The Indian Panorama

Tag: Cricket

  • Pakistan police kill leader of anti-Shia militant group

    Pakistan police kill leader of anti-Shia militant group

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): Malik Ishaq, the dreaded chief of banned Sunni sectarian outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, was gunned down along with his two sons and 11 others early on July 30 morning by police in an alleged exchange of fire in Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district.

    While the exact circumstances of the killing remain unclear, police said the encounter took place following an attack on its convoy taking Ishaq and his sons to a detention centre. They were being taken to Shahwala in Muzaffargarh by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to aid in the recovery of arms and explosives that it had seized allegedly from LeJ terrorists.

    “As the police convoy was returning in wee hours on Wednesday, a group of militants on motorbikes ambushed it near Shahwala Jungle in an attempt to free Ishaq,” Shuja Khanzada, Punjab’s home minister, said. “Fourteen militants, including the LeJ chief and his sons, were killed in the battle, which ensued,” he said and added that at least six police officers were also injured.

    Ishaq, his sons and three aides, were arrested last Saturday on suspicion of involvement in sectarian killings.

    He had spent 13 years in police custody for more than 80 charges of sectarian killings. He was arrested in 1997 and after serving nearly 14 years in prison, released on bail in 2011. Observers believe that Ishaq, accused in over 70 criminal cases, was never successfully prosecuted. He walked free in December 2014 after a decision by the Lahore High Court. Analysts had called his release by court as a reflection of state’s weak judicial system.

    “He has faced several murder trials but always been acquitted after witnesses refused to testify against him,” said Nazrul Islam, political analyst.

    Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a violent Sunni militant group that is said to be aligned with al Qaeda and Taliban, has been accused of killing hundreds of Shias after its emergence in the early 1990s. It had claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of Shia Muslims, including two bombings in the western city of Quetta in early 2013 that had claimed lives of more than 200 people.

    Ishaq was also accused of masterminding, from behind bars, the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which wounded seven players and an assistant coach, and had left eight Pakistanis dead.

  • CSK, RR SUSPENDED FROM IPL FOR 2 YRS; LIFE BAN ON KUNDRA, MEIYAPPAN

    CSK, RR SUSPENDED FROM IPL FOR 2 YRS; LIFE BAN ON KUNDRA, MEIYAPPAN

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A Supreme Court-appointed panel suspended IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years on July 14 after their officials were found guilty of illegally betting on games, in what is being seen as a bid to clean up the big-ticket tournament hit by a barrage of corruption controversies.

    The three-member committee headed by former chief justice of India RM Lodha also slapped a life ban from all cricket matches on former CSK official Gurunath Meiyappan, who’s the son-in-law of International Cricket Council (ICC) president N Srinivasan, and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra.

    The league has been mired in controversy since May 2013 when fast bowler S Sreesanth and two of his teammates from the Rajasthan franchise were arrested by Delhi Police on charges of spot fixing, or influencing the outcomes of parts of a match in exchange for money.

    “The fact that Gurunath was an integral part of CSK and most people saw him as the face of the team, he ought not to have indulged in betting practices,” the committee said. “That the allegation of match-fixing against Kundra was not finally established does not matter because his status as owner has brought disrepute.”

    The decision is seen as a big blow to Indian cricket’s showpiece event that brought glamour and big bucks to Indian cricket. It also puts a question mark on the future of dozens of cricketers playing in the two teams and is expected to dent the tournaments massive sponsorship and TV rights revenues.

    After the committee’s order, top BCCI and IPL officials met to discuss the road ahead and assess the financial implications on the multi-crore tournament.

    Sources said three primary points emerged from the discussions: whether new companies will be allowed to bid for the two vacant slots, whether all players or only the CSK and RR players will be going into auctions next year and also the probability of the de-merger of CSK from parent company India Cements.

    BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya welcomed the panel’s order, saying the board was committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and cleansing the sport in order to restore the faith of millions of cricket-loving people.

    “BCCI is committed to honour and respect judicial decisions and it would give its observations after the entire report is read and a collective decision is taken,” a BCCI media release quoted him as saying.

    TV reports said both teams as well as Meiyappan and Kundra were likely to appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.

    Srinivasan, who headed the BCCI when the scandal hit the sixth edition of the IPL in 2013, told news channels he won’t step down as ICC chief despite the verdict.

    “I am not answerable to anyone. I am not involved in all of these,” he told NDTV.

    Srinivasan was earlier restricted by the court from running for another term as BCCI president owing to a conflict of interest. His company India Cements held a stake in the Chennai franchise.

    The hugely popular Chennai Super Kings, led by India’s one-day captain MS Dhoni, are the most successful team in the IPL, having won the tournament in 2010 and 2011, and finishing runners-up in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

    “MSD (Dhoni) is only 34 years old and in a few years will be bidding goodbye to international cricket,” former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV. “In any case, it will be tough to imagine an IPL without Dhoni.”

    Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural event in 2008 under the captaincy of Australian spin legend Shane Warne, but have failed to make the final since then.

    The three-member panel was also expected to deliver its verdict on IPL’s chief operating officer, Sundar Raman, but justice Lodha said that with a new investigator coming on board following the retirement of BB Mishra, it will take some more time to complete the investigation.

    The committee said its observations with respect to the much-talked about conflict of interest in the BCCI would be given after completing interactions with various stakeholders of the game.

    “Conflict of interest questions have been raised, once we complete the process of interacting with all the stakeholders, we will take a view on that. That exercise is not complete. This order is confined to determining the quantum of punishment to the two individuals and the franchises,” Lodha said.

    The panel, however, refused to comment on the criminal cases pending against the suspended officials, saying, “No aspect touching criminal liability has been decided by us.”

    On whether the two franchisees would be allowed to participate in case there is a change in ownership, Justice Lodha said that aspect was for the BCCI to decide.

  • IPL star-crossed? Team owners hit by bad luck

    IPL star-crossed? Team owners hit by bad luck

    MUMBAI (TIP): A leading Mumbai businessman, once interested in buying an Indian Premier League franchise today wants nothing to do with the glamorous cricket league. He believes IPL is bringing bad luck to team owners.

    Dramatic as it may sound, a quick look at where the owners have landed up post their IPL buys tends to lend credence to this expression of superstition. The businessman was insistent: “Vijay Mallya, Subrata Roy, Venkattram Reddy, the Maran brothers, even Lalit Modi – just look where they are. Isn’t it eerie?”

    IPL star-crossed statsAs facts go, the businessman isn’t off the mark. Subrata Roy is in jail, Reddy was arrested, Mallya is in trouble with the authorities, Maranowned Sun TV is having problems with the home ministry over security clearances, Lalit Modi is wanted by ED, and Sunanda Pushkar is dead. Even love has gone missing from Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta’s lives. And N Srinivasan has lost his prized BCCI president’s chair.

    Wait, not just Srinivasan. His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, a mere cricket enthusiast according to his father-in-law, has been pulled up by the Supreme Court for talking to bookmakers and banned for life from cricket. Ditto with another part owner, Raj Kundra of Rajasthan Royals.

    Those who have bucked the trend are movie star Shah Rukh Khan, India’s biggest businessman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita, and the Delhi franchisee GMR.

    Heck, the league itself is now in massive trouble. The judgment delivered by the SC-appointed Justice Lodha committee has reduced the IPL to just six teams of which, again, some are in serious financial trouble.

    T Venkattram Reddy, the strapping boss of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, from Hyderabad, lost his team Deccan Chargers after cases of financial fraud with several banks began surfacing post 2011.

    And the owners who replaced the team in Hyderabad – Maran Brothers of Sun TV -are also struggling. Once the eyes and ears of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the Chennai media barons are no longer politically protected. Apart from the cloud over their TV channels, they have had to sell their airline SpiceJet back to the original promoter.

    Is this the reason why Parth Jindal of Bangalore-based JSW Group doesn’t want to get into the IPL?

     

  • India Whitewash Zimbabwe, Clinch Last ODI by 83 Runs

    India Whitewash Zimbabwe, Clinch Last ODI by 83 Runs

    Half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay and four wickets from Bhuvneshwar Kumar saw India beat Zimbabwe by 62 runs in the second one-day international.

    India beat Zimbabwe in the second game to clinch the three-game series with one to spare, and put behind it an embarrassing recent loss to Bangladesh.

    Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and Murali Vijay both made half-centuries in a century opening to lead India to 271-8 batting first.

    Rahane and Vijay put on 112 for the first wicket after India were put in to bat, and although the tourists could not fully capitalise on that platform, they were still able to post 271 for eight.

    Vijay top-scored with 72, his first half-century in ODI cricket, while Rahane made 63. The duo put on 144 runs after coming together at 82/4. Pandey finished with 71 off 86 deliveries, while his partner Jadhav top-scored with an unbeaten 105 off 87 balls.

    With the ball, India kept Zimbabwe on a tight leash for the first five overs, giving away just 12 runs. The pressure paid off for the team in blue as medium pacer Mohit sent Hamilton Masakadza packing for seven.

    The other opener, Chibhabha, and Regis Chakabva then got together to forge a delightful 70-run partnership studded with some well-timed and perfectly placed boundaries. However, left-arm spinner Patel castled Chakabva for 27. After 25 overs Zimbabwe were 97/2.

    Skipper Elton Chigumbura started off well but was adjudged leg-before-wicket off a delivery from Murali Vijay who was accurate with his part-time off-spinners. Chibhabha remained unfazed by the situation and kept on making merry out in the middle, clubbing a few big ones.

    However, the Indians struck back again getting rid of Richmond Mutumbami and Chibahabha in space of a few overs, courtesy Binny who kept on hurling at a tight channel in one of the turning points of the game.

    The medium pacer stuck again getting Malcolm Waller caught behind, but television replays showed Binny had over-stepped and the batsman was given not out in the 36th over.

    In the next over though veteran offspinner Harbhajan Singh made up for Binny’s error, picking up two back-to-back wickets and in turn reducing the hosts to 172/7 and taking the sting out of the contest.

  • IPL VERDICT: CSK & RR banned for 2 years – Meiyappan, Kundra suspended for life

    IPL VERDICT: CSK & RR banned for 2 years – Meiyappan, Kundra suspended for life

    The Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee has suspended the owners of IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from cricket for two years and banned team officials Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra for life on the grounds that the former were liable for the gambling sins of the latter.

    Both Meiyappan and Kundra were found guilty of betting on IPL matches while being IPL team owners and thus violated the IPL’s rules and regulations while also bringing the game into disrepute.

    Gurunath Meiyappan was held (CSK team official) guilty in the IPL spot fixing case and has been suspended for life.

    Meiyappan is the son-in-law of N Srinivasan, the current chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) and former president of the BCCI.

    “Gurunath Meiyappan acted in violation of IPL laws. It is evident from the decision of SC that matter is serious. India Cements did not take any action against Meiyappan,” he added.

    “The fact that Meiyappan was integral part of CSK, he ought not to have indulged in corrupt practices. Any person who has true passion for the game will never be involved in betting. Gurunath has not only indulged in betting but he has brought disrepute to cricket & the IPL. Being the face if franchise, Gurunath’s actions reflects on the owners India Cements,” said Justice Lodha.

    Part owner of Rajasthan Royals – Raj Kundra – too has been found guilty of misconduct. The panel said Kundra’s actions have caused serious disrepute to BCCI and IPL and also the game of cricket. The SC panel declared him ineligible for participation in cricket for five years. Kundra too has been for suspended for life.

    Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals have been suspended for 2 years from participating in the 20-20 cricket tournament.

    The players of the banned teams can join any other team.

     

  • Sania Makes History | Mirza, Hingis win women’s doubles Wimbledon title

    Sania Makes History | Mirza, Hingis win women’s doubles Wimbledon title

    Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis staged a scintillating fightback to claim the Wimbledon women’s doubles title under the Centre Court roof lights.

    The top-seeded Indo-Swiss pair claimed a 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 win over Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina on Saturday.

    It was the top seeds’ first Grand Slam title as a team having only decided to play together in March this year.

    Hingis won the Wimbledon doubles with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998.

    Sania was playing her first doubles final at Wimbledon while former world singles number one Hingis lifted the trophy with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998.

    “For a match like this, the No.1 and No.2 seeds playing, it was the best match you could have asked for the tournament. It was unbelievably exciting. It was exciting to play. I really hope it was exciting to watch, too,” Sania was quoted as saying by Wimbledon.com

    “It’s been another lifetime. Seventeen years, usually you’re lucky to win it once or happy to be out here and play on the Wimbledon grounds. It’s above my expectations,” said Hingis who was also the singles champion at Wimbledon in 1997.

    Mirza praised the support she and Hingis received throughout the tournament and hoped her win will have a positive impact back home in cricket-mad India.

    “I hope it inspires a lot of girls and makes them believe they can be Grand Slam champions too,” she said.

    “I think for me as an Indian, I’m in Little India here. There are so many Indians in England. Thankfully there are a lot of us everywhere. In England especially I’ve always had amazing support.”

    Hingis can be back amongst the silverware on Sunday when she and Leander Paes face Alexander Peya and Timea Babos in the mixed doubles championship match.

  • Is Team India becoming a divided house?

    Is Team India becoming a divided house?

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s series defeat to lowly-ranked Bangladesh has allegedly brought to the fore the sense of insecurity and disquiet some team members have been experiencing, Sources say the team is not at its cohesive best.

    Allegedly, there is bitterness over some players getting a long rope while others being hastily dropped or criticized in public by ODI skipper MS Dhoni.

    It also hasn’t helped that Dhoni and out-of-form Test skipper Virat Kohli – also the heir apparent to the ODI hot seat -have been speaking at cross purposes about the team’s long-term vision.

    Kohli has openly backed an extension for present team director Ravi Shastri, while Dhoni is still eager to talk about Duncan Fletcher’s positive impact on the team, which is now on the lookout for a new coach.

    Sources reveal that Kohli and Shastri want their faster bowlers to get full backing, while Dhoni isn’t too pleased with the performance of the faster men.

    “Certain players feel insecure about Dhoni’s decision making. While some are given a long rope, others aren’t so lucky. There’s too much chopping and changing,” sources told TOI, adding, “You can see how certain players are regulars in the XI, while some others who waited for long to get in are quickly dropped. The team feels the criteria should be the same for every player.”

    Earlier this week, TOI published a story in which some ex-selectors expressed misgivings about the current dual captain arrangement. The current series defeat seems to have highlighted this problem.

    Dhoni, for one, has not been his usual self during the customary media interactions. For one, his best players have not delivered. He has looked under pressure and apart from hastily offering to step down in an uncharacteristic outpouring of emotion in Dhaka, he has twice pulled up individual players in public. While dropping a player is the captain’s call and cannot be argued with, Dhoni’s detailed explanation for dropping Rahane from last Sunday’s ODI was deemed unnecessary in certain quarters.

    “We have seen that he (Rahane) plays a lot better on pitches that have some pace. But on a slow pitch, he does have a problem in freely rotating the strike at the start of his innings. I think Ajinkya will have to wait,” Dhoni had said. Another player indirectly hauled up was pacer Umesh Yadav, who was unimpressive in Bangladesh. Dhoni’s comment that “we need to decide whether we want really quick bowlers or bowlers who don’t bowl quickly but bowl in the right lines and lengths” has also led to some heartburn.

    On the other hand, Kohli has added fuel to the fire by saying, “We have been doubtful in our decision-making and that shows on the field. I don’t need to say this. Cricket watchers and experts can see guys not sure enough to express themselves. Where we lacked in the first two games was not being able to express ourselves with clarity of mind.” What was Kohli, who is himself going through a lean patch with the bat, trying to imply? Dhoni’s comments about the bowling even prompted former India player Md Kaif -who was part of the commentary team – to tweet after the third ODI: “From a long-term perspective, what worries me is not only bowling but on-field management of bowlers by captain as well.”

    A former player told TOI, “Dhoni’s handling of bowlers has always been suspect. Look at the talent he had at his disposal when he took over the reins. Around 18-19 fast bowlers have played under Dhoni and none of them were permanent in the team.”

    Clearly, the Bangladesh debacle has spurred difference of opinion within the team management and players. How well the team sticks together at this hour and how leader Dhoni rallies his flock may well decide the team’s performance on the field in the near future.

  • Tendulkar voted ‘Test player of the 21st century’

    Tendulkar voted ‘Test player of the 21st century’

    MELBOURNE (TIP): In an online poll conducted on Cricket Australia’s website, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar was voted as the Best Test player of the 21st century. The Little Master got the highest number of votes and emerged at the top in a list of the 100 best players since 2000.

    Tendulkar earned 23 percent votes, the highest, followed by Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, who got 14 percent votes, while Australia’s Adam Gilchrist came third with 13 percent votes.

    Tendulkar, who retired from Test cricket after playing his 200th game in November 2013, was the only Indian player to figure in the top-ten, which included four Australians, three South Africans and two Sri Lankans.

    “After 10 days of counting down and no end of deliberations, cricket.com.au released its final countdown of the 100 best Test players since 2000 a couple of days ago. Readers debated the top 10, just as you did players 11 through 100, but we also provided an opportunity for you to decide your No.1 Test player of the century,” CA’s website stated.

    “Tendulkar, the Little Master, who remains an iconic figure in the sport, was a runaway winner, jumping four places from where cricket.com.au had him placed, while batting giants Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis were separated on countback, with the Australian just edging out his Proteas counterpart,” they added.

    The Poll result:

    1. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 23% , 2. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) 14% , 3. Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 13% , 4. Ricky Ponting (Aus) 11% , 5. Jacques Kallis (SA) 11% , 6. AB de Villiers (SA) 10% , 7. Shane Warne (Aus) 9% , 8. Glenn McGrath (Aus) 5% , 9. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) 3% , 10. Dale Steyn (SA) 1%

  • Shah rukh Khan enters Caribbean Premier League buys Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel

    Shah rukh Khan enters Caribbean Premier League buys Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel

    Bollywood star and owner of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, Shah Rukh Khan, has purchased Caribbean Premier League team Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel.
    SRK can expect to be in illustrious company shortly, with Hollywood actors Gerard Butler and Mark Wahlberg owning the Jamaica Tallawahs and the Barbados Tridents respectively in the CPL.
    The Tridents are skippered by West Indies and Mumbai ace Kieron Pollard while the explosive Chris Gayle skippers the side from Jamaica.
    Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the company that Khan co-owns with his wife, and KKR co-owners Jay Mehta and his wife and former Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, have acquired a stake in the Trinidad based franchise.
    The upcoming edition of the CPL will run between June 20 and July 26 this year. The actor has become the first person to own an IPL team as well as an overseas franchise. Khan was overjoyed with his latest acquisition.
    He said: “This is in line with our vision to expand globally. We are thrilled to become a part of the cricketing tradition of Trinidad and Tobago.”
    The actor added that he had been thrilled with the passion for cricket in this part of the world and especially with the success of the CPL.
    The business model of his IPL team, KKR has been immensely successful. The side have won the IPL on two occasions already – 2012 and 2014, and are the most valuable franchise in the IPL with a brand value of over 500 crore Rupees.
    Venky Mysore, who is the man behind the success of the KKR in recent years said that the two time IPL champions were one of the most well managed teams in the IPL and that the management were keen to bring their experience to the CPL with the same goals in mind.
    A significant portion of the population of Trinidad & Tobago comprises of people of Indian origin while the US city of Miami is only an hour away by flight. If the side are now able to attract such spectators to the stadium, it will be a major win-win for Khan as well as Indian cricket fans in the West.

  • ‘Generous’ BCCI gives big CLT20 relief to STAR

    MUMBAI (TIP): The BCCI has over the years acquired the reputation of a domineering big brother in dealing with its various partners, thanks to Team India’s massive popularity at home and abroad. From broadcasters, to various sponsors, franchise owners, overseas telecast rights holders, online partners and more, they have all, at some point of time, complained that dealing with the Indian cricket board hasn’t been easy .

    That was until recently when Star TV , the present right holders for all cricket played in India and sponsors of the Indian national teams, did the impossible. In a show of rare bonhomie, Star has managed to convince the BCCI to waive off $475m that they were scheduled to pay for the remaining four years of Champions League T20 event under the 10-year deal signed between BCCI and the ESPN-Star JV in 2009. In turn, Star will pay the BCCI, Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia – the three boards which host the tournament -a collective compensatory figure of $300m to exit the tournament. ESPN-Star had bought the Champions League rights for a period of 10 years starting 2009 for a huge $975m after losing out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) rights that had been offered to MSM India in 2007-08. Six editions of the tournament have been played so far and four remain, including the 2015 season.

    Sources say the understanding between BCCI and Star to close the deal took place when N Srinivasan -the present International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman -was at the helm of affairs in BCCI. The announcement has been delayed only because financial parameters had to be worked out.

    The deal will help Star save on an estimated$90m per season that they had to shell out (four seasons remained) as part of the tripartite agreement between them and the three cricket boards for a property that clearly had few takers. Giving BCCI’s penny-pinching ways of conducting business, only the board’s bigwigs can explain why they decided to act on the misery afflicting their biggest business partner. “They’ve rarely shown such a generous side,” said a source. Star TV holds the Indian telecast rights, the national team’s sponsorship rights, the online media rights and the ground and title rights for the cricket played in India. Their partners in UK, Sky TV , hold the IPL’s international telecast rights.

  • No clarity on Ravi Shastri, new Team India coach

    No clarity on Ravi Shastri, new Team India coach

    NEW DELHI (TIP): BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on May 20 said that a committee will be convened shortly to look into the appointment of the new India coach. However, he did not clarify whether Ravi Shastri would remain the team’s director of cricket for India’s tour to Bangladesh.

    “Regarding the coach, I would say that good things come to those who wait. We are in the process of finalising the coach of the team. It may take some time, but we want to pick the right person who can deliver for the Indian team in the coming years,” said Thakur.

    “We are in the process of finalising the cricket advisory committee and also shortlisting the name of the coaches who are available for India. Once that process is complete we will be in a position to take a final call.We are looking at all the positions whether it is that of the main coach or the support staff,” he added.

    Thakur reiterated the Board’s decision to invite former captains Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly as advisors to guide Indian cricket in the near future. “I think we are very clear that we want to utilise the services of former cricketers, who can give BCCI some time for the promotion of the game. They can share ideas and opinion, they can be advisors to the Board, and we want to involve them to improve the standard of domestic cricket and to improve our performance overseas,” Thakur said.

    Asked about the status of the Indo-Pak series that’s been a topic of hot discussion recently, Thakur said: “The Pakistan board chief (Shahryar Khan) came to India and met me in Delhi. He then went to Kolkata and met Mr Dalmiya (BCCI president). Thereafter, he met me again in Delhi. We are supposed to play a series in December as per the Future Tours Programme (FTP), but we are still at the discussion stage. There are many things to be decided. Once it’s all decided we will let you know.”

  • Speculation rages over Ganguly’s role as Team India coach

    Speculation rages over Ganguly’s role as Team India coach

    MUMBAI (TIP): Will another chapter be added to the famous Sourav Ganguly story? Over the past couple of days, there has been intense speculation that the ‘Prince of Kolkata,’ who led India with much success, could be the team’s next coach.

    Reports have said that the charismatic former India skipper has expressed interest in the job left vacant by Duncan Fletcher, whose term ended after the World Cup. Some even said that Ganguly had meet Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya in this regard.

    On Thursday, Ganguly vehemently denied that he was in the fray. “I am hearing this for the first time. I don’t want to say anything on this. Let’s not speculate. Don’t jump the gun,” he said.

    He also denied speaking to Dalmiya about it. “No, who says all this? They (BCCI) haven’t spoken to anyone and neither have I spoken to them. That’s the truth and let’s stick to that. I meet him (Dalmiya) every day because he is the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and I am the joint secretary of CAB,” he clarified.

    Interestingly, Ganguly also said that both he and Dravid had the skills to do the job. “Both can be (good coaches). Rahul was a great player,” he said.

    Curiously, Dalmiya, a known backer of Ganguly, didn’t deny the possibility completely. “It may happen. It is not ruled out. Till now, there is nothing on this. Who knows what will happen in the future? Let’s wait for the decision.

    We won’t hide anything from the media,” the wily 74-year-old said.

    BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur admitted that he and Dalmiya have had intense discussions in this regard and had sought the views of all the ‘stakeholders involved’.

    “Dalmiya and I will be speaking to senior board members and the senior players. We also sought the captain’s view and we can assure that the best “Dalmiya and I will be speaking to senior board members and the senior players. We also sought the captain’s view and we can assure that the best man available for the job will be appointed,” Thakur said.

    Sources said that Ganguly is more keen on the job of the team director, a position which was occupied by former India all-rounder-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri till the World Cup.

    However, it has also emerged that Shastri himself wants to continue in his new role. Apparently, the players are comfortable with Shastri’s working style.

    A master on technique, Dravid also enjoys the confidence of the ‘boys’ and had a healthy time with the team during his short stint as the batting consultant in England before the Test series last year.

    He has also been a ‘mentor’ of the Rajasthan Royals for the past couple of seasons -a role which he has performed successfully. The only glitch is that Dravid himself has expressed his inability to be with the team for long periods.

    In the mix are Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar, who have assisted Shastri in his Team India job for the past few months. The positive role of the trio has been appreciated by everybody .

    The question is, if the board goes for a desi coach instead of a foreigner, will it be a superstar or a less popular but effective man?

  • AbRam makes his debut at the first cricket match of IPL-8 with daddy Shah Rukh Khan

    AbRam makes his debut at the first cricket match of IPL-8 with daddy Shah Rukh Khan

    Shah Rukh Khan took time from the shooting of his upcoming film, Fan and flew down to Kolkata to support his team Kolkata Knight Riders as they took on Mumbai Indians. And accompanying the Chennai Express abram-700304actor were his kids.

    “Taking so many kids for the KKR match… it’s like I am a class teacher Incharge of Nursery to Higher Secondary,” Shah Rukh posted on Twitter.

    SRK’s elder son Aryan and daughter Suhana, as we all know have often accompanied their father to matches, but the latest addition to Kolkata Knight Riders’ fan base is the superstar’s youngest son, AbRam. The little toddler was dressed in the Knight Riders’ jersey, AbRam looked nothing but super cute. And clearly, the two-year-old proved to be a lucky charm for KKR who beat MI by 7 pp-sharukh-03wickets.

    AbRam has already made his official debut on Twitter last year when his father tweeted a photo of them together as an Eid gift to fans. He’s also made a Bollywood debut and was spotted in Farah Khan’s Happy New Year. And now by accompanying his father to a cricket match, AbRam has also made his cheer leading debut.

     

     

     

  • IPL 2015 Season 8 Match Schedule – Starting April 8

    IPL 2015 Season 8 Match Schedule – Starting April 8

    No of Match Team Time Day Date Stadium  City
    Match 1 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday Apr 8, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 2 Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday Apr 9, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 3 Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday Apr 10, 2015 MCA International Stadium Pune 
    Match 4 Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday Apr 11, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 5 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday Apr 11, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 6 Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday Apr 12, 2015 Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi
    Match 7 Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday Apr 12, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 8 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Monday Apr 13, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 9 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Tuesday Apr 14, 2015 Sardar Patel Stadium Ahmedabad
    Match 10 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday Apr 14, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 11 Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday Apr 15, 2015 MCA International Stadium Pune 
    Match 12 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday Apr 16, 2015 ACA-VDCA Stadium Visakhapatnam
    Match 13 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday Apr 17, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 14 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday Apr 18, 2015 ACA-VDCA Stadium Visakhapatnam
    Match 15 Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday Apr 18, 2015 MCA International Stadium Pune 
    Match 16 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday Apr 19, 2015 Sardar Patel Stadium Ahmedabad
    Match 17 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday Apr 19, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 18 Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Monday Apr 20, 2015 Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi
    Match 19 Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday Apr 21, 2015 Sardar Patel Stadium Ahmedabad
    Match 20 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Wednesday Apr 22, 2015 ACA-VDCA Stadium Visakhapatnam
    Match 21 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday Apr 22, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 22 Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday Apr 23, 2015 Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi
    Match 23 Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday Apr 24, 2015 Sardar Patel Stadium Ahmedabad
    Match 24 Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday Apr 25, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 25 Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday Apr 25, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 26 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday Apr 26, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 27 Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday Apr 26, 2015 Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi
    Match 28 Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Monday Apr 27, 2015 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Mohali
    Match 29 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday Apr 28, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 30 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday Apr 29, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 31 Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday Apr 30, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 32 Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Friday May 1, 2015 Ferozeshah Kotla Delhi
    Match 33 Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday May 1, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 34 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday May 2, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 35 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday May 2, 2015 Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Hyderabad
    Match 36 Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday May 3, 2015 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Mohali
    Match 37 Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday May 3, 2015 Brabourne Stadium Mumbai
    Match 38 Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Monday May 4, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 39 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Monday May 4, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 40 Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday May 5, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 41 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday May 6, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 42 Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday May 7, 2015 Brabourne Stadium Mumbai
    Match 43 Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday May 8, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 44 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday May 9, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
    Match 45 Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday May 9, 2015 Chhattisgarh International Cricket Stadium Raipur
    Match 46 Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday May 10, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 47 Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday May 10, 2015 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 
    Match 48 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Monday May 11, 2015 Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Hyderabad
    Match 49 Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday May 12, 2015 Chhattisgarh International Cricket Stadium Raipur
    Match 50 Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday May 13, 2015 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Mohali
    Match 51 Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Thursday May 14, 2015 Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
    Match 52 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday May 15, 2015 Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Hyderabad
    Match 53 Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Saturday May 16, 2015 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium Mohali
    Match 54 Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Saturday May 16, 2015 Brabourne Stadium Mumbai
    Match 55 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils 4:00pm IST (10:30am GMT) Sunday May 17, 2015 M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru
    Match 56 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday May 17, 2015 Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Hyderabad
    Qualifier 1  TBD vs TBD 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Tuesday May 19, 2015 TBC TBC
    Eliminator TBD vs TBD 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Wednesday May 20, 2015 TBC TBC
    Qualifier 2 TBD vs TBD 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Friday May 22, 2015 TBC TBC
    Final  TBD vs TBD 8:00pm IST (2:30pm GMT) Sunday May 24, 2015 Eden Gardens Kolkata
  • World Cup 2015: India thrash Bangladesh to enter semifinals

    World Cup 2015: India thrash Bangladesh to enter semifinals

    MELBOURNE (TIP): The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) danced to the roll of drums when the players took the field. Then came the beat of the dhols as India began batting, followed by what sounded like a jugalbandi between the two. After a while, cacophony prevailed.

    India won the toss and elected to bat first. The dhols grew louder. Bangladesh got Shikhar Dhawan for 30. The drumbeats took over. Virat Kohli departed for just three.

    The drumming turned into a frenzy. Suresh Raina joined Rohit Sharma. The dhols were back. A 122-run partnership gave India the momentum. The drumbeats gradually went silent. Rohit Sharma came up with a classy 137. The dhols reverberated in the sky.

    The cacophony was melody to India’s ears as they beat Bangladesh by 109 runs on Thursday to enter the semifinals. They will now play the winner of the clash between Australia and Pakistan in Sydney on March 26.

    Sweat rolled down thick coats of maroon and green painted on the faces of Bangladesh fans who arrived earlier than those manning the MCG gates in the afternoon. By the time the match approached its end, they were the ones who left early, trying to avoid the exiting MCG rush that would be full of partying Indians.

    To the Mumbai boy they all raised a toast, chanting ‘Rohit, Rohit’ in praise of a century that put India on course to victory. Along with Dhawan, the elegant Sharma was patient in approach. The first 50 runs took 10 overs to come and India had 75 on the board when they lost the first wicket.

    Virat Kohli joined Rohit but left soon, making way for Ajinkya Rahane who did not stay too long either. The MCG pitch, while resembled a neat highway, turned out to be trickier than expected. And it wasn’t until the in-form Suresh Raina walked in that a partnership of value began.

    Raina took the initiative, finding gaps that were in plenty and then Rohit Rohit decided to cut loose. A healthy 202 runs came in the last 24.1 overs. In the end, India cruised, strolled and crawled past 300, a target that has never been chased at the massive ‘G’.

    Bangladesh began on a positive note, particularly opener Tamim Iqbal smashing three fours off a rattled Mohammed Shami in the fourth over. But the pressure of a chase under lights proved too heavy for Bangladesh.

    A very disciplined Umesh Yadav, bowling at good pace, picked 4-37 while Shami and Ravindra Jadeja shared two each. It was R Ashwin, though, who ended up being the most economical as India won comfortably.

  • Media barred from Indian team’s hotel

    AUCKLAND (TIP): The just-elected office bearers of the BCCI might have shown some interest in improving its relationship with the media, but the Indian cricket team management continued to keep its distance from the touring national media contingent with members of the fourth estate being banned from entering the hotel premises, here on Thursday.

    While in places like Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hamilton, media did have access to the hotel lobby, the authorities of the ‘Heritage Hotel’ here are very strict about even letting media people be within 100 metres of the premises.

    It is not known whether the authorities are issuing a diktat by the Indian team management, which is known to keep the media at arm’s length, but there was an altercation between reporters of some electronic channels on Thursday when they were filming the proceedings of movements in the hotel from across the road.

    It was learnt that some of the security staff of the hotel came and told them to move from the area even though the public road or footpath is not under their jurisdiction.

  • De Villiers hits maximum sixes in a World Cup

    ELLINGTON: South Africa skipper AB de Villiers on Thursday broke yet another record as he bludgeoned his way to the highest number of sixes, 20, in a single edition of the cricket World Cup. He broke former Australia left-handed opener Matthew Hayden’s record of 18 sixes in the 2007 edition. The swashbuckling right-hander also holds the record for the maximum sixes in the quadrennial event (36) taking all the editions into account. Two-time Australian World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting is second on the list with 31 sixes to his credit. Though de Villiers missed out on the first two innings in this year’s event, hitting only one over the fence, he latched onto the bowlers in his third match against the West Indies where he clubbed eight sixes en route to his 162 not out. In the next encounter against Ireland he again hit two sixes but got out for 24. On March 7 in their contest at Auckland versus Pakistan, he hit five sixes and scored 77.

  • The Business End, with Optimism

    The Business End, with Optimism

    It is fitting that the 30th anniversary of India’s defining victory in the World Championship of Cricket, which was celebrated this week, has coincided with the current team’s stirring run in the World Cup. Sunil Gavaskar’s men had captivated Australia in 1985 with a brand of dynamic cricket that was ahead of its time; M.S. Dhoni’s side hasn’t quite that je ne sais quoi, but it has so far in the tournament shown a similar ability to bowl teams out. India might have entered the World Cup with the air of a monarch about to be deposed – after defeats in the Tests and the tri-series had appeared to shred the team’s confidence – but the past few weeks have witnessed a remarkable turnaround. From the words of captain Dhoni and particularly team director Ravi Shastri, who termed the tri-series “a waste of time and energy”, it is now clear that India was awaiting its moment. Through the tournament, the defending champion has appeared to gain strength incrementally. The team was noticeably sharper and more intense in the field against Pakistan and South Africa; with their toughest opponents in the league stage dealt with early, Dhoni’s men ruthlessly dismissed the UAE and Ireland.

    The only scare was caused by the West Indies, but the calmest man in world cricket – Dhoni – ensured there was no panic.

    Hearteningly, India has ticked the many boxes that matter in a global tournament: solid, explosive batting; restrictive, wicket-taking bowling, backed up in the field; game-toughness under pressure. Particularly impressive is the team’s handling of mental fatigue – Virat Kohli recently said that Suresh Raina reminded him of having spent 100 days in Australia. Unlike hosts Australia and New Zealand, whose players have had the time to recover in the comfort of their own homes, India’s cricketers have had to recuperate on the road. Shikhar Dhawan, who has a home in Melbourne, is an exception of course. There’s no doubt that that has played a part in his resurrection. After a middling tour of Australia till the World Cup, Dhawan found form and, with 333 runs, is currently fourth on the scorers’ list. The bowlers, who did not look like they could buy a wicket at one stage, have improved beyond sight. Mohammed Shami (12 wickets) and spinner R. Ashwin (11) are among the top ten, but the entire bowling unit has worked together, finding both consistency and potency. India has done well in different situations and varied conditions, increasing its unbeaten World Cup streak to nine – five on the trot in 2015, four in 2011. A likely quarter final against Bangladesh does not appear taxing, but complacency has no place in the knockouts. India does not have Australia’s abundance of match-winners, but if it plays to potential in the business end, it will be an incredibly hard side to beat. (The Hindu) 

  • Fighting fire: BCCI asks Virat Kohli to behave

    Fighting fire: BCCI asks Virat Kohli to behave

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Stung by the Indian media’s severe criticism of Virat Kohli’s abusive rant at a journalist and the bizarre statement on the issue by team’s media manager RN Baba, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) rushed in to douse the fire with a statement of apology on March 5.

    In a carefully-worded statement released to pacify the angry media, BCCI’s secretary Anurag Thakur emphasized on the key role media plays in covering and popularizing the game of the cricket.

    “The BCCI has taken note of the incident that occurred in Perth a couple of days ago. The BCCI has been in touch with the Indian team management on this issue, and has advised that this kind of incident should not be repeated,” Thakur said in the statement.

    Thakur’s choice of words suggests a change in BCCI’s attitude towards the journalists. “The BCCI respects the role played by the media in covering and popularizing the game of cricket and acknowledges the support of the media in its mission to administer and promote the game of cricket in India,” Thakur said.

    “The player in question has been told to maintain the dignity of the Indian team at all times, and avoid any such behaviour in the future. The BCCI would like to request the concerned parties to move on, and focus on the Indian cricket team’s campaign in the ongoing ICC CWC 2015,” Thakur added.

    Baba, in his statement on Wednesday, had strangely dismissed the incident by saying Kohli had not abused the journalist.

  • World Cup 2015: AB is the Neo of the cricketing world, says Steyn

    World Cup 2015: AB is the Neo of the cricketing world, says Steyn

    AUCKLAND (TIP): South Africa captain AB de Villiers’ batting blitzkriegs in the last two months have been so good that even his own teammates are in awe of them, fast bowler Dale Steyn said on March 5.

    De Villiers has scored 241 runs in four innings at the tournament, including a stunning 162 not out against West Indies from 66 balls. He has a strike rate of almost 162 and has the most sixes (11) and fours (22) in South Africa’s vaunted lineup.

    Prior to the tournament, he belted a 31-ball century against West Indies, smashing the old record for the fastest ODI ton by five balls.

    “Oh, man, it’s like watching ‘The Matrix’ movie, really,” Steyn told reporters in Auckland on Friday, a day before his side face Pakistan in their Pool B clash at Eden Park.

    “There is Neo for you right there. He just doesn’t understand how good he is.

    “I think he’s actually figured out now … there is no roof or cap on how good he can possibly be.

    “He’s one of those players that’s proven in this year especially just how good he is. I think he’s starting to realise that now.

    “Bowlers are struggling to find a way to get this guy out. The only way to get him out is when he gets himself out.” 

    Steyn felt sorry for some of his fellow bowlers having to face his captain, though he said if he had to bowl to de Villiers he had a cunning plan that may work.

    “I’d trip him on his way out of the hotel … and hope that he breaks his ankle,” Steyn said while laughing.

    “He’s a phenomenal player and seeing the ball like no other player is seeing a cricket ball before, and he’s playing shots that I don’t think most people have seen before.

    “Hopefully he comes out and executes those same skills tomorrow and going forward in this competition.” 

    While Steyn had played against Ireland in Canberra on Tuesday, he said he had been distracted for much of the week with bushfires in Cape Town threatening to engulf his home.

    He received about 80 messages and 30 missed calls one night from friends looking after his house, who relayed they had been given five minutes to pack what they could carry and get out.

    “I’ve never been more scared in my life,” he said.

    “I’m sitting halfway across the world, and everything that I’ve ever earned or gotten in my life …is in that house.

    “It’s a pretty tough time back home right now.” 

  • Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to travel to Pakistan

    Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to travel to Pakistan

    Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar will travel to Pakistan in March, seven months after India cancelled foreign secretary-level talks.

    “In accordance with the Prime Minister’s directive, will be undertaking a SAARC Yatra to all South Asian countries including Pakistan in March,” Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said on Tuesday.

    However, he did not reveal the exact dates, saying that visit has to be finalised at mutually convenient dates.

    Replying to a question during a live session on Facebook, Mr. Akbaruddin said, “We stand ready to talk with Pakistan in accordance with the Simla Agreement on all issues including Jammu & Kashmir.”

    In an ice-breaking move earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif after which it was announced that Jaishankar will visit Islamabad when he will “push bilateral agenda“.

    Using cricket diplomacy, Modi called leaders of four SAARC nations which, along with India, are participating in cricket World Cup. He conveyed best wishes to their teams.

    Thereafter, Mr. Modi announced that Mr. Jaishankar will undertake a “SAARC yatra” soon to strengthen relationship with them.

    Next month’s visit will be seven months after India broke off foreign secretary-level talks in August last at the eleventh hour because the Pakistan High Commissioner here held consultations with Kashmiri separatists.

    Sharif had welcomed the foreign secretary’s proposed visit .

    “to discuss all issues of common interest”.

     

  • A welcome climb down – After speaking up, Modi must act

    The Obama visit and the Delhi verdict seem to have had some pleasant side-effects. President Obama’s sermons on religious tolerance have not been dismissed as unwarranted or treated as interference by the Modi government. These have, in fact, been taken seriously. On Tuesday Prime Minister Modi chose to speak out at a Christian function on virtues of religious freedom, guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution to which President Obama referred with telling effect. This is quite a climb down for a man who had stubbornly refused to condemn the 2002 massacre that happened when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

    Two days after the Delhi verdict, which seems to have left Modi a changed man, the Prime Minister picked up the phone to launch cricket diplomacy, resuming the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan. In another unusual step he summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner to order a crackdown on those attacking Christian institutions in Delhi. In the usual course the Prime Minister should have acted through the Home Minister or sought the Home Minister’s, or through him, the Delhi Police Commissioner’s explanation for police inaction on the repeated attacks on churches – six in three months in Delhi – unless these were unofficially sanctioned for possible electoral gains. By calling the Police Commissioner, Modi perhaps wanted to send the signal to his critics that he was no longer a quiet spectator to the ugly goings-on.

    One hopes the Delhi outcome has taught the BJP leadership the importance of plurality in the Indian society. A serious introspection may drive the party to keep in check the hate-mongers in the larger Sangh Parivar. Whether the BJP has learnt any lessons in religious tolerance will be tested during the coming Bihar and UP elections in which communal flare-ups and caste divisions are often used for political advantage. Modi’s word to protect the minorities, welcome as it is, will not be enough unless followed by action on the ground. Any one engaging in or inciting communal hatred, vandalism and violence – regardless of his position, religion and party – must be booked immediately and brought to justice.

  • Battle of the unpredictables in must-win game

    Battle of the unpredictables in must-win game

    CHRISTCHURCH (TIP): Two teams that need to win to stay alive in the 2015 ICC World Cup will meet at Hagley Oval on Saturday, but that is not the only similarity between them. Both are missing influential players, both are creaking from instability and both are coming off dramatic losses. Welcome then, to West Indies versus Pakistan in game ten of the tournament. Not an ordinary fixture by any regards.

    In one corner, the cornered tigers -Pakistan. Led by Misbah-ul-Haq, 40, and in his final World Cup. In the other – West Indies, led by Jason Holder, 23, in his first World Cup. Holder is only 27 ODIs old – having led in six – with questions being asked as to why he was saddled with the responsibility of leading an unstable side. Misbah is in New Zealand just months after his batting form and a series of losses prompted calls for his removal. Two men at opposite ends of their careers, but with the task of leading two of the most frustrating teams in world cricket.

    Pakistan occupy bottom place in Pool B, with West Indies on level higher owing to a better net run-rate. Both must win, and both captains had their own views on what it will take to outdo the other.

    “To stop teams to under 300, you need to back your field placements and take wickets,” said Misbah on Friday. “Defending 300 or hoping to keep teams to under 300, you must take wickets in the middle overs and up front. Regular breakthroughs are the key. If six or seven batsmen bat well, 300 can easily be made and chased. Our focus will be wickets.”

    Considering West Indies’ struggles against spin – the Irish trio of Andy McBrine (10-1-26-0), George Dockrell (10- 0-50-3) and Paul Stirling (6-0-33-0) played important roles at Nelson – Misbah was asked if he would pack his side with another spinner, but his reply was a ready one: “We don’t have four spinners. Let’s see the final look of the pitch and decide.”

    Two possible changes to Pakistan’s XI could be shifting veteran Younis Khan, who was oddly promoted to open against India despite having not batted in that role since 2009, back to No 4 and playing Sarfraz Ahmed as wicketkeeper instead of Umar Akmal.

    Younis had only twice opened in and ODI in his 262-match career – in 2004 and 2009, making 0 and 4 – before the India opener where he made 6. But a closer inspection of his numbers since he was recalled to the team in late 2014 show the apart from one century against New Zealand in the UAE, he has scores of 4, 6, 35, 12, 9, 11 and 6. Not the kind of form to put forward when your place in the team is on the line, no matter your experience. Should Younis be dropped, it is foreseeable that Nasir Jamshed slots back into the team at the top.

    Asked about Younis and Umar Akmal’s roles in the side, Misbah presented a straight bat. “You can’t say after one game. We’re not panicking. We’re looking into all matters very closely and want to go with a composition that can win us the next game and all those to follow,” he said.

    As far as West Indies are concerned, they will need to be far better in the field. To make 304 for 7 from the depths of 87 for 5 and then lose to Ireland with 25 deliveries left in the match would rankle, no doubt. They will hope that left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn is back to fitness – he bowled a fair deal during training yesterday and today – in order to attack a team that has its problems against spin. Benn looks good to return, meaning that Kemar Roach, who was expensive against Ireland, could miss out.”Pakistan lost their first match against India, we’ve both started the campaign with a loss. It’s important that we take this game very seriously, as we did in the first couple of games we had, said Holder. “Got to execute our plans. What is clear for us is that if we do that, and do what we want to, then we can be very successful. It’s about being consistent.

    These two teams last met for ODIs in the Caribbean in July 2013, a series that Pakistan, under Misbah, won 3-1. Then, Misbah top-scored in the series with 260 runs at 65, with four fifties in five innings. An encore would put Pakistan in a good spot, with some help from his talented team-mates.

  • ANIL KUMBLE TO BE INDUCTED INTO ICC CRICKET HALL OF FAME

    ANIL KUMBLE TO BE INDUCTED INTO ICC CRICKET HALL OF FAME

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Anil Kumble, India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Kumble will become only the fourth Indian after Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi to bag this honour.

    Kumble’s induction will take place at Melbourne on Sunday, where India take on South Africa in their World Cup encounter. As part of the induction, Kumble will receive a commemorative cap during the innings break of the match.

    Speaking about it, Kumble said, “It’s an honour to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Indeed, it will be a great moment of pride to receive it during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I deem it as a great privilege to join the list of great cricketing luminaries.”

    ICC Chief Executive David Richardson congratulated Kumble on his induction. “Anil was an outstanding international cricketer, a very well-respected opponent, a great statesman for his country and a role model for millions of aspiring cricketers. He played hard but within the spirit of the game. His performance and record speak volumes for his tenacity, commitment, endurance and service to the game.”

    Along with Kumble, Betty Wilson, one of the greatest women’s cricketers of all-time, will also be given the honour posthumously.

    Betty Wilson, a former Australia player, featured in 11 Tests between 1947 and 1958 in which she scored 862 runs at average of 57.4 and took 68 wickets at 11.8 per wicket. Wilson passed away on 22 January 2010, aged 88.

    Kumble and Wilson will be the 77th and 78th inductees into the Hall of Fame.

    “The process for the selection of players into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame started last year when the ICC Chairman invited all the living ICC Cricket Hall of Famers to send their nominations. The ICC Nominations Committee reduced the long-list to 10 men’s and three women’s cricketers. The short-list was then sent to the Voting Academy, which included representatives of all the 10 Full Members, media representatives from all the 10 Full Members, Associate & Affiliate Member, women’s cricket and FICA representatives as well as living ICC Hall of Famers. The ICC collated the nominations and forwarded the ballot papers to the auditors who provided the final results,” said an ICC media release.

  • Pervez Musharraf claims “I brought ‘real’ democracy to Pakistan”

    Pervez Musharraf claims “I brought ‘real’ democracy to Pakistan”

    Musharraf the Ex. Pakistan Army chief and the Ex. President of Pakistan (Musharraf become president after a military coup in Pakistan) said in an exclusive interview with Indian media channel Zee News “People assume that just because there are elections, there is a democratic set-up in place,” 

    The former president said that India should start treating Pakistan as a sovereign state. “India should not ask us to submit to them, only then will it clear tensions between the two countries. And we will move forward through bilateral relations.”

    Musharraf said that he would not have attended Indian president Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony – unlike Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did.

    “I would certainly not visit India for Modi’s oath ceremony,” Musharraf said. Instead, the former dictator – who is currently facing several cases such as being tried for treason, and for the murders of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Nawab Akbar Bughti – said he would visit Modi separately after the ceremony was done with.

    “I would come separately, but only to discuss substantive issues,” he stated.

    Speaking about relations with former Indian prime minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Musharraf narrated a conversation he had with him.

    “I said to him, prime minster sahib, there appears to be somebody above both of us who has veto power on our decisions,” he said. He spoke of how he told Vajpayee that they were “both being humiliated”.

    Additionally, with the cricket World Cup in our midst, it was no surprise that the sport and its role in the relations between Pakistan and India would be a matter of discussion.

    “Cricket diplomacy can be done in a positive and negative sense,” he said. “We should use the sport to foster better ties,” Musharraf said.