Sachin has inspired generations: Gauti

KOLKATA: Lauding champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar's contribution, opener Gautam Gambhir on Friday said the Mumbaikar's career has encouraged generations of Indians to love the game.

"Sachin's contribution to Indian cricket cannot be expressed in words. He has inspired us and he will be inspiring next generations too," said Gambhir on the sidelines of a programme.

Tendulkar will play his 199th Test match in Eden Gardens before he bids adieu to international cricket at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai after playing his 200th Test.

When asked to share special moments that he shared with Sachin on and off the field, Gambhir said, "There are many such memories and it is really hard to pick up one."

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Surprised why Gopichand is quiet: Jwala

NEW DELHI: Embattled shuttler Jwala Gutta on Friday said she is surprised that India's chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand is still silent on the proposed life ban on her by BAI for an alleged disciplinary breach.

"I am really surprised why the chief coach is quiet. Why he has nothing to say?," asked Jwala.

"Former coaches like Arif sir and Vimal sir have spoken out. Vimal sir was the coach of Banga Beats, he also came out with his statement. If they can speak out, why can't the chief coach?

"I mean he is not just the coach of his academy but of the whole country. He can tell me that Jwala what you did is wrong but he should take a stand. Why is he not commenting?," she added.

The Delhi high court on Friday declined to grant stay on ongoing inquiry proceedings by a committee set up by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) against ace shuttler Jwala for alleged indiscipline.

The Hyderabadi shuttler, who is currently in Paris playing in the French Open, said the issue is affecting her performance.

"I try that such things don't affect me but I am also a human being and it harasses me. All these are there in the back of my head, things which are happening in India," she said.

Asked if she has the support of her fellow shuttlers, Jwala said they are not openly voicing their support because they are scared of being victimised themselves.

"I understand that my fellow Indian team members cannot voice their support openly because they are scared of themselves getting victimised. I am happy Ashwini (Ponnappa) stood by me," she said.

Following a disciplinary committee's recommendation for a life ban on Jwala on charges of indiscipline, a three-member committee was constituted earlier this month to evaluate the report and submit it within a month.

The committee had issued a show cause notice to Jwala on October 14 and she approached the high court challenging the notice and sought a stay on its proceedings against her.

However, the court said no interim order is required as the court has already granted relief to her by asking BAI to allow her to participate in the national and international tournament. The court granted her two weeks time to respond to the committee's show cause notice.

The court had on October 10 stayed the BAI's decision not allowing her to take part in any international tournament in or outside the country in view of the disciplinary committee's recommendation for life ban on her.

The BAI's disciplinary committee has recommended a life ban on Jwala for allegedly trying to stop some players of her franchise Krrish Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League in August.

A controversy had erupted during the August 25 tie whenDelhi Smashers had allegedly threatened to pull out against Banga Beats over the last-minute replacement of injured singles player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark's Jan Jorgense.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vinod Kambli files complaint for racism

MUMBAI: Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli has filed a complaint against a foreign lady for making a racist comment against him over a car parking dispute in the housing society where he lives.

In his complaint, Kambli told Bandra police that at around 8:15 pm on Thursday, he had an argument with a lady residing in the Jewel Co-operative Housing Society building.

Kambli said the argument started over a parking issue. He alleged that during the argument the lady called him a "Bully", which means "Black Indian".

The Bandra police station has accepted Kambli's complaint and has assured that it will carry out an investigation against the foreign lady on Friday.

Kambli later told media: "There was a dispute on a parking issue, but, during the dispute, she (foreign lady) used some racial statement. I asked her to talk to the society chairman. She threatened me that she has contacts in India and abroad. Then, she called me a "Black Indian"."

"She is a tenant over here. Then, I filed an FIR at the Bandra police station after she called me a "Bully", which means "Black Indian". I felt very bad after hearing the word "Black Indian". According to the law, no action can be taken against a woman at night. But, they (the police) assured me that they will take action in the morning. I think this is an abuse to Indians. We welcome our guests here, and, they speak to us like this," he added.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Test discard Harbhajan to lead Punjab

MOHALI: Out-of-favour Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will lead Punjab in the Ranji Trophy match against Odisha here.

Punjab play their season's opening Group-A league match against Odisha at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here from October 27 to 30, a PCA spokesman said on Friday.

Vikram Rathore, National Selector, will watch the match and it will be an opportunity for Harbhajan to prove his capabilities before the selectors to make a comeback in the national squad.

Odisha team had already arrived in the city. Punjab squad had net session under their Coach Bhupinder Singh Sr in the morning while the Odisha outfit had their net session in the afternoon under the watchful eyes of their Coach Debashish Mohanty, the PCA spokesman said.

Harbhajan said he is looking forward to perform well especially after his outing in the Champions League T20.

He said he still had a lot of fire left in him and was eager to make a comeback to the national squad.

He said that it was good for the Indian Cricket that the Team India's bench strength had been increasing each day.

Punjab squad: Harbhajan Singh (Captain), Uday Kaul (wicket keeper), Ravi Inder Singh, Jiwanjot Singh, Mandeep Singh, Mayank Sidana, Amitoze Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Manpreet Gony, Siddharth Kaul, Rajwinder Singh, Sunny Sohal, VRV Singh, Taruwar Kohli and Gurkirat Singh Mann.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

India-Oz fifth ODI likely to be called off

CUTTACK: The fifth one-day international between India and Australia is likely to be called off on Saturday morning after the umpires inspection as there was no let up from rain for the last five days.

"We don't have the right to call the match off officially. But we have already announced the dates for ticket refund which obviously means the match has been officially abandoned," OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said on Friday.

The last one-day in Ranchi was also abandoned after 4.1 overs of India's chase of 296 as Australia continued to hold on to their 2-1 lead in the bilateral series.

Umpires Nigel Llong from ECB and S Ravi of India along with Match Referee Roshan Mahanama from SLC will take the call at 11am on Saturday, Behera added.

"It's likely that the players won't turn up tomorrow and only the officials would come to make the announcement."

The OCA secretary also has spoken to the Board president N Srinivasan to shift the three-day practice match between the touring West Indies and Uttar Pradesh CA from October 31 which now is likely to be moved to Mumbai.

"The team is scheduled to arrive on October 29 and looking at the ground condition, it's impossible to make it ready in time. I spoke to the president and put forward an official request to shift the practice match," Behera said on a disappointing note.

The OCA, which is hosting an International match after two years, is set to lose about Rs 3 crores, Behera said.

"We are hopeful to recover it through the insurance." OCA paid a sum of RS 3 lakh to insure ground and properties of the Barabati Stadium for a whopping sum of Rs 20 crore.

Giving a break-up of the insurance components, Behera said the stadium has been insured for Rs 5 crore for standard fire and peril policy while the spectators and visitors have been covered under public liability insurance policy for Rs 7 crore.

The special contingency insurance policy would cover the remaining Rs 8 crore, he added.

The Barabati Staidum hosted the last ODI on November 29, 2011 when India won against the West Indies by one wicket.

The venue turned out to be jinxed for both the teams as the last match between India and Australia was too abandoned without a single bowl being bowled exactly about 17 years back on October 27, 1996.

Both teams now travel to Nagpur for the sixth and penultimate ODI at Jamtha on October 30.

The series will conclude in Bangalore on November 2.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

SC to hear demand to cancel Indian GP

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a petition seeking the cancellation of this weekend's Indian Grand Prix because organisers have allegedly not paid entertainment taxes for the 2012 event.

"We will hear the petition tomorrow," Chief Justice P Sathasivam said in court, announcing a new legal snag for Formula One in India which has been dogged by problems since the inaugural 2011 event.

The Supreme Court has executive powers and ordered organisers two years ago to freeze 25 percent of ticket revenues until they had settled a tax dispute with the state where the racetrack is located.

That ruling came in response to Public Interest Litigation filed by campaigner Amit Kumar, who is also behind Thursday's petition seeking cancellation of the race on Sunday.

Kumar successfully argued in 2011 that Formula One was entertainment and not sport, and should not benefit from tax exemptions granted by the state of Uttar Pradesh which borders the capital New Delhi.

Entertainment tax, applicable for large-scale shows and sponsored festivals, has been levied on tickets this year for the first time.

A spokesman for circuit owner Jaypee Sports International Limited acknowledged previous tax problems in 2011 but refused to comment on the new court case.

"We will wait for the court's directive this time around as well. Whatever the court says, we are ready to follow," Askari Zaidi said.

Asked about the claim that taxes had not been paid last year, he replied: "Why should we comment on somebody's allegation?"

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had already removed India from the 2014 schedule, leaving the future of the event at the $450 million Buddh International Circuit in doubt.

After initially citing "logistical" problems, the billionaire was quoted in July as saying that "political" reasons caused India to miss out next year -- believed to mean the lack of government support for his private empire.

Indian driver Karun Chandhok expressed frustration at bureaucratic problems overshadowing the contest and said it cast India in a negative light.

"I think brand India is getting affected. People should not underestimate the power of F1 and power of sport," Chandhok told the Press Trust of India news agency.

"For the teams and drivers it is a big headache to reach here... you need to have an extra lawyer for the Indian GP," he added. "The bureaucratic process is so big and it should not be."

He added that he had been inundated by requests for help from foreign journalists who had been unable to get their visas in time.

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel was expected to seal the world title in Sunday's race, with local motorsports enthusiasts hoping that a successful contest could improve the chances of an Indian GP in 2015.

"With venues in other countries also fighting for slots, we can't afford to miss out in 2015," Vicky Chandhok, who heads the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said.

"But I am optimistic that the promoters will work out an agreement with Formula One to have two more races. We have a great facility here," added Chandhok, the father of Karun.

The privately-owned Jaypee Sports International Limited, which stands to lose the most if the race does not return, insists that it will be back in 2015.

The lavish F1 roadshow rolled into Greater Noida, a burgeoning satellite of New Delhi, in 2011 and its slick organisation helped to erase some of the memories of the chaotic Commonwealth Games of the previous year.

But while the inaugural race drew 95,000 spectators to the 100,000-capacity circuit, numbers fell to around 65,000 last year. Sluggish ticket sales this year could see figures drop further.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Great opportunity to be with Tendulkar'

MUMBAI: The mood in the camp of 40-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, ahead of their tournament opener in Haryana at Lahli, is poignant with the impending retirement of Sachin Tendulkar.

"It is an emotional mood in the dressing room. We are very much looking forward to that (Ranji opener from October 27 at Lahli). It's a great opportunity for everybody and not just the players, to be with Sachin," said Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni after the team's practice session on Thursday.

The veteran batsman will be quitting international cricket after playing the two-Test series against the West Indies at Kolkata (November 6-10) and here (November 14-18).

Former Mumbai keeper Sulakshan remembered the times when he and Tendulkar were teammates when the latter made his first class debut against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium.

"As far as I am concerned, I was there with him for his first first-class match and (will be there as coach in) this match also," he said.

In the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma due to his commitments with the Indian team, which is currently playing against Australia, Zaheer Khan would lead the side against Haryana.

Kulkarni said the 35-year-old seasoned left-arm pacer has had long bowling stints with good rhythm at the nets.

"He (Zaheer) has played 2-3 games for India A (against the touring West Indies A). He was in good touch and good rhythm. It is a long season ahead. He was very impressive in the nets. He bowled his heart out. He bowled a long spell and looked in good shape," Kulkarni said.

"It is a big match and the season opener. We are looking forward to a good game. Hopefully, we will come out with flying colours against Haryana. We are playing for the first time at Lahli. I don't know where the place is. Definitely, we will put up a good show," the coach added.

Asked if young batsman Siddhesh Lad would make his debut, Kulkarni said, "I don't know. He is very promising. He has done well in local cricket. Last year also he played Deodhar Trophy and against Saurashtra I think, he scored a hundred on his debut. But four-day cricket is different."

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Probe panel invites information on Guru

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court-appointed committee probing the IPL spot-fixing scandal has called on people having any information on the allegations of betting against BCCI president N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and other accused to share their inputs with the panel.

The committee headed by former Punjab and Haryana high court chief justice Mukul Mudgal and comprising additional solicitor general L Nageshwar Rao and senior advocate Nilay Dutta, met for the first time on October 11 here.

The committee, after "perusal" of the Supreme Court order, decided on its schedule of meetings. The panel, appointed in the first week of this month.

"The schedule of the sittings of the committee and its functioning and support personnel were finalised and communicated to the BCCI," said Vidushpat Singhania, the secretary to the committee, in a statement issued by the BCCI.

The committee has urged anybody with information on the fixing allegations against Meiyappan and other accused to mail it to them.

"The informants shall not be given hearing unless and until the committee thinks it fit to do so. The identity of the informant shall be kept confidential," the statement read.

The Supreme Court has directed the committee to investigate the allegations of betting and spot-fixing in the IPL matches against Gurunath Meiyappan, allegedly the team principal of Chennai Superkings, the accused players and the team owner of IPL franchisee Rajasthan Royals.

The court appointed the probe committee after the Cricket Association of Bihar filed a petition against the BCCI probe panel, which exonerated Meiyappan and team owners but handed varied bans to the cricketers.

The cricketers who were banned included former Test pacer S Sreesanth.

The two-member BCCI probe panel of Justice T Jayarama Chouta and Justice R Balasubramanian, former judges of the Madras High Court, gave a clean chit to Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL betting scandal.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mary to wave Indian GP chequered flag

GREATER NOIDA: Olympic bronze medallist boxer MC Mary Kom will wave the chequered flag at the 2013 Indian Grand Prix to be held at the Buddh International Circuit on Sunday.

According to sources in the Jaypee Group, the organisers of the race, Mary Kom has given her consent to do the honours.

In the inaugural year of the Indian GP in 2011, legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar waved the flag, while it was London Olympic bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang last year.

Just like the past two years, the organisers are also hoping for a galaxy of stars, including cricketers, Olympians, Bollywood celebrities and politicians to attend the race on Sunday.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tait rates Sachin above Ponting, Lara

MUMBAI: Former Australia pacer Shaun Tait on Thursday rated batting great Sachin Tendulkar higher than compatriot Ricky Ponting and West Indian legend Brian Lara.

"It was a short span of career I had with Australia. I was lucky enough to play against Brian Lara, play with Ricky Ponting and play against Sachin. I think Sachin is probably just above those other two," Tait told reporters at the launch of KOOH Sports Cricket Development Centre.

The 30-year old, who retired from ODI and Test cricket, said he cherished taking Tendulkar's wicket for the last time in the 2011 World Cup match against India.

"Obviously my last match was against India in the 2011 World Cup. It was actually the last time I got to dismiss him and I got his wicket. He obviously made a good 50 in that match and India beat us. But for me the memory of taking his wicket will always remain," he said.

Tendulkar will retire from Test cricket after playing the second Test against West Indies and his 200th Test match and Tait said, "It has been a long time for him, I suppose 24 years. He has earned the right to put his feet up and relax. Unfortunately, I have to get back to Australia now but I will watch it from Australia. It would have been nice to be in the city while that was happening. It would have been a nice celebration and watch everyone go mad in the streets."

The Rajasthan Royals pacer also said that he was looking forward to a contest with Tendulkar in his first IPL game, but things didn't go according to his plans.

"I played against him a few times, not in Test cricket but in the short forms of the games and lucky enough to play in the time he has played in. My first IPL match I came over to Mumbai with the Rajasthan Royals and we played over here. Sachin was opening the batting and I was opening the bowling, so it was a little bit of a contest.

"At that time I was in good form and Sachin too was in good form. I was looking forward to the contest and I thought about it the night before the game a lot. Where I was going to bowl to him," he said.

"That was my welcome to Mumbai. It was about 45 degrees that day and I think I went for 45 runs in 4 overs. So I was well and truly in Sachin's territory. I definitely felt the effects of it the next day with a sore body," he said.

22.58 | 0 komentar | Read More