Mukesh Ambani denies eyeing Liverpool FC

Mukesh Ambani denies eyeing Liverpool FC

New Delhi, Feb 9: Mumbai Indians owner Mukesh Ambani has denied reports of picking up 51 per cent shares in English Premier League side Liverpool. Some reports say have claimed that Ambani is said to have offered to pay off the club's £237 million debt in return for a huge stake in the club.Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr have been under pressure all season to sell the club after reports of mounting debts that’s curbing the club’s expenses, specially in the transfer market. It has also been reported by the British media that Sahara Group’s Chairman, Subrata Roy has also made a similar bid. (Agencies)

India suffer big defeat

India suffer big defeat

NAGPUR, Feb 9 (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar’s defiant ton merely delayed the inevitable as India crashed to a humiliating innings and six runs defeat against South Africa in the first cricket Test here today.

The miracle that India needed to save the match did not happen and even though Tendulkar (100) starred in two brief partnerships and the tail wagged for a while too, it was not enough to avert what was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s first Test defeat as captain that came with full one day to spare.

Following on, the home side that resumed on 66 for two this morning, folded for 319 in their second essay to allow South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Down the order, Wriddhiman Saha (36), Harbhajan Singh (39) and Zaheer Khan (33) showed the kind of grit that was missing in most of their frontline batting colleagues.

Wish to get rid of T20 specialist tag: Yusuf Pathan

After leading West Zone to a historic Duleep Trophy title win with a scintillating double hundred, all-rounder Yusuf Pathan is hoping that the Twenty20 specialist tag attached to his name would be wiped off.

Pathan's unbeaten 210, his maiden double century, helped West overhaul a mammoth 536-run target, a feat never achieved before while chasing in world cricket, and the Baroda batsman termed the knock his best ever.

"Definitely it is the best innings of my career so far and I scored a hundred in the first innings as well. I had played a 187-run knock in first class cricket before and also took 10 wickets in the same. I hope this Twenty20 specialist tag goes out now," Yusuf told 'PTI-Bhasha'.

Pathan is baffled how the tag got attached to his name when he has performed well enough in the four-day games in domestic cricket.

"I don't know why this Twenty20 tag is there with my name? We play four-day matches in first class cricket."

"Although there are 50-50 and Twenty20 games in first class cricket but Ranji and Duleep Trophy are long format games," he said.

Yusuf, a prominent member of the inaugural Indian Premier League winners Rajasthan Royals, last played an ODI for India in September last year.

The Baroda batsman conceded that being out of the national team hurts and making a comeback is difficult.

"You feel bad when you get dropped. So I focus on my performance, it's our job to impress selectors. There is stiff competition for every place in the team as there is lot of talent around," he said.

"I will be playing Deodhar Trophy next and there are a few Twenty20 matches. I want to continue this good performance and attract selectors," he added.

Talking about the recent ball tampering incident involving all rounder Shahid Afridi, Yusuf said he had no clue about Pakistani all-rounder's claim that all teams indulge in it.

"I don't know why he said so. I can't say anything about that since I have not seen anyone biting the ball like that. I have not seen anything like that in international cricket," he said.

© PTI

India's heaviest defeats at home

The last time a side other than South Africa beat India in India by an innings was way back in 1983. After that, India went through a long period where no team was able to beat them by an innings at home, until South Africa did it in Bangalore in the year 2000.

In the ten years since, South Africa have repeated the feat twice for a total of three innings victories over India in India in the past decade.

Innings defeats suffered by India in India:

Opposition	Margin	Ground	Date
West Indies	inns & 193 runs	Chennai	27 January 1949
Pakistan	inns & 43 runs	Lucknow	23 October 1952
West Indies	inns and 336 runs	Kolkata	31 December 1958
Australia	inns & 127 runs	Delhi	12 December 1959
Australia	inns & 55 runs	Chennai	13 January 1960
West Indies	inns & 45 runs	Kolkata	31 December 1966
England	inns & 25 runs	Delhi	17 December 1976
Pakistan	inns & 119 runs	Hyderabad (Sind)	14 January 1983
West Indies	inns & 83 runs	Kanpur	21 October 1983
West Indies	inns & 46 runs	Kolkata	10 December 1983
South Africa	inns & 71 runs	Bangalore	02 March 2000
South Africa	inns & 90 runs	Ahmedabad	03 April 2008
South Africa	inns & 6 runs	Nagpur	06 February 2010

With India's No.1 Test ranking at stake as the teams travel to Kolkata, those who believe in history repeating itself will not be very comforted if they are Indian fans, but will be elated if they are South African fans. As the table shows, India has suffered three innings defeats in Kolkata - more than at any other ground.

© Cricbuzz

South Africa win Nagpur Test by an innings and 6 runs

NAGPUR, Feb 9 (IANS): South Africa defeated India by an innings and six runs on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here Tuesday.

Following on, India were bowled out for 319 runs with Sachin Tendulkar scoring 100.

Harbhajan Singh (39), Wriddhiman Saha (36), Zaheer Khan (33) came up with useful contributions, but India folded up in 107.1 overs.

Dale Steyn took a match haul of 10 wickets while Paul Harris got three for 76 in the second innings.

South Africa had declared their first innings at 558/6 and bowled out India for 233

Duleep Trophy: Pathan seals record-breaking win for West Zone

HYDERABAD: West Zone created a world record in first class cricket by successfully chasing down a mammoth 536-run target to clinch the Duleep Trophy with a dramatic three-wicket victory, riding on Yusuf Pathan's scintillating double century.

Yusuf's phenomenal unbeaten 210, his maiden first class double century, steered West Zone to a sensational win as they scored 541/7 to lift the Duleep Trophy for the 16th time on an eventful final day's play.

The win marked the highest successful run chase in the history of first class cricket although the total, 541 for seven, is not the highest fourth-innings total.

Teams have scored more runs in their fourth innings in the past but they never resulted in a victory.

England had scored 654/5 while chasing 696 to win against South Africa in Durban way back in 1938-39. The match was drawn after 10 days.

Maharashtra had scored 604 in their second innings while chasing an impossible 959 to win against the then Bombay in 1948-49 in Poona, now Pune.

Everything depended on Yusuf when West resumed at 379/6 and he did not disappoint his team and fans as he stood their like a rock till the job was done.

Resuming at the individual score of 84 along with other overnight partner Pinal Shah, Yusuf cashed in on the three dropped chance and made South Zone bowlers pay heavily.

Scoreboard:

South Zone 1st Innings: 400
West Zone 1st Innings: 251
South Zone 2nd Innings : 386/9 decl
West Zone 2nd Innings: (Overnight 379/6) CR Pathak b Absolem 130 HH Khadiwale c Gautam b Anirudha 45 W Jaffer lbw b Ganapathy 66 BD Thaker c Gautam b Aravind 0 Y Pathan not out 210 RA Jadeja b Aushik Srinivas 1 I Pathan b Absolem 42 PR Shah c & b Prem 16 RR Powar not out 18
Extras (B-2, LB-1, W-4, NB-6) 13
Total (for 7 wickets in 136.3 overs) 541
Fall of wickets: 1-117, 2-224, 3-239, 4-263, 5-294, 6-378, 7-483.

Bowling : C Ganapathy 33-7-96-1, A Absolem 23-2-79-2, S Aravind 24.3-3-99-1, R Aushik Srinivas 37-4-157-1, S Anirudha 3-0-14-1, PR Prem 13-1-81-1, AB Karthik 3-0-12-0.

Lara robbed, six arrested

Six people have been arrested for allegedly stealing USD one million in cash, jewellery and several personal belongings of legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara from his Lady Chancellor mansion.

A report in 'Trinidad and Tobago Guardian' said the honorary 'Order of Australia' which was bestowed on Lara by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port-of-Spain on November 29, last year, was also stolen.

The thieves also took away over 40 VVIP tickets worth USD 1,600 each for B3 Beyonce 'I AM' concert, to be held on February 18 at Queen's Park Savannah.

According to Police, Lara discovered the burglary on Wednesday morning and investigators feel it might be a work of an insider as it seems the safe was stolen while Lara was asleep in the TV room.

"It has to be people who knew exactly where to go, and they knew what they were looking for...They timed him very well before making their move," a police source was quoted as saying by the paper.

Lara told investigators that the last time he saw the vault, which was in a bedroom, was around 4 pm on Tuesday.


After that around 8 pm, Lara fell asleep while watching television in his TV room. When he got up at around 2 am, he found the vault missing.

© PTI

Ind-SA ODI shifted from Kanpur to Gwalior

The BCCI shifted the second one-dayer between India and South Africa on February 24 from Kanpur to Gwalior.

Without giving any reason, the Cricket Board said in a release that the second ODI has been shifted from Kanpur to Gwalior.

"The second One Day International between India and South Africa scheduled to be played at Kanpur on 24th February 2010 has now been shifted to Gwalior," BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said in the release.

The first ODI will be played in Jaipur on February 21 while the third and last match will be held in Ahmedabad on February 27.

© PTI

Umpire Benson retires from the elite panel

ICC umpire Mark Benson has retired from the Elite Panel and has decided to return home to England to take up a contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Benson, who has been on the panel since 2006, has umpired a total of 27 Tests, 72 ODIs and 19 T20Is. In that time he stood in the final of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg and was also shortlisted for Umpire of the Year at the LG ICC Awards in 2007 and 2008.

Although Benson's contract was not due to expire until the end of June 2010, he asked if he could be released from it three months early so he could take up a contract with the ECB and this request was granted.

"I have enjoyed my time on the elite panel immensely," said Benson.

"The opportunity to be part of the global game has given me memories that I will always treasure. But travel and being away from home takes its toll on the family and some warning bells have started to ring regarding my health.

"So, having thought about it carefully, I feel now is the right time for me to step down and move to a more settled and familiar environment in England.

"I'd like to thank the ICC and my umpiring colleagues on the elite panel for their support over the years. Umpiring at the top level has been a very rewarding experience for me and it is not an easy decision to walk away from it but I believe it is the right one as far as my health and family are concerned.

"I also want to thank the ECB for giving me the opportunity to be part of the county circuit again. I'm looking forward to the new season as much as I did when I played, and hope that I can add value with my international experience as an ICC elite umpire."

ICC Umpires' and Referees' Manager Vince van der Bijl said: "Mark's immense love for and enjoyment of cricket shines through his umpiring. His on-field calm demeanour will be missed, as will his friendly and easygoing disposition.

"We fully understand and support his decision, which was brought on by a desire to spend more time in England with his family and some concerns about health issues. He will add richly to the county circuit as he is a talented and hugely experienced umpire and we wish him great success."

© ICC

Afridi gets a 2-match ban for ball tampering

Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being caught up in a ball-tampering row during his team's defeat in final ODI against Australia.

Afridi quoted in an interview with ABC Radio that he was trying to move somethings on the ball. He said, "I tried to smell it. There were some things on it that I tried to move. I don't know what made me do such a mad thing. It was not right and I apologise for my actions . This was very unfortunate and should not have happened. I have learnt from my mistake and will not repeat it again".

Afridi, who was captaining Pakistan in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, was caught on TV cameras apparently biting the ball in the match at the WACA in Perth where Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series.

A team source, speaking to Cricinfo, said "Shahid Afridi has been banned for two T20Is after the incident. He pleaded guilty to the charge."

Afridi, who captains the Pakistan side in Twenty20 cricket, will miss the match against Australia on February 5 as well as the first of two matches against England in Dubai on February 19.

The International Cricket Council confirmed that Afridi had received two suspension points after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the game.

Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is.

Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to "changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket".

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Paul Reiffel, as well as third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth official Mick Martell.

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle handed Afridi the maximum penalty under the provision of the code.

"I imposed the maximum penalty under the code to Shahid and reminded him of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure that the match is played according to the laws of the game and in the spirit in which it is intended to be played," said Madugalle.

"Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions," the match referee said.

Afridi, who was ashamed of his actions, apologised for his act and said he would never commit the mistake again.

"I'm ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have done such an act. It happened in the heat of the moment. I apologise for my mistake," Afridi said.

"It was a close match and Pakistan had not won any match. We needed a win and I just wanted to help the fast bowlers. I did it on that spur of moment. I have been banned now and I have learnt my lessons. I will ensure it doesn't happen again," Afridi added.

In 2005, Afridi was banned for twisting his spikes and trying to change condition of pitch during a Test match in Faisalabad against England.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said Afridi's actions were unacceptable. He wondered why he was behaving as if he was "eating an apple" and remarked that he did not know what Afridi wanted to achieve.

"It's unacceptable. It shouldn't have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him. Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it's happened," Alam said.

Immediately after television cameras showed Afridi biting into the ball to change its condition, a top official called up team manager Abdul Raquib and instructed him not to send Afridi for the closing ceremony and instead ask regular captain Mohammad Yousuf to do that job, said PCB sources.

"Raquib was also told that Afridi should not be allowed to speak to the media after the match and that he should immediately accept his mistake and apologize to match referee, Ranjan Madugalle," one PCB official said.

He said this was done to avoid more controversy and problems for Afridi.

"The board has now asked the team management to send Afridi back home early as he is no longer required with the team," he added.

Well placed sources, however, said despite the ball tampering incident and the two match ban, the board officials were impressed with the way Afridi wholeheartedly led the side in the absence of Yousuf.

"He is definitely our next one-day internationals captain but since he himself is not very keen on playing Test cricket the board will look at other candidates to lead the side in the longest format," one source said.
© Cricbuzz

Injury rules Siddle out of the summer

Australian pacer Peter Siddle was ruled out of the team's upcoming Test and one-day tour of New Zealand due to a stress fracture in his back.

"Cricket Australia announces that fast bowler Peter Siddle has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of his back and will be unavailable for the rest of the summer," CA announced in a statement.

Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Siddle's injury was revealed in scan conducted after the five-match one-day series against Pakistan last week.

"Peter experienced pain in his back during the recent Pakistan ODI series. The source of the pain was investigated after the fifth ODI and scans revealed that he has a lower back stress fracture," he said.

Siddle has also been forced out of Australia's domestic competition.

"The nature of this injury means that Peter will require a long rehabilitation period and as such he'll be unavailable for the remainder of the domestic summer and the tour of New Zealand," Kountouris said.

Australia's tour of New Zealand starts March 3 with a five-match ODI series to be followed by two Tests.

© PTI

Shaun Tait unleashes 160 kmph thunderbolt

Shaun Tait bowled what was reportedly the quickest delivery on Australian soil in the home side's two-run win over Pakistan, when he unleashed a 160.7 kmph rocket off just the third ball of his opening over.

Tait was the man-of-the-match for figures of 3/13, but talk centred equally on his magnificent bowling as on that particular delivery.

The huge crowd of more than 60,000 at the MCG let out a collective gasp when the scoreboard immediately flashed just how quick it was with Channel Nine later reporting that it was the fastest ball ever delivered by any bowler in Australia.

Tait's thunderbolt was the third-fastest ball ever bowled, behind Brett Lee, whose quickest is 160.9kph, and Pakistan's record holder Shoaib Akhtar, who unleashed a 161.3kph ball during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Tait, whose decision to give up first-class cricket in order to ensure he remains injury-free for the shortened forms of the game is starting to pay off, said fans should not expect him to bowl as quick as he did at the MCG on Friday night on a regular basis.

"I was obviously feeling pretty good today and every now and then there are nights when everything goes well and your timing is right," he said after Friday night's game when quizzed about his record-breaking delivery.

"You can't really explain why some nights it comes out so well and the next night is not so good."

Tait, who has battled countless injuries during his career given the toll his unique slingshot action takes on his body, said he was feeling fresh going into the game because rain in the lead-up to the match had prevented him from bowling in the nets.

"As far as I am concerned that (not bowling in the nets before a game) is good preparation," he joked.

However despite coming so close to bowling the fastest ball in the history of the game, Tait doubts he will break Akhtar's record.

"Shoaib bowled whatever he bowled - I don't know how because I almost killed myself out there tonight," he said.

"It's not something I think about all the time and there are only certain moments when you are bowling in your career when you have got a chance to do it."

"You have probably only got two balls in a game where you can do it and then after that it's hard to get back up to that sort of pace."

"But the decision I have made to only play the short forms of the game was a good one and I have been feeling fresh for a majority of games this season apart from just a couple maybe."

© Cricbuzz

SA get good batting practice

Nagpur, Feb 3 (PTI): South Africa made the most of their drawn practice match against Board President’s XI with their top order looking in good nick even though Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin proved that the Proteas can be vulnerable against quality spin here today.

Having bowled out the local side for 318, Graeme Smith and his men did overwhelm the target to reach 354 before folding but leg-spinner Chawla (4/88) and offie Ashwin (3/96) exposed the vulnerability of the Proteas, especially the middle and lower order, against turning balls.

Aussies down Pak to win U-19 cricket WC

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 30 (IANS): Australia became the first team to win the under-19 cricket World Cup thrice as they defeated Pakistan by 25 runs in the final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval Saturday.

Pakistan, chasing a victory target of 208 runs, were bowled out for 182 in 46.4 overs. Pacer Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets for 30 runs while spinner Luke Doran took three for 32.

Australia won the title for the third time, having emerged champions at home in 1987-88 and in New Zealand in 2001-02. Pakistan, too, were in contention to win the tournament thrice as they won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2006.

Women hockey players to get Rs 2.2 lakh each

NEW DELHI, Jan 28 (PTI): Cash-strapped women hockey players will receive Rs 2.2 lakh each tomorrow, the Sports Ministry said here today.

A Ministry official told PTI that a Sports Director would reach Bhopal, venue of the national camp, tonight and distribute the money tomorrow.

“The Director has left for Bhopal and tomorrow morning, she will distribute Rs 2.2 lakh each to 41 women players in the camp,” the official said. He said the money came from the Rs 1 crore donation made by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan and the Rs 10 lakh from ASSOCHAM.

The women players have been protesting in Bhopal, wearing black armband to protest against non-payment of their dues.

India gain 1 rating point from Bangla victory

India gain 1 rating point from Bangla victory

DUBAI, Jan 28 (PTI): Thanks to their 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh, world number one India gained one rating point while Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan returned to the top 10 of ICC Test Players rankings, issued today.

Winning both the Test matches in Chittagong and Mirpur put India (125) five rating points ahead of South Africa (120).

Haryana gov gives 1 crore to women hockey team

STAFF WRITER 17:26 HRS IST

Chandigarh, Jan 28 (PTI) Chipping in with financial help for the national women hockey team, the Haryana government has released a cheque of Rs one crore for the players.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a press conference that they decided to release the cheque after learning about the plight of the players.

Madhya Pradesh government has already contributed Rs one crore for the players and Corporate body ASSOCHAM had also donated Rs 10 lakh.

The Union Sports Ministry had approached various state governments to help the players, who are protesting against the delay in payment of their dues and incentives apart from demanding treatment at par with their male counterparts.

Hooda also said that they could consider giving a job to skipper Surinder Kaur if the player makes a request.

"In case she desires for a government job, we will take care," he said.

Zaheer rocks as India whitewash Bangladesh

DHAKA, Jan 27 (IANS): Zaheer Khan's seven-wicket burst in the second innings rocked Bangladesh as India won the second cricket Test by 10 wickets, and with it took the series 2-0, on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium here Wednesday.

The resolve shown by the Bangladesh batsmen a day before, when opener Tamim Iqbal struck a defiant 155 and Junaid Siddique 55, was not to be seen this day as the hosts crumbled from a comfortable 290 for three to 312 all out minutes after lunch. India needed just two runs in their second innings to win and completed the formalities with two byes.

Zaheer rocks as India whitewash Bangladesh

DHAKA, Jan 27 (IANS): Zaheer Khan's seven-wicket burst in the second innings rocked Bangladesh as India won the second cricket Test by 10 wickets, and with it took the series 2-0, on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium here Wednesday.

The resolve shown by the Bangladesh batsmen a day before, when opener Tamim Iqbal struck a defiant 155 and Junaid Siddique 55, was not to be seen this day as the hosts crumbled from a comfortable 290 for three to 312 all out minutes after lunch. India needed just two runs in their second innings to win and completed the formalities with two byes.

Federer, Serena Williams in round four

Baghdatis shoulder collapse gives Hewitt quick victory, faces Federer in next round • Stosur, Azarenka move ahead

MELBOURNE, Jan 23: The self-appointed sports capital of Australia got a feast of tennis on a lazy, sun-drenched Saturday afternoon.

While top-seeded and three-time champion Roger Federer played Albert Montanes in a Rod Laver Arena crammed with 15,000 fans, top-ranked and Australian Open defending champion Serena Williams took on Carla Suarez Navarro at the neighboring show arena with a retractable roof that seats 10,000.

One hour and 48 minutes and 1:21 later, respectively, Federer and Williams walked off their courts after booking fourth-round matches on Monday. Federer beat Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and Williams defeated Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3.