Jyoti Randhawa wins Thailand Open

NEW DELHI: Scuba diving in Phi-Phi island was the ideal preparation for a composed Jyoti Randhawa as he crowned the season’s fine performances with a two-stroke triumph at the $500,000 Thailand Open on Sunday.

While SSP Chowrasia’s challenge fell apart as his swing got awry on the final day, and Wales’ Rhys Davies threatened, the resurgent Indian kept his nerves in the rain to capture his eight Asian Tour title. A flawless five-under 65 and a tournament total of 17-under 263 at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club earned him a cheque of $79,250 (approx Rs 41 lakh).

"I knew when I made the birdie on the 15th that I would win but I had to keep the emotions in check," an elated Randhawa told TOI from Phuket. "Experience teaches that you have to finish the job."

Last season, he was burdened by a lack of motivation for not playing up to expectations but now, that distinct swagger and the trademark late surges are back. While the adventurer has rediscovered the spirit - "I need to chill out a bit" - he has perhaps realised that the trick is not to tweak.

"Last year, I was struggling with swing changes. I tried to alter a lot of things that I didn’t need to. I am more of a body player and I tried to use my hands too much that created inconsistency. I want to play golf my way and that’s the best way of doing it," the 36-year-old elaborated.

A tied second finish at the Malaysian Masters and a tied 7th at the Indonesia Open ushered good tidings. "My form has been pretty good and I had this feeling that I would win but then, on the second day, I was tied thirty-something," he recounted.

But Randhawa charged into contention with a remarkable 62 on the penultimate day and pulled one stroke clear of the other overnight leaders, Chowrasia and Davies, after shooting three birdies in the opening five holes of the final round on Sunday. He sustained his intensity on the back nine with further birdies on the 12th and 15th.

"I thought I could shoot some low numbers and I finally did," added the 2002 Asian No. 1. After the Thai high, Randhawa returns to India in search of more glory on home soil at the SAIL Open starting on March 18 and then after a three-week break, it will be back to the European Tour.

Goals for the season? I'll take it as it comes, he reiterated his old-and-gold mantra. And right now, kayaking is on top of the agenda.

Excellent week for Indians:

The tournament proved to be eventful for Indians. Overnight joint leader SSP Chowrasia, who began the day’s proceedings with an eagle only to fade away with a one-under final-day score, finished tied fourth. But young guns Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai were tied 10th at 10-under while Anirban Lahiri was a stroke behind, tied 19th with a final day six-under 64.

It was a little too late for Indian-born Swede Daniel Chopra, who carded in a seven-under 63, to finish tied sixth while it was too early in the case of opening round leader Digvijay Singh, whose subsequent overpar rounds sunk him to the bottom of the barrel as he finished with a total of eight-over.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jyoti-Randhawa-wins-Thailand-Open/articleshow/4241299.cms

China sweep All England championships

BIRMINGHAM: China became the first nation ever to win all five titles in the open era at the All-England championships when Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng wr apped up the men's doubles 21-17, 21-15 against Korea's Han Sang Hoon and Hwang Ji Man.

China had won all five in a world championship before, but that was in Beijing back in 1987, and this, in European conditions, was a far tougher task. It was also the first clean sweep in the open or amateur eras since 1948.

The success which really made it possible was that of Wang Yihan, the young unseeded player from Shanghai, who beat Tine Rasmussen, the top-seeded titleholder from Denmark, 21-19, 21-23, 21-11, and became the first to win the women's singles at only the second attempt.

And the success which attracted the most attention was the repeat of the Olympic men's singles final, in which Lin Dan again beat Lee Chong Wei, the world number one from Malaysia, in straight games, though this was a closer match than the one at the Games.

The Chinese star beat the ambitious, hard-working Malaysian 21-19, 21-12 after beginning rather patchily, then grabbing his first important chance, and accelerating away impressively towards the end.

Asked how or why he won, Lin said: "It wasn't tactical or anything - we are both good players. It was more psychological. I was focused and calm.

"I think I played quite well. There were a couple of times in the first set where I didn't handle the situation the best I could and let him have an advantage. But I kept my form and managed to play well."

For a while in the first game Lin faltered unexpectedly. From leads of 8-2, 10-6, and 16-12 he began to make errors, not all of them forced, allowing Lee to nudge his way up to 19-17.

When he reached game point at 20-19, the rally was over in a flash, Lin serving accurately and following it up with a smash which got through immediately.

That increased the pressure on the Olympic silver medalist, who had been only too aware he had lost eight of their nine previous meetings.

And from 14-12 Lin went through to the finish in one magnificent run of seven points.

At the end, while shaking hands across the net, he pushed his face close to Lee's to show his comradeship, but when he really wanted to win Lin showed another side of himself -explosive, dynamic, and very professional.

Wang's win was victory for a good temperament, a good all-round game, and fresher, lighter movement.

"I didn't have any pressure," said Wang, who had looked relaxed most of the time except the end of the second game. "I just really tried to play what I know - and it's nice to be able to do it that way.

"We both played well in the first two games, but in the third I think I was physically stronger and fitter."

Rasmussen said: "I started playing again - after a heel injury - only three days before the tournament, so I am very satisfied with reaching the final. Of course when you get there you always want more.

"I could feel it wasn't going in the right direction, even when I was winning, because the matches were going on too long. But before the tournament I would have guessed I would fall over on the court."

Earlier He Hanbin and Yu Yang had won the mixed doubles, and Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting the women's doubles.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/China-sweep-All-England-championships/articleshow/4245149.cms

Pakistan can still co-host the 2011 World Cup: Butt

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt said on Sunday his country could host an international team in the next six to nine months and
will still co-host the 2011 World Cup.

Butt was speaking by telephone on BBC's Five Live Sportsweek programme about the militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore on Tuesday in which seven people were killed and six members of the Sri Lankan team injured.

"I would expect teams will tour here again as soon as possible. I would give it six to nine months to get things organised," he said.

"I would want us to get security to a level that would be a guarantee from my government that no such incident like this could happen again, or I will not invite anybody.

"Once I have this assurance I may then invite people to come in Pakistan. But this can happen anywhere. I cannot give that guarantee, but my government can. If they cannot then we will not have cricket in Pakistan at all. I definitely think that we will stage part of the World Cup in 2011."

Butt said he disagreed with match referee Chris Broad who said there had not been enough security to protect players and officials. Former England batsman Broad was travelling in the officials' bus behind the Sri Lanka team.

"I totally disagree with Chris Broad, he is overdoing it. And it is wrong if they (the International Cricket Council) are siding with one man's opinion. I have told them that this opinion is totally wrong," Butt said.

Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_will_still_co-host_the_WC_Butt__/articleshow/4241897.cms

PCB lodges complaint against Chris Broad

NEW DELHI: Let down by severe criticism on security lapses Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday logged an official complaint with ICC against its match referee Chris Broad who witnessed the ill fated terror attack on the Lankan team last week.

A furiated PCB official said, "Instead of public outcry he (Chris Broad) should have written to ICC."

"He has breeched the ICC Code of Conduct", the official added.

We have mentioned all the points in our complaint letter which was dispatched to the ICC headquarters on Monday afternoon said another PCB official.

Earlier, Pakistan cricket chief Ejaz Butt accused match official Chris Broad of lying about poor security during the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last week.

"That a gentleman of his stature is saying this is unfortunate," Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told a news conference.

Seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach were also wounded.

Broad, travelling behind in a bus whose driver was killed, had raised security concerns before the tour to Pakistan but said the protection he had been promised was not provided.

"There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere. They had clearly gone, left the scene and left us to be sitting ducks," he had said.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PCB_lodges_complaint_against_Chris_Broad/articleshow/4246300.cms

India beat New Zealand by 58 runs

CHRISTCHURCH: An unbeaten 163 by Sachin Tendulkar led India to a comprehensive 58-run win over New Zealand in the third One-Day International on Sunday and ensured they cannot lose the series.

Tendulkar, utilising his full array of textbook and improvised shots, was the stand-out figure as India scored 392 for four after being sent into bat first.

It was the highest international ODI score against New Zealand, but the Black Caps were on target to overhaul it when they reached 166 without loss before the middle order self-destructed and they were all out for 334.

The win, completed in 45.1 overs, gave India an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series with only two matches remaining. (Reuters Photo)

Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4241320.cms

India beat New Zealand by 58 runs

CHRISTCHURCH: An unbeaten 163 by Sachin Tendulkar led India to a comprehensive 58-run win over New Zealand in the third One-Day International on Sunday and ensured they cannot lose the series.

Tendulkar, utilising his full array of textbook and improvised shots, was the stand-out figure as India scored 392 for four after being sent into bat first.

It was the highest international ODI score against New Zealand, but the Black Caps were on target to overhaul it when they reached 166 without loss before the middle order self-destructed and they were all out for 334.

The win, completed in 45.1 overs, gave India an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the series with only two matches remaining. (Reuters Photo)

Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4241320.cms

Anand draws again against Grischuk

Linares (Spain), March 7: World champion Viswanathan Anand settled for a draw with Russian Alexander Grischuk in the 13th and penultimate round of Magistral Ciudad de Linares chess tournament here today.Anand will meet Carlsen in the last round and the only way he can finish tied first is if he wins and both Grischuk and Ivanchuk lose the final round game a highly unlikely scenario given the form of both the players.

Pressure will be more on New Zealand in third ODI

Christchurch, March 7: A confident India will look to continue their domination when they clash against New Zealand in the third cricket one-dayer here tomorrow, fully aware that the pressure will be more on the hosts who face a do-or-die battle.Leading 1-0, a win tomorrow will ensure that India will not lose the series and they can push for the series-victory in the last two matches with a more relaxed approach.But the two rain-marred matches at Napier and Wellington has not only upset the rhythm of the players to some extent, but has also put New Zealand in a tricky situation.

Harbhajan unperturbed by New Zealand tracks

Wellington, March 4: On a high after taking three wickets in four successive deliveries in the first cricket one-dayer against New Zealand, Indian offie Harbhajan said he was unperturbed by the fact that tracks here would not assist spinners.“I think it is all in the mind. Your role definitely changes on different sorts of wickets in different conditions. If they are not suiting you, then there is a bit of change in your role in the team,” Harbhajan told reporters here.The spinner explained that he had greater responsibility on turning tracks but on fast wickets his role changes to restricting runs and felt a performance like yesterday’s was a bonus.“When we play on spinning tracks, it is my responsibility to get all the wickets and do well for the team. As a specialist spinner my role is surely to take wickets here as well and win games.”

Saina Nehwal crashes out of All England Super Series

NEW DELHI: India's highest ranked shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Chetan Anand crashed out of the All England badminton tournament after suffering contrasting defeats in the first round of the Super series event in London on Wednesday.

World number 10 Saina played her heart out but could not get past Pi and lost 15-21 16-21 in the first round of the tournament.

Saina played better from the nets but was outdone by her rivals' smashes in the 34-minute gruelling battle.

Saina had 18 net winner against Pi's 17 but could fetch only seven smash points against PI's powerful 12 points.

The eighteen year-old Hyderabadi had to skip last month's national badminton championship owing to her shoulder injury and after a rigorous three-week healing process, returned to the court for the all-important tournament.

In contrast, Chetan started off well, pocketing the first game 21-6 but eventually as the match progressed he ran out of steam.

World number 13 Chetan played better from the nets and had better smash points then world number 21 Smith. Both had identical number of smash points, while Chetan grabbed 26 net points against Smith's 25.

Among other Indians in fray, Anand Pawar put up a brave fight before bowing out 20-22 15-21 against fifth seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in a battle that lasted for 36 minutes.

Indian women's double pair of Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian also could not get past Malaysian duo of Chiou Hwee Haw and Pek Siah Lim and went down 9-21 21-19 18-21 in a 41-minute clash.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Saina-crashes-out-of-All-England-Super-Series/articleshow/4225042.cms

Ronaldo returns to action after knee surgery

ITUMBIARA: Ronaldo made yet another comeback to competitive football by coming off the bench in the second half of Corinthians' Brazilian Cup match a gainst Itumbiara on Wednesday.

Ronaldo entered in the 68th minute and was loudly cheered by most of the 30,000 fans who packed Juscelino Kubitschek Stadium in central Brazil.

It was Ronaldo's first official match since undergoing surgery after a left knee injury sustained with AC Milan in February 2008.

The three-time world player of the year was surrounded by photographers and reporters from the moment he arrived at the stadium, and even on the sideline he struggled to avoid reporters.

He left the field without talking to the media after apparently being hit in the eye by a microphone.

"It was a good debut for Ronaldo," Corinthians coach Mano Menezes said. "He moved well and even tried some of the moves that are typical of him. It was a first step important to overcome and with time things should become easier."

Corinthians was already leading 2-0 when Ronaldo entered the match, which ended with Corinthians' victory behind goals from defenders Chicao and Andre Santos. The result allowed Corinthians to advance to the second round of the Brazilian Cup.

The 32-year-old Ronaldo touched the ball for the first time after less than a minute, and in the 74th he just barely failed to reach a ball crossed into the area.

He claimed being fouled while trying to get past two defenders in the 75th near the top of the area, but the referee said he dived.

Ronaldo was free from markers in a counterattack in the 77th, but teammate Douglas chose to take a shot on goal instead of passing to the striker, drawing jeers from the crowd.

He had one final chance in injury time, but again the referee called a foul on him when he tried to overcome a defender inside the area.

Ronaldo, who has scored a record 15 goals in World Cups, had been expected to debut on Sunday against Corinthians' archrival Palmeiras in the Sao Paulo state championship, but the striker's recent performances in practice led Menezes to bring forward the debut.

The coach said he hadn't yet decided if Ronaldo would play on Sunday.

"We will talk to him and see how he felt," Menezes said. Ronaldo had to come back from serious knee surgeries two other times in his career. In 1999, he tore up his right knee with Inter Milan and needed surgery, and a year later he twisted the same knee and was sidelined for several months after another surgery.

He recovered brilliantly, however, helping Brazil win its fifth World Cup in 2002 in South Korea and Japan. He was the tournament's top scorer with eight goals in seven matches - including two in the final against Germany.

Ronaldo hadn't played a match with a Brazilian club in Brazil since 1994, when he was still with Cruzeiro.

He transferred to PSV Eindhoven that same year, then eventually moved to Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan in 2007.

Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ronaldo-returns-to-action-after-knee-surgery-/articleshow/4226473.cms

Padma awards panel ignored Olympic heroes

NEW DELHI: Nominations of Olympic medal winners Sushil Kumar (wrestler) and Vijender Singh (boxing) were struck off by the Padma Awards Committee des pite having been recommended by the sports and home ministries.

In response to an RTI query, home ministry said it had received recommendation in favour of both the Olympians from ministry of youth affairs and sports on November 20, 2008, well before the cut-off date for accepting nominations.

"The nominations were placed before the Padma Awards Committee. These names were not recommended by Padma Awards Committee for 2009," ministry's CPIO S K Bhatnagar said in reply to an application filed by RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal.

Sushil and Vijender had won bronze medals in the Olympic Games held in Beijing. The ministry in its reply said 1,093 recommendations were placed before the Padma awards committee which selected 133 names for different categories — 10 Padma Vibhushan, 30 Padma Bhushan and 93 Padma Shri.

In fact, on at least two occasions earlier, the government has overruled the K R Narayanan committee — set up by the Supreme Court to frame guidelines on Padma awards to sportsmen. One of the guidelines said the government could not give Padma awards at any other time except for Republic Day. However, according to the home ministry, in March 1983 and June 1984 seven sportspersons were given these awards out of turn.

The awards committee is headed by the cabinet secretary and comprises home secretary, secretary to the President and principle secretary to the prime minister. Four non-official members this year were Kapila Vatsyayana, Tarun Das, Jyotindra Jain and R Chidambaram.

Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Padma-awards-panel-ignored-Olympic-heroes/articleshow/4226618.cms

TN stun Mumbai, Bengal oust Delhi

Agartala: Tamil Nadu stunned Ranji champions Mumbai, while Bengal riding on an unbeaten 96 by India discard Manoj Tiwary ousted Delhi to book their berths in the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy national one-dayers here on Wednesday.


Put to bat at the Polytechnic Institute Ground, Tamil Nadu had problems in the beginning as they lost opener Abhinav Mukund for a duck.


However, Junior Srikkanth, Anirudha came up with a defiant 67 and later skipper Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with a quickfire 46 as Tamil Nadu notched up a challenging 252 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs.


Aniruddha hit six fours and one six in his 88-ball knock, while Ashwin had two sixes and one boundary from 37 deliveries.


Mumbai left arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla bagged three for 43, while Ajinkya Rahane and Usman Malvi took two wickets apiece.


Chasing 253, Mumbai did not have any partnership going and lost wickets at regular intervals as they were bundled out for 196 in 45.5 overs.


Left-arm spinner Vidyut Sivaramakrishan was the most successful bowler bagging three for 32 from 8.5 overs.

In another quarterfinal at Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium, Bengal, a side which was promoted to Ranji Trophy Super League this season, upset Delhi by two wickets.


Electing to field first after skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla won the toss, Bengal stuck to their task with tidy bowling to restricted Delhi at 209 for eight in the stipulated 47 overs.


Delhi struggled to have a partnership going with opener Manan Sharma returning with a top-score of 43.


The match had a 45-minute delay start as the pitch was wet. Both the umpires after consulting the two team captains curtailed the match to a 47-over affair.


Chasing 210, Bengal also struggled as wickets kept on falling at regular intervals. Skipper Shukla made 18 and departed in 23.3 overs.


But the stylish Bengal batsman Tiwary, who has been made the East Zone captain for the upcoming Deodhar Trophy to be held in Cuttack, held on to his end and single-handedly steered the side home.


Tiwary faced 106 balls in his undefeated knock which was laced with nine boundaries.


Bengal will face Baroda, while Tamil Nadu will take on Uttar Pradesh in their last-four matches to be held here on March 6.

Soruce:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/tn-stun-mumbai-bengal-oust-delhi/38795-13.html

Windy Wellington awaits upbeat India

New Delhi: After winning the Napier one-dayer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men are now gearing up for the second one at Wellington where they face not only the challenge to maintain their winning momentum, but also to win at a ground that has been "exceptionally lucky" for New Zealand.


India can finally manage a smile after what have been a testing couple of weeks for them. Shrugging off their initial struggle, the Indians came out roaring at Napier with the batsmen leading the charge. The hosts, no doubt, would be plotting to avoid an encore.


"If we get a good start and capitalise more often than not, we'll get a good target on the board which our bowlers can look to defend," the Indian captain said after winning the first ODI.


While Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand skipper said, "Dhoni and Sehwag are quality players, so if you give them a chance they can hurt you."


Desperate to return to the fold, Ishant Sharma is making steady progress even as experts continue to caution Dhoni against straining him too much in the one-day series.


"I will be available for the second one-dayer so I think it's good for me," Ishant said before the first one-dayer. "I'm not bowling in the nets even now. Before, I couldn't even lift my shoulder but now it's getting better."


But former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri suggested of using Ishant sparingly in the limited overs version. "As far as Ishant Sharma goes, even if he was fully fit, I for one won't play him in more than two one-day games. I'd like to keep him fresh for the Test series coming up."


As they shake off the ghosts of Napier, New Zealand will no doubt take heart from their exceptional record at the Westpac ground, having won 10 off the 15 ODIs they have played there.


"We are looking forward to another chance to perform," Vettori said. "We are pretty good performers at Wellington, so we hope to continue it there."


While India would be keen to carry forward the winning momentum, the hosts would be itching to square the series by exploiting the home conditions to the fullest.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/india-wait-on-ishant-as-action-shifts-to-wellington/38809-13.html

BCCI submits revised IPL itinerary for approval

New Delhi: The BCCI has sent a new schedule of the Indian Premier League to the Home Ministry.

Sources have told CNN-IBN that the BCCI has sent the new schedule in the wake of security concerns after the Lahore terror attack.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been uncomfortable with the IPL dates clashing with the poll schedule.

The Ministry had earlier asked the DGPs of all host states if they could provide additional security because private security is not expected to be a foolproof replacement.


The Punjab government said that they'll provide security for the IPL matches only if the schedule is changed.


Bengal had demanded a complete change in the IPL calendar. They wanted all matches in Kolkata to be over before April 30.


Gautam Mohan Chakraborthy

— West Bengal goes to polls on April 30, May 7 and May 13. IPL matches in Kolkata are on May 2, 6, 8, 13.

— Delhi goes to polls on May 7. IPL matches in Delhi are scheduled for May 5, 11, 14 and 16.

— Maharashtra poll dates are April 16, 23, 30. IPL matches are April 12, 17, 19, 24, 28 and May 2.

— Karnataka poll dates are April 23 and April 30. IPL matches are on April 14, 19, 23 and May 3.

— The Punjab and Andhra police too want the IPL dates to be changed.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bcci-submits-revised-ipl-itinerary-for-approval/38821-13.html

Randhawa ready to go for the top at Thai Open

PHUKET: Top Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa, fresh from his seventh place finish last week, is all set to improve upon that at the Singha Thailand Open starting on Thursday.

Randhawa, who is planning to train his sights on the European Tour later in the season has been getting into good form, even though his putting has let him down.

"I have been hitting well and am happy with the progress. In Jakarta last week I could have been much higher (than seventh) with some better putting," said Randhawa.

The huge Indian challenge of 13 golfers will also include some star names like SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei, Digvijay Singh, Amandeep Johl and Rahil Gangjee. The field also has Gaganjeet Bhullar, C Muniyappa, Aniran Lahiri, Himmat Rai, Arjun Singh and Chiragh Kumar.

Also in the fray in Thailand Open is two-time US PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra who believes he is close to regaining his best form as he prepares for a title charge. The Swede will headline the $500,000 Asian Tour event at the devilish par-70 Laguna Phuket Golf Club alongside in-form Thai star Thongchai Jaidee and Order of Merit leader Anthony Kang of the US besides Randhawa.

"My game feels good. I'm getting closer every week. The swing is getting better and it's a matter of getting the confidence. I don't think about the swing changes anymore, I'm just trying to get the control of the ball which is getting better," said Chopra.

The 35-year-old, who is of Indian-Swede parentage, took a decision to remodel his game after lifting the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship, a tournament exclusive for winners on the US PGA Tour, for his second triumph in America.

But while the results have suffered over the past few months, Chopra knows his new swing will serve him better in the long haul.

Chopra said the challenging Laguna Phuket course will provide a stern test at the Singha Thailand Open, which is making a welcome return to the Asian Tour after a three-year lapse.

"The course is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. The rough is some of the thickest I've seen in Asia. With the tight pins, it will be a very good test," said Chopra.

Soruce:www.timesofindia.com

South Africa must do more to promote World Cup: FIFA

JOHANNESBURG: Hosts South Africa must do more to promote this year's Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday.

"I have not seen a single promotion for the Confederations Cup and also not a single one for the World Cup," he said.

"It is impossible to bring people to the stadium if we do not promote the Confederations Cup," he said.

World Cup Organising Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan criticised what he saw as a lack of enthusiasm in the country.

"There is only one country that will host this World Cup and that is South Africa. And yet you find countries like Canada, Australia are more enthusiastic it seems than our own South African population," he said.

"The same situation applies for the Confederations Cup."

The Confederations Cup, seen as a World Cup appetiser, will take place from June 14-28. Valcke said a company had been hired to advertise both events.

Jordaan said 170,000 tickets had been sold so far for the Confederations Cup.

South Africa's government hopes the World Cup, the first to be held in Africa, will bring in millions of dollars and give the country a higher profile.

The readiness of the stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup has come under scrutiny but FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in December there was "no plan B".

The South African government has pledged to beef up security for the tournament, hoping to ease concerns over one of the world's highest rates of violent crime.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/SA-must-do-more-to-promote-World-Cup-FIFA/articleshow/4220994.cms

Cricket must go on, but not in Pak: ICC

London: The International Cricket Council on Tuesday vowed to keep the game alive despite a terror attack wounding six Sri Lankan players in Lahore but scratched Pakistan out of the list of venues for international matches in the foreseeable future.


"The world is a dangerous place but cricket must go on. It will go on. It's a great game and a great solace to so many people," declared a sombre-looking ICC President David Morgan at a hurriedly-convened news conference here.


Morgan and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, under sustained questioning from reporters, indicated the 2011 World Cup, set to be staged in the Indian subcontinent may now be held in only three countries — India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.


"The World Cup is due to be staged in the Indian sub-continent shared between four countries. That is the current plan, but the ICC board will have to think very carefully about the extent to which Pakistan will be used for that event," Morgan said.


"I think it's difficult to see international cricket being played in Pakistan in the foreseeable future," Lorgat said, and spelt out the choice for Pakistani cricketers: "It's better that Pakistan chooses to play cricket in neutral venues rather than not play at all."


The ICC board is to meet in mid-April for a detailed discussion on the World Cup with the Organising Committee headed by ICC Vice President Sharad Pawar.

However, Lorgat insisted that security arrangements for bilateral tours, such as the one between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, were the direct responsibilities of the two playing countries rather than the ICC, which can only get involved if specifically asked.


Lorgat revealed that the Sri Lanka cricket board had been specifically warned about the risks of playing in Pakistan, but had overruled the advice after its own risks assessment.


"I know for a fact that post the regime change in Pakistan, once Musharraf went", the advice the ICC then got from its security advisers was that they had more confidence under the previous regime.


"And that's one of the reasons why we were not confident about holding the Champions Trophy" in Pakistan.


Lorgat said the advise was passed on to the Sri Lankans, but that the Sri Lankans held their own security assessment and they were "satisfied with the intelligence that they gathered about the security that they were provided".


Morgan and Lorgat said all ICC board members were made aware of that information.


Morgan dismissed suggestions that the subcontinent was a more dangerous place to stage international cricket matches, saying: "It (the attack) has completely changed the landscape, but it's changed the landscape full stop - not just in the Indian subcontinent."

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/cricket-must-go-on-but-not-in-pak-icc/38778-13-1.html

Australia willing to host 2011 WC games

Melbourne: Australia would be ready to host matches in the 2011 World Cup following the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said on Wednesday.


But he stressed that he would prefer the tournament to go ahead as planned in Pakistan, as well as India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.


The International Cricket Council (ICC) cast doubt on Tuesday on Pakistan's hopes of remaining a co-host of the four-yearly event, saying the Lahore attacks had changed the global landscape of the game.


"Officially, we are the standby hosts for the 2011 World Cup — our strong preference is for the event to go ahead in Asia, hosted by the countries that the ICC sees fit," Sutherland was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.


"We're the hosts for 2015 and we're confident we can put on a fantastic event... but we want the appropriate lead time into that event because of all the planning considerations necessary for it."


New Zealand are also standby hosts for the 2011 World Cup.


The ICC's board will discuss the fallout from the Lahore ambush — which killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan cricketers wounded -- and the consequences for the World Cup at a meeting in Dubai next month.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/australia-willing-to-host-2011-wc-games/38790-13.html

BCCI considers delaying IPL with polls looming

New Delhi: A fall-out of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore could be the IPL. After Home Minister P Chidambaram said providing security for matches while the elections are on will be difficult, the BCCI has told CNN-IBN that it will be willing to make adjustments, but only minor ones.


"We are open to making minor adjustments in IPL schedule," BCCI President Shashank Manohar said on Wednesday. "No IPL match will be held in a city where polls are being held that day."


IPL team owners, too, have raised raising concern about player security. Shilpa Shetty, Bollywood actress and co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals said, "The only thing that IPL board can do at this point is to beef up the security. It's a really sad day for sports... for such an unfortunate thing to happen. But I'm trying to be positive and I empathise with the cricketers who have suffered, the Sri Lankan cricketers, and the umpire who got hurt."


On the other hand, New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram, who plays for Chennai Super Kings, has said that he will reconsider coming to India.


"I think there are definite questions to be asked," Oram said. "The IPL has given me an economic freedom that I didn't even dream about, but I have a family now. Cricket's important, but it is not as important as my life. Lalit Modi and the IPL have given assurances that the security will be beefed up for the event. (But) I'll be thinking twice before going to play in the sub-continent."


Oram's concerns were echoed by the Federation of International Cricketers' Association's (FICA) Chief Executive Tim May who said, "We have written to the Indian Premier League on behalf of our members requesting an ability for player representatives to be involved in the evaluation and construction of security for the event."


"An increasing number of players have expressed a desire for an independent level of comfort surrounding security arrangements for this event," May added.


Reiterating the Indian Government's stand on IPL matches, ICC vice-president and former BCCI boss Sharad Pawar has said that the board should respect the decision.


"I don't think in India one should worry," he said. Unlike Pakistan, security forces are competent, our public is alert, and I don't think that's the situation here. But still if the Government is saying one has to understand the background and understand the situation."

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bcci-considers-delaying-ipl-with-polls-looming/38791-13.html