Daily Excelsior.........sports

ICC appoints Kiwi legal
expert to hear appeal

LONDON, Nov 16: The ICC today appointed a leading New Zealand barrister to consider Sourav Ganguly’s appeal against a two-Test match ban but the Indian captain will be eligible to play in the first Test against South Africa starting November 20 if the decision is not given by then..........more

I’m neither bitter nor
demoralised: Ganguly

KOLKATA, Nov 16: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is neither demoralised nor bitter over the ICC slapping a two Test ban on him, but feels the game’s apex body should take into account the sequence of events which were beyond his control............more

S Africa avoid defeat
but concede
psychological advantage

JAIPUR, Nov 16: South Africa conceded some psychological advantage ahead of the Test series as they suffered a batting collapse and just managed to avoid defeat against the Board President’s XI in the three-day cricket tour match at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here today........more

The ‘Indian’ in the
South African side

JAIPUR, Nov 16: Even in the melee of South African players, Hashim Amla stands out for different reasons. Not a frequent sight after Saeed Anwar decided to hang up his boot.....more

Arnav, Mir Danyal receive
National Child Awards

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: Arnav Kamal and Mir Danyal Masoom were formally presented the prestigious National Child Awards for the year 2003 by the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Arjun Singh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on November 14.............more

14th State Billiards and
Snooker meet from Nov 25

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association is holding 14th J&K State junior and senior billiards and snooker championships............more

Distt Poonch TT
meet begins today

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

POONCH, Nov 16: District Poonch Table Tennis Association is holding district championship in all age groups here from tomorrow. ........more

Ishrat helps Kishtwar
College beat Kathua
by 4 wkts

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: A splendid half-century by Ishrat today guided Degree College Kishtwar beat Degree College Kathua by four wickets to enter into quarterfinals.....more

Indian camp emerging more confident....
By Rahul Dravid

Ricky, Dharmani place Punjab in comfortable position......

Mahendra denies using money, influence in Ganguly case......

Moin and Rashid left out of Australian tour probables......

ICC appoints Kiwi legal expert to hear appeal

Tim Castle, a legal expert with over 30 years experience, was named the appeals commissioner and he now has up to seven days to hear and determine the appeal failing which Ganguly can play in the first Test, ICC said in a release here.

Ganguly was slapped with a two-Test suspension for breaching ICC’s code of conduct in relation to slow over rates during Saturday’s Platinum Jubilee one-dayer between India and Pakistan in Kolkata.

The grounds of the appeal, paperwork from the ICC match referee Clive Lloyd and a video of the match have already been dispatched to Castle today, the release added.

The process for conducting the hearing is left in the discretion of the appeals commissioner.

Since the right of appeal was introduced in 2002 there have been two previous appeals. In both those instances the appeals commissioners reached their decisions based on written and video evidence.

After a hearing on Sunday, ICC match referee Clive Lloyd suspended Ganguly for two Test matches for breaching the ICC code of conduct in relation to slow over-rates.

ICC’s appointment of Castle came after the Indian cricket board and Ganguly exercised their right of appeal against the decision yesterday.

The ICC said if the BCCI and Ganguly had not appealed, the ban would have applied with immediate effect.

The ICC code of conduct states that if the appeal has not been resolved prior to a scheduled game, a player is permitted to play in that match.

The appeals commissioner, who has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that of the ICC match referee, can provide his written decision at any stage during this seven day period. (PTI)

I’m neither bitter nor demoralised: Ganguly

"There are certain things beyond one’s control. This has to be taken into account," Ganguly told newspersons here today.

"As far as I’m concerned, I’m playing the Kanpur Test," the Indian captain said after a two-hour practice schedule at the Eden Gardens.

Ganguly had been pulled up by ICC match referee Clive Lloyd for slow over rates during the platinum jubilee match between India and Pakistan last Saturday.

The ban was put on hold temporarily yesterday after the BCCI gave a notice to the ICC expressing its intention to appeal against the decision.

On whether it was an unpleasant scenario for him right now, the Indian captain said "I have not heard anything from anyone as of now. I’ll go by whatever the ICC decides."

Ganguly said he felt neither bitter nor demoralised.

"Why should I be bitter? they have taken off the ban. And I am not demoralised. I always believe in looking forward."

When he was reminded that the ban has only been temporarily lifted, Ganguly said "I have to wait and see."

Asked if it was feasible for the captain to remain alert all the time on the ground to avoid such punishments, he said "one has to be alert. The icc rules are rules. All cricket teams have to follow them."

Asked about the basis of his appeal against the ICC decision, Ganguly replied "I spoke to Clive Lloyd when he called me for a hearing a day after the match. I told him the reasons for the delay - the white ball, dew, change of balls, injury to players, gave him my side of the story. (PTI)

S Africa avoid defeat but concede
psychological advantage

Having a conceded first innings lead of 135, the visitors chose to experiment with their batting order but the decision backfired and they plunged to 150 for eight, only 15 runs ahead and 17 overs left in the day.

It meant Jacques Kallis, who had suffered a side strain and was advised not to play, had to come out to bat at number 10.

Luckily Kallis (12) had captain Graeme Smith (6), who had come in at number nine, for support and the two negotiated 12 overs before the match was called off with five of the mandatory overs remaining.

The tourists would note with deep concern that 10 of their 13 wickets that were to fall in the match were picked by spinners.

Mumbai offspinner Ramesh Powar picked three for 50 while legspinner Sairaj Bahutule grabbed two for 68 for a match haul of seven for 133.

The visitors reshuffled their batting lineup so that those who did not bat in the first innings spend some valuable time at the crease. But the batsmen failed to cope with the low turning track and found themselves fighting to save the match.

It was the worst preparation a team could have planned for a Test series.

There was little hint of trouble when Jacques Rudolph and Zander De Bruyn added 62 runs for the opening stand.

Powar picked two wickets off successive balls when he had De Bruyn (35) caught at silly point by Y Venugopal Rao before Shaun Pollock was caught behind the very next ball.

The left handed Rudolph cracked three fours and a six for his 31 before he failed to get back to the crease in time and was run out by wicketkeeper M S Dhoni.

Powar then struck the third blow when he took a return catch to dismiss Boeta Dippenaar (23).

It was a procession from thereon with the batsmen showing little willingness to stay at the crease.

Earlier, resuming at 320 for five, president’s team called halt to their innings an hour into the morning session, immediately after the dismissal of centurion Dinesh Mongia at 361 for six.

Mongia, 135 overnight, fell for 148 as he played all over and was bowled by Graeme Smith. The Punjab left hander faced 289 balls during his six-hour and 19 minute stay at the crease and hit 18 fours.

Mongia was adjudged man of the match and cash prize of Rs 35,000 for his effort. Hemang Badani remained unbeaten on 74 from 123 balls aided by 11 fours while the sixth-wicket partnership was worth 154 from 256 balls.

The declaration, which came into the second over after drinks break, seemed a bit puzzling as it denied Badani a well deserved century.

The Tamil Nadu left hander has been timing the ball very well despite looking hampered a bit in his movements. He was on 52 when edged Makhaya Ntini for a catch to slip but the deliver was declared a no-ball.

South Africa are to play two Tests with first Test starting in Kanpur on Nov 20. (PTI)

The ‘Indian’ in the South African side

JAIPUR, Nov 16: Even in the melee of South African players, Hashim Amla stands out for different reasons. Not a frequent sight after Saeed Anwar decided to hang up his boot, Amla Sports a flowing beard which sets him apart from others. And he is the first player of Indian descent to represent South Africa at the national level cricket.

My grandparents hailed from Surat and I was sort of briefed by my friends and relatives in South Africa about what to expect here. It has been just that, he said.

Impressed by Jaipur, Amla said, this is my first tour of India. This is a great place and I’m simply amazed by the passion of the public for cricket.

Cricket runs in his blood and Hashim s elder brother Ahmed is also a first class player. Hashim wears his glasses during practice and looks more like a preacher than a cricketer. A devout and religious Hashim requested the United Cricket Board of South Africa to remove logos promoting alcohol products removed from his apparrel and the board obliged.

"Hashim had requested to allow him sport gears without the logo and the board decided to relax the rule for him," team manager Gerald De Kock told UNI.

Hashim skippered South Africa at the 2002 under-19 World Cup and is already hailed as a captaincy material.

An useful part-time spinner, Hashim also seemed in love with the culture and traditions in the country.

"Besides winning the series, I would like to return from India with fond memories. You have a great culture. This is a fantastic place and I’m looking forward to meeting some fantastic people here," Hashim said.

Spending the Id away from his home, he said, "I love the culture of India. Regarding Id, this is not the first time I’m spending it outside.

A very competitive cricketer with a deceptive look, Hashim is also determined to shine in the Test series in what could have been his own country. (UNI)

Arnav, Mir Danyal receive National Child Awards

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

The citation presented to Mir Danyal Masoom credited him with exceptional talent in the field of roller skating while Arnav was presented award for being youngest swimmer in Jammu and Kashmir.

Son of Irshad Masoom Mir and a student of DPS Jammu, Mir has a long list of achievements in skating at this young age. He is a trainee of Kamal Anand at Shiva Roller Skating Institute, here.

Arnav son of Mr Kamal Gupta (advocate) is a student of Army School, Kaluchak. He was awarded for his exceptional ability in the field of water sports.

Awards carries a cash prize of Rs 10,000, silver medal, a citation and a certificate.

14th State Billiards and Snooker meet from Nov 25

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association is holding 14th J&K State junior and senior billiards and snooker championships will be held at MA Stadium, here from November 25.

Entries can be submitted to Mushtaq Ahmed (joint secretary, JKBSA Srinagar), Manohar Lal (Amar Singh Club), Surjeet Singh (MA Stadium), Rakesh (MA Stadium) before November 24.

Competition will be held for four different events in two age groups of junior and senior. For juniors entry fee is Rs 100 for each event whereas seniors have to submit entry fee of Rs 150.

According to Siddharth Sharma, president of the Association, draws for the seeding and placing shall be held at Billiards Hall, on November 24 at 5.30 pm.

This championship shall be considered as qualifying competition for the forthcoming national championships, which is scheduled to be held in the month of January next at Mumbai.

Matches shall be played according to the BSFI rules and regulations. Abhimanyu Arora shall be the organising secretary of the championships.

Distt Poonch TT meet begins today

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

POONCH, Nov 16: District Poonch Table Tennis Association is holding district championship in all age groups here from tomorrow.

While cadet, sub-junior and junior boys competitions shall start on the inaugural day tomorrow, the matches in senior group shall begin from November 18 at 3 pm, informed general secretary of the Association, Saleem Bandey.

According to the organising secretary, entries in senior groups should reach the organising committee upto 10 am on November 18 so as to draw the fixture.

Ishrat helps Kishtwar College beat Kathua by 4 wkts

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: A splendid half-century by Ishrat today guided Degree College Kishtwar beat Degree College Kathua by four wickets to enter into quarterfinals stage in the inter-college cricket tournament underway at University ground, here.

Ishrat made 46 ball 55 runs with the help of one six and ten boundaries.

Earlier, Kathua College won the toss and decided to bat first. They were all out at 176 in 39.4 overs of the 40 overs match. In reply, Kishtwar boys chased the total in 35.5 overs with four wickets in hand.

Nishant Singh was top scorer from Kathua with 45 runs while Arun contributed 26 (off 24 balls) including two boundaries. Extras added second highest 41 runs. From Kishtwar, Salim and Pardeep shared two wickets each.

Batting second, Kishtwar College surpassed the required total making 185 runs with the help of a towering six coming from the bat of Mutaba in fifth delivery of 36th over.

Mutaba made quick 20 runs off 21 balls hitting two sixes and a four. Sunny too played a fine innings of 22 runs facing mere 15 deliveries with the help of five boundaries. From Kathua, Rahul and Sham Lal took wickets each.

Udhampur, PG

enter semis

of volleyball

JAMMU: Degree College Udhampur and Post Graduate Departments (PG) today qualified for the semi-finals of inter-college volleyball tournament being played at University courts here.

In the first quarterfinal, Udhampur outplayed GGM Science College 3-1 (18-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-19). Mohd Ilyas and Mohd Javed played excellent game for the winners.

PG Departments defeated Government SPMR College of Commerce in straight sets 25-18, 25-13, 25-18. Anil Sharma and Mohd Wasim scripted PG win while Sandeep Saini fought well for Commerce College.

Now, in the semi-finals, to be played tomorrow from 10.30 onwards, Degree College Poonch will take on Degree College Udhampur while PG will meet Degree College Kathua.

Indian camp emerging more confident

By Rahul Dravid

It has been 4 years since we played South Africa at home. That time around, South Africa ended our supremacy at home but things have changed since then. There have been lot changes in the two teams since then while the nucleus of the Indian team has remained the same, the South African team has lost some of their key and more experienced players to retirement. Playing in these conditions not only requires adjusting to the wicket but also to a different culture and the Huge fan following. This makes the South African team even more dependent on their two most experienced and world-class players Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis. Both these players can change the course of the game on their own and more importantly with both the bat and the bowl.

Our team has nearly completed a circle since that series. That was the last series where we did not play upto our potential and this is probably the toughest phase – form wise, which the team is going through in last 4 years, with lot of positives and great wins filling the gap in between the 4 years.

Like the last time, we are coming into the series against South Africa after losing a test series to Australia but this time around we are much more confident as a team, much of it coming from the close win in the last test at Mumbai. Also this South African team is not as experienced as the team which toured last. Their team is in a rebuilding phase, with very few players having experience of these conditions. The team is also with out Nicky boje who played a crucial role in their teams victory in the Banglore test. He must be surely disappointed on missing on a tour, which holds lot of interest for any spinner. Saying all this, I am pretty sure that this South African team will fight as hard as another South African team from past.

Till now it has been a disappointing season for us and we would like to change it from this series. We have failed to put up big scores on the board this season and would go out to amend this aspect of our game. We have got spinners, who have been bowling brilliantly this season. In Anil and Harbhajan we have got the two best spinners in the world, who have consistently lived up to their reputation and with the emergence of Murali Kartik in the last series, the spin trio is looking as good as it has ever been.

Unlike the Australian who have toured India on a regular basis over the past 6-7 years, the South African team has not and thus lacks the required exposure to play in these conditions. They had a tough tour to Srilanka and their one- day record of late is nothing close to what it used to be. But, this is a different series, and will be a contest between South African bowling and Indian batting and if we are able to put up a good score on the board then we are surely going to put the inexperienced South African batting line up under lot of pressure with out more experienced bowling line up. (TCM)

Ricky, Dharmani place Punjab in comfortable position

AMRITSAR, Nov 16: A fine century by opener Ravneet Ricky and his 124-run third wicket stand with Pankaj Dharmani helped Punjab to 279 for three on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy cricket elite group ‘B’ match against Assam here today.

Electing to bat, Punjab progressed steadily before Reetinder Sodhi (34) fell to R Sathish. With the total on 97.

Yuvraj Singh (29) did not last for long when he was caught by SV Saravanan off Konwar with the Punjab total on 155.

Ricky and Dharmani then tamed the Assam attack as the scoreboard moved up steadily. Ricky finally fell when he was caught by Zuffri off PK Das.

At close, Dharmani (62) and G Gupta (5) were at the crease.

****

Sangram, Manvinder slam unbeaten centuries for HP

PALKKAD (Kerala): Unbeaten centuries by Sangram Singh (128 batting) and Manvinder Bisla (133 batting) and their 268-run partnership for the undefeated third wicket helped Himachal Pradesh to pile up 321 for two against Kerala on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy plate group here today.

Electing to bat, Himachal Pradesh lost Manish Gupta (11) when the score was 33. Twenty runs later, Sandeep Sharma (21) also departed.

Thereafter, Kerala bowlers had to toil and Sangram Singh hit 15 boundaries and a six in his 345-minute knock. Manvinder’s 300-minute knock was studded with 14 fours and a six.

Railways 305 for 9 against Bengal on opening day

NEW DELHI: Riding on the fine batting performance of trio- T P Singh, A A Pagnis and J P Yadav, Railway scored a commanding 305 for nine against Bengal on the opening day of the group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match here today.

On a lively wicket, Tejinder Pal Singh and Pagnis put on 123 runs for the second wicket while contributing 86 and 57 runs respectively. Later it was left to J P Yadav to further boost the score as he remained unbeaten with 68.

For the visitors, medium pacers Ranadev Bose and Sabir Ali took four and three wickets respectively while other two were claimed by spinner Murtaza Lodhgar.

Though Railways lost nine wickets, they kept the scoreboard moving really fast and ended the day with 300 plus score with one wicket in hand. (AGENCIES)

Mahendra denies using money, influence in Ganguly case

JAIPUR, Nov 16: BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra today dismissed suggestions that money power and Indian influence in international cricket have anything to do with the ICC keeping the two-Test match suspension of skipper Sourav Ganguly on hold.

"No, it has nothing to do with Indian power," he said when asked if the Indian influence in international cricket helps it squeeze out of tight situations like that of Mike Denness verdict in South Africa in 2001 and now in Ganguly’s case.

Then why the penalty on a ‘level three’ offence had been put on hold when the cricket board had not yet appealed against it?

Mahendra, who held a press briefing last evening but had not revealed that the Indian captain had protested against the decision, said the board would appeal after an official communication from the ICC.

On why the suspension was kept in abeyance even before the BCCI appeal, Mahendra replied that it was ICC’s decision and they must have pondered over other things too.

When asked about the comments he had reportedly made against Ganguly when he was manager of the Indian team, Mahendra retorted "that chapter is closed now. I never made any comments. Let the poor chap play cricket. (PTI)

Moin and Rashid left out of Australian tour probables

KARACHI (Pakistan), Nov 16: Pakistan has left out experienced wicketkeepers Moin Khan and Rashid Latif from a probables list for the tour of Australia.

The former captains do not feature among the 25 players who have been called up for fitness trials on November 20 and 21 in Lahore in preparation for the tour.

"The selectors, coach Bob Woolmer and the team’s fitness trainer will have a look at these players in the fitness trials before the touring squad is announced," Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman Asad Mustafa said today.

Pakistan tour Australia from November 27 to play three Tests and then take part in a triangular one-day series with the hosts and West Indies.

The selectors have opted for only one keeper, the 22-year old Kamran Akmal, while ignoring Moin who has played 69 Tests and 219 one-day internationals and Rashid (37 Tests and 166 ODIs).

Moin was dropped recently by the selectors and replaced by Akmal in the second Test against Sri Lanka while Rashid has not played since last November after opting out of the Test series against South Africa.

"The selectors can consider others from outside the list if absolutely necessary," Mustafa said.

The selectors have also included pacer Shabbir Ahmed who has been recovering from a knee operation since September and missed the Champions Trophy in England and the home series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Probables: Salman Butt, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved, Shahid Afridi, Asim Kamal, Aamer Bashir, Riaz Afridi, Bazid Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Ashar Zaidi, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Faisal Athar, Mohammad Khalil. (AGENCIES)