Zaheer Khan helps India pull level

Dambulla: Inspired by a game-breaking spell from Zaheer Khan, India clinched a low-scoring contest here at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Wednesday, evening the five-match series at 1-1 — an eventuality that had appeared remote after Sri Lanka’s overwhelming win in the first ODI.
After M.S. Dhoni won the toss, Zaheer extracted Sri Lanka’s three best batsmen — Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya — to help India bowl the host out for 142 in 38.3 overs.
The left-armer, who finished with four wickets for 21 runs, was well supported by his new-ball partner, Praveen Kumar, who scalped three.In trouble
The chase of 143 appeared in the brambles, when Nuwan Kulasekara removed Irfan Pathan, opening in place of Gautam Gambhir (stiff neck), and Suresh Raina before the lunch break, and again when Thilan Thushara’s double strike left India on 75 for five.
The men who stepped up were Virat Kohli, Dhoni and debutant S. Badrinath. Kohli’s 37 was a fighter’s innings, not always pretty or technically assured, but combative as a bulldog. His partnerships of 36 with Yuvraj Singh and 23 with Dhoni, while not substantial, nudged India closer.
The 19-year-old Kohli handled Mendis positively, thinking little of crashing the mystery spinner through the off-side or slog-sweeping him over mid-wicket.
But Kohli drove lazily to cover and Rohit Sharma got his front foot too far across, as left-armer Thushara — brought on to switch Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan around — rocked India.Coming good
Dhoni, who promoted himself, and Badrinath, who has done everything asked of him — and then some — before national selection, set about chipping away at the runs needed.
The pair hared between the wickets, judging their ones and twos adeptly. Dhoni’s show of responsibility, while admirable, was expected; he has nervelessly controlled several chases in his young career.
Badrinath was a revelation: his exploits at the domestic level and on ‘A’ tours have been impressive, but never before will he have faced the intense pressure of an international razor-edge chase or the unique challenges posed by Mendis and Murali.
The sixth-wicket partnership of 60 brought India to within eight runs of victory. But Dhoni (39) was bowled off the inside edge when Dilhara Fernando found some reverse swing, and it was left to Badrinath to guide the tail through. Mendis spread panic when he trapped Harbhajan in front, but Zaheer applied himself, and capped a remarkable day.Touch of magic
India needed a touch of magic to begin things, particularly after Monday’s mauling, and Zaheer provided just that. Through a spell of controlled, first-rate seam bowling, the left-armer tore the heart out of Sri Lanka’s batting.
The ball that started it was a rip-snorter, flawless in length, and cutting into the left-handed Sangakkara at pace to hit the off-stump.
Impeccable deliveries slanted across the right-hander accounted for Jayawardene and Kapugedera, procuring edges to first slip and wicketkeeper Dhoni respectively.
Praveen chipped in with Chamara Silva’s wicket, getting one to bounce on the right-hander. Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan attempted to steady the pitching ship — with Sri Lanka at 11 for four — but Zaheer cranked one through Jayasuriya’s defensive hop, striking the left-hander’s pad, and half the home side had been returned to the pavilion in fewer than 14 overs.
When Badrinath ran in from square-leg to complete a splendid catch diving forward, ridding India of the dangerous Dilshan, Dhoni’s men had Sri Lanka on the mat at 44 for six.Fight-back
But here occurred one of those curious things that that seem to happen often in cricket. The side on top let up just a bit, the one pinned discovered the virtue of common sense, and a fight-back was on.
Kulasekara and Thushara were the men who made the most of India’s generosity, although it must be said that the touring side had its share of ill-luck, some of it its own making. Dhoni has excellent instincts as a leader, but why he fancied Yuvraj’s left-arm slows for two overs — to open fields — one will never know.
Kulasekara, on eight, was caught plumb in front by a Munaf off-cutter, but umpire Gamini Silva turned the appeal down, leading to the seamer venting his frustration.
On 13, the right-hander edged Harbhajan to Rohit Sharma’s right at slip; the one-handed grab wasn’t sufficient.
The left-handed Thushara was impressive, lofting the quicker bowlers over the in-field and back-cutting Harbhajan for a fine 44.
Praveen broke the 74-run stand, feeding each partner a slower ball.
Thushara dragged the off-spinner to deep mid-wicket; Kulasekara shovelled the back-spun delivery to short mid-wicket.
India had some trouble shifting the last two wickets before Harbhajan, who had limped off after catching Mendis off his doosra, returned to dismiss Fernando.
SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: S. Jayasuriya lbw b Zaheer 13, K. Sangakkara b Zaheer 2, M. Jayawardene c Yuvraj b Zaheer 2, C. Kapugedera c Dhoni b Zaheer 0, C. Silva c Kohli b Praveen 0, T. Dilshan c Badrinath b Pathan 16, N. Kulasekara c Badrinath b Praveen 25, T. Thushara c Kohli b Praveen 44, A. Mendis c & b Harbhajan 0, D. Fernando c Kohli b Harbhajan 12, M. Muralitharan (not out) 11; Extras (lb-6, w-11): 17. Total (in 38.3 overs): 142.
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Sangakkara), 2-10 (Jayawardene), 3-10 (Kapugedera), 4-11 (Silva), 5-33 (Jayasuriya), 6-44 (Dilshan), 7-118 (Thushara), 8-118 (Kulasekara), 9-122 (Mendis).
PP1 (1-10): 14/4; PP2 (11-15): 24/1; PP3 (16-20): 10/1.
India bowling: Praveen 10-2-34-3, Zaheer 9.5-3-21-4, Munaf 6-1-24-0, Pathan 5-0-21-1, Harbhajan 5.4-0-26-2, Yuvraj 2-0-10-0.

India: I. Pathan c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 5, V. Kohli c Kapugedera b Thushara 37, S. Raina lbw b Kulasekara 1, Yuvraj lbw b Mendis 20, M.S. Dhoni b Fernando 39, Rohit lbw b Thushara 0, S. Badrinath (not out) 27, Harbhajan lbw b Mendis 1, Zaheer (not out) 2, Extras (b-3, lb-4, nb-2, w-2): 11. Total (for seven wickets in 39.4 overs): 143.
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Pathan), 2-16 (Raina), 3-52 (Yuvraj), 4-75 (Kohli), 5-75 (Rohit), 6-135 (Dhoni), 7-139 (Harbhajan).
PP1 (1-10): 29/2; PP2 (11-15): 25/1; PP3 (16-20): 21/2.
Sri Lanka bowling: Kulasekara 9-2-26-2, Thushara 7-1-32-2, Mendis 10-1-22-2, Fernando 5-0-25-1, Muralitharan 8.4-0-31-0.

source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082151152000.htm

Jamaica's Bolt gets gold, breaks record

A sprint double was all too predictable. To make the Olympics absolutely special, Usain Bolt added a world record double Wednesday by winning the gold medal in the 200 meters.Already well ahead coming off a tight bend that was supposed to be his only challenge, the Jamaican didn't coast for the first time in the games and bettered the world record of Michael Johnson one that even the track great considered still out of reach.With his time of 19.30 seconds, he sliced .02 off the mark dating to the 1996 Atlanta Games. And, incredibly, he cut his personal best by a massive .37."I'm shocked. I am still shocked," Bolt said. "I have been aspiring to the world record for so long."On the eve of his 22nd birthday, one full of historic hyperbole, Bolt won by the biggest margin since the 200 came on the Olympic scene 108 years ago. In a sport dominated by hundreds of seconds, he beat the field by two-thirds of a second."Everything came together tonight and I just blew my mind and blew the world's mind," he said.All too far behind him, defending champion Shawn Crawford went from fourth to taking silver in 19.96 after both Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, the original runner-up, and Wallace Spearmon were disqualified for running out their lane. A second American, Walter Dix, got bronze.Never letting up, Bolt dipped at the finish line and once he saw the record was gone, he fell to the track, his giant legs and arms pointing every which way."He is Superman 2," Johnson said on the BBC said after he saw his record fall.No way, said Bolt."I'm Lightning Bolt. I'm not Flash Gordon or anybody," he said. "My name is Lightning Bolt."If swimming had Michael Phelps, track has Usain Bolt and the games are so much the better for it.And on another sultry evening where nothing seems to go wrong for the overpowering Jamaicans, Melaine Walker beat Sheena Tosta of the United States in an Olympic record of 52.64 seconds to win the 400 hurdles.When the reggae blared again, it was clear it had become the theme song of the Bird's Nest."I am glad to know he is from Jamaica and that he is supernatural," Walker said of Bolt.In another final which turned into a one-man show, Bolt was his showboating best again. It turned him into the first man ever to break the world marks in both sprints at an Olympics. Not even Carl Lewis or Jesse Owens could do that.No one could blame him for the hot-dogging dances after such a performance.All from a man that was a virtual unknown outside his Caribbean island nation ahead of this season.He had coasted to a world record of 9.69 in the 100 on Saturday but had promised to keep on running this time, knowing Johnson's record was one of the most exalted in the sport.But nothing is beyond this dangly carefree Jamaican despite an Olympic diet of chicken nuggets.Less than an hour before his oversized performance, he was fooling and frolicking with his coach in the stadium tunnel, all grins and banter. While others pump themselves up with screams of encouragement, slapping their faces to get the adrenaline going, there is nothing like a joke for Bolt.Playing to crowd, he was smoothing his closely cropped pate, wiped those imaginary drops of tension from his brow before beating his yellow shirt again, and ready he was.It was unlike anything seen in the sport."He got an incredible start. I just went 'Wow,'" said Johnson, a man known for his calm composure. "It was a much more amazing start than he got in the 100 meters and then his turn was just absolutely fabulous."Starting in lane 4, he always had a good view of American rivals Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon in the outside lanes. Crawford was just inside the towering Jamaican. It was all irrelevant.With the 4x100 relays coming up over the weekend, the Jamaican could become the most successful track athlete of the games.In the battle for sprint supremacy it was Jamaica 3, United States 0. And the Jamaican women were ready to make it worse on Thursday in the 200.Defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart had the fastest times in qualifying for the final, ahead of their U.S. rivals Muna Lee and two-time world champion Allyson Felix.In the absence of injured hurdler Liu Xiang, China got an unexpected chance to cheer when Zhang Wenxiu won bronze in the hammer throw behind champion Aksana Miankova of Belarus and Yipsi Moreno of Cuba.Looking for a long-distance double, 10,000 champion Kenenisa Bekele easily advanced into Saturday's final of the 5,000, letting his U.S. rival Bernard Lagat take the third heat.Surprisingly, Bahrain's Rachid Ramzi, who won the 1,500, passed on his chance for a double and was a nonstarter in the race.With Liu injured, chief rival Dayron Robles continued his smooth way toward gold, clearing the hurdles with aplomb to qualify in 13.12 seconds. He was joined by U.S. rivals David Oliver and David Payne.With Bolt the undisputed hero, Lyudmila Blonska could well become track's villain of the games if a doping violation is confirmed Thursday.The International Olympic Committee said Wednesday that the heptathlon silver medalist, who finished second to Ukrainian teammate Nataliia Dobrynska on Saturday, was under investigation.If confirmed, Blonska would become a repeat offender and kicked out of the sport forever. The 30-year-old Ukrainian served a doping suspension for the steroid Stanozolol between 2003-05.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showsports.aspx?id=SPOEN20080062343&ch=8/20/2008 11:54:00 PM#

3 medals for India, at least bronze for Vijender

Boxer Vijender Singh ensured another medal for India at the Beijing Olympics when he outpunched Carlos Gongora of Ecuador in the quarterfinal of the 75kg category bout on Wednesday.With this victory, he is now assured of at least a bronze medal.The Bhiwani pugilist, one of India's best medal hopes, was ahead in all the four rounds and clinched the bout 9-4. The Ecuadorean had no answer to his rival's flurry of punches and trailed 1-4 in the second round.Vijender made the difference with his left-hand jabs and crucial uppercuts to which Carlos had no answer.With the score reading 7-2 in favour of Vijender after the penultimate round, the Ecuadorean needed to go all out in the fourth and final round. He did manage to close the gap but Vijender's evading tactics and excellent footwork won him the bout.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showsports.aspx?id=SPOEN20080062328&ch=8/20/2008%207:17:00%20PM#

Ronaldo commits to Manchester United

August 07, 2008 ,Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo said he will stay at Manchester United next season and is not about to join Real Madrid, Portuguese media reported on Wednesday.
"[United manager Alex] Ferguson heard my arguments and I heard his and between the two of us we decided that the best thing for both parties was that I should stay at Manchester United next season," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Portugal's LUSA news agency.
LUSA said the quotes are from an interview with the player due to be published in Portuguese daily Publico on Thursday.
The comments were welcomed by United, who said "Ronaldo remains a Red" and "Cristiano Ronaldo is going nowhere" on their website, adding Ferguson's delighted reaction.
"We always knew this was the case," Ferguson told MUTV. "He's very happy here -- he's always been happy here.
"He's never had a complaint about Manchester United. He's always been treated properly and I have a great relationship with the boy, as do all the players.
"I think we can put this to bed now. It's finished. The boy's a United player and that's what's important."
Ronaldo, who is currently recovering from ankle surgery, added that he wants to quash any speculation that he would be staying at United against his will.
"Before any rumours emerge that I'm unhappy to stay at United I want to make one thing clear and that is that anyone who says that is lying," he was quoted as saying.
BODY AND SOUL
"I will give my body and soul to Manchester United. I will be fighting to honour this shirt with the determination and dedication I have always shown."
The 23-year-old, who won a Premier League and Champions League double last season with United, blamed himself rather than Real Madrid for the speculation over his future.
"I want to make it clear that I was the one responsible for this controversy. The directors of Real Madrid are not to blame because it was me who publicly voiced my willingness to sign for Real. I also ended up involuntarily being the reason for the conflict between the two clubs."
Ronaldo, who last year signed a five-year contract with the champions, said he had been interested in the move.
"I knew Real Madrid were interested and had allegedly made a high offer to United," he said. "For a while my intention was that United should accept to transfer me to Real and to say anything else would be to deceive people and my own conscience."
Ferguson was sympathetic to Ronaldo's response to the interest from Real.
"The fans have got to understand it's very hard when a young boy's tempted by all this money," said the Scot.
"He's a young lad from Madeira and his father died a young man. Cristiano now looks after his mother, sister and his brother, so I can understand that [money may have been tempting]."
Real president Ramon Calderon hinted on Tuesday that the long-running saga had come to an end.
Calderon said the Primera Liga club's new Dutch signing Rafael van der Vaart was "the first and almost certainly the last signing we will make this season".
The saga had been partly fuelled by comments from Ronaldo, who said during Euro 2008 [Images]: "The possibilities [of going to Real] are big but it doesn't depend on me.
A hugely valuable player for United, Ronaldo scored 42 goals last season and was named England's [Images] Footballer of the Year for a second successive time.
Publico said on its website that Ronaldo had decided to stay at United and that the full interview would be published on Thursday but did not give any direct quotes.

Source: www.rediff.com

Ishant rested for Sri Lanka ODIs

Ishant Sharma has been rested for the five one-dayers against Sri Lanka to keep him fresh and fit for the Champions Trophy and the tests against Australia in October. Munaf Patel has been named as his replacement but will be replaced by Ishant Sharma for the Champions Trophy.Mahendra Singh Dhoni will return to the squad but Parthiv Patel has been included the 16-man contingent. Parthiv Patel, however will be left out of the 15-man Champions Trophy squad.Yusuf Pathan along with Robin Uthappa have been overlooked as Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh make their way into the squad.Sreesanth is still nursing his injury and was not considerd while U-19 captain Virat Kohli was the surprise inclusion.

India team for Sri Lanka ODIs: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Yuvraj Singh (VC), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh and Munaf Patel.

Champions Trophy squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Yuvraj Singh (VC), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh

Smith joins calls for Twenty20 to be in Olympics

South Africa captain Graeme Smith became Wednesday the latest leading cricketer to say he was in favour of Twenty20 cricket becoming an Olympic sport. Opening batsman Smith, asked his view at a press conference ahead of the fourth Test against England at the Oval, backed the call of former Australian star Adam Gilchrist for the 20-overs game to be part of the Games from 2020. "From a player's perspective it would obviously be a fantastic thing to be part of an Olympic Games," said Smith. "We've always just watched from the side and seen how special the event is. "Twenty20 offers the opportunity (for cricket) to become an Olympic event. It's not only going to grow the game around the world but it will be nice for us as players to be part of a special event." Smith's comments followed those of Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, who said: "I myself would like to play cricket in the Olympics and join the mega event of the sports world." Sri Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara was equally enthusiastic. "The Olympic Games would provide the perfect platform to showcase the game to a larger audience, drawing in new fans and helping drive cricket development in emerging cricket countries," he said. "From a player's perspective, the privilege of competing at an Olympics would undoubtedly be a highlight of your career." Other players who have publicly supported Gilchrist's stance include former international captains Stephen Waugh (Australia), Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) and India's Sourav Ganguly. Cricket was part of the Olympics just once, in 1900, but last year it was recognised as an Olympic sport -- the first step towards full admission to the Games.

source: www.circbuzz.com

Captaincy won't change my style: Pietersen

New England captain Kevin Pietersen said Monday that he wanted to take his "instinct" approach as a batsman into his new role as leader of the team. Pietersen, 28, was announced as England's Test and one-day captain, starting with the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Oval from Thursday. He said he did not believe the captaincy would affect the way he played. "Time will tell. I hope it won't. It's a way I've been successful with so far in my career and something I want to try and keep at a real high level." Asked what style he would bring to the captaincy, Pietersen said: "The way I play is very gut instinct orientated and I like to do things spontaneously. I like to do what I feel is right in a situation. "I think over the years I've played cricket I've gained a good cricket brain. My gut instinct when I've been batting for England has assisted me tremendously. It's a brand new challenge for me and I love challenges." He said he would captain England "with a smile on my face". Pietersen paid tribute to Michael Vaughan, who resigned Sunday, and said he had "huge boots to try and fill. Michael was a great leader and a great friend." He believed that Vaughan remained a great batsman and that after he had taken some time off he would go back to county cricket for Yorkshire and win back a place in the England team. He said the invitation to captain England had turned his life around. He said he accepted the job after speaking to his wife Jessica and his parents in South Africa. "You could see how emotional Michael was when he spoke about his family and it's an emotional decision," said Pietersen, who said he had a good meeting with coach Peter Moores on Sunday. "He likes to challenge us on a daily basis. There are a lot of strong characters in the dressing room and a lot of opinionated people. I sat down with Peter and we had a real good discussion about how we want to take this team forward. I think my position from a player to a captain is totally different and we need to unite and to get on the same hymn sheet." He said he would lean on people like Vaughan. "I will always respect what happened in the past and I will always ask for advice. I'm fresh into this and I will need some help. One of the most exciting things is that I have had text messages and phone calls from senior members in the squad who have said they are right behind me." Chairman of selectors Geoff Miller confirmed that uniting the Test and one-day captaincy was something he had wanted to achieve. Paul Collingwood resigned from the one-day captaincy Sunday. Miller announced only one change in England's 13-man squad for the final Test against South Africa, with batsman Ravi Bopara replacing Vaughan, which he said was a sign that there was no panic from the selectors with England trailing the four-match series 2-0. He said the selectors had not contemplated a change of captaincy before Vaughan's resignation. Nottinghamshire batsman Samit Patel is the only uncapped player in a 15-man squad for a Twenty20 international and five one-day internationals against South Africa. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior has been recalled. Pietersen was quoted recently as expressing doubts about travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next month. He has also been linked with the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition. Asked how the captaincy would affect his participation, he said: "I haven't even thought that far ahead. My concern this week is about how we can salvage pride from this series." Pietersen was born and raised in South Africa and played for the Natal provincial team as an off-spin bowler and hard-hitting lower order batsman. Disenchanted with South Africa's racial quota system he joined Nottinghamshire in 2001, where he quickly established himself as a top order batsman. Entitled to a British passport through his English-born mother, he qualified for England in September 2004 and was almost immediately picked for England's one-day side for a series in Zimbabwe. He made such an impact there that he was drafted into the squad for a one-day series in South Africa and despite being jeered by the local crowds he made three centuries in seven matches to announce himself as a player of quality and big-match temperament. He made his Test debut against Australia in 2005 and played a major role in England's winning of the Ashes, notably with his innings of 158 in the final Test at the Oval. Despite being criticised for sometimes being too aggressive and impetuous he has hit 13 centuries in his 42 Test matches and has an average of 50.36, placing himself in the top bracket of international players. Pietersen holed out to long-on when he was on 94 in the third Test at Edgbaston last week. Asked whether he might have played differently if he had been captain, he said: "Hopefully I am going to bat exactly the same way. The way Colly (Paul Collingwood) and I played is exactly the way you need to play against South Africa and against Australia. You have to be positive and aggressive." England squads: Fourth Test against South Africa: Kevin Pietersen (captain), Tim Ambrose, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss. Twenty20 international and one-day series: Pietersen (captain), Anderson, Bell, Bopara, Broad, Collingwood, Cook, Flintoff, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.

Source: www.circbuzz.com

Dhoni to be conferred Khel Ratna

India's one-day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday chosen for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the country's highest honour for a sportsperson. An expert committee, chaired by Milkha Singh met on Monday to discuss the nominees and decided to confer the award on Dhoni for leading India to the Twenty20 World Cup triumph. It makes him only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to get the honour. Sources in the Sports Ministry, however, informed that an official announcement will follow only after August 20. The Board of Control for Cricket in India's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty hailed the decision. "On two occasions we felt let down, when Rahul Dravid [Images] didn't get Khel Ratna and Yuvraj (Singh) was denied the Arjuna. "Dravid was in good form, we had won 16 ODIs on the trot and the team was on a high -- still he did not get the award. "Yuvraj too was unlucky not to get Arjuna after two years of consistent performance. We are happy Dhoni got it," he told Times Now channel. Shetty said what impressed him most about Dhoni was the way he conducted himself. "What I like most about 'Mahi', apart from his cricket, is the way he leads. He is a cool customer and never gets agitated. I'm also impressed by his clarity of thought. He speaks his mind even if it may not be seen in the right sense," he added.

Source: www.circbuzz.com

Kumble hails 'resilient' Team India for super show

Galle, Aug 3 (PTI) Having bounced back in the Test series through an all-round performance, Indian skipper Anil Kumble today said he never doubted the 'resilience ' of his teammates and asserted that his team had prepared well for the series.Indian today mauled Sri Lanka by 170-runs in the second Test to square the series 1-1, having lost the first Test in Colombo."The way we have come back after four days it is really amazing and I am really proud of the fact that we have this group of players who have shown so much of resilience. Not just once but time and time again. So there is quality. So there is absolutely no doubt," Kumble said at the post-match press conference."We have done that in the past and this team has been through ups and downs. It (team) has fair amount of experience and quality. So there is absolutely no doubt that we will regroup and come back hard and I am really proud the way we played in this test match." Kumble was extremely happy with his opening pairway India's spin-pace attack responded to the SOS call."The opening partnership in both innings (was crucial). Veeru getting 200 in the first innings and Gautam getting us off to a fantastic start in both the innings was very important. The way Harbhajan bowled in both the innings, the way Ishant and Zaheer bowled in the second innings was really amazing." PTI

Mahela Jayawardene and Sri Lanka expect India response

The hosts outplayed India in the opening match of the three-Test series in Colombo, winning by an innings and 239 runs on Saturday.
"I am sure they are very disappointed after the first Test, but we know how good they are. They will definitely come very strong at us and we have to be prepared for that," Jayawardene said.
Sri Lanka owed their victory last week to spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who shared 19 wickets to spark India's two collapses. Mendis was a revelation as he took eight wickets on his debut Test to provide valuable support to Muralitharan, the world's leading wicket-taker with 746 victims in 121 Tests.
Kenya are to be reported to the International Cricket Coucnil for abuse of the umpires in their final warm-up match before this weekend's World Twenty20 qualifying tournament in Belfast this weekend. The African side will compete with Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Holland and Bermuda.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/srilanka/2476745/Mahela-Jayawardene-and-Sri-Lanka-expect-India-response----cricket.html

AFC Challenge Cup’08- Team Profile: India

The History India is most frequently associated with the sport of cricket but any expedition into the nation would reveal that football is rapidly encrypting itself into the people’s DNA. Not that football is something new for the Indians. India qualified (by default, after their opponents withdrew) for the 1950 World Cup but since the players did not wear football boots, they were not allowed to participate in the competition by FIFA. Although India have since then never come even remotely close to qualifying for the football World Cup, they have established themselves as one of the giants in South Asian football. India finished in an enviable fourth pace at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and won the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games. That was the golden period in Indian football as the national team reached the semi-finals of the next two Asian games. India also finished runners-up in the Asian Cup in 1964. The nation then agonizingly went through a barren patch but the nation managed to rise to the surface in the 1990s. India won the South Asian Football Federation Cup in 1993, 1997 and 1999 and then again in 2005 and finished runners-up in 1995 and 2008. India won the Nehru Cup in 2007 and reached the quarter-finals in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006. India also won the LG Cup in Vietnam in 2002 under Stephen Constantine. The Indian national football team is affectionately termed as the Bhangra Boys. The squad is also known as the Wonder Boys and in recent times have come to be acknowledged as the Men In Blue(because of the blue colour of their shirt). At the moment India are ranked 153 in the world. The Squad Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Subhashish Chowdhary, Arindam Bhattacharya. Defenders: Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal, Anwar Ali, Gouramangi Singh, Syed Nabi, Sameer Naik Midfielders: N P Pradeep, Climax Lawrence, Renedy Singh, Clifford Miranda, Krishnan Ajayan, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Bungo Singh, Steven Dias Strikers: Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Abhishek Yadav, Tarif Ahmed, Sushil Kumar Singh Key Players Subrata Pal: India boast of one of the most capable goalkeepers in the AFC Challenge Cup’08 in Subrata Pal. He is currently the number one both for India and for his club Kingfisher East Bengal. Pal is known for his sharp reflexes and aggression and was one of the best players at the Nehru Cup 2007. Deepak Kumar Mondal: Deepak Mondal is a rock in the defence for India and is one of the best in the nation. The Mohun Bagan defender is expected to be at his best for India in the competition. Mahesh Gawli: Mahesh Gawli plays as a defender and the Dempo star has to remain strong as ever in front of the Indian citadel for his team to progress far in the competition. Climax Lawrence: Dempo midfielder Climax Lawrence is one of the best medios for India and shall be in starting line-up. He is a very responsible player who can be intelligently effective. Naduparampil Pappachen Pradeep: NP Pradeep is just 25 years of age but has already established himself in the starting line-up for India. He is a talented and skillful midfielder who has performing consistently for India since his debut for the national side in 2004. Mehrajuddin Wadoo: Mehrajuddin Wadoo is a Kashmiri footballer who has developed to be one of the best in the country. He is a versatile player who can play as a defender, a striker or a midfielder but he is usually deployed as an attacking midfielder both for East Bengal and for India. P.Renedy Singh: Renedy Singh is a veteran midfielder and is a much respected and loved figure in the Indian football scenario. He plays for JCT at the moment and shall be a threat for any team from the left side of the Indian midfield. Sunil Chhetri: Sunil Chetri is the darling of several Indian football followers and has been the find of Indian footballer in the last few years. The AIFF Player of the Year 2007 striker is known for his ball control, dribbling, shooting and work ethic and has been playing for India since 2004. He has already gelled in previous international competitions for India and the AFC Challenge Cup’08 could be one more tournament in which he exhibits his skills. Abhishek Yadav: Abhishek Yadav is also going to be an important part of the India set-up for the AFC Challenge Cup. The Mumbai FC striker is the tallest Indian footballer and is expected to be a star of the tournament. Tarif Ahmed: Tarif Ahmed is a recent call-up to the Indian national football team and scored in all the friendly matches that India played in Portugal recently. He is an upcoming talent that could come in handy in the competition. Baichung Bhutia: Baiching Bhutia is acknowledged as one of the best players in India and is lauded for bring Indian football onto the international arena. The Mohun Bagan striker is the current Indian national team captain and has been playing for the country since 1997. He has featured in 55 matches and has scored 21 goals and is the nation’s most capped player as well as the highest goalscorer. India’s hopes of winning the AFC Challenge Cup’08 very much rests on his shoulders. The Coach The Indian national football team is coached by Robert Douglas Houghton. He is popularly known in India as Bob Houghton and hails from England. Bob Houghton had a pretty much decent playing career as he featured for Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion and even managed Hastings United in the Southern League when he was just 21 years of age and was still playing for the club. He then managed Maidstone United and was assistant to (sir) Bobby Robson at Ipswich Town. After coaching several club sides outside England, including Malmo, At-Ittihad and FC Zurich, and the Chinese and Uzbekistan national football team, Bob Houghton landed in India in June 2006 and was an instant hit. Bob Houghton mingled with the Indian national footballers very well and slowly but steadily seeped in the foreign ideas of coaching into the Indian scenario. He guided India to Nehru Cup triumph in August 2007 but suffered a slight disappointment when India lost to Maldives in the final of the SAFF Cup in 2008. Bob Houghton is well respected within the Indian football community and the players like him very much, insisting that Houghton is someone who understands the players very well and treats them in likewise manner too. Recent Form India lost the final of the SAFF Cup 2008 in June to Maldives 1-0 in what was quite a disappointment for a nation that is considered as a heavyweight in South Asian football. The Indian national squad then traveled to Portugal for three friendly matches with local clubs and won all those matches. They beat Gouvela Select 2-0 with goals from Climax Lawrence and Tarif Ahmed. In their next match in Portugal, India beat GD Gafanha 3-2 at Estadio da Gafanha, thanks to goals from Bengo Singh, Sunil Chetri and Tarif Ahmed. India ended their Portugal adventure on a high by thrashing Gouveia Xi 4-0 with goals from Abhishek Yadav, Sunil Chetri and Tarif Ahmed. India lifted the first Gouveia Cup instituted by Mayor Alvaro Amaro. India then played a warm-up match for the AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad against Malaysia. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Subhankar Mondal Goal.com

Cricket: Sri Lanka captain backs review trial

COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has backed a new experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions, saying it has succeeded in cutting down mistakes.

Sri Lanka benefitted four times under the rule during the opening Test against India here before winning by a record innings and 239 runs on Saturday to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The rule, on trial in the ongoing series, allows a batsman or fielding captain to request a review of any decision by referring it to the third official monitoring television replays.
"I am all for it, not because most of the referrals went our way but because we managed to rectify obvious mistakes," Jayawardene said after the match.

Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan was the first beneficiary. He was on one when initially given out caught by umpire Mark Benson of England on Thursday, but asked the official to review the decision.

Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision. Dilshan went on to score 125 not out.

Indian batsmen Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were initially given not out by on-field officials, who changed their decisions after consulting the TV umpire.
"We need not think negatively about it. If it was not there, we probably would have had four bad decisions go against us in this match," said the Sri Lankan skipper.

"The decisions of both Tendulkar and Dravid were tough for the umpires, especially when you have (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Ajantha) Mendis going at the batsmen on these kinds of tracks."

Off-spin maverick Muralitharan was named man of the match for grabbing 11 wickets, while debutant spinner Mendis took eight wickets.

"It is very good. No team can complain that they lost because of bad decisions," said Muralitharan, the world's leading wicket-taker with 746 scalps in 121 Tests.
Defeated India captain Anil Kumble said it was too early to comment on the rule.
"A couple of calls were negated, but I think it is something that we will have to take forward. It is a bit too early to comment," he said.

A top International Cricket Council (ICC) official recently said here he did not believe the rule would undermine the on-field umpires' authority as their word was still "final".
"It is an extension of the appeal. It doesn't undermine their roles. Their skill as umpires is still paramount. They have to make the decision (after consulting the TV umpire)," said ICC general manager Dave Richardson.

"I am confident it will work quite well. We must not forget what the real objective of this process is -- and that is to avoid obvious and clear mistakes."
Each team is allowed three unsuccessful review requests per innings but if one is successful they will get an additional appeal.

The rule applies for all dismissals except "timed out" when an incoming batsman is out if he takes too long to arrive at the crease after the fall of the previous wicket.
The second Test starts in Galle on Thursday. source:http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hH_8K1Wh4BcP9ZW7RdQBehU6mMVg

T20 Champions League put off: Modi

Cricket's multi-million dollar Twenty20 Champions League has been postponed, an Indian official said on Friday, amid reports of wrangling over terms and conditions. The inaugural football-style League, featuring the top two Twenty20 domestic sides from England, Australia, South Africa, India and possibly Pakistan, was to be held across India between September 30 and October 8. Indian cricket official Lalit Modi, who organised the hugely successful Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition earlier this year, said the Champions League would be held at a later date. "There is no plan to shelve the tournament but the dates will be finalised after the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September," Modi was quoted as saying in the local media. Modi declined to elaborate, but media reports blamed the delay on disagreements between the participating nations over eligibility, timing and financial terms. The 10-million dollar event was to take place in the short 11-day gap between the Champions Trophy final in Pakistan on September 28 and the first Test between Australia and India in Bangalore from October 9. Cricket Australia, tasked with finalising the playing conditions of the Champions League, was reportedly unhappy that the dates clashed with Australia's only warm-up match on the Indian tour before the first Test. India's demand for a 50 percent financial stake in the League was also opposed by other nations, reports said. India also insisted that English counties that fielded players signed up with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League would not be allowed to take part in the Champions League. The Indian board does not recognise the ICL, which was started last year by Zee Telefilms, India's leading listed media house, under the chairmanship of former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev. At least two of the four English counties due to play in the semi-finals of the domestic Twenty20 Cup on Saturday feature ICL players. England has said it cannot bar ICL players, fearing legal action over restraint of trade.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/5063/-t20-champions-league-put-off:-modi/

Australian players urged to pullout of Champions Trophy

Australia's cricketers should pull out of September's Champions Trophy in Pakistan despite a decision to go ahead with the tournament, the players' association said Friday. The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said the security risks of travelling to troubled Pakistan were too great, and it would advise its cricketers against playing in the biennial event. The International Cricket Council decided Thursday to keep the Champions Trophy in Pakistan but said it will appoint a commission to ensure security. The ICC's executive board held a teleconference to discuss the possibility of moving the premier tournament because of security fears raised by Australia, England and New Zealand. But the ACA said despite the ICC's measures, it will maintain its recommendation to Australia's cricketers not to play in Pakistan. "The ACA continues to have serious concerns with our players touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and we are disappointed with the ICC's decision," ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said in a statement. "We are seeking clarity on the purpose and role of the proposed task force, so we are unable to comment on it at this stage. "Based on the independent information and advice received, we maintain that the risks are simply too great for the ACA to recommend that our players tour Pakistan at this time. "We would expect Cricket Australia to adopt the same position," he said. The year's biggest one-day tournament, featuring the top eight one-day nations, is due to be held in Pakistan from September 11 to 28, with Australia as the defending champions. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat sought to allay fears players might pull out of the event, saying the council would do all in its power to ensure their safety. But Marsh said the ICC's decision was not a good outcome for cricket. "If it (the tournament) continues in Pakistan at this volatile time, unfortunately many of the world's best players won't participate, which is not a good outcome for cricket," he said. Cricket Australia, which makes the final decision on whether to take part in the tournament, was expected to make a statement later Friday. Australia postponed a full tour of Pakistan in March-April this year due to the security situation. However, they agreed to reschedule the tour in two visits -- one-dayers in 2009 and Tests in 2010. Pakistan is fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in its northwestern tribal regions bordering Afghanistan and has suffered a string of deadly suicide bomb attacks in the last year which have killed more than 1,000 people.

source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/5061/-australian-players-urged-to-pullout/

Ton-up Dilshan prolongs India's agony

COLOMBO — Tillakaratne Dilshan completed a century as Sri Lanka posted a massive 552-6 in their first innings at lunch on the third day of the opening Test against India here on Friday.
The middle-order batsman (102 not out) reached his fifth Test hundred in the last over before the break when he swung off-spinner Harbhajan Singh over mid-wicket for a four. Chaminda Vaas was unbeaten on one.
Dilshan became the fourth Sri Lankan to crack a century after skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Malinda Warnapura and Thilan Samaraweera. The hosts added 130 to their overnight total of 422-4.
It was an ordeal in the field for India for the second successive day as the tourists continued to struggle for wickets on a flat track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
India got their first wicket when Samaraweera (127) cut left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan straight to Venkatsai Laxman at gully. The batsman added 16 to his overnight score of 111, hitting 18 fours in his 224-ball knock.
Dilshan made the most of the reprieve he earned on Thursday under a new experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions.
He was on one when given out caught behind off Zaheer by umpire Mark Benson of England, but asked the official to review the decision.
Benson consulted TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa before changing his decision as the ball had not made contact with the bat.
Dilshan gathered runs comfortably against a tiring Indian attack, playing attractive shots during his 146-ball knock containing one six and 10 fours.
He struck the first six of the morning, swinging leg-spinner Anil Kumble over deep square-leg and then driving the next ball through the covers for a four. He added 91 for the sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene (30).
None of the Indian bowlers has so far looked impressive against the Sri Lankan batsmen. Pacemen Ishant Sharma and Zaheer, and spinners Harbhajan and Kumble each has conceded more than 100 runs.
Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHJu5MwCPL66RbEkNL2eoYFtFWxw

ECB leave England in 50-over mire

By Scyld Berry
Last Updated: 12:23am BST 20/07/2008

Successful England teams: this is the objective of our governing body, the England and Wales Cricket Board. They used to want England to be No 1 in Test and one-day cricket by 2007, then by 2009; but those honourable intentions have been revised downwards to plain 'successful'. Still, that is no reason why England followers should be forced to accept second best. Or rather fifth best, which is what England were at the last World Cup.

Not since 1992, indeed, have England been one of the top four countries at a World Cup. Successful? A team who aren't an international embarrassment at 50-over cricket would be a start, and there is still no sign of that, England having been whopped 3-1 by New Zealand home and away.

Last week, when the ECB decided on a new domestic structure, the county chairmen last week had the opportunity to do something about the abysmal state of 50-over cricket in England - and did absolutely nothing. England are the only one of the eight major cricket-playing countries never to have won a global tournament (the World Cup or Champions Trophy) and the ECB, by their actions, are manifestly happy for it to stay that way. They want to line their pockets with two 20-over competitions. A successful England team at 50-over cricket? Empty words.

The first-class counties are free to play 20-over cricket until hell freezes over, and then to play 20-over cricket on the ice - provided they pay their own way. But they don't: even if/when new money pours in to the English Premier League, the counties will still rely for half their revenue on the £30?million generated by the England team. Yet the county chairmen call the tune.

A conscientious government would haul up the governing body of an under-performing sport who react to four World Cup embarrassments in a row by maintaining the status quo. It's no use arguing that 50-over is going to be wiped out by Twenty20. India will play 50-over internationals as long as there are a hundred advertisement breaks in every game.

England will play seven one-dayers in India in November, and you can already hear the breast-beating that will take place when England are overwhelmed, but now is the time to do something about it. World Cups until 2015 are integral to the International Cricket Council's broadcasting deal; and the 2019 tournament has been promised to England, so the ECB aren't going to look that gift horse in the mouth.

If the ECB staged a domestic 50-over competition in July and August, with time for the players to practise, England might have a chance of winning a World Cup. As it is, they don't.
Exploiting the 20 overs of powerplay is essential to a 'successful' 50-over team. But how can that be done on early-season pitches when survival has to be the aim, not power?

Match-winning spin is another essential if a World Cup is to be won, especially the next one in Asia. In this year's Friends Provident Trophy only two spinners have taken four wickets in an innings: both modest off-spinners born several thousand miles from Britain, Gareth Breese and Greg Lamb.

Was complacency the correct response last week? Or a 50-over competition played in high season on hard pitches, in place of the second 20-over competition, which could have unforeseen consequences. Younger players could get into bad habits by playing so much 20-over cricket. Spectators, too, could get hacked off.

The county chairmen have not done what is in the best interests of English cricket. The ECB should change their wording to read: "successful England teams - except in one-day internationals". By their fruit we shall know them - and it is fruit which has been designed, by self-interest, never to ripen. source: telegraph.co.uk

Mahilpur the 'football village' of Punjab

ANI

By Karan Kapoor
Mahilpur (Punjab), July 15 (ANI): Punjab has produced many football players of national fame. And village Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district's is known for its long association with the football.
The passion for football lives on in people even long after it was introduced in the village by Harbhajan Singh, a school principal, in 1920's.

The village boasts of producing great players of repute like Jarnail Singh, Gurdev Singh, Chaudhary Ram Kishan, and the tradition lives on in the young enthusiasts of today.
"There is a culture of football in this area. Every village has its own football ground, no other sport is given much priority be it cricket or any other game. Only football is given importance here," said Ali Jasna, Coach.

The village holds a number of annual tournaments and provides the players with an opportunity to showcase and hone their skills.
Love for the game comes naturally to the people of Mahilpur. For many, it is a family tradition passed on from generation to generation.

The young enthusiasts feel there is a lot of scope for football in India, with so many clubs opening up, which provide the players with an excellent opportunity to further their careers.
"There is good scope for football here which give good money to the players. If one pursues football with studies, it could be very beneficial," said Amandeep Singh, a budding Football Player.

There are now plans of setting up a football stadium in the village so as to provide the youth with better facilities.

The sport has become quite popular in the country and with the advent of international football clubs in India like JCT, there is a good scope for sports enthusiasts wanting to pursue football. (ANI)

Pakistan cricket needs the right balance

by Imran Farooqi

Pakistan cricket's unabashed flirt with controversies continues unabated as it enters a fresh season. The nation was still struggling to come to terms with Shoaib Akhtar's suspension from the game when Mohammad Asif, the former's pace partner, joined him on the sidelines. This time it is not some recurring injury -- as is usually the case with Pakistan's pace merchants -- but an action that has further dented the nation's falling image.Though Asif has been released by the UAE authorities as the 'charge' of keeping in possession a contraband substance has not been proved, everybody knows very well that it could only be Islamabad's excellent relationship with the Emirates' royalty that has made the release possible.The bowler did admit carrying the drug which he said was prescribed by a Hakeem for some ailment. Does he think people here in Pakistan and the world over are so naive that they would believe what he has to say? In an era where international players and athletes are updated regularly on drugs and the consequences of their potential use, he's behaving like an innocent kid who does not a bit about anything.Today all sportspersons -- no matter where they come from and what sport they play -- are well aware of substances they can't use. Asif is telling us that he did not know the drug he was carrying on his person was a banned one! Unfortunately, such an irresponsible sort of excuse could only have come from a Pakistan cricketer. These players who are supposed to act as role models and set standards for others are turning out to be plain villains with utter disregard for moral values.It is most regrettable that the Pakistan Cricket Board spends millions of rupees on getting its players fit for international assignments, but when it's time to deliver these so-called stars just fail and come up with reasons that fall well short of making sense. The PCB took all pains to ensure Shoaib Akhtar does have a fruitful and lasting career, but the latter -- through his reckless and ill-timed actions -- have always brought embarrassment to his supporters. As if this was not enough we have Asif following in his footsteps though the two might not be on talking terms with each other.In spite of having a number of good fast and slow bowlers Pakistan is not able to groom them properly mainly because of the uncertainty surrounding the careers of the country's premier pacers. Shoaib and Asif's absence does make a difference, but Pakistan has won without these two in recent past, and can do it again.It's time the PCB gets a clear message across to the players that any action that puts the nation's integrity in question is not at all acceptable. The sad thing is that players hailing from other countries know it by default, but here we have to teach such things. Talent-wise Pakistan and Australian players are almost equal, but what makes the latter stand out is their scientific approach to the game and the pride they take in representing their homeland.Unless every player knows is his responsibilities to his country it will be difficult to turn things around. To make this happen the PCB will have to take steps it's afraid to take. This includes making a final decision on Shoaib and Asif. Pakistan is currently playing without them and won't do worse in any case. It's time to swallow the bitter pill if the PCB keeps the country's image anywhere close to its heart.Already there are reports of differences between the captain and selectors. Although the two parties have denied these one thing is quite clear that the current side could not be termed a balanced one. The opening dilemma continues to dog Pakistan, and short of options the skipper has been forced to open the innings -- something he has done previously without encouraging results.Malik is a very good all-round player, but expecting him to open in limited-over games with success is asking for too much indeed. By doing this we are only compounding issues. He already has too much on his plate. Currently he's struggling to establish a competitive squad, and by adding the task of opening to his existing workload the team management is only making his job more difficult.Shahid Afridi's batting spot remains a riddle. He is bowling very well and his fielding abilities can't be questioned, yet his batting certainly is not upto the mark. He usually bats at No 6 and 7, and when he comes in either there is no time to settle and build the innings. Or, in the worst scenario, his side are already in deep trouble looking to him to repair the damage.In the first case he's supposed to walk in and throw his bat around straightaway to accumulate runs no matter how they come as long they come. In such a case anything can happen as it's not easy to score quick runs without taking a few risks. In the second he's supposed to stay at the crease and do some grafting work which is again not his forte and a more difficult task for he does not like to get bogged down.Though he may not be a sensible bet against the Aussies and Proteas because of their methodical approach to the game and also because these two sides do have plans to counter all sorts of threats from the opposing players, against teams like India, England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand Afridi will always have a better chance because once hit around their bowlers tend to lose way and that's where there can't be a better choice than Afridi.In short Pakistan needs to get its balance right. At the right time the right player must be used and that's what makes a coach and captain great. It's their ability to act quickly and act right that brings success. The Pakistan think-tank must sit down and come up with a plan that is flexible yet effective and where every player knows what role he's required to play. source: http://www.geosuper.tv/articles.asp?id=365

Pakistan cricket needs the right balance

by Imran Farooqi

Pakistan cricket's unabashed flirt with controversies continues unabated as it enters a fresh season. The nation was still struggling to come to terms with Shoaib Akhtar's suspension from the game when Mohammad Asif, the former's pace partner, joined him on the sidelines. This time it is not some recurring injury -- as is usually the case with Pakistan's pace merchants -- but an action that has further dented the nation's falling image.Though Asif has been released by the UAE authorities as the 'charge' of keeping in possession a contraband substance has not been proved, everybody knows very well that it could only be Islamabad's excellent relationship with the Emirates' royalty that has made the release possible.The bowler did admit carrying the drug which he said was prescribed by a Hakeem for some ailment. Does he think people here in Pakistan and the world over are so naive that they would believe what he has to say? In an era where international players and athletes are updated regularly on drugs and the consequences of their potential use, he's behaving like an innocent kid who does not a bit about anything.Today all sportspersons -- no matter where they come from and what sport they play -- are well aware of substances they can't use. Asif is telling us that he did not know the drug he was carrying on his person was a banned one! Unfortunately, such an irresponsible sort of excuse could only have come from a Pakistan cricketer. These players who are supposed to act as role models and set standards for others are turning out to be plain villains with utter disregard for moral values.It is most regrettable that the Pakistan Cricket Board spends millions of rupees on getting its players fit for international assignments, but when it's time to deliver these so-called stars just fail and come up with reasons that fall well short of making sense. The PCB took all pains to ensure Shoaib Akhtar does have a fruitful and lasting career, but the latter -- through his reckless and ill-timed actions -- have always brought embarrassment to his supporters. As if this was not enough we have Asif following in his footsteps though the two might not be on talking terms with each other.In spite of having a number of good fast and slow bowlers Pakistan is not able to groom them properly mainly because of the uncertainty surrounding the careers of the country's premier pacers. Shoaib and Asif's absence does make a difference, but Pakistan has won without these two in recent past, and can do it again.It's time the PCB gets a clear message across to the players that any action that puts the nation's integrity in question is not at all acceptable. The sad thing is that players hailing from other countries know it by default, but here we have to teach such things. Talent-wise Pakistan and Australian players are almost equal, but what makes the latter stand out is their scientific approach to the game and the pride they take in representing their homeland.Unless every player knows is his responsibilities to his country it will be difficult to turn things around. To make this happen the PCB will have to take steps it's afraid to take. This includes making a final decision on Shoaib and Asif. Pakistan is currently playing without them and won't do worse in any case. It's time to swallow the bitter pill if the PCB keeps the country's image anywhere close to its heart.Already there are reports of differences between the captain and selectors. Although the two parties have denied these one thing is quite clear that the current side could not be termed a balanced one. The opening dilemma continues to dog Pakistan, and short of options the skipper has been forced to open the innings -- something he has done previously without encouraging results.Malik is a very good all-round player, but expecting him to open in limited-over games with success is asking for too much indeed. By doing this we are only compounding issues. He already has too much on his plate. Currently he's struggling to establish a competitive squad, and by adding the task of opening to his existing workload the team management is only making his job more difficult.Shahid Afridi's batting spot remains a riddle. He is bowling very well and his fielding abilities can't be questioned, yet his batting certainly is not upto the mark. He usually bats at No 6 and 7, and when he comes in either there is no time to settle and build the innings. Or, in the worst scenario, his side are already in deep trouble looking to him to repair the damage.In the first case he's supposed to walk in and throw his bat around straightaway to accumulate runs no matter how they come as long they come. In such a case anything can happen as it's not easy to score quick runs without taking a few risks. In the second he's supposed to stay at the crease and do some grafting work which is again not his forte and a more difficult task for he does not like to get bogged down.Though he may not be a sensible bet against the Aussies and Proteas because of their methodical approach to the game and also because these two sides do have plans to counter all sorts of threats from the opposing players, against teams like India, England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand Afridi will always have a better chance because once hit around their bowlers tend to lose way and that's where there can't be a better choice than Afridi.In short Pakistan needs to get its balance right. At the right time the right player must be used and that's what makes a coach and captain great. It's their ability to act quickly and act right that brings success. The Pakistan think-tank must sit down and come up with a plan that is flexible yet effective and where every player knows what role he's required to play. source: http://www.geosuper.tv/articles.asp?id=365

Gambhir replaces Jaffer; Ojha edges out Chawla

Mumbai: Delhi opening batsman Gautam Gambhir made his way mack into the Indian Test squad, while Pragyan Ojha got the nod ahead of Piyush Chawla for the series in Sri Lanka.


The selectors named a 15-man squad here, which included Zaheer Khan, back from injury, and Harbhajan Singh, who will see action again after his rather inglorious IPL exit.


The squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Pragyaj Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel, RP Singh.

source: www.cricketnext.com