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Shoaib cannot play in IPL: BCCI sources
2008-04-30 20:58:00
MUMBAI: Though the Pakistan Cricket Board has cleared Shoaib Akhtar to play in the Indian Premier League for Kolkata Knight Riders, the controversial fast bowler still cannot play in the Twenty20 League as per the cricket board's recent decision. "Unless he is cleared to play for Pakistan, he cannot play in the IPL. This was the decision taken by the special general body of the BCCI at Bangalore before the start of the Twenty20 event," informed BCCI sources here on Wednesday. Akhtar's appeal against the five-year ban imposed by the PCB for indiscipline was on Wednesday rejected by a three-member appeal tribunal which, however, said he was free to resume his career overseas. Farrukh Aftab, chairman of the appeal tribunal, has said that the temperamental pacer can play in the IPL promoted by the BCCI but cannot play for Pakistan internationally or nationally. Akhtar was bought for $425,000 (approx Rs 1.7 crore) by the Kolkata franchise team owned by Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan's R...
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Royals thump Kings
2008-04-21 21:39:00
Shane Watson smashed a blistering unbeaten 76 to steer an inexperienced Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket victory over a star-studded Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League match at Sawai Man Singh stadium on Monday night.Coming in at the fall of Yusuf Pathan when his team was tottering at 19 for 2 in the third over in chase of 167 for a win, Watson plundered five sixes in his 49-ball whirlwind innings to help his side bounce back after their comprehensive nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in their first match.The Australian all-rounder fittingly hit the winning runs, a four off S Sreesanth, to raise 168 for four for his team with 11 balls to spare.He changed the complexion of the game after his side began on a disastrous note with opener Mohammad Kaif dismissed by Sreesanth?s first ball and second over of the innings and next man in Yusuf Pathan felling cheaply for just seven to Brett Lee.

Hussey helps Chennai beat Mohali
2008-04-19 20:10:00
Mike Hussey cracked the fastest century in Twenty20 cricket history as Chennai Super Kings pulled off a comfortable 33-run victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League match in Mohali on Saturday.Hussey's blistering unbeaten 116 off just 54 balls steered Chennai Super Kings to an imposing 240 for five on a perfect batting strip at the PCA stadium.The Chennai outfit then restricted the home team to 207 for four to record a win in their opening match which turned out to be a high scoring contest under lights.It was a virtual carnage at the PCA ground as Hussey plundered runs at will to notch up the second century in the tournament in as many days after Brendon McCullum's 158 in the opening match in Bangalore last night.Electing to bat, the Chennai team took full advantage of a batting track and short boundaries with sixes and fours raining on a hapless Yuvraj Singh-led home team.Suresh Raina (32), S Badrinath (31) and Matthew Hayden (25) were the other notable scorers f...
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Ramprakash rejects IPL offer
2008-04-19 20:05:00
West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has become the latest star to join the Indian Premier League , which kicked-off to an exciting start in Bangalore.Bravo will play for Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar-led 'Mumbai Indians' team, which also features off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and South African fast bowler Shaun Pollock.Bravo will miss the next week's Carib Challenge Shield Final against Jamaica but Trinidad and Tobago team manager Colin Borde feels the experience Bravo gains in the IPL will benefit the national team in the long run."I think everybody is excited for him going up to the IPL and playing with Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Shaun Pollock," Borde was quoted as saying by the Trinidad Express."I think it's good for him and as a Trinidadian you must feel proud...he's the first guy to get in the IPL."Meanwhile, Mark Ramprakash, on Friday, became the second English cricketer to turn down an IPL offer.Ramprakash was approached by the Rajasthan Royals to replace S...
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Knight Riders humble Bangalore by 140 runs
2008-04-18 20:09:00
With the help of Brendon McCullum's 158* and some excellent bowling, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Bangalore Royal Challengers by 140 runs in the inaugural Indian Premier League match. Rahul Dravid's decision to bowl first backfired as Bangalore Royal Challengers lost wickets at regular interval against Kolkata Knight Riders. Earlier, Brendon McCullum hit a blazing 73-ball unbeaten knock of 158 to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a massive 222 against Bangalore Royal Challengers in the lung opener of the Indian Premier League. McCullum went berserk right from the word go as he hit Zaheer Khan for 18 runs in the second over of the innings after being put in to bat by hosts skipper Rahul Dravid at Chinnaswamy stadium. The Kiwi player then hit a towering long-off six off Ashley Noffke to bring up the 50 for Knight Riders in just four overs. The wicket-keeper batsman was difficult to contain as he showed no mercy and hit all the bowlers all around the park. McCullum's scintillating inning...
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Mumbai sweat on Tendulkar?s fitness
2008-04-17 18:36:00
Mumbai Indians are still sweating on the fitness of captain Sachin Tendulkar after the master batsman said on Thursday that his participation in the team?s opening match in Mumbai on Sunday is still doubtful.Tendulkar, who was ruled out of the last two Tests against South Africa because of a groin injury, said a decision would be taken before the start of the match against the Bangalore Royal Challengers on Sunday.?Whether I will be fit for the first match or not, we will assess before the start and depending on my condition we will take a decision. As of now we haven?t made any decision,? Tendulkar said in Mumbai at the launch of the team.The entire Mumbai squad was present at the event and they were given a traditional welcome. Tendulkar?s childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar wished them good luck by applying a tilak on the players? foreheads made of sindoor from the Siddhivinayak and Mahalaxmi temples in Mumbai and mixed with the holy water from Mount Mary church and the sand from ...
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Kanpur Test: India beat South Africa, level the series
2008-04-13 15:29:00
India win by 8 wickets in the third and final Test against South Africa at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur. With this win, Team India have levelled the Future Cup series and retained their position in the ICC Test rankings. Harbhajan Singh was declared Man of the Series for picking an amazing haul of 19 wickets in the series. Playing their second innings, South Africa were cheaply bowled out for 121-all out on Day 3 of the third Test. Spinner Harbhajan took a four wicket haul, while Virender Sehwag struck three vital wickets leaving Indian batsmen to chase a measly 62 run target to win the match and level the series. Opening India's second innings play on a bouncy wicket on Day 3, Sehwag scored a quickfire 22 in 12 balls, with two huge sixes off Paul Harris. Sourav Ganguly on 13 and Dravid on 18 runs remained unbeaten at the end of play. Earlier, replying to the Proteas' first innings total of 265-all out, India put up an aggregate of 325 runs taking a lead of 60 runs. Ganguly to...
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IPL will mend ties between Indian and Aussie players: Ponting
2008-04-12 22:14:00
Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that the acrimony between his side and the Indian s in the tour Down Under earlier this year had been blown out of proportion.?A lot more was made of the last Australian series than I thought what happened,? Ponting told newspersons in Kolkata on Saturday.Ponting felt though there were misunderstandings between the players of the two teams, the matter was sorted out after the Sydney Test?And the rest of the summer was really played in very good spirits,? he said.Ponting felt the Indian Premier League would help the Indian and Australian players to understand each other better.?Some of the players we will be playing alongside are some of the players we played against a month ago. It is an opportunity for Australian and Indian players to understand and know each other better.?Ponting said his side would ?sadly miss? Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who is likely to miss IPL after being slapped a five-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board.?He ...
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IPL, national duty have their own place: Lee
2008-04-12 21:12:00
Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee on Saturday rubbished suggestions that the Indian Premier League (IPL) will lure players away from national duty, saying both can co-exist without being detrimental to each other.?I don?t think we should compare or match IPL with Australian cricket team as both have their own place,? said Lee, who would be playing for Kings XI Punjab, one of the eight IPL teams competing in the Twenty20 tournament beginning next week. On being quizzed about a recent survey conducted by Australian Cricketers? Association (ACA) which says nearly half of the Aussie cricketers were willing to give up their central contracts to play in the cash-awash IPL, Lee said, ?I don?t think there is any reason why we can?t do both (play for Australia and IPL simultaneously).??My heart is for Australian team and wearing Baggy Green cap is a great honour,? he added. The express bowler said he would give his ?best? while playing for his IPL team ?as I do when I play for Australia?.A...
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IPL winner will get Rs 4.8 crore
2008-04-10 19:56:00
The DLF Indian Premier League could become one of the world's richest domestic cricket tournaments with a winners' cheque of Rs 4.8 crore and overall prize money of Rs 12 crore being offered for the inaugural tournament.The tournament, which has teams owned by Bollywood stars and corporate bigwigs, kicks-off on April 18.The tournament's runner-up will be richer by Rs 2.4 crore while even the team finishing last gets Rs 40 lakh."The Rs. 4.8 crore winners' purse makes the DLF IPL truly one of the richest events for a domestic Twenty20 league anywhere in the world," IPL chairman and Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi said.The prize-money break-up is such that even the two losing semi-finalists will earn in crores (Rs 1.2 crore) for making it that far.The prize-money will then be divided among the other teams, with the team finishing fifth collecting Rs 80 lakh, and the sixth finisher Rs 70 lakh.The team finishing seventh will get Rs 50 lakh.The opening ...
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Kanpur Test: India all set?
2008-04-10 19:40:00
KANPUR, IANS: Left with no option, India will have to go for the jugular against a resurgent South Africa in the third and final Test beginning on Friday to draw the series after the visitors took a 1-0 lead with their surprise but well deserved win in the second match.It is an unusual scenario for India, who have not lost a home series for almost four years. The last time they succumbed to a visiting team was in 2004 when Australia won the four-match series 2-1. Now captain Anil Kumble faces the same situation Sourav Ganguly had encountered then.It is a surprising turnaround for India as they had performed so well against world champions Australia Down Under recently. The home team was beaten in the second Test by a team widely believed to be a weak one although not short on determination and resilience. (PTI Photo)Spin in the tale | Watch: Ishant Sharma declared fit for Kanpur Test | Munaf Patel riding high |South Africa crush India in 2nd Test RP Singh axed, Pathan retained for 3...

Media boycott threat of IPL persists
2008-04-10 19:38:00
Indian Premier League's (IPL) stringent media restrictions have put a question mark over the coverage of the event as the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) threatened to boycott the multi-million dollar cricket league, starting April 18. "The accreditation terms failed to address the issues of intellectual property rights belonging to media as well as issues of press freedom," INS president Bahubali Shah said in a statement on Thursday.Indian media are protesting IPL's decision to ban websites from covering matches and also prohibiting international and local news agencies from supplying photographs to online clients."The Indian Newspaper Society hopes a serious attempt will be made by the IPL to remove offending terms and conditions for media accreditation. In the absence of remedial action by the IPL, members of the INS will be forced to take an adverse view on the question of coverage of IPL matches," Shah added.The league, promoted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BC...
More About: Media , Boycott , Threat , Indian Premier League

RP Singh dropped, Pathan retained for 3rd Test
2008-04-06 11:30:00
India bolstered their bowling attack for next week's third and final Test against South Africa by including fit-again paceman Ishant Sharma and recalling medium-pacer Munaf Patel to a 16-man squad on Sunday. Patel replaced fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh who went wicketless in the second Test. Singh had also failed to bag any wickets in the drawn first Test in Chennai. The 19-year-old Sharma has been out of action since returning from an impressive tour of Australia, due to injuries to his foot and finger, and missed the first two Tests against South Africa, while Munaf last played a Test in December. The visitors went 1-0 up in the three-Test series on Saturday after winning the second game in Ahmedabad by an innings and 90 runs inside three days. Indian selectors also recalled off-spinner Ramesh Powar in the squad. "The team is keen to play three spinners and hence Powar has been added to the line-up," Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah said. Powar, who has played two Te...
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Munaf, Powar in squad for third Test
2008-04-06 11:24:00
Pacer Munaf Patel has been included in the Indian team for the third and final Test against South Africa to be played in Kanpur from April 11.Patel replaced RP Singh in the squad announced in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Anil Kumble and Ishant Sharma, who are nursing injuries, will undergo a fitness test on April 10 before the final 14 is selected for the match.Off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been drafted in as cover for Kumble.South Africa lead the three-Test series 1-0 after beating India by an innings and 90 runs in the second Test in Ahmedabad.Squad : Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Piyush Chawla, Mohammad Kaif, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Ramesh Powar.

Motera curator promises sporting track for 2nd Test
2008-04-01 13:12:00
Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla turned out to be the heroes in Chennai as runs flowed from their bats in the first of three Test s. However, there was one factor working against the bowlers ? the pitch. The Chepauk track just did not have anything in it for any bowler throughout all the five days.Both the skippers ? Anil Kumble and Graeme Smith ? criticised the pitch after the match and hoped for a balanced contest between the bat and the ball in the rest of the series. It is learnt that Smith has heavily criticised the strip in Chennai in his report to the match referee Roshan Mahanama. As a result, as both the teams move to Ahmedabad for the second Test, the pitch at Motera remains the talking point. And the 22-yard strip in question bears a look exactly opposite to the one in Chennai. When both the teams reach the stadium for training on Tuesday, the bowlers? eyes, especially that of Ishant Sharma and Dale Steyn and Co., will light up at the sight of t...
More About: Sporting , Promises , Track

Australia glory days over, say pundits
2008-03-08 11:24:00
Australia's cricket glory days are over and the team must face up to a tougher future, leading commentators said on Saturday after India's euphoric one-day series win over the world champions.India's 2-0 tri-series finals win over Ricky Ponting's aging team has triggered an inquest into Australia's performance and fears the axis of global cricket supremacy had finally shifted.Australia are now only fractionally in front of South Africa on the International Cricket Council rankings as the world's leading one-day nation after losing the best-of-three finals.And with the retirement of wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist, after last year's departure of bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, there is a sense the era of Australian domination is over.One commentator noted that Australia, with an average age of 33, were confronted and affronted by a younger version of themselves in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's confident Indian team."If Ricky Ponting had ever wondered what tomorrow ...
More About: Australia , Days , Glory Days , Glory

India win by 7 wickets, qualify for the final
2008-02-26 08:19:00
Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar guided India to a much needed win against Sri Lanka to reach the finals of the CB Series in Hobart on Tuesday. Yuvraj Singh too make a significant contribution as he scores crusial 35 runs before Rohit Sharma joined Gautam Gambhir to score the winning run.Earlier, A spectacular middle-order collapse saw Sri Lanka make just 179 from 47.1 overs and India had few problems reaching the target in 32.2 overs, scoring 180 for three.Although Sri Lanka still have one game remaining in the series, against Australia on Friday, they cannot reach the finals and it has been a disappointing tournament for last year's World Cup finalists.Importantly for India, star batsman Sachin Tendulkar burst out of his form slump ahead of the finals against Australia with his first half-century of the series.Tendulkar was back to his brilliant best as he punished the bowlers, hitting three successive boundaries off seamer Ishara Amerasinghe in making 63 from 54 balls, includ...
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Ishant Sharma fined 15% of his match fee
2008-02-25 08:58:00
India's upcoming fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been fined 15% of his match fee in a disciplinary action after a face-off with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds on Sunday. Ishant Sharma was summoned by match referee Jeff Crowe for a disciplinary hearing after a face-off with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds in Sydney. Ishant had exchanged heated words with Symonds and had pointed fingers towards the pavilion after he dismissed the Australian all-rounder in their cricket tri-series match. Ishant was charged under Clause 1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The hearing was held at the team hotel.
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77 players to go under hammer for IPL
2008-02-20 06:23:00
A total of 77 players, both Indian and foreigners, will go under the hammer here on Wednesday as cricket enters uncharted waters in an important phase of the multi-million dollar DLF Indian Premier League . It will be for the first-ever time that international cricketers from around the world will be up for grabs by the eight city-specific franchises who have bought teams by paying a total of $723.3 million to the BCCI-floated IPL for taking part in the April 18-June 1 Twenty20 League. The franchise owners - ranging from top industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Vijay Mallya to Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta - will bid for several top names in international cricket. The auction will be a private one to be conducted by an independent professional auctioneer Richard Madley who will be the sole arbiter to all aspects of the auction, the IPL said in a statement ahead of the pioneering effort. Five iconic players of India - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Yuvra...
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IPL may rake in Rs 600 crore ad revenue
2008-02-20 06:16:00
The Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Twenty20 tournament, is estimated to generate an advertising revenue of over Rs 600 crore in its first season.In the first year, each of the eight team owners will spend around Rs 25 crore on marketing and promotion, which include below-the-line activities, city-based club activations and so on, say sources."We will spend in the range of Rs 20 crore on team promotions," said P K Iyer, managing director, Deccan Chronicle, which owns the Hyderabad team. Delhi team owner GMR Holdings and Jaipur team executives too confirmed that they would spend around Rs 20 crore each in the first year."We will spend over Rs 16 crore on promotions as we will concentrate on brand building," said Fraser Castellino, the CEO of Emerging Media, who along with Lachlan Murdoch owns the Jaipur team.Industry estimates put the total advertising pie for the country, including below-the-line activities, at around Rs 22,000 crore ...
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DLF win IPL title sponsorship rights
2008-02-14 04:23:00
India's leading real estate developer DLF Ltd has bagged the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League extravaganza that is set to kick-off on April 18.A statement from the IPL on Wednesday said the rights for title sponsorship were won by DLF "through a fair and transparent open bid process with a highest bid of Rs 40 crore per annum. The deal gives DLF Ltd. exclusive title sponsorship rights for five years, valuing in excess of Rs 200 crores". The title sponsorship race was between DLF Limited, World Sports Group (WSG), which had bid on behalf of Hero Honda Motors (India) Ltd, Percept D'Mark and 21st Century Media."The title sponsorship race was tightly-contested between three participants, with DLF emerging the final winner through a fair and transparent process," said Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, Indian Premier League."I am truly happy to have India's leading real estate developer DLF as our title sponsors, as they happen to share a common vision with t...
More About: Rights , Title , Sponsorship

Ishant is a dangerous bowler, admits Ponting
2008-02-11 06:37:00
Australian captain Ricky Ponting conceded on Sunday that his tormentor Ishant Sharma is a "dangerous bowler" but stopped short of rating the Indian attack as the best he has seen in home conditions in the recent past. "Ishant has done well in the latter half of this tour so far. He is a dangerous bowler," conceded a sombre Ponting. "(S) Sreesanth has also looked good but it's too early to say this is the best attack seen in Australian conditions for sometime now as England was here last year," he said. The young Indian attack, led by Sharma, booked Australia out for 159 in 43.1 overs after Ponting had chosen to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. The Aussie skipper was suitably impressed. "He is different in the sense that he hits the deck hard and gets some inconsistent bounce. I don't know whether it's because he changes his action." "He looks dangerous and would be even more to the left-handers. Even to the right-handers, the kind of in-swing he manages is a b...
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Take cue from Indians: Younis Khan
2008-01-25 06:07:00
KARACHI: Pakistan's senior batsman Younis Khan wants his team to take a cue from India's aggressive attitude in Australia to beat the World Champion side when they tour the sub-continent in March-April this year. "The Indians went at Australia aggressively during and after the Sydney Test and the attitude has paid dividends for them," Younis said.India surprised Australia in the third Test in Perth after losing the first two Test matches. They finished on 309 for five on the first day of the Adelaide Test on Thursday."I don't think you can beat Australia by adopting a defensive or middle road policy. We will have to go full throttle at them to upset them." Younis said he would push for an all attack policy against the Australians when they play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on their tour.The senior player also lauded India's attitude despite two big defeats in Melbourne and Sydney. "I think India had the edge over Australia because of the...

Mukesh Ambani, Mallya, SRK win IPL bids
2008-01-25 06:01:00
The high-profile Indian Premier League on Thursday received overwhelming response as India's top industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Vijay Mallya, and film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta won bids to own teams in the Twenty20 venture.After much suspense, Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president and IPL governing council chairman Lalit Modi named the winning bidders, who shelled out staggering amounts to become owners of the Mumbai-based teams.Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani pipped Vijay Mallya in the bid for the Mumbai team, for US $111.9 million.The liquor baron, however, won the bid for the Bangalore team, for US $111.6 million.Actor Shah Rukh Khan, joining hands with Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, won the bid for the Kolkata team, for US $75.09 million.Fellow-actor Preity Zinta and her boy friend Ness Wadia won the bid for the Mohali team, for US $76 million.Among others, GMR Holdings was successful in bidding for the Delhi team (US $84 million), while India C...
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IPL franchisee will not make money initially
2008-01-24 07:53:00
As the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Ambani brothers and others from India Inc bid to become franchisees of the Indian Premier League on Thursday in Mumbai, sources in the industry say that the Twenty20 league will not be a profitable venture for at least the first two years. Like any other business, it will take at least two to three years to break even, if the calculations are done on the base bid price of $50 million for 10 years. "But, thereafter, it has huge potential in the Indian market," the source said. According to the IPL tender document, the franchisee revenue is divided into two sections. The first is centralised revenue under which falls the title sponsorship, media right and official umpires' sponsorships. The second is franchisee revenue which primarily deals with team naming rights, team shirt sponsorship and ticketing revenues. Based on the calculations of the media rights, some of the bidders have reached the conclusion on Wednesday evening that earnings from the sale...
More About: Money , Make Money , Make , Ranch

Sachin Tendulkar slams 39th test Century
2008-01-24 07:49:00
ADELAIDE: Sachin Tendulkar was doing the spadework as India were dealt two further blows in the second session by Australia on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test at Adelaide Oval here on Thursday.The visitors took tea at 187 for 4 as they lost Virender Sehwag (63) and Sourav Ganguly (7), missing out on a golden opportunity to put early pressure on hosts in the crucial match. Sachin Tendulkar was intent on making his probably last Test in Australia count as the little master serenely crossed his half century and was unbeaten on 55 from 134 minutes of vigil at the crease during which he faced 89 balls and hit five fours and a six. Sehwag chose to cut a rising delivery from Brett Lee, too close to his body, and offered a straightforward catch to Matthew Hayden at first slip.However, the television replays suggested that it was a big no ball from the Australian speedster.Sehwag batted for two-and-a-half hours and hit six fours from 90 balls.Ganguly, probably stil...
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No issues with Afridi, says Malik
2008-01-24 07:42:00
KARACHI : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik on Wednesday denied growing rumours of a possible rift in the team, saying he had no issues with seasoned all-rounder Shahid Afridi. Some newspapers reported that Malik and coach Geoff Lawson didn?t want Afridi in the team and he had not attended a training session in protest and gone to Islamabad without their permission. The media also reported that other senior players were unhappy with the way they were being treated by the captain and the coach. There have also been newspaper stories about Malik and Lawson clashing with the national selectors. Malik said all the reports were based on misunderstandings. Afridi is a senior player of the team. The fact is he went to Islamabad after taking permission from the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board. So there is no question of him leaving in protest, Malik said. Sources say a particular lobby involving team manager Talat Ali might be responsible for floating stories about Afridi and oth...
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Team announcement compelled by logistics: BCCI
2008-01-23 13:13:00
Test skipper Anil Kumble may not find the timing of the Indian ODI squad?s announcement ideal, but the BCCI on Wednesday defended the move saying it was compelled by logistics to name the team ahead of the crucial Adelaide Test.?It is because of the logistics issues that the team is announced early. We also need to give the players some time to mentally prepare for the tour,? BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said reacting to Kumble?s comments.Seniors like Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman have been left out of the squad for the tri-series, also involving Australia and Sri Lanka, leading to criticism that it might affect the trio?s morale ahead of the fourth and final Test against Australia.?The selection is not in their hands. I have gone through it, it?s not ideal but that?s the way it is. It?s a bit disappointing,? Kumble said on the eve of the Test.?It?s not easy on senior players. Having said that, we would keep our focus on this Test,? the veteran leg-spinner added.Sh...
More About: Announcement , Team , Logistics , Logistic

I'll think about future after Adelaide: Ganguly
2008-01-23 09:30:00
MELBOURNE: His axing from the Indian one-day squad for the tri-series might have created a furore back home but Sourav Ganguly is unfazed and determined to stay focused on the crucial fourth and deciding Test match against Australia starting in Adelaide on Thursday."I haven't given things a thought beyond this Test. It's an important match and I've got to stay focused. I'll think of the future once it gets over," Ganguly was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun' newspaper on Wednesday.The former skipper has been in superb form since his comeback and continued his good run in the ongoing Test series but his fielding skills or rather lack of it cost him the ODI berth.Rival skipper Ricky Ponting was also surprised not to see the Bengal left-hander in the one-day squad."I am surprised and shocked that he is not in the side because right through this Test series, he has certainly looked good with the bat," he told.Selectors had also wielded their axe on former captain Rahul Dravid a...
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Timing of the selection was wrong: Anil Kumble
2008-01-23 09:28:00
ADELAIDE: Indian skipper Anil Kumble on Wednesday admitted that the timing of announcing the one-day side was far from 'ideal' but hoped his axed senior players would shrug off the disappointment to stay focussed for the crucial fourth Test against Australia, starting here on Thursday."(The selection) is not in their hands. I have gone through it, it's not ideal (the announcement of the team before the Test) but that's the way. It's a bit disappointing."It's not easy on senior players, having said that we would keep our focus on this Test," the ace leg spinner said. Kumble said the senior players were mature enough to take the exclusion in their stride."It's a challenge (to get them around). People (not selected) would be disappointed but they have played enough cricket to understand, why this (Test) is important for Indian cricket and to stay in the series," he said.Shockingly Sourav Ganguly, and to a lesser extent Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have been left out of the one...
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