Sohail shines in yet
another win for Pakistan

LAHORE, Dec 8: Sohail Abbas scripted yet another record and guided Pakistan to a 2-1 win over arch-rivals India in their crucial league match in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today. ..........more

Team arrives amidst unprecedented security

DHAKA, Dec 8: The 15-member Indian cricket team arrived in the Bangladeshi capital amidst unprecedented security following a death threat but captain Sourav Ganguly said the pre-tour developments would have no bearing on the performance of his players...........more

Aussies take Chappell-Hadlee series
to decider

SYDNEY, Dec 8: Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann provided the runs as Australia squeezed past never-say-die New Zealand by 17 runs to send the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy cricket series into a decider at the ..........more

India, Pak one extended family with two votes: Randhir

PATIALA, Dec 8: ‘Pakistan and India are one extended family with two votes in international sports forum and we are at advantage. It helped us winning over the International Olympic Committee to successfully bid for the.............more

Kuldeep, Kamal in senior snooker final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: Kuldeep Sharma and Kamal Rohmetra today sailed into the final of senior snooker winning their respective semi-finals played at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here.........more

AG Punjab beat J&K by 41 runs in cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: Auditor General (AG) Punjab XI today registered a big 41-run win over AG Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing North Zone inter-Audit and Accounts Department cricket tournament being played at Science College hostel ground, here...........more

Two-wkt win for
Bahu Fort Club

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 8: Aryan Cricket Club (ACC) Bahu Fort registered two-wicket win over Tawi Sports and Social Club (TSSC) in the ongoing cricket tournament at Sports Stadium, here today..........more

Asso hails Handoo for
Asian medal

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: Wu-Shu Association of Jammu and Kashmir complimented Kuldeep Handoo for winning a.......more

Science College enters final of inter-college cricket ......

Sohail shines in yet another win for Pakistan

LAHORE, Dec 8: Sohail Abbas scripted yet another record and guided Pakistan to a 2-1 win over arch-rivals India in their crucial league match in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today.

The ace drag-flicker, coming to the match just one goal short of erasing Australian Mark Hagger’s Champions Trophy record of 32 goals, slammed home from a penalty stroke in the 67th minute as Pakistan won the thrilling encounter at the National Stadium here.

The margin of defeat may appear thin but Pakistan was obviously a much better side in the contest and could have won by a much bigger score had they converted even half of the chances that came their way.

Saqlain Muhammed’s 32nd minute strike was neutralised by India through Sandeep Singh in the 58th minute, but Abbas put the finishing touch to the match by scoring at a time when it looked like the game was heading for a draw. It was the star player’s fifth goal in the tournament.

Goalkeeper Adrian D’souza was the saving grace for the Indians by coming up with a fine performance under the bar but his attempts were not enough as India crashed to their third defeat from four matches.

The loss also seriously affected India’s chances of playing for the 3-4 places as Pakistan took themselves a step closer for a berth in the final.

Pakistan played better in the first half as they tested the Indian defence a number of times. The Indians, though made a few inroads but never got a chance to probe Salman Akbar as most of the moves fizzled out inside the circle or just outside it.

Rehan Butt, struggling to get back into his goal scoring form, was the first to have a go at the Indian post as early as in the sixth minute but his reverse flick went over bar much to the disappointment of the home supporters.

Backed by thousands in the stands, the Pakistanis made further moves - most of them led by winger Shabbir Ahmed from the left, but they failed to capitalise on them mainly due to some good show by goalkeeper D’souza, defender Dilip Tirkey and a few poor finishing.

Pakistan, who had paid through their nose in the match against Holland yesterday for squandering a number of scoring opportunities, failed to make much amends with Rehan Butt and Shabbir Ahmed being the main culprit.

With the large crowd, probably the biggest in the competition so far, getting restless with Pakistan failing time and again to take the lead, Saqlain Muhammed slammed home.

Exploiting a little space inside the Indian circle, Saqlain, who got a cross from the right, slammed home as the crowd erupted to celebrate the first goal by th home side. Pakistan’s attacking approach earned them a couple of penalty corners in the first half but Sohail Abbas, coming to the match just one goal short of erasing Mark Haggers’ Champions Trophy record of 32 goals, failed to put them in.

On both the occasions, D’souza charged out to foil Pakistan’s attempts with superb saves.

D’souza who seemed to have found a way out to counter Abbas’ deadly drag-flicks, cautioned for charging out too early when the Pakistanis were getting ready to take the penalty corners.

But that failed to dampen his spirit as he continued to show tremendous reflexes throughout the game.

After staying on the back foot for long, India tried to break the shackles by coming up with some good moves but they lacked the sting to go past the Pakistani defence.

Pakistan went to the break with a 1-0 lead but resumed with more teeth to their attack which was evident in the very first minute of the second half.

A long run followed by a cross into the circle gave Pakistan the perfect chance to swell the lead, but Shakeel Abbasi failed to put the ball in. Soon after Rehan got a chance to give Pakistan a firm grip on the match, but the beleaguered forward, who had only D’souza to beat, hit the ball wide.

India must consider themselves lucky enough not to concede any more goals for the most part of the match for directionless attempts by the rival strikers, but they must thank their captain Dilip Tirkey and D’souza for putting up a strong defence.

Sandeep Singhs equaliser from Indias first penalty corner enlivened the proceedings as the huge crowd cheered their team to go for the kill.

Pakistan came close to take the lead when they got a couple of penalty corners more in the 59th minute, but their attempt from a variation did not work while Abbas hit the other wide.

The last few minutes saw a lot of drama as Pakistan won a penalty stroke which was converted by Abbas to make the record his own and even though India tried hard to level the score they could not.

The visitors won a penalty corner just four minutes before the hooter but Sandeep’s drag flick could not beat the goalkeeper.

Holland book final

berth with win over Spain

LAHORE: Holland got themselves into sniffing distance of claiming a hat-trick of titles as they beat Spain 4-2 and booked a berth in the final of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today.

Holland, winners of the last two editions of the event, prevailed over Spain who came up with a relentless attack but failed to find the back of the net more than a couple of times.

The win, their fourth from as many matches, took the Dutch to the top of the table with 12 points while Spain remained on nine from as many matches.

In Sundays final, Holland would face either Spain or Pakistan. The hosts, currently at third place with six points, are playing India later today and Spain tomorrow.

As was in the match against Pakistan yesterday, Holland were on the backfoot for most part of the match but the difference was that they scored whenever they got a chance, where as their rivals faltered more often.

In the first 10 minutes itself, Spain, starting with a different game plan, had a couple of clear opportunities but first Alex Fabregas and then Pau Quemada failed to put the ball in.

"The strategy was to give the best shot in the first few minutes and go for the kill straightaway. It looked like working as we forced them make changes in their tactics with Jeroen Delmee going back to center defence. But then we failed to convert the chances," Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks said after the match.

Although Spain dominated the proceedings, it was Holland who took the lead against run of play with Karel Klaver scoring with a field goal in the 15th minute and Geert Jan Derikx following up with a penalty corner conversion three minutes later.

"Spain had the control but we are lucky to score the goals. Goalkeeper (Guus Vogels) stood good in the face of some good Spanish attack," Holland captain Jeroen Delmee said.

After several failed attempts, Spain finally reduced the margin at the stroke of half time when Santiago Freixa slammed home with a stunning effort — a revere flick that gave Vogels no chance at all.

Spain, who played their best games in the second half in their earlier three matches, troubled the Holland defence after the break but lacked the finishing touches to level the score.

Klaver struck in the 45th minute to add to the pressure on the Spaniards who though threatened to bounce back through Quemada failed to draw parity.

Spain were left with no chance but to suffer their first defeat of the tournament when Klaver struck his third goal just a minute before close. (AGENCIES)

Team arrives amidst unprecedented security

DHAKA, Dec 8: The 15-member Indian cricket team arrived in the Bangladeshi capital amidst unprecedented security following a death threat but captain Sourav Ganguly said the pre-tour developments would have no bearing on the performance of his players.

The team’s arrival was delayed by a day following the threat which had cast a shadow of uncertainty on the tour but the Indian Government’s partial go-ahead has paved the way for the first Test to get underway on Friday.

The team was received by the Bangladesh Cricket Board officials while waiting journalists were kept at a distance at the Zia international airport which was under heavy security alert.

Soon after landing, the Indian team was driven by bus with police escorts to the Sonargaon hotel in Central Dhaka.

Captain Ganguly said the team was focussed on the game and was not concerned about the security.

"We are not concerned with the security and we are here to play," Ganguly told reporters here.

Asked if the threat would have any influence on the tour, he said "why? no, it will not have any influence."

"We are here to play well and we are not taking Bangladesh lightly," he said.

India is scheduled to play two test matches and three one-day internationals during their 22-day tour.

Besides thousands of police, elite rapid action battalion and other security agencies would ensure a "fool-proof" security for the visitors, officials said.

Tight security was in place at the airport, hotel and the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Also, shops at the stadium will remain shut on the day matches are held.

"The Indians are now fully satisfied with the security measures for the Indian players," Mohammad Omar Farook, a top official at Bangladesh Home Ministry, told reporters today.

The clearance for the tour came last evening after the security experts, led by Inspector General of Police for VIP security Yashovardhan Azad, submitted its report to the government on the security arrangements in Dhaka.

The security delegation will also visit Chittagong, the other venue, to make an assessment of the threat perception there before clearing that segment.

The Indian delegation has suggested some changes which were readily accepted by Bangladesh.

A militant outfit, identifying as ‘Harkat-ul Zihadi’, threatened to kill the Indian players if they came to Bangladesh but the authorities here dismissed the threat as a hoax and said the tour would be safe.

Bangladeshi newspapers also welcomed the decision and ticket counters opened today across the city.

"The millions of cricket-lovers in Bangladesh have had a close shave with a heart-break when they heard the news that the Indian cricket team’s scheduled visit to Bangladesh has been put on hold," said the editorial of the leading Daily Star newspaper. (PTI)

Aussies take Chappell-Hadlee series to decider

SYDNEY, Dec 8: Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann provided the runs as Australia squeezed past never-say-die New Zealand by 17 runs to send the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy cricket series into a decider at the Sydney cricket ground today.

Gilchrist clobbered 60 off 48 balls and Lehmann with a spirited 52 ensured the Australian total reached what looked an unassailable 261 for seven. But the Kiwis went down fighting for their total of 244 off 47.1 overs.

The result levelled the best-of-three series and took it to a decider at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.

The Australians, who relinquished a flying start in Melbourne to lose the opening game by four wickets on Sunday, had the Kiwis on the ropes but the black caps refused to give in with a record ninth-wicket stand of 70 between Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori.

Even when Vettori was run out with New Zealand 25 runs short Chris Harris came out to bat with an injured shoulder and a runner to keep the Kiwis in with a chance.

Mills smacked four sixes and a four in a defiant unbeaten 44 off 26 balls to give the Kiwis an outside hope of an incredible come-from-behind win before Harris was bowled by Glenn McGrath for four.

It was just New Zealand’s fourth defeat in 24 ODIs this year.

Gilchrist earlier gave the Australians a rip-roaring start with an 86-run opening stand with Matthew Hayden (43) at around seven runs an over. But the Kiwis pegged back the home side with 4-8 in the middle of the innings.

Lehmann came to Australia’s aid with a spirited 52 off 77 balls in a 74-run seventh-wicket stand with Brad Hogg to revive the scoring rate to five runs an over.

Hogg hit a sprightly 41 off 53 balls and Brett Lee clipped 10 off five as they added 26 in the last couple of overs.

The Kiwis, requiring a hefty 5.24 runs an over, lost Nathan Astle when he edged fiery Brett Lee to Gilchrist for 11 in the sixth over.

Mathew Sinclair fell to a great slips catch by Hayden off Jason Gillespie for 17 leaving the Kiwis at 63 for two in the 14th over.

Scott Styris was furious when given out LBW in Andrew Symonds’ next over for five as the Aussies tightened the screws.

Left-arm spinner Hogg, who finished man-of-the-match with 3-45, struck with the first ball of his first over trapping Stephen Fleming lbw for 34 and he extravagantly celebrated the key wicket with a triple arm pump.

Fleming’s departure after 92 minutes left the black caps at 78 for four in the 20th over and with their run-rate slipping to four an over.

Hogg got another scalp in his next over, trapping Jacob Oram LBW for two to bring big-hitting Chris Cairns to the wicket. (AFP)

India, Pak one extended family with two votes: Randhir

PATIALA, Dec 8: ‘Pakistan and India are one extended family with two votes in international sports forum and we are at advantage. It helped us winning over the International Olympic Committee to successfully bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to hosted by New Delhi,’ said Randhir Singh, secretary general of Indian Olympic Association during a joint press conference here today.

‘India is better place in some sports disciplines while Pakistan have better standards in few other games. The National Institute of Sports here has been recognized at high-level training center by International Olympic Council and coaches from other countries can attend IOC solidarity courses from time to time,’ said Randhir Singh, who is also secretary general of Olympic Council of Asia.

The IOA secretary general was replying to a question whether India and Pakistan would regularly send their coaches to each countries to train the sportspersons. Olympic associations of both countries would introduce club level competitions to make a significant improvement.

The Indian and Pakistani officials appreciated the efforts made by the Olympic committees of both countries and implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Lahore this year for the inaugural Indo-Pak Punjab Games in Patiala.

With Pakistan hosting the next Indo-Pak Punjab Games in Lahore next year, Syed Shahid Ali, president of Punjab (Pakistan) Olympic Association said ‘we will try to provide best facilities and more sports disciplines would be added.’ He also invited the Indian cyclists for the Tour De Pakistan in March next year.

Idrish Haider Khawaja, secretary general of Punjab Olympic Association (Pakistan) urged the Indian Government to relax visa procedure for sports exchange. ‘We faced problem. But once we reached here, every thing is moving smoothly. We are very happy with the facilities provided to us. The hospitality is excellent.’ Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Sodhi said that Punjab (India) Chief Minister captain Amarinder Singh and Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh had promised to make rules for sports visa more easy.

IOA secretary general Randhir Singh said that East (Bengal) and West (Bengal) would be exploring such possibility in the near future. ‘The IOA has already initiated the move in this direction with its counterpart in Bangladesh,’ said Randhir Singh. (UNI)

Kuldeep, Kamal in senior snooker final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: Kuldeep Sharma and Kamal Rohmetra today sailed into the final of senior snooker winning their respective semi-finals played at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here.

While it was a great come back by Kuldeep to register a win over defending champion, Jaideep Manocha 4-3, Kamal, on the other hand, had easy sailing over Sumesh Turki 4-0.

The outcome of the league round and then semi-finals competitions suggests that there will be a tough contest in the senior snooker final for which dates are yet to be fixed by the organisers, J&K Billiards and Snooker Association.

Kuldeep, who had lost to Jaideep last year in the final, has nothing at stake whereas his opponent Kamal has to win this title to salvage his old glory. It may be recalled that in the 13th edition of the state billiards and snooker championships, Kamal could not win any of the two seniors titles.

Earlier, in the first semi-final, Kuldeep was trailing by 1-3, but he fought from behind displaying great confidence to take away remaining three frames in a row thereby making it a 4-3 win in best of seven frame game.

Whereas, in the second semi-final, it was an easy win for Kamal Rohmetra, who trounced his opponent (Sumesh Turki) in straight but easy frames. In the last two frames, Kamal even did not allow Sumesh to take his score up in double figure.

Meanwhile, the senior billiards competitions shall start from December 10.

The results: Semi-finals: Kuldeep Sharma bt Jaideep Manocha 51-53, 45-32, 45-86, 34-78, 78-56, 55-23, 72-10; Kamal Rohmetra bt Sumesh Turki 53-16, 78-37, 58-9, 64-7.