Anand backs Bharat Ratna demand for Tendulkar

World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand on Thursday joined the growing list of top athletes supporting the demand that iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar be conferred the Bharat Ratna -- the highest civilian honour in India.

When asked whether Tendulkar, who recently hit his 50th Test century, deserves to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, Anand said, "Sure, he has done a great job."

"Especially the form our guys are showing should be great for the World Cup. It is not even that the team is depending on one guy, three-four guys are doing well, and hopefully we will pick the World Cup next year. He (Sachin) has been doing a great job," Anand told PTI.

Tendulkar had slammed his 50th Test century in the second innings against South Africa in the first cricket Test in Centurion last Sunday.

Celebrities from different fields have backed the demand for the top honour for the 37-year-old batsman.

The high-profile backers include ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and singing legends Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle.

Even some politicians, including BJP MP and Archery Association of India V.K. Malhotra have also said that Tendulkar should be conferred the honour for his achievements.
© AFP

Volkswagen new official partner of IPL 4, 5

Europe's leading automobile manufacturer, Volkswagen has been named as the official partner for the fourth and fifth season of the high-profile Indian Premier League tournament.

Volkswagen became the first German car manufacturer to become IPL's official partner after BCCI and the Twenty20 league's governing council had floated tenders for the same, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

"We are extremely happy to commence what will certainly be a fruitful association with Volkswagen. It is appropriate that two organisations that epitomize dynamism, enterprise and excellence have joined hands," IPL chairman Chirayu Amin said.

Commenting on the alliance, Neeraj Garg, member of the board and director of Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd said, "IPL stands for the people's game in India and what better way to associate our brand which literally means people's car."

Head of Marketing & PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd, Lutz Kothe added: "It is a great honour and huge pleasure to become part of the Indian Premier League. Being the official automotive partner will be an enormous asset as it will foster Volkswagen's bond with India."
© PTI

Bravo, Prior sign for Victoria in Big Bash

West Indian allrounder Dwayne Bravo and English batsman Matt Prior will play for Victoria in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash series next month, officials said on Friday.

Bravo has signed with Victoria for their first five matches of the tournament before returning to his own domestic T20 competition in the Caribbean.

Prior will join the team after the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney on January 9, officials said.

Bravo played a pivotal role in Victoria?s successful 2009/10 Big Bash campaign, ending the tournament with 77 runs at a strike rate of 157.14 and four wickets.

Prior, England's Test wicket-keeper, believes the T20 Big Bash is one of the best competitions of its type in the world.

"When I was made aware of the Bushrangers (Victoria) needing a second overseas player a few weeks ago, I was really keen to join the team and be a part of the Big Bash competition," Prior said in a statement.

"The Big Bash looks like one of the best Twenty20 competitions in the world right now, the way it?s promoted and advertised you can tell everyone in Australia is really excited about it."

Prior, 28, will play as a specialist batsman for the Bushrangers and has played 14 T20 matches for English County side Sussex this year, where he hit 443 runs including a high score of 117.

"I won?t be keeping in this competition, so playing as a batsman, hopefully I can bring a lot of runs to the side," he said.

The Bushrangers' opening match of the Big Bash series is against the Queensland Bulls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 2.