From M R Mishra

KANPUR, Nov 18: Former South African captain and all-rounder Shaun Pollock today sought to put India on the backfoot ahead of the two-Test series, saying the pressure to perform will be felt more by the home team...........more

Wright backs his
struggling batsmen

KANPUR, Nov 18: Indian coach John Wright today gave a vote of confidence to his struggling top order batsmen ahead of the two-Test cricket series against South Africa, saying they had the class to bounce back sooner than later..............more

Legends Cup
Golf from Nov 21

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: One of India's biggest legends in sport, Kapil Dev will renew his rivalry with the England's legendary all-rounder, Ian Botham, in the aptly named inaugural Legends Cup........more

Amritraj, Mankad to
take part in prize
money tennis tourney

MUMBAI, Nov 18: The top six Indian youngsters, including Prakash Amritraj and Harsh Mankad, plus two wild cards, would take part in the two-day USD 15,000 prize money Abn Amro Tennis Challenge here at the Cricket Club of India on December 10 and 11.......more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

POONCH, Nov 18: Beating the defending champion, Gurvinder Singh, Abhinav emerged as new cadet boys champion while Harshid bagged the sub-junior boys title outplaying Abhinav in the final of district Poonch table tennis championship underway here today..........more

Commerce College in
semis of inter-college cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Government SPMR College today reached the semi-finals of inter-college competitions after they defeated Degree College Kishtwar comfortably by five wickets at University ground here..............more

State TT championship
from Nov 23

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: 26th State and inter-district Table Tennis championship, organised by J&K Table Tennis Association, shall start from November 23.........more

Bhupathi-Mirnyi match held
up once again due to rains

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Rains held up the doubles match of Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi with American brothers Bob.....more

Sporting wicket for first Test.......

Tight finishes mark Nehru Super League matches......

Ranji Trophy
Zuffri, Sarvanan rescue Assam .......

Pressure will be on India: Pollock

From M R Mishra

KANPUR, Nov 18: Former South African captain and all-rounder Shaun Pollock today sought to put India on the backfoot ahead of the two-Test series, saying the pressure to perform will be felt more by the home team.

Pollock said that the experienced Indians started as favourites as they will be playing at home against a young team determined to make a mark.

"The pressure will be squarely on india. They are the favourites and they will have to play well to beat us. We have an inexperienced team, we are just eager to do make it count," Pollock said in an interview.

"It is a transition period in South African cricket. We have a lot of young guys who have come in. They are talented, so we have to give them some time to settle down. To build a good team, it takes some time," he said.

He said the team had prepared well for the Indian team having practiced on spinning tracks at the camp back home. "We have prepared well and feel confident of handling the Indian spinners".

As the senior most member of the team, Pollock said he was willing to take the extra responsibility of grooming the youngsters, particularly the fast bowlers.

"On the field my role may not have changed much. You still have to go and perform. But off the field, the young guys look upto you for advice," he said.

"My job is to give them the desired confidence and prepare them for the challenges."

The all-rounder conceded that touring India might be a tough proposition for most of the first-timers in the team.

"India is always a challenge. The huge crowds, the pitches, the conditions, everything is different. But then a cricketer needs to go through these experiences to grow. It is important to come here with the right mindset," he said.

The 31-year-old Pollock said South Africa may take a few more years to emerge as a major force and did not find anything wrong in the quota system being followed for team selection by the South African Cricket Board.

"We pick our best team. Coloured and black cricketers have come up. I think every part of our nation is enjoying cricket, more people are playing cricket which is good."

Pollock gave the example of Indian-origin cricketer Hashim Amla who has forced his way into the national squad with some consistent performances at the domestic level.

"Hashim plays with me for Nashua Dolphins and he is a very good prospect. He has been rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic level."

Pollock welcomed the International Cricket Council’s proposed changes in relation to illegal deliveries though he admitted that he could not really understand the scientific jargons that constituted an illegal delivery.

"In a way, it is good. We will have a unified rule for all bowlers. But it does not make the job easier for those who decide on such matters."

Cricket runs in Pollock’s veins. His father Peter was South Africa’s spearhead in the 1960s and uncle Graeme was acknowledged as one of the finest batsmen of the game.

Such is his natural talent that when he was named in the national squad in 1996, there was no talk about influenced selection.

Pollock formed a lethal new ball partnership with the fiery Allan Donald and the duo are the only two South African bowlers to have taken 300 or more wickets in Tests.

He is on the verge of a milestone with 349 wickets, which have come in 85 matches at a miserly average of 21.40.

Asked whether he had set himself a goal for the series, Pollock said, "to take as many wickets as possible".

"I don’t set myself targets. I am happy giving my best for the country. I go into every match aiming to take as many wickets as possible."

Did he have any regrets?

"Regrets, no. I really have no regrets in my cricketing career. The World Cup defeat by just one run in 2003 was a disappointment, but I won’t call it regret."

He conceded that his batting record, 2932 runs at 32.57, could have been better. "Well, I wont be too proud of my batting records," he said.

"I could have done better in batting. But bowling has been my primary job for the team, have spent a lot of time and energy in that department."

Wright backs his struggling batsmen

KANPUR, Nov 18: Indian coach John Wright today gave a vote of confidence to his struggling top order batsmen ahead of the two-Test cricket series against South Africa, saying they had the class to bounce back sooner than later.

Wright said the top order batsmen had not performed to their potential recently but he was sure it was just a matter of time before they clicked collectively again.

"The batsmen have not performed upto their potential. The guys are class players, but they have not clicked for some time. As a coach, I back them and I am quite sure they will click sooner than later," Wright said after the Indian team had a strenuous practice session at the green park stadium.

"Players like Laxman were nominated for two awards recently. Tendulkar, Dravid and Sehwag — they have a lot of class. They have done the job for us in the past. They have do it now. They will be under a little pressure now, but they are all experienced to handle all these things," he said.

Asked whether the Indians were planning to make any changes in the batting order for the first Test beginning on November 20, Wright said, "there will be no changes in the batting order. It is upto us to bat well, batting is our strength."

The team managemet may have to leave out the in-form Mohammad Kaif from the playing eleven with skipper Sourav Ganguly returning to the Test squad after a side strain ruled him out of the last two Tests against Australia.

"Kaif has done a wonderful job in the Tests he got to play. It is good to have him around. But there will be no room for sentiments when we sit down to decide the team."

On the track at the Green Park Stadium, Wright said "it does not look like the pitch will have a great deal of pace. Sometimes you get an indication about how the pitch will play by watching the practice tracks.

"The pitch will definitely take turn at some stage. I can’t say when, but it will definitely turn. The first innings score will be very important," he said.

Asked whether the Indians would go into the match with three specialist spinners as they had done in the Mumbai Test against Australia, the coach said "we are definitely going into the match with two spinners. Whether we will have an extra spinner will be decided tomorrow.

"The 3-1 combination (3 spinners and a pacer) worked well for us against Australia in Mumbai. But the conditions were different there. Here because of the moisture factor, we may have to take two seamers."

Wright also said Ganguly was expected to join the team late in the afternoon as he was held back in Kolkata in connection with his appeal against the two-Test ban slapped on him for slow over rate during the one-dayer against Pakistan. (PTI)

Legends Cup Golf from Nov 21

NEW DELHI, Nov 18: One of India's biggest legends in sport, Kapil Dev will renew his rivalry with the England's legendary all-rounder, Ian Botham, in the aptly named inaugural Legends Cup golf tournament to be held at the Classic Golf resort on November 21, 2004. The field, which also includes many other sporting legends, many of whom are cricketers, will also feature eminent people from other walks of society like bureaucracy, corporate sector and politics, too.

The tournament to be played on Stableford format will have a total field of about 80 golfers vying for various prizes. Each four-ball will have one legend, and three other players.

"This is a great way to compete with your fellow cricketers and sportsmen after having finished with our main sport," said Kapil Dev at the Press Conference. "I am looking forward to this competition with my fellow cricketers. It is also a chance to renew our old rivalries and catching up with old colleagues."

Ian Botham who is a known golfer in the cricketing circles send his message saying that he is looking forward to coming back to India as a “player” once again and compete with his old friends.

Mr. Rajiv Shukla, Member of Parliament, and a keen sports follower, said, "This is the first edition and we will be making this event an annual affair with more additions and it will become bigger and bigger in the years to come. It is our way of recognizing the sporting legends of our time."

Ajay Jadeja, another former Test star, added, "It is indeed a great honour to be able to compete with a legend like Kapil Dev.

After having learnt and played cricket under him, I now look forward to picking up tips in golf, where once Kapil is brilliant."

Pakistani legends, Wasim Akram and Zaheer Abbas are also likely to be in the field. "While Wasim is sure to play, Zaheer;'s visa expires the day before the competition. But we are hopeful of getting an extension, so that he can add further star value to the event," said Lokesh Sharma, Managing Director, 21st Century Media, which is organizing the event. “Events such as Legends Golf cup are a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, and relive the fiery encounters of past, for a change, with a club and not a bat in hand” said the legendary Pakistan Batsmen Zaheer Abbas.

Madan Lal said, "It is always great fun to be once again in the company of old colleagues and friends and what better way to spend the day than on the golf course." Madan is a keen golfer who turns out for corporate and celebrity events regularly.

Wasim Akram send his message too, saying that he has visited India in past as a cricket player, on promotion activites and for cause of diabetes awareness programmes but this is going to be a totally new experience coming to India as a golf player and competing against the leaders in various fields.

Other Indian cricketers who will be seen in action will include Syed Kirmani, who like Madan Lal was Kapil's teammate in the 1983 World Cup winning team. There will also be Javagal Srinath and Atul Wassan. Also expected are sportsmen like billiards star Geet Sethi and tennis ace Leander Paes.

The technical conduct of the tournament will be handled by John Volz, Director Golf, Classic Golf Resort. "There will be lots of prizes For every one. The idea is that the event is not only competition but also fun for everybody," he added.

The players will divided into two categories of 0-12 handicap and 13-24. The Legends will vie for a separate prize, while there will prizes for other players. There will also be prizes for Longest Drive, Straightest Drive, Closest to the Pin etc.

The event managed by TCM is being supported by ESPNSTAR Samsung,Indian Airlines, Zip Pouch, Classic Golf Resort , NDTV.

Amritraj, Mankad to take part in prize
money tennis tourney

MUMBAI, Nov 18: The top six Indian youngsters, including Prakash Amritraj and Harsh Mankad, plus two wild cards, would take part in the two-day USD 15,000 prize money Abn Amro Tennis Challenge here at the Cricket Club of India on December 10 and 11.

The winner of the eight-player knock-out event would get the chance to take part as a wild card entrant in the qualifying rounds of the ATP tour’s longest running sponsored event - the 32nd Abn Amro World Tennis Tournament - to be held indoors at Rotterdam in the Netherlands next February. The Rotterdam event’s tournament director and former Wimbledon men’s singles champion Richard Krajicek told a press conference today that when the organisers - who hold a similar event for dutch youngsters - thought of expanding it, India was their chosen country to extend the courtesy.

"This is the first year and the success of this event will be reviewed before deciding whether we can continue this next year. I love to support tennis everywhere and we thought India is a good place to do so," the 1996 Wimbledon men’s champion said.

As per the ATP rankings top six players who will take part in the event in Mumbai are: Prakash Amritraj, Harsh Mankad, Sunil Kumar Sipaeya, Vinod Sridhar, Vijay Kannan and Vishal Uppal. (PTI)

Distt Poonch TT Championship
Abhinav bags cadets title, Harshid wins in sub-juniors

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

POONCH, Nov 18: Beating the defending champion, Gurvinder Singh, Abhinav emerged as new cadet boys champion while Harshid bagged the sub-junior boys title outplaying Abhinav in the final of district Poonch table tennis championship underway here today.

Before Abhinav beat Gurvinder he underwent a tough contest which lasted for complete five sets. The score: 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-7. Earlier, in semi-finals, Gurvinder beat Nikhil 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 and Abhinav outplayed Anupam 11-7, 8-11, 11-8.

In sub-junior boys final, Harshid emerged winner beating Abhinav 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12. In semi-finals, Abhinav beat Gurvinder 11-6, 6-11, 11-9 while Harshid downed Rahul 11-7, 7-11, 11-8.

Earlier, in cadet boys quarterfinals, Gurvinder beat Harish Suri 11-9, 11-8 while Abhinav outplayed Manjot 8-11, 11-9, 11-6. Nikhil downed Sudhanshu 11-6, 11-4 and Anupam got walkover Samandeep. Now, in semi-finals, Nikhil to take on Gurvinder and Anupam will meet Abhinav.

Meanwhile, according to general secretary of district table tennis association, Salim Bandey the finals of junior (3 pm) and senior (5 pm) boys will be played tomorrow.

Other results

Cadet boys first round: Harish Suri bt Ashaik 11-7, 11-3; Abhinav bt Ankit 11-4, 11-6; Anupam bt Bhalla 11-3, 11-3; Nikhil bt Sushil 11-7, 11-; Manjot and Sudhanshu got walkovers.

Sub-junior boys first round: Sumit Sharma bt Antriksh 13-11, 11-9 and Shanky Sharma bt Gagandeep 11-8, 11-8; Abhinav bt Manjot 11-6, 6-11, 11-3; Nikhil got walkover Samandeep; Harshid bt Jaffar 11-6, 11-4; Rahul bt Sohail 11-4, 11-3; Gurvinder and Ishan got byes.

Sub-junior boys second round: Gurvinder bt Sumit Sharma 11-8, 11-9; Abhinav bt Shanky 11-8, 11-8; Harshid bt Nikhil 11-9, 11-8; Rahul bt Ishan Tandon 11-7, 11-9.