DHAKA, Dec 25: Having survived a scare in the previous match, India will guard against complacency as they seek to clinch the three-match series against Bangladesh in the second one-dayer to be played under lights here tomorrow...............more

Sachin, Pathan,
Harbhajan rested
for 2nd one-dayer

DHAKA: India have decided to rest Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh for the second one-day international cricket match against Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here tomorrow................more

Pak involved in
match-fixing: Sarfraz

MELBOURNE, Dec 25: Former Pakistan quick bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has accused the current team of being involved in match-fixing and alleged the series against India this year was corrupt, the Herald Sun newspaper said today............more

Harbhajan confident
of clearing ‘doosra’
Tests

DHAKA, Dec 25: Ace Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today said he had not stopped bowling the ‘doosra’ despite the delivery being reported as suspect and was confident of coming out clean in the Tests................more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 25: Commanding Officer of IRP 7th Bn, J P Singh has been unanimously elected chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Motor Sports Association replacing Siddharth Sharma in an election meeting held here today..............more

North Zone yoga meet in
Jammu from December 29

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 25: Sixth North Zone yoga championship, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Yoga Association, shall start from December 29 at Abhinav Theatre, here...............more

Raman helps Challenger
Club enter semis of cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 25: All-round performance by Raman Thaploo helped Challenger Cricket Club enter semi-finals of 4th round qualifying cricket tournament being played at sports stadium here today..........more

Pakistani batsmen
advised to be patient
while facing Australia

KARACHI, Dec 25: Former cricket great Zaheer Abbas today advised Pakistani batsmen to exercise patience at the crease and frustrate the Australian bowlers.......more

DYSS employees’ deputation calls on Haji Nisar.....

Ganguly denies report of writing letter to ICC.....

Ananthapadmanabhan stars in Kerala’s huge win over J&K.....

India will look to wrap up series

DHAKA, Dec 25: Having survived a scare in the previous match, India will guard against complacency as they seek to clinch the three-match series against Bangladesh in the second one-dayer to be played under lights here tomorrow.

Although the Indians were not really tested at chittagong en route the 11-run win, they now know that the hosts are capable of a fightback in the shorter version of the game.

However, such is the gulf between the two sides, that the Indians appeared completely unrattled on the eve of the back-to-back matches at the Bangabandhu Stadium.

In fact, the visitors seemed more worried about connecting flights on their return journey than the prospect of taking on a side that did manage to give them a scare in the previous one-dayer.

Bangladesh made a valiant effort to pull off an upset win but the experimental Indian side still proved to be too good for them at Chittagong on Thursday.

Coach Dave Whatmore conceded that lights or no lights, experiment or no experiment, the Indians were way ahead of Bangladesh. "They are a vastly superior side," he said.

But he took heart from his team’s performance in Chittagong and said there were a couple of positives to take from the match for his players.

"We gave away too many runs in the final overs. But in the past, we conceded too many wickets in the first 10 overs, whereas the boys did well to keep the wickets intact," the former Sri Lankan coach said.

Keeping wickets intact helped the hosts launch a late assault on the Indian total of 245 with wicketkeeper batsman Khaled Mashud hitting a 39-ball 50. The last eight overs saw them collect 74 runs.

Although they lost by 11 runs, the narrow margin and the fighting spirit they displayed should inspire at least remote hopes in the home fans.

In fact, Whatmore’s prediction that his team would be able to pose a better challenge to the visitors in the shorter version of the game did turn out to be right to some extent.

The Indians, however, have lost no sleep over the match.

Captain Sourav Ganguly kept his promise and gave the youngsters in the side a chance as the team prepares for the Pakistan series at home in February-March next year.

The newcomers proved a bit of a success. Sridharan Sriram made a good comeback to pick three for 43 but he might have liked to have got a few runs with the bat.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who replaced Dinesh Kaarthick as wicketkeeper batsman, had an ordinary debut as he was run out after facing just one ball. Joginder Sharma of Haryana did reasonably well to pick 1-28.

The team management would try out other combinations for tomorrow’s match as well which would mean left-arm spinner Murali Kartik should get a chance to roll his arm for the first time on the tour.

Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, could be brought back in the team after being rested for the first match, while the other senior players would have to take their turn to sit out. On the other hand, Bangladesh would be looking to Mohammad Ashraful to fire as he did in the second Test at Chittagong. The batsman failed in the Chittagong match and with Rajin Saleh also coming a cropper, the middle order remains a worry for the hosts.

Skipper Habibul Bashar was cautious and played down the hype after the team’s good show in the first match.

"I don’t want to say that I am optimistic about future matches as we have a record of playing very bad cricket after a good performance," he said.

"I must admit I am happy about the performance we have shown in the first one-dayer and I want our players to keep it going."

Teams (from):

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Mongia, Sridharan Sriram, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Murali Kartik, Joginder Sharma.

Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Khaled Mashud, Rajin Saleh, Khaled Mahmud, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahman, Tapash Baisya, Mashrafe Mortaza, Anfis Iqbal, Manjural Islam, Aftab Ahmed and Nazmul Hossain. (PTI)

Sachin, Pathan, Harbhajan rested for 2nd one-dayer

DHAKA: India have decided to rest Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh for the second one-day international cricket match against Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here tomorrow.

The trio will make way for Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, who sat out of the first match in Chittagong on Thursday, while Murali Kartik will get to play his first game on the tour as he comes in for Harbhajan Singh.

Captain Sourav Ganguly said Dinesh Mongia would also find a place in the eleven for the day-night encounter although a final decision was yet to be made.

"We have to decide as to whom to leave out," Ganguly said as India look for a series whitewash in the last two matches to be played back to back under lights here.

Ganguly had said before the one-day series that he would give the youngsters in the side a chance as the team prepares for the Pakistan series at home in February-march next year.

The newcomers proved a bit of a success. Sridharan Sriram made a good comeback to pick three for 43 but he might have liked to score a few runs with the bat.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who replaced Dinesh Kaarthick as wicketkeeper batsman, had an ordinary debut as he was run out after facing just one ball. Joginder Sharma of Haryana did reasonably well to pick 1-28.

Bangladesh’s case seems to be more complicated. The hosts are expected to include paceman Mashrafe Mortaza in place of Mushfiqur Rahman but skipper Habibul Bashar is still not clear on his batting line-up.

Bashar said Javed Omar, who was not in the team for the first match, might play but he might not open the innings.

Rajin Saleh, who failed to produced runs in Chittagong after being dropped from the second Test, might also face the axe.

"We have been making progress step by step in every match. Winning or losing is not in our minds, we are trying to improve," said Bashar who would be playing in his 100th one-dayer tomorrow.

He said the team needed more than one player to deliver.

"So far in the series, in tests and the one-day match, it has been one player producing the runs. We need two or three batsmen to do well. The idea is to keep wickets in hand and attack in the later stage of the innings." (PTI)

Pak involved in match-fixing: Sarfraz

MELBOURNE, Dec 25: Former Pakistan quick bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has accused the current team of being involved in match-fixing and alleged the series against India this year was corrupt, the Herald Sun newspaper said today.

"Everyone knows it," Sarfraz, 56, was quoted as saying from his home in Lahore. "They’re still doing it, in both Test and one-day cricket."

Sarfraz has made similar allegations before but been unable to substantiate the allegations.

Former Test captains Salim Malik (pakistan), Mohammad Azharuddin (India) and Hansie Cronje (South Africa) were banned for life after a match-fixing scandal which erupted in 2000 when Cronje admitted accepting money from bookmakers.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer rejected Sarfraz’s allegations as his team prepared for Sunday’s second Test against Australia.

"Personally I believe the hype over match-fixing is over the top," Woolmer told reporters in Melbourne.

"I don’t think there is any chance of any match-fixing going on in this team. They are all far too honest and a religious bunch of people who pray to Allah three or four times a day. I’ve not seen him (Sarfraz) anywhere around Pakistani cricket. He hasn’t been to any games.

"He’s been known to make these sorts of statements. If he knows something then he must let us know and we’ll deal with it."

Woolmer took over from Javed Miandad as Pakistan coach in July this year. Pakistan toured India in March and April with India winning the one-day series 3-2 and the Test series 2-1.

The International Cricket Council rejected in April a call from Pakistan for a code of conduct to prevent former cricketers from making unsubstantiated match-fixing claims.

It came after former captain Rashid Latif suggested Pakistan could have thrown their fourth one-dayer against India in March this year. (AGENCIES)

Harbhajan confident of clearing ‘doosra’ Tests

DHAKA, Dec 25: Ace Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today said he had not stopped bowling the ‘doosra’ despite the delivery being reported as suspect and was confident of coming out clean in the Tests.

Harbhajan said he had not changed his bowling action since being reported during the second Test in Chittagong against Bangladesh and he had bowled the ‘doosra’, the delivery that moves way from right handers, in the first one-dayer at the same venue later.

"I have not stopped bowling my `Doosra’. I have been bowling as I have done before," said the spinner.

"Anyway, I have been reported and I cannot be reported again (for the next six weeks)."

Under ICC regulations, Harbhajan would have to work with an ICC-approved bio-mechanic expert for corrective measures on his action within six weeks, and he cannot be reported again during that period.

Harbhajan seemed to draw hope from the fact that the intense debate on the issue of suspect bowling would find a way out for him too.

"I am not worried at all. I am confident there is nothing wrong with my action," he said.

"Every Test bowler is now being tested, even fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath and others. It has become routine. I have taken 300-plus wickets in international cricket. I am confident that the Tests will prove there is nothing wrong with my action.

" If it is found that I have to make some changes, I will do so. But I don’t think there will be a need for any change in my action," Harbhajan said.

When asked if he saw any pattern in the bowlers from the subcontinent being reported, Harbhajan said, " I don’t know. We all bowl the ` Doosra’, and not many bowlers from the other countries bowl it.

"The ICC is conducting Tests, so let us wait and see. They talk of 15 degrees... Hopefully I will be cleared," he said referring to the suggestion by the ICC’s Cricket Committee that all bowlers be allowed to straighten their arm upto 15 degrees.

When pointed out that the latest suggestion was yet to be ratified and made a law, the ‘turbanator’ said, "yes, they are still discussing. Hopefully they will implement it."

"This time I am confident. The team is behind me, all of India is with me. By the grace of God, I will comeback again." (PTI)

JP Singh is new chairman of JKMSA

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 25: Commanding Officer of IRP 7th Bn, J P Singh has been unanimously elected chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Motor Sports Association replacing Siddharth Sharma in an election meeting held here today.

Whereas Ranjeet Singh, Vikram Singh and Ramesh Mahajan have been retained to their positions of president, general secretary and patron of the Association respectively. However, vice-president Kashmir, S A Hameed has been replaced by Fayaz Ahmed Khan. Another new entry in the Association was Bhupinder Kumar (Territory manager BPCL) who has been made advisor, a handout issued here today said.

Election meeting was attended by 12 of the 16 members of the Association. While representatives from three affiliated clubs of Himalayan Club, Kashmir Club and Anantnag Club could not attend the meeting, two founder members were reported missing by the observers of the election.

The new body: Ramesh Mahajan (patron), J P Singh (chairman), Ranjit Singh (president), Vikram Singh (general secretary), Umesh Joshi (senior vice-president), Praval Kumar (vice-president Jammu), Fayaz Ahmed Khan (vice-president Kashmir), Ankush Abrol (secretary), Rajinder Gupta (joint secretary), Som Raj Gupta (spokesman), Davinder Singh (organising secretary), Pritam Singh (treasurer), Ashwani Sharma (press secretary), Anil Sharma (Publicity secretary), Bhupinder Kumar (advisor).