No Sri Lanka, no interest at Dambulla

Wed, Aug 11 10 12:27 PM

Dambulla, Aug. 11 -- The only missing link during the Ross Taylor-Scott Styris rescue act for New Zealand against India was the crowd's involvement. Not that the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium was biased against the only non-subcontinental team in the tournament. But, unfortunately, there were hardly any spectators at the stadium to witness a fascinating partnership. Thanks to only a 100-odd spectators being around, the exciting cricket played by the Kiwis did not set the pulse racing, with the usual noise missing from the stands. In fact, the number of spectators for Tuesday's tri-series opener was even less than the total number of security guards at the venue. Dambulla, traditionally, attracts spectators only when the home team is featuring. But whenever two visiting teams face off in the city of prehistoric significance, the locals turn their back on the stadium, which isn't very far from the heart of the city. "It's the psyche of the locals who are happy to see non-Sri Lanka matches on television," a member of the tour organising committee said. "The only way to bring in the crowds is to get some school kids, but with day-night affairs, even that becomes difficult." Just what would happen, if New Zealand, who surpassed all their expectations in the first half of the tie in the opener, square off against India in the final of the tournament? It would be rather pathetic if the final is played out in front of sinmilarly empty stands. Tuesday, anyway, wasn't much different than last month's Asia Cup, when even a high-voltage India-Pakistan match did not draw a full house. The only full house of the tournament, which featured Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, was for the final when the hosts lost to their neighbouring giants.

Source: Published>

Sport-crazy South Africa set for CLT20 party

Wed, Aug 11 10 12:23 PM

Johannesburg, Aug. 11 -- How much is too much? When it comes to sport, South Africa just can't get enough. The more it gets, the more it wants. It's only been a few weeks since the football World Cup got over, and the nation is gearing up to host another big-ticket event - the Champions League T20. Add other big events like the Indian Premier League, the Champions Trophy, the Confederations Cup and a tri-nation rugby series they have hosted in the last sixteen months or so, and you can see just how much sporting action South Africa have been inundated with. Against this backdrop, it wouldn't be surprising if Champions League Twenty20 organisers were feeling nervous or wary about how the apparently tired and spent spectators will respond to the event. After all, the spectators may not be in a mood to walk to the stadia after having witnessed so much action in such a short span of time. But that's where South Africa is different. Their hunger for sports seems insatiable, and that gets reflected in the confidence of the CLT20 organisers. "We are not even remotely worried on that count. It's unbelievable how sport is ingrained in their culture," said CLT20 CEO Sundar Raman. "To them, going out to watch sport is like the Indians going out for movies. We never get tired of watching movies, and similarly they don't get tired of watching sport." Sundar Raman can't be faulted for his optimism, for South Africans packed the stadia to the rafters even during IPL 2. The Champions League should be of far more interest to locals as they have two of their own club teams- Warriors and the Lions - to cheer for. "We in South Africa love sports, especially cricket. The word about the Champions League is out now, and gradually we will see a lot of excitement building up around the event," said Jean Symes, a Lions player. Makhaya Ntini, who will play for the Warriors, seconds this. "Hey, why do you even doubt that?" he asked. "You just can't keep South Africans away from any sporting action. It's going to be great fun, and people will like it." Apart from banking on South Africans love for the sport, the CLT20 council and broadcaster ESPN Star Sports have shown far more intent and aggression in marketing the event, unlike the last year. "You will see at least five times more effort in promoting the event this time around," said Sundar Raman. "We are launching a campaign to market the event here from Tuesday, and you would see a lot of stuff happening back in India as well."

Source: Published>

Guangzhou makes $450m in sponsorship from Asian Games

Wed, Aug 11 10 12:17 PM

Organisers have raised more than 3.0 billion yuan ($443 million) in sponsorship for November's Asian Games in Guangzhou, offsetting almost a third of the 10 billion yuan core costs of hosting the event.

Fang Daer, the director of marketing for the organising committee of the Nov. 12-27 Games, revealed the figures in a media briefing reported in local media on Wednesday.

Although dwarfed by the 20.5 billion yuan made by the marketing campaign for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Guangzhou's revenue from its 46 corporate partners is a healthy return.

The core costs of building and renovating sporting venues are just part of the huge investment in the infrastructure of the southern metropolis being undertaken ahead of the Games.

Local media is estimating the final bill could come to more than $30 billion.

Fang would not comment on those estimates, the South China Morning Post reported, but said the benefits for the city would be long-lasting.

"There is expenditure on Games-related projects such as improving the infrastructure of Guangzhou city through a better transport system, and on improving air and water quality," Fang said.

"But this expenditure will help provide a better living environment for the citizens of Guangzhou.

"All the spending is under tight scrutiny and what it puts in place can leave a legacy for the people."

Source: Published>

Malik not to get PCB''s central contract soon: sources

Wed, Aug 11 10 12:07 PM

Lahore, Aug 11 (PTI) Disappointed over Shoaib Malik''s performance after his return to the national fold, Pakistan Cricket Board has virtually ruled out any chances of giving a central contract to the former captain. Malik was not awarded a central contract earlier this year by the Board since he was banned and fined with six other players for indiscipline and misconduct on their tour to Australia. "I don''t think Malik will get the central contract now for this year as he has failed to impress even the selectors with his performances in England," one source in the Board told PTI. "He has played three Tests so far on the tour and despite being the senior most player in the team has failed to give any inspiring performances," he added. Malik only came into the team for the England tour after the Board reversed a 12-month ban and halved his fine of Rs 2 million. The Board''s move surprised the cricket fraternity as during the course of an investigation into the team''s poor show in Australia, Malik was blamed directly for causing unrest in the team, spreading intrigue and not supporting his captain. "I don''t think the selectors will now recommend his name for a central contract as they were told to recommend further names for the contract on basis of performances alone by the Board," the source said. Malik being the senior most player has in the past been given the A category slab of central contracts guaranteeing him a monthly salary of Rs 250,000 even if he does not play for Pakistan. Malik along with Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan had failed to get new central contract after being slapped with fines and bans following the inquiry held by the Board into the Australian tour''s performance. Sources said that the Board has asked the selectors for feedback as the contracts were due to be reviewed again later this month. PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt had previously said Malik would get the central contract only after approval by the selection committee. Malik, one of the most experienced players in the team with 31 Tests and 192 ODIs, has scored just 89 runs in three Tests in England besides making 46 from his two outings in the Asia Cup that was held in Sri Lanka. The sources, however, said that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who was dropped for the Test series in England after playing in the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup one-day tournament in Sri Lanka, is likely to get recommended for a contract. One source said that the Board will also wait to see how Yousuf performs in the remaining matches in England when he makes his comeback to the team before deciding on a central contract for him.

Source: Published>

Games: a volunteer success

Wed, Aug 11 10 11:57 AM

New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- With the Commonwealth Games mired in one controversy after another over the past few weeks, the relatives and friends of the would-be volunteers, asked them why they still wanted to be a part of an event that had become so infamous. For the volunteers, though, the chance to be part of such a huge sporting event is all that matters. "The efficient functioning of the Games at the ground level is our responsibility. No one will find us lacking," said I.P. Chopra, 75, the oldest volunteer. "Everything else is immaterial." With less than two months to go, the Organizing Committee (OC) has decided to reduce the number of volunteers. So, instead of 30,000, the official estimate quoted all along for volunteer numbers, the figure has been cut to 22,000. "An audit of role-specific requirements revealed that 22,000 would suffice," said Uma Badve, director, Volunteer Programme, OC. To reach the magic figure they have got all kinds of volunteers: husband-wife duos, corporate honchos, housewives, retired officials, students, professionals etc. 'Delhi United' is what the volunteer programme is called. "In many ways, these volunteers are the face of the Games as it is they the spectators, tourists and delegates will interact with and not the organizing officials," she said. Amity University, the official partner for training, is training around 250-400 volunteers six days a week. The guiding principle of the training is customer satisfaction. "Special focus has been on foreigners and non-Hindi and non-English speaking public," said Shantanu Basu, a trainer. "We also have a group of Australian volunteers who are experienced in such sporting events," he said.

Source: Published>

Fair's the way now, women set to coach their own in Indian hockey

Wed, Aug 11 10 11:47 AM

Chandigarh, Aug. 11 -- In a probable first, the India women's hockey team has got women coaches. The Sports Ministry has included the names of former captains, Pritam Siwach and Sandeep Kaur, in the coaching staff for the camp at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. The camp, which started on Tuesday, is for the World Cup in Argentina later this month. Arjuna awardee Pritam, who lead India to the silver medal in the 1998 Asian Games, and Sandeep, who was skipper for the 1998 World Cup, are among the four coaches with the team. The other two are Sandeep Somesh and goalkeeping coach, Khalid Modi. The Ministry will finalize the chief coach later. Somesh and Modi were part of the coaching staff when one of the core group members, Th Ranjita, raised allegations of sexual harassment against some members of the coaching staff. The other players backed her and demanded justice. After the sex scandal, the players demanded the removal of some of the coaches but requested that Somesh and Modi be retained. Rupa Saini in as team manager The government observer for women's hockey, Rupa Saini, has replaced Madhu Yadav, who is also a selector, as team manager. The players had complained against Yadav and alleged that she had spoilt the team's morale with her "unhealthy comments". The team, in its letter to the Ministry on July 18, had requested that Yadav be removed. Selection trials on Aug 13

Source: Published>

No replacement for injured Gul: Yawar

Wed, Aug 11 10 11:45 AM

Karachi, Aug 11 (PTI) The Pakistan team management in England has decided against calling up a replacement bowler for the injured Umar Gul who suffered a hamstring injury during the second Test against the hosts on Sunday. Pakistan lost the second Test by nine wickets at Edgbaston to trail in the four-match series 0-2 but the team manager Yawar Saeed insisted there would be no replacement for Gul. "We have two back up pace bowlers Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz in the touring squad and either one of them can replace Gul for the remaining Tests," Yawar said. He pointed out that both the bowlers have been with the team since the start of the tour and were ready to replace Gul whenever required. "The tour selectors will decide who will play but for now we are not asking for a replacement as Gul is also due to have another scan on August 18," he said. The Pakistan manager said that after the fresh scan on August 18, it would be clear whether Gul can recover in time for the one-day series next month. "Presently he has been advised rest for up to three weeks but we will know the correct position next week on how much more time his recovery will take," he added. Although Gul is said to have raptured a muscle in his thigh while bowling in the England''s first innings he batted freely albeit with a runner evoking remarks from commentators, who wondered how a player suffering from a hamstring injury was able to play pull and hook shots so easily. The Pakistan touring squad presently includes 17 players. Chief selector Mohsin Khan and Pakistan captain for the ODIs and Twenty20 Shahid Afridi were also due to fly to England during the third Test to finalize the squad for the limited-over series. Gul, one of Pakistan''s leading performers on what has been a disappointing tour so far for the team, also missed the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup tournaments earlier this year due to an elbow injury. Among the two probable replacements, Tanvir has not played a match for Pakistan as yet while Wahab, a left-arm pacer, has featured in a few one-day internationals. Both bowled well in the last domestic season. Pakistan will take on England in the third Test from August 18 at The Oval.

Source: Published>