Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: Skipper Rajkumar Bakshi scored a splendid century to help Jammu University (JU) thrash SPMR Commerce College by a huge margin of 135 runs in the ongoing 3rd Prof Pran Nath Malhotra Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament, organized by Jammu wing of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at GGM Science College Hostel ground, here.
Earlier, put into bat, Jammu University XI lost 3 early wickets but two good partnerships between Rajkumar-Kulvinder duo and Rajkumar-Amit pair helped the team to score a decent total of 260 runs in 48.5 overs. Rajkumar smashed 111 runs off 100 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and 3 sixes. Otherwise a bowling all-rounder, he stole the show with his willow and was in sublime form to tear the rival bowlers with utmost timing. He used a long-handle and hit some lusty blows in his power-packed innings. Kulvinder contributed 36 off 44 balls, which included 5 boundaries, while Amit scored valuable 26 runs including 3 boundaries. For SPMR, Pankaj was pick of the bowlers, who scalped 4 wickets by giving away 53 runs in his 9.5 overs, while Prashant captured 2 wickets in 10 overs. Ravi Kumar and Avinash also claimed one wicket each.
While chasing a formidable total, SPMR College of Commerce lost wickets at regular intervals and the whole team collapsed at 125 runs in 34.3 overs, thus lost the match by 135 runs. All the Jammu University bowlers bowled with superb line and length to guide their team to a massive win. Ravi Kumar was the top scorer with 25 runs including 4 fours, while Prashant and Amit contributed 18 and 16 runs to the total respectively. For JU, Rajesh, Amit, Rajkumar and Subhash claimed 2 wickets each. Rajkumar Bakshi was adjudged man of the match for his superb all-round display.
The match was officiated by Saleem-ur-Rehman and Harsh Nayyar as umpires, while Raghav Verma acted as the scorer.

NEW DELHI, June 1:
Having led Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League triumph, Gautam Gambhir today said that he is ready to captain the Indian Test side.
Asked if he was ready to lead the Test side, Gambhir said, “Absolutely, it is the biggest honour. I am ready for it. Ready for the responsibility of the challenge because you want to take different challenges as well. That’s where your mental toughness and character will be tested.”
“I have heard of the talks (of he being made India captain) but as I have said a captain is as good as the team. It’s a successful team that makes a successful captain and not that a successful captain makes a successful team,” he said.
Gambhir has played 48 Tests and 134 ODIs in his eight-year old international career but said he still feels insecure about being dropped from the national team.
“I am very very insecure guy as far as my profession is concerned and my insecurity is far more than my security. Even now to be honest. That’s how I played my cricket starting from my Under-14 days, everyone told me if I don’t score runs I will be dropped. Since I started playing cricket as a kid I consider every game I played my last game.
“Even at this stage, if I don’t score runs in two or three game I start feeling that I am going to be dropped. That has gone so much inside my system that I have started living with it,” Gambhir said.
Surprisingly, he also said that he did not enjoy too much of cricket and the game was just his priority.
“I don’t enjoy, to be honest, too much of cricket. For me cricket is something which is my priority. I want to get there and get the best result. One thing which has helped me is that whatever I have gone through I try not to give to other people playing with me. Whenever I led a side I have always tried that my players feel secure.
“It’s not about I enjoy or not. Till the time the team is enjoying I am happy with that,” he said.
Gambhir admitted that, at times, he had crossed the line of playing with the spirit of the game and has learnt from the mistakes.
“I used to show a lot of emotion on a cricket field but I have mellowed down with age. There were situations when I crossed the line. I remember that incident with Shane Watson (when he elbowed the Australian) and after that I apologised to everyone. I could not have crossed the line and I could not have let my team down because I was in such good form. I have matured and learnt from those mistakes. Life is all about learning from mistakes,” he said.
Gambhir also spoke highly about the IPL and dismissed the talks of banning the Twenty20 league.
“We have some fantastic close games this year and this shows the quality of cricket in IPL. Lots of matches have gone to the last over. Let us stop criticising IPL. Indian cricket has been fortunate that a lot of players from the IPL have gone on to play for the country and they have done well. We keep on talking about a bigger pool of players considering the amount of cricket we play and the need to rotate. And IPL has given a bigger pool of players,” said Gambhir.
Gambhir said IPL or BCCI has nothing to do with the controversies that erupted outside a cricket field.
“You can’t blame IPL and BCCI for everything. Whatever happens outside a cricket field no one can control that. It’s individual decision what he wants to do. So it’s the individual decision whether they want to so at the world stage playing with and against some of the best players on the world or they want to go the other way. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Kargil, June 1: As an annual feature, the Lalit Suri Polo Tournament will commence from June 7 and conclude on June 9 in Kargil.
This was disclosed by Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, Chief Executive Councilor LAHDC Kargil, after chairing a meeting to discuss the arrangements for smooth and successful conduct of the tournament, here today.
Among others the meeting was attended by SSP Kargil, Javed Iqbal Mattoo and Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Kacho Hassan Khan along with other district officers.
A threadbare discussion was held on the proper arrangements regarding security, water supply and electricity during the tournament.
According to a statement issued here, the organizers have claimed that a Polo team from Manipur will also participate in the tournament this year.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: To felicitate the winners of State Level Essay Writing Competition, the Kalra College of Education Kud (Patnitop) held a valedictory function of NSS in College premises here today.
The students were honoured with shields and certificates by the Principal Government PG College, Udhampur, Dr Nootan, the chief guest on the occasion. SP Kalra, Chairman Kalras Educational Society was the guest of honour.
The programme started with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the chief guest and other dignitaries, which was followed by Saraswati Vandana song presented by the students.
Various cultural items were presented by the students on the occasion which enthralled the audience all and sundry. Altaf and Diksha presented a dance item, while Ashiq and Dabloo had a contest.
NSS Programme Officer of the College, Neeraj Sharma presented annual report of the College, which was followed by prize distribution function.
Sonam Sharma of KCS College of Education, Hamid Loan of Paradise College of Baramulla and Ashiq Hussain of host College were felicitated for securing first, second and third place respectively in the State Level Essay Writing Compe-tition.
Amit Sehgal and Altaf Sheikh were jointly awarded best students, while best NSS Volunteer award went to Tilak Raj and Saima Rafiq received the best disciplined boy award. Seema Sharma, Education Lecturer was presented best teacher award on the occasion.
Earlier, College Chairman, Upkar Kalra presented vote of thanks on the occasion, while Saifullah Khan, Principal of the College presented vote of thanks.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
DODA, June 1: Kingfisher Cricket Club (KCC), Jammu and Siddininayeth Sports Club (SSC) Mumbai registered convincing victories over their rivals to advance in the ongoing All India 8th Gufran Memorial T20 Cricket Championship, being organized by Young Star Cricket Club Doda at Sports Stadium, here.
In the first match, SSC Mumbai drubbed Dhodut Cricket Club easily by 50 runs.
Batting first, SSC scored a formidable total of 159 runs in the stipulated 20 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. Prateek was the top scorer with 40 runs, while Abbas contributed valuable 36 runs to the total. For Dhodut Club, Sharoz and Amir claimed one wicket each.
In reply, Dhadut Club bundled out for a paltry total of 109 runs in 15.5 overs, thus lost the match by 50 runs. Sharoz and Amir were the main contributors with 31 and 24 runs respectively. For SSC Mumbai, Prateek and Abbas captured 3 wickets each. Abbas was adjudged man of the match for his all-round show.
In another match, Kingfisher Jammu outplayed Punjab Cricket Club by 47 runs in an easy contest.
Electing to bat first, KCC Jammu scored a decent total of 166 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Rashid played a magnificent innings of 66 runs, while Ajit Pal Singh contributed well made 39 runs to the total. SP Aadia claimed 2 wickets for Punjab Cricket Club, while Vipin picked one.
Punjab CC in reply managed to score 119 runs in 19.2 overs, to lose the match by 47 runs. Raj Kumar and Karan contributed 21 runs each. Ashu was the wrecker-in-chief for KCC Jammu, who claimed 4 wickets, while Raman Dutta bagged 2 wickets. Ashu of KCC Jammu was declared man of the match for his brilliant bowling performance.
The match was officiated by Amit Bansal and Sanjay Singh as umpires, while Dheerendra Singh maintained the scorebook.

MUMBAI, June 1:
Local cueist Abdur Rehman shocked Maharashtra state snooker champion Hasan Badami 4-3 to enter the main draw of the P J Hindu Gymkhana National 6-Red Snooker Championship here today.
Rehman snatched a 37-7 32-19 0-43 1-57 34-28 17-19 39-19 win after his more fancied rival fought back from 0-2 down in the best-of-seven-frame match.
Seasoned Dhruv Sitwala of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) utilised his vast experience to rally from a 1-3 deficit and overcome Kartikeya Sharma, also of Maharashtra, 20-29 17-50 37-17 26-34 35-9 40-23 47-22 in another third round qualifying clash.
In other third round ties which went down to the wire, Jasim Tawin of Karnataka beat Rajat Khaneja of Chandigarh 46-22 35-33 56-18 11-45 5-39 3-41 31-8 and Vijay Goel of Delhi prevailed over Punjab’s Manjot Singh 56-0 16-46 36-8 32-38 10-39 60-10 41-10. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: GD Goenka Public School organised “Summer Fruit Bonanza”, in which students and faculty members participated enthusiastically.
It was an Inter-Class Competition in which fruit corners were decorated in each class. The students along with their teachers prepared fruit chat, fruit juices, shakes, etc and also put up information related to the fruits and their benefits in the summer season.
The winners of the competition were Suman Sharma of class IV, Deepakshi of class V, Auditi of class VI, Kesar Patel of class VII, Neeru Bharti of class VIII and Dt Mohita from classes IX and X.
On the occasion, Mamta Suri, Manju and Ashwani, were the jury members, who evaluated the preparation of the students.
Speaking on the occasion, Poonam Jha, appreciated the efforts of the students and the faculty members for their participation in the competition.
Poonam Jha said that “Summer Fruit Bonanza” was organised with an aim to promote the habit of eating fruits among children as they are very nutritious and provides extra nourishment, which the children needs in summers.
She added that there are many such programmes in the school curriculum, to enhance students knowledge in various other aspects including general knowledge, etc.

IPOH (Malaysia), June 1:
India striker SV Sunil will face a disciplinary action for raising his middle finger at the spectators after scoring the winning goal against Pakistan in the Azlan Shah Cup match.
Sunil’s gesture caught the attention of the tournament director after television replays showed the striker celebrating his 69th minute goal, which sealed the match 2-1 in India’s favour, by throwing a punch in the air with one finger raised as he got off the turf and ran back.
The incident did not come to the notice of officials immediately but slow motion replays of the goal were discussed last night by television commentators. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, June 1:
Stung by the controversies and scandals this season, the IPL authorities will put in place strict guidelines for franchise owners to ensure that the glamorous event’s brand image is not dented in future.
Although this year’s IPL drew massive crowds, it was rocked by a spate of controversies involving franchise owners as well as players and the furores ranged from molestation charges against a player to a scuffle between a team owners and stadium authorities in Mumbai.
The league’s boss Rajiv Shukla conceded that there were fears of brand IPL taking a hit due to the negative press but things seem to have settled down and he would ensure that there is no repeat by having a word with franchise owners.
“We are not going to protect any player. We will definitely take action against anyone found guilty and we will tell franchises also to be very careful about these things and that they should also keep a strict eye on the activities of the respective players and support staff of their side,” Shukla said in an interview.
“In IPL 5, the main focus was on the cricket. We were more concerned about the organisation of the game. (PTI)