CWG chief expresses concerns over Games village preparation

Tue, Sep 21 10 08:39 AM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has expressed concerns over the Games Village preparation, saying that the condition of the residential zone there has "shocked" many contingents.

"The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority," Fennell wrote in a letter to Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar. With just 12 days to go for the sporting extravaganza, the Federation chief has expressed doubts over the state of the Games village which he said has been "seriously compromised".

"The Village is the cornerstone of any Games and the athletes deserve the best possible environment to prepare for their competition." Fennel's comments came after New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland have objected strongly to the condition of the accommodation given to them in the Village.

The contingent had said that the living conditions "unlivable" and had asked the Games organising committee to put their officials and athletes in hotels if they could not set apartments right.

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Source: Published>

Under-18 tennis: Deshmukh enters round two

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 08:07 AM

City-based Sahil Deshmukh secured an upset victory when he shocked top-seed Sourabh Raghuvanshi of Indore 9-2 to enter the second round of the Boys under 18 event at the Rachana Lifestyle Trophy- Om Dalvi Memorial National Ranking junior tennis tournaments organised by the PYC Hindu Gymkhana on the club tennis courts.

The 13-year-old, who is member of the Lakshya-Bharat Forge Programme, scored his first ever win in a boys' under-18 event, said a press release.

Results:

.Boys' under-16:Rohan Panchal (Pune) bt Yash Lele (Sangli) 9-4

Rushabh Ranawat (Pune) bt Aditya Kausthubhan 9-5

Sahil Gaware bt Mandar Holkar 9-3

Rohin Gajre bt Varunraj Salunke 9-1

Jaganmay Panigra bt Dennis Jaichandran 9-5

Yash Agarwal bt Dhruv Vyas 9-0

Jayesh Pungaliya bt Rohan Lelani 9-1

Boys' under-18:

Sahil Deshmukh (Pune) bt Sourabh Raghuvanshi (Indore, S-1) 9-2.

Nikunj Mehta bt Neel Lalplikar 9-2

Brudh Mankad bt Sarvesh Theete 9-1

Parth Chevte (Pune) bt Harsha Manjunath 9-6

Abhimayu Dakwala bt Aditya Chougule 9-2

Nishant Rebello bt Rohit Ranglani 9-6

Suraj Prabhot bt Gaurav Bhagat 9-5

Aniket Wakankar (Pune) bt Ishant Singh 9-5;

Indra Patwardhan bt Nesal Jeur (KAR) 9-4

Girls' under-18:

Dhruti Venugopal bt Ayushi Daar 9-0

Aavani Gosavi bt Devangana Rashravar 9-2

Anusha Dhar bt Needhi Dhumes 9-5

Saloni Ghodke bt Krutika Rai 9-4

Noopur Shinde bt Srushti Das 9-5

Sharli Deshmukh bt Anushka Sathe 9-6.

Source: Web Search

From Test, Yuvraj pushed to the Rest

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 08:01 AM

Yuvraj Singh will have a lot to prove when he leads the Rest of India side in the Irani Cup. On Monday, the national selection committee dumped the left-hander, a move that indicated that the days of Yuvraj Singh living on reputation rather than form were over, at least in the Test squad. Yuvraj hasn't scored an international century in over a year and his fitness has come under the scanner over this year, a period during which he has struggled with injuries.

Selection committee chairman Krish Srikkanth said the criteria for selecting the team was performance and fitness. "We don't have to give any particular reason (for dropping Yuvraj). I think, performance and fitness... everything is taken into account. That itself answers the question," Srikkanth said.

Srikkanth said by virtue of his fine performance in the domestic circuit, Pujara has powered his way into the national squad. "Pujara has done very well in the domestic circuit in the last couple of seasons. He is a good player and also did well in the 'A' series. With the sheer weightage of his performace he has muscled his way into the team. You will have to give credit to his domestic performance," he said. "We have given weightage to performance in domestic A series and it is not that overall performance of every player hasn't been taken into account. We have consulted (coach) Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni and ultimately, this was the consensus," the chairman of selectors added.

Mithun out, Sreesanth in

While Pujara's inclusion was the story of the day, the exclusion of young seamer Abhimanyu Mithun was the only other talking point as the selection committee banked more on experience than on current form with the ball. Getting the nod was S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, coming back after a shoulder injury. Ishant Sharma, spinners Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh retained their places. Murali Vijay, in his limited appearances, has done enough to merit his reserve opener role .

Sreesanth, on his part was delighted to get another opportunity. "I am sure I will be able to perform well against Australia. I will give my full effort," Sreesanth said. "I have not played against Australia in Test matches. Australia is a top Test side but I am hoping for a good performance in the series," he said.

Srikkanth said they have selected a balanced team. "We have a strong batting line-up backed by some good bowling. We are confident of doing well against Australia," he said.

As the team assembles in Mohali to test the Aussie might, a certain Yuvraj will be herding the rest of fringe players in Jaipur at the same time and battle Mumbai in a match that is relegated into the shadows.

Source: Web Search

Under-18 tennis: Deshmukh enters round two

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 07:57 AM

City-based Sahil Deshmukh secured an upset victory when he shocked top-seed Sourabh Raghuvanshi of Indore 9-2 to enter the second round of the Boys under 18 event at the Rachana Lifestyle Trophy- Om Dalvi Memorial National Ranking junior tennis tournaments organised by the PYC Hindu Gymkhana on the club tennis courts.

The 13-year-old, who is member of the Lakshya-Bharat Forge Programme, scored his first ever win in a boys' under-18 event, said a press release.

Results:

.Boys' under-16:Rohan Panchal (Pune) bt Yash Lele (Sangli) 9-4

Rushabh Ranawat (Pune) bt Aditya Kausthubhan 9-5

Sahil Gaware bt Mandar Holkar 9-3

Rohin Gajre bt Varunraj Salunke 9-1

Jaganmay Panigra bt Dennis Jaichandran 9-5

Yash Agarwal bt Dhruv Vyas 9-0

Jayesh Pungaliya bt Rohan Lelani 9-1

Boys' under-18:

Sahil Deshmukh (Pune) bt Sourabh Raghuvanshi (Indore, S-1) 9-2.

Nikunj Mehta bt Neel Lalplikar 9-2

Brudh Mankad bt Sarvesh Theete 9-1

Parth Chevte (Pune) bt Harsha Manjunath 9-6

Abhimayu Dakwala bt Aditya Chougule 9-2

Nishant Rebello bt Rohit Ranglani 9-6

Suraj Prabhot bt Gaurav Bhagat 9-5

Aniket Wakankar (Pune) bt Ishant Singh 9-5;

Indra Patwardhan bt Nesal Jeur (KAR) 9-4

Girls' under-18:

Dhruti Venugopal bt Ayushi Daar 9-0

Aavani Gosavi bt Devangana Rashravar 9-2

Anusha Dhar bt Needhi Dhumes 9-5

Saloni Ghodke bt Krutika Rai 9-4

Noopur Shinde bt Srushti Das 9-5

Sharli Deshmukh bt Anushka Sathe 9-6.

Source: Web Search

CWG chief expresses concerns over Games village preparation

Tue, Sep 21 10 07:51 AM

New Delhi, Sep 21 (PTI) Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has expressed concerns over the Games Village preparation, saying that the condition of the residential zone there has "shocked" many contingents. "The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority," Fennell wrote in a letter to Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar. With just 12 days to go for the sporting extravaganza, the Federation chief has expressed doubts over the state of the Games village which he said has been "seriously compromised". "The Village is the cornerstone of any Games and the athletes deserve the best possible environment to prepare for their competition." Fennel''s comments came after New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland have objected strongly to the condition of the accommodation given to them in the Village. The contingent had said that the living conditions "unlivable" and had asked the Games organising committee to put their officials and athletes in hotels if they could not set apartments right.

Source: Published>

From Test, Yuvraj pushed to the Rest

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 07:47 AM

Yuvraj Singh will have a lot to prove when he leads the Rest of India side in the Irani Cup. On Monday, the national selection committee dumped the left-hander, a move that indicated that the days of Yuvraj Singh living on reputation rather than form were over, at least in the Test squad. Yuvraj hasn't scored an international century in over a year and his fitness has come under the scanner over this year, a period during which he has struggled with injuries.

Selection committee chairman Krish Srikkanth said the criteria for selecting the team was performance and fitness. "We don't have to give any particular reason (for dropping Yuvraj). I think, performance and fitness... everything is taken into account. That itself answers the question," Srikkanth said.

Srikkanth said by virtue of his fine performance in the domestic circuit, Pujara has powered his way into the national squad. "Pujara has done very well in the domestic circuit in the last couple of seasons. He is a good player and also did well in the 'A' series. With the sheer weightage of his performace he has muscled his way into the team. You will have to give credit to his domestic performance," he said. "We have given weightage to performance in domestic A series and it is not that overall performance of every player hasn't been taken into account. We have consulted (coach) Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni and ultimately, this was the consensus," the chairman of selectors added.

Mithun out, Sreesanth in

While Pujara's inclusion was the story of the day, the exclusion of young seamer Abhimanyu Mithun was the only other talking point as the selection committee banked more on experience than on current form with the ball. Getting the nod was S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, coming back after a shoulder injury. Ishant Sharma, spinners Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh retained their places. Murali Vijay, in his limited appearances, has done enough to merit his reserve opener role .

Sreesanth, on his part was delighted to get another opportunity. "I am sure I will be able to perform well against Australia. I will give my full effort," Sreesanth said. "I have not played against Australia in Test matches. Australia is a top Test side but I am hoping for a good performance in the series," he said.

Srikkanth said they have selected a balanced team. "We have a strong batting line-up backed by some good bowling. We are confident of doing well against Australia," he said.

As the team assembles in Mohali to test the Aussie might, a certain Yuvraj will be herding the rest of fringe players in Jaipur at the same time and battle Mumbai in a match that is relegated into the shadows.

Source: Web Search

At Pragati Maidan, a plush media centre for journalists

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 06:11 AM

A sure shot way to impress participating countries is to impress their media. The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has taken that to heart, as was apparent with the inauguration of a plush Media Centre at Pragati Maidan on Monday. Billed as the "largest media centre in the history of the Commonwealth Games", the centre is expected to draw a contingent of nearly 2,000 mediapersons, and will open for operations on September 23. The centre will be run by the Press Information Bureau, and is located at Hall No 12 and 12 A of Pragati Maidan.

Spread across 6,700 square metres, the Main Press Centre (MPC), which will remain open 24 hours a day, was inaugurated on Monday by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.

It comes equipped with a Central Work Area that holds 600 work stations, as well as a separate sections for mediapersons who wish to use the wi-fi network for their laptops.

Six news and photo agencies ? Getty Images, Agency France Presse, Associated Press, Australian Associated Press, News Limited and Press Association ? have been allotted personal offices to function from Pragati Maidan for the duration of the Games. The MPC also has a 300-seat Press Conference Room, and a 100-seat press briefing room. There is even a post office inside the centre to be run by the Indian Postal Service.

Helpdesks are scattered throughout the lobby, and mediapersons planning to travel during or after the Games can directly book tickets from the travel desk at the MPC. A large media lounge-cum-cafetaria will serve meals throughout the day. Television screens adorn nearly every wall. A convenience store, a pharmacy, a mobile store, as well as a bank with foreign exchange services are located in the centre.

Source: Web Search

From Test, Yuvraj pushed to the Rest

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 06:07 AM

Yuvraj Singh will have a lot to prove when he leads the Rest of India side in the Irani Cup. On Monday, the national selection committee dumped the left-hander, a move that indicated that the days of Yuvraj Singh living on reputation rather than form were over, at least in the Test squad. Yuvraj hasn't scored an international century in over a year and his fitness has come under the scanner over this year, a period during which he has struggled with injuries.

Selection committee chairman Krish Srikkanth said the criteria for selecting the team was performance and fitness. "We don't have to give any particular reason (for dropping Yuvraj). I think, performance and fitness... everything is taken into account. That itself answers the question," Srikkanth said.

Srikkanth said by virtue of his fine performance in the domestic circuit, Pujara has powered his way into the national squad. "Pujara has done very well in the domestic circuit in the last couple of seasons. He is a good player and also did well in the 'A' series. With the sheer weightage of his performace he has muscled his way into the team. You will have to give credit to his domestic performance," he said. "We have given weightage to performance in domestic A series and it is not that overall performance of every player hasn't been taken into account. We have consulted (coach) Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni and ultimately, this was the consensus," the chairman of selectors added.

Mithun out, Sreesanth in

While Pujara's inclusion was the story of the day, the exclusion of young seamer Abhimanyu Mithun was the only other talking point as the selection committee banked more on experience than on current form with the ball. Getting the nod was S Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, coming back after a shoulder injury. Ishant Sharma, spinners Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh retained their places. Murali Vijay, in his limited appearances, has done enough to merit his reserve opener role .

Sreesanth, on his part was delighted to get another opportunity. "I am sure I will be able to perform well against Australia. I will give my full effort," Sreesanth said. "I have not played against Australia in Test matches. Australia is a top Test side but I am hoping for a good performance in the series," he said.

Srikkanth said they have selected a balanced team. "We have a strong batting line-up backed by some good bowling. We are confident of doing well against Australia," he said.

As the team assembles in Mohali to test the Aussie might, a certain Yuvraj will be herding the rest of fringe players in Jaipur at the same time and battle Mumbai in a match that is relegated into the shadows.

Source: Web Search

"If we are not coming out with flashy advertising, it does not mean we are not performing"

Published>Tue, Sep 21 10 04:17 AM

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has big plans for its television channel Doordarshan which will air the Commonwealth Games (CWG) next month in high-definition (HD). DD hopes to increase its revenues by almost 50% this year and has come out with a special DD mascot, also called DD, to promote the broadcast of the Games.

The mascot, which looks like a mechanical insectoid, incorporates the channel's logo and abbreviated name, and has been designed by ad agency Ogilvy and Mather.

In an interview with FE's Rahul Sharma, Doordarshan (DD) director-general Aruna Sharma talked about Doordarshan's competition with private channels and the ad revenues it expects to garner with the telecast of CWG. Edited excerpts.

Is Doordarshan ready for the Commonwealth Games?

DD is fully geared for CWG. The HD signal has already been put into testing. The broadcast compounds are coming up in 18 places and we are almost finishing that. For six places, the production and technical equipment has been shifted and for others, it is in the process of being shifted. We will start the final rehearsal from the fourth week of September, when integrated testing will start off.

Also, I feel this is the time when the private and public sector should come forward to prove that not just cricket, but other sports are also important. We have now various cricket channels, it is time we stand by other sports. And India is winning in these disciplines.

To what extent has the controversies surrounding the CWG impacted the advertiser interest? How much ad revenue do you expect to garner during the Games?

In so far as advertiser interest is concerned, they are responding now. We did have a bit of a problem in between, of people holding back when there was quite a lot of negative news coming in. That did, sort of, put people on the hold. But things have started moving again.

We are confident of getting Rs200-300 crore in ad revenues. Plus, we are selling the ad spots in packages which ensures high visibility for the advertiser. The finals will be telecast on DD National, the complete highlights will be on DD News and regional channels.

DD Sports will be showing the events round the clock. And DD Urdu and Bharati will be also be showing sports events. So when a sponsor comes on board, his brand will be visible be on all four channels, plus regional channels and DD News. Also, we will be having a separate channel, DD HD, which will be showing the games in HD format.

So what happens to this HD channel after the Games are over?

We are already developing content in HD format for DD India. This will be the first feeder for DD HD. Also, we are working on an arrangement with Discovery channel. They have a lot of content in HD. Some of their content coming out of India or focused on India could be used. In addition, we will have the Delhi and Mumbai studios HD-ready withing a year.

What are your plans for the network then? How much revenue do you expect this year?

Lats year we had a record revenue of Rs1000.38 crore. This year we definitely want to reach as close to the operating expenses, which will be around 1300 crore. This year, apart from DD National, we will focus on DD Urdu, Kashir and India. DD Urdu will be coming up with a new form and shape by the end of this calendar year. DD Kashir is all ready to be repackaged and relaunched. For DD India, we have improved it programme by programme. It is an international channel of DD and is the voice of India. Of the 8-hour fresh run, two hours is devoted to news and current affairs. For the rest, it is about programmes showing the best of Indian art, culture and entertainment. We have also done tie-ups in large number of countries, so that DD India is visible there. We are now focusing more and more on consolidating and going to the products which have not been coming to us. We will also be upgrading DD network in the north-east. Also, we plan to complete the digitisation process of our terrestrial network by 2017. That will enable us to add five or six more DD channels.

Has DD lost to the private channels?

No. If you look at TAM ratings, DD has climbed up by 4 percentage points even in the category of cable and satellite (C&S) homes. If you put terrestrial and C&S together, 5 programmes of DD figure in the top 20. This, when we only do 5-6 hours of entertainment programming on DD National. DD News even now has the maximum viewership. Plus, one of the reasons for people not watching DD is the mischief of cable operators who either don't put DD in prime band or don't air it at all. If we are not coming out with flashy advertising, it does not mean we are not performing. Last year, we were able to capture 10% of the total TV ad market. Against the total ad market of Rs 8,900 crore we got around Rs 890 crore. We expect this to rise by 10-15% this year.

Source: Web Search

Ujfalusi tackle on Messi 'brutal', Villa says

Tue, Sep 21 10 03:01 AM

The tackle by Tomas Ujfalusi that damaged Lionel Messi's ankle on Sunday was "brutal" but it was probably not the Atletico Madrid defender's intention to cause injury, according to Barcelona striker David Villa.

Ujfalusi was shown a straight red card for the challenge in added time at the Calderon and Messi sustained ligament damage that will at the least keep him out of Barca's next two La liga matches, at home to Sporting Gijon on Wednesday and away at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

The Argentina forward is also doubtful for the Champions League match at Rubin Kazan on Sept. 29.

"We all saw the tackle on television and it seemed like a horrifying, brutal challenge," Spain striker Villa said at a news conference on Monday.

"I don't think that Ujfalusi did it with the intention of hurting Leo but for sure the next time he'll think twice about it," he added.

"If he said it was bad luck we have to believe that rather than judge him."

Barca had a strong enough squad to make sure that Messi's presence was not missed too much, Villa said.

Source: Published>

Pakistan win fourth ODI to square series with England

Tue, Sep 21 10 02:59 AM

Pakistan beat England by 38 runs in the fourth one-day international at Lord's on Monday to square the five-match series 2-2.

The final game is scheduled for Southampton on Wednesday.

Scores: Pakistan 265 for seven off 50 overs; England 227 all out off 46.1 overs.

Source: Published>

Injured Hispania F1 team member on the mend

Tue, Sep 21 10 02:01 AM

A member of the Hispania Formula One team who was injured at the Italian Grand Prix eight days ago will leave hospital soon and return home to Germany, the team said on Monday.

The radio engineer was still working on Sakon Yamamoto's car during a pitstop when the Japanese was released and drove off, flipping the man in the air and leaving him crumpled on the ground.

Hispania said in a preview for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix that he was on the mend.

"The Hispania Racing HRT F1 Team member who was involved in the incident at the pit-stop in Monza is recovering positively," they said.

"He is supposed to leave the hospital in Italy soon, where he was kept under observation and go back to Germany, his home country."

Hispania were fined $20,000 for the incident.

Source: Published>

Siddle, James future Test pacers for Australia: Hussey

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:51 AM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Victoria skipper David Hussey today heaped praise on pacers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson for helping the team claim the second spot in the Group A points table to keep their hopes alive for the semifinal berth in the Champions League here today. "At 88 for 2, we were thinking we were in deep deep trouble. Full credit to Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, who came back and bowled us back into the game. I think we have got two future Test players there. James had good pace and rhythm and he hits the deck rather hard," Hussey said. Victoria today defeated Wayamba by eight wickets but their road to the semifinal depends on the match between Chennai SuperKings and Warriors on Wednesday and Hussey hoped rain god will come to their rescue. "We would have loved to finish in the seventh-eight over. our runrate was down, we put it up a bit and now we are hoping for rain in the other game at Port Elizabeth and lets see what happens," he said. His counterpart Jehan Mubarak said he was "shell-shocked" by Wayamba''s batting collapse and admitted that they lacked application today. "From a position of 80 for 2 to lose the rest of our wickets for 25 runs is very disappointing. Even today the wicket wasn''t the greatest to bat on, but once you get in, there is value for shots. It is just a matter of application, which we seem to be lacking in," he said. Man-of-the-match Peter Siddle said he was frustrated initially with his bowling but change of ends proved lucky for him as he came back to bowl a good spell. "Probably didn''t bowl that well at the start. Got frustrated with the bad balls. Got lucky with the change of ends. Blokes around me bowled really well," he said.

Source: Published>

Victoria crush Wayamba to stay alive for a semifinal berth

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:31 AM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Victoria produced a disciplined all-round performance to inflict a humiliating eight-wicket defeat on Wayamba and keep their hopes alive of reaching the semifinals of the Champions League twenty20 here today. Peter Siddle returned with a four-wicket haul to help Victoria bowl out Wayamba for a paltry 106 after Jehan Mubarak won the toss and elected to bat. David Hussey (47) and Aaron Finch (38) then shared an unbeaten 47-ball 77-run third wicket partnership to overhaul the target with 6.4 overs to spare as Victoria moved to the second spot in the points table of Group A. Victoria''s brilliant runchase have also improved their runrate but the road to semifinals will depend on the result of the match between the Warriors and Chennai Superkings at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene anchored the Wayamba innings with a 40-ball 51 but the Sri Lankan team lost last eight wickets for 25 runs to be bundled out in 16.3 overs at the SuperSport park here. Chasing 107 to win, Victoria lost early two wickets -- Brad Hodge (8) and Matthew Wade (5) -- for 31 runs in 5.3 overs but Aaron Finch and David Hussey added an unfinished 77 runs in 7.5 overs to romp home comfortably. Looking to flick Thisara Perera across the short fine leg boundary, Hodge lobbed it straight to Isuru Udana, while Wade was done in by a Udana slower ball. Finch picked up his first boundary in the fourth over off Perara and repeated the treatment to Karunanayake in the 12th over. In the eighth over, Hussey smashed two fours and a six off Udana to accumulate 17 runs, before hitting Shalika Karunanayake for another boundary in the 10th over. Rangana Herath was at their receiving end in the 13th over, when Finch clobbered a six over mid-wicket and Hussey completed the over with a four across extra cover. In the 14th over, Hussey blasted a huge six off Chanaka Welegedara to bring up the winning runs for Victoria. Earlier electing to bat, Wayamba had a shaky start as they lost two early wickets in opener Jeevantha Kulatunga and Mahela Udawatte with the score reading just nine in 1.3 overs. Jayawardene and skipper Jehan Mubarak (44) then tried to stem the rod and added 72 runs in 52 balls for the third wicket but Wayamba suffered a massive batting collapse and folded for 106 in 16.3 overs. Jayawardene and Mubarak were the only batsmen to score in double figures as five of their teammates were back to the pavilion for duck. Siddle scalped four wickets giving away 29 runs, while his teammates James Pattinson and Andrew McDonald took two wickets each for 14 and 22 runs. .

Source: Published>

Flip-flops continue as Butt takes aggressive stand again

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:19 AM

Karachi, Sep 20 (PTI) Continuing his flip-flops, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt today said that he was in no mood to back down from his strong statements against the ECB and ICC on spot-fixing allegations against Pakistan cricket team. The statement comes after Butt did a U-turn where he said that he never accused the England team of match-fixing, barely a day after suggesting that English players had thrown the Oval ODI and that they should be ivestigated by the ICC. "We will no longer tolerate this effort to humiliate our players. We have a strong case of a conspiracy against our team," Butt said. The ECB in a statement, while rejecting Butt''s accusations, said it will take all legal and disciplinary action following his comments. Butt, however, said that ECB could take legal action if they wanted to but the PCB was prepared for it and would give a fitting reply. "We are prepared and we also have a strong case against the ECB," he said. The PCB chief also lashed out at the ICC for holding parallel investigations into spot-fixing allegations against three Pakistan players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohamamd Asif. Scotland Yard is investigating newspaper reports that the trio had been paid to bowl deliberate no-balls during last month''s Lord''s Test. Butt, who is in Dubai, said that the ICC had caused great damage to the Pakistan team by suspending its three key players. They suspended our players despite the absence of evidence against them. Scotland Yard is still investigating the case and have not charged the players," Butt said. The PCB chief claimed that the Scotland Yard had made it clear that until they completed their investigations no other inquiry should be held. "But the ICC started a parallel investigation into the allegations and suspended our players. "If this is not enough to conclude there is a conspiracy against our players then what is," Butt said. Butt had yesterday irked ECB officials by stating that the ICC should investigate how England lost the third one-dayer at the Oval and that he had heard from bookmakers that some English players took money to lose the match. The PCB chief''s remarks came after the ICC had launched investigations into the third one-dayer after it received information from an English newspaper alleging that bookies were aware of certain scoring patters during the match. PTI CORR AH

Source: Published>

Victoria beat Wayamba by eight wickets

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:15 AM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Victoria beat Wayamba by eight wickets in a Champions League twenty20 match played at SuperSport Park here today. Brief Score: Wayamba: 106 all out in 16.3 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 51, Jehan Mubarak 44; Peter Siddle 4/29). Victoria: 108 for two in 13.2 overs (David Hussey 47, Aaron Finch 38; Thisara Perera 1/13).

Source: Published>

Trott, Wahab involved in altercation in nets before ODI: Yawar

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:09 AM

Karachi, Sep 20 (PTI) Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed today confirmed that England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz were involved in a confrontation before the fourth one-day international at Lord''s. A cricket website today reported that words were exchanged between the two players in the nets at Lord''s. "Yes there were some words exchanged after a misunderstanding over use of nets but the players moved away after the intervention of the umpires who were present there and our coach," Yawar said. "There was nothing serious and just a minor incident," he insisted. But the incident highlighted the growing distrust and animosity between the players of the two teams since the spot fixing allegations first broke out late last month after the fourth Test at Lord''s. The relations further soured after the ICC announced it was investigating newspaper reports that there was some spot fixing in the third one-dayer at The Oval that Pakistan won. The Pakistan board chairman Ijaz Butt also didn''t help the matters by accusing English cricketers of being involved in corruption. Meanwhile, Pakistan ODI captain Shahid Afridi today appeared to be in an aggressive mood at the toss before the fourth ODI. Asked by commentator Michael Artherton about the spot fixing investigations into the third match, Afridi said: "I damn care about these things as we are here to play cricket and do well." When asked about the statement of the PCB chairman, Afridi said: "I don''t know what he is saying but our focus is only on cricket." The Pakistan captain is playing his 300th one-day international today and said it was a special occasion for him but unfortunately it had come at a wrong time.

Source: Published>

Siddle scalps four, Wayamba all out for 106 against Victoria

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:07 AM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Peter Siddle returned with a four-wicket haul as Wayamba suffered a batting collapse to be folded for a paltry 106 against Victoria in their Champions League twenty20 match here today. Mahela Jayawardene anchored the innings with a 40-ball 51 but Wayamba lost last eight wickets for 25 runs to be bundled out in 16.3 overs at the SuperSport park here. Jayawardene and skipper Jehan Mubarak, who added 72 runs in 52 balls for the third wicket, were the only batsmen to score in double figures as five of their teammates were back to the pavilion for duck. Siddle scalped four wickets giving away 29 runs, while his teammates James Pattinson and Andrew McDonald took two wickets each for 14 and 22 runs. Electing to bat, Wayamba had a shaky start as they lost two early wickets in opener Jeevantha Kulatunga and Mahela Udawatte with the score reading just nine in 1.3 overs. Kulatunga succumbed to his second consecutive duck after he was cleaned up by a first ball yorker by James Pattinson, while a diving Clint McKay produced a brilliant run out to remove Udawatte. Opener Mahela Jayawardene, whose top-edge sailed over the rope for the first six of the day in the opening over, then took the onus on himself and picked up five boundaries in the third and fourth over. Skipper Mubarak then got into the act and blasted two fours off Peter Siddle to bring up the fifty in 6.2 overs, before crashing another Andrew McDonald delivery for another four to complete their 50-run partnership. Jayawardene also scooped one over the Keeper''s head to bring another four. Mubarak then pulled one over mid-wicket off John Hastings to pick up a six, before smashing another over the square-leg boundary for his second six of the day. But McDonald struck in the 11th over to remove the dangerous-looking Mubarak with David Hussey picking up an easy catch at short extra cover as Wayamba slipped to 81 for three in 10.1 overs. Pattinson then dismissed Thisara Perera with skipper Hussey taking another good catch. Shallika Karunanayake, who was dropped twice, was finally done in by McDonald with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade completing the stumping. Wayamba lost two more wickets in consecutive deliveries of the 14th over by Siddle as they further tumbled down to 95 for seven in 13.3 overs. Stranded all this while at the other end, Jayawardene then tried to step up the gas and scored a four before being cleaned up by Siddle for his third wicket of the day. Three balls later, Siddle cleaned up Rangana Herath, while Dirk Nannes also uprooted Ajantha Mendis stumps to mop up the tail. PTI ATK

Source: Published>

Victoria beat Wayamba by eight wickets

Tue, Sep 21 10 12:01 AM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Victoria beat Wayamba by eight wickets in a Champions League twenty20 match played at SuperSport Park here today. Brief Score: Wayamba: 106 all out in 16.3 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 51, Jehan Mubarak 44; Peter Siddle 4/29). Victoria: 108 for two in 13.2 overs (David Hussey 47, Aaron Finch 38; Thisara Perera 1/13).

Source: Published>

Iran defeat India to win Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 11:41 PM

Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Favourites Iran displayed a scintillating performance to clinch the title in the third Asian Senior Men's Volleyball Championship against hosts India here on Monday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The visitors won the game in straight sets defeating the hosts 25-19, 25-22 and 29-27 in a 90-minute encounter. India had also been defeated earlier on Saturday by Iran in the league stage of the championship.

A modest crowd had come to watch the final of the championship. From the start, the Indians failed to take initiative and went down 25-19.

The second game saw the hosts displaying some challenge to Iran but again losing 25-22.

In the third set, the hosts showed initial resistance by maintaining a lead of five points at one stage but eventually bowed down to Iran, who came from behind to win the set and take the title.

Source: Web Search

Pujara on Test selection: I have fulfilled my mother''s dream

Mon, Sep 20 10 11:37 PM

Rajkot, Sep 20 (PTI) Prolific Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara today expressed his glee at being picked for the first time in the Indian Test team to take on Australia, and said he has fulfilled his mother''s dream. "It was my mother''s dream that I play for India and after getting selected in the national squad I am delighted to fulfil my mother''s desire" the 22-year-old middle order batsman told PTI from Chandigarh, where he is playing for his employers Indian Oil in an inter-corporate tournament. Rajkot-born Pujara, who has been very consistent since his debut in Ranji Trophy five years ago, has often been compared with Rahul Dravid for his ability to stay at the wicket for a long time and make big hundreds. "After performing in every season, I was confident that one day I would get chance to play for the country," said the youngster, who scored three triple centuries, including a career-best 302 against Orissa in the Ranji Trophy, in a span of one month last season. He has so far played 45 Ranji ties for Saurshtra and amassed 3416 runs, including 12 hundreds, with healthy average of 56.00. Overall his first class average is just over 60 from 49 matches. Pujara, who edged out the out-of-form Yuvraj Singh in the squad picked today at Chennai, represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last year. (More) PTI VJA PD SSR SHN

Source: Published>

Iran defeat India to win Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 11:31 PM

Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Favourites Iran displayed a scintillating performance to clinch the title in the third Asian Senior Men's Volleyball Championship against hosts India here on Monday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The visitors won the game in straight sets defeating the hosts 25-19, 25-22 and 29-27 in a 90-minute encounter. India had also been defeated earlier on Saturday by Iran in the league stage of the championship.

A modest crowd had come to watch the final of the championship. From the start, the Indians failed to take initiative and went down 25-19.

The second game saw the hosts displaying some challenge to Iran but again losing 25-22.

In the third set, the hosts showed initial resistance by maintaining a lead of five points at one stage but eventually bowed down to Iran, who came from behind to win the set and take the title.

Source: Web Search

Trott, Wahab involved in altercation in nets before ODI: Yawar

Mon, Sep 20 10 11:27 PM

Karachi, Sep 20 (PTI) Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed today confirmed that England batsman Jonathan Trott and Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz were involved in a confrontation before the fourth one-day international at Lord''s. A cricket website today reported that words were exchanged between the two players in the nets at Lord''s. "Yes there were some words exchanged after a misunderstanding over use of nets but the players moved away after the intervention of the umpires who were present there and our coach," Yawar said. "There was nothing serious and just a minor incident," he insisted. But the incident highlighted the growing distrust and animosity between the players of the two teams since the spot fixing allegations first broke out late last month after the fourth Test at Lord''s. The relations further soured after the ICC announced it was investigating newspaper reports that there was some spot fixing in the third one-dayer at The Oval that Pakistan won. The Pakistan board chairman Ijaz Butt also didn''t help the matters by accusing English cricketers of being involved in corruption. Meanwhile, Pakistan ODI captain Shahid Afridi today appeared to be in an aggressive mood at the toss before the fourth ODI. Asked by commentator Michael Artherton about the spot fixing investigations into the third match, Afridi said: "I damn care about these things as we are here to play cricket and do well." When asked about the statement of the PCB chairman, Afridi said: "I don''t know what he is saying but our focus is only on cricket." The Pakistan captain is playing his 300th one-day international today and said it was a special occasion for him but unfortunately it had come at a wrong time.

Source: Published>

Iran defeat India to win Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 11:07 PM

Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Favourites Iran displayed a scintillating performance to clinch the title in the third Asian Senior Men's Volleyball Championship against hosts India here on Monday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The visitors won the game in straight sets defeating the hosts 25-19, 25-22 and 29-27 in a 90-minute encounter. India had also been defeated earlier on Saturday by Iran in the league stage of the championship.

A modest crowd had come to watch the final of the championship. From the start, the Indians failed to take initiative and went down 25-19.

The second game saw the hosts displaying some challenge to Iran but again losing 25-22.

In the third set, the hosts showed initial resistance by maintaining a lead of five points at one stage but eventually bowed down to Iran, who came from behind to win the set and take the title.

Source: Web Search

Wayamba bowled out for 106 against Victoria

Mon, Sep 20 10 11:01 PM

Centurion, Sep 20 (PTI) Wayamba were all out for 106 against Victoria in a Champions League twenty20 match played at SuperSport Park here today. Brief Score: Wayamba: 106 all out in 16.3 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 51, Jehan Mubarak 44; Peter Siddle 4/29).

Source: Published>

Iran defeat India to win Asian Men's Volleyball Championship

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 10:51 PM

Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Favourites Iran displayed a scintillating performance to clinch the title in the third Asian Senior Men's Volleyball Championship against hosts India here on Monday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The visitors won the game in straight sets defeating the hosts 25-19, 25-22 and 29-27 in a 90-minute encounter. India had also been defeated earlier on Saturday by Iran in the league stage of the championship.

A modest crowd had come to watch the final of the championship. From the start, the Indians failed to take initiative and went down 25-19.

The second game saw the hosts displaying some challenge to Iran but again losing 25-22.

In the third set, the hosts showed initial resistance by maintaining a lead of five points at one stage but eventually bowed down to Iran, who came from behind to win the set and take the title.

Source: Web Search

Football coach Mughato wants to produce great players in the region

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 10:41 PM

Kohima, Sep.20 (ANI): While thinking of the game of football in Nagaland, the name of Mughato comes naturally to one's mind here today.

Nagaland's Mughato, the talented football coach, is upbeat about producing football players from the region.

His career as a footballer started in 1995, when he joined the Assam Special Reserve Police. He played for it for four consecutive years and then joined Dynamo Club, Guwahati before shifting to Mohameddan Sporting Club in Kolkata.

His desire to work for the youth in Nagaland brought him back to Dimapur where he has been working as a coach at the Youth and Sports Department.

Mughato has today put Nagaland on the football map of the country.

In 2008, a Nagaland team won the Under-14 Subroto Cup title for the first time.

"Nagaland Football Association (NFA) should start a league of its own, the Nagaland league. Until and unless that comes out, it'll be hard to progress. If NFA couldn't start due to lack of funds why not the Nagaland Government takes it up, if they want the sportspersons to excel, says Mughato, the football coach.

Eight players of his under-14 team were awarded scholarships and seven others were selected for representing Subroto-11 at Bangladesh.

The young coach, however, doesn't like resting on his laurels. He today wants the State government to frame a sports policy that encourages talented players.

"If the Government wants, it can create job for us. Like in Manipur, they are creating jobs for those who excel in National and international arenas. So, if the Government starts doing that, obviously then the players out here will also start giving their full time," said Mughato.

"We Nagas have much potential in sports. We are interested in playing games including football, cricket and others. We got potential. What we lack is we don't get enough facilities to become better sportspersons," said Shinmichin, a football player.

In Nagaland, Mughato is a youth icon, whose passion for football is widely viewed as an inspiration who could motivate many more youngsters to take up football as a career. By Peter Chachei (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Tendulkar shortlisted for three categories in ICC Awards

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 10:23 PM

Dubai, Sep 20 (IANS) India's Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are in the running for the International Cricket Council's 'Cricketer of the Year' award.

South Africa's Hashim Amla and England's Graeme Swann are the two other players short-listed in the category.

The votes have been cast by the independent 25-member academy and one of them will be awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Bangalore Oct 6.

In addition, Tendulkar, Sehwag and Amla are also short-listed for the Test Player of the Year alongside South Africa's Dale Steyn at the seventh annual LG ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA).

Tendulkar is also in contention for the ODI Player of the Year award as he is short-listed in that category with the Australian duo of Shane Watson and Ryan Harris as well as South Africa's AB de Villiers.

For the 'Twenty20 International Performance of the Year' New Zealand's Brendon McCullum has been short-listed alongside Australia's Michael Hussey, Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardena and South Africa's Ryan McLaren.

This year's LG ICC Awards includes nine individual prizes, including the new LG People's Choice Award and also features the selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year besides the 'Spirit of Cricket' award.

The long-lists of nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee Clive Lloyd. The panel also includes former players such as India's Ravi Shastri, Matthew Hayden of Australia, Angus Fraser of England and Zimbabwe's Duncan Fletcher.

The LG ICC Awards ceremony is now in its seventh year and this year is being held in Bengaluru. Previous ceremonies were held in London (2004), Sydney (2005), Mumbai (2006), Johannesburg (2007 and 2009) and Dubai (2008).

Short-lists of nominees (in alphabetical order) --

Individual Awards

Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (India), Graeme Swann (England), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

Test Player of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (India), Dale Steyn (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (India)

ODI Player of the Year: Ryan Harris (Australia), Sachin Tendulkar (India), AB de Villiers (SA), Shane Watson (Australia)

Emerging Player: Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Steven Finn (England), Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka), Tim Paine (Australia),

Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate (The Netherlands), Trent Johnson (Ireland), Kevin O'Brien (Ireland), Mohammed Shahzad (Afganistan)

Twenty20 International Performance of the Year: Michael Hussey (Australia), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka), Ryan McLaren (South Africa), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Women's Cricketer of the Year: Katherine Brunt (England), Shelley Nitschke (Australia)Ellyse Perry (Australia), Stafanie Taylor (West Indies),

Umpire of the Year: Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Tony Hill, Simon Taufel

Spirit of Cricket: India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

Source: Web Search

PCB chief roundly criticised for England accusations

Mon, Sep 20 10 10:17 PM

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt was accused by his predecessors of making "ridiculous" match-fixing accusations against England which would further isolate Pakistan from the rest of the cricket community.

"It is ridiculous what he has said. If he had any proof or information about English players he should have gone with it to the ICC or Scotland Yard which is already investigating allegations against our players," former board chairman Khalid Mehmood told Reuters on Monday

"By making such direct accusations, Mr Butt has only ensured we may lose the support of a board that has been very helpful to us since teams have refused to tour Pakistan because of security reasons."

Butt told a television channel on Sunday: "There is loud and clear talk in bookies' circles that some English players were paid enormous amounts of money to lose (Friday's third one-day) match."

In a statement the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it completely rejected Butt's suggestions, which followed police questioning of four Pakistan players over allegations of spot fixing in the test series against England.

Another two former PCB chairmen, Shaharyar Khan and Tauqir Zia, said Butt's irresponsible remarks could have already done irreparable damage.

"This statement will not help us at all and only isolate us further. If we had any information about English players we should have spoken to the ECB about it instead of going public. This is not the way to have cordial relations with other boards," Khan told Reuters.

Zia added: "The situation calls for calm diplomacy not for such statements. What can we hope to possibly achieve by this? I just hope the PCB has evidence to back up its claims about English players."

Former test captain Zaheer Abbas said while he supported Pakistan adopting a firm stance on the spot-fixing allegations against its players, the PCB chief had overdone it.

"When these allegations first broke out he should have taken a firm stance and defended the players. But now it appears we are directionless in our policy on this issue," Abbas said.

Source: Published>

Pakistan 265-7 v England fourth ODI

Mon, Sep 20 10 10:03 PM

Pakistan scored 265 for seven from their 50 overs in the fourth one-day international against England at Lord's on Monday.

England lead 2-1 in the five-match series.

Source: Published>

Bismillah Khan's nephew to perform at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 09:07 PM

Varanasi, Sep. 20 (ANI): Organizers of the Commonwealth Games has invited Mumtaz Khan, nephew of legendary Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan, to perform during the opening ceremony to be held on October 3.

Mumtaz Khan is all geared up to play the Shehnai since receiving the invitation in Varanasi.

"I have left everything from the household chores to children, relatives. Right now I have only two jobs to do. One is to take the name of Allah - to read the Namaz - and second is Riyaz (practice)," said Mumtaz Khan.

"As it is not a normal event, people from across the globe will be attending the event, so I need to prepare accordingly. It should be such that people listen to me but understand that Bismillah Khan is playing," he added.

Renowned Indian classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra has also been chosen to perform at the opening ceremony of the upcoming event.

India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 7,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states which will be held from 3 to 14 October in New Delhi. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

My career will be as long as Ferguson's - Mourinho

Mon, Sep 20 10 09:03 PM

Managing Real Madrid is like "reaching the moon", Jose Mourinho said on Monday, and he now wants to have a management career that is as long as that of his former Premier League rival Alex Ferguson.

Portuguese Mourinho left Chelsea in 2007 and joined Serie A club Inter Milan a year later before moving on to Real at the end of last season. He marks 10 years in coaching on Monday, during which he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and with Inter last term.

"These 10 years have passed very quickly," Mourinho said at a news conference ahead of Real's La Liga match at home to Espanyol on Tuesday.

"I have the same passion as 10 years ago and I think that in another 10 years the passion will be the same," the 47-year-old added on Monday.

"I think I'll be like Ferguson. I'll be 70-years-old and still have the passion for coaching."

Ferguson, who'll turn 70 in December 2011, is the most successful manager in English football and has helped United win more than 30 trophies, including the Champions League in 1999 and 2008, since taking over from Ron Atkinson in 1986.

Mourinho is bidding to become the first coach to win Europe's elite club competition with three different clubs and said managing La Liga giants Real was "like reaching the moon".

"It's the most important club on a global level," he said.

"It's reaching the top of the top but I still have not won anything. Let's see how the story ends. It's a story I have to construct."

Since taking over from Manuel Pellegrini, Mourinho has repeatedly emphasised that he needs to build a team out of Real's expensive squad, which includes his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most valuable player.

"One thing is having a finished team, another is one that is under construction," Mourinho said. "We have to keep collecting points, make a team and create stability."

Source: Published>

Sandro to make Spurs debut against Arsenal

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 08:53 PM

Brazilian international midfielder Sandro will make his long-awaited debut for Tottenham Hotspur in re-shuffled side against arch-rivals Arsenal in their League Cup tie at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Sixteen third round ties are being played on Tuesday and Wednesday with Chelsea facing Newcastle United, Stoke City playing Fulham, Sunderland hosting West Ham United, Aston Villa playing Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion facing Manchester City in the other all-Premier League ties.

Holders Manchester United, who beat Aston Villa in last season's final and are bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the competition, play at Championship (second division) Scunthorpe United on Wednesday, the first ever meeting between the clubs.

The outstanding game though is the north London derby between Spurs and Arsenal, even though Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger will be shuffling their sides because of Champions League commitments.

Redknapp told reporters at a media briefing at Spurs training ground north of London on Monday that he will give a debut to Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, on loan from Spartak Moscow, and Sandro.

A highly-promising central midfielder who made his debut for Brazil last year, Sandro was chased by a host of clubs before signing for Spurs.

"He's just come from a tough season in Brazil where Internacional won the championship," said Redknapp.

"He's a 6-foot-2 inches (1.87 metres) tall central midfield player, he's in the Brazilian squad, he's only 21 and a boy still -- but you don't get too many bad players breaking into the Brazil national squad so its a good chance to see him play now."

Redknapp said he also thought that Spurs were closing the gap on their fiercest rivals whose Emirates ground is only three miles (five kilometres) away from White Hart Lane.

"Arsenal have been more successful in recent years for sure, but we are getting closer. When we get our new stadium we will be getting 60,000 every week the same as Arsenal, we are both massive clubs."

Spurs beat Arsenal 5-1 for a 6-2 aggregate victory in the semi-final of the League Cup in January 2008 and beat them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in April, their first Premier League win over them for 11 years.

Tuesday's match will not feature many of the players who appeared in April as Redknapp said he was going to make big changes from the side that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday.

"We've got lots of players who need to play and it gives me a chance to give them a game and I need to rest some of the lads who have played so many games," he said.

"There will be lots of changes but Arsene has done it, played the young players, even in semi-finals, against Tottenham and against Chelsea in a final, so I have to do what's right for Tottenham. I've got to protect the players for the Premier League and Champions League games."

Source: Web Search

India drop Yuvraj from tests against Australia

Mon, Sep 20 10 08:17 PM

Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was dropped on Monday from India's test squad against Australia while Zaheer Khan and Shantakumaran Sreesanth have returned from injuries to bolster the pace department.

Yuvraj has been replaced by Cheteshwar Pujara, a prolific 22-year-old from Saurashtra, in the 15-man squad selected in Chennai for next month's Border-Gavaskar series.

Yuvraj expressed both surprise and disappointment at his omission from the squad.

"I was satisfied with my performance in the last two five-day innings I played. It's very tough for batsmen to make hundreds in every match," said the left-hander, who scored 52 and five in his last two test innings.

"Disappointments have become part of my life and this is yet another disappointment. My fitness is better now, it was difficult in Sri Lanka with dengue and neck injury."

Zaheer (shoulder) and Sreesanth (knee) were out of action during India's three-test tour of Sri Lanka.

The squad, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, contains nine batsmen, three medium-pacers and as many spinners.

"Pujara is a very good player, he has done really well in the India A series. You will have to give credit to domestic performance and A series and everything else," India selection committee chief Krish Srikkanth told reporters.

"Overall, we have selected the best team and I don't think there is any surprise inclusion or surprise exclusion. It was the sheer weight of performance, talent and of course fitness that was taken into account."

The Australia team, who arrived in India on Monday, start their tour with a three-day match in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Mohali hosts the first test from Oct. 1-5, while the second will be held in Bangalore from Oct. 9-13.

Australia will also play three one-day internationals.

India - MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, M.Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, S.Sreesanth, Amit Mishra.

Source: Published>

England skipper, board rebut Butt's claim of tie fixing

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 07:51 PM

London, Sep 20 (IANS) England cricket captain Andrew Strauss was outraged after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Ijaz Butt alleged that the hosts lost wickets deliberately in Friday's ODI at the Oval.

Strauss rebutted claims made by Butt in a strongly-worded England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) release Monday.

'We would like to express our surprise, dismay and outrage at the comments made by Mr Butt yesterday. We are deeply concerned and disappointed that our integrity as cricketers has been brought into question. We refute these allegations completely and will be working closely with the ECB to explore all legal options open to us,' Strauss said in a statement.

Strauss said his team has clearly had mixed feelings over the past few hours over whether to take the field for the fourth ODI at Lord's Monday -- but decided they have a responsibility to do so.

'Under the circumstances, we have strong misgivings about continuing to play the last two games of the current series and urge the Pakistani team and management to distance themselves from Mr Butt's allegations.' Strauss said.

'We do, however, recognise our responsibilities to the game of cricket - and in particular to the cricket-loving public in this country - and will therefore endeavour to fulfil these fixtures to the best of our ability,' Strauss said.

Strauss' statement comes after the PCB chairman claimed he was aware of bookmaker information that England's cricketers had 'taken enormous amounts of money' to fix Friday's match, which the tourists won by 23 runs to make the series score 2-1.

In a statement ECB said: 'The ECB and the England players completely reject the remarks made by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt yesterday about the England team's conduct in the third Nat West ODI at the Brit Insurance Oval. Mr Butt's comments were wholly irresponsible and completely without foundation.'

'The ECB expresses its gratitude for the outstanding conduct of the England team this summer and will take all legal and disciplinary action which may result from Mr Butt's comments,' the ECB said.

'The board and the team, however, are of a view that it remains in the best interests of world cricket, the players and in particular of cricket supporters, that the tour should continue - and it would set a dangerous precedent to call off a tour based on the misguided and inaccurate remarks made by one individual,' it said.

Source: Web Search

Yuvraj dropped, Pujara drafted in Indian Test squad

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 07:47 PM

Chennai, Sep 20 (IANS) All-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been dropped from the Indian cricket squad for the two Test series against Australia and in his place comes in young Saurashtra strokemaker Cheteshwar Pujara.

Pujara, the 22-year old from Rajkot, has been a prolific scorer in the domestic competition and has been waiting in the wings for the last couple of years to get a national call-up.

In 49 matches, Pujara has scored 3,925 runs at an average of 60.38 with 14 centuries and 13 half centuries. Pujara first came to the limelight during the 2006 under-19 World Cup where he emerged as the top scorer.

India will be at full strength as Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth return from injuries to boost the bowling attack.

Gautam Gambhir, who missed the second and the third Tests against Sri Lanka due to a swelling in his knee, is also back.

Zaheer missed the series against Sri Lanka due to a shoulder injury and comes in place of Munaf Patel.

Yuvraj, whose omission from the squad has been more or less due to his poor form, will lead a Rest of India team in the Irani Trophy game against Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai Oct 1-5 at Jaipur.

'We don't have to give any particular reason (for dropping Yuvraj). I think, performance and fitness, everything is taken into account. That itself answers the question,' said K. Srikkanth, chairman of the selection committee when asked the reason behind Yuvraj's axing.

Yuvraj missed the second Test against Sri Lanka in July due to fever and failed to make the squad for the third Test after his replacement Suresh Raina smashed a century on debut.

Sreesanth, who was set to make a comeback with the Test series against Sri Lanka, was ruled out just before the start of the tour after his knee gave way. Sreesanth has now fully recovered and is ready to share the pace attack with Zaheer.

Abhimanyu Mithun and Wriddhiman Saha, who toured Sri Lanka, failed to find a place in the squad against Australia.

The first Test is scheduled for Oct 1-5 at Mohali and the second at Bangalore Oct 9-13. The series will be followed by three one-day internationals at Kochi (Oct 17), Visakhapatnam (Oct 20) and Goa (Oct 24).

Squad (for Australia): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S. Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Squad (Rest of India): Yuvraj Singh (captain), Abhinav Mukund, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Subramaniam Badrinath, Saurabh Tiwari, Parthiv Patel, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav, R Vinay Kumar, Manish Pandey, Abhimanyu Mithun and Ravindra Jadeja.

Source: Web Search

Hockey team will break medal jinx at CWG: Former Olympians

Mon, Sep 20 10 07:23 PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Former Olympians are confident that Indian hockey team will break the medal jinx at the upcoming Commonwealth Games despite the stiff competition they will face from stronger teams. Indian men''s hockey team has never won a medal at the Games while their women counterparts have won a Gold and Silver. Ajit Pal Singh, who led India to gold in 1975 World Cup, said the current team, to be led by Rajpal Singh, will finally break the jinx. "There are some top teams in the Games but our team has in it to make it to the podium," Ajitpal said. The former captain spoke at the release of a book ''Indian Hockey and Commonwealth Games'', penned by senior journalist Satyendra Pal. Former coach and Olympian Zafar Iqbal was also present on at the book-launch function and he said the youngsters need to be told about the golden era of Indian hockey for inspiration. "Today''s generation does not know about the former greats. Efforts should be made in this regard. If the new generation players get to know about the former players, they will definitely get some inspiration," Iqbal said.

Source: Published>

Rising Rays wins the Prince of Berar Trophy

Mon, Sep 20 10 07:17 PM

Hyderabad, Sept 20 (PTI) Six-year-old +Rising Rays+ ably ridden by K Anil won the Prince of Berar Trophy (about) 1200 Metres for Division I horses the main event on the 19th day of the Hyderabad Monsoon Races held here today. Trainer L D''Silva scored a treble, while trainer N Rao and jockyes Ch K Chary and Dasharth S scored a double each Two First Favourites obliged in a card of eight events. +Ice Man (Jockey A Imran K up)+ and +Allegation (Jockey R Parmod up)+ involved in Dead heat for the four place in the first race i.e.Esquire Plate (about) 1400 Metres, for Category III horses.

Source: Published>

Tendulkar, Sehwag nominated for top honours

Mon, Sep 20 10 07:13 PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have been shortlisted for both Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year awards at the LG ICC annual Awards to be held on October 6 in Bengaluru. South Africa''s Hashim Amla is another player who also figures in both the categories of awards, along with the Indian cricketers, to be presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers'' Associations (FICA). While Dale Steyn of South Africa has been short-listed as the fourth player in the category of Test cricketer of the Year award, England''s Graeme Swann is nominated for the Cricketer of the Year award. The final list was decided on the basis of the votes casted by the independent 25-member academy. Tendulkar is also in contention for the ODI Player of the Year. However, Indian captain MS Dhoni fails to bag nomination in any of the awards category. The Twenty20 International Performance of the Year list has New Zealand''s Brendon McCullum, Australia''s Michael Hussey, Sri Lanka''s Mahela Jayawardena and South Africa''s Ryan McLaren. This year''s ICC Awards also have nine individual prizes, including new LG People''s Choice Award and also features selection of the Test and ODI Teams of the Year and an award to the side that has adhered most to the Spirit of Cricket. Meanwhile, two of Australia''s victorious World Twenty20 team members -- Shelley Nitschke and Ellyse Perry -- alongwith West Indies'' Stafanie Taylor and England''s Katherine Brunt have been shortlisted for Women''s Cricketer of the Year award. The Emerging Player of the Year nominees include Englishman Steven Finn, Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka, Tim Paine of Australia and Pakistan''s Umar Akmal. The LG ICC Awards 2010 takes into account the performances of the players and officials during the period of August 24, 2009 to August 10, 2010. .

Source: Published>

Drug ruling leaves sports federations in a tizzy

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 07:09 PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) The Indian sports federations, whose athletes tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexanamine, are caught in a cleft stick after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) moved the drug from the 'non-specified' list to 'specified.'

Eight of the 12 athletes, who tested positive, were part of the Commonwealth Games squad. Their respective federations, however, are in a fix as they have already announced the replacements.

While the wrestling federation is against recalling the tainted grapplers, the swimming and athletic bodies are reluctant to take a clear-cut call, not knowing what should be their stand with the New Delhi Games only 12 days away.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) announced last month that the 12 athletes training for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games were tested positive, curiously for the same banned drug methylhexanamine, sending shock waves through the country's sports fraternity. The drug was included in WADA's list of banned substance this year.

Even before the disciplinary hearing of the aggrieved athletes Wednesday, WADA has come up with its ruling which will alter the punishment. The quantum of punishment in the specified list varies from a let off with a warning to a two-year ban whereas

the non specified list invites serious punishment beginning from a two-year ban.

If the athletes are left off with a warning, they will surely expect to be reinstated. What of the sportspersons who have replaced them? Worse, the tainted athletes were suspended by the federations.

Wrestling, the hardest hit, has as many as four of the six tainted grapplers in the Games team and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is unambiguous in stating that it will not include any of them even if they are let off with a warning.

'We cannot take chances with them. Once they have been caught, it means they are guilty. We will not include them in the Games squad,' Kartar Singh, WFI secretary, told IANS.

The Swimming Federation of India (SFI), whose two Games probables tested positive for methylhexanamine, is keeping its cards close to the chest.

'We will go by the WADA ruling. Usually in the case of a ban, the athletes have to go through a series of testing rounds after serving the ban period to be reinstated. Even if they are let off with a warning, the fact remains that they have been tested positive for a banned substance. We will be consulting WADA before taking any decision,' SFI secretary-general Virendra Nanavati told IANS.

India's Commonwealth Games swimming coach Nihar Amin, however, admitted the situations is indeed messy.

'Well, you can't deny that it is a messy situation. But we trust Mr. Nanavati, hopefully he will make the right decision,' Amin told IANS.

Athletic Federation of India (AFI) technical director M.L. Dogra also preferred to tread with caution. 'We will wait for the hearing to get over and then only a decision will be taken.'

NADA is clear in its stand, that the athletes can represent the country in the Games once they are let off, but it is for the federations to decide their fate.

'If an athlete is let off, he is free to participate in any event. But it is for the federation to decide whether to pick him or not,' NADA director-general Rahul Bhatnagar told IANS.

WADA, while explaining their decision, said: 'The stimulant methylhexaneamine (which may be described, like many other substances, by other chemical names) is now included in the prohibited list as a specified substance. This substance is often marketed as a nutritional supplement and may frequently be referred to as geranium oil or generanium root extract.'

Wrestlers Rajiv Tomar, Sumit, Mausam Khatri, Gursharanpreet Kaur, athletes Saurabh Vij and Akash Antil; swimmers Richa Mishra, Jyotsna Pansare.

The others who tested positive for methylhexanamine but were not part of Commonwealth Games squad were Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh (wrestling), Amar Muralidharan (swimming) and Sanamacha Chanu (weightlifting).

Source: Web Search

England's Sidebottom retires from international cricket

Mon, Sep 20 10 06:43 PM

England left-arm pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom has retired from international cricket, the player said in a statement on Monday.

The Nottinghamshire swing bowler, 32, played 22 tests, taking 79 wickets after making his England debut in 2001.

"I have had a truly fantastic period of my life with England but now it is time to hand over the ball to those a little younger," he said on his county's website (www.nottsccc.co.uk).

"I have been fortunate enough to live the dream with England. It has been a fantastic time but I have no doubts that now is the right time to announce my retirement."

Sidebottom achieved career-best figures of seven for 47 against New Zealand in 2008, which included a hat-trick.

Source: Published>

Canada's flag bearer for 2010 Commonwealth Games "an inspired choice"

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 06:37 PM

New Delhi, Sept.20 (ANI): Commonwealth Games Canada and Field Hockey Canada are proud to announce that men's field hockey captain, Ken Pereira, has been named Team Canada Flag Bearer for the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The announcement was made during CBC Television's Sports Day in Canada broadcast from Kingston, Ontario.

Pereira's international sporting career is truly remarkable. Over 16 years as a member of Canada's national field hockey team, he has earned more than 300 caps, achieving that milestone at this year's Field Hockey World Cup. He is widely considered one of the best midfielders in the game and plays professionally in Holland in the world's top league.

"Ken Pereira is an inspired choice as Flag Bearer for so many reasons," according to Team Canada Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon. "Think about what he's accomplished - three previous Commonwealth Games, two Olympic Games, four Pan Am Games, and two World Cups. He's highly respected both on and off the pitch and his leadership qualities are unquestioned. We're so proud that Ken will be carrying the Canadian flag into the Opening Ceremonies in Delhi on October 3rd."

Born in Toronto of Indian parents, Pereira is the first team sport athlete to be named as Canadian Flag Bearer for a Commonwealth Games. He is also the first Indo-Canadian and the first field hockey player to receive the honour.

With characteristic modesty, Pereira says he "couldn't believe it" when informed that he'd been selected by Commonwealth Games Canada to carry the flag. "I thought they'd called the wrong number," he jokes. "We have so many great athletes on the Canadian team that it's a very special honour to be selected to represent them all. I literally have goose bumps every time I think about walking into the main stadium in Delhi carrying the maple leaf."

The fact that these Games are being hosted in India adds even more meaning for Pereira. "It's especially sweet because it's the birthplace of my parents. We still have a lot of family over there and I'm sure they'll come out and support the Canadian team!"

"Ken embodies all of the elements it takes to be a top international athlete: commitment, dedication and passion for his sport," adds Field Hockey Canada President, Mary Cicinelli. "He is a role model for young Canadian athletes and we are immensely proud of his success, on and off the playing field."

Pereira's previous Commonwealth Games experience includes Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1998), Manchester, England (2002), and Melbourne, Australia (2006). In Delhi, Pereira's Canadian squad will face South Africa, England, Trinidad and Tobago, and New Zealand in the pool round. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

India drop Yuvraj from test squad against Australia

Mon, Sep 20 10 06:27 PM

Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was dropped on Monday from India's test squad against Australia while Zaheer Khan and Shantakumaran Sreesanth have returned from injuries to bolster the pace department.

Yuvraj has been replaced by Cheteshwar Pujara, a prolific 22-year-old from Saurashtra, in the 15-man squad selected in Chennai for next month's Border-Gavaskar series.

Zaheer (shoulder) and Sreesanth (knee) were out of action during India's three-test tour of Sri Lanka.

The squad, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, contains nine batsmen, three medium-pacers and as many spinners.

"Pujara is a very good player, he has done really well in the India A series. You will have to give credit to domestic performance and A series and everything else," India selection committee chief Krish Srikkanth told reporters.

"Overall, we have selected the best team and I don't think there is any surprise inclusion or surprise exclusion. It was the sheer weight of performance, talent and of course fitness that was taken into account."

The Australia team, who arrived in India on Monday, start their tour with a three-day match in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Mohali hosts the first test from Oct. 1-5, while the second will be held in Bangalore from Oct. 9-13.

Australia will also play three one-day internationals.

India - MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, M.Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, S.Sreesanth, Amit Mishra.

Source: Published>

Canada's flag bearer for 2010 Commonwealth Games "an inspired choice"

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 06:03 PM

New Delhi, Sept.20 (ANI): Commonwealth Games Canada and Field Hockey Canada are proud to announce that men's field hockey captain, Ken Pereira, has been named Team Canada Flag Bearer for the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The announcement was made during CBC Television's Sports Day in Canada broadcast from Kingston, Ontario.

Pereira's international sporting career is truly remarkable. Over 16 years as a member of Canada's national field hockey team, he has earned more than 300 caps, achieving that milestone at this year's Field Hockey World Cup. He is widely considered one of the best midfielders in the game and plays professionally in Holland in the world's top league.

"Ken Pereira is an inspired choice as Flag Bearer for so many reasons," according to Team Canada Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon. "Think about what he's accomplished - three previous Commonwealth Games, two Olympic Games, four Pan Am Games, and two World Cups. He's highly respected both on and off the pitch and his leadership qualities are unquestioned. We're so proud that Ken will be carrying the Canadian flag into the Opening Ceremonies in Delhi on October 3rd."

Born in Toronto of Indian parents, Pereira is the first team sport athlete to be named as Canadian Flag Bearer for a Commonwealth Games. He is also the first Indo-Canadian and the first field hockey player to receive the honour.

With characteristic modesty, Pereira says he "couldn't believe it" when informed that he'd been selected by Commonwealth Games Canada to carry the flag. "I thought they'd called the wrong number," he jokes. "We have so many great athletes on the Canadian team that it's a very special honour to be selected to represent them all. I literally have goose bumps every time I think about walking into the main stadium in Delhi carrying the maple leaf."

The fact that these Games are being hosted in India adds even more meaning for Pereira. "It's especially sweet because it's the birthplace of my parents. We still have a lot of family over there and I'm sure they'll come out and support the Canadian team!"

"Ken embodies all of the elements it takes to be a top international athlete: commitment, dedication and passion for his sport," adds Field Hockey Canada President, Mary Cicinelli. "He is a role model for young Canadian athletes and we are immensely proud of his success, on and off the playing field."

Pereira's previous Commonwealth Games experience includes Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1998), Manchester, England (2002), and Melbourne, Australia (2006). In Delhi, Pereira's Canadian squad will face South Africa, England, Trinidad and Tobago, and New Zealand in the pool round. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Kiwi rugby star Thomson withdraws from Delhi CWG

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 05:57 PM

Otago loose forward and star rugby 7s player Adam Thomson's quest for a Commonwealth Games gold with the New Zealand team ended after he withdrew from the October 3-14 Delhi event due to a knee injury.

The 28-year-old has been ruled out for upto 10 weeks after he sprained medial ligament in his knee while playing for Otago against Northland in a National Provincial Championship match yesterday.

The injury has not only ended his season with Otago and ruled him out of contention for the All Blacks squad for the November tour of Europe but, more importantly, it has led to his withdrawal from the Delhi Games.

New Zealand 7s team is yet to name a replacement for Thomson.

Now, Thomson would be looking to return to the field not before next February when he will have to start afresh to break into All Blacks World Cup's scheme of things.

Meanwhile, New Zealand 7s captain D J Forbes was also doubtful for the Games as he is still recovering from a groin injury.

Source: Web Search

RCB to take on Lions in virtual quarterfinal

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 05:53 PM

Anil Kumble's Royal Challengers Bangalore would have to quickly get over the disappointment of a two-run defeat to Mumbai Indians as they take on Highveld Lions in a must-win Champions League Twenty20 Group B match here on Tuesday.

The Bangalore side had put up spirited performance against Mumbai but Sachin Tendulkar's men snatched a narrow victory in the and now tomorrow's encounter has become a virtual quarterfinal for Kumble's team.

Experienced South African Jacques Kallis has returned to the RCB squad after recovering from a back injury, while captain Rahul Dravid is also in fine touch and the duo have to give the Indian Premier League side a solid opening against the Lions.

Virat Kohli, who regained some lost form with a fluent 47 against Mumbai, and their New Zealand import Ross Taylor's role are also going to be crucial in the middle overs on the New Wanderers pitch.

While Kallis' return is also good news for the team's bowling department, pacer Dale Steyn would be more than eager to capitalise on home conditions to help the side book a semifinal berth in the show-piece tournament.

RCB's spin attack would be handled by none other than legendary tweaker Kumble.

On the other hand, Captain Alviro Petersen, who cracked an unbeaten 38-ball 57 in their last match against Guyana, and Richard Cameron are the mainstay of Lions' batting order.

The team don't have a heavyweight bowling department but have come up with some good performances in the 10-team event.

Pacers Robert Frylinck and Ethan O'Reilly are the two bowlers the RCB batsmen should be cautious of.

Source: Web Search

Yuvraj dropped from Indian team for Test series against Australia

Published>Mon, Sep 20 10 05:47 PM

New Delhi, Sep. 20 (ANI): Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was predictably dropped from the Indian team announced for the Test series against Australia.

Yuvraj is battling both form and fitness issues. He is been replaced by Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Zaheer Khan have been brought back into the team after recovering from their respective injuries.

The Tests matches are scheduled to be held in Mohali (October 1-5) and Bangalore (Oct 9-13) followed by One-Day Internationals in Kochi (Oct 17), Visakhapatnam (Oct 20) and Goa (Oct 24).

The team for the Test:

MS Dhoni, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tanedulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwara Pujara. (ANI)

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