Tendulkar ruled out of third Test

NEW DELHI, Apr 5: Indian team suffered a major jolt today with master bastman Sachin Tendulkar, nursing a groin injury, being ruled out of India’s third and final cricket Test.

BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said Tendulkar, who sustained the injury during the drawn series opening Test at Chennai, had not recovered sufficiently to play in the third Test from April 11-15 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.

"Sachin Tendulkar will be unavailable for selection for the third Test match due to his right groin injury. Sachin’s recovery is making good progress but he has not recovered sufficiently to be available for the third Test," Shah said in a statement.

"This decision has been taken to give Sachin the opportunity to make a full recovery from this injury. Sachin has a rehabilitation programme to continue with and will be monitored closely," he said. (PTI)

WI replies with 268-7 on day II

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Apr 5: Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a fine 57 for the West Indies on Friday, but three wickets from Muttiah Muralitharan ensured that Sri Lanka maintained parity on day two of the second cricket Test at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The West Indies closed on 268 for seven in reply to the visitor’s first innings total of 278.

The home team received contributions from most of their top order, but only Sarwan passed a half century. Left-handers Chris Gayle (45), Sewnarine Chattergoon (46) and Devon Smith (47) fell short.

Muralitharan claimed Sarwan, Smith and Marlon Samuels on his way to three for 64. Left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara impressed with two for 72, including the wickets of captain Gayle and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

"I don’t think at any point during your innings you can relax because there’s always a bit of assistance there for the seam bowlers," Sarwan said.

"We have three quality seamers, and if they put the ball in the right areas, we can put Sri Lanka under pressure."

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka stretched their overnight 217 for five to 278 all out.

Chamara Silva shepherded the lower order before he was last out for a topscore of 76. His innings-reviving sixth-wicket stand with Tillekeratne Dilshan (62) was worth 105.

Fidel Edwards led the West Indians with four for 84 and got support from Daren Powell (two for 59) and Jerome Taylor (two for 74).

Sri Lanka faltered swiftly after Dilshan and Silva resumed after a rain-hit day one.

Dilshan, overnight 58, added a boundary but fell in the day’s first over when he top-edged a hook off Edwards. Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin held a running catch on the leg side.

Dilshan struck eight fours off 60 balls.

In the next over, Ramdin held another top-edged stroke as Chaminda Vaas fell to Powell.

Thushara saw Silva to his half century before Ramnaresh Sarwan’s brilliant pick-up and direct hit from the leg side ran him out for one.

Muralitharan hit two fours from his first two deliveries but sliced his third down to third man where Dwayne Bravo pouched an excellent diving catch off Powell.

Silva ushered the tail end well and added 23 for the last wicket with Ishara Amerasinghe before he was the third batsman to fall to the hook shot.

Silva hit 12 fours off 108 deliveries before he hauled a catch down to deep backward square leg off bravo.

Gayle and Chattergoon powered a positive West Indies response and they took lunch at 49 without loss.

Soon after the resumption, Gayle sparred at Thushara outside the off stump and provided a gully catch to Michael Vandort. Gayle struck nine fours off 44 balls.

But the home team maintained an advantage as Chattergoon and Sarwan added 79 either side of tea, which was taken early due to light rain.

The Sri Lankans rebounded in a lengthy final session.

Debutant Chattergoon, who struck five fours off 78 balls, was bowled by a wonderful delivery from Chaminda Vaas at 137 for two.

Four runs later, Muralitharan struck for the first time as Marlon Samuels (3) was ruled leg before as he prodded forward defensively.

Sarwan brought up his third successive 50 before Muralitharan claimed him to a pad-pad catch to backward short leg. The West Indies vice captain hit eight fours off 86 balls in just over two hours.

Thushara returned to earn a clear leg before verdict against Chanderpaul at 199 for five.

Smith and Bravo put together a busy stand of 47 for the sixth wicket before two wickets just before the close tilted the balance back to Sri Lanka.

Smith was in sight of a first half century in three years when he missed a Muralitharan doosra and was bowled through the gate. Smith hit five fours off 92 balls in just under two hours.

Bravo provided Amerasinghe with his first Test wicket just before the end as he was leg before playing across the line. (AGENCIES)

Pak team not affected by Shoaib ban: Malik

KARACHI, Apr 5: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said his team was neither affected nor distracted by the controversial ban on Shoaib Akhtar and maintained that the players were concentrating on their performance ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh.

"It is something between the board and a player. We are professional players and we are supposed to concentrate on our jobs which is playing cricket and doing well for our country," Malik said in an interview.

Malik said Shoaib’s incident had not dampened the morale and spirit of the team and they were working hard towards the Bangladesh rubber.

"The ongoing national one-day tournament has helped us get in shape for the coming series and we are going to have a short camp before the first match on Tuesday. We are looking forward to the series and are keen to do well in it," he added.

Malik said Pakistan had enough talent to do well in the series and the target would be to win all the matches.

"We are not going to underestimate the Bangladesh side as they are a good one-day squad who have caused many upsets in the past. You can’t take them lightly," he stated.

Malik said Australia not coming to Pakistan was now history and the players were now concentrating on the Bangladesh series.

"What has happened has happened is history now. But I am happy that we are atleast getting a chance to play some international cricket," Malik stated.

He said the return of pacer Umar Gul after a layoff due to injury would reinforce the bowling attack.

"We will not experiment much in the series because we want to give the younger players who debuted against Zimbabwe a chance to cement their places. It will be a good series for them as they will gain in confidence and exposure."

The Pakistan skipper also hit back at his critics who had questioned his absence from the Pentangular Cup and the national one-day competition.

"My mother is still very ill and she is my first priority. I did go to Mumbai for four days for some work. But in both cases I had taken permission from the cricket board so nobody should say I committed any indiscipline," he said. (PTI)

Nadal, Davydenko book spots in Miami final

MIAMI, (USA), Apr 5: French Open champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the final of the ATP Masters series Sony Ericsson Open with a 7-6, (8/6), 6-2 victory over Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych.

Nadal, the second seed, will play in Sunday’s championship match of the 7.54 million-dollar event against the Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko who overpowered us sixth seed Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in the other semi.

"He’s physically so fit," Davydenko said of Nadal. "It’s amazing. And for him, I think he doesn’t care, playing night session or day session. He runs so much. You know, he fights."

Nadal, seeking a 590,000-dollar top prize, is attempting to become the first Spanish player to win this event.

He lost to world No. 1 Roger Federer in the 2005 championship.

"I arrive here and I practise every day very well," Nadal said. "I said before tournament I was playing very well, and right now I am in the finals. So anything can happen in this final."

The 21-year-old lefthanded Spaniard will be seeking his 24th career title and first this season in Sunday’s final.

Davydenko reached his first final of the year and is the first Russian in the 24-year history of this hardcourt event to play in the championship match.

Davydenko won the opening set over Roddick with a cross-court winner on Roddick’s serve, then broke his opponent three times in the second set.

"He doesn’t give an inch," Roddick said.

Roddick, who already has won at San Jose and Dubai this year, appeared poised to win the first set Friday when he forced a mini-break to go ahead 4-3 in the tiebreak.

However, the 26-year-old won the next two points on Roddick’s serve, which to that point had been dominant, for a 5-4 lead.

Roddick saved one match point to get within 6-5, but Davydenko broke through again to claim the opening set.

Roddick stunned Federer in the quarter-finals Thursday, taking only his second victory in 17 career meetings with the Swiss superstar by 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3.

Roddick, the 2004 winner here, is 19-4 this season with titles in San Jose and Dubai, where he defeated Nadal and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic on his way to the crown. (AGENCIES)

Inter Zone Sports Meet from tomorrow
JKP sportsmen perform well at all levels: DGP

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 5: Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda said that sports persons of J&K Police has proved their mettle at all levels besides performing their duty in the trouble torn State.

He was speaking to the media on the eve of Inter Zone Sports Meet to be organised by J&K Police from April 7 to 11.

He said 400 participants from six Zones namely Armed, Training, Kashmir, Jammu, HG/CD/Auxiliary Police and CID/Telecom/Security/Crime/Traffic would vye for top honours in 18 disciplines at different venues in the five-day long sporting extravaganza.

The DGP further said the main objective of organising such events was to develop a spirit of sportsmanship and to inculcate sports culture at grass root levels. Various organising and other sub committees have been constituted for the smooth conduct of the event.

The Mascot of the Meet is "Hangul". The events to to be held in the Sports Meet included Volleyball, Football, Tug-of-War, Boxing, Basketball, Archery, Handball, Kabaddi, Athletic, Hockey, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Swimming, Badminton, Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis and Shooting (introductory event).

All the matches will be played under the rules and regulations of All India Police Sports Council Board.

YSCC Doda launches its website

ExcelsiorSports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 5: The Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC) Doda today launched its website (www.ysccdoda.com) in a function organized here.

Member BCCI and legal advisor JKCA, M A Goni was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address, Goni appreciated the club and assured JKCA’s support in all its future programme.

Earlier, Ahtsham Bhat, YSCC general secretary, in his welcome address, apprised that the club is first in the State to launch its web site. Also speaking, Manzoor Bhat, patron of the clubwas also present.

Cross country race postponed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 5: The Cross country race which was to be organised by Police Public School, Bemina on April 7 has been postponed.

There will be regular classes on this day.

Billiards Hall in shambles

By Vikas Sharma

JAMMU, Apr 5: Notwithstanding the tall claims of State Sports Council to bolster the sports infrastructure, the Billiards Hall at M A Stadium has been in shambles while facing the wrath of incessant rains.

According to sources, the hall had lost one of its tables last year before the commencement of the domestic championships (District and State) due to leakage of water from the roof.

Even the repair work was initiated by the authorities as a mere formality as work was stopped midway due to unknown reasons.

Now with the continued rainfall, the condition of the hall has further worsened as the remaining tables were also getting damaged.

"What is the fun of preparing the hall when you can’t afford to maintain it properly" said one of the players, adding " the authorities so far have paid no heed to the problems being faced by the cueists who have been pushed to the wall".

"Today due to heavy rains throughout the day the ceiling of hall has been badly damaged and the fans stopped functioning" he said on the condition of anonymity.

"Despite visits by the authorities to take stock of the damage done has yielded no results much to the disappointment of the cueists " he said adding "their (authorities) careless attitude has put fate of the hall in shambles".

The sources also did not rule out the collapse of the roof. "It is high time now for the authorities to initiate any action regarding the safety of the hall otherwise it would prove fatal in future" he opined.

However, both Sports Minister, Haji Nisar Ali and Secretary, State Sports Council, Ravinder Gupta were not available when contact was sought to be made with them for their comments.

India embarrassed at home

AHMEDABAD, Apr 5: India succumbed to an innings defeat at home for the first time in eight years when they were humiliated by South Africa in the second cricket Test which lasted barely three days.

After being blown away for a mere 76 on the first morning of the match, the Indians were never in the game and were bundled out for 328 in their second innings to give the visitors victory by an innings and 90 runs and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Weighed down by South Africa’s first innings lead of 418 runs, the hosts had to play out of their skin to save the match but that did not materialse as the Proteas pacers rattled them for the second time in the lop-sided match.

Only Sourav Ganguly (87) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52) were the bright spots in the Indian second innings as they added 110 for the fifth wicket.

For the South Africans, Makhaya Ntini (3-44) Dale Steyn (3-91) and Morne Morkel (2-87) shared the spoils on a sporting track, on which the Indian bowlers hardly got any assistance. (PTI)

PCB want explanation from Lawson for
commenting on Shoaib ban

KARACHI, Apr 5: Demanding an explanation for his statements on the ban imposed on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan Cricket Board has warned chief coach Geoff Lawson against making further comments on issues which were "not in his domain".

"We have told lawson we would like him to concentrate on his job and leave administrative matters to the board in future. He has great responsibility on his shoulders and shouldn’t be commenting on such issues," a senior official said.

"We have asked Lawson for an explanation as he is not supposed to give media statements on matters which are not in his domain. Certainly the ban on shoaib is purely an administrative matter of the board," he added.

Lawson had said that Shoaib’s ban was sad and that the fast bowler had lot of potential but lacked responsibility. He had also said shoaib’s ban was a loss to Pakistan cricket.

The official said the board had also taken note of statements made by batsman Younis Khan and a member of the board’s governing body on the ban.

Sources said lawson had been told by senior officials to avoid speaking to the media on contentious issues as it created more controversies and damaged the image of Pakistan cricket.

"Lawson has also been advised to avoid giving comments to foreign publications on contentious issues like the Shoaib Akhtar ban," one source said.

The PCB recently introduced some stringent clauses in the central contracts for players making it clear they couldn’t speak to the media without the permission of their manager or board. (PTI)

Indian men’s recurve team to fight for bronze

NEW DELHI, Apr 5: Indian men kept themselves in medal contention after making the semifinals of the recurve team event at Meteksan Archery World Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Indian side — comprising Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Mangal Singh Champia — received a bye in the first round and comfortably got past france 224-219 to book a berth in the semis.

However, in the last-four stage, a sharp drop in their performance resulted in their defeat at the hands of Australia 211-217 and thereby prevented them from having a go at the gold.

In the third place play-off, India will take on Italy tomorrow.

In other team events, mediocre performances by Indian archers showed them the exit door early.

In women’s recurve, India crashed out in the second round, while in men’ and women’s compound they could not go beyond the first round. (PTI)

Jeev makes cut in Houston Open

HOUSTON, Apr 5: Jeev Milkha Singh emerged unscathed from a rollercoaster back nine to card two-under 70 and make the halfway cut in the houston open here.

After a poor opening round of 73, Jeev needed a solid round to hang around for weekend action and the Indian managed a card decent enough to place him at tied 47th.

The sedate front nine — with birdies on the first and eighth holes and the bogey on the fifth — did not provide any inkling about his eventful back nine.

It was an intriguing nine-hole stretch where Jeev soared and slumped and dealt only in birdies or bogeys.

He picked up a shot on the 10th only to bogey the next before reeling off four birdies in a row to be five-under for the day, with just three holes to go. But what followed was a hat-trick of bogeys that halted him in his stride, stretching his two-day total to one-under 143.

Overnight leader Johnson Wagner (132) carded 69 to retain the pole position with a three-shot lead over Mathew Goggin (64) and Charley Hoffman (70). (PTI)