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

Azhar provided security
following threat calls

HYDERABAD, Sept 3: The Andhra Pradesh Police have provided security to former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin after receiving information about alleged threat to his life, state Home Minister K Jana Reddy said today...............more

BCCI offers Pak to
play tri-series with
India and Australia

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: The Indian Cricket Board has offered Pakistan to play in a triangular one-day tournament with India and World Champions Australia in September next year..............more

India can win the final
against New Zealand,
says Dalmiya

KOLKATA, Sept 3: Asian Cricket Council Chairman and former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya today exuded confidence that Team India would beat New Zealand, with or without Shane Bond, in the final of the ongoing Tri-Nation Videocon Cup in Zimbabwe..........more

India may use
bench strength
in final league game

HARARE, Sept 3: Having already assured a place in the final, India would be looking to use their bench strength in the......more

Rakesh of J&K Police
emerges best boxer

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: The six-member Jammu and Kashmir Police team did not let the 25-member strong contingent of the Northern Command to dominate the............more

DYSS’ 3-day inter-district
handball tourney begins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: Organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, a three-day inter-district (divisional level)............more

Bhavna, Nandita,
Nitin win in debate

Excelsior SportsCorrespondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: Bhavna Sharma, Nandita Sharma and Nitin Chowdhary bagged first, second and third place respectively in a debate competition which was......more

Abhimanyu represents
India in international
cultural exchange

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: Abhimanyu Basur of Jammu has represented India in the 8th international cultural exchange programme held at Cairo, Egypt from August 21 to.........more

BCCI offers Pak to play tri-series with India and Australia

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: The Indian Cricket Board has offered Pakistan to play in a triangular one-day tournament with India and World Champions Australia in September next year.

"India is planning to host a triangular tournament involving Pakistan and Australia, and they've sounded us off to schedule our future programme accordingly," Director Cricket Operations, PCB, Saleem Altaf was quoted as saying in `The News' today.

He said the offer to accomodate the series in their next year's schedule came during the International Cricket Council meeting held in Dubai last week.

At the meeting, Pakistan and other countries had asked the ICC to start the new five-year calendar of international cricket programme from 2007 and not to disturb the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) until end of 2006.

"The PCB is already facing scheduling difficulties due to the hectic international programme and has to accommodate some unscheduled one-day events," he said.

He added that already the PCB had rescheduled its team's tour to Sri Lanka next year with the new programme now including just five One-day Internationals and no Test matches. (PTI)

India can win the final against New Zealand, says Dalmiya

Talking to UNI at a business meet here, Dalmiya said, "India is playing very well. They are capable of beating the Kiwis in the final. Shane Bond will not make any difference to the course of the final.''

"Its a fine team that we have and if they play to their potential they can beat the World Champions,'' he added.

He said it felt good to see that players play like a well gelled unit. "They are playing like a team. The cohesive force is there. But the bowlers deserve a special mention for the fine job they havce done,'' Dalmiya said.

And then added, "The batsmen, however, need to improve upon their

performance.''

On Skipper Sourav Ganguly's form, he said, "Sourav is playing well. There is a fluency in his game that shows that he has regained his vintage touch.''

"Though he has not made a tall score yet, some of his shots are a clear indication that he is back on course to being his best. Its just a matter of time,'' he said.

Veering back onto the topic of the final on Tuesday, he said, "The temparament to win a match is back among the boys. I am very optimistic that we will come out winners in Tuesday's final.''

He also ruled out any change to the current Indian side, "The present team is performing well ands so I dont think the coach is going to make any replacement.''

He also gave a thumbs up to Greg Chappell's work. "He is doing a fine job and has has been able to inspire the players to play as a team and give in their best,'' Mr Dalmiya said. (UNI)

India may use bench strength in final league game

HARARE, Sept 3: Having already assured a place in the final, India would be looking to use their bench strength in the inconsequential Videocon Cup triangular cricket series league match against minnows Zimbabwe here tomorrow.

Bowlers Rudra Pratap Singh and Murali Kartik and batsmen Suresh Raina and Venugopala Rao can all expect a game as coach Greg Chappell is a great believer in giving everyone a feel in the sun on a tour.

It would only be fitting that these youngsters are given a game before they head back home since the reinforcements for the Test series would be arriving early next week.

The four have done very little since arriving in Zimbabwe last month even though Rao had played one and been a Super Sub in another game.

It would mean a few regulars could sit out tomorrow, including the hero of the last match against New Zealand on Friday, Mohammad Kaif.

"Obviously that's an option for us to consider. Though Kaif having got a hundred would like to carry on," Chappell said.

If the new players have to be accommodated and a few regulars given a break, then high on the list could be Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif among batsmen and Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra among bowlers.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh too could be asked to make way for for left-arm spinner Kartik.

It obviously is different with the likes of Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly who are still looking for some substantial scores under their belt.

Both the openers seemed to be in good touch against the Kiwis in the last match but could not get a more substantial score which would have given them immense confidence.

The usually reliable Rahul Dravid too has not quite had a knock which would have pleased him and the stylish middle order batsman will be eager to get a big score ahead of Tuesday's summit showdown.

The Indian batting came good after a long time to be able to successfully chase a target of 279 and coach Chappell will be hoping that the top order batsmen keep the good work going.

Zimbabwe too would like to round-up the triseries on a positive note which will act as a morale-booster for the coming Tests against the Indians. It would also put them in a better frame of mind against the Bangladeshis who visit them in October.

After the criticism of the seniors by coach Kevin Curran, Andy Blignaut from the old brigade has put his hands up and Heath Streak has always been a presence in the squad.

A few plucky performances from the batsmen in the top could still make it a close contest for the hosts.

India would like to finish with as many wins as New Zealand has managed from the triseries so far. They currently have a record of 2-1 from three games and a win against the hosts tomorrow could bring it on par with the New Zealanders' three wins and just a solitary loss.

Teams (from):

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Venugopala Rao, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Ashish Nehra, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Rahul Dravid and Jayprakash Yadav.

Zimbabwe: Tatenda Taibu (capt), Heath Streak, Stuart Carlisle, Hamilton Masakdza, Justice Chibhabha, Keith Dabengwa, Waddington Mwayenga, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Craig Wishart, Brendon Taylor, Blessing Mahwire, Andy Blignaut, Anthony Ireland, Gavin Ewing, Prosper Utseya, Anthony Ireland and Craig Coventry.

Umpires: Daryll Harper (Aus) and Russell Tiffin (Zim)

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka). (PTI)

Rakesh of J&K Police emerges best boxer

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: The six-member Jammu and Kashmir Police team did not let the 25-member strong contingent of the Northern Command to dominate the show in the State (open) Boxing Championship which was organised by the J&K Amateur Boxing Association at MA Stadium, here.

The coveted best boxer trophy was also clinched by the J&K Police boxer, Rakesh Singh, who defeated N Vankat Rao of Northern Command in the final. However, Vikas Chetri of Northern Command, who had lost to Rakesh Singh of J&K Police in one of the best bout of the tournament yesterday in Light Weight, was declared best looser.

In the final and prize distribution function, Inspector General of Police, Dr S P Vaid was chief guest. He gave away medals to the winners. He appreciated the young boxers from Poonch, Jammu and other parts of the state for their fighting spirit and enthusiasm.

The final bouts were officiated by Anil Kumar Wadhera (Sports Council), Manjit singh (BSF), Vinay Gupta (J&K Police) and Manjit Singh (Army).

The detailed results

Fly Weight: S Sandly bt Ashwani Kumar

Fly Weight: Akshay Kumar bt Rajinder Singh

Bantam Weight: Vikas Thapa got over

Feather Weight: Kuldeep Singh bt Lalit Singh

Light Weight: Rakesh Singh bt N Venkat Rao

Light Welter Weight: Sukhwinder Singh bt Rakesh Kumar Dogra.

Welter Weight: Gurpal Singh bt Sandeep Aher

Middle Weight: Jagwinder Singh bt Gurdev Singh

Light Heavy Weight: Anil Kumar bt Balbir Singh

Heavy Weight: Sukhpal Singh bt Somveer Punia

Super Heavy: Ravinder Bhushan bt Vikas Sharma

Sub-junior (winners): Upto 30 kg: Rajat Slathia. 30-33 kg: Mohd Adil. 33-36 kg: Rustam Khan. 36-39 kg: Mohd Kalin. 39-42 kg: Rakesh Kumar. 45-48 kg: Vijay Kumar. 48-51 kg: Joginder Kumar. 54-57 kg: Paramjit. 57-60 kg: Sunil Sharma.