LONDON, Nov 26: In a major relief for Sourav Ganguly, the two-Test ban on him was today lifted by the International Cricket Council, ending the suspense over the Indian captain’s availability for the second Test against South Africa beginning on Sunday..................more

Eden wicket will
be firm: Mukherjee

KOLKATA, Nov 26 : What will be the nature of the 22 yard strip at the Eden Gardens here during the second and final Test cricket between India and South Africa? will it be a dustbowl to facilitate the hosts, or just a dead track like Kanpur?....................more

England flying to Zimbabwe
as media ban lifted

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 26: England’s five-match cricket tour of Zimbabwe will go ahead after a ban on 13 British journalists was rescinded..............more

Wright hints at
2 pacers in Eden

KOLKATA, Nov 26 : Indian Coach John Wright today hinted at playing two pacers as India will go all out for a series win against South Africa in the Eden test commencing on Sunday............more

Jharkhand sensing
huge victory over J&K

JAMSHEDPUR, Nov 26: Jammu and Kashmir were staring innings defeat after bowling out Jharkhand for 245 in the first innings on the second day of the four-day plate group "A" Ranji Trophy tie at the Keenan Stadium here today................more

Ahil, Arjun Kohli
in junior boys final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 26: Ahil Gupta and Arjun Kohli today reached the final of junior boys final in the ongoing 26th Stag State table..................more

Strive for excellence
in sports: Mangat

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 26: Saying that mental preparation is intertwined with physical preparation, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma today said that there...........more

JKCPA: Failure against
Jharkhand result of
JKCA’s callous attitude

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 26: Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Players Association (JKCPA) today held the JKCA responsible for poor......more

Yuvraj, Owais, Ankush among easy winners ......

Seniors hot-shot veteran cricket from tomorrow.......

England, Zimbabwe match rescheduled for Sunday ......

ICC lifts two-match ban on Ganguly

LONDON, Nov 26: In a major relief for Sourav Ganguly, the two-Test ban on him was today lifted by the International Cricket Council, ending the suspense over the Indian captain’s availability for the second Test against South Africa beginning on Sunday.

The decision to uphold Ganguly’s appeal was taken by the appeals commissioner New Zealand barrister Tim Castle, who found the cicumstances during the November 13 one-dayer against Pakistan as "particularly unusual and a large number of them conspired to cause the delays which occurred".

After considering oral evidence from Ganguly and match referee Clive Lloyd as well as the grounds of the appeal, match paperwork and a video of the match, castle opted to overturn the two Test match ban, the icc said in a statement.

"I allow this appeal and I quash the two Test match ban imposed on Ganguly," Castle said in his judgement.

"On any analysis, the delay of nearly an hour to the finish of a 50 over ODI game beyond its scheduled finish time, is out of an acceptable range.

"I am of the opinion that the circumstances were particularly unusual in this game and a large number of them conspired to cause the delays which occurred."

Ganguly was slapped with a two-Test ban by ICC match referee Clive Lloyd for the Indian team’s slow over rate in a commemorative one-day international against Pakistan in Kolkata on November 13.

The verdict by Castle paves the way for Indian captain to play in the second Test against South Africa beginning in Kolkata on Sunday.

The decision to lift Ganguly’s ban came a day after Castle had a three-hour teleconference with the Indian captain and match referee Lloyd.

Ganguly was allowed to play the first Test in Kanpur earlier this week pending a decision on his appeal.

Ganguly had contended in his appeal that the delay in completing the overs was not intentional and cited frequent changing of the ball, the heavy dew and injury to Pakistani batsman Salam Butt as the reasons for the delay.

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said that Castle’s decision highlighted the independence of the ICC’s appeals process.

"Castle’s decision today demonstrates the independence of the ICC’s appeals process," Speed said in the release.

"His judgment highlights the exceptional circumstances that prevailed during this particular match while also emphasising the general importance of maintaining the required over-rates during international matches."

As per the ICC code of conduct, the decision of the appeals commissioner is final.

The news would come as a big relief for the Indian team seeking to win the home series after the first Test ended in a tame draw in Kanpur. (PTI)

Eden wicket will be firm: Mukherjee

KOLKATA, Nov 26 : What will be the nature of the 22 yard strip at the Eden Gardens here during the second and final Test cricket between India and South Africa? will it be a dustbowl to facilitate the hosts, or just a dead track like Kanpur?

These two questions have been rankling cricket buffs two days before the first ball is bowled on this pitch on November 28.

But the curator Prabir Mukherjee is dismissive of the prophets of doom.

"Some experts had said that the Kanpur track would turn viciously from day three. But what happenned? it is very difficult to predict how a wicket will behave," said Mukherjee who is also member, East Zone of the Ground and Pitches Committee of the BCCI.

Mukherjee said he had tried to prepare a firm, even bouncy wicket.

"It will definitely not be a greentop. Some grass will have to be clipped. But at the same time the strip will not have a bald look," he told PTI.

Mukherjee asserted that he had not received any request from the team management to prepare an underprepared track.

"The pitch is being rolled and watered as per normal practice. There is no question of making an underprepared strip," the septuagenarian said.

The juice in the wicket is likely to assist seam bowlers in the morning.

"Since the stadium is very near to the ganges, the pacers used to get lot of help because of the dew as the strip remained uncovered earlier. But now, as the wicket is covered, the dew factor poses less of a problem," he said.

Mukherjee said the damp weather and the absence of the northely winds, common here during this time of the year, has hampered the preparation of the pitch.

"There is very little sun light. As a result, I can’t water the pitch as much as I like. I have to be extra careful to ensure that the wicket does not remain damp. But in the end I am hopeful that it will be a sporting pitch providing equal assistance to bowlers and batsmen," he added. (PTI)

England flying to Zimbabwe as media ban lifted

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 26: England’s five-match cricket tour of Zimbabwe will go ahead after a ban on 13 British journalists was rescinded.

England team spokesman Andrew Walpole said after a players’ meeting last afternoon: "I can confirm the team will fly to Harare at 1030 a m tomorrow."

England were originally due to fly on Wednesday but were told by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to remain in South Africa. Walpole said Friday’s opening one-day match would be rescheduled.

"The ECB is committed to playing a five-match series," he said. "We will sort out the dates later."

ECB chairman David Morgan was told at a meeting in Zimbabwe with cricket officials that the bans had been lifted. "The whole incident is regrettable but it has been resolved," he said.

Richard Bevan, chief executive of England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association, told a media conference: "From the players’ perspective the last 24 hours have been disappointing and have saddened the players."

ECB director of operations John Carr, who briefed the players, said: "We are delighted the decision has been fully reversed."

He added: "the tour has to take place to fulfil England’s commitment to the (International Cricket Council’s) future tours programme. The goalposts were moved when accreditation was denied but we are back to where we were now."

Major anyway Mutambudzi, a senior official at the Department of Information and Publicity, told the 13 barred reporters had been part of a backlog of applications which had now been cleared.

"The confusion came initially from the fact that people had applied as a group rather than as individuals as is required by our law. We have cleared everyone," he said.

Earlier, a spokesman for president Robert Mugabe said the reporters had been banned because they worked for organisations hostile to the Zimbabwe leader.

"Bona fide media organisations in the UK have been cleared, but those that are political have not. This is a game of cricket, not politics," George Charamba said.

The ICC welcomed the Zimbabwe government’s change of heart.

"The non-accreditation of these cricket journalists by the Zimbabwe Government was a very serious issue and the ICC welcomes the reversal of this original decision," said president Ehsan Mani.

Morgan and the ECB’s deputy chairman Mike Soper met the chairman of Zimbabwe cricket Peter Chingoka on Thursday morning to try to resolve the crisis.

Under the ICC’s future tours programme, tours can only be cancelled on the advice of a government or because of overriding security and safety worries.

Teams pulling out for any other reason risk a 2 million fine and suspension from the international game.

Top strike bowler Steve Harmison boycotted the tour before the squad was announced and several players, including captain Michael Vaughan, aired reservations before the latest crisis.

Relations between Zimbabwe and its former colonial ruler Britain have hit Rock Bottom since Mugabe launched a campaign of chaotic and often violent seizures of land from white farmers, many of whom held dual British citizenship.

Britain, accusing mugabe of rigging his 2002 re-election, has spearheaded international sanctions against Mugabe, who in return says London has masterminded a campaign of economic sabotage and negative media coverage as the once prosperous Zimbabwean economy faces its worst crisis since independence. (AGENCIES)

Wright hints at 2 pacers in Eden

KOLKATA, Nov 26 : Indian Coach John Wright today hinted at playing two pacers as India will go all out for a series win against South Africa in the Eden test commencing on Sunday.

Talking to reporters here, Wright said, "I have seen the pitch. It will be a good one to play on. Irfan Pathan is back (from injured) and Ashis Nehra is also fresh. Both of them bowled will at the nets. We will certainly look at the bowling balance of the side. So at this stage we keeping things very open."

Asked if that meant playing only one spinner, John reacted, "we certainly don’t think that way. It will either be two or three. Definitely two. Zaheer is in fine form and we are thinking of some alternative. But we will have to sit with kiran more and other selectors and (captain) Sourav Ganguly before coming to any conclusion." (UNI)

Jharkhand sensing huge victory over J&K

JAMSHEDPUR, Nov 26: Jammu and Kashmir were staring innings defeat after bowling out Jharkhand for 245 in the first innings on the second day of the four-day plate group "A" Ranji Trophy tie at the Keenan Stadium here today.

Conceding a deficit of 166 runs in the first innings, Jammu and Kashmir were tottering at 59 for five at stumps and needed another 109 runs to avoid the ignominy of innings defeat.

Resuming at overnight 133 for four, Jharkhand lost their batting star Rajiv Kumar(overnihgt 31 n.o), who could add only two more runs before being caught plumbed off captain Dhurv Mahajan. But the former captain Sunil Kumar(overnight not out 10) fought a lone battle and remained unbeaten 87 till the end.

Sunil, who missed century by 13 runs, hit 12 boundaries and one huge six in his 316 minutes stay, facing 217 balls in his unbeaten knock. He was ably supported first by Mihir Diwakar and then S S Rao, putting 29 and 58 runs in the eighth and tenth wicket stands respecively. Jharkhand were all out just before the tea.

Abid Nabi was the most successful bowler for the J and K by scalping four wickets off 91 runs while Dhruv Mahajan returned with 16 for 3. Jagtar Singh and Sameer Khajuria had one wicket a piece.

Apart from opener Sheikh Sajjad (21) and captain Mahajan (batting 20), no batsmen from the visiting side could stand before the three-pronged pace attack of the hosts.

Mihir Diwakar, who took four wickets in the first innings, claimed two wickets in the second essay conceding 19 runs while lanky S S Rao bagged two scalps for eight runs.

Captain Sumit Panda had the other wicket.

SCOREBOARD:

Jammu and Kashmir (first innings):

79 all out

Jharkhand (first innings)

Manish Vardan run out 09

Ratan Kumar lbw Nabi 02

M S Dhoni c S Saljaria b Nabi 48

Rajiv Kumar lbw d Mahajan 33

Mohit Goyal c Saljaria b Singh 18

Sunil Kumar not out 87

Sumit Panda b Nabi 00

Mihir Siwakar c Jeelani b Nabi 05

Shahid Khan c Sajid b Khajuria 04

S S Rao lbw d Mahajan 11

Sanjiv Gupta c A Bhat b D Mahajan 00

Extras (bye 8, nb 12, wide 8) 28

Total (all out in 108.4 overs ) 245

Fall of wickets 15/1, 21/2, 76/3, 115/4, 138/5,

147/6, 176/7, 187/8, 245/9, 245/10

Bowling : A Nabi 35-14-91-4, P Mahajan 15-3-44-0,

D Mahajan 24.4-14-16-3, J Singh 15-4-34-1,

S Salaria 1-0-11-0, S Khajuria 11-4-30-1,

M Dar 7-4-11-0.

Jammu and Kashmir (second innings)

Asif Jeelani c Dhoni b Diwakar 03

S Sajjad c Sunil b S S Rao 21

S Salaria lbw b Diwakar 09

Kavaljeet Singh c Rajiv b Panda 05

Dhruv Mahajan batting 20

Majid Dar c Dhoni b S S Rao 00

Arshad Bhat 00

Extras (nb 1 ) 01

Total (for five in 28.2 overs) 59

Fall of wickets :3/1,20/2,33/3,51/4,51/5

Bowling: S Panda 9-1-19-1, M Diwakar 8-0-19-2,

S S Rao 5-3-8-2, S Gupta 4-1-13-0, S Khan 1.2-1-0-0

Manish Vardhan 1-1-0-0. (UNI)