Gavaskar resigns as ICC cricket committee Chairman

DUBAI, May 8: Sunil Gavaskar’s controversial chairmanship of ICC’s cricket committee came to a sudden end today when he announced his resignation from the post, weeks after he was asked to choose between his media commitments and his role with the games’s world governing body.

The former India captain conveyed his decision to the ICC bringing an end to his long eight-year stint which was not only marked by a number of innovative decisions but also landed him in controversies for his outspoken views.

Gavaskar intimated his decision to the ICC yesterday after chairing the cricket committee meeting which concluded here on Tuesday, ICC’s acting Chief Executive Officer David Richardson said in a statement here.

The ICC had put Gavaskar on notice after discussing the potential for a conflict of interest for a person chairing the ICC cricket committee while, at the same time, working for a media outlet in its meeting in March in Dubai.

Gavaskar took over as the chairman of the ICC cricket committee from West Indian Clyde Walcott in June 2000. He was given a one year extension in 2006 and was re-elected to the post in 2007. His term was due to end next year.

No decision has yet been made on who will succeed Gavaskar.

Gavaskar said with more and more cricket being played it was not possible for him to do justice with the two jobs.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the eight years I have held the role (of ICC Cricket Committee chairman), which is an honorary position, and it has been extremely fulfilling to be able to give back to the game through that role", Gavaskar said.

"However, with more and more cricket being played it has become clear that it is not possible for me to do justice to two jobs, the chairmanship of the ICC cricket committee and my media commitments," Gavaskar said. The master bastman said it was not possible for him to juggle in different responsibilities at the same time.

"As an example of that, I had to leave my professional commitments as a commentator on the Indian Premier League matches in order to come and chair this year’s meeting in Dubai," Gavaskar said.

"I envisaged the potential for this sort of issue two years ago and intimated then that I was not able to continue in the role but when I was asked to do so I was honoured to be re-elected.

"Now, however, it is clear I cannot combine both roles and therefore I am relinquishing the chair of the ICC cricket committee," said the first cricketer to score 10,000 test runs.

Richardson said the ICC would try to utilise Gavaskar’s expertise to benefit the game in some other capacity in future.

"Having someone of Sunil’s stature involved has to be of benefit to the game and given the ICC’s lengthy relationship with him we hope we can still utilise his knowledge in some other capacity in the future," Richardson said.

"We are indebted to the work Sunil has put into his role as chairman of the ICC cricket committee. He has brought his vast experience of the game to bear, not only over the eight years of his chairmanship but also the six years prior to that, when he was a delegate on the same committee," he said.

Some of Gavaskar’s critical columns had not gone down well with the ICC top-brass and his scathing attack on match referee Mike Procter after the controversial Sydney Test between India and Australia irked the game’s world governing body.

Gavaskar had alleged that Procter preferred to agree with a "white player’s version" than a player of Sachin Tendulkar’s integrity during the racial row involving Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds in January.

Gavaskar had also termed some ICC member countries like England and Australia as "dinosaurs", alleging they could not stomach India’s growing clout in the game.

The ICC then decided to give the former Indian captain the option of choosing between his job as a commentator and columnist and that of the chairman of the cricket committee.

Among the innovative recommendations his committee had made were a referral system in tests and introduction of the hawk eye technology for deciding lbws.

In its last meeting, the cricket committee also took stock of Twenty20’s rise and stressed on the need to strike the right balance among the three formats of the game.

The committee also recommended changes for the current playing conditions and suggested that "the bowl-out in the event of a tie in the ICC World Twenty20 or ICC Champions Trophy should be replaced by a one-over-per-team play-off".

Among other suggestions, the committee said, "substitute fielders should only be permitted in cases of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons." (PTI)

Super Kings clinch last-ball thriller

NEW DELHI, May 8: In a nerve-wrecker that went to the wire, the Chennai Super Kings scored 15 runs off the last over to emerge victorious by four-wickets against Delhi Daredevils at the Feroz Shah Kotla here today.

The match looked well in Daredevils’ pocket when Shoaib Malik began the last over, but Manpreet Gony (13) and Badrinath (8) held their nerves to reach the required target of 188 just on time.

Malik’s first delivery off the last over was welcomed by Gony to a huge six at mid-wicket and then followed it with a wide to make the target eight runs of five balls. But the margin was further reduced when in the next ball Gony smashed him for a four.

The scores were levelled after the fourth ball of the over but then Badrinath defended it and decided to take the match to the last ball. However, it could have been a bowl-out, had Shikhar Dhawan not missed a difficult chance at mid-wicket to drop Badrinath which eventually, came out to be the winning runs for Super Kings.

Earlier, chasing a competetive score of 188, the Super Kings were off to a great start and were 98 for three half through their innings.

Stephen Flemming and Shivaramakrishnan Vidyut started the innings for visitors and soon added 62 runs in six overs before Under-19 World Cup star Pradeep Sangwan brought latter’s downfall. Vidyut hit a fast paced 40 off 23 balls with the help of six fours and a four.

Dhoni then decided to come at one down and held his end till the second last over of the match. But Flemming kept the scoring rate going from the other end and while doing so became a victim of Mohammad Asif when he was on 44.

Things started to look difficult for Super Kings but Albie Morkel’s 30, 23 of which came from Sehwag’s second over tilted the match again to the visitors’ favour.

A brilliant diving catch at long-on by Ab De Villiers to dismiss Dhoni off Yo Mahesh which was followed by Kapugedara’s wicket brought the match at an exciting stage.

In the end it came out to be the lack of fifth bowler for Daredevils which was compensated by Sehwag and Malik. But the two bowlers gave away 58 runs for their combined four overs and went wicketless.

Dhoni for his 33 off 33 balls and for superb captaincy was awarded man of the match.

In the afternoon, opener Gautam Gambhir hit a magnificent 49-ball 80 to lead Delhi Daredevils to a competitive total against Chennai Super Kings who had suffered three consecutive losses in their last three matches.

Set to bat first by Super Kings’ captain Mahender Singh Dhoni, Gambhir combined with his skipper to gave Daredevils a solid start. Both the openers added 45 runs in 30 balls.

Sehwag was looking in ominous form as he dispatched the first ball he faced for a four over the point. But the dangerous looking batsman was soon shown the way to the pavilion by Manpreet Gony, who clean bowled the Daredevils’ skipper.

Sehwag made 23 off 18 balls and hit three fours.

The Super Kings did not have to wait long for their second victim as in the next over Ab De Villiers found no answer to his South African teammate Albie Morkel’s yorker and went without troubling the scorers. (PTI)

India begin Azlan Shah campaign with 3-4 defeat

IPOH (Malaysia), May 8: Sandeep Singh’s hat-trick went in vain as India squandered a 2-0 lead to go down 3-4 to New Zealand in their first match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today.

Comeback man Sandeep converted all three penalty corners but the resilient Kiwis scored twice in the first half and as many after the breather to walk away with full points.

For the winners, Andrew Hayward, Simon Child, Phillip Burrows and Gareth Brooks sounded the board.

India made a good start and were leading 2-0 with Sandeep converting both the penalty corners that came his way before Hayward first reduced the margin from a penalty corner and Child deflected home a pass just in time to go into the breather at 2-2.

In the second half, the Kiwis ruled the roost with Philip and Brooks slamming back-to-back goals to snatch the lead. (PTI)

Athlete selection trials tomorrow

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: The J&K Athletic Association would conduct selection trials on May 10 at 4 pm at M A Stadium.

The trials would be held to select the State team for the forthcoming 8th Federation Cup junior athletic championship scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24 at Karim Nagar (AP).

The interested athletes below 20 years are eligible to take part in the trials and are required to bring original certificates for verification.

Law Deptt seals convincing win to enter final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Law Department scripted a thumping 8 wicket win over MCA Department to set up summit clash with History Department in the ongoing Inter Department cricket tournament being played at Jammu University Grounds.

MCA Department won the crucial toss and opted to bat first in the second semifinal.

They accumulated 124/7 in the allotted 20 overs with Sahil and Abhishek top scored with 54 and 11 runs respectively.

For Law Department, Vimarsh was the most successful bowler with three scalps while Shailender took two.

Amit and Imran chipped in with a wicket each.

Law Department overhauled the target with consumate ease riding on a breathtaking knock of 64 by Amit who pulverised the bowlers all over the park with brutal strokeplay.

His stunning knock came off just 26 balls studded with 7 crispy hits to the fence and 3 monster blows for maximum.

Vimarsh (22), Surinder (19) and Nitish (12) were the other notable contributors.

For MCA Department, Vikas and Sahil shared a wicket apiece. The umpires in the match were Raj Kumar and Vijay Kumar.

The scorer was Ashwani.

Kashyap Blues set up title clash with Kashyap Greens

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: Kashyap Blues will take on Kashyap Greens in the final of the ongoing Kashyap Tetragonal Twenty20 Series being played at MHAC Nagbani School Ground.

Today, Kashyap Blues overwhelmed Kashyap Whites by 10 wickets in a low scoring affair to secure a berth in the final.

Batting first winning the toss, Kashyap Whites bowled out for paltry 64 runs in 18.2 overs.

Kamal Zadoo was the top scorer with 15. For Kashyap Blues, Rakesh Raina, Suman Koul and Akshay Kour scalped two wickets each whereas Vishal Singh took one.

Chasing 65 to win, Kashyap Blues did the needful in 11.5 overs with all wickets intact.

Openers Ravi Pandita and Amit Sharma remained unbeaten on 31 and 30 runs respectively.

Ravi Pandita was declared man of the match. Chaman Lal Charangoo was the chief guest in the match.

The finalist teams were decided on net run rate after Kashyap Blues, Whites and Greens accumulated 4 points each from 3 matches.

Kashyap Reds could not opened their account losing all 3 matches.

Inter School Football tourney begins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: The Inter School football tournament for U/14 and U/17 boys organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports commenced at BSF Ground, Paloura today.

In the first match, hosts BSF Paloura school got the better of KC International school by 2-0 goals in the opening match in U/14 age group.

Both the goals were scored by Rakesh. In the second match, KC Public School prevailed over SOS Gole Gujral by identical margin.

The goals scorers were Richi and Rohit.

In U/17 age group, Ashoka Higher Secondary School outwitted SOS by 2-0.

The goals were scored by Sanjeev Singh and Racky Sharma. In the second match, Spring Dale trounced St Peter by same margin.

The goal scorers were Avinash and Abhimanyu. Earlier, the tournament was declared open by Subash Verma, OC, I/C Sports and Inspector Tejinder Singh.

Selection trials on May 11

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: The J&K Strength Lifting Association is going to conduct selection trials on May 11.

The trials would be held to select the State team for the forthcoming 15th Junior Men and Women National Strength Lifting Championship slated to be held at Shri Nashikrao Tirpude College of Physical Education, Maharashtra (Mumbai) from May 29 to June 1.

The championship would be held in 50-55, 55-60, 60-66, 66-72, 72-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100-110 and 110-120 kg weight categories in men category.

The weight categories in women section included 45-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-66, 66-72, 72-80, 80-90 and above 90kg.

Nanavati to hear Bhajji, Sreesanth today

AHMEDABAD, May 8: Sudhir Nanavati, BCCI-appointed Commissioner probing the slapping row involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth, will be wrapping up the investigation after hearing both the players here tomorrow.

Harbhajan and Sreesanth have confirmed to appear before Nanavati, a lawyer, tomorrow after being summoned on May 4.

The Ahmedabad-based lawyer has told reporters that he was "shocked" after seeing the video footage of the incident that took place after an Indian Premier League match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab on April 25 at Mohali.

He had seen the footage at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai with IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi, board secretary Niranjan Shah and joint secretary M P Pandove.

Harbhajan has already been banned from rest of the IPL and also fined after he was found guilty of slapping Sreesanth by the IPL match referee Farokh Engineer. (PTI)

India calls for joint front by UN
member states against terror

NEW DELHI, May 08: India has reiterated its abiding determination to finalise the long-pending comprehensive convention on international terrorism to create a strong inter-locking network of member states, international organisations and specialised agencies working in unison to counter global terrorism.

It also called on the world "to act as one’’ in denying terrorists, their ideologues and financiers access to arms, funds, transportation of their deadly goods, as well as safe havens.

India’s permanent representative at the UN, Nirupam Sen, told a UN Security Council Committee on Weapons of Mass Destruction that the adoption of the convention was in the interest of all member states and would reinvigorate the multilateral and collective dimensions of counter-terrorism efforts, a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry told here today.

According to the official, Mr Sen conveyed to the committee that India remained committed to fully cooperating with all existing counter-terrorism mechanisms as a state with long experience of dealing with terrorism.

He said India was also of the view that better cooperation between the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly would provide the collective efforts with greater legitimacy and ownership.

Mr Sen told the committee that there were also operational benefits to be achieved from greater collective pragmatism in tackling terrorism multilaterally, not the least being better implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

It was unclear whether their improved implementation could be secured by "upgrading’’ their existing mandates or by identifying genuine barriers to better implementation and promoting a more collaborative system of extending assistance, utilising available regional expertise and technologies.

Implementation of resolution 1540 remained a national responsibility, he said, adding that there might also be merit in "incentivised’’ cooperation rather than the current effort to continually raise the bar for implementation by adding newer and more intrusive reporting obligations, voluntary or not.

He said the Council should also consider whether some procedures needed overhauling, such as the de-listing modalities for Al-Qaida and Taliban operatives.

Mr Sen told the committee that while India supported greater emphasis on technical assistance, the primary task of ensuring the fullest implementation of the resolutions should be kept in mind before the process was taken forward to more technical and potentially intrusive areas of implementation that might add to the sense of reporting fatigue among many member states.

He said India was willing to provide assistance in the larger counter-terrorism effort, either bilaterally or multilaterally, especially to countries that were themselves not directly threatened by terrorism, but whose participation was vital to the success of the larger international effort.

It was crucial to work to foster better institutional cooperation and "jointedness’’ within the international system and also to focus on implementing goals that could be achieved, before mandating new and potentially challenging new commitments.

The committee also expressed concern that the internet constituted a powerful medium and instrument for Al-Qaida, the Taliban and their associates and the issue would be discussed further in the future.

More than half of United Nations member states have submitted assessments to the un Security Council regarding efforts to keep nuclear, chemical and biological weapons out of the hands of terrorists and black marketeers,

The committee was established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) to combat proliferation of WMDS by non-state actors, particularly terrorists. (UNI)

Vettori awaits verdict on finger

LONDON, May 8: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will learn this weekend whether an injured finger will prevent him playing a full role in next week’s first test against England at Lord’s.

Vettori has been forced to miss the warm-up match against an England Lions side, which was due to start Thursday at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl, and the spinner admits he is in uncharted territory with the relatively minor but painful injury he suffered to his bowling hand in a match against Essex at the weekend.

"I’m having the stitches taken out on Saturday or Sunday and I’ll know a little bit more then," Vettori said when asked if the gash on the index finger of his left hand could keep him out of the first test.

"I’m confident, but I’ve never dealt with this before and it’s in the worst possible spot."

With the exception of Vettori and the rested seamer Kyle Mills, New Zealand went into the match against an experienced Lions side with virtually a full-strength side, with vice-captain Brendon McCullum standing in as skipper.

Vettori is hoping the warm-up against players of the calibre of seamer Matthew Hoggard and former test batsman Robert Key, who will skipper the Lions, will help ensure New Zealand’s squad do not succumb to nerves when they appear at Lord’s next week.

"The quality of the opposition is very high so it’s not a case of us being able to meander through a warm-up game and expect to get a result," he said.

"We have to treat this pretty seriously. There’s still a lot of competition for test places. Even though you’d probably say the majority of the team is set in stone for the test, I still want guys to have that hunger to perform because it’s not that easy just to switch it on for a test match."

"There are going to be a lot of other things going on when we arrive at Lord’s, it will be busy and it’ll be exciting and if you don’t have form under your belt sometimes you can be a little overwhelmed by it."

England’s Lions include several players desperate to break into the test squad with key, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara among those vying for recognition in the top order should the present incumbents fail to deliver in the first test.

Their bowling attack is also impressive and Vettori knows Hoggard, 31, will have a point to prove having been discarded by England after their first test defeat in New Zealand earlier this year.

"It’s important to him that he puts on a performance here and tries to get his test place back and I know within our team he’s a highly-respected bowler," Vettori said.

"We’ll respect what he’s trying to do and it will be good preparation having a guy with over 250 test wickets in the bowling line-up, so it’s not a case of first-class bowlers trying to break through, it’s a proven test bowler." (AGENCIES)

Nadal’s winning run ended by Ferrero

ROME, May 8: French Open champion Rafael Nadal lost for the first time ever here as he was beaten 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Rome Masters by Juan Carlos Ferrero.

It was also the world number two’s first defeat on clay since losing the Hamburg final to Roger Federer, just under a year ago.

The Spanish clay king, bidding for his fourth straight title in Rome, was clearly hampered by blisters on his right foot in the second set and former world number one Ferrero showed a ruthless streak in dismissing the second seed yesterday.

It was Ferrero’s first win on clay against Nadal and only his second victory in eight meetings, avenging a defeat by an almost identical score at Monte Carlo last month.

"It’s a very important win for me, it feels very special and I’ve not felt this special for a long time," said Ferrero.

"I’ve won a special match. I was so strong mentally. I had things clear in my mind and I did them."

Nadal put his defeat down to his injured foot.

"Today I didn’t play my best tennis and the truth is that I didn’t feel very good on court," he said.

"I couldn’t plant my legs on the floor with power and every time I was playing the ball short because I couldn’t play it long because of this pain. It was tough for me."

Serbia’s Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round following a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Belgian Steve Darcis.

The world number three has had a sensational start to the season, winning the first Grand Slam of the year and then also claiming the Indian Wells masters title.

He currently leads the ATP champions race and is closing in on the world’s top two - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal -above him in the rankings.

The Serb is not known for his clay court expertise but he did win the Estoril Open on the surface last year.

He said the courts here in the Italian capital were also faster than normal clay surfaces, which was more to his liking, but he said he was still trying to adapt his game.

"It’s not true that I’m not changing anything at all. I’m getting used to this surface and adapting to the system of the game and trying to play more patiently," he said.

"The ball bounces a lot higher than on other (clay) surfaces. The courts are really fast and the fact that they are slippery makes them even faster.

"So they’re suitable to my type of game."

Eighth seed James Blake of the United States overcame a slow start to finally click into gear and dismiss home hope Andrea Seppi 7-6, 3-6, 6-1.

"I got through the first set and pulled it out and then he stepped it up a little," said Blake.

"I still couldn’t quite find my range in the second and then to play as well as I did in the third and to really take advantage of my chances is a really good feeling."

It was plain sailing for fourth seed Russian Nikolay Davydenko as he thrashed Croatian wildcard Mario Ancic 6-2, 6-2.

Olympic doubles champion Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, the 12th seed, was equally ruthless as he dismissed Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-3, 6-2.

But it was a bad day for some of the other seeds as David Ferrer, David Nalbandian, Andy Murray and Juan Monaco all crashed out.

Spaniard Ferrer, seeded fifth, had a good start against Czech Radek Stepanek but then saw his game collapse as he went down 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Argentina’s former Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian, seventh, came unstuck against clay specialist Nicolas Almagro of Spain, losing 6-4, 7-5. (AGENCIES)