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

Racist slur not an issue but only from friends: Symonds..........

It will be tough to survive Aussie pacers at WACA: Akram

PERTH, Jan 13: Pakistan great Wasim Akram has warned Indian batsmen to be on their guard to survive an Australian pace onslaught at the world’s fastest pitch, the WACA, in the third Test starting January 16.

"I believe it’s (the pitch) a throwback to the 70s and 80s when it only used to fly around the eye level and above," remarked Akram, doing television commentary on the current tour.

Akram vividly recalled how he bowled a good length delivery to Australian opener David Boon who, even as he came forward, was surprised to see it rear up and hit him smack on the face.

Akram said he wants India to do well here but felt they will find it tough to survive there.

The former left-arm pacer said Akram feels that Indians need to keep the WACA factor out of their minds if they were to do good.

"Most importantly, they need to really field well. On that sort of surface, sure catching can play a big role, as well as good ground fielding."

Australian Test hopeful Chris Rogers said the real struggle is to make the first 20 runs and thereafter the batsmen can begin to have a feel of the surface.

"But 20 runs are a lot of runs to get through on that sort of surface," Akram remarked chillingly.

The lead for the Indians ought to come from batting great Sachin Tendulkar who is the lone indian to have played a Test at the dreaded WACA in 1992.

Tendulkar, on that occasion, had produced a century which is rated as one of the masterpieces of modern day cricket. The Indian legend himself has acknowledged it as one of his best knocks ever.

Indians produced big runs in the first innings of the Sydney Test but it was a flat deck and when the chips were down in the second innings on a wearing last day pitch, they were found wanting.

They desperately need to sort out their order and it begins from the very top where opener Wasim Jaffer has been an utter flop.

Jaffer has fallen to Brett Lee on all four Test innings of the tour and is likely to make way for Virender Sehwag.

India needs Sehwag at the top as his early aggression can unburden Rahul Dravid’s and also keep the hungry Australian pace attack at bay.

Sehwag knows what to expect at Perth, having played two one-day matches at WACA in the past, and believes such strips can also turn out to be a boon for strokemakers.

"Sure it helps the pacemen but the ball comes on to the bat and if a batter is not afraid, it can also get him good runs," the batsman said.

Australians, meanwhile, are likely to field four fast bowlers, with pace demon Shaun Tait certain to make his first appearance of the series.

Australians last fielded an all-pace attack in 1992-and it was against the Indians only, the famous game where Tendulkar announced his arrival. (PTI)

India move up to 2nd in ICC Test rankings

DUBAI, Jan 13: Successive losses to Australia notwithstanding, India have moved up to second in the latest ICC Test championship table announced today.

India are 0-2 down in the ongoing four-match series against Ricky Ponting’s side but made the leap after South Africa conceded a match to West Indies in their 2-1 series win yesterday.

India are level on points with third-placed Sri Lanka but are ahead of Mahela Jayawardane’s team when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point.

South Africa has slipped two places to fourth in the table.

The Proteas went into the series against West Indies in second position knowing that they needed to win it at least 2-0 in order to maintain that lead.

Having lost the first Test in Port Elizabeth, Graeme Smith’s men did well to win the series with victories at Cape Town and Durban.

But such is the weighting system when playing teams further down the table that it means that the South Africans lost one ratings point in the latest table.

Given how tight it was with just two ratings points separating South Africa in second place and England in fifth, that single point has made a big difference to the table.

Australia is still way out in front of the rest on 143 ratings points, some 34 clear of its nearest rival.

The ICC Test championship table: 1. Australia (143), 2.India (109), 3.Sri Lanka (109), 4.South Africa (108), 5.England (107), 6.Pakistan (94), 7.New Zealand (91), 8.West Indies (73), 9.Bangladesh (4).(PTI)

Pakistan drops Akhtar, Gul for Zimbabwe One-Day series

KARACHI, Jan 13: Pakistani selectors have dropped fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul for the One-Day home series against Zimbabwe.

The experienced bowlers have not been included in a list of 21 players invited for a conditioning camp from January 15 in Lahore.

"They will not be considered for the One-Dayers against Zimbabwe because they have to prove their match fitness,’’ chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told.

Ahmed said it was board policy that Akhtar and Gul had to prove their match fitness in a domestic tournament following the Zimbabwe series.

Gul was sent back from the recent tour of India due to a back injury while Akhtar struggled with his fitness in the series.

The selectors have picked a number of young players for the camp while axing some of the senior players including Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Rehman who went to India. (Agencies)

Anand loses to Radjabov in Corus Tournament WIJK AAN ZEE (The Netherlands), Jan 13: Rude defeats for World Champion Viswanathan Anand and fellow Grandmaster Koneru Humpy summed up a pathetic day for the Indians in the first round of Corus Chess Tournament here. Hot favourite for the crown with his enviable record on the Dutch soil, Anand was in for a surprise against in-form Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan as the latter showcased his deep preparation and technical acumen to romp home in the ‘A’ group. Radjabov, along with Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Levon Aronian of Armenia, emerged as the early leaders in this category-20 tournament with victories in the opener. In the ‘B’ group grandmaster Humpy did not get many chances against Jan Smeets of Holland. Playing black Humpy slowly put on the defence of her queen side and faced an uphill task when Smeets gave two pieces for a rook. The ensuing endgame was clearly inferior and the Indian did not survive for long. Playing in the ‘C’ group for the third time, Parimarjan Negi was subjected to a vigorous king side attack by Pontus Carlsson of Sweden in a sicilian dragon defense game where the latter played black.(PTI)

Ashwani Memorial Hockey Tournament from Jan 21 AKSC nails Khalsa Club by 2-1, claims Hockey title Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 13: The Akali Kour Singh Club (AKSC) has lifted the title of State Heroes Hockey Championship by nailing down Khalsa Club with a margin of 2-1 goals in the final of championship played at K K Hakku Stadium here today. The intense battle was witnessed between the two teams, as first goal of the match came in the 35th minute of game. Dalvinder Singh scored the goal for AKSC through penality corner. The second goal for AKSC was scored by Manjeet Singh in the 56th minute (second half). For losing team (Khalsa Club), Rajinder scored the lone goal in the 38th minute through penality corner. AKSC and Khalsa conceded four and five penality corners respectively and could convert one each into the goal. In the 44th minute, Taqdir Singh of Khalsa was shown Green Card by the referee. The match was officiated by Dalbir Mehta, Vijay Vaid, Motinder Pal Singh and Mukesh Kumar. Meanwhile, the J&K Hockey Association has informed that Ashwani Memorial Hockey Tournament is commencing from January 21. 1st Reasi District Wrestling Championship tomorrow Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Jan 13: The first Reasi District Indian Style Wrestling Association Championship would be held at Government High School Kotli Bagha in Reasi on January 15. The decision was taken during a meeting of Reasi District Indian Style Wrestling Association, held under the chairmanship of Shiv Kumar Sharma, president J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, at Katra today. Sharma apprised that the medal winner wrestlers would be called in the forth coming State championship to be held in March this year. The championship is being sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council. Association members who attended the meeting included Prem Choudhary (chairman), Rakesh Khajuria (general secretary), Inderjeet Khajuria, P R Sharma (treasurer), Mulkh Raj Sharma, Bansi Lal Tidyal, Sardari Lal Dubey, R S Manhas and Rama Kant. Santosh Trophy-a real sports bonanza in offing: Haji Nissar Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Jan 13 : With J&K hosting the mega soccer event, Santosh Trophy this summer, arrangements to make this event a success have already begun on a high pitch. In this connection, Sports Minister Haji Nissar Ali yesterday took stock of the arrangements more particularly regarding upgradation of Moulana Azad Stadium and Science College ground. He hoped that besides upgraded sports infrastructure, the soothing climate and soccer loving crowed and conducive ambience of Jammu and Srinagar would help in making this event a real sports bonanza. Haji Nissar after visiting M. A. Stadium had a comprehensive inspection of the work in progress on the new pavilion, players dressing rooms and umpires rooms. He asked the authorities to keep the stadium in the best of condition with installation of latest equipments. The Minister also visited Science College grounds and issued instruction for its immediate facelift within the shortest possible time. The Minister also ascertained from the authorities the corresponding progress on maintenance of the grounds at Srinagar.
India One-Day squad to be chosen on Jan 20 MUMBAI, Jan 13: The Indian squad for the One-Day tri-series in Australia commencing on February 3 as well as for the one-off Twenty20 International against the hosts scheduled on February 1 will be picked in Mumbai on January 20. "The squad is to be picked on January 20 in Mumbai," BCCI’s chief administrative officer Prof Ratnakar Shetty said. The date coincides with the last day of the third India-Australia Test at Perth’s WACA ground as well as the final day of the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium here between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Only three out of five selectors, including chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, would be physically present in Mumbai to pick the squad while two other members of the committee Venkatapathy Raju and Ranjib Biswal - would be in Australia and are expected to interact with their colleagues via a teleconference. Meanwhile, BCCI’s joint secretary Mahendra Pandove is also set to leave for Australia tomorrow for a two-week stay down under. Pandove is going there as a senior office bearer of the BCCI, Shetty said. Pandove’s visit to Australia assumes significance with the board trying to overturn a verdict of ICC match referee Mike Procter who has handed out a three-match ban to off spinner Harbhajan Singh for allegedly racially abusing Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney. The BCCI has declared the ban as uncalled for, unjustified, patently illegal and totally unaccetable. ICC, on its part, has appointed New Zealand High Court Judge Justice John Hansen to hear the appeal against the ban but has said that till pending the hearing and its decision Harbhajan is entitled to play in Tests. "We have appointed the eminent New Zealand High Court Judge, Justice John Hansen, to hear the appeal and the entire process will be carried out in an open and transparent way. No one will be able to complain that it was not a fair and impartial process," ICC President Ray Mali has said. Meanwhile, BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar is set to attend the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai tomorrow. The unsavoury happenings in Australia leading to the shunting out of West Indian Umpire Steve Bucknor for handing out horrendous decisions against the visiting team at Sydney and the Harbhajan Singh episode are bound to crop up at the ICC meeting. (PTI)
Racist slur not an issue but only from friends: Symonds SYDNEY, Jan 13: Accusing Harbhajan Singh of overstepping the boundary, all-rounder Andrew Symonds said he does not mind the odd racist comment but only from friends. Symonds has been at the centre of a racism row that has soured relations between the Australian and Indian teams. He was allegedly called a ‘‘monkey’’ by the Indian off-spinner Harbhajan who received a three-match ban. The ban prompted the Indians to lodge an appeal amid threats to abandon the tour. As the two teams prepared to battle it out in the third Test in Perth starting on Wednesday, Symonds declared he could tolerate racism - but only from those he knew. ‘‘I’m not a sensitive person about it,’’ he said. ‘‘If you know me well you can have a joke to me about anything and any part of racism and I’ll laugh. ‘‘I’m not sensitive about it, but if I’m not your friend, if you’re an opposition player or something like that, it is unacceptable. However, the burly Aussie also said that even rival cricketers can make racist slur if he knows them well. ‘‘Even with opposition players, if I do know them well and they want to joke about something like that, it doesn’t stir me up, so what’s happened is something I and the Australian boys have taken very seriously,’’ Symonds was quoted as saying by the Sunday Telegraph. ‘‘It (the racism affair) is a really difficult thing for me to comment on as it hasn’t been totally resolved,’’ Symonds said. ‘‘Obviously, people are very interested in what’s happened but they probably won’t actually know exactly what’s happened for quite some time, until the dust has settled.’’ Symonds said he became used to hearing comments about his appearance during his school years and he was not easily offended. ‘‘I’m very relaxed about life and I understand there are many different types of people,’’ he said. ‘‘You know, I used to have a bit of fun and people used to have a bit of fun with me in the playground when I was at school so I understand that kids are very blunt about that sort of thing. But it [racism] is one of those things that, in the modern day, is obviously very publicly unacceptable.’’ Indian officials claimed that Symonds misinterpreted a derogatory Punjabi phrase as a racial gibe. Claims surfaced on Friday that Singh called symonds a ‘‘Maa Ki . . .’’ in his native tongue, which translates as ‘‘Motherf——’’. (UNI)