RP out; Munaf, Powar in for Kanpur Test

AHMEDABAD, Apr 6: An off-colour R P Singh was today dropped and fellow paceman Munaf Patel was recalled in India’s 16-member squad for the third and final cricket Test against South Africa.

RP Singh, who put in a poor performance in both the Tests after coming back from injury, was the only player to face the axe following the team’s humiliating innings defeat in the second Test here.

Stocky spinner Powar, who has not been in the Test picture since representing the country in the two-Test series in Bangladesh last May, was also included in the team as cover for captain Anil Kumble, who will have to undergo a fitness test along with paceman Ishant Sharma before the third Test beginning in Kanpur on April 11.

Kumble, whose participation in the second Test was in doubt, is once again under an injury cloud but cricket board Secretary Niranjan Shah was not sure when the captain got injured in the match.

"His earlier injury must have recurred," was how the BCCI official put it when asked specifically whether the Karnataka stalwart had gone into the tie here without recovering fully from his groin strain suffered in the series opener in Chennai.

Kumble and Ishant will have to undergo the fitness test on April 10, according to Shah. The Delhi bowler will arrive here tomorrow to practice with the rest of the team before they proceed to Kanpur on April 8.

"Two selectors, including Sanjay Jagdale, will go and watch the fitness test," Shah told. The squad would be trimmed to 14 after the two players’ fitnesses are assessed, he added.

Sachin Tendulkar, who had missed the second Test because of a groin injury, has already been ruled out for the third and final Test which India have to win to level the three match series.

Opener Jaffer is obviously lucky to keep his spot, despite having done very little of note in this series except a 73 on the featherbed at Chennai that followed his flop show in Australia, but Kanpur might offer him a final chance to keep his place.

While the Indian bowlers have had a disappointing outing in both the matches, the selector referred not to make too many changes in the bowling line up, which meant that Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan might continue to be retained in the squad.

The start-stop career of 24-year-old Baroda-born Maharashtra pacer Munaf Patel, who has not played a Test since the second match against Pakistan at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, has also been given a fresh lease of life.

Squad: Anil Kumble (Capt.), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, M S Dhoni (V-Capt., wicket-keeper), Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma and Ramesh Powar. (PTI)

Bhupathi-Knowles pair finishes runner-up

MIAMI, Apr 6: Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles’ quest for a third ATP doubles title this season ended in disappointment after a straight-set mauling at the hands of top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan in the finals of the USD 3,77,0000 Sony Ericsson Open here.

The fourth seeded Indo-Bahamas pair went down 2-6 2-6 to the defending champions in a lopsided 53-minute encounter yesterday.

The win gave the Americans their first ATP title of the season.

The Bryans were appearing in their ATP-best fifth final of the year after runner-up finishes in Sydney, San Jose, Las Vegas and Delray Beach. The title win here was their 45th career title together (11th ATP Masters series).

"Today was one of the best matches we played in a long time. I think the last time we played like that was against Mark Knowles in Basel in the fall, and it was 6-1, 6-1. Today was the same way," said Mike Bryan.

The Bryans, who never faced a break point, broke knowles twice in the opening set - in the fourth and eighth games. In the second set, Bhupathi was broken twice, also in the fourth and eighth games.

Bhupathi and Knowles, who are number two in the ATP doubles race, came into their third ATP final of the season having won 14 of their last 15 matches.

They won back-to-back titles in Memphis and Dubai without dropping a set before their 10-match winning streak ended in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells to eventual champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.

Knowles was attempting to become the 20th player in the open era to win 50 career doubles titles while Bhupathi was aiming for his 44th career title. (PTI)

Smith joins Cronje as most successful SA Test captain

AHMEDABAD, Apr 6: South African captain Graeme Smith and coach Micky Arthur had additional reasons to rejoice after their team’s crushing victory over hosts India in the second Test at the Motera stadium that put the visitors 1- 0 ahead in the three-Test series.

By leading his team to South Africa’s biggest-ever winning margin over India, Smith joined former captain, the late Hansie Cronje, as the Proteas’ most successful Test captain.

While Smith has led South Africa on 56 occasions with 27 victories, 15 losses and four draws, Cronje - tainted by the match-fixing scandal and later banned for life after he accepted taking money to underperform before dying in a plane crash - led the rainbow nation in 53 matches. Of these, South Africa had won 27 and lost 11.

The visiting team’s thumping innings victory in Ahmedabad yesterday also bettered their win-loss record in Tests on Indian soil to a creditable 4-3 ahead of the final Test at Kanpur.

Yesterday’s victory was also South Africa’s biggest winning margin against India, bettering the innings and 71 runs that Cronje’s team achieved at Bangalore in 2000, incidentally the scam-tainted player’s last match as captain which helped his team complete a 2-0 series win.

That was also the last occasion that India lost a home Test match by an innings.

South Africa coach Arthur has now completed 28 matches in charge of the Proteas and has a 50 per cent success ratio.

Among the individual records set here was the fifth-wicket partnership of 256 between Jacques Kallis (132) and A B De Villiers (217 not out) which has become the highest by South Africans for any wicket against India.

Pace bowler Dale Steyn, who played a major role in the stunning victory by taking eight wickets in the match to the four taken in the drawn series opener at Chennai, took his tally in the sub-continent to 35 from six Tests.

He has a total of 75 wickets from the last eleven Tests, which includes two 10-wicket feats.

Meanwhile, the team has decided to take a complete break from the game today and tomorrow before proceeding to Kanpur on Tuesday, according to the Cricket South Africa’s travelling media officer, Michael Owen-Smith.

The squad will have practice in Kanpur on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon, he added.

The soundly thrashed Indian team also had an off day and are scheduled to have a lengthy practice session at the Sardar Patel Gujarat stadium nets. (PTI)

Indian archers disappoint

NEW DELHI, Apr 6: Indian archers had a disappointing day today at the Meteksan World Cup as they were outplayed in bronze medal play-off in individual as well as team events.

Tarundeep Rai, who put up a consistent showing to reach the semifinals, was outsmarted by Balijinima Tsyrempilov of Russia 99-110 in the third place play-off.

The men’s recurve team - comprising Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Mangal Singh Champia - could not match their Italian rivals to lose 209-213 in the battle for the bronze medal. (PTI)

Kashmir province seals convincing win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 6: Kashmir province outclassed Jammu province by 32 runs in a one off cricket match played in memory of late Ramchand Tickoo and SDA Drabu at GGM Science College Hostel Ground today.

Batting first, Kashmir province was bowled out for 117 runs in 25.3 overs with Wasim and Feroz top scored with 21 runs each.

Fayaz and Younus also chipped in with useful 15 and 14 runs respectively.

For Jammu province, Bilal was the most successful bowler with 3 scalps whereas Ravi Pandita and Akshay Koul snared two wickets apiece.

Rohit and Waqar took one wicket each. In reply, Jammu province was perished for 85 runs in 24.2 overs.

Abhinav and Vimarsh played fighting knocks of 28 and 25 runs respectively.

For Kashmir province, Sameer took three wickets. M L Nehru was the chief guest on the occasion who gave away prizes to winner and runner up teams.

H K Rawal, Ashwinder Koul, C L Suri, K B Kaw, Rajesh Dhar, Ghulam Hassan and Rajiv Pandita were also present.

Abhinav was declared the best batsman while Sameer Ahmed as best bowler.

Anish was adjudged best bowler. The match was organised by four affiliated clubs (Kashmir Cricket Club, Whites Cricket Club, Srinagar Cricket Club and Rainawari Cricket Club).

Manjit inaugurates Philosophers walk

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 6: As a part of Jammu festival, Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Manjit Singh today inaugurated philosophers walks at Mahamaya city forest. The programme has been organized by Tourism department in collaboration with Summer Land Tour and Travels to provide a opportunity to have glimpses of the history of Jammu through the ages as seen from the Mahamaya forest.

The 15-days festival was organized to promote culture tourism and also to publicize various destinations in the Division.

Speaking on the occasion, Manjit Singh said Mahamaya forest is a tourist spot with great potential, which needs to be developed and brought on the tourist circuit. The participants were provided interesting facts about the history of various landmarks and ancient sites visible from there including Bahu Fort, Amar Palace, Hari Niwas, Mubarak Mandi, Jamavant cave (Peerkho) etc.

The Tourism Department Jammu also organized a quiz contest on the occasion wherein Director Tourism Ajay Khajuria distributed prizes among the topers, later.

Inzamam, Moin to sue Akhtar

KARACHI, Apr 6: Beleaguered speedster Shoaib Akhtar could face another legal wrangle for reportedly dragging former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan into match-fixing scandals.

Akhtar apparently told a TV show host that both Inzamam and Moin offered him money to under-perform in some matches, an allegation that left Inzamam livid.

"We are waiting to see what happens. But myself and Moin are consulting and we will then decide to may be sue him," Inzamam told a Pakistani television channel today.

He said he and Moin would wait to see what action was taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council against Akhtar for making those allegations.

Akhtar earlier claimed he had turned down offers from bookmakers in South Africa and India to under-perform.

Inzamam gave enough indications that he was taking the allegations seriously.

"He has tried to drag us into this match fixing issue. We will wait and see and then do something," he said.

Inzamam said Akhtar was making baseless allegations to save himself from the ban.

"What can I say about Shoaib? His whole career has been full of controversies. Those who have played with him know him well. He has got into one scrap after another," he said.

"This ban was coming because of his repeated bad behaviour. Yes, five years is a bit harsh but the ban is totally justified," he stated.

Asked why former captains like Imran Khan and Javed Miandad were supporting Akhtar, Inzamam said they did not know him or had not played with him.

"Imran never played with Shoaib. Shoaib never played in Imran’s team. So they don’t know the sort of character he is. But those who know him will never support him," Inzamam stated.

He said it was unfortunate Akhtar had resorted to making wild allegations after the ban.

"I think the Pakistan board should be supported for finally taking disciplinary action. But I think whatever he is saying has only got him into more trouble," he added. (PTI)

Roma defeats Genoa 3-2

ROME, Apr 6: Daniele De Rossi converted a late penalty kick for as roma in its 3-2 victory over Genoa in the Series A.

De Rossi scored in the 80th minute after a sliding tackle by Genoa forward Marco Borriello took down Rodrigo Taddei inside the area.

In yesterday’s only other match, Filippo Inzaghi scored twice as Milan defeated visiting Cagliari 3-1.

Roma took an early lead with goals by Taddei in the 14th and Mirko Vucinic in the 17th. (AGENCIES)

Samaraweera gives Sri Lanka chance of series sweep

PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad), Apr 6: Thilan Samaraweera hit his sixth test hundred and shared a century seventh-wicket stand with Chaminda Vaas to lead a Sri Lanka recovery in the second and final Test against West Indies here.

Samaraweera hit the top score of 125, as Sri Lanka, trailing by 16 runs on first innings, were dismissed for 268 in their second innings yesterday just before the scheduled close on the third day at Queen’s Park Oval to leave West Indies two whole days to chase 253 for victory.

Samaraweera reached his ton when he sliced Fidel Edwards to the third man boundary for the 15th of his 18 boundaries that came from 199 balls in close to five hours.

But Samaraweera was fortunate that umpire Billy Bowden ruled a palpable lbw verdict not out, when Dwyane Bravo deceived him with a well-pitched delivery that moved back from outside the off-stump and struck him plumb in front.

When Samaraweera arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble on 32 for three, and soon crashed to 99 for six, with West Indies contemplating a victory inside three days.

But Vaas joined Samaraweera, and they spent just over three hours repairing the damage with a stand of 138.

Vaas scored a valuable 45 before he essayed a loose slash at a delivery of no great merit outside the off-stump from West Indies captain Chris Gayle, plying his uncomplicated off-spin, and was caught behind.

Then Samaraweera was run out going, when he failed to beat Marlon Samuels’ throw from third man to the keeper in the closing minutes of the day extended to compensate for time lost to inclement weather on the first day.

Jerome Taylor brought the Sri Lanka innings to a close, when he had Muttiah Muralitharan caught at long leg for four to end as West Indies’ most successful bowler with four wickets for 52 runs from 15.1 overs.

Before lunch, Sri Lanka suffered a batting meltdown and handed West Indies the advantage until Samaraweera and Vaas snatch it back again.

The visitors had dismissed West Indies for 294 in their first innings 50 minutes after the start with off-spin legend Muralitharan ending with five wickets for 79 runs from 29.2 overs.

But the Sri Lankans soon found themselves in strife, as the home team’s fast bowlers, led by Taylor, gained appreciable bounce and movement from the lively pitch and ran through their opponents’ top order.

Sri Lanka suffered a double setback in the second over of their innings, when Malinda Warnapura was caught at third slip for a duck off Taylor, whose direct hit at the striker’s end three balls later ran out Michael Vandort for one to leave the visitors on four for two.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene joined his deputy Kumar Sangakkara and briefly managed to stem the flow of wickets before they were both dismissed in the space of seven balls. (AGENCIES)

IPL to meet media representatives today

NEW DELHI, Apr 6: The Indian Premier League organisers will meet media representatives in Mumbai tomorrow to sort out the vexed issue of media accreditation for the Twenty20 extravaganza.

Under pressure to alter stringent accreditation guidelines which irked media organisations, top IPL officials will meet representatives of news agencies and newspapers tomorrow, while Editors Guild of India officials would be consulted via telephone.

With the accreditation deadline set on April 8, the authorities sprang into action immediately to resolve the contentious issue.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar has made it clear that the board would not like to antagonise the media and asked IPL authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest.

IPL governing council member I S Bindra also echoed the view and said differences would soon be thrashed out through discussion.

Earlier, the Editors Guild of India and Sports Journalists’ Federation of India wrote letters to Pawar, outrightly rejected the "appalling" accreditation norms.

"To say the least, this is a ridiculous claim, unheard of in the annals of free India’s media tradition," EGI observed.

The IPL accreditation norms also say newspapers and news agencies cannot use still images, taken by their accredited photographers, for online editions. (PTI)

COLOMBO, Apr 6: Sri Lanka’s national athletics coach Lakshman De Alwis and former Olympic marathon runner K.A. Karunaratne were among those killed in a suicide bomb attack today.

The bomber struck at the start of a marathon, killing a government minister and 11 other people. Dozens were wounded.

Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, who was opening the race 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Colombo, was among those killed, government spokesman Anusha Paltipa said.

Eleven other people died and more than 90 were wounded, the defense ministry said in a statement posted on its web site.

Karunaratne competed in the 1992 Olympic marathon and the 1993 world championships. He won gold in the marathon and 10,000 meters at the 1991 South Asian Games, defending his marathon title in 1993.

Karunaratne and De Alwis were confirmed dead by Lakshman Bulugalle, a government spokesman.

The Tamil tigers have fought since 1983 for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils who have been marginalized by successive governments run by majority ethnic sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. (AGENCIES)

Victorious Khan closes in on world title fight

BOLTON (England), Apr 6: Britain’s Amir Khan took a step closer to a world title fight when he defeated Denmark’s Martin Kristjansen in round seven of their WBO lightweight title eliminator here.

Khan floored his opponent three times before referee Mickey Vann stopped the fight seven seconds from the end of the round to give the Englishman his 17th straight win yesterday.

The Bolton fighter, an Olympic silver medallist in 2004, had been told to impress by promoter Frank Warren in order to land a world title crack later this year and the 21-year-old responded with a competent performance.

Whether Warren is now confident enough to step up his claims for chance at WBO champion Nate Campbell, who stunned Juan Diaz to win the title last month, remains to be seen. (AGENCIES)