India, Aus ODI teams to arrive in Kochi tomorrow

Wed, Oct 13 10 05:38 PM

Kochi, Oct 13 (PTI) After pocketing Tests 2-0, Indian cricketers will arrive here tomorrow for their first ODI of the series against Australia on October 17, looking to demolish the visitors even in the limited over game. Both the teams, without some of their key players, will arrive from Bangalore, where India registered a 7-wicket win over Australia in the second Test today, at 1:30 pm by a chartered flight, Kerala Cricket Association secretary T C Mathew told reporters here. India will be without the services of Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir during the three-match ODI series, while Australia will play in absence of Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson. On October 15 and October 16 afternoons the Australian team would be practicing at the nets, Mathew said adding that Indian team''s practice sessions have not yet been confirmed. He said the pitch condition is satisfactory and "absolutely okay", but the outfield preparations had been delayed as it was soggy due to the rains. Two super soppers were brought from Chennai yesterday. The stadium grounds would be jacketed with plastic covers, which would arrive from Chennai tomorrow, he said. The spectators have been asked not to make any anti-racist remarks or display provocative placards. The stadium would be all blue as spectators in the ground would be wearing blue T-shirt. This is the first time when all spectators at a stadium during a cricket match would be wearing the same colour, Mathew said. Only licensed caterers would be supplying food at the stadium during the match. A Food Safety Commissioner''s help has been sought as food inspectors would check the quality of food being served. During the last ODI at the stadium, there was criticism that the food served was below standards. On the ticket sales, Mathew noted that the revenue from ticket sales was Rs one crore.

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Irrepressible Tendulkar, Pujara help India trounce Oz by 7 wickets to sweep series 2-0

Published>Wed, Oct 13 10 05:22 PM

Bangalore, Oct 13 (ANI): Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his 58th half-century on the final day of the second and final Test match played here, as Team India smashed Australia by 7 wickets to retain their number one test spot and sweep the series against Australia 2-0 to retain the 'Border Gavaskar' trophy.

Tendulkar was adjudged the man of the match as well as man of the series for his sterling performances in the two Tests, where he scored over 400 runs.

"I think the series was fantastic. It was a great team effort and I congratulate Laxman, Ishant, Vijay and Zaheer for their tremendous performance in the series. Chasing 200 plus to win was difficult, but partnership with Vijay was a crucial one," said Tendulkar.

"I don't count how much I score, I just score and leave the counting to others," he said.

Asked about whether he was finally over his injuries that have plagued him in the recent past, he said that though they still bothered him, their intensity was lost in the heat of battle.

"But once when you cross the rope and are fit, you want to give your best," he said.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who suffered a big blow ahead of the Ashes series, said despite a good bowling attack, the partnership between Tendulkar and Vijay was a crucial one.

"It has been a fantastic series. The partnership between Tendulkar and Vijay on the third day took the game away from us. We probably needed a few more runs. Pujara also played very well today and took the game away from us," said Ponting.

"The youngsters in the team gained a lot of experience in the series. Shane Watson played very well for the team in both the test matches," he added.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni appreciated the crowd for their support through out the Test series.

"As a captain I have been unlucky to loss important tosses, but the bowlers have stepped up their performance every time and delivered for the team. The youngsters in the team are just incredible.

"Pujara got a good start today. He was unlucky to get out in the first innings. Batting with Sachin makes your work easier. Murali Vijay had good starts for the team and carried on well. Suresh Raina also rose to the occasion," said Dhoni praising the efforts of the youngsters in the Indian team.

"I appreciate the bowlers especially Ishant Sharma. The youngsters in the team have done well whenever they are given a chance," he added.

Needing 207 runs to win on a wearing wicket in a minimum of 77 overs, Team India was easily guided home by veterans Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 53, and Dravid on 21.

When Virender Sehwag fell early in the chase, the match seemed to be heading for similar drama as witnessed on the final day in Mohali, where the wounded 114-Test veteran VVS Laxman dragged his side over the line.

But debutant Pujara showed the kind of confidence expected only from an old hand, with a spectacular 72 earlier in the day.

The 22-year-old, who was awarded a Test cap only because VVS Laxman was injured, hit seven boundaries during his two-hour stint at the crease.

At the start, the Indian bowlers did a commendable job to bowl Australia out for 223 in 75.2 overs midway into the morning session. The Aussies lost three wickets with Zaheer dismissing Mitchell Johnson and Peter George while Sreesanth scalped Hauritz.

Zaheer had a spell of 5.2-1-9-2 while Sreesanth had 5-1-8-1.

Scorecard: Australia 1st innings: 478 in 141.0 overs, 2nd innings: 223 in 75.23 overs, India first innings: 495 in 144.5 overs, 207/3 in 45.0 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 72, Sachin Tendulkar 53 not out; Shane Watson 1/20). (ANI)

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Man U midfielder Anderson eyes return to Porto

Published>Wed, Oct 13 10 05:18 PM

London, Oct 13 (ANI): Manchester United midfielder Anderson has revealed that he hopes to return to Porto at some stage.

The Brazil international moved to Old Trafford from the Portuguese giants for 17.5 million pounds in 2007.

He enjoyed a productive opening to his United career, but has suffered with injuries and a loss of form over recent seasons.

Anderson, 22, fell out with Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson after a row during pre-season training.

"I am good in Manchester but I'd like to return to Portugal and my preference would be Porto," SKY News quoted him, as saying. (ANI)

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Irrepressible Tendulkar, Pujara help India trounce Oz by 7 wickets to sweep series 2-0

Published>Wed, Oct 13 10 05:08 PM

Bangalore, Oct 13 (ANI): Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his 58th half-century on the final day of the second and final Test match played here, as Team India smashed Australia by 7 wickets to retain their number one test spot and sweep the series against Australia 2-0 to retain the 'Border Gavaskar' trophy.

Tendulkar was adjudged the man of the match as well as man of the series for his sterling performances in the two Tests, where he scored over 400 runs.

"I think the series was fantastic. It was a great team effort and I congratulate Laxman, Ishant, Vijay and Zaheer for their tremendous performance in the series. Chasing 200 plus to win was difficult, but partnership with Vijay was a crucial one," said Tendulkar.

"I don't count how much I score, I just score and leave the counting to others," he said.

Asked about whether he was finally over his injuries that have plagued him in the recent past, he said that though they still bothered him, their intensity was lost in the heat of battle.

"But once when you cross the rope and are fit, you want to give your best," he said.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who suffered a big blow ahead of the Ashes series, said despite a good bowling attack, the partnership between Tendulkar and Vijay was a crucial one.

"It has been a fantastic series. The partnership between Tendulkar and Vijay on the third day took the game away from us. We probably needed a few more runs. Pujara also played very well today and took the game away from us," said Ponting.

"The youngsters in the team gained a lot of experience in the series. Shane Watson played very well for the team in both the test matches," he added.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni appreciated the crowd for their support through out the Test series.

"As a captain I have been unlucky to loss important tosses, but the bowlers have stepped up their performance every time and delivered for the team. The youngsters in the team are just incredible.

"Pujara got a good start today. He was unlucky to get out in the first innings. Batting with Sachin makes your work easier. Murali Vijay had good starts for the team and carried on well. Suresh Raina also rose to the occasion," said Dhoni praising the efforts of the youngsters in the Indian team.

"I appreciate the bowlers especially Ishant Sharma. The youngsters in the team have done well whenever they are given a chance," he added.

Needing 207 runs to win on a wearing wicket in a minimum of 77 overs, Team India was easily guided home by veterans Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 53, and Dravid on 21.

When Virender Sehwag fell early in the chase, the match seemed to be heading for similar drama as witnessed on the final day in Mohali, where the wounded 114-Test veteran VVS Laxman dragged his side over the line.

But debutant Pujara showed the kind of confidence expected only from an old hand, with a spectacular 72 earlier in the day.

The 22-year-old, who was awarded a Test cap only because VVS Laxman was injured, hit seven boundaries during his two-hour stint at the crease.

At the start, the Indian bowlers did a commendable job to bowl Australia out for 223 in 75.2 overs midway into the morning session. The Aussies lost three wickets with Zaheer dismissing Mitchell Johnson and Peter George while Sreesanth scalped Hauritz.

Zaheer had a spell of 5.2-1-9-2 while Sreesanth had 5-1-8-1.

Scorecard: Australia 1st innings: 478 in 141.0 overs, 2nd innings: 223 in 75.23 overs, India first innings: 495 in 144.5 overs, 207/3 in 45.0 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 72, Sachin Tendulkar 53 not out; Shane Watson 1/20). (ANI)

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Pak village celebrates win of wrestler in CWG

Wed, Oct 13 10 04:52 PM

Karachi, Oct 13 (PTI) People of the flood ravaged Mondka village in Muzzafargarh district of Pakistan are still celebrating wrestler Azhar Hussain''s gold in the Commonwealth games in New Delhi. Azhar won his country''s first Commonwealth Games wrestling gold in 40 years when he beat Ebikewenimo Welson of Nigeria in the 55kg freestyle final on Sunday. "Dozens of people are visiting our home to congratulate us. After so much misery in the floods in which people lost so much, Azhar''s gold medal is seen as a big moment of celebration for our village," said Azhar''s father Ghulam Hussain. "For me it is a proud moment because I have coached my son and I had to move him to Multan after the floods to prepare for the games," Hussain, who is also former wrestler said. He said the entire village was devastated in the floods including their two room house and his son''s success came because he didn''t give up practicing and preparing for the games. "Even during homelessness, Azhar did not stop practicing. He would go to a small park near the Multan railway station and there he would practice. It was his commitment to his sport that made his success possible," he said. Safdar Hussain, Azhar''s coach said that he joined the Pak army as a wrestler in 2002. Initially, he was rejected because of his feeble structure but was given another chance to improve which he availed. Azhar''s wife Rashida said since the day Azhar left for New Delhi, she had been praying for his success. "He won only because of my prayers," she was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. Talking about Azhar''s diet, his father said it comprised of ghee, almonds and chicken. "He does not take tea and drinks cow milk only," the proud father added.

Source: Published>

IPL googlies may usher in strict norms

Published>Wed, Oct 13 10 04:46 PM

Strict norms regarding foreign investment inflow in sports bodies, disclosure of shareholding patterns of promoters and capping the overall FDI in sports are some of the measures being considered by the government following the alleged irregularities committed by Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing IPL fiasco.

The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) will soon shut doors on re-routing of foreign funds in sporting bodies through firms incorporated in tax havens, including Mauritius and Bahamas. Also, there will not be any step-down inflow of FDI into sports bodies and franchises via joint-venture firms.

The DIPP also plans to bring FDI in sports under the approval route and any sports body seeking foreign investments will have to go through the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB). Also, all firms engaged in managing sports teams like the current IPL franchise owners will have to mandatorily disclose their shareholding patterns every quarter. Any foreigner employed or contracted by such sports bodies in the country will require government clearance.

These rules will form part of the new policy on FDI in sports set to be subsumed in the revised Press Note slated for March 2011, sources in DIPP told FE.

In a parallel move, insiders say the sports ministry is planning to recommend capping of FDI in sports bodies at 49% and will give its inputs to the commerce ministry soon. Currently, 100% foreign investment is allowed in sports manufacturing under the automatic route, in which the foreign investor or its Indian partner has to inform RBI within 30 days of the transaction.

"The issue regarding foreign investments in sports franchises is under active examination. So far, no final decision has been arrived at," an official said.

If implemented, the new norms would force all current IPL teams to file their shareholding patterns, tax return details, earnings and balance sheets. Also, Shahrukh Khan's IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders may have to seek FIPB clearance as a promoter has invested via a company incorporated in Mauritius.

According to sources, DIPP was asked to look into the matter in April-May this year after Jaipur IPL Company Private Ltd (JIPLC) sought FIPB permission regarding induction of foreign equity into the company. However, the application was rejected twice on grounds of insufficient information on source of funding (October 2009) and irregularity in transfer of shares in lieu of money paid to the BCCI (May 2010). Additionally, there were instances of frequent changes in shareholding pattern of the promoting firms of Rajasthan Royals in the past three years. Similar charges of violations in shareholding of KPH Dreams have been leveled by BCCI in addition to the investigations by the enforcement directorate on foreign exchange violations.

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IPLgate: BCCI slaps police complaint against Lalit Modi

Published>Wed, Oct 13 10 04:44 PM

Firing a fresh salvo at the embattled ex-IPL czar Lalit Modi, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan filed a complaint with the Chennai city police commissioner on Wednesday morning, alleging the criminal misappropriation of unds of nearly Rs 470 crore.

He said there were several charges against Modi that attracted the provisions of the IPC.

Addressing the media later in the day, city Police Commissioner T Rajendran said the complaint against Modi was in connection with the alleged misappropriation of about Rs 470 crore while he was IPL commissioner.

The total amount includes Rs 425 crore in media rights, Rs 15 crore on security and Rs 29 crore on free commercial air time.

Talking to reporters, Rajendran said Sreenivasan had "preferred a police complaint" against Modi for the criminal misappropriation of BCCI funds totalling Rs 470 crore, mainly on allotting media rights and free commercial rights.

"There are three main charges... It is a detailed complaint that they have given. So we will go through the complaint. It will be investigated by us as BCCI is registered in Chennai," Rajendran said.

Srinivasan, owner of the IPL franchise Chennai Superkings and the president-elect of the BCCI, approached the city police after the recently-concluded annual general meeting of the Indian cricket Board decided to lodge a comprehensive police complaint against Modi.

Only two days ago, the Board had scrapped two IPL teams - Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, both said to be connected with Modi - from the next edition of the popular domestic league for alleged contravention of mandatory conditions.

The complaint was filed against Modi and six others for charges including criminal breach of trust (IPC 405), cheating (IPC 415, 420), forgery (IPC 463) and making false documents (IPC 464) including others.

While senior officials refused to reveal more details about the complaint, sources in the city police said the complaint named Modi and six others, including Venu Nair, the South Asia president of World Sport Group (WSG), the sports management company that bagged the telecast rights of the IPL.

The company received Rs 425 crore (USD 80 million) as "facilitation fee" through its Mauritius-based subsidy from the official broadcaster of the games, Sony Multi Screen Media (MSM), in a deal that was allegedly stitched together by Lalit Modi himself.

Nair was grilled by the Income Tax Department in April when the allegation that kickbacks were paid after the deal first surfaced. Even as he admitted that his company received the amount for which it did not pay any tax in India, Nair had denied that it was a bribe and reiterated that the transaction was documented and above board.

The BCCI secretary also named one Ajay Verma in his complaint, sources added.

In a related case, Srinivasan complained to the Commissioner that his e-mail account and mobile phone were hacked and misused by some persons who sent text messages and e-mails to franchise owners and other stakeholders, cautioning them against siding with Modi.

Commissioner Rajendran told reporters that the case has been handed over to the cyber crime cell of the city police for further investigation.

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