Gulbis win prevents Spanish sweep in Rome

Published>Sat, May 01 10 12:18 PM

Rome, May 1 (DPA) Ernests Gulbis defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-6(6), 6-1 at the Rome Masters tennis to prevent an historic Spanish sweep into all four semi-final places.

The Latvian who beat Roger Federer in the second round at the Foro Italico showed his feat was no fluke with his victory Friday and prevented an unprecedented Iberian domination in Rome.

Four-time winner Rafael Nadal had joined compatriots Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer to thrust within range of the record with his 6-4, 6-1 win Friday over Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

'I don't think I played my best match tonight,' Nadal said. 'After the first set, I played better with my forehand. In the first set I didn't go to the net because I wasn't dominating the game.

'I have a lot of respect for Stan, he has some great shots and is one of the best players in the world. I wasn't surprised by his level because I know how good he is.'

Sixth seed Verdasco did it tough, fighting for three-and-a-quarter hours to eliminate second seed Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 in a draining marathon.

'Of course I feel tired. I played many matches, but I'm also very happy because I am in the semifinals again tomorrow. I don't know how I will feel, but I hope good,' Verdasco said.

It went quickly for Ferrer a day after the number 13 ambushed Andy Murray, with the Spaniard defeating French seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-1 in a mere 71 minutes, a duplicate of Nadal's scoreline.

Nadal, who has won four of the last five editions in Rome, improved his mark over 2008 finalist Wawrinka to 5-0 with his victory, his eighth win in a row on clay.

The four-time French Open winner claimed a sixth straight Monte Carlo title a fortnight ago, then skipped last week's home event in Barcelona to rest.

His Rome effort has been a study in dominance, as he improved to 24-4 on the season with a loss of only 14 games this week.

Djokovic's loss to Verdasco was his earliest for the number two at the Foro Italico since 2007, when he was beaten by Nadal at the same stage. Djokovic won the clay title in 2008 and lost to Nadal in the title match a year ago.

'I played well. It was a tough match to lose,' Djokovic said.

'I was close to victory, but I didn't have the luck. But that is sport, and life goes on. I have two more weeks of tournaments now before the French Open, including my home event in Belgrade, and Madrid.

'I knew we would have a long match, and I missed a few chances in the third set. That third game where I saved four or five break points and then lost my serve was a big key. We both played at a very high level. I still have faith in my game.'

Verdasco's win over Djokovkic came a fortnight after he thrashed the Serb in the Monte Carlo semis on the way to a losing final with Nadal.

Djokovic held a 5-3 lead in the series going in.

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Indies crush Ireland by 70 runs in World Cup T20

Published>Sat, May 01 10 12:08 PM

West Indies started their campaign at the ICC World T20 Championship with a comprehensive 70-run win over Ireland in a low-scoring game here.

Batting first, West Indies posted a small total of 139 runs losing nine wickets in the process.

Darren Sammy (30) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (24) were the main contributors for West Indies.

All rounder Dwayne Bravo, who was captaining the side in the absence of Chris Gayle, hit two sixes in his 10 balls innings of 18 runs.

It was Darren Sammy's late surge of 30 off 17 balls, which helped the islanders post a modest total.

For Ireland, 17-year old spinner George Dockrell gave the hosts an initial scare capturing three for 16 while Andre Botha, Alex Cusack and Boyd Rankin took two wickets each.

Ireland never looked in the hunt while chasing the score and were bowled out for a meagre 68 in just 16.4 overs.

West Indies were without Gayle, who missed the match after straining a buttock muscle, and also off-spinner Sulieman Benn and fast bowler Jerome Taylor as both had shoulder injuries.

Ravi Rampaul made most of Benn and Taylor's absence clicking with the ball at regular intervals. He returned with an economical figure of three for seventeen in three overs, while Bravo also chipped in with two for five in two overs.

G.Wilson top scored for the green shirts with 17 runs from 34 balls.

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Time to play country music

Published>Sat, May 01 10 11:38 AM

India, April 29 -- The ICC World T20 starts exactly as it did last year, a few days after another superb IPL season. It now remains to be seen if those who excelled for their franchises are able to do so for their countries too. It happens in football where after a season with the club, international players are not able to reproduce the same form for their country. It could well be that the time to group together and being part of a team is too short, and thus the intensity that is displayed playing for the franchise is not there. Spending time off the field is as important as on it, for it's here that players understand each other and know what makes one tick and how they react to different situations. This is where team spirit is built or destroyed and this is where a good coach comes in. He can make the players aware of their duties towards the team, country and fans. There is talk of tiredness, but it is not as big a factor as the mental aspect. Players train to play round the clock, so physically that is not a problem. It is about feeling the same excitement that they do for the franchises. This is where the fatigue aspect kicks in. It was seen in the last World T20 that many of the players went through the motions and were not at their sharpest. The ones who want to be recognised will give it the big effort as they do in every game. Those whose ambitions are lower will be the disappointments. The high-powered matches in the IPL will stand the players in good stead and they will know how to react to crisis situations. Those who didn't play in the event will not be a factor because the format is so quick that there is no big advantage. Players know how to pace themselves and whatever the format, experience comes into play. The format is such that no team can be called favourites. The match can turn in a matter of deliveries and retrieving the game takes a special effort. Most teams' tactics will revolve around not giving the batsmen too much pace off the pitch, particularly on the small West Indian grounds.

It is anybody's title. Hopefully, it will be won off the last ball of the tournament.

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Glamour girl 'dumps' Jermain Defoe

Published>Sat, May 01 10 11:22 AM

London, May 1 (ANI): Glamour girl Roxy Townsend has given England footie ace Jermain Defoe the boot after she suspected him of playing away, it has emerged.

Townsend, 22, dumped Defoe, 27, after a showdown when she accused him of seeing other girls.

The split news less than two weeks after the striker was snapped allegedly getting steamy with a mystery woman in his car, reports The Sun.

Roxy broke the split news to friends on Facebook by changing her status from 'In a relationship' to 'Single'.

A close pal said: "Roxy has come to the end of her tether with Jermain.

"He is very hard to keep on a leash and she has had enough of it.

"She loved the time she spent with him and was really looking forward to going to the World Cup with him but things in their relationship became untenable.

"Jermain wanted to stay with her but too much has happened in the past months for that to happen.

"She wanted Jermain to be with her and no one else. She is gutted but is better off without him." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Much separates boys from the men

Published>Sat, May 01 10 10:38 AM

India, May 1 -- Gary Kirsten will not remember the first day of South Africa's 1995 Johannesburg Test against Pakistan. He made a typically gritty half-century before being caught by Aamir Sohail off a burly left-arm seamer. He would not have taken much notice of Kabir Khan then, and Kirsten will hope that the man, who now coaches Afghanistan, will stay anonymous after India's opening match of this tournament. Much has been said and written about how Afghanistan's players have escaped the war through cricket, how the sport is a unifying factor for the warring factions back home and how the players are waiting for a chance to play against their idols. All this is true, but it will count for little once they cross the boundary ropes and the umpire calls "play." Understandably, the occasion is a huge one for the team, and the studious and intense captain, Nowroz Mangal, allows himself a smile when he explains why. "Back home in Afghanistan, people only know us by name. They know that someone is a good player because they have seen our scores on the Internet," says Mangal. "Now they'll actually see us play on TV. They will see what we look look like and how we make our runs. Hopefully, we won't embarrass ourselves." For the coach, who also doubles up as interpreter and translator since Mangal speaks only Pashto, Afghanistan's journey from being ranked in the 120s in the world to No. 12 and an entry into this tournament began because of an odd quirk. "Afghanistan falls under the purview of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and if the ACC wanted they could have appointed the best of coaches from India or Australia or England," says Kabir. "But there would have been a serious language problem for any of these coaches. Because I was born in Peshawar, I speak both Pashto and Dari fluently." Kabir, who played 4 Tests and 10 ODIs for Pakistan alongside the likes of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, had to do more than just coach when he joined the team. "I had to be like a big brother to them. When we went to a restaurant, I had to show them how to order. If we went to a party or an official reception, I had to tell them how to behave," says Kabir. The former Pakistan player has no hesitation when asked what makes his team tick. "These boys have had to fight for everything in their lives - for food, clothes, for a place to stay in the refugee camps on the border with Pakistan. For them, fighting is a matter of survival, and in that situation, losing is just not an option. Today, it's cricket, and they're more hungry than any of the other teams."

Source: Web Search

MCD's tax demand stuck in Court

Published>Sat, May 01 10 10:08 AM

New Delhi, May 1 -- The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) demand for property tax dues from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for the use of Ferozeshah Kotla grounds has just got in a bit of a tangle. The civic body had asked DDCA to submit its property tax dues of over Rs 91 lakh one week after the receipt of notice, which was issued on April 23. It had threatened DDCA in the notice that failure to pay the dues in time would mean the property will be attached and auctioned off to recover the money. However, DDCA' s appeal for exemption from paying property tax in the High Court has given it a reprieve. On Friday, the case was adjourned and the Court will now hear the case on Tuesday. "We will have to wait till Tuesday," said Deep Mathur, Director, Press Information in MCD. The DDCA has been contesting that they should be given exemption as they are involved in promoting sports.

It should be noted that the cricket body hasn't paid any property tax since 1997.

Source: Web Search

East Bengal hold Sporting Clube

Published>Sat, May 01 10 09:48 AM

Kolkata, May 1 -- The goal drought continues for East Bengal. So does the customary good performance that gets shrouded by fluffing easy chances. After 21 I-League matches, East Bengal have scored 20 goals, the least of all teams. Though they are inching towards the safety mark (currently ninth with 25 points), it's an uncomfortable statistic, especially after Yusif Yakubu and Abel Hammond spearhead the attack.

Bhaichung Bhutia didn't even make it to the reserve bench due to a hamstring pull but that didn't impede East Bengal. They kept hounding the defences but none could be decisive in their thrust for the winner. Sporting had one look at the goal and made it count. Defender Saikat Saha Roy messed up in challenging Joseph Pereira, allowing him to take a left-footed drive squeezed in from the left. Nabi restored parity when he latched on to a long ball from Hammond, evaded Felix who left charge to challenge him, and coolly slotted home.

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NZ pull off nail-bitting two wicket win T20 WC opener

Published>Sat, May 01 10 09:38 AM

Mahela Jaywardene's breezy 81 went in vain as New Zealand made a winning start to their Twenty20 cricket World Cup campaign, beating Sri Lanka by two wickets in the thrilling inaugural match of the tournament here today.

Sri Lanka rode on Jayawardene's career-best Twenty20 score, that came off just 51 balls, to post 135 for six. But Jesse Ryder's 27-ball 42 at the top and Nathan McCullum's (16 off 6) last over heroics sealed the match in favour of New Zealand in 19.5 overs.

With the equation out of their favour after losing all their top-order batsmen, the younger McCullum came up with a four and a six off Lasith Malinga in the final over to finish off the Kiwi run chase in style.

Earlier opening the attack, Nathan McCullum bowled cleverly to return with figures off one for 17 from his three overs.

Contrary to the result, New Zealand started their run chase on a disastrous note as Angelo Mathews bowled a brilliant wicket maiden first over.

Brendon McCullum's poor run with the bat continued as he mistimed one straight to Lasith Malinga off Mathews in the fourth ball of opening over.

The other Kiwi opener Jesse Ryder, however, went about his business in style, hitting three fours and two sixes en route his 27-ball innings.

He shared 62 runs with Martin Guptil (19 off 24) before two quick wickets brought Sri Lanka right back into the match.

Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan broke the dangerous second-wicket partnership as he went through Ryder's defence.

Sanath Jayasuriya then made it double celebrations for the Lankans in the next over with a beautiful yorker that Guptil had no answer.

Muralitharan added another to his kitty when Ross Taylor's (9) slog-sweep landed on to the palms of Mathews.

However, it was the eventful 17th over from Mendis that threatened to change the course of the match.

Mendis started on a perfect note, cleaning up Scott Styris (17) in the second ball but with the wicket came in Jacob Oram (15 off 6), who clobbered the mystery spinner for consecutive sixes to pick up 15 runs off the over.

There was more drama stored for the match, as needing 20 runs off the last two overs, Kapugedera clean bowled Oram and then a desperate Gareth Hopkins was run out.

With 10 required of the last over, Nathan McCullum pulled off two magical strikes -- first a boundary and then a six -- from his armour to pocket the nail-bitting match in his side's favour.

Earlier, Jayawardene steered Sri Lanka to the modest score with his breezy 81.

While his team-mates struggled to score runs in the slow Providence Stadium wicket, experienced Jayawardene's innings was a classic example of effortless sensible hitting.

He shared a crucial 59-run fourth wicket stand with debutant Dinesh Chandimal (29 off 23) to lay the foundation for the Sri Lanka score.

Shane Bond turned out to be the pick of the Kiwi bowlers as he accounted for two Lankan batsmen by giving away 35 runs.

Opting to bat in the sluggish pitch, the Lankan openers found runs hard to score initially.

Out-of-form Tillakaratne Dilshan's (3 of 19) stay at the crease was a struggle which finally ended with Jacob Oram castling the opener's stumps in his first and innings sixth over.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara too found runs hard to come by in the slow wicket as he took 11 deliveries to score his four runs before Scott Styris castled his stumps.

Jayawardene, however, showed his team-mates how to build an innings on the wicket and in the effort brought up his third Twenty20 half century in just 33 balls.

Young Chandimal also blossomed in Jayawardene's company as he hit a four and a six during his 23-ball innings before he was brilliantly caught at the boundary by Ross Taylor off Nathan McCullum.

Jayawardene single-handedly shouldered the Sri Lankan innings and hit as many as eight boundaries and two sixes before he was holed up at deep mid-wicket by Nathan McCullum off Tim Southee.

Bond picked up his two wickets in identical fashion in the final over of the Lankan innings.

The Kiwi pacer had both Chamara Kapugedera (11) and Angelo Mathews caught by Nathan McCullum at long off boundary in a span of three balls as the batsmen went for big shots.

Source: Web Search

New Zealand sink Sri Lanka in exciting opener

Published Sat, May 01 10 09:28 AM

New Zealand pulled off a dramatic two-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the last over of the opening game of the Twenty20 World Cup on Friday.

A large and lively Guyanese crowd witnessed a spectacular finish as Nathan McCullum won the game by hitting paceman Lasith Malinga for six over long off.

McCullum, named man of the match after also picking up one for 17 in his three overs with the ball and taking three catches in the deep, let out a loud yell as he struck the decisive blow.

New Zealand needed 20 off the last two overs, chasing Sri Lanka's 135 for six on a slow track which included an outstanding innings from opener Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayawardene made 81 from 51 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, and was helped by 20-year-old Dinesh Chandimal (29).

The fun atmosphere at the Providence Stadium was in marked contrast to the flat mood for the World Cup three years ago and was helped by some lively dancing from Caribbean-style cheerleaders.

Jesse Ryder's punchy 42 off 27 balls got New Zealand off to a decent start but some intelligent bowling and smart fielding from last year's runners-up Sri Lanka kept things tight until, with three runs needed from the last two balls, McCullum struck.

"I guess 135 was a pretty good total and we knew how difficult Sri Lanka could be with their bowlers," said New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori.

"We put ourselves under pressure with the way we batted in the middle but Jacob Oram (with a quick 15) and McCullum rescued us in the end. It was easier for Nathan to hit at the end and his six was pretty amazing."

The defeat leaves Sri Lanka needing victory in their second group game against Zimbabwe and skipper Kumar Sangakkara said it was important his batsmen improved.

"We fell about 10-12 runs short, Mahela batted well with Chandimal but we need to convert good starts into good totals and improve our fielding," he said.

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Marseille close on title after draw at Auxerre

Published Sat, May 01 10 08:26 AM

Leaders Olympique Marseille moved closer to their first Ligue 1 title since 1992 by drawing 0-0 at second-placed AJ Auxerre on Friday.

The result left Marseille on 72 points. Auxerre, unbeaten for 12 league matches, trail by five points with three games remaining.

Marseille, who went into the encounter on a seven-match winning streak, will be crowned champions if they beat Stade Rennes on Wednesday and Auxerre fail to win at Olympique Lyon.

"It is a good draw against a very good side. We came here to avoid defeat," Marseille defender Souleymane Diawara told the Orange Sport TV channel.

"We now have to pick up as many points as possible to become champions."

Marseille won the title in 1993, the year they also lifted the Champions League, but were stripped of the French crown following a match-fixing scandal.

Auxerre, who claimed their only domestic title in 1996, are well placed to qualify for the Champions League as they lead fourth-placed Montpellier, who host Lyon on Sunday, by seven points.

DOMINANT MARSEILLE

The top two qualify automatically while the third team goes through to a playoff.

Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda did not have a single save to make on Friday as his side dominated throughout.

Auxerre captain Benoit Pedretti picked up a yellow card for a bad tackle on Mathieu Valbuena and was lucky to escape a red after another lunge on Lucho Gonzalez.

Marseille had the clearest chance in the first half when Valbuena broke down the right in the 21st minute and Lucho's clumsy volley was easily blocked.

Tensions rose after the break when Brandao elbowed Pedretti but the referee did not show the Brazilian the red card he deserved.

Brandao went close after the hour when his header from a Lucho corner kick shaved the post.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps replaced Mamadou Niang and Valbuena with Bakari Kone and Hatem Ben Arfa respectively but it was to little effect as Auxerre, who have the best defence in the league, held on.

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Nadal overcomes Swiss test, leads Spanish charge

Published>Sat, May 01 10 08:06 AM

Rafael Nadal showed his ruthless streak to overcome an early test from Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in a 6-4 6-1 win on Friday and helped Spain to secure three of the four semi-final spots at the Rome Masters.

Fernando Verdasco beat world number two Novak Djokovic for the second time in two weeks when he clinched an enthralling tussle 7-6 3-6 6-4 to set up a semi-final against compatriot David Ferrer.

Nadal, aiming for his fifth Rome title in six years, next faces Ernests Gulbis, who prevented a Spanish clean sweep of the last four by sinking Feliciano Lopez 7-6 6-1. The Latvian continued his run of form after ejecting world number one Roger Federer earlier in the week.

Former world number one Nadal has been a supreme force on red dirt this season after an injury-hit 2009, but he made a slow start on Friday.

He was bossed around in several rallies as he struggled to hold the early service games but finally found his range to break Wawrinka's resistance at the end of the set.

He had to repel another strong attack on his serve in the first game of the second set before breaking in the next game with an outstanding forehand winner and then ran away with the encounter.

"In the first set I was in trouble for a long time," Nadal told a news conference. "He was winning his service games much easier than me.

"At 5-4 (in the first set) I started playing better and after that I played really well. I played well today but I was better in Monte Carlo."

Djokovic was thrashed by in-form sixth seed Verdasco in the semi-finals at Monte Carlo in their last meeting and Friday's match looked like it might follow a similar plot early on.

The Serb was under constant pressure, slamming his racket down in frustration after being pushed around in a rally before caving in on serve in the seventh game.

Djokovic, the 2008 Rome champion, responded bravely though, breaking when Verdasco was serving for the set. The pair traded breaks again before the Spaniard took the set in the tiebreak.

Djokovic did not panic and read his opponent's meaty serve skilfully in the second set to break three times to one and claim it.

ALLERGY PROBLEMS

But Verdasco had a little more in the tank, even though he has played a lot of tennis recently after winning last week's Barcelona Open, and prevailed with an ace after three hours and 17 minutes of big-hitting action.

The Serb said he has been hindered by health problems recently but was confident he would be one of the main contenders for the French Open, which begins next month.

"I've had real problems with allergies for the past two months and this has been really troubling," he said.

"But everything else is in order and I'm happy with the way I played, so definitely the French Open is the place where I want to get a good result.

"I was very close to victory and I know that this match could have gone either way."

Ferrer made light work of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, triumphing 6-4 6-1 to book his place in the semis after knocking out Britain's world number five Andy Murray on Thursday.

Federer was knocked out of the doubles in the quarter-finals along with compatriot Yves Allegro by American pair John Isner and Sam Querrey, 6-4 6-4.

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Cavendish withdrawn for two-fingered salute

Published Sat, May 01 10 07:48 AM

Briton Mark Cavendish was pulled out of the Tour de Romandie by his team on Friday for celebrating victory in the second stage in Fribourg with a two-fingered salute at his critics.

"Mark Cavendish was taken out of the Tour de Romandie at the conclusion of today's stage, as a result of his inappropriate actions after winning stage two of the race on Thursday," his HTC-Columbia team said in a statement published after Friday's third stage in Moudon.

Cavendish, who had earlier apologised for the gesture, was also handed a 6,000 Swiss francs ($5,545) fine.

"In spite of the rider's apologies made in a team statement and then to the jury before the start of Friday's time trial, the jury inflicts a 6,000 CHF fine (on Cavendish) for incorrect behaviour," the race jury said in a statement.

The win on Thursday was only Cavendish's second of the season and the Manxman, arguably the world's best sprinter, had been the target of media criticism for his lack of victories.

Cavendish, whose start to the season had been hampered by a dental infection, said he regretted making the gesture.

"I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realise that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that," the 24-year-old said.

"I apologise to everybody watching the race and especially the kids ... I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and my passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

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Scoreboard: Ireland vs. West Indies, World Twenty20

Published>Sat, May 01 10 07:28 AM

Guyana, May 1 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard of the Twenty20 match between West Indies and Ireland in the World Twenty20 at the Providence Stadium here Friday.

West Indies:

Andre Fletcher c Kevin b Dockrell 19

Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Wilson b Rankin 14

Dwayne Bravo c&b Cusack 18

Ramnaresh Sarwan c Wilson b Dockrell 24

Narsingh Deonarine c Niall b Dockrell 10

Denesh Ramdin c Niall b Rankin 1

Darren Sammy c Porterfield b Botha 30

Keiron Pollard c & b Botha 8

Nikita Miller not out 2

Ravi Rampaul c Botha b Cusack 8

Extras (lb 2, w 1, nb 1) 4

Total (for nine wickets in 20 overs) 138

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Chanderpaul, 2.6 overs), 2-43 (Bravo, 5.2), 3-77 (Fletcher, 11.2), 4-77 (Sarwan, 11.4), 5-83 (Ramdin, 12.6), 6-93 (Deonarine, 15.6), 7-125 (Pollard, 18.1), 8-127 (Sammy, 18.3), 9-138 (Rampaul, 19.6)

Bowling:

Boyd Rankin 4-0-35-2

Trent Johnston 4-0-36-0

Kevin O'Brien 1-0-8-0

Alex Cusack 3-0-19-2

Paul Stirling 2-0-15-0

George Dockrell 4-0-16-3

Andre Botha 2-0-7-2

Ireland:

William Porterfield c Sammy b Roach 4

Paul Stirling c Sammy b Rampaul 0

Niall O'Brien c +Ramdin b Rampaul 6

Alex Cusack c Sammy b Rampaul 2

Gary Wilson c Sammy b Bravo 17]

Kevin O'Brien c Fletcher b Sammy 9

Trent Johnston b Bravo 5

John Mooney lbw Miller 1

Andre Botha not out 4

Boyd Rankin c Ramdin b Sammy 1

George Dockrell c Ramdin b Sammy 0

Extras (lb 8, w 11) 19

Total (all out in 16.4 overs) 68

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Porterfield, 0.2 overs), 2-7 (Stirling, 1.3), 3-11 (Niall, 1.5), 4-16 (Cusack, 3.3), 5-39 (Kevin O'Brien, 8.1), 6-55 (Wilson, 12.1), 7-56 (Johnston, 12.4), 8-61 (Mooney, 13.4), 9-64 (Rankin, 14.5), 10-68 (Dockrell, 16.4)

Bowling:

Kemar Roach 4-0-12-1

Ravi Rampaul 3-0-17-3

Dwayne Bravo 2-0-5-2

Nikita Miller 4-0-18-1

Darren Sammy 3.4-0-8-3

Toss: West Indies, who chose to bat

Points:' West Indies 2, Ireland 0

Player of the match: Darren Sammy (West Indies)

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand)

TV umpire: Tony Hill (New Zealand)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (Australia)

Source: Web Search

Woods reveals another unseen side

Published>Sat, May 01 10 06:08 AM

Another side of Tiger Woods was unveiled to the golfing world on Friday. And just like the last time, it was shocking to see.

The private life of the world's richest sportsman had already been laid bare by the sordid revelations of his extra-marital affairs. Now his golf game is facing examination.

It is too early to say what, if any, effect his personal troubles will have on his game but Woods ensured those questions would be asked after a rare inept performance at the Quail Hollow championship on Friday.

Woods missed the cut for only the sixth time in his professional career after rounds of 74 and 79. That alone should be no real cause for concern but it was the manner of his early exit that was most alarming.

By his own incredible standards, this was a train crash the golfing world never expected to see. Woods looked like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders but insisted the distractions in his private life were not to blame.

"Does it test you? Yes, of course it does," he told reporters.

"Is that any excuse? No, because I'm out there and I have the same opportunity as everybody else here in this field to shoot a good number, and I didn't do that."

Golf is a game that revolves around numbers and Wood's numbers were not impressive. At times, he looked like any weekend hacker.

It was just the sixth time in 241 professional appearances that he missed the cut. His second round of 79 was the second worst of his pro career, two behind the 81 he shot at the 2002 British Open.

Woods took 43 shots to complete the back nine on Friday. This did match his worst-ever record. For the first time in nearly three years he made double bogeys on successive holes.

"It does bother me, no doubt," he said.

"But at least I get the weekend to watch and see how it's done, how real players play golf."

Woods was appearing in only his second tournament since coming out of his self-imposed five-month exile. No-one really expected him to start winning tournaments straight away, but even less thought he would implode as he did on Friday after finishing fourth at the US Masters.

There were ominous signs after he shot 74 on the first day and he struggled to get through his first nine holes on Friday level with the card, spoiling three birdies with three bogeys.

What unfolded on the back nine was like watching a man bleed on the course. Woods bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to suddenly drop back to five-over-par. He stopped the rot with a par at the 13th before making a double-bogey at the 14th when he pitched over the green and into the water.

Worse was to come at the next hole when he four-putted for another double bogey. He closed with three pars to avoid shooting an embarrassing 80 but that failed to save him from having to pack his bags and head back home.

"It is what it is," he said. "Whatever it was, it wasn't good enough."

Source: Web Search

PCC chief tells Himachal Chief Minister to come clean on IPL expenditure

Published>Sat, May 01 10 05:54 AM

State PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur once again raked up the issue of IPL matches held at Dharamsala and asked the government to make public the amount charged from the organisers.

He termed the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur as family affair of the chief minister and his son. "We demand that HPCA should make names and addresses of its life-time members public and tell how many of them are former players," he said.

The Congress leader also refuted charges of phone tapping levelled by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal against the Central government and termed it as baseless allegations.

Talking to the media, Thakur said the chief minister was involved in alleged phone tapping of Congress leaders as he had been heard in one of the controversial CDs directing state's vigilance chief to tap phones of Union minister Virbhadra Singh .

He also reiterated his charges against the government for diluting Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act to allow land mafia to acquire huge tracts of land in the state. There is clear government patronage in the recent land deals. He said the Congress, on return to power, will inquire into all land scams and send the violators to jails.

Meanwhile, the party, in its meeting today, finalised the arrangements to celebrate 125 years of the Indian National Congress in Himachal Pradesh.

Source: Web Search

Scoreboard, World Twenty20, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand

Published>Sat, May 01 10 03:36 AM

Guyana, May 1 (IANS) Scoreboard of the Group B World Twenty20 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Sri Lanka:

Mahela Jayawardene c N McCullum b Southee 81

Tillakaratne Dilshan b Oram 3

Kumar Sangakkara b Styris 4

Dinesh Chandimal c Taylor b N McCullum 29

Chamara Kapugedera c NL McCullum b Bond 11

Angelo Mathews c NL McCullum b Bond 3

Sanath Jayasuriya not out 0

Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4

Total (for six wickets in 20 overs) 135

Fall of wickets 1-35 (Dilshan, 5.4 ov), 2-44 (Sangakkara, 8.2 ov), 3-103 (Chandimal, 15.4 ov), 4-124 (Jayawardene, 18.1 ov), 5-135 (Kapugedera, 19.4 ov), 6-135 (Mathews, 19.6 ov)

Bowling:

Nathan McCullum 3 0 17 1

Shane Bond 4 0 35 2

Tim Southee 4 0 21 1

Jacob Oram 3 0 23 1

Daniel Vettori 4 0 23 0

Scott Styris 2 0 13 1

New Zealand:

Brendon McCullum c Malinga b Mathews 0

Jesse Ryder b Muralitharan 42

Martin Guptill b Jayasuriya 19

Ross Taylor c Mathews b Muralitharan 9

Scott Styris b Mendis 17

Daniel Vettori run out (sub S Randiv/Malinga) 17

Jacob Oram b Welegedara 15

G Hopkins run out (Dilshan/Sangakkara) 1

Nathan McCullum not out 16 6

Tim Southee not out 0

Extras (b 2, w 1) 3

Total (for eight wickets in 19.5 overs) 139

Fall of wickets 1-0 (BB McCullum, 0.4 overs), 2-62 (Ryder, 8.3), 3-66 (Guptill, 9.5), 4-86 (Taylor, 14.2), 5-96 (Styris, 16.2), 6-116 (Oram, 18.1), 7-117 (Hopkins, 18.2), 8-133 (Vettori, 19.4)

Bowling:

Angelo Mathews 2 1 7 1

Chanaka Welegedara 2 0 21 1

Ajantha Mendis 4 0 34 1

Lasith Malinga 3.5 0 33 0

Muttiah Muralitharan 4 0 25 2

Sanath Jayasuriya 4 0 17 1

Source: Web Search

Sri Lanka set New Zealand 136-run target

Published>Sat, May 01 10 03:22 AM

Guyana, May 1 (IANS) Mahela Jayawardene smashed 81 off 51 balls as Sri Lanka posted 135 for six against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Twenty20 here Friday.

Jayawardene guided Sri Lanka through a difficult phase after the islanders, electing to bat first, made a slow start before recovering in the final overs.

Dinesh Chandimal was the second best contributor with 29 runs off 23 balls with the help of one four and one six.

New Zealand bowlers made good use of the slow track, taking the pace off the ball and not allowing dangerous Sri Lankan opener Dilshan to get off to a good start.

Dilshan made just 3 off 19 balls before Jacob Oram rattled his stumps.

Sri Lanka found it difficult to score in the first 10 overs that fetched them only 54 runs. Jayawardene played with patience and waited for the bad balls to score. He struck eight fours and two sixes before Tim Southee got his wicket in the 19th over.

Source: Web Search

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in a thrilling World Twenty20 opener

Published>Sat, May 01 10 03:08 AM

Guyana, May 1 (IANS) Nathan McCullum pulled off a thrilling two wicket victory for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the World Twenty20 at the Providence Stadium here Friday.

Chasing a victroy target of 136 runs, New Zealand needed 10 runs off the last over from express fast Lasith Malinga.

Nathan (16 off 6 balls), younger brother of Brendon, struck a four moving across the off stump and piercing the gap in the fine leg to bring the equation down to four off three balls. New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori (17) was run out while going for a second run in the next ball. Nathan then struck a powerful blow over long-off for a six to spark celebration in New Zealand camp.

It was Jacob Oram who pulled his team back in contention in an engrossing battle after Jesse Ryder (42 off 27 balls) and Martin Guptill (19) laid the foundation for the chase with a 62-run stand following the first over dismissal of Brendon.

With 38 runs required off 20 balls, big hitting Oram (15) hit two sixes off Mendis in the 17th over to revive Kiwi hopes.

But Chanaka Welegedera bowled a superb 19th over, removing Oram in the first ball and then Hopkins was run out in the next. Vettori, who anchored the New Zealand innings in the later half, struck a four while Nathan stole three runs taking advantage of a missed run out chance to give themselves a real chance of finishing the match in the last over.

Earlier, Ryder and Guptill batted sensibly in a slow and spinning track to set the match for the Kiwis.

Ryder mixed caution with agression and struck three fours and two sixes in his 27-ball innings. But the introduction of two old war horses Muttiah Muralitharan (2-25) and Sanath Jayasuriya (1-17) slowed down the runs.

Ryder after hitting a six off Muraliatharan was clean bowled in the next ball while Jayasuriya got rid of Guptil in the next over (10th) with a yorker.

The spinners made it difficult for the Kiwi batsmen to score runs even as Vettori held the innings from one end. Scot Styris contributed 17 before Oram lead the fightback.

Sri Lanka after electing to bat first relied on Mahela Jayawardene brilliance to set up a challenging total

Jayawardene smashed 81 off 51 balls as Sri Lanka posted 135 for six against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Twenty20 here Friday.

Jayawardene guided Sri Lanka through a difficult phase after the islanders made a slow start before recovering in the final overs.

Dinesh Chandimal was the second best contributor with 29 runs off 23 balls with the help of one four and one six.

New Zealand bowlers made good use of the slow track, taking the pace off the ball and not allowing dangerous Sri Lankan opener Tillekaratne Dilshan to get off to a good start.

Dilshan made just 3 off 19 balls before Jacob Oram rattled his stumps.

Sri Lanka found it difficult to score in the first 10 overs that fetched them only 54 runs. Jayawardene played with patience and waited for the bad balls to score.

He struck eight fours and two sixes before Tim Southee got his wicket in the 19th over.

Source: Web Search

Sri Lanka set New Zealand 136-run target

Published>Sat, May 01 10 01:38 AM

Guyana, May 1 (IANS) Mahela Jayawardene smashed 81 off 51 balls as Sri Lanka posted 135 for six against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Twenty20 here Friday.

Jayawardene guided Sri Lanka through a difficult phase after the islanders, electing to bat first, made a slow start before recovering in the final overs.

Dinesh Chandimal was the second best contributor with 29 runs off 23 balls with the help of one four and one six.

New Zealand bowlers made good use of the slow track, taking the pace off the ball and not allowing dangerous Sri Lankan opener Dilshan to get off to a good start.

Dilshan made just 3 off 19 balls before Jacob Oram rattled his stumps.

Sri Lanka found it difficult to score in the first 10 overs that fetched them only 54 runs. Jayawardene played with patience and waited for the bad balls to score. He struck eight fours and two sixes before Tim Southee got his wicket in the 19th over.

Source: Web Search

Nadal overcomes Swiss test, leads Spanish charge

Published>Sat, May 01 10 12:48 AM

Rafael Nadal showed his ruthless streak to overcome an early test from Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in a 6-4 6-1 win on Friday and complete three-quarters of a possible all-Spanish last four at the Rome Masters.

Fernando Verdasco beat world number two Novak Djokovic for the second time in two weeks when he clinched an enthralling tussle 7-6 3-6 6-4 to set up a semi-final against compatriot David Ferrer.

Nadal, aiming for his fifth Rome title in six years, will also be up against a fellow Spaniard if Feliciano Lopez makes it past Latvian Ernests Gulbis, the man who ejected world number one Roger Federer earlier in the week.

The former world number one has been a supreme force on red dirt this season after an injury-hit 2009, but he made a slow start on Friday.

He was bossed around in several rallies as he struggled to hold the early service games but finally found his range to break Wawrinka's resistance at the end of the set.

He had to repel another strong attack on his serve in the first game of the second set before breaking in the next game with an outstanding forehand winner and then ran away with the encounter.

Djokovic was thrashed by in-form sixth seed Verdasco in the semi-finals at Monte Carlo in their last meeting and Friday's match looked like it might follow a similar plot early on.

The Serb was under constant pressure, slamming his racket down in frustration after being pushed around in a rally before caving in on serve in the seventh game.

Djokovic, the 2008 Rome champion, responded bravely though, breaking when Verdasco was serving for the set. The pair traded breaks again before the Spaniard took the set in the tiebreak.

Djokovic did not panic and read his opponent's meaty serve skilfully in the second set to break three times to one and claim it.

But Verdasco had a little more in the tank, even though he has played a lot of tennis recently after winning last week's Barcelona Open, and prevailed with an ace after three hours and 17 minutes of big-hitting action.

The Serb said he has been hindered by health problems recently but was confident he would be one of the main contenders for the French Open, which begins next month.

"I've had real problems with allergies for the past two months and this has been really troubling," he told a news conference.

"But everything else is in order and I'm happy with the way I played, so definitely the French Open is the place where I want to get a good result.

"I was very close to victory and I know that this match could have gone either way."

Ferrer made light work of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, triumphing 6-4 6-1 to book his place in the semis after knocking out Britain's world number five Andy Murray on Thursday.

Federer was knocked out of the doubles in the quarter-finals along with compatriot Yves Allegro by American pair John Isner and Sam Querrey, 6-4 6-4.

Source: Web Search

Cavendish apologises for two-fingered salute

Published Sat, May 01 10 12:16 AM

Briton Mark Cavendish has apologised for celebrating his victory in the Tour of Romandie second stage in Fribourg with a two-fingered salute at his critics.

"I want to publicly apologise for the gesture I made on the finish line on the Tour of Romandie yesterday," the 24-year-old wrote in a statement on Friday.

Despite the apology, the race jury fined Cavendish 6,000 Swiss francs ($5,545) for making the gesture.

"I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realise that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that," the Briton said.

"I apologise to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and my passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

The race jury issued a statement later on Friday, saying: "In spite of the rider's apologies made in a team statement and then to the jury before the start of Friday's time trial, the jury inflicts a 6,000-Swiss-franc fine for incorrect behaviour."

The win on Thursday was only Cavendish's second of the season and the Manxman, arguably the world's best sprinter, had been the target of media criticism for his lack of victories.

The Team Columbia rider was hampered by a dental infection at the start of the season.

Source: Web Search

Anand draws fifth game, leads WC 3-2

Published Sat, May 01 10 12:08 AM

Sofia (Bulgaria), Apr 30 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand continued his impressive showing and carved out a fine draw against challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the fifth game to hold on to his lead in the ongoing World Championship here. Anand now leads the 12-game 3-2 and would be playing with the white pieces in the next match tomorrow and also in the seventh game on Monday. Anand had earlier lost the first game unceremoniously against Topalov but drew level in the second in sparkling fashion. The Indian drew the third and then won the fourth game comprehensively. Playing with black pieces, Anand once again opted for the Slav defence, Smyslov variation and traded queens early. Anand gave an exhibition of his defensive skills as he appeared to have no problems whatsoever. After repeating the moves, it was Anand who deviated on the 15th turn. There was darkness for almost 15 minutes because of power failure. However, it did not have any affect the players'' concentration as Anand craftily exchanged pieces at every possible opportunity. Both the players had a rook and minor piece each with identical number of pawns when they decided to sign piece after 44 moves. "I took some extra time after the electricity supply was resumed just to make sure of my next moves and then executed it," Anand said after the game.

Source: Web Search

Service tax officials raid Eden, check IPL papers

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 11:48 PM

Kolkata, April 30 (IANS) Days after the Income Tax raid, service tax department sleuths of the West Bengal government Friday swooped down on the Eden Gardens to check papers relating to the alleged financial wrongdoings related to the Indian Premier League.

Five service tax officials raided the Cricket Association of Bengal headquarters at the stadium, and scrutinised papers and vouchers pertaining to the cash-rich league, which has become the subject of a multiple-agency probe with allegations flying thick about irregularities.

CAB sources said the raid lasted three hours and the taxmen questioned some CAB offcials, besides asking the finance panel chief Chitrak Mitra to appear before them Monday.

Income Tax officials had raided Eden Gardens April 21 as part of a nation-wide probe into the alleged financial irregularities related to the league.

Source: Web Search

Anand draws fifth game, leads WC 3-2

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 11:38 PM

Sofia (Bulgaria), Apr 30 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand continued his impressive showing and carved out a fine draw against challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the fifth game to hold on to his lead in the ongoing World Championship here. Anand now leads the 12-game 3-2 and would be playing with the white pieces in the next match tomorrow and also in the seventh game on Monday. Anand had earlier lost the first game unceremoniously against Topalov but drew level in the second in sparkling fashion. The Indian drew the third and then won the fourth game comprehensively. Playing with black pieces, Anand once again opted for the Slav defence, Smyslov variation and traded queens early. Anand gave an exhibition of his defensive skills as he appeared to have no problems whatsoever. After repeating the moves, it was Anand who deviated on the 15th turn. There was darkness for almost 15 minutes because of power failure. However, it did not have any affect the players'' concentration as Anand craftily exchanged pieces at every possible opportunity. Both the players had a rook and minor piece each with identical number of pawns when they decided to sign piece after 44 moves. "I took some extra time after the electricity supply was resumed just to make sure of my next moves and then executed it," Anand said after the game.

Source: Web Search

Sri Lanka elect to bat against New Zealand in World T20 opener

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 11:08 PM

Guyana, April 30 (IANS) Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the opening match of the World Twenty20 here Friday.

Teams:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins (wicket-keeper), Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Shane Bond, Tim Southee

Sri Lanka:

Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicket-keeper), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, C. Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chanaka Welegedara

Source: Web Search

Ribery won't face questioning before World Cup

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 10:48 PM

French soccer star Franck Ribery, who is at the centre of sex scandal, will not face the investigators before the South African World Cup finals, a source close to the case said on Friday.

The news might help ease the tense atmosphere surrounding the France camp ahead of the June 11-July 11 tournament.

"As the case stands now, it is not expected Ribery will be summoned by the judge to be possibly placed under official investigation before the start of the competition," the judicial source said, declining to be named.

The source added that another French international, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who also faces questioning in the same case, would not be heard before the World Cup.

Junior Sports Minister Rama Yade said on Thursday that any player placed under investigation should not represent France.

"The French (soccer) shirt is sacred and cannot be worn by somebody who is under official investigation," she told Canal+ television late on Thursday.

France playmaker Ribery and fellow international Sydney Govou were questioned earlier in April as witnesses by police investigating a prostitution network.

French media have said the players were clients of a nightclub in Paris's posh Champs-Elysees district that allegedly featured escort girls.

Ribery's lawyer has said her client was only questioned about his ties with the leader of an escort girls network and the player himself has made no comment about the affair.

Govou's lawyer and Benzema's agent deny that their clients had ever been to the nightclub in question.

NEW TWIST

On Thursday, the scandal, which has gripped France, took a new twist after a young woman involved in the case gave a lengthy interview to Paris Match magazine about the scandal.

She said Ribery had invited her to Munich in April 2009 to celebrate his 26th birthday in a luxury hotel, adding that he had paid her for three encounters last year.

Zahia, who turned 18 in February, confirmed widespread reports in the French press that she was underage when she met Ribery, but added that she had not informed him about her age.

There was no immediate comment from Ribery's entourage.

Ribery, usually energetic on the pitch and unassuming off it, is probably the most popular player in the squad, since Zinedine Zidane, who retired after his infamous headbutt in the defeat by Italy on penalties in the 2006 World Cup final.

But he has had a wretched few weeks, hounded by the media over the scandal, suffering injury and then getting sent off earlier this month during Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final.

UEFA have since given him a three-match ban which means he will miss the final against Inter Milan. Bayern have appealed and UEFA said on Friday that the hearing would take place on May 5.

Given his various woes, some sports commentators in France have questioned whether French coach Raymond Domenech will even select him for the World Cup.

France's Immigration Minister Eric Besson said on Friday the case was taking "undue importance" and that Ribery was entitled to the presumption of innocence like any citizen.

Source: Web Search

Fencing Association congratulates fencing team

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 10:28 PM

Patna, Apr 30 (PTI) Fencing Association of India vice-President Ramashankar Prasad today congratulated the national fencing team for their success in International Thailand Fencing Championship which concluded in Pattaya on April 28. Prasad told reporters that the Indian fencing side won two gold medals, four silver medals and nine bronze medals in different categories of the championship. "It is really an excellent moment for Fencing Association of India. I congratulate the medal winners," he said.

Source: Web Search

Punjab take steps to boost morale of sportspersons

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 10:18 PM

Chandigarh, Apr 30 (PTI) The Punjab government will honour sportspersons of the state who had won medals in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Cup, National Games and Handicapped Games held in 2009-2010 with cash prizes. Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of Punjab Sports Department said that Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recipients in the Olympic Games would be given Rs one crore, Rs 50 lakhs, Rs 25 lakhs respectively. Similarly, Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recipients in the Official World Cup/Championship (every four year) would be given Rs 21 lakhs, Rs 11 laksh and Rs seven lakhs. Asian Games/Commonwealth Games medal holders would get Rs seven lakhs, Rs five lakhs and Rs three lakhs while World Cup/Asian Championship (every or after two years) games medal holder would get Rs five lakhs, Rs three lakhs and Rs two lakhs. National Games/Afro Asian Games/South Asian Games medal holders would be given Rs three lakhs, Rs two lakhs and Rs one lakh while Handicapped Games (in any international event) medal holders would be given Rs five lakhs, Rs three lakhs and Rs two lakhs respectively. The spokesman said that in case of junior category, same medal recipients would be given half of the amount. In case of Team event, cash prize for two members would be given one and half times; for 3-4 members the amount would be double; for 5-10 members the amount would be three times and for 10 or above 10 members team, prize money would be five times.

Source: Web Search

IPL scam: service tax officials raid CAB

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 10:08 PM

Kolkata, Apr 30 (PTI) Service tax officials probing the alleged financial irregularities during the IPL-3 today conducted a surprise raid at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) office. The officials questioned the CAB accountant about the financial details and it is learnt that CAB finance committee chairman Chitrak Mitra has been asked to be present before them on Monday. "Five officers from the service tax department of the state government conducted a search operation in connection with the IPL," CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey said. On April 21, a five-member team of the Indian Revenue Service and Economic Offences Wing conducted an operation at the KKR''s office in CAB in a countrywide raid by the taxmen. PTI TAP

Source: Web Search

Punjab take steps to boost morale of sportspersons

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 09:52 PM

Chandigarh, Apr 30 (PTI) The Punjab government will honour sportspersons of the state who had won medals in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Cup, National Games and Handicapped Games held in 2009-2010 with cash prizes. Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of Punjab Sports Department said that Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recipients in the Olympic Games would be given Rs one crore, Rs 50 lakhs, Rs 25 lakhs respectively. Similarly, Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recipients in the Official World Cup/Championship (every four year) would be given Rs 21 lakhs, Rs 11 laksh and Rs seven lakhs. Asian Games/Commonwealth Games medal holders would get Rs seven lakhs, Rs five lakhs and Rs three lakhs while World Cup/Asian Championship (every or after two years) games medal holder would get Rs five lakhs, Rs three lakhs and Rs two lakhs. National Games/Afro Asian Games/South Asian Games medal holders would be given Rs three lakhs, Rs two lakhs and Rs one lakh while Handicapped Games (in any international event) medal holders would be given Rs five lakhs, Rs three lakhs and Rs two lakhs respectively. The spokesman said that in case of junior category, same medal recipients would be given half of the amount. In case of Team event, cash prize for two members would be given one and half times; for 3-4 members the amount would be double; for 5-10 members the amount would be three times and for 10 or above 10 members team, prize money would be five times.

Source: Web Search

Barca will choose Laporta's replacement at June 13 poll

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 09:48 PM

Barcelona's club members will vote for a new president to replace the out-going Joan Laporta at an election on June 13, the Spanish champions said on Friday.

Barca said candidates could register between May 25 and June 1 and needed to collect at least 2,095 signatures of support to be considered.

Barcelona, along with La Liga rivals such as Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, are run as sports clubs with thousands of members who choose who runs their club for fixed terms in office.

The election campaign will run from June 4-11.

Laporta's second term in office finishes at the end of June and he has to stand down, having presided over one of the most successful periods for the club.

Since he arrived in 2003, Barca have won two European Cups, three league titles and a King's Cup. They have a chance to add another La Liga title to the list as they top the standings with four games left to play this season.

One of the new president's most pressing tasks will be to secure the future of coach Pep Guardiola, who helped them to win six trophies in 2009.

Guardiola has agreed with Laporta to extend his contract to next season but has refused to sign a deal until he has spoken with the incoming president.

Source: Web Search

Mahindra closing down wake-up call for AIFF: Bhutia

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 09:38 PM

Kolkata, Apr 30 (PTI) Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia today said the shutting down of Mahindra United should serve a wake-up call for All India Football Federation who need to encourage fan-based clubs. Describing the sudden development as "very unfortunate", the talismanic Indian forward told PTI, "It has given a wake-up call to AIFF to look and encourage new teams. We need to have more fan-based teams like Pune FC. We need to encourage teams like that." He, however, was not much surprised at Mahindra United''s decision to disband the club at the end of current I-League season with focus of the parent company shifting towards developing talent at school level. "Whatever happened is very unfortunate. But from the corporate sector''s point of view, Mahindra United are not the first club to shut down. It''s bound to happen when you have corporate clubs." "A good club shutting down is obviously not a good thing for anyone. Be it a senior footballer or a promising youngster. It''s time for the parent body to look into new ideas. It''s a learning process and they need to look into ways of bringing in new teams," he added. Bhutia, also the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) president, said, "From players point of view, after a season everybody''s contract is over and everybody starts looking for a new club. So it''s not a big loss for them." PTI TAP NN PDS

Source: Web Search

INTERVIEW - Inkoom becomes a driving force for Ghana

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 09:28 PM

Full back Samuel Inkoom fled home as a teenager, helped Ghana beat Brazil in the world under-20 final and has run the gauntlet of angry fans in his country. Nothing worries him -- apart from Swiss traffic laws.

The outgoing, confident Inkoom, 20, joined FC Basel at the start of the season and his only real difficulties have been with the highway code.

"The driving here is more difficult, there are a lot of rules," he told Reuters after a five-minute trip in a shining Volkswagen Scirocco from FC Basel's St Jakob Park stadium to his comfortable but unassuming flat.

"They have a limit which you are supposed to go at, if you go faster than that, they will flash you, they fine you and you have to pay."

"In Ghana, you're free," added Inkoom, who had to restrain himself from pulling across two lanes of oncoming traffic -- a normal manoeuvre back home -- as he left the stadium car park.

Inkoom broke into the Ghana team last year when he played in the final match of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Mali and was ever-present in the team which finished runners-up to Egypt at the African Nations Cup in Angola in January.

He played in the team which won the under-20 world championship in Egypt last year, beating Brazil on penalties in the final, and believes that victory could inspire the senior side to win the tournament in South Africa -- something no African team has done.

"I believe that we are going to live the ultimate," he said, bristling with confidence. "If you are determined and focused in football, I believe you can achieve what you want."

"We are united and we have the quality," he said.

"If you see the senior and junior players, it's amazing. Michael Essien is great, you can ask him anything you want, anytime. Stephen Appiah is the same, he is a good captain, he encourages players.

"Milovan Rajevac is a very good coach, he comes to you and shows you the plan, he goes through it with you one to one, he shows you what to do, he makes us understand football."

STEAMY PORT

Inkoom's new home, in a quiet Basel suburb, is a world away from the teeming streets of the steamy port of Sekondi where he grew up.

Like thousands of children across Africa, Inkoom learned his football on the streets.

His life changed when, as a teenager, he was spotted by a scout from a football academy in the centre of the country.

"My father was a teacher and he told me I couldn't go, he wanted me to go to school," said Inkoom. "So I ran away from home. One day, I just took some things and left.

"Then, my father would come and watch me play and he would argue with my coach telling me he wanted me to come home."

Inkoom, who says his parents are now among his biggest fans, ended up being signed by Ashante Kotoko, Ghana's most popular club, where he quickly became a firm favourite.

He was spotted by FC Basel, joining the Swiss club at the start of the season.

He does not intend to let the opportunity slip and has shunned the lifestyle which has sent so many players down the wrong path.

"I prefer gaining a lot of energy for my work," said Inkoom, who spent the interview with one eye on his performance in a recent match against FC Luzern.

"Instead of going to a night club, I prefer to sleep and watch my matches and the mistakes I made, to learn from them."

ANGRY FANS

No African country has ever reached even the semi-finals of the World Cup, but Inkoom said that expectations in the West African country -- who reached the second round on their first finals appearance four years ago -- are high, possibly too much so.

"There is a lot of pressure on the national team, everybody wants you to do something for the country," said Inkoom, who felt the fans' wrath after a 2-2 draw with Mali.

"But you will not find it easy, they will assault you, they will go to your family... everybody knows where you live and they will go straight to your house.

"They follow the team with their hearts, sometimes they don't have money and fight to get money to buy tickets to come to watch you... so they get angry if you lose.

"I believe it's part of football. If they insult me, it doesn't bother me."

Source: Web Search

We can only defend world title by staying united: Afridi

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 08:48 PM

Karachi, April 30 (IANS) Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has warned that the only way his team can defend the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean is by staying united.

'We are all aware that there is no other way to win a world title other than by staying united,' Afridi told infoT20.com in an interview Friday ahead of their World Twenty20 opener against Bangladesh in St. Lucia Saturday.

'And I must say that there is unity in my team. There is a clear bonding among the team members and I'm confident that they will gel well in the West Indies,' he added.

Afridi, 30, said he is ready to lead his team from the front.

'For me, there is no other way but to lead from the front both as captain and the team's senior most player.'

'I've always played my cricket with passion and aggression and am looking forward to bringing out the best in me during the Twenty20 World Cup because it's perhaps the most important challenge of my career,' stressed Afridi, regarded as the most destructive allrounder in the slam-bang version of the game.

Afridi's men have been questioned over their lack of unity and character in recent times and many also fear that they may not be in the right frame of mind to successfully defend the title in the Caribbean.

His countrymen back home might be expecting Pakistan to retain the world title but Afridi is making no such promises.

'Our target is to win the World Cup but it's cricket and there are no guarantees. What I can say for sure is that all of us are going to give our best for Pakistan and hopefully send good news back home from the West Indies.'

Afridi believes he is at the helm of a balanced team with enough firepower to floor any kind of opposition.

'We have some really good bowlers. In Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Sami, we have some impressive pacers. Then we have a good spin attack with Saeed Ajmal, myself, Abdul Rehman and Mohammad Hafeez.

'There was this major blow for us when Umar Gul was ruled out of the event but our bowling arsenal is still a pretty strong one.'

Afridi is hoping that experienced batsmen like Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal will take responsibility in the absence of seasoned players like Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik - who formed the backbone of the team's middle-order in the second edition in England last summer.

'I must say that the main responsibility will be on the senior players. They are the ones who will have to give their best and inspire the young members of our team.'

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Asian teams face tough challenge this time, says Sohail

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 08:38 PM

Karachi, April 30 (IANS) Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail believes the Twenty20 format is quickly evolving and the Asian teams can't take things for granted any more as sides like Australia and South Africa have started to take the shortest version of the game seriously.

In his column for the newly-launched infot20.com, Aamir wrote Friday that technically-sound cricketers are now likely to shine during the April 30-May 16 World Twenty20 championship in the Caribbean.

'I think that unlike the last two Twenty20 World Cups, Asian teams - Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka - will find the going tough against teams like Australia and South Africa. The previous two finals were all-Asian affairs but it could be a different story this time.

'I think Australia and South Africa will do much better this time. The Aussies have restructured their Twenty20 team and seem determined to win this elusive title. Same is the case with the South Africans. Asian teams will have to take their game to the next level to maintain their supremacy in this popular spectacle.

'The format is evolving and slowly only technically sound players will be successful in it,' he stressed.

Aamir believes that defending the title will be a tough task for Pakistan.

'As a Pakistani, it's pretty natural that I will be supporting Shahid Afridi and will hope that our men in green bring the Cup home once again. But as a cricket expert, I would want to make it clear that it is going to be a very tough task,' he said.

'Personally, I think that there are five teams -- Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Australia and South Africa -- with realistic chances of winning the World Cup. To some extent, the West Indies are also there and being the hosts will be fancying their chances of lifting the trophy in Barbados May 16. But the five I've mentioned are more or less similar teams when it comes to Twenty20 cricket. Much will depend on how they utilize their players.

'If you single out Pakistan, I must say that we certainly have the players, who have the potential to be match-winners in the Twenty20 format. But we will need some careful planning. You can't just rely on the big-hitting in Twenty20 Internationals any more. Things have changed now. Slowly but surely, tactically sound cricketers will overshadow the more adventurous players even in the shortest format. I won't be surprised to see players like Jacques Kallis, whom South Africa dropped in the inaugural event, to shine in the Caribbean.'

Aamir urged Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi to read the conditions well.

'To Shahid Afridi, my advice is that you will have to read the conditions properly because that will be the most important aspect.'

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Major blow for Indian football, Mahindras close down Mahindra United

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 08:28 PM

New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Indian football received a body blow Friday with automobile giants Mahindras announcing the shutting down of their Mumbai-based 48-year-old football club Mahindra United from next season and that they will move on to develop the game at the grassroots level.

The shocking decision comes at a time when Mahindra U are placed second in the I-League and also have an outside chance of winning the title. Started in 1962, the club has been one of the best and has won all major Championships including the Durand Cup, National League, IFA Shield, Federation Cup, President's Cup and the Super Cup. The team has been adjudged champions of the Mumbai Football League 15 times since 1971.

Mahindra United's president Alan Durante told IANS from Mumbai that the company has decided to close the football club and concentrate on school soccer.

'We realised that we were not contributing much to development of the game in the country by running a football club. In India we have just 300-400 players, who get a chance to play club football at the top level. We will work at grassroots level to increase the pool by investing in school soccer,' Durante said.

'Mahindra United emerged as a club to reckon with from Mumbai, and has scaled glorious heights by winning every major tournament in India, the President's Cup in the Maldives and also qualifying for the Asian Football League. I am especially happy that the Group will now strengthen its commitment to this wonderful sport by selecting and nurturing school kids to play on a national stage,' Durante added.

The top bosses in Indian football are now planning to meet Mahindra's managing director Anand Mahindra and persuade him to change the decision. All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Alberto Colaco said he would take up the issue with federation president Praful Patel, who is also the chief of Western India Football Association (WIFA). Patel's tenure as the WIFA president also saw the end of the famous Rovers Cup.

'We haven't received any communication from the club. But we will take up the matter with Mr. Patel,' he said.

But it seems that it would be tough for them to convince Mahindra.

Commenting on this development, Mahindra said: 'This is an important day for us as we move from competitive football and focus our energies and efforts in training young football aficionados. Mahindra United has been an integral part of our legacy and journey in football. We are proud of our team - the players, support staff, and management - who have brought both Mahindra United and Brand Mahindra success and respect. We are sure our new approach will go a long way in giving the sport the fillip it needs in India. We will be able to reach out to many more youngsters, unearth new talent and provide them the opportunity to play on a national platform.'

The players are now a worried lot and feel that the decision has come at the wrong time.

A national team player, on the condition of anonymity, told IANS that now they won't get a good deal from other clubs.

'We just had three matches left in the I-league and they should have waited for some time before making the decision public. Now other clubs will arm twist us and we won't get a good deal. I don't know what will happen to the young players, who have been waiting in the wings to make their debut in the first eleven,' he said.

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Ferguson looks to Liverpool to hold Chelsea back

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 08:08 PM

Alex Ferguson is relying on bitter rivals Liverpool to keep up their fighting spirit against Chelsea on Sunday, even though their own Premier League title hopes are over.

Ferguson's Manchester United could profit if seventh-placed Liverpool beat league leaders Chelsea at Anfield, or hold them to a draw.

"I am confident and I have to be confident that Liverpool will be trying," Ferguson, whose side are one point behind Chelsea with two games to play, told a news conference on Friday.

"Great clubs don't throw their histories away, they don't throw their traditions away for one game. They have been in 10 European finals and won 18 titles and that is a fantastic history and you don't throw that away."

The United manager hopes to have striker Wayne Rooney and defender Rio Ferdinand fit for the trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

The duo have been struggling with groin injuries. Rooney, who also had an ankle problem, picked up a complaint in training last week while Ferdinand aggravated his groin against Blackburn Rovers earlier this month.

"We expect Wayne to join us in training and possibly Rio Ferdinand as well," Ferguson said. "We will see how they do but we have a couple of days.

"Wayne missed last week's game against Tottenham to allow the ankle to settle. We don't have any issues with that now. Hopefully he is okay," he added.

"Groin injuries can be a problem at this time of year when the grounds start to get firm but hopefully if he comes through today it gives us something to think about on Sunday."

Rooney has scored 34 goals in all competitions this season for United.

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Approach of Pakistani players has changed: Younis

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 07:38 PM

St Lucia (WI), Apr 30 (PTI) Pakistan coach Waqar Younis says there is a change in the attitude of his players, who have understood the value of professionalism and are eager to do well in the Twenty20 World Cup. Pakistan will begin the defence of their title against Bangladesh tomorrow and will take on Australia on Sunday in their group A matches. Younis, who took over as full fledged coach last month, said there is sea change in players from the Australian tour where they were annihilated by the hosts in all Test, One-day and T20 matches. "I''ve seen the change from Australia to Pakistan. The boys have really started responding. In Australia I was part of the team and the boys were a little laid back, not really bothered," Younis, who was a bowling coach in Australia, said ahead of their tournament opener. The doomed Australian tour resulted in banning and fines on more than half-a-dozen players, including T20 captain Shahid Afridi. On being asked if PCB''s disciplinary action has resulted in players being cautiuos, Younis said,"I don''t know if it''s got anything to do with the banning or what, but they have really started pushing themselves." "I wouldn''t say they''re scared but they''ve probably started thinking it''s a professional game and they get paid for it and there''s a country''s (honour) at stake," he added. Younis also defended Afridi''s selection as captain for the World Cup saying, "I think he is the best choice as captain. He is an all-rounder and he leads from the front." "He is bowling superbly, he is a match-winning bowler. And with his quick 30-odd off 10 balls or whatever, that really puts the game in your favour." PTI AT

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Quiet man Hodgson sets fires burning in Fulham players

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 07:28 PM

It was surely one of the all-time great moments of footballing irony when, moments after Fulham secured their place in the Europa Cup final, Roy Hodgson said: "I'm a little bit drained of emotion".

Having just seen his team come from a goal down to beat Hamburg SV 2-1 and send Craven Cottage crazy, Hodgson exchanged a few handshakes and disappeared down the tunnel.

He was never going to sprint to the centre circle Jose Mourinho-style but Hodgson's quiet dignity in victory summed up the cerebral approach that has brought him so much success during a peripatetic 34-year coaching career.

As a player Hodgson was never able to crack Crystal Palace's first team and spent most of his career at minor league clubs. Perhaps that was why, when he took to coaching, he quickly developed a talent for turning minnows into big fish.

He led unfashionable Halmstads to the Swedish championship in his first year in charge in 1976, later describing the "water into wine job" as his greatest achievement.

Five consecutive league titles for Malmo earned him a shot at international management and again he got his players punching above their weight as Switzerland made it to the second round of the 1994 World Cup and into Euro 96.

He joined Inter Milan in 1995 where the parallels with what he has done at Fulham are remarkable, overseeing recovery from a dire start that ended with them finishing seventh in Serie A.

The following year they were third and reached the UEFA Cup final and though they lost to Schalke O4 on penalties, the next year the team Hodgson built won the trophy.

By then though he had been tempted to England where he did a similar job with Blackburn when he took them to sixth and into the familiar territory of the UEFA Cup.

However, the halo then began to slip as, for the first time in his career, Hodgson had big money to spend. He did not spend it wisely, or at least the big-name arrivals were not able to work within his framework, and with Blackburn bottom of the league four months into the season he was sacked.

He flitted around the world for the next nine years before being taken on by Fulham in December 2007. Relegation looked a certainty before a late charge culminated in a last-day escape.

Hodgson was back doing what he does best. Like Brian Clough, he somehow makes ordinary players reach new peaks and, as he had in his early successes, he developed real confidence and self-belief within his team.

Zoltan Gera, the scorer of Thursday's winner, Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy, Paul Konchesky, Damien Duff and Mark Schwarzer have all been given a new lease of life under his stewardship and repaid his faith with consistently high-level performances.

In his first full season in charge Hodgson steered Fulham to a seventh-place finish in the Premier league - the best performance in their history - and into the Europa League.

Victories over holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, German champions Wolfsburg and Hamburg will live long in the memory not least because so many of them came when Fulham looked dead and buried.

"The manager said at halftime to keep on going and playing football and we will get our reward and we did," said Simon Davies, scorer of brilliantly-taken equaliser on Thursday. "We have played some great teams and come from behind a few times and it has been amazing."

In the running for manager of the year and, at least in the bars of west London on Thursday, discussed as a possible future England coach, Hodgson is having the time of his life at 62.

Although success always helps, Hodgson seems to have mastered the difficult task of being liked and respected by his players, chairman and the club's fans.

"He has been fantastic since day one when I arrived at the club," said Schwarzer. "And every player can vouch for that."

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AC Milan's Leonardo strongly hints at exit

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 07:08 PM

AC Milan coach Leonardo has fuelled speculation he will leave at the end of the season after owner Silvio Berlusconi was reported to have made remarks about the Brazilian's departure.

"I don't know what Berlusconi said but I can't deny that our relationship is difficult. We are very different, maybe we are incompatible but the important thing is these next three games," Leonaardo told a news conference on Friday.

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Natl team to be selected at jr TT camp

Published Fri, Apr 30 10 06:52 PM

Patna, Apr 30 (PTI) India''s junior national team for the Makau international table tennis championship will be selected from the training camp, beginning here from May 2. The 22-day camp would be participated by 20 national ranking boys and girls and 10 local players, Bihar Table Tennis Association Secretary Mukesh Roy told reporters today. Four national ranking coaches will be part of the camp. The national ranking players bers are : Junior boys : Sanmay Paranjape, Sushmit Sriram, Abhishek Yadav, Sarthak Gandhi, Avik Das, Sudhanshu Grover, Vivek Bhargava, Arnab Adhikari, Surojit Das and Utkarsh Gupta. Junior girls team : Nikhat Banu, Krittwika Sinha Roy, S.Narsimha Priya, Sarmanna Dutta, Camelia Sil, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Shwetha Parte, S Krithieka, Senohra D''Souza and Anushree Hazra. Local members : Ankit Kumar, Piyush D Gandhi, Rahul Kumar, Amit Kumar, Rahul Prakash, Saurav Kumar, Tushar Kanti, Gagan Neer and Junaidur Rahaman (all boys) and Payal Kumari. PTI AB AJK KK AT

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India to begin World Twenty20 campaign against Afghanistan

Published>Fri, Apr 30 10 06:28 PM

Gros Islet (St. Lucia), April 30 (IANS) Eleven months after losing their World Twenty20 crown in England, India will take another shot at the title when they begin their campaign against new entrants Afghanistan here Saturday.

India won the inaugural championships in 2007 in South Africa that cracked the jackpot for the shorter format of the game. Twenty20 was an instant hit in cricket's financial powerhouse India, who had earlier won a cricket World Cup (50 overs) way back in 1983.

But two years later in South Africa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys made an early exit which had tongues wagging whether the first title was more of a fluke. Pakistan emerged as the surprise champions.

As skipper Dhoni believes, India have the potential and talent in their ranks to win back the title, but it will be tough to list them favourites in the highly unpredictable format.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) would come in handy for the Indian players, though it can slow them down a bit after 45-days of the tournament.

Though India would be opening against lowly Afghanistan before taking on South Africa, Dhoni has made it clear that they would not take the war-torn neighbours lightly.

Afghanistan would not be short of motivation. Far from the riches of Indian cricketers, the Afghanistan team has battled a raging war at home to come so far.

In two years, they have risen from Division Five of the World Cricket League to the elite 12-nation World Twenty20. They just missed out on qualifying for the 2011 World Cup but their gutsy show has earned them the full one-day international status.

They pulled off an impressive five-wicket win over Ireland in a warm-up match Wednesday and are looking to create a major upset to give back something to cheer for their countrymen.

'We are here not just to participate,' says Afghanistan head coach Kabir Khan. 'The players and all of us are excited about the first game against India and we want to give them tough competition,' he says.

India would lack the firepower in the batting department with the absence of charismatic Virender Sehwag who is out with a shoulder injury. Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir's bad patch is also a cause of worry for the team.

The bowling though looks razor sharp with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, the two lead bowlers, having performed well for Mumbai Indians during the IPL. Dhoni will also have a host of part-time bowlers to pick from.

Teams--

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain & Wicket Keeper ), Murali Vijay, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, R. Vinay Kumar.

Afghanistan (from): Nowroz Mangal (capt), Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Ahmadzai, Hamid Hassan, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Nasratullah Nasrat, Noor Ali, Raees Ahmadzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shabir Noori, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran.

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