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

Younis quits captaincy, Yousuf takes over

KARACHI, Oct 5: Mohammad Yousuf will lead Pakistan at the Champions Trophy in India after Younis Khan dramatically rejected the skipper’s role, saying he did not want to be a "dummy captain".

The shocking development, which come just two days ahead of the start of the elite tournament, could also see some disciplinary action being taken against Younis although the Pakistan Cricket Board stated that he would continue to be a part of the India-bound squad.

Younis, named as the stand-in skipper for Champions Trophy in place of Inzamam-ul Haq who is serving a four-match ODI ban, was scheduled to talk about the team’s preparations for the elite tournament at a press conference in Lahore but instead told reporters that he was quitting the job.

"I don’t want to be a dummy captain, I will explain the reasons for my decision later," was all that he said before leaving the venue in a huff.

Stunned reporters tried to chase him to get more details but in vain.

Coach bob Woolmer, who was supposed to address the media alongwith Younis, looked flabbergasted.

Yousuf, named as vice-captain, was promoted at an emergency meeting of the PCB’s ad-hoc committee later in the day.

A statement from the PCB claimed they too had been caught by surprise by Younis’ decision.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board deeply regrets that Younis Khan chose to announce his withdrawal from the captaincy of the Pakistan team for the Champions Trophy. He did so without prior consultation with the Board," it said. (PTI)

India-Pakistan likely to play in England

MUMBAI, Oct 5: Archrivals India and Pakistan are likely to play a three-match one-day international series in England in 2007, one of which will be for charity, as a part of the overseas programme the Indian Cricket Board has set off.

The matches would be played during India’s tour of England after the World Cup next year, Board sources said today.

"Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) has asked us to stay on and play three extra ODIs, one of these for charity, on our tour of England after the World Cup next year," the sources said.

"The matches may not be against England with whom we will play a seven-match Natwest series on the tour, and in all probability it would be against Pakistan," they said.

"The Prince has informed us he would help to get the leading English grounds for the conduct of these matches. The matches will be big drawcards with the number of people of Indian and Pakistani origin who reside in England," he added.

India are to play three tests against hosts England at Lord’s (July 19-23), Trent Bridge (July 27-31) and the Brit Oval (August 9-13) on the tour.

The Natwest series schedule:

Aug 21: 1st ODI, The Rose Bowl (day/night)

Aug 24: 2nd ODI, Bristol (D/N)

Aug 27: 3rd ODI, Edgbaston

Aug 30: 4th ODI, Old Trafford (D/N)

Sep 2: 5th ODI, Headingley Carnegie Stadium

Sep 5: 6th ODI, the Brit Oval

Sep 8: 7th ODI, Lord’s.

Meanwhile, other Board sources said the bilateral series against Sri Lanka at home in February, billed as a final tune-up before the Indian team departs for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, is likely to be a best-of-five affair instead of the earlier announced best-of-four.

"The Board’s members want the series to be played over five matches instead of the previously planned best-of-four," the sources said.

The series against the West Indies which will precede the one against the Lankans in January, will, however, be a four-match rubber as announced, the sources added. (PTI)

Batsmen of my ilk are on brink: Atapattu

NEW DELHI, Oct 5: Sri Lanka’s star batsman Marvan Atapattu rues that the aggressive marketing of the game has pushed orthodox batsmanship close to extinction.

"It is more coming to a stage where time is constantly shrinking, where there is no time for players like me," Atapattu said.

"In a team, you can’t have 11 Jayasuriyas or 11 Sangakkaras. You have to have variety in batting.

"When you have batsmen of different calibre, it helps you to counter everything the opposition comes up with. It will make the opponent think twice."

Atapattu is returning to the squad after an eight-month lay-off following a sciatic nerve surgery.

The 35-year-old batsman said it was a career-threatening surgery but he chose to go ahead with it because he felt he had served Sri Lankan cricket to the best of his potential.

"They did the micro-disc hectomy. It is related to the sciatic nerves. They shaved the disc portion which was touching the nerves and giving me pain in the legs."

"It was a disc prolapse. It has been there from school days. It had come to a stage where I had to decide whether I want to play cricket or stay pain-free.

"I would have had no regrets if i had not been able to come back, I don’t think I will be suffering if I am not playing now."

It is no wonder then that Atapattu, who has scored 8233 runs in 253 one-dayers and 5330 in 88 tests, has no problems playing under Mahela Jayawardene, nor does he feel threatened by the emergence of youngsters like Upul Tharanga.

"I think it was a privilege to watch the guys play in the last couple of series," he said.

"This is a good time to participate in the Champions Trophy. Things are going well for the team and the confidence is high.

"It is a challenge for all of us. There is nothing called a permanent place in the team.

"As long as you are in the winning combination or the winning 15, that is what matters."

Atapattu said it felt much better to be off the firing line, like he was when leading the side during last year’s visit.

"Yes, I am more relaxed now. When you are the captain and the team is losing, it is always tension," he said. (PTI)

Open Billiards, Snooker Championships from Oct 15

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association is organising 16th Jammu District Open Junior and Senior Billiards and Snooker Championships from October 15 in the Billiards Hall of MA Stadium.

The interested cueists are required to send their entries to Surjeet Singh and Rakesh at MA Stadium before October 14, 2006. The entry fees for the Senior Snooker and Billiards will be Rs 150 while for the Junior Snooker and Billiards the same will be Rs 100.

The draws for the seeding and placing will be held at Billiards Hall of MA Stadium on October 14, 2006 at 6 PM. Jaideep Manocha will be the organising secretary of the Tournament.

According to Sheetal Gandotra, general secretary of the Association, the Championships will be played according to the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) rules and regulations. The decision of markers and match referee will be final.

Cultural Academy distributes certificates, mementos

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Dr Rafeeq Masoodi today distributed certificates and mementos to the cultural troupe of the State which participated in the International Navratri Festival at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat.

Interacting with the artists, Dr Masoodi asked them to always make efforts for the best performance in every field to achieve the heights of the success. He congratulated Ifra Mushtaq, one of the budding artists for her best performance during the festival.

The artists, who participated in the festival include Surbhi Sharma, Abhilasha, Rami, Sonia Saini, Vandana Wazir, Shital Verma, Sadaf Nazir Bhat, Sunita Mehta, Ankita Sharma, Kamakshi Patyal, Humera Nazir, Ifra Mushtaq, Mehru Nessa, Shabana Karim, Ghulam Ahmad Bubul, Sarwar Bulbul, Abdul Gafar, Habib-ullah, Ghulam Mohd-ud-Din and Shashi Gupta.

Prof Ram Kumari was the Professor Incharge of the student. Anil Tikoo was the team Manager while troupe was led by Shamima Akhtar, SOCA-G-I Cultural Academy.

JU Men Kabaddi team leaves for Amritsar

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: Jammu University Kabaddi Men Team today left Amritsar for participation in the North Zone Inter-University Kabaddi (Men) Competition scheduled to be held at Guru Nanak Dev University tomorrow.

Jammu University (JU) team comprises of 12 players from different colleges of Jammu region and Post Graduate Department of the University. They will play their fixture on October 7, 2006.

Prof Keshav Sharma, Director Physical Education Department of Jammu University interacted with the Kabaddi players and Ajay Gupta Kabaddi Coach before the departure of the team to Amritsar.

Prior to participation, the Department of Physical Education conducted coaching-cum-selection camp of the selected probables from the Inter-Collegiate Kabaddi Tournament held in the University of Jammu.

The team comprises of Vipon Sharma, Jagdev Singh, Naresh Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Sushan Gupta, Raj Kumar Saini, Sunil Sharma, Gulzar Ahmed, Mohd Tariq, Faiz Ahmed, Abdul Rashid and Ashwani Kumar.

Pulwama lifts State Sqay Championship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 5: District Pulwama today lifted State Sqay Championship organised by Jammu and Kashmir Sqay Association in the premises of Youth Hostel Srinagar.

Srinagar District bagged the runner-up trophy while Poonch and Budgam Districts shared the third position in the overall medal tally. The winners of the State Championship have been selected for National Championship scheduled to be held at Maharashtra.

G M Dar, president of Sqay Federation of India was the chief guest while Syed Ahmad Wani, Divisional Youth Services and Sports Officer was the guest of honour.

The detailed results:

In 40 kg category, Tajamul Hamid Pathal of Pulwama bagged gold, Omar of Srinagar silver and Reyaz Jan of Budgam bronze while in 44 kg category Zubair Ahmad Malik of Pulwama clinched gold, Faizan of Srinagar silver and Sahir of Budgam bronze.

In 48 kg category, Table of Srinagar bagged gold, Aaquib Farooq of Srinagar clinched silver and Moin of Pulwama bagged bronze medal while in the 52 kg category, Arshid Hussain of Pulwama bagged gold, Aamir of Srinagar silver and Ishtaq Ahmad Dar of Pulwama bronze.

In 56 kg category, Rouf Mohidin and Bashir Ahmed of Pulwala bagged gold and silver medal while Aabid Elahi of Budgam bagged bronze medal while in the 60 kg category, Suhail Thakur of Budgam bagged gold, Bharul Haq and Barkat Ali of Srinagar bagged silver and bronze medals.

In 66g kg category, Nazir Ahmed and Mohd Ashraf Bhat of Pulwama and Tanzim Khalid of Poonch bagged gold, silver and bronze medals respectively while in the 70 kg category, Mudasir Ahmad Sofi of Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmad Sofi of Budgam and Shabir Ahmed of Anantnag bagged gold, silver and bronze medals.

In the below 58 kg girls category, Masrat Wani and Safoora Mehraj of Srinagar bagged gold and silver while in the below 62 kg, Mudasir Bashir and Yasmeen of Sriangar bagged gold and silver medals.

In the below 66 kg category, Rukiya Mohi-Ud-Dun of Anantnag and Sayima Gulzar of Srinagar bagged gold and silver medals while in the below 70 kg category, Shagufta Bashir of Srinagar and Tabasum Ara of Pulwama bagged gold and silver medals.

In the open category, Nighat of Sriangar and Masrat of Budgam bagged gold and silver medals.