar. (PTI) |
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Parthiv Patel summoned by match referee LAHORE, Apr 6: India’s wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was today summoned by ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle for a hearing after he was reported for excessive appealing during the second day’s play of the second cricket Test against Pakistan. The two umpires Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel reported Patel to the referee after the day’s play which witnessed quite a few close decisions being awarded in batsmen’s favour. Bucknor turned down two loud shouts for Leg Before Wicket, one against skipper Inzamam-ul Haq on 65 and the other against Yousuf Youhana on 35, off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. Youhana also survived an appeal for caught behind on 38 off leg-spinner Anil Kumble, the umpire being Taufel. Patel will appear for the hearing later in the night. (PTI) |
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SAF
GAMES ISLAMABAD, Apr 5: The Indian shuttlers proved their regional supremacy once again, effecting a clean sweep of all the seven gold medals on offer along with the five silver in the individual category of the badminton tournament in the 9th SAF Games here today. The concluding day of the badminton event looked like the final day of an Indian National Championship as the summit clashes in all the five individual categories — men’s single, women’s single, men’s double, women’s double and mixed double — were reduced to an all-India affair. National champion Chetan Anand added one more feather to his cap as he defeated top-ranked Indian Abhinn Shyam Gupta 15-8 10-15 15-13 in a closely fought encounter. Anand made an impressive start to his campaign winning the opening game with relative ease but made some silly mistakes in the second to lose the initiative before regrouping himself to take the decider. Trupti Murgunde made the most of the absence of national champion Aparna Popat and overcame a strong challenge from experienced B R Meenakshi 9-11 11-7 13-10 to take the gold in women’s singles. India assured of all TT titles ISLAMABAD: True to their reputation, the Indian paddlers put up another fine display to eliminate their rivals and ensure all table tennis titles at the 9th SAF Games here today. Today they won all the four semi-final matches in men’s and women’s singles to ensure that the finals are all-Indian affair. In the last four stages of men s singles, Achanta Sarath Kamal drubbed Priyadasa Thilina Laknath from Sri Lanka 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 and 11-9 while Indian captain Soumyadeep Roy snuffed away the challenge from Farzad Saif Khan of Pakistan 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 and 11-7. Similarly in women’s singles semi-finals India number one Poulomi Ghatak defeated Ghazala Rohi 11-4, 11-2, 11-4 and 11-9. Her compatriot Mouma Das, however , had to struggle a little more to get the better of a fighting Rodrigo Dipika Subhasisni from Sri Lanka. After losing the first set 9-11, Mouma made a fine rally and took the next two sets 11-5 and 11-9 to forge a 2-1 lead. The fourth set saw Subhasini fighting with determination but her skill was not enough to turn the table on her Indian rival who won the fourth set 12-10 and clinch the issue winning the fifth comfortably 11-5. Both the finals would be held later in the evening. Out of the total seven titles, India are set to get all the seven having the won five events earlier. In the last SAF Games at Kathmandu in 1999 also, India bagged all the seven titles. (UNI) |
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Appointment under SRO
349 By Sanjeev Sharma JAMMU, Apr 6: Of the 49 applications received by the State Sports Council for considering the eligible sportspersons for appointment under SRO-349, finally 13 such candidates were found eligible by the Committee constituted for the purpose. The two separate meetings held on March 22 and April Ist at Sports House of the MA Stadium, here straightway rejected the applications of 17 sportspersons citing reasons: The list have not been found eligible under rules, the reason being they do not posses requisite qualification. The list included the international football player, Arun Kumar (Malhotra), who presently is in the Indian team. Another ten applications are yet to be verified because of the fact that their sponsoring bodies are not recognised by the State Sports Council or for that matter the State contingents to them these sportspersons claim to have represented, were not officially screened. This list included the silver medal winner members of the J&K Kabaddi team in the 51st Senior National Kabaddi Championship held at Mumbai in December last. Finding it doubtful, the Committee has kept in abeyance a list containing five candidates till their achievements are verified by respective recognised National Federations/State Sports Association and original testimonials are rendered. All these five applicants have been asked to approach the Council, within a week’s time, for their point of view. These five sportspersons included three skaters and a handball player, Pawan Khajuria. A female Gymnast seeking benefit under SRO-349 has been straightway told that she has not been found eligible as she had represented the State of Punjab and not J&K in her sporting career. This only gymnast figured in the list is Neeru Jabalia wife of Ajay Kumar of R S Pura. A MPEd qualified Neeru has represented the country in Asian Junior Gymnastics Championship held at Delhi in 1992. She has two gold and one silver medal to her credit in the 39th, 35th and 38th Senior National Gymnastics Championships wherein she took part. A lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, University of Jammu, Parikshat Singh Manhas had submitted his application seeking advance increments for his achievements in Roller Skating during service, but the Committee turned down his plea saying that he has already been considered by the Government for grant of two advance increments earlier. Parikshat had represented J&K in the Senior National Roller Skating Championships between 1991 to 1997. Two female footballers, who had the requisite achievements to ful-fill the criteria under-SRO 349, have been denied the appointment because of the in-fighting between two bodies at the state and national level. The Committee constituted by the Sports Council to look into various aspects before taking a final selection, mentioned in its report that " these two candidates (Monika Kour D/o Tarlok Singh of Nanak Nagar and Sonia Bandu D/o Gopal Sharma of Rehari Chungi) have also not been found eligible due to the reasons that their participation in National events organised by Women Football Federation of India (WFFI) have been taken over by All India Football Federation (AIFF) as per the directives of Asian Football Federation (AFC) since 2001. Medal won by these two footballers belongs to the year 2003. Whereas other two footballers (Rajni Sharma wife of Deepak Sharma of Ustad Mohalla, Jammu and Meetu Singh D/o Hardev Singh of Exchange Road, Jammu) have been selected for the appointment because the medal won by them belongs to the year 1994 and 1996 respectively. Meanwhile, according to Secretary, State Sports Council, the objections with regard to various decisions taken by the Committee should reach the Sports Council within one week from April 6. |
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Ganguly speaks on his Pakistan experience KOLKATA, Apr 6: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly today shot a special episode for ESPN Star Sports on his experiences in Pakistan. ESPN sources here said, during the course of the shoot, Ganguly talked about myriad topics ranging from his experiences at the fruit bazar in Lahore to serious discussions on the coming of age of "the young Turks" of the Indian team. "He talked about Sewhag’s brilliance in the first Test and Yuvraj Singh’s rise to stardom in the longer version of the game," the sources said, after the two-hour shoot. The full interview will be telecast on ESPN on Friday and the capsule will be featured on ‘Sportline’ and ‘Sportscenter’ programmes tomorrow. (UNI) |
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Inzamam looking to bat India out of the match LAHORE, Apr 6: Describing his first Test century against India here today as one of his best knocks, Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq indicated he was looking to bat the visitors out of the second cricket Test. Pakistan managed to turn around their fortunes in the three-Test series with centuries from opener Imran Farhat and Inzamam which helped them reach 355 for three on the second day in reply to India’s 287. "The first session tomorrow will be very important. If we keep our wickets intact, we could put up 500 or 600 on the board," said the skipper who was unbeaten on 118. The total gave the hosts a lead of 68 runs over India, a dramatic change in tides after the innings and 52-run defeat in the first Test at Multan. Nevertheless, the skipper said tomorrow would be another crucial day and the batsmen would have to "continue their good work". The Pakistani captain, who hit his first test hundred against India, said "it was a very important day" for his team. "The boys were very confident, they had worked hard in the nets. Umar Gul gave us a very good session yesterday." He praised Farhat whose 101 off 204 balls was his second century in Tests. "He batted very well," he said, adding "we had to work hard (at the crease) because Indians were bowling a very good line." (PTI) |
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Pak fans keeping away from Gaddafi Stadium LAHORE, Apr 6: Even the prospect of Pakistani batsmen making merry against India and avenging the humiliating defeat at Multan in the second cricket Test could not lure locals to the Gaddafi Stadium today. With the fans, who had crossed the border in huge numbers to watch the one-day series, having mostly retreated, the colour seems to have suddenly faded from the stands. But some of the Indians have stayed back and outnumbered a handful of Pakistani fans who came to watch the second day’s play. The poor public response was evident as barely 1,200 spectators watched the game in contrary to expectations that a big crowd would come to watch their stars bat in the first innings after they bundled out India for 287 yesterday. The overall attendance was appalling considering the capacity of stadium at 23,000. (PTI) Who will make way for captain courageous? NEW DELHI, Apr 6: The suspense over who will make way for Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly for the third Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi gained momentum after the injured captain declared that middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh will play in the match starting April 13. Yuvraj, who hit a brilliant century in the ongoing second Test against Pakistan in Lahore yesterday, will play the next Test, Ganguly told Sahara Samay television channel. Speculations are on as to who will then be dropped to make way for the skipper, who had to return home after injuring his lower back in the fifth one-dayer against Pakistan in Lahore on March 24. Ganguly, however, evaded the question of how would he accommodate the star batsman in the team. "I am happy with Yuvraj’s performance. It is his bad luck that he is not playing as a middle-order batsman but his performance was great in this Test (in Lahore)," he was quoted saying in a statement issued by the channel. The captain also hinted at a left-right pair opening the innings for India in the next Test. "When I told everybody that (Virender) Sehwag is going to open in Australia, nobody was in favour of this decision as Sehwag cannot play short balls... Sehwag went on to score 195 in Australia against Brett Lee and Jason Gilllepsie’s bowling," he pointed out. His decision to play Yuvraj would mean that opener Aakash Chopra, who scored 42 in the first test in multan and four in the ongoing second Test, might be dropped and the southpaw or the skipper himself might open the innings with Sehwag. On his injury, Ganguly said he was feeling better and would definitely make it to Pakistan tomorrow for the third Test. (UNI) Tendulkar is best batsman I have played against: Ponting MUMBAI, Apr 6: Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, who successfully bid for a portrait of Sachin Tendulkar at an auction here, has said the little master "is the best batsman I have played against". Ponting, who bought the portrait for Rs 30,000, looked very determined to have one of the little Master’s framed pictures in an auction organised by cricketnext.Dot.Com yesterday. Admiring the picture, Ponting, said the 27 items which came under the hammer were worth their weight in gold. "I have always admired Sachin (Tendulkar) and I am happy that I managed to get this picture, which has been done with selective use of colours and a classical original oil painting," he added. Some of the other items which were auctioned included a cap signed by aussie speedster Brett Lee (Rs 3000), a framed score card of the Cornhill Insurance Test series between India vs England at Lord’s signed by Graham Gooch (Rs 4000), Anil Kumble’s perfect ten ball (Rs 10,000), a miniature cricket bat signed by the Asian eleven team (Rs 5000). Also auctioned were a framed picture of late Sir Donald Bradman tossing the coin (Rs 16,000), framed picture of Sir Bradman and Tendulkar "champions together" (Rs 48,000), a bat autographed by Asian Eleven and the Rest of the World Eleven teams (Rs 15,000), a portrait of Sir Bradman (Rs 32,000), autographed photo frame of the Asian Eleven team at the Foster’s Oval, London (Rs 20,000), photo collection of Bradman — captain of the century (Rs 50,000) and Ponting’s bat and a pair of batting gloves for Rs 26,000. (PTI) Ganguly gets fitness certificate KOLKATA, Apr 6: Sourav Ganguly was today issued a fitness certificate by his doctor who said that the left handed batsman has now fully recovered from the lower back injury. Ganguly, who missed the first two tests of the ongoing series against Pakistan after hurting his back while fielding in the fifth and final one-dayer on March 24 at Lahore, is now all set to leave the city tomorrow to join the team in Pakistan. "I had a talk with Ganguly this morning. He says he is 100 per cent okay. A physio who saw him also says he is completely fit. So i feel that he is now physically fit," orthopaedic specialist Dr Kalyan Mukherjee, who had been treating Ganguly since the latter’s return to the city midway into the tour, told PTI here. Mukherjee said that he had signed the fitness certificate and handed it over to the cricketer’s father Chandi Ganguly this morning. Today Ganguly had workout at the gymnasium at his residence and also ran 12 laps in a nearby ground. "The pain has completely vanished. The stiffness has gone. Mobility is perfect. He is now raring to go and put up a splendid performance in the third Test at Rawalpindi beginning on April 13", Mukherjee said. "As an orthopaedic and a sports scientist I feel that he is now medically okay. As for the physical part, the local physio is also satisfied." "I believe my certificate would now be forwarded to the BCCI which will inform Indian physio Andrew Leipus," Mukherjee said. Ganguly had returned home last week to consult Mukherjee, who has been treating him since his early cricketing days. The orthopaedic had diagnosed his injury as mild disc and ligament problem. (PTI) |
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