My-India News

The great auction bid for the players for BCCI's million dollar baby Indian Premier League held on Wednesday saw some interesting trends in the international cricket.

India's one day captain M S Dhoni won the highest bid of the day at US $ 1.5 million . Dhoni was purchased by Team Chennai.

Adam Gilchrist earned USD 700,000 from Hyderabad. Bret Lee went for $900,000 to Mohali. Surprisingly other Aussie players like Ricky Ponting and Hayden didnt do much as expected. Ponting was bid by Kolkatta at Rs 1.6crore while Matthew Hayden for Chennai at Rs 1.5 crore. Also Glenn McGrath and key Pakistani player Mohammed Yousuf were put back into the player pool after neither was able to reach their reserve price.
--MP

IPL has entire Indian cricketers
Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

Ahead of the upcoming IPL league matches, all of the 33 Indian cricketers who has contracted with the Indian Cricket Board(BCCI) has signed up for the BCCI supported IPL tournament. "All the 33 Indian cricketers have signed up. From the list of names of cricketers from all countries released so far only a handful, less than ten, are yet to sign on the dotted line, and even they are expected to do so before the deadline," indicates IPL sources.

Dhoni blames it on batsmen
Sunday, 17 February, 2008

Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed it on the batsmen and called upon his players to take up more responsibility. "It's important that the batsmen take more responsibility. The guys must take the initiative when we are playing with five bowlers and one batsman short," said Dhoni.

India wins at MCG after 22 yrs
Sunday, 10 February, 2008

India made a striking victory beating the mighty Australia by 5 wickets at the third ODI of the triangular series played at Melbourne on Sunday. This also marked India's first win at Melborne in 22 years.

The Indian pacemen took the important wickets with Ishant Sharma picking up 4/38, Sreesanth 3/31 and Irfan

Pathan 2/26. Chasing 160 to win, India reached the target with 4 overs to spare and 5 wickets in hand.

With the top order collapsing again, Tendulkar took 44 while Dhoni and Rohit Sharma built a patnership of 58 which helped India with a safe win.
--MP

First ODI called off due to rains
Sunday, 3 February, 2008

BCCI asks its players to behave
Friday, 1 February, 2008

With the Harbhajjan issue overtaking the Aus- India cricket series, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has asked its Indian players to behave themselves. Following the judgement on the racism issue, there were mixed responses from the media and the team especially from the Aussies on the outcome of the verdict. However BCCI wants to leave the issues behind and get on with the game. "We have already asked the players, given them instructions not to get into such type of altercations," reacted BCCI secretary. "It was a fair judgement. We don't have to go by what the Australian media says. We've gone by the procedure put in place by the ICC and we accept the judgement," he said.
--MP

Indian team rebuts Oz players' racism row escape charge
Wednesday, 30 January, 2008

Sydney, Jan.30 (ANI): The Indian cricket team today denied reports that they had chartered a plane to fly its players home on Thursday if bowler Harbhajan Singh was not cleared of racially taunting Australian player Andrew Symonds.

Arriving at Melbourne Airport this afternoon with the team in preparation for Friday's Twenty20 match with Australia at the MCG, the team's media spokesman Dr M.V. Sridhar said the team had not made any such plans.

''I don't know where that came from.There was no thinking like that at all. After what happened yesterday, we're going forward so that the game goes on,'' the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sridhar, as saying.

He also confirmed that the team will have a 6 p.m. training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Cricket Australia, facing the prospect of a ruined one-day series and the loss of millions in television rights, sponsorship and gate-takings, had caved in to the demands of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is seen as cricket's financial superpower.

The paper reported that Australia's cricketers were furious that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had escaped a three-Test match ban, and had only been asked to forfeit 50 percent of match fee for using obscene language against Symonds in the controversy-ridden second Test at Sydney.
Players and the media were reportedly of the view that Cricket Australia had succumbed to pressure from India to drop a charge of racism against Harbhajan.

At a meeting on Tuesday morning, the Australian players were reportedly convinced by representatives of Cricket Australia that the best way of getting a charge against Harbhajan to stick was to downgrade it from racism to abusive language.

This was initially met with fierce resistance by the five players involved in the hearing, who insisted that Harbhajan called Symonds a ''monkey'' during the Sydney Test and were determined he be punished.

They still expected that a one-match ban would be imposed, and were dismayed when the controversial spinner's three-Test suspension from Sydney was replaced by a fine.

''The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has,'' said a contracted Australian player, who refused to be named.

''The Aussie guys aren't going to make it (the accusation) up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks,'' the unnamed player was quoted, as saying

The Australian Cricketers' Association, however, is happy with the handling of the Harbhajan race row, association president Darren Lehmann said.

''We are happy with the way it has been treated and handled. That is done and dusted, so let's move on and play some cricket. It has all been done in the right channels,'' Lehmann said today.

Earlier, Australia's Governor-General, Sir Michael Jeffrey, lamenting the loss of grace and courtesy from the game of cricket, said players representing their country at the international level needed to improve their manners and behavior, as they were seen as sporting icons by the younger generation.

''While we should be playing the game tough and hard and all of that sort of thing, I think there's also a need to really take care of the fundamental courtesies and good manners. Good manners on the ground and off the ground has such a good impact on our other cricketing friends around the world. I think we've got to have a little bit of a look at this,'' Governor General Jeffrey said ahead of a game between the Prime Minister's XI game against Sri Lanka in Canberra today. (ANI)
--MP

Oz cricketers furious over Harbhajan `racism' controversy ruling

Sydney, Jan.30 (ANI): Australian cricketers have reportedly expressed their anger over Cricket Australia bowing to pressure from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to drop the racism charge against Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

In what is now being revealed as a brazen act of provocation, the BCCI had chartered a plane to fly its players' home on Thursday had Harbhajan not been cleared of racially taunting Australian player Andrew Symonds.

Facing the prospect of a ruined one-day series and the loss of millions in television rights, sponsorship and gate takings, Cricket Australia caved in, reports news.com.au.

At a meeting yesterday morning, the Australian players were convinced by their board that the best way of getting a charge against Harbhajan to stick was to downgrade it from racism to abusive language.

This was initially met with fierce resistance by the five players involved in the hearing, who insist that Harbhajan called Symonds a "monkey" during the Sydney Test and were determined he be punished.

They still expected that a one-match ban would be imposed, and were dismayed when Harbhajan was just fined 50 percent of his match fee for using abusive language.

"The thing that pisses us off is that it shows how much power India has. The Aussie guys aren't going to make it (the accusation) up. The players are frustrated because this shows how much influence India has, because of the wealth they generate. Money talks," said a contracted Australian player, who refused to be named. "

India stepped up the brinkmanship yesterday by flying its one-day specialist players from Melbourne, where they are due to play on Friday, to Adelaide, so they could return to India with the rest of the side if the hearing did not go as it wanted.

With the triangular one-day series in doubt, Cricket Australia feared broadcast partner ESPN, which beams matches into 27 countries, would sue it for up to 60-million dollars.

Of immediate concern was Friday's sold-out Twenty20 match at the MCG, which authorities hope will attract close to 90,000.

Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Rajiv Shukla said: "Ultimately, truth has prevailed. India has always stood against racism. Cricket is the victor in all this."

Late last night, Cricket Australia and the BCCI issued a joint statement, saying Symonds and Harbhajan had "resolved" the issue and intended to move on. "Both captains also said they were satisfied with the outcome," it said.

Despite that, the grave faces of the Australians at yesterday's hearing before appeals commissioner and New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen told a different story.

They maintain Harbhajan is a repeat offender, having called Symonds "monkey" during October's heated one-day series in India.

In audio evidence from Channel Nine played at the hearing, Harbhajan cannot be heard saying "monkey".

But the Australians are heard remonstrating with him. "You've got a witness now, champ," Matthew Hayden tells him. "It's a shit word and you know it." (ANI)
--MP

Harbhajan's family celebrates victory of truth

Jalandhar, Jan 30 (ANI): Unbridled happiness erupted into spontaneous song and dance in typical Punjabi style as friends and relatives of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh visited his home and celebrated what they hailed as a victory of truth.

"We are extremely happy with the outcome. We are slightly disappointed that he has been fined. Even though he is innocent. However, this was God's will and we accept it that way," said Vikram Sidhu, Harbhajan's cousin.

Harbhajan's family anxiously waited for the inquiry and following the positive outcome, their elation knew no bounds.

"For the last many days, we were waiting for the hearing to happen. We are overjoyed, as he has been declared blameless. Therefore, we are celebrating the moment," said Sandeep Kaur, Harbhajan's niece.

New Zealand Judge John Hansen on Tuesday cleared Harbhajan of a racism charge and lifted the three-match ban against him. He was instead charged 50 per cent of his match fee for offensive behaviour. His offence was revised from Level Three to Level Two under the ICC Code of Conduct rules for players.

It maybe recalled that a three Test match ban was imposed on Harbhajan by match referee Mike Procter at the end of the controversy-ridden second Test between India and Australia played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Harbhajan was accused of calling Australian allrounder Andrew Symonds a "big monkey" during the Sydney Test.

Indian players had reacted strongly to the charges against the off-spinner. Senior player Sachin Tendulkar maintained that Harbhajan had not said anything racist to Symonds during the confrontation in Sydney. (ANI)
--MP

India has proved to be a worthy challenger to Australian supremacy: Ponting
Tuesday, 29 January, 2008

Sydney, Jan.29 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said India has proven a worthy challenger to Australian supremacy in the game.

"They have proved they are the No. 2 Test side in the world," Ponting said after the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval ended in a draw on Monday.

The final day of the series was all about farewells: Test cricket's farewell to Gilchrist and Australia's farewell to five Indian champions - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, V. V. S. Laxman and India's proud captain, Anil Kumble.

But there was also evidence that the absorbing rivalry between the two superpowers of world cricket was in good hands, in the battle between Sehwag and Brett Lee. The Australian speedster was last night named man of the series for his 24 wickets - confirming the 31-year-old's graduation to the leader of the new-generation Australian attack. Sehwag scored a magnificent 151 and the next highest score in the Indian innings was 20 by Mahender Singh Dhoni.

Though the series has been marred by a racism controversy and an argument over the Australians' sportsmanship after the Sydney Test, outgoing Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist last night said the rivalry between Australia and India was in good health.

"There is a great rivalry there and hopefully we can keep it healthy," The Age quoted Gilchrist, as saying.

Gilchrist hugged each of his teammates when the bails were tipped off at 5.26pm, seized a stump and lifted his cherished baggy green cap to the Adelaide Oval crowd, which stood to applaud him from the field.

The Indian players lined up to shake the hand of a great entertainer. He lingered the longest with Tendulkar and then walked into the arms of his family, with whom he will now spend more time. (ANI)
--MP

Sehwag shines in drawn Adelaide Test, touching farewell for Gilchrist
Monday, 28 January, 2008

Adelaide, Jan.28 (ANI): Returning back to form with a majestic 151 (11 boundaries and two sixes), India's Virender Sehwag made Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist's final day as a Test player all the more memorable, even as Australian crowds got accustomed to the possibility that they would also be seeing the last of Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble in a five-day game on their soil.

Sehwag's stupendous century ensured a combative draw for India at the Adelaide Oval, though Australia won the series 2-1. His 151 was followed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 20.

It was appropriate that Gilchrist had a hand in Sehwag's dismissal, holding on to a thin edge off Andrew Symonds. By then, Sehwag had faced 236 balls and ensured an Indian lead was 216. He was the sixth batsmen out. Thereafter, India lost its seventh wicket in the form of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. He was replaced by Ishant Sharma, confirming that an injured Rahul Dravid was in no position to bat with a bandaged right palm. Sources said that Dravid is likely to be out of action for a fortnight.

At 5:28 p.m., with just over half an hour for the scheduled close, both captains (Anil Kumble and Rickey Ponting) and umpires (Billy Bowden and Asad Rauf) decided to bring the curtains down on what was an enthralling battle of wits and skill between batsmen and bowlers. India ended the day on 269 for 7, a lead of 232.

A key passage of play was on the either side of the tea interval. The game was still in the balance when Dhoni arrived at the crease to face Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Symonds.

By the time Matthew Hayden held a stunning catch leaping to his left off Lee's bowling, Dhoni had helped Sehwag add 51, nudging the lead to 200.

Earlier, the Indians lost Dravid to injury and then Tendulkar to a disastrous run out of his own doing. Ganguly and Laxman flattered to deceive with scores of 18 and 12.

The scores at the end of the Test were as follows:India 526 (Tendulkar 153, Kumble 87, Harbhajan 63, Sehwag 63, Laxman, Johnson 4-126) and 7 for 269 dec (Sehwag 151) drew with Australia 563 (Ponting 140, Clarke 118, Hayden 103). (ANI)
--MP

Team India may scrap Oz ODI tour if Bhajji is penalised

Adelaide, Jan 28 (ANI): The Indian cricket team's tour of Australia is in trouble, as its members have hinted that it may be called off if racial charges against offspinner Harbhajan Singh are not dropped.

The team management revealed their plans on the final day of the Adelaide Test after New Zealand Judge John Hansen suggested that fresh evidence could be taken into account in the hearing on Tuesday.

"There may be some additional evidence, such as the transcript available from the stump microphone, which was not available to Mike Procter," Judge John Hansen of the New Zealand High Court said.

The team management is unhappy about additional 'evidence' being taken into account, when it was not in the previous hearing of the case.

A senior board official said evidence could be tampered with, and the board wouldn't allow this so-called fresh evidence to surface after so many days.

A senior BCCI official I S Bindra has been in Australia for the past week to settle the controversial issue with Cricket Australia (CA), President Craig O`Connor.

It may be recalled that Match Referee Mike Procter slapped Harbhajan Singh with a three-match ban after the Sydney Test for allegedly racially abusing Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds whose point was supported by three members of his team.

Sachin Tendulkar's version of the episode was not taken into account.

If indeed some fresh evidence emerges which weakens Harbhajan's case and allows the ban to continue, the forthcoming triangular series could be in jeopardy as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has threatened to pull out of the tour over the issue.

The procedures outlined by Justice Hansen states that there will be a re-hearing with evidence being given by all witnesses.

The hearing will be held in private at a federal court in Adelaide from tomorrow. Both counsels will be given an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses, though it is a sporting disciplinary hearing. The evidence gathered will not be on oath.

Justice Hansen has declared that after he arrives at a decision, he would forward his ruling to Harbhajan, Procter and the ICC.

If Harbhajan is proved guilty and the Indian board is to carry out its threat, the damages for abandoning the tour could amount to 2.3 million Australian dollars. (ANI)
--MP

Oz foreign minister feared cricket spat could have marred India-Aussie ties
Thursday, 24 January, 2008

Sydney, Jan 24 (ANI): The dispute between the Australian and Indian cricket teams, in the aftermath of Harbhajan-Symonds spat during the Sydney Test, could have adversely affect the bilateral ties between the two countries at a time when Canberra's priority was to deepen ties with New Delhi, feared Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith last week.

Underscoring the importance the Kevin Rudd government placed on relations with India, Smith said Australia supports India to have a permanent seat on any newly constituted United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"On India the cricket was potentially a worry because if cooler heads hadn't prevailed and the two teams stepped back, and if we hadn't seen such a terrific Test in Perth, then the potential was there for that to spill out sort of more broadly into the relationship, because cricket is such a fundamental part of Indian society, just as it's very important in Australia," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Smith as saying.

Apart from economic imperatives, Australia's relationship with India is critical for ensuring Canberra is not left out of any emerging multi-nation groupings aimed at fostering security in the North Asian region. (ANI)
--MP

Kumble confident about squaring Test series against Australia
Wednesday, 23 January, 2008

Adelaide, Jan 23 (ANI): Team India skipper Anil Kumble on Wednesday said that his team is looking forward to squaring the four-match Indo-Aussie Test series during the Adelaide Test, which gets underway from tomorrow.

"We came with the purpose of winning a series in Australia but haven't achieved that. But we can hold our heads high after this - hoping we level the series. Future Indian teams will come here and look at the past. I'm really proud of what this team has done," Kumble said.

"It's been fantastic in Australia," said Kumble, adding, "It's my third trip here and I've enjoyed all my visits. In terms of results, the last one was fantastic and this one as well. We're thoroughly enjoying this tour."

Talking about previous match played at Adelaide, Kumble said: "It all started here in 2003-04. It was important we won the Test and the last four years have been fantastic for me personally and for Indian cricket. Here we are again, with the opportunity to level the series. Having done well in the past in Adelaide, gives us the added confidence."

When asked whether he was confident leading the team with a bunch of five players - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and himself, he said: "It's difficult to replace anybody. You can see that in the current Australian team itself. Every team will undergo a transition.

"The key is how you handle it. There is definitely a lot of talent in India. It's about ensuring they get the confidence and probably four to five years from now, you'll have a good set of players to ensure India goes forward," Cricinfo.com quoted him, as saying.

Meanwhile, the selection committee has recalled spinner Harbhajan Singh and Dinesh Karthick for the fourth test. A final toss up between the off spinner and the stumper will be decided just before the match. Yuvraj Singh and Wasim Jaffer will not play the final test.

The 12 member Indian squad for the Adelaide Test is as follows: Anil Kumble (captain), M S Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthick, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, V V S Laxman, Irfaan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, R P Singh and Ishant Sharma.
--MP

Levelling series against Australia would be great for Indian cricket: Laxman
Tuesday, 22 January, 2008

Sydney, Jan.22 (ANI): Indian middle-order bat V V S Laxman is looking forward to the contest in Adelaide, and hopes to replicate his epic innings of 281 in Calcutta in 2001 and his 79-run vigil at the WACA Ground, both of which caused the Australian juggernaut to grind to a halt after 16 consecutive wins each.

"We came here hoping to win the series. That was the most important thing. We can't do that now, unfortunately, but we can level it. Adelaide is a very important game. To win twice in Australia and level the series would be very good for Indian cricket," Laxman said.

Meanwhile, Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley has urged the national selectors to be patient with pacer Shaun Tait, saying that the powerful 24-year-old has a big future in the longest form of the game.

"He is young and he's cutting his way at the moment. We have seen how damaging he can be when everything fires. You don't throw away 150, 160kmh bowlers, you hang in there. Give him some time and he will work it out. He's a good bowler and a good lad," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Cooley, as saying.

Tait bowled 21 wicketless overs in the recently concluded Perth Test.

"He hasn't lost heart. He is a champion, and he will find a way to get back in the middle and produce the spells we know he can produce," Cooley claimed.

Cooley said he was not too concerned about Indian bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad's comment that the Indians were the world's finest exponents of swing bowling

"I'm not going to worry about that. They kept a good seam position throughout the Test match, which was good. We probably tend to hit the deck a bit harder, but they really bowled well [in] the conditions, and all credit to them," he said.

On left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson, Cooley said: "I think he's flying. I think he has been unlucky. He has been doing a job out in the middle and working with Brett Lee really well. He's shown he is going to be a solid foundation of this team. They [Johnson and Tait] are both pretty new on the scene."

The Test wicket prepared by Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett is expected to command the return of wrist spinner Brad Hogg. "I'll keep my nose out of selection, but I will say that an Adelaide pitch will take turn as the game progresses," Burdett said.(ANI)
--MP

India's performance at Perth very impressive: Warne
Monday, 21 January, 2008

Melbourne, Jan.21 (ANI): Former Australian legspinner Shane Warne has described the Indian cricket team's victory in the Perth Test as very impressive.

In an article that appears in The Daily Telegraph, Warne, however, rejected suggested that the Australian dominance of the game at the international level was on the wane.

"I don't believe that for a second. India just played well and did not allow Australia to dominate - they were up for the contest. Unfortunately, it looked from a distance that the wicket was pretty poor and not conducive to stroke play. In cricketing terms, you were never in as a batsman, hence not one batsman from either side made a century. Australia fought all the way," Warne said.

As far as which was the better Australian side -- Ricky Ponting's or Steve Waugh's, Warne said both were excellent teams.

He further said that Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee have improved to be the best in the world right now.

Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark and Andrew Symonds are all at the top of their games, too.

"But it's still probably a bit too early to start comparing them with the Waugh brothers, the Boons and McGraths just yet," he added.

He also said after the fiasco of the Sydney Test, it was good to see that cricket had not suffered and the skill level and intensity were still very high.

There have been some suggestions Australia lost their edge and were too concerned about their image going into Perth.

Warne said "Sport is about passion and attitude and knowing yourself. Australia play best when they get in the face of the opposition and are very aggressive.Maybe they were not as aggressive in their body language in Perth as they normally are, but I think that was the nature of this Test, in which they were behind for most of the game. Maybe a few things were not as they should have been in Sydney, but their body language showed me that the Australian team cared and it was important to them to win the game."

He also predicted that the Australia Day Test match in Adelaide "is going to be a cracker and I'm sure the players will be looking forward to playing on a great pitch, and runs are going to flow."

He said that he expected both sides to field spinners for the fourth and final Test. (ANI)
--MP

Ganguly dropped, Dravid not considered for ODI team
Sunday, 20 January, 2008

Mumbai, Jan 20 (ANI): India has dropped Sourav Ganguly from 16-member ODI squad for the tri-nation CB Series to be played in Australia from February 3.

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have also been not recalled for the tournament, which also features Australia and Sri Lanka.

Gautam Gambhir, who has cracked three centuries in the Ranji Trophy has been included in the team, as have Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar and Dinesh Karthik.

Suresh Raina, who last played an ODI in January 2007, and Praveen Kumar, the allrounder who played an ODI last season, benefited from good performances in Uttar Pradesh's Ranji Trophy season to make the squad.

Piyush Chawla, who was impressive during last year's tour of England, takes the second spinner's spot partnering Harbhajan Singh.

Squad:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain & wicket-keeper), Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla. (ANI)
--MP

Dhoni, the most eligible bachelor
Saturday, 19 January, 2008

Perth, Jan.19 (ANI): Mahender Singh Dhoni is still the most eligible bachelor despite his lacklustre performance in the ongoing Test series against Australia. The latest is an Indian girl who has flown to Perth to win Dhoni'heart.

During the Test match, this girl attracted everyone's attention for carrying a placard on her back that read: "Marry Me, Dhoni". The special way of proposing the Indian skipper for ODI team, made her the most charming girl among all.

At Perth, where India cricketers registered a thumping win over the high-headed Aussies, she was sighted waving persistently whenever he was on the field at Perth.

Dhoni is touted as the most eligible bachelor along with stylish team mate Yuvraj Singh in the Indian cricket squad with numerous girl cherishing dreams of life partner.

Talking of cricketers and their lady fans, one is reminded of Abbas Ali Baig and the Test against Australia at Bombay in 1959-60.

An eager young lady was so much excited by his batting (50 and 58 in the match) that in the second innings no sooner than he reached his half century, this fan ran onto the field and planted a kiss on the rosy cheeks of Baig.

Indeed, this prompted the commentator to quip: Wish he had scored a hundred and he would have earned two kisses!

And that was none other than Vizzy, who otherwise was a dreary commentator. (ANI)
--MP

Perth Test: Australia need 348 to win
Friday, 18 January, 2008

Perth, Jan 18 (ANI): Australia need 348 runs to win the Perth Test against India. Chasing a target of 413 runs, Australia were 65 for loss of two wickets in their second innings at close on the third day of the third Test today.

Earlier today, Australian pacer Brett Lee gave the final blow to the Indian innings, as he got the prized wicket of VVS Laxman, wrapping up the Indian total at 294 runs.

Laxman edged a touch short of a good length delivery into the hands of Adam Gilchrist, sending him back to the pavilion at a total of 79 runs. The Indian batting line-up managed to amass a lead of 412 runs over Australia.

Clark gave Australia the much-needed breakthrough as he got the wicket of RP Singh, but not before the latter made his career best score of 30.

RP Singh gave company to the elegant batsman as India consolidated on a solid lead.

Andrew Symonds got the desired breakthrough for his team as he took two quick wickets, claiming skipper Anil Kumble for a duck after he spun a vicious one that got Dhoni by surprise, claiming his wicket.

Dhoni managed to score 38 runs before the ball took the top edge of his bat and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist took a brilliant catch to keep the match from skipping away from his team.

India was on 235 runs for the loss of 8 wickets as RP Singh came in to bat.

The dynamic duo of Laxman and Dhoni powered India past 200 runs and extended the lead over Australia by over 350 runs.

Laxman slammed a brilliant half-century at a time when the team required it the most. The pair milked the bowlers for precious runs and the partnership was studded with hard hitting boundaries, including two massive sixes by Dhoni.

Earlier, Australia's Stuart Clark had plunged the Indian batting into an abyss as he claimed yet another wicket with his deadly pace in the form of Irfan Pathan.
The batsman scored 46 runs before Ponting plucked him in a low, left diving catch. India was 160 runs for the loss of six wickets as Dhoni walked in to bat.

India were in dire straits with Mitchell Johnson starting his spell with the wicket of Sourav Ganguly. The batsman edged fuller length delivery into the hands of the wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

The Indian innings ran into a roadblock as Lee took his second wicket of the morning, getting Tendulkar out LBW to a tearing fast delivery. (ANI)
--MP

India paying back Australia in their own coin: Ranatunga
Thursday, 17 January, 2008

New Delhi, Jan 17 (ANI): Former skipper and head of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Arjuna Ranatunga, cannot hide his happiness as Team India gives Australia a taste of their own medicine.

"I think this is the first time after I gave it back that Australia is now being paid back in their own coin," Ranatunga said.

Ranatunga said over the last decade, there have been issues with the Australian cricket team, but he advised India not to get distracted by their on-field antics and leave it to the boards of both the countries to resolve contentious matters.

He also said that the Sri Lankan team is looking forward to join India in the upcoming tri-series in Australia.

The former Sri Lankan skipper said he was hopeful the tour would continue smoothly as the island nation was confident of victory.

"So far it's going on a smooth way. I hope the tour will continue because the Sri Lankan will be joining Australia and India for the one day series and it is a good opportunity for the Lankans to win this tournament," he told reporters at the launch of a 45-minute film titled 'Ramayana Trails' in New Delhi.

Sri Lanka has picked six fast bowlers in a 15-man squad for next month's tri-series in Australia, which also involves India.

Sri Lanka leaves for Australia on January 24 and will play two warm-up games against the Prime Minister's XI on January 30 and against Tasmania on February 2. (ANI)
--MP

India takes substantial lead, after Aussies collapse

Perth, Jan 17 (ANI): Team Indian scored 52 runs for the loss of one wicket on the second day of the third Test match against Australia at Perth. This took their lead to a solid 170 runs, with Virender Sehwag looking in good form with the bat. It was an all round performance by India that put them in the driver's seat.

Australian pace spearhead Stuart Clark was the only bowler who made inroads in the Indian batting line-up, as he claimed the wicket of opener Wasim Jaffer.

Jaffer made 11 runs before Mike Hussey caught him at gully. India had acquired a lead of 168 runs by the time the wicket fell as Irfan Pathan walked in to play the role of a night watchman.

Earlier, skipper Anil Kumble became first Indian bowler to claim 600 Test wickets when he took the scalp of Andrew Symonds, who was caught by Rahul Dravid at slip for 66. Later on he wrapped up the Australian first innings at 212 by claiming the wicket of Shaun Tait.

Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist had resurrected Australia's innings before tea, but Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket and a fine spell from RP Singh sent them sliding to 212 all out, a deficit of 118.

It was Australia's lowest first-innings score in a home Test since Sri Lanka bowled them out for 207 in Darwin in 2004. On that occasion, they still won comfortably, but it will take a special effort to extend their remarkable winning streak here.

Australia were all out for 212 runs in their first innings on the second day of the third cricket Test against India at WACA in Perth. India got a decent lead of 118 runs. RP Singh was the star of the Indian bowling line-up as he claimed four key wickets.

The Indian bowlers didn't let the opponent batsmen settle into a rhythm and earned the visitors a window of opportunity for a win.

Kumble joined fellow spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan when he reached the milestone on day two of the second Test against Australia in Perth.

Warne and Muralitharan both surpassed 700 Test wickets in their careers.

He is also one of only two players to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, achieving the feat against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999 - the other was England's Jim Laker in 1956. (ANI)
--MP

Aussies all out for 212, Kumble becomes first Indian bowler to take 600 wickets

Perth, Jan 17 (ANI): Skipper Anil Kumble became first Indian bowler to claim 600 Test wickets when he took the scalp of Andrew Symonds, who was caught by Rahul Dravid at slip for 66. Later on he wrapped up the Australian first innings at 212 by claiming the wicket of Shaun Tait.

Australia were all out for 212 runs in their first innings on the second day of the third cricket Test against India at WACA in Perth. India got a decent lead of 118 runs. RP Singh was the star of the Indian bowling line-up as he claimed four key wickets.

The Indian bowlers didn't let the opponent batsmen settle into a rhythm and earned the visitors a window of opportunity for a win.

It was Australia's lowest first-innings score in a home Test since Sri Lanka bowled them out for 207 in Darwin in 2004. On that occasion, they still won comfortably, but it will take a special effort to extend their remarkable winning streak here.

Kumble joined fellow spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan when he reached the milestone on day two of the second Test against Australia in Perth.

Warne and Muralitharan both surpassed 700 Test wickets in their careers.

He is also one of only two players to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, achieving the feat against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999 - the other was England's Jim Laker in 1956. (ANI)
--MP

Ganguly taken to hospital

Perth, Jan 17 (ANI): After taking three quick wickets, the Indians were apparently well-placed during the second day's play of the Perth Test, but the Indian camp was a worried lot in the morning, when former skipper Sourav Ganguly was taken to hospital after a week-long illness.

To replace Ganguly, during the rest of the days of the Test, Yuvraj Singh, the reserve batsman for the ongoing third Test, was seen warming up and twisting his knee which was slightly injured while playing touch football before the second day's play.

According to an Indian team spokesman, Ganguly was taken to hospital for a precautionary "check up".

The southpaw has been battling illness for the past week, and was at one stage considered a doubtful starter for the third Test. But, he managed to convince captain Anil Kumble and took his place in the starting XI, reported The Age.

But, yesterday, he was dismissed for nine to a magnificent Michael Hussey catch in the gully off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

Ganguly's illness will be of most concern, placing even greater importance on the performances of the visiting side's lower order on the second day. (ANI)
--MP

India 297/6 at stumps on Day 1, Dravid misses century
Wednesday, 16 January, 2008

Perth, Jan 16 (ANI): Team India made 297 runs for the loss of six wickets against Australia at the end of first day's play at Perth.

The middle order failed to build on the good work done by the duo of Rahul Dravid (93) and Sachin Tendulkar (71). Brett Lee was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three crucial wickets for the home team.

Both the teams fought hard and set the stage for a great show on the second day of the third Test match of the Border-Gavasker Trophy.

Lee sent shock waves down the Indian batting line-up as he took the wicket of VVS Laxman for a score of 27 runs. The Australian seamers tested the Indian batsmen's skills to the fullest and emerged as winners by claiming three crucial wickets in quick time.

The impetus is now on MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan to guide the visitors to a safe total.

Dravid missed out on hitting a century against Australia. After standing on the crease as a wall, the classy batsman fell for 93. Ricky Ponting caught Dravid at mid-off on the bowling of Andrew Symonds.

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly fell to Mitchell Johnson for a score of nine runs. He was caught brilliantly by Mike Hussey. Ganguly fell soon after Tendulkar was out for 71.

Prior to this, Lee claimed the prized wicket of Tendulkar. He was out LBW to a tearing fast delivery from the speedster. Tendulkar was involved in a crucial partnership of 139 runs for the third wicket with Dravid.

The experienced duo of Tendulkar and Dravid used their skills to the maximum and helped India cross 100 runs post lunch of the first day. They milked the Australian pacers for precious runs and improvised on the loose deliveries to dispatch them for boundaries.

Lee struck early in his spell as he claimed the wicket of Wasim Jaffer who scored 19 runs. With both the openers back in the pavilion, the onus was on Tendulkar and Dravid on the crease to stabilise the Indian innings. India was 59 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson drew first blood for his team as he claimed the wicket of Virender Sehwag when he looked set to play a big innings.

The batsman edged an outswinging delivery into the hands of Adam Gilchrist as the shot was played too close to the body. He departed after scoring 29 runs and India were 57 runs for the loss of a wicket.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting(c), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist(w), Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait

India (Playing XI): Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w), Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble(c), Ishant Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh. (ANI)
--MP

New Zealand judge to hear Bhajji's appeal: ICC
Wednesday, 9 January, 2008

Dubai, Jan 9 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday appointed New Zealand High Court Judge as Commissioner for Harbhajan Singh's Code of Conduct appeal hearing.

Justice John Hansen has been appointed to hear the appeal of Harbhajan Singh against the finding that he was guilty of making a racist remark to Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test at Sydney.

"The ICC received official notification of the appeal from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday and the ICC Senior Counsel and Company Secretary Urvasi Naidoo appointed Justice Hansen today in line with ICC Code of Conduct processes. Justice Hansen will now make preparations for the appeal hearing" an ICC release said.

No time, date or venue for the appeal has yet been fixed

The charge against Harbhajan was laid by the two umpires after the close of play on day three of the second Test between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground following a complaint they received from the Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

The complaint was made by Ponting after the 116th over of India's first innings, prior to which Harbhajan is alleged to have made a racist comment directed at Symonds.

The Code of Conduct hearing was conducted by Mike Procter of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees after the Test concluded on Sunday 6 January.

Harbhajan pleaded not guilty to the charge. Procter found that the case was proved and imposed a ban of three Test matches on the India spinner.

Under the provisions of the ICC Code of Conduct, Justice Hansen has the power to increase, decrease, amend or otherwise substitute his own decision from that made at the previous hearing, and his decision is final and binding. (ANI)
--
-AA

Indian team arrives in Canberra, to take on ACT XI

Sydney, Jan.9 (ANI): India's cricketers arrived in Canberra today saying the racism controversy of the Sydney Test was now behind them.

The side, which at one stage had threatened to boycott the rest of the series, is to play a three-day tour match against an ACT XI starting tomorrow.

A quiet Harbhajan Singh refused to speak to reporters as he and his teammates stepped off a bus from Sydney.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the spinner ignored questions about whether he expected to play in Perth for the Third Test.

The India's powerful cricket board has said the Australian tour will continue on the condition that Singh is eventually be cleared of a charge of racial abuse in Sydney. It has also demanded that a three-match ban issued against Harbhajan by the International Cricket Council (ICC) be dropped.

India's manager Chetan Chauhan said the team wanted to move on from the controversy.

"We have left that behind. The good thing is the positive developments that have taken place thanks to the efforts of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India)," he said.

"We are here to play to cricket. We will play cricket. We have played good cricket in Sydney and we hope to continue playing good cricket," he said. (ANI)
--
-AA

'Arrogant' Kangaroos need to be pulled up for their behaviour: Geoff Lawson

Sydney, Jan 9 (ANI): Holding the Australian cricket team responsible for bringing a bad name to the baggy green, former Australian cricket player Geoff Lawson has said that it was high time that the Kangaroos were pulled up for their behaviour.

"There's certainly been a lot of feeling from ex-players who think the baggy green has been disrespected," Sydney radio 2KY quoted Lawson, as saying.

Expressing his disappointment over the behaviour of the Aussies, Lawson said, "Perception is everything and the outside world thinks that this Australian team is arrogant and not well behaved."

The Australians did not show the spirit of the game during the Sydney Test, said Lawson.

"Some of these (current) players need to be spoken to," said Lawson, adding, "I certainly don't agree with dragging Ponting's captaincy, I just think a bit of counselling needs to be done with how these players perceive themselves."

Justifying the International Cricket Council (ICC) decision for dropping Umpire Steve Bucknor from the third Test, Lawson said that the council made a "common sense solution" in sacking Bucknor.

The fallout from the Harbhajan Singh racism charge and the subsequent allegations on Australia's Brad Hogg could change the cricketing landscape, he opined.

"I think from now on, the teams will actually have to be totally silent on the field because otherwise everyone is going to get reported and the match referee will be having hearings everyday."
(ANI)
-AA

Indian cricket fans want Australian tour cancelled; Australia tour on, Team India to leave for Canberra: BCCI

New Delhi/ Chandigarh, Jan 8 (ANI): As the multi-million dollar India
tour of Australia is in jeopardy following the ban on Indian spinner
Harbhajan Singh and the dubious umpiring decisions in the Sydney Test,
many cricket fans feel that the tour should be cut short and the
players should be asked to return to India.

"What ever is happening is entirely wrong. Our authorities reacted to
the issue so late when the ban has already been imposed. The BCCI
should have been strict with its decision. They should have reacted
earlier. They took action only when Sachin sent his reaction to the
head and told them that Harbhajan is innocent.
The players should come back to India immediately," said Ravi, a resident.

"These Australians are simply perfect at playing mind games. And this
is exactly what they have done in this match also. They could see that
Harbhajan is doing well and could create problems for them in the
remaining matches. So, what they did was got him out of the tour
itself. They have disturbed the entire match and our side also," said
Amrit, a cricket player in Chandigrah.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called on Tuesday for cricketing
authorities to settle the matter 'at the first available opportunity',
while the country's foreign minister said bilateral ties would survive
the crisis but called for calm.

When Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh called Australian Andrew Symonds, of
British and West Indian origin, a "monkey" it was declared racism by
cricketing officials and he was suspended for three matches.

Indians argue that 'monkey' is not racially insulting in their
country. The monkey God 'Hanuman' in India is a hero -- a provider of
courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion.

Indian officials have appealed against the decision, arguing umpires
took Symonds' word over Harbhajan's, but Australia claims Harbhajan
has abused Symonds during previous matches.

Further angering India is a claim that an Australian player called the
Indian team 'bastards'. In Australia, the word bastard is often used
affectionately by laconic Australians, but in India it is seen as a
great slur.

The crisis is also about the apparent 'gentleman ethos' of cricket and
alleged unsportsman-like behaviour.

Many Australian fans, have joined Indian fans, in slamming their team
after some players accepted the incorrect umpire decisions and refused
to honourably concede they were out.

Australia's cricket team has a reputation for playing hard, and for
sledging or abusing opponents on the field, which many commentators
say has annoyed the cricket world for years. (ANI)

New Delhi, Jan 8 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) today said that the cricket tour of Australia will continue and
Team India would leave for Canberra.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the BCCI working
committee here.

The tour has been in jeopardy over the three Test match ban imposed on
Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for his alleged racial remarks against
Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds and the dubious umpiring
decision in the second Test match at Sydney Cricket Ground.

The tour could go on, but it would be under continuous review by the
BCCI, N Srinivasan, a board official, said after the meeting.

The working committee also authorised BCCI President Sharad Pawar to
take all possible steps to clear Harbhajan's name of the 'obnoxious
and baseless allegations' levelled at him.

The ban on Harbhajan was unacceptable and illegal, the BCCI said,
adding that the board is with him at every step.

He said that the board would appeal to the International Cricket
Council (ICC) to resolve the matter at the earliest.

About the ICC decision to allow Harbhajan play until the appeal
against the ban has been decided, Srinivasan said that this could only
be an interim arrangement.

The board would not be satisfied with nothing less than a lifting of
the ban, he said.

The ICC had received an appeal by Harbhajan against his ban, which has
technically placed him in a situation where he would be eligible to
play for the third Test match in Perth starting January 16.

The BCCI working committee also deliberated on the umpiring blunders,
which cost India the second Test in Sydney.

Earlier today, the ICC has decided to replace Umpire Steve Bucknor
with Billy Bowden for the Perth Test, and to bring in ICC Chief
Referee Ranjan Madugalle to assist in ensuring the match is played in
the best possible spirit. (ANI)

New Delhi, Jan 8 (ANI): The ICC have taken a U-turn on their decision
to retain umpire Steve Bucknor for the third and fourth
India-Australia Tests to be played at Perth and Adelaide respectively.

ICC chief Malcolm Speed confirmed that Steve Bucknor has been removed
from officiating in the series against India.

New Zealand empanelled umpire Billy Bowden would replace Bucknor for
the series. This was the first demand by the BCCI, which has been
fulfilled, but the issue of Harbhajan Singh's ban still remains to be
addressed.

India's tour of Australia is virtually on hold as the cricket team
continues to stay put in Sydney.

On the BCCI's orders, the players will not leave for Canberra for a
second day today pending the outcome of the ICC's decision on the
Indian board's appeal against Harbhajan Singh's three-Test ban.

Also, the BCCI's Working Committee will meet in the capital later in
the day today to decide whether to call off the tour and ask the team
to come back to India.

The tour is in dire straits following the ICC's decision to ban
Harbhajan and continue with Steve Bucknor as umpire for the third and
fourth Test matches.

There have been widespread protests in India and throughout the
cricketing fraternity over the handling of the Harbhajan-Symonds race
row and over the quality of umpiring in the just concluded Sydney
Test.

Taking cognisance of the wide spread outrage over Harbhajan Singh's
ban and the umpiring horrors, the BCCI finally sent a strong worded
letter to the ICC, laying down a 24 hour deadline to resolve the
issue.

Earlier, the ICC had ruled out the changing of umpires mid series,
citing technical reasons. The resulting standoff has put the entire
series in jeopardy. (ANI)

Sydney, Jan.8 (ANI): India's cricketers have decided to adopt a
hardline approach to Australian sledging for the remainder of the
series.

According to sources close to the team management, the players believe
the Australians are practicing double standards, and intend to make
spinner Brad Hogg the first target of their zero-tolerance approach to
verbal abuse.

In response to the three-match ban on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, the
Indian players have made a counter-claim against Hogg, suggesting that
he called Indian captain Anil Kumble and his deputy Mahendra Dhoni
bastards while they were batting.

The energetic spinner, who was yesterday cleared of a fracture in his
non-bowling hand, remains at the centre of an increasingly bitter feud
between the two countries.

Team manager Chetan Chauhan has confirmed an official complaint to the
ICC on Hogg, but denied the move was retaliatory.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke,
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist all gave evidence against Harbhajan,
saying that he called Symonds a "monkey".

The Indians argue that "monkey" is not racially insulting in their
country. Hogg is understood to have said, "I'm looking forward to
running through you bastards," and the Indians claim "bastard" is
deeply offensive in their culture.

"This is a serious term. It has a lot of bad meanings back in India
and we are very sensitive about these issues. In India, we do not have
children without getting married. It is a taboo and it is not accepted
in the society. A child born out of wedlock is considered to be very
low and an outcast. We don't use this word at all, only when you
really want to abuse somebody in a derogatory manner," claimed
Chauhan.

"First Dhoni informed me and then Anil Kumble also confirmed that the
word was used and it was in full hearing distance. Ricky Ponting heard
that and checked Brad Hogg because he understood the meaning," Chauhan
added.

Although the Indians' tour is in limbo following the BCCI's orders to
remain in Sydney until the Harbhajan appeal is resolved, the Hogg case
could be heard next week in Perth before the third Test, in which the
36-year-old Western Australian is no certainty to play.

Ponting preferred part-time spinners Symonds and Clarke as Australia
strained to bowl India out on the fifth day at the SCG, and it is
possible the selectors will call on Shaun Tait as part of a
four-pronged pace attack on the quickest pitch in the country.

Ponting last night was mystified how his players could be accused of
unsportsmanlike behaviour when the only incident to draw official
sanction from the first two Tests involved an Indian player, not an
Australian.

Defending himself and his team against claims his team had breached
the spirit of the game in their ruthless pursuit of victory, Ponting
said he was at a loss to understand his side's crime.

"It's disappointing, and they are entitled to their opinion, but if
you look back at the game I really can't see how we have done anything
wrong by the spirit of the game.

"I think the whole [Test] has been tainted a little bit by some of the
events during and then after the game. Otherwise, I think this actual
game and the first Test in Melbourne, apart from the one issue which
everyone knows about right at the moment, was played in very very good
spirits."

Ponting said it would be extreme to consider cancelling the remainder
of the tour, and said he was troubled that a century of cricket
between the two nations could be jeopardised by one incident. (ANI)

Sydney, Jan.8 (ANI): Former South African cricketer and match referee
for the current Test series between Australia and India, Mike Procter,
has defended his decision to ban Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh
for three Tests for the alleged racial abuse of Andrew Symonds during
the Sydney Test, and denied India's assertion that it amounted to a
"blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player".

"I am South African, and I understand the word 'racism'. I have lived
with it for much of my life. This was not a case of just taking the
word of an Australian over an Indian. I stand by my decision. I
believe the process was a fair one. I intend to carry on for the rest
of the series, because I don't have a problem with India. I have
always had a good rapport with Indian players," the Sydney Morning
Herald quoted Procter, as saying.

"Obviously this has all been very difficult for me. I didn't get to
sleep until 11 a.m., and then only for a couple of hours. It has been
one of the most difficult days of my life," Procter added.

Procter refuted suggestions that India's predicted appeal of the
Harbhajan suspension - and subsequent threats to abandon the series if
it is upheld - was tantamount to a gun to the head of the ICC.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is responsible for an
estimated 70 per cent of the game's global revenue, and many within
the international cricket community believe the ICC is either unable
or unwilling to exercise control over India.

"That's just the way it works. People are entitled to appeals. The
hearing was not heated at all. It was very sound, and it took a lot of
time," Procter said.

Procter is not the first ICC match referee to be challenged by the
Indians. In 2001, India included Virender Sehwag in their side to play
South Africa despite the fact the opening batsman was serving a ban
for excessive appealing. Following a stand-off with the ICC, the
Indians stuck with Sehwag, and combined with the South Africans to
lock match referee Mike Denness out of the stadium. The ICC, in turn,
stripped the match of Test status.

Procter last night was uncertain of when the Harbhajan appeal would be
held, but said a hearing into Brad Hogg's behaviour - levelled by the
Indians, apparently in retaliation for Australia's complaint against
Harbhajan - would be held in Perth on January 13 or 14. Hogg stands
accused of calling Indian captain Anil Kumble a "bastard" during the
Sydney Test - a term the Indians described as offensive. (ANI)

Sydney, Jan.8 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricket captain and fast bowler
Wasim Akram has described Australian cricketers as hyprocrites and
"cry-babies" for whingeing about racism during the just concluded
Sydney cricket Test.

Identifying them as the game's worst sledgers, Akram said: "I have
played a large part of my cricket against the Aussies. Sometimes they
said stuff, sometimes we did, and then we moved on. We did not behave
like cry-babies and drag it to the officials. They [Australia] do it
constantly and much more than anyone else, so, how they can go out and
complain about other teams, I don't know."

Indian great Kapil Dev said the Indian side was the most gentle in the
world and the Harbhajan verdict was at odds with that.

The Australian team's desire to seize the high moral sporting ground
yet play in a manner that betrayed that spirit was firing the Indians'
anger, said respected Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle.

"I have known Anil [Kumble] now for 18 years and I have never seen him
as worked up as this. He felt he made an agreement in good faith [with
Ricky Ponting] and he (Ponting) has not kept that agreement," Bhogle
said, adding "Australia is now trying to say, 'We uphold the spirit of
the game', but it is a very unusual spirit of the game. If you are
upholding this spirit you cannot appeal for something when you know a
batsman is not out. You cannot stand there when you have hit the cover
off the ball."

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Cricket Australia CEO James
Sutherland as saying that the spirit of cricket pledge had not been
tarnished and diluted by recent performances.

"We're supportive of the Australian team and the way they play and
this tough and uncompromising way is the way Australian teams have
always played," he said.

"We always go out there and try and play fairly and squarely, always
try and play tough competitive cricket and that is the competitive
spirit," Australian fast bowler Brett Lee said.

The Australian players' union said the Australians were condemned for
their success. "No doubt there is a tall-poppy syndrome here,"
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh said.
"They definitely play the game hard, but they rarely cross the line
..."

Former Somerset player and well-known cricket writer Peter Roebuck has
said that Ponting must be sacked as captain of the Australian cricket
team.

"If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our
national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer
tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the
captain and his senior players over the past few days," Roebuck said.

"Beyond comparison, it was the ugliest performance put up by an
Australian side for 20 years. The only surprising part of it is that
the Indians have not packed their bags and gone home. There is no
justice for them in this country, nor any manners," he added.

Roebuck said it was not only the reputation of these cricketers that
has suffered, but Australia itself has been embarrassed. (ANI)

New Delhi, Jan 8 (ANI): The ICC had received an appeal by Indian off
spinner Harbhajan Singh against his ban, and technically placed him in
a situation where he would be eligible to play for the third Test
match at Perth.

The ICC has appointed Ranjan Madugalle to facilitate the meeting
between Indian captain Anil Kumble and Australian captain Ricky
Ponting.

Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan said that the BCCI welcomed the
ICC's decision to remove Steve Bucknor from officiating in the series,
and added that the BCCI's strong stance on the issue helped in getting
one of their demand to be met early.

He also said that the BCCI was putting Harbhajan's case very strongly
in front of the ICC and the removal of the ban would help in lessening
of the anger and frustration among the players.

An appeals commissioner would be appointed within the next 24 hours by
the ICC to look into the case.

Meanwhile, the ICC have taken a U-turn on their decision to retain
umpire Steve Bucknor for the third and fourth India-Australia Tests to
be played at Perth and Adelaide respectively.

ICC chief Malcolm Speed confirmed that Steve Bucknor has been removed
from officiating in the series against India. The BCCi has instructed
the Indian team to head for Canberaa to play a two-day fixture against
Australian Combined Territories (ACT) XI.

Brad Hogg charged for violating ICC code of Conduct
Tuesday, 8 January, 2008

Dubai, Jan 8 (ANI): Australia spinner Brad Hogg was today charged under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct by India team manager Chetan Chauhan following an alleged incident that took place on the final day of the second Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hogg is accused of making an offensive remark to India captain Anil Kumble and vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during India's second innings on Sunday.

Under the terms of the Code of Conduct, ICC Match Referee Mike Procter will hold a hearing as soon as reasonably practicable. The preliminary date for the hearing is set for 14 January in Perth, an ICC release said.

The alleged offence has been reported under paragraph 3.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct which refers to players or team officials "using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethic origin".

The penalty for a Level 3 offence is a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight One-Day Internationals.

Meanwhile, the ICC has decided to replace Umpire Steve Bucknor with Billy Bowden for the third Test, which is scheduled to start in Perth on January16, and to bring in ICC Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle to assist in ensuring the match is played in the best possible spirit. (ANI)--
-AA

Team India's Australian tour suspended

Melbourne, Jan 7 (ANI): The Indian cricket board has suspended its
team's tour of Australia pending the outcome of an appeal for spinner
Harbhajan Singh.

The International Cricket Council suspended Harbhajan for three tests
on Sunday after he was found guilty of racially abusing Australian
all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

Harbhajan has denied the claims and the BCCI said that the tour would
be suspended until his appeal had been heard.

"The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review
the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the
appeal is disposed of," the BCCI said.

"The Indian board realises the game of cricket is paramount, but so
too is the honour of the Indian team and for that matter every Indian.
To vindicate its position, the board will fight the blatantly false
and unfair slur on an Indian player," the BCCI added.

The Indian teams were due to travel to Canberra today to prepare for
their next tour match, but returned to their hotel rooms after sitting
on their bus for two hours.

Earlier, on Sunday, the ICC banned Harbhajan Singh for three Test
matches for alleged racial remarks during the second Test between
India and Australia.

The decision was taken after the ICC held a hearing on the racism row
involving Harbhajan and the Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

The ICC Match Referee Mike Procter in a marathon six-and-a-half hour
hearing upheld the Australian charge that he had racially abused
Symonds.

Meanwhile, the Indians have also filed a complaint against Australian
spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the second Test.

Sydney, Jan.7 (ANI): There is confusion surrounding the movements of
the embattled Indian cricket team after players moved back inside
their Sydney hotel today.

The cricketers spent two hours sitting on the team bus outside their
city hotel while captain Anil Kumble and team officials held
discussions inside, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Indians were due to travel to Canberra today with a scheduled stop
off at the Bradman Museum in Bowral.

The Indian players had earlier pushed their way through a scrum of
reporters and autograph hunters onto the bus following the fall-out
from yesterday's SCG Test.

Spin bowler Harbhajan Singh, who was handed a three-Test ban for
racial abuse of Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds early this
morning, was among the players that had climbed onto the bus.

India's tour is at crisis point following Kumble's provocative
comments yesterday that Ricky Ponting's men were not playing in the
spirit of the game following Australia's dramatic 122-run victory at
the SCG.

The number of umpiring blunders that marred the Sydney clash also
incensed the tourists.

A tired and emotional Indian team spokesman M.V. Sridhar had refused
to rule out the possibility of the tourists heading back home in the
early hours of the morning.

Sridhar said the Indian team is considering having Australia's Brad
Hogg cited for abusive language from the SCG clash.

"I don't think the Indian team is very happy at all, we are all very
disappointed by the way this Test match has gone, we landed with an
intention this tour would be played in the right spirit," he said.

"But unfortunately it hasn't and the way this is proceeding is giving
a lot of bad taste to both sides.

"The bottom line is the entire cricket team is really disappointed and
extremely upset at the way things have gone."

India captain Anil Kumble earlier displayed the resentment towards the
Australians by provocatively accusing them of not playing in the
spirit of the game. (ANI)

EARLIER REPORT:
Harbhajan Singh's monkey taunt 'not racist', say Indian Australians

Sydney, Jan.7 (ANI): A group representing Indian Australians has
expressed surprise over the three Test ban against Indian off-spinner
Harbhajan Singh for allegedly calling Australian batsman Andrew
Symonds a "monkey" during the just concluded Sydney cricket Test.

The Sydney-based United Indian Association (UIA) expressed deep
concern over the punitive action, saying that the word "monkey" should
not be seen as racist at all.

"Considering that the Monkey God is one of the revered idols of Hindu
mythology and worshipped by millions, it is surprising it was
considered a racist term," UIA president Raj Natarajan said in a
statement.

"Even more surprising is that the word 'monkey' is considered by the
match referee serious enough to slap a three-match ban on Harbhajan
Singh," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

UIA members felt the Australian team behaved in an unsporting way
during Australia's 122-run win over India in the second test at the
SCG yesterday.

The UIA represents various migrant community groups of Indian origin
in Australia. (ANI)

Harbhajan Singh banned for three Tests

Sydney, Jan 6 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today
banned Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for three Tests matches for
alleged racial remarks during the second Test between India and
Australia.

The decision was taken after the ICC held a hearing on the racism row
involving Harbhajan and Andrew Symonds here.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that it will
appeal against the ban.

The Indian cricket board further said that the Australian tour, which
had become doubtful following bad umpiring decisions during the Sydney
Test, would continue.

Earlier, BCCI President Sharad Pawar said India has filed a strong
complaint with the ICC against the controversial decisions by the
umpires- Steve Bucknor and Benson. (ANI)
--
-AA

Masterly 154 by Tendulkar gives India 69-run lead in Sydney Test
Saturday, 5 January, 2008

Sydney, Jan.4 (ANI): Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten and masterly 154 today helped India take a marginal 69-run lead against Australia in the second Test at theSydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Helped by a wagging tail, Tendulkar's 38th Test century helped India score an imposing 532 in reply to Australia's 463. In their second innings, the Kangaroos scored 13 for no loss, with openers Phil Jacques on eight and Mathew Hayden on five in five overs.

Apart from Tendulkar, the other Indian batters to score were V.V.S.Laxman (109), Saurav Ganguly (67), Harbhajan Singh (63) and Ishant Sharma (23). For the Australians, fast bowler Brett Lee snared five wickets for 119 runs.

Earlier in the day, it was Tendulkar all the way. The century that eluded him repeatedly in 2007 came at the earliest possible opportunity in 2008 as he helped India negotiate a post-lunch wobble and reduce the deficit to just 39 runs in the company of a feisty Harbhajan Singh.

Australia sniffed a chance of gaining a sizeable lead when they snapped up two quick wickets immediately after the lunch break, but Tendulkar then took over.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni let Australia get a foot in the door, trying to play a forcing shot off the back foot against Brett Lee and only managing a catch to Adam Gilchrist. When Anil Kumble, usually good for some stodgy resistance, fell to the same combination soon after, with India still trailing by 118, they were in serious trouble.

But Tendulkar deftly shifted gears, sensing that it was important that runs came quickly and was helped along by an adventurous Harbhajan. While Harbhajan's hitting, unorthodox and improvised, over the slips cordon and through the on-side, was a major bonus for India, it was Tendulkar who made the big difference.

Up until the lunch break Tendulkar had played a battling innings, getting to a half-century but not really attacking the Australian bowling. After lunch, with quick wickets falling, Tendulkar signalled his intentions with an upper-cut four into the vacant third-man region.

From there on the strokes were a treat to watch, and this Sydney crowd, perhaps watching Tendulkar play his last Test at the venue, applauded warmly even as Australia's bowlers were denied results. When he drove Stuart Clark through cover off the back foot and ran the brace that took him to three figures, Tendulkar celebrated exuberantly, raising his bat up to the sky before acknowledging the crowd's cheers.

The first session of the third day was hard work for India's batsmen. Ganguly continued his recent good run with some gorgeous strokes through the off side. The timing was impeccable and he started the day with a couple of caressed boundaries off Lee. He used his feet well to the spinners and made his own length by going either back or forward.

He heaved Brad Hogg over mid-on, lofted Michael Clarke over the straight boundary and cut when the spinners corrected the length. It was a soft dismissal at the end, as he fell trying to clear mid-off with Hogg getting a crucial wicket once more. The disappointment on missing out on a century was evident as he smashed his bat in the ground before walking off.

Yuvraj Singh never looked comfortable. He struggled against Hogg and failed to pick the turn, lunged forward uncertainly and was hurried on by the occasional flipper. Lee eventually trapped him leg before. (ANI)

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh loves the spins of his life
Monday, 12 November, 2007

Jalandhar, Nov.12 (ANI): Popularly known to cricket lovers as 'Bhajji', Harbhajan Singh is known for his iron-willed spirit on the cricket field.

Regarded by many as one of the most impressive spinners in recent times on the national circuit, the Jalandhar lad Harbhajan Singh is today known for adding a distinct joy to the game. He is sort of an individual who enjoys taking the bull by its horns.

"I was very passionate about playing cricket since childhood. It was my father's dream that I should play cricket. In fact, he was very enthusiastic about my taking to any sport," said Harbhajan Singh.

"He (father) wanted me to do so well to make his and the family proud. He wanted me to make Punjab and the entire nation proud. God has been kind to gift me the ecstasy of just doing something I never dreamt of," Harbhajan added.

He was selected to play in the Indian national cricket team when he was just over 17 years.

"I never thought that I would be able to play for India at such an early age. It's been ten years now and I believe no cricketer from Punjab has played for India for such a long time," said Harbhajan.

He overcame a bad patch in his bowling career and returned to the national team.

"I was out of the team for the last three or four months. But I made a come back that too for the Twenty20 World Cup which was not an easy tour for any bowler. But I bowled well and enjoyed the challenges," he said.

Harbhajan believes a person should work hard for his goals. God also tests, but one should be patient in life. It pays in the end.

"Of the several big moments of life, I think it was my selection for the national team that is still close to my heart. It was a big day for me and my father. I still remember the joy on his face," he said.

Harbhajan said: "When I got a hat-trick against Australia and whenever I bag "The Man of the Series" or "The Man of the Match" awards are the moments to cherish. The recent victory of Twenty20 World Cup was a great moment again."

He is confident of achieving more glorious moments in future too. (ANI)
- AY

India wins Kanpur ODI, leads series against Pak by 2-1

Kanpur, Nov 11 (ANI): Team India on Sunday beat Pakistan by 46 runs to lead the five-ODI series by 2-1 here.

The Men in Blue dominated today's game from the very onset at the Green Park stadium with the duo of Yuvraj Singh and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributing a total of 151 runs in the 294 score that the team made.

Yuvraj was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 77 runs in 95 balls that had 4 fours and three sixes.

"I would like to do well in Test cricket," Yuvraj said in the post match felicitation.

However, the best praise for him came from his skipper, who termed him as the team's 'trump card'.

"He (Yuvraj) is our best batsman. We want him to play 30 overs and we will always (set) a good total if he is around," Dhoni said.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field. They had targeted to limit India to 250, as revealed by Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik later, but their game plan did not take off as India made a scintillating start by scoring first 50 runs in 7.1 overs.

By the 15 th over India had lost two wickets in Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly and it affected the run scoring momentum of the team to an extent.

However, the Yuvraj-Dhoni duo made the difference and helped the team cross 200.

As Yuvraj returned to pavilion after being caught by Misbah-ul-Haq on a Abdur Rehman's delivery, India had 260 runs on the scoreboard.

India finally finished the inning at 294 runs in 50 overs and after losing six wickets.

From Pakistan side Sohail Tanvir gave the best deliveries. He bowled 10 overs, conceded only and took two wickets. The second best bowling figure from his team was of 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar who took one wicket and conceded an average of 4 runs per over.

Abdur Rehman and Shahid Afridi proved costlier from Pakistan as their economy went above 8 runs per over.

With a target of 295 runs to reach, Pakistan started on a weak note as Afridi was sent packing to pavilion by Irfan Pathan in the 4 th over.

Pakistan lost wickets in regular interval with Younis Khan in the 9 th over, Mohammad Yousuf in 18 th over, Shoaib Malik in 28 th over, and the score was then 134 for four.

It was only opener Salman Butt who kept the ball rolling and made a century (129 runs) before being lbw by Harbhajan Singh in the 47 th over.

"Salman played superb and we would like him to carry on with the good work," Malik said after losing the match.

After Misbah-ul-Haq's departure at 38, Pakistani tail-enders fell as nine pins with Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Abdur Rehman and Shoaib Akhtar contributing only seven runs altogether.

India's RP Singh though gave away 62 runs in 8 overs, he took three wickets and helped in the downfall of Pakistan, as they went all out for 248 runs in 47.2 overs.

India now leads the series 2-1.

However, Pakistani skipper is confident of reversing it.

"There are two games to go in this series and Inshallah, we will come back," Malik said.

The next ODI is in Gwalior on November 15. (ANI) --MP

Anil Kumble keen to take on Pakistan
Sunday, 11 November, 2007

Bangalore/Kanpur, Nov.10 (ANI): India's newly-appointed Test captain
Anil Kumble on Saturday said that the series against Pakistan is an
important one and he would like to start well against them.

The veteran leg-spinner was appointed Test captain on Thursday,
succeeding Rahul Dravid who quit the post in September.

"I think it is a great opportunity to do well against Pakistan. It's a
tough team. It's challenging for us so, its important for us to start
well in
Delhi," Kumble said.

The 37-year-old Kumble will lead the home team in the test series
against Pakistan, which starts in New Delhi on November 22. The
selectors preferred him to wicketkeeper and captain of the one-day
series Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Kumble, who has previously served as test vice-captain, is the third
highest test wicket-taker in history with 566 test scalps, behind
Australia's
Shane Warne and Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan.

Meanwhile, a sweet maker in Kanpur, the venue of the third one-day
international between India and Pakistan, city has prepared sweets to
treat
the Pakistani side with a view to bolster peace and friendship between
the two countries.

"This is a special Ladoo (sweet); recently emergency was imposed (in
Pakistan) and the players were upset over it and that showed in their
first
match against India," said Rohit Pandey, son of the owner of the
famous 'Thaggu ke Laddu'

Matches between the two cricketing giants of the Indian sub-continent
are always eagerly awaited.

Pakistan, who last won a test series in India in 1986, is due to play
three test matches following the ODI internationals.

The teams have toured each other's country annually since 2004 when
India went on a tour of Pakistan after a 14-year break due to
political tension between the two neighbours. (ANI) --MP

Security beefed up in Mohali for second India-Pak ODI
Thursday, 8 November, 2007

Chandigarh, Nov 7 (ANI): Preparations are in full swing and security has been tightened for the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match to be played between India and Pakistan on Thursday at Mohali in Chandigarh.

The officials are trying their level best to ensure that the match goes off smoothly. The security has been beefed up both at the venue of the match and at the hotel where the teams are staying.

Speaking about the security, Daljit Singh curator of the PCA stadium Mohali said, "For the internal security is (in the hands of) private security, about 350 persons are employed. They will advise and guide the public where to sit, where to go out, which are the ways to be used. And out side, all traffic and the other security that is made by the Punjab police."

Hosts India are already leading the five match ODI series against the visitors Pakistan having won the first ODI at Guwahati by five wickets on Monday. (ANI)
--MP

Kanpur readies for third Indo-Pak ODI
Tuesday, 6 November, 2007

Kanpur, Nov 6 (ANI): Preparations are on in full swing for the third
one-day international (ODI) cricket match to be played between India
and Pakistan at the Green Park stadium here on November 11.

The state and district administrations have fortified security
arrangements at the venue of the ODI and hotel Landmark, where the
teams will stay.

"About 5000 police constables will guard the ground, which will
include 21 companies of PAC, three companies of RAF including one
flood company, which has been, deployed to continuously guard the
river," said Ram Lal Verma, Superintendent of Police, Kanpur and
security team in-charge.

The administration has divided entire Green Park stadium into 10 zones
and each zone has been appointed with two to three Deputy
Superintendent rank officers. Close circuit cameras in the hotel and
spy and hidden cameras on the roads leading to the stadium have been
installed.

The first ODI of the five-match series was played in Guwahati on
Monday, which the hosts won by five wickets. The second match will be
played at Mohali on November 8. (ANI)

Dravid makes comeback bid with a double ton against Mumbai

AA: Mumbai, Nov 6 (ANI): Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid today made a  strong comeback bid to the national cricket team by hitting a double century for  Karnataka in their Elite Division Group A Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai at  the Wankhede Stadium here.

His innings helped Karnataka to manage a draw and one point against  Mumbai after being bowled out for just 195 runs in the first innings.

Dravid's 214, which was his 50th first class three-figure score, came in  330 balls in 437 minutes. It included 21 fours and five sixes.

Dravid, who has been dropped for the first two one-day international  matches against Pakistan, said after the match that regular fall of wickets  didn't allow them to attack.

"We kept losing regular wickets, lot of players in our team are quite  young as well and it would have been a good education for them to play a quality  attack," he said.

"It is satisfying to have played a innings that helped the team. It would  have been better had I played a big knock in the first innings. To be honest 195  was never going to be enough, we needed at least 300 but credit to them. Ajit  got couple of wickets early and Ramesh bowled very well," said the 34-year-old  Karnataka player.

His today's innings is likely to get the attention of the national  selectors who are due to meet on Thursday at Mohali to pick the team for the  rest of three matches against visiting Pakistani team. (ANI)

Tendulkar refuses Test captaincy; Dhoni emerges frontrunner

New Delhi, Nov 6 (ANI): Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday rejected the offer to captain the Test team, apparently due to "personal" reasons, media reports said.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the ODI and Twenty20 captain, has now emerged as the frontrunner to lead the Indian Test cricket team also.

Tendulkar has reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sharad Pawar, and the national selectors about his decision.

The master batsman had initially reported to have agreed to take over the responsibility after Rahul Dravid abruptly quit the post about two months ago.

Tendulkar had been Dravid's deputy during the Test series in Bangladesh and England.

Sachin's first innings as captain was from August 1996 to December 1997 and, next, from August 1999 to March 2000.

Tendulkar's refusal comes just two days before his appointment was to be formally announced by the selectors, who are scheduled to meet in Mohali.

The selectors are to meet in Mohali on Thursday, during the second Indo-Pak ODI, to decide on the Test captain and announce team for the remaining three one-dayers against Pakistan.

Dhoni has now surfaced as the selectors' favourite for Test captaincy with a very successful start to his career as ODI and Twenty20 skipper.

He led India to victory in the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa and also led the team in the win over Pakistan in the first one-dayer of their five-match series in Guwahati on Monday. (ANI)

Guwahati ODI: Ind beat Pak by 5wkt
Monday, 5 November, 2007

MP: India made a winning start with a 5-wkt win over Pakistan in the first of the 5 match ODI series played in Guwahati on Monday. India had earlier restricted Pakistan to 239 for seven. For India the 83 run patnership between Ganguly and Gambir and 105-run fourth wicket partnership mde by Dhoni and Yuvraj came important to help the team make a comfortable win. Dhoni made a commendable performance of 63 and won the Man of the Match award. The second match will be played in Mohali on Thursday.

Team India gear up for series against Pak
Saturday, 3 November, 2007

MP: Dhoni and his men are gearing up for the upcoming series against Pakistan with the Indian cricket team's 2 day camp begining on Friday at Eden Gardensin Kolkatta. The Indian cricketers arrived in the city and practised at the nets at the indoor facility at Eden since the ground was wet. The players were satisfied with the ground conditions. " There ewere no problems. We have no complaints, said skipper, Dhoni. The 5 day match series will begin on November 5th with the first India-Pak ODI scheduled in Guwahati on Monday. Meanwhile security has been tightened in Guwahati ahead of the first ODI and Pakistan is playing for the first time there. Ctrackers are banned at the stadium premises and several other items including cell phones, cameras, food, bottles are banned inside the stadium.

Hectic schedule taking a toll on players' performance: Rajiv Shukla
Friday, 26 October, 2007

MP: Kanpur, Oct 26 (ANI): Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajiv Shukla has admitted that cramped game schedules are making players fatigued.

"There is no doubt that the players are fatigued. But the schedule is prepared according to the ICC calendar. It is not just our team, but the other teams too have to follow it, and the England team has also complained of the hectic schedule since they also have to play back to back matches," Shukla said.

Commenting on the gap between the series, he said, "I agree with Dhoni that there is no gap between the series. Now, they are getting some gap between the series with Australia and Pakistan. But the problem is that there are too many events in the international calendar and it is hard to make adjustments. We are trying to give the players as much rest as possible."

Shukla added that the BCCI had created a talent pool of nearly 40 players to take care of replacements in case key players got burned out.

"If we have a pool of 35-40 players, then if a player is out due to fatigue or injuries then his replacement should be available at once. We are trying to have replacements for every player. Four categories A, B, C and D have been formed and around 35 players have been taken into the pool," he said.

India, which hosted Australia in a seven-match one-day series that ended on
October 24 have a hectic schedule ahead.

Shukla also inspected preparations for the upcoming third one-day international between India and Pakistan.

India will meet Pakistan in a test and one-day series starting on November 5 before leaving for a test tour of Australia in December. (ANI)

Dhoni, Harbhajan hopeful of good performance against Pakistan
Thursday, 25 October, 2007

MP: Ranchi/Ludhiana, Oct 25 (ANI): Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni
today sounded confident about a good performance in the forthcoming
home series against archrivals Pakistan.

Speaking at an awards ceremony hosted in his honour following his
return to the state after winning the Twenty-20 World Cup last month,
Dhoni said the five-match one-day series starting November 6 would be
a tough one.

"A very important series is coming up against Pakistan…They are
important matches and quite a tough series. Hopefully we will play
well," Dhoni said.

Ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh endorsed his captain's words, saying,
"Pakistan will be a very good series. They are coming after a long
time. We are looking forward to playing good cricket."

Dhoni received a car and rupees five lakhs as award for his skillful
captainship, which saw India lifting the T20 World Cup after defeating
Pakistan in the finals in South Africa.

India will play five one-day matches series against Pakistan starting
from November 6.

The first match will be played at the Nehru stadium in Guwahati. The
five one-dayers will be followed by three Test matches. (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi takes time out to play a cricket match

MP: New Delhi, Oct 24 (ANI): Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today enjoyed a friendly match of cricket against the party's student wing-- National Students' Union of India (NSUI)-- in the Capital.

Son of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul swapped his usual stark white kurta-pajama with a casual white t-shirt and black track pants, taking time out from the game of politics.

The match was played between the Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI).

Thirty-seven-year-old Rahul was made one of the Congress' general-secretaries last month. (ANI)

Gwalior gearing up for Nov 15 Indo-Pak ODI
Wednesday, 24 October, 2007

Gwalior, Oct 23 (ANI): Preparations are in full swing for the India, Pakistan one-day international (ODI) cricket match to be played on November 15 at the captain Roop Singh stadium, Gwalior.

India will play against Pakistan at the stadium in the fourth one-day international of a five-match series starting on November 5.

In order to conduct the match in the best possible manner, along with providing a scoring wicket, preparations are on at a war footing in the Stadium.

"Ground and wicket both are good. You can see even grass cover throughout the wicket. We are trying to provide a good wicket and outfield, since our aim is to provide an exciting and high scoring match," said Samandar Singh Chauhan, Curator and In charge of Madhya Pradesh State Umpire Panel.

Apart from renovating the main pitch, two practicing pitches are also being readied to provide the best possible facility to the two teams.

The stadium has a capacity to hold a thirty-five thousand capacity crowd, including the officer's stand.

New floodlights were installed at the Roop Singh Stadium during the 1996 World Cup. The ground hosted its first one-day international on January 33 1988, when India faced

IPL: Dhoni, Symmonds among top bids Wednesday, 20 February, 2008

IPL has entire Indian cricketers Tuesday, 19 February, 2008

Dhoni blames it on batsmen Sunday, 17 February, 2008

India wins at MCG after 22 yrs Sunday, 10 February, 2008

First ODI called off due to rains Sunday, 3 February, 2008

BCCI asks its players to behave Friday, 1 February, 2008

Indian team rebuts Oz players' racism row escape charge Wednesday, 30 January, 2008

Oz cricketers furious over Harbhajan `racism' controversy ruling

Harbhajan's family celebrates victory of truth

India has proved to be a worthy challenger to Australian supremacy: Ponting Tuesday, 29 January, 2008

Sehwag shines in drawn Adelaide Test, touching farewell for Gilchrist Monday, 28 January, 2008

Team India may scrap Oz ODI tour if Bhajji is penalised

Oz foreign minister feared cricket spat could have marred India-Aussie ties Thursday, 24 January, 2008

Kumble confident about squaring Test series against Australia Wednesday, 23 January, 2008

Levelling series against Australia would be great for Indian cricket: Laxman Tuesday, 22 January, 2008

India's performance at Perth very impressive: Warne Monday, 21 January, 2008

Ganguly dropped, Dravid not considered for ODI team Sunday, 20 January, 2008

Dhoni, the most eligible bachelor Saturday, 19 January, 2008

Perth Test: Australia need 348 to win Friday, 18 January, 2008

India paying back Australia in their own coin: Ranatunga Thursday, 17 January, 2008