Morgan given England contract after recent success

STAFF WRITER 11:0 HRS IST

London, Mar 4 (AP) Batsman Eoin Morgan has been given a contract with the England national team after starring in recent limited-overs matches.

Morgan struck a match-winning 67 not out in last month's first Twenty20 against Pakistan and on Tuesday became the first man to hit a one-day century for two countries.

The former Ireland player struck 110 not out from 104 balls to steer England to a two-wicket win over Bangladesh and has now played enough games in 12 months to qualify for a so-called incremental contract.

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris says Morgan is "an established member of our one-day and T20 sides.

JCT beat Lajong to earn full points

JCT beat Lajong to earn full points

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 3: Poor run in I-League continued for Shillong Lajong FC as the side lost its home match against JCT by 0-1 in Shillong today. The all important goal of the match was scored by Emmanuel Okoro in the 75th minute of the match to give his side full points. It was just a bad day for Shillong Lajong FC as they dominated the entire first half and failed to convert as many as three open chances. While JCT too failed to utilize the two chances that fell in the their kitty. Lajong started the game on attacking note and came close to open the account through Rohmingthanga, but his 10th minute strike was just inches wide of the woodwork.

A good work from JCT’s custodian Karanjit Singh, who was later adjudged man of the match award, again denied Lajong to take the lead in the 17th minute. Gumpe Rime, Lajong custodian, too made a few similar saves in the first half. JCT scored the only goal in the 75th minute when unchecked Okoro headed in substitute Jaswinder Singh’s cross into the far post. THE SENTINEL

Pak cricketers pay tribute to victims of Lahore attack

Pak cricketers pay tribute to victims of Lahore attack

Lahore, March 3: Pakistan’s cricket community on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of last year’s terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team here. On the first anniversary of the deadly incident on Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced it would bear the expenses for the education of the children of the policemen who lost their lives while saving the Sri Lankan cricketers. “We pause to remember the victims, to grieve with the families and friends of those who died, and to honour the heroes of that day who sacrificed their lives to save others. Even though a year has passed, it has not erased the shock, horror and pain that we all felt on that day, ” Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said in a statement.

“We all remember where we were when we heard the news, and the disbelief that we felt at first, and then the sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. PCB will stand shoulder to shoulder with the families of victims to help them recover from the devastating loss that they have suffered.” A memorial ceremony was held at the site of the attack where a wreath was laid by PCB in honour of the victims. Seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach were injured and eight Pakistanis, mostly policemen, were killed when unidentified assailants opened fire and hurled grenades at the Sri Lankan team's bus on the way to Gadaffi Stadium here March 3, 2009. The attack came as a huge blow for Pakistan cricket with foreign teams refusing to tour the country. Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since that attack and chances are dim that it will be staging any events in the near future. Earlier in the morning, the law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, laid wreaths at the scene of the attack at Liberty Square. (IANS)

India open with a blast

India open with a blast

Hero Honda FIH World Cup • Sandeep Singh scores twice as the host outclass Pakistan 4-1

NEW DELHI, March 1: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh rose to the occasion and converted two penalty corners as hosts India outplayed Pakistan 4-1 in a thrilling Pool B match of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Sunday.

With this victory India had avenged their 3-6 Champions Challenge defeat at the hands of the sub-continental rivals in Salta, Argentina last December.

The victory not only gave India a 3-2 head-to-head record against Pakistan in the quadrennial event but also one lakh purse each to the players and support staff of the team.

Sandeep (35th minute, 57th), Shivendra Singh (27th) and Prabhjot Singh (37th) were the scorers for India, while Sohail Abbas (59th) scored Pakistan’s lone goal.

Both India and Pakistan earned five penalty corners each, out of which the home team converted two while their opponent found the net once.

The match was also of huge significance for India and Pakistan on diplomatic front as both the countries are meeting in the sporting arena in India for the first time after 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

Bopara will join team by Wednesday: Kings XI

Bopara will join team by Wednesday: Kings XI

NEW DELHI, March 1: Kings XI Punjab on Monday dismissed media reports that Ravi Bopara is doubtful for this year’s Indian Premier League and said the England batsman would join the team by Wednesday.

“Ravi Bopara is going to be in India no later than March 3 to play in the IPL as part of the Kings XI Punjab squad. All media reports on his non-participation are speculative,” the franchise said in a statement. “We have spoken to Bopara and he has confirmed his participation and is eagerly waiting to join in the hunt for the 2010 IPL trophy,” the statement said.Earlier, Bopara was quoted in the British media as saying that he has delayed his trip to India indefinitely because of security apprehensions. “Cricket is my living and in many way my life. But it is not worth dying for,” Bopara had said. (PTI)

More gold for Samaresh

More gold for Samaresh

New Delhi, Feb 26: Samaresh Jung shot down two more gold medals while Gagan Narang and Joydeep Karmakar combined to shatter a meet record as the Indians continued to rule the roost in the C’wealth Championships here today. (PTI)

PCB suspects two players of match-fixing

PCB suspects two players of match-fixing

Karachi, Feb 26: Pakistan Cricket Board today said it suspects two national team players of being involved in match-fixing in Australia even though it did not disclose their identity.

At a time when the local media is abuzz claiming wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is under the scanner for his conspicuously shoddy performance during the Australia tour, PCB chairman Ejaz Butt confirmed a couple of players are suspected of fixing matches.

“It would be foolish to say no match-fixing takes place,” Butt told a press conference in Lahore.

“But the fact is it is very difficult to prove this. So I am not going to take any names right now,” Butt said.

“We are waiting for a report from the inquiry committee we have set up to probe into the team’s poor performances in Australia,” he said.

“Once the inquiry committee gives its report I will comment further on this issue,” the PCB chief added.

PL-3 will be played in India: Lalit Modi

PL-3 will be played in India: Lalit Modi

LONDON, Feb 23: Indian Premier League will not move out of India despite security fears raised by the players’ associations of England, Australia and South Africa, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi insisted. Modi rejected any move to shift the IPL to another country after an independent report complied by ECB security advisor Reg Dickason claimed that safety of cricketers cannot be guaranteed during the cash-awash Twenty20 tournament. “We are going to have the tournament in India. I can't see any reason why we should move it at this point in time. The media is reacting to every fringe group saying security is a problem,” Modi told BBC Sport. Despite Modi’s assurances on security, Australian players have not yet committed their participation in the IPL-3 until the issues raised in the report are addressed.

Second One Day International against the Proteas at Gwalior

Second One Day International against the Proteas at Gwalior

Gwalior, Feb 23: After escaping with a narrow win in Jaipur, India would aim to plug their bowling loopholes and seal the three-match series to retain the number two spot in ICC rankings when they take on South Africa in the second ODI here tomorrow.

The Indian batsmen are in good nick but the worrying factor for the hosts is the bowling department as they leaked too many runs in the series opener and received an unexpected bashing at the hands of tail-enders Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell in Jaipur.

What looked like a one-sided contest in India’s favour at one stage became an edge-of-the-seat thriller as the host bowlers let go their grip over the match with their wayward line. India, though, managed to pull it off by just a run, the closest of victory margins.

Sehwag develops sore back

Sehwag develops sore back

Jaipur, Feb 22: Star opener Virender Sehwag has developed a sore back even though it is unlikely to affect his participation in the second cricket one-dayer against South Africa in Gwalior on Wednesday.

“Sehwag has a sore back and he underwent a scan yesterday. But it doesn’t look serious enough to render him unavailable for the Gwalior match,” a team official said.

Sehwag batted in last night’s humdinger against South Africa which India clinched by a wafer-thin one-run margin in the final delivery.

Gagan wins third gold, Jung breaks record

Gagan wins third gold, Jung breaks record

NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Gagan Narang added a third gold to his tally, while Samaresh Jung clinched his second as Indian shooters continued to reign supreme shattering three meet records at the Karni Singh range on the fifth day of the Commonwealth Championships here today.

India’s overall medal tally stood at 26 (13 gold, eight silver and five bronze), way ahead of second-placed England, which has won 15 medals so far — three gold, seven silver and five bronze. Australia occupied the third spot with 10 medals.

Smith gives full credit to India

Smith gives full credit to India

Kolkata, Feb 18: South African skipper Graeme Smith on Thursday gave full credit to India for the hosts’ performance on the final day of the second Test and took heart from the fact that very few foreign sides have managed to finish with a drawn series in India. After having won by an innings in the first Test at Nagpur, South Africa collapsed to a similar defeat at the Eden Gardens, to finish the series 1-1. “You must give credit to India for the way they performed today (Thursday). The fact that we could draw a series in India is a credit for our players,” Smith, who has been ruled out of the ODI series, told mediapersons. “If you see the recent records of the teams that have toured here, not many teams have been able to push India like we have done in these conditions. That’s the positive for us more than anything else,” he said. “We must give credit to (our) players who have come to India twice and have come so close. Lot of positives have come out of the two Tests. We have not lost a series here.” In 2007-08, India and South Africa finished a three-match series 1-1. Describing the series as ‘fantastic’, Smith said both teams enjoyed the intensity of the battles. However, he expressed disappointment at not having won the series this time. Praising the determination of the middle and the late order Thursday, as South Africa were fighting to save an innings defeat, he said: “Some guys just got stuck in and it worked for them and some didn’t. Hashim was brilliant and guys like Morne (Morkel) and Wayne (Parnell) stuck in there. (IANS)

India stay No. 1 Test team with emphatic victory at Eden

India stay No. 1 Test team with emphatic victory at Eden

Kolkata, Feb 18: India remains world’s top Test team after winning the second cricket Test against South Africa by an innings and 57 runs in a nail-biting finish to level the series 1-1 here on Thursday. The much-criticised off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed five wickets, including the last one to bowl India to a dramatic victory even as Hashim Amla (127) stood his ground defying the Indian attack for eight hours, while his colleagues deserted him one after another, to remain unbeaten with his second century of the Test and the third on the trot.

India, South Africa cricket teams leave for Jaipur ODI

STAFF WRITER 14:59 HRS IST

Kolkata, Feb 19 (PTI) India and South Africa cricket teams today left for Jaipur to play in the first of the three-ODI series scheduled to be held on February 21.

Few of the players who are not part of the ODI squad including South Africa captain Graeme Smith have already left, while the one-day cricketers took a chartered flight to Jaipur at 2.40 pm, local manager Samir Dasgupta said.

"Smith along with other South African players left last night," he said.

Among others Indians, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Gautam Gambhir also left yesterday while Murali Vijay left this morning.

Having injured his right knee, pace spearhead Zaheer could not bowl on the last day of second Test yesterday and had to pull out of the one-day series. Left-handed opener Gambhir is also ruled out because of a groin injury.

India calms terror fears over hockey World Cup

India calms terror fears over hockey World Cup

New Delhi, Feb 17: India on Wednesday allayed security apprehensions of New Zealand and Australian hockey teams maintaining that it was pulling out all stops for the forthcoming World Cup in the wake of terror threats issued to foreign teams during the 12-team quadrennial event. The renewed assurance comes after New Zealand’s hockey team, which earlier planned to continue with its trip to the February 28-March 13 Hockey World Cup in New Delhi despite an Al Qaeda threat against sports events in India, appeared to be having second thoughts on Wednesday.

The team is in Australia’s Perth city to play two practice matches Wednesday and Friday, and will then decide if it will travel to India as per schedule for the World Cup that begins February 28, the New Zealand Herald reported. As for the Australian team, its players say they ready to play, but Hockey Australia says it is awaiting the result of a new security assessment in view of the terror threat. Assuring security to sportspersons visiting India for the Hockey World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament that starts March 12, Home Minister P Chidambaram stressed that militants would not be allowed to dictate terms. “All security would be provided to players. No one would be allowed to dictate terms to us,” Chidambaram said at a press conference in Jammu after reviewing the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

We can wrap up the match in 50 overs, says Kirsten

We can wrap up the match in 50 overs, says Kirsten

Kolkata, Feb 17: Indian cricket coach Gary Kirsten believes his bowlers can wrap up the remaining seven South Africa wickets in another 50 overs on the last day of the second Test on Thursday to level the Test series. A major part of the fourth day was lost due to rain and more showers are forecast on the fifth and final day Thursday. South Africa, battling to save the Test, are 115/3 trailing by 232 runs on the first innings. Asked how many overs his team would need to bowl out South Africa, Kirsten said: “As many as we can get. Hopefully, we will need only forty or fifty but it’s very difficult as you know with the weather. We’ve played very good cricket right through the Test match. We are in a good position and we’d like to close it out, and we'll give it our best shot in the amount of time we have.”

Symonds, Chappell say India safe for foreign players

STAFF WRITER 15:34 HRS IST

Melbourne, Feb 18 (PTI) Greg Chappell and Andrew Symonds may have had bitter-sweet relationship with the Indian fans but the Australian duo today said cricketers should not have any safety concerns about playing in India.

At a time when terror threats and the recent blasts in Pune have the foreign cricketers apprehensive about playing in the third edition of the Indian Premier League, Symonds said he would turn up for the Deccan Chargers with no fear at all.

"I haven't heard a great deal as yet but India is one of those countries I've never felt intimidated, even when the crowd gets a bit uppity," said Symonds, who was taunted by the Indian fans during Australia's 2007 tour of the country.

Symonds said he felt safer in India than in South Africa where Deccan Chargers won IPL II last year.

India retain No. 1 rankings, assured of ICC prize money

STAFF WRITER 17:40 HRS IST

Dubai, Feb 18 (PTI) India today retained their number one status in Test cricket after the thrilling victory over South Africa in Kolkata, which also entitles them to USD 175,000 given to the team that tops the chart at the annual cut-off date.

With this victory, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men also ended Australia's seven-year run of finishing on top spot at the annual cut-off date.

Consequentially, India will retain the ICC Championships mace which they won after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the home series in December last year, besides pocketing the USD 175,000 prize money which is presented to the side that reaches the April 1 cut-off date in top spot.

India was in serious danger of losing its top spot after South Africa won the Nagpur Test last week and then bad weather yesterday allowed only 31 overs of play on the penultimate day of the second Test.

2nd Test: India beat SA to level series, retain No 1 spot

Tapan Mohanta

Kolkata, Feb 18 (PTI) India just about managed to thwart a stubborn resistance from South Africa's Hashim Amla and the tailenders to clinch a series-levelling innings and 57 runs victory in the final cricket Test to retain their status as the number one Test team here today.

The hosts, who needed to pick up the remaining seven wickets to draw the series 1-1, were made to wait till the very fag end of a dramatic fifth day's play for their moment of glory with Hashim Amla nearly carrying the proteas to safety with a defiant unbeaten 123.

Resuming at 115 for three after conceding a mammoth 347-run first innings lead, the South Africans were all out for 290 with just 15 minutes remaining on a nail-biting last day.

Paes returns in Davis Cup squad, Sanam replaces Yuki

STAFF WRITER 18:46 HRS IST

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Leander Paes made a return while Yuki Bhambri was left out of a five-member Indian squad picked today for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Russia in Moscow from March 5-7.

Sanam Singh was included in the squad announced by the selection committee of All India Tennis Association (AITA).

The three other players in the squad are Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman.

S P Misra will be the non-playing captain while Nandan Bal will be the coach.

India had beaten South Africa 4-1 in the play-off in Johannesburg in September last year to advance to the World Group for the first time since 1998.

The Squad: Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, Somdev Devvarman, Sanam Singh.

Team Captain: S P Misra

Coach: Nandan Bal.