Irfan Pathan or Virender Sehwag: Dhoni's big opening dilemma

Colombo: India take on Australia in the first of its Super Eights on Friday. Ahead of it, MS Dhoni has a problem of plenty. Harbhajan Singh is back in form and so is Piyush Chawla. Though the big question is whether Dhoni will persist with five bowlers or go back to the 7 batsmen-4 bowlers combinations.

Virender Sehwag opted to sit out of the game vs England. Now the question is, will he find his way back into the playing eleven, given the magnificent performance of the bowler?

Former India captain and NDTV expert Sunil Gavaskar thinks not only Sehwag but even Harbhajan Singh should be playing against Australia on Friday. Bhajji's 4 wickets and Piyush Chawla's good showing against England, however, has Dhoni in a fix.

Whom he selects to play could end up being the key for the big tie, but the Aussies aren't thinking of who they are going to face, but how they will face them.

But spin is not the problem, rather it's the pace department. While Irfan has looked good, Zaheer's form has been scratchy. The left arm pacer has got just one wicket in four games including the two warm-ups at the ICC World T20. But he still has the backing of the skipper. 

"We should give Zaheer equal respect like we give to Sachin because he is the Sachin for us when it comes to bowling department. I am hoping he gets back in form," India skipper MS Dhoni said.

If the Indian net session on Tuesday was an indicator of things to come, then Dhoni will once again be tempted to try Irfan. In which case, Sehwag, who skipped practice and sulked, sitting on the sidelines, will have to go out to the nets and impress.

Deccan Chargers' IPL contract terminated by the BCCI

New Delhi: The BCCI, on Friday night, terminated the contract of the debt-ridden Deccan Chargers, bringing an end to the suspense on the fate of the beleaguered franchise.

The decision to terminate Deccan's contract was taken at an emergency governing council meeting of the IPL in Chennai. The BCCI President N Srinivasan took the final call to end Charger's contract after discussing the issue with other members, a top BCCI official said.

BCCI's working committee will meet today to decide the future course of action.

The committee will decide whether to float a fresh tender for a new team or allow PVP Ventures, a Hyderabad-based urban infrastructure and film production company, whose Rupees 900 crore bid was rejected by Deccan at the auction on Thursday, to take the team.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings, the owner of Deccan Chargers, received a bid of Rs. 900 crore by PVP Venture Capitals but surprisingly chose to reject it at the auction as it considered the price and terms unsuitable.

The development brought the BCCI back into the picture. PVP Ventures may be given the team now.

The late night development came as a setback for Deccan Chargers which was trying to resolve its financial problems ahead of the 5 pm deadline today.

BCCI sources said that a fresh tender for a new IPL team could be issued.

"This option would be discussed when the governing council meet tomorrow as we want nine teams to take part in the next edition of the IPL" the source said.

The BCCI, it is learnt, also took legal opinion before deciding to terminate the Deccan contract mainly on the ground that it mortgaged the team to a consortium of banks.

The Deccan Chargers owned by Deccan Chronicle Holdings, was hoping to resolve its financial problems by selling the team but it rejected the sole bid it received at the auction on Thursday.

PVP Ventures Limited, the Hyderabad-based urban infrastructure and film production company, had offered Rupee 900 crores but Deccan rejected it finding the terms of payment and the amount unacceptable.

It is said that the banks were primarily unhappy with the mode of payment which ultimately led to the deal falling through.

There were also reports that one of the banks was willing to bail out Deccan Chargers by making the payment to the players. But with the BCCI terminating the contract, the gesture would serve no purpose now.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings purchased the Hyderabad franchise for Rs. 428 crore in 2008. At the auction, the base price was said to be around Rs. 750 crore.

The winning bidder had to meet BCCI's eligibility criteria and other requirements. This was the first time an entire IPL franchise has been put on the block by its owners, although Rajasthan Royals sold a small stake in 2009 to the actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra.

PVP Ventures Group is owned by Potluri Vara Prasad, a successful entrepreneur having interests in infrastructure, movies and financing.

He was named as accused number 19 in the alleged disproportionate assets case against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Tendulkar will respond fittingly to critics: Sourav Ganguly

Mumbai: The calls for retirement might have grown louder after Sachin Tendulkar was bowled three times on the trot in the recent Test series against New Zealand, but former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is convinced the senior batsman would respond in a befitting manner.

"It's not the first time he has been bowled. It has happened when he was at his peak. He had then found a way and he is going to do it again. I am sure people's talk (about his retirement) must have hurt him and he will respond to it," Ganguly said here on Friday, after delivering the fourth Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture at the Bombay Gymkhana.

Ganguly was sure that Tendulkar would call it a day when he's on a high like all great players do.

"Having played with him for so long, you got to believe he's not over. When he goes he will go on a high like it should be for every player and more so for the great man," said the Bengal stalwart while answering a query before a packed gathering, which included former Test players Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar and Bapu Nadkarni.

Tendulkar had been bowled in the three innings he played in the two-Test series against the visiting Kiwis in Hyderabad and Bangalore, triggering a debate whether the champion batsman should retire.

Ganguly noted Tendulkar's advancing age and said the batsman should now concentrate on Test cricket more while utilising the limited overs cricket to get into the groove for the longer version whenever possible.

"He has in the past used One-day cricket to stay in focus for Tests. But it's up to him as he knows his game better than others. He's getting on in years, he's 39-40. He can't play all forms of cricket. I feel he should concentrate more on Test cricket," Ganguly said.

Asked about India's chances in the upcoming World T20 championships, the former captain said India had a good team but cautioned that it cannot win the World Cup all the time.

"India had won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and then the bigger World Cup in 2011. You cannot win the World Cup all the time. T20 is a hit and miss game. India has the team but needs to play well on the particular days for two weeks," he said.

Ganguly was of the opinion that first-class cricket has improved a lot from the time he started playing in the late 1980s, with there being vast differences in the standard of wickets and facilities provided to the players.

"The big improvement (made) by BCCI is the pitches and how the players are looked after," he said.

Ganguly was firm that when selectors look for players to graduate to Tests, they should always look at performance in Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup games and not the lucrative and popular IPL.

"IPL is a great thing to have happened to Indian cricket as it allows our first-class players to play alongside great cricketers of other countries. But when the selectors want to pick a Test player they should look at the performance in Ranji, Duleep and Irani, not IPL," he maintained.

Ganguly categorically said he was not interested in becoming India's coach in the foreseeable future.

"My hat is not in the ring," the retired cricketer said, adding that he always felt that captain was the boss of the team and the coach was to complement him.

Asked a tricky question about what would be the things he would take from former India coach Greg Chappell, with whom he had a torrid relationship when he was captain, and what would be the things he would not, if he took up coaching Ganguly said the former Australia captain was very good to discuss about batting one-on-one.

"He was fantastic to discuss about batting one to one. But on a load of things I would not follow him," he said, to peels of laughter from the gathering.

Looking at the way the Indian fast bowlers had dropped in pace after a few years at international level, Ganguly felt they needed personal physical trainers to work with.

"Players are on the road all the time. When I toured England in 1996 the only time I visited the gym was to see how it was. But things have changed with the arrival of foreign trainers.

"A personal physical trainer needs to be there for our fast bowlers all the time. When Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel started their careers they clocked 150 kph but two years down the line they had become line and length bowlers," he said.

Ganguly emphasised that while winning at home was welcome, a player's true worth will be judged only when he performs well outside the country.

"Touring and performing overseas is the true measure of a player's worth. India needs to emulate what they did in 1971 (under Ajit Wadekar) and in 1986 (in England). The last two tours to England and Australia (when India lost 8 Tests on the trot) was disappointing," he said.

In this respect the former left-handed batsman singled out Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara as the men who can take the team forward.

"I see youngsters like Kohli, Pujara and the captain (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) taking India forward," he said.

Expressing happiness over the spin bowling of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha in home conditions when they demolished New Zealand (and West Indies last season), Ganguly wanted them to perform as well when India tour overseas.

Ganguly was of the opinion that new-age cricketers who are growing up with the riches of IPL in their eyesight, will realise that true satisfaction will come only when they perform well in Test cricket.

"Playing for India is much bigger than IPL. They will all realise that satisfaction level in playing and performing in Tests is much higher than IPL," he said.

He also remarked in a lighter vein that captaining India was much easier than captaining a franchise in IPL as in the former's case there was no need to answer the selectors or BCCI bigwigs after a poor day in office for the team.

ICC Rankings: Kohli, Ashwin move up; Tendulkar slips

New Delhi: India's Man of the Series against New Zealand, R Ashwin has broken into the Top 20 for the first time in the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers that were released on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the Bengaluru Test on Monday. India won the Test by 5 wickets.

The 25-year-old from Chennai, who took five for 69 in New Zealand's second innings, has jumped seven places to a career-best 18th position. The off-spinner finished the series with 18 wickets, and gained 26 places on the bowlers' table through the course of the series, as India defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the two-Test series.

He has also achieved a career-high rating of 591.

India's in-form batsman Virat Kohli has also moved up in the rankings. Kohli, who scored 103 and 51 not out, has vaulted 12 places to achieve a career-best ranking of 35. His overall rating of 580 is also a career-best for Kohli.

Ashwin's team-mate, Pragyan Ojha, ended with a match haul of seven for 148 and has moved up a place to 14th spot, which is his career-best ranking. Ojha's overall rating of 675 is also his best-ever rating.

For New Zealand, fast bowler Tim Southee, who returned career-best figures of seven for 64 in India's first innings, has jumped 10 places to 40th. His overall rating of 432 is also his career-best to date.

India pace bowlers Zaheer Khan (15th) and Umesh Yadav (48th) have slipped a place each, while New Zealand bowlers who have dropped in the latest rankings are Doug Bracewell in 30th (down by one), James Franklin in 49th (down by five) and Trent Boult in 69th (down by six).

The ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers is still headed by South Africa's Dale Steyn, with teammate Vernon Philander and Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan in second and third positions, respectively.

Ross Taylor, who made 113 and 35, has moved up six places to 12th.

The other batsmen to make upward movements are Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 36th (up by two), Daniel Flynn in 68th (up by nine), Kruger van Wyk in 75th (up by 23) and James Franklin in 88th  (up by three).

Batsmen losing ground after the Bengaluru Test include Sachin Tendulkar in 16th (down by five), Virender Sehwag in 23rd (down by one), Brendon McCullum in 28th (down by four), Martin Guptill in 37th (down by two), Gautam Gambhir in 38th (down by two), Kane Williamson in 43rd (down by six) and Cheteshwar Pujara in 58th (down by two).

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakarra remains the top-ranked batsman, followed by South Africa's Hashim Amla and West Indies veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul in second and third positions, respectively.

The ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders is still headed by Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan with South Africa's Jacques Kallis in second spot.

Meanwhile, the 2-0 series win has fetched India two ratings points in the ICC Test Championship, lifting it to 106 ratings points, just three behind fourth-ranked Pakistan, while New Zealand has slipped to 76 ratings points (down from 80).

Exclusive: Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee praise Sachin Tendulkar

New Delhi: Former Australian pacers Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee both agree that Sachin Tendulkar and no one else, is the best judge of when he should retire.

In an interview to NDTV, McGrath said that he continues to believe that Sachin is a 'wonderful batsman' and that he is continuing to play well. "Irrespective of how Sachin plays, all is fine as long as he is motivated. He might wake up one day and say that's that or he may wake up and say let's get 20,000runs. He will know when to go," he said.
Lillee too fondly remembers Sachin's younger days. "There was this new kid and we thought it was time for us to relax, set out plans and take it easy. First ball - smack. Second ball over the bowlers head and we were like who is this guy," he said adding that Viv Richars though was the toughest to bowl to for him.

Sachin's form has taken a downward dip in the recent past and Sunil Gavaskar observed during the course of the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Bangalore, that reflexes were on the slide.

McGrath, who took over as Director of Coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, believes that the final call for a player of Sachin's level, lies with the player himself.
Both McGrath and Lillee also praised Zaheer Khan and described him as a focussed bowler.

Deccan Chargers in financial trouble, BCCI meet today

Mumbai: Dark clouds loom over the Deccan Chronicle Group as their Deccan Chargers IPL franchise is all set to be auctioned.

According to the latest reports, the Chennai-based Sun Group, promoter of Sun TV and SpiceJet, has entered the race for Deccan Chargers and sources claim that the discussions are in the final stages.

In fact, the BCCI is meeting in Mumbai today to discuss the matter.

The BCCI had earlier asked the Deccan Chronicle Group to resolve its financial problems with regard to Deccan Chargers but the sale of the IPL franchise was finalised by the promoter company some days ago after getting the nod from the BCCI.

'Frustrated' Tendulkar bowled for the 3rd time in a row

New Delhi: In his last three innings, Sachin Tendulkar has been bowled out three times. Cricket fans are asking, is age finally catching up with the master?

Today, Sachin was castled by pacer Tim Southee for 27 runs, his highest score in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. He was evidently frustrated as he made his way back. In the first innings, Doug Bracewell had him bowled at 17. In the first Test, that India won, Trent Boult got him and cheap at 19.

This is the first time that the 39-year-old Tendulkar has been bowled in both innings of a Test at home. Over all it is only the fourth such instance in a 21-year-long career. The last time he was out bowled in three consecutive innings was in 2002 against England, where he was dismissed by Matthew Hoggard, Dominic Cork and Michael Vaughan.

Out of the 20 Test innings he has played, including England tour in 2011, Tendulkar has been dismissed BOWLED or LBW 10 times (five times each).
There are more disquieting statistics. Out of the 20 Test innings he has played, including the England tour of 2011, Tendulkar has been bowled five times and caught leg before five times. He has also not exactly been among the runs. Since August last year, Sachin has scored five fifties in 20 innings and has notched up a total 723 runs. No centuries. The last century (146) was in January 2011, against South Africa.
Tendulkar, who has scored 15,489 in 189 Tests for an average of 55.31 prior to this match (Bangalore Test), has now being bowled 51 times in Test cricket. Rahul Dravid (55) and Allan Border (53) top the charts.

A few days ago, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had worried about Tendulkar's foot movement.

Increasingly there are comparisons with Rahul Dravid, who retired earlier this year. Dravid made the decision to hang up his boots after he had a tough time reading the line of the ball in England and Australia last year.

Die-hard Tendulkar fans have resolutely argued that the Master Blaster still has some good cricket left in him. However, there are those who suggest that after a spectacular journey he should quit while still ahead.

St Stephen's won't let Unmukt Chand take his exams; MS Dhoni tweets support

New Delhi: India's latest cricket sensation 19-year-old Unmukt Chand, denied permission to appear for first year BA examinations by his college St Stephens, has found support in Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"Marks for sports takes back seat attendance for now takes centrestage. This shows how much importance sports has in INDIA. Sad to hear," Dhoni wrote on his Twitter page.
Unmukt too had a say on the issue and talking to NDTV he said,"I think it's really important for the institution to promote sports and those specially who are sports people should be allowed to sit for the exams or should be helped by their teachers and attendance is a very important part because sports people, they have to go for their competitions and everything so that's why they won't be coming to school or colleges regularly. It's really important for the colleges and schools to support these children so that by this way even the children will want to study and they might have a liking for study if the college supports."

He also said that Indian skipper's support was much welcome and that his voice would lend much wanted weight.

The under-19 hero said,"Definitely, Dhoni's support will help because he's a big guy, and obviously an influential guy and if he says that then he definitely means it I also feel that if schools and colleges do support sports people and probably their interests also increase in studying and they'll would also want to study more."

Unmukt, who played a crucial knock of 111 not out in the final against Australia last Sunday to lead India Under-19 team to the World Cup glory, has been barred from taking the second semester exams because of low attendance.

The college demands a minimum of 33.33 per cent of annual attendance under sports quota.

Meanwhile, St. Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu while talking to NDTV has categorically said that rules are rules and they must be abided by.

He said,"Rules have to be applied. This isn't the answer to promote sports culture. It's a question of working within the system."

He also said that the college was more than happy to help candidates like Unmukt Chand.

Thampu said,"The college will be happy to help Unmukt but the fact of the matter is he never brought up this problem before it was too late. All my colleagues are only too happy to help any sports candidate."

Responding to a question on the laws that exist, Thampu was in favour of flexibility but he also said that India must become a law-abiding nation first.

He responded saying,"Laws are not written in stone; must respond to emerging situation. One important aspect of education in India must be abiding by the law; we must become a law abiding nation."
While some of the former alumni, including a breakaway alumni association, slammed the college for failing to look after the interests of sportspersons, the St Stephen's College Alumni Trust jumped to the defence of the Principal.

The Trust said in a statement that Unmukt's attendance was a matter beyond the discretion of the college principal and the matter rested with the Vice Chancellor.

"Unmukt's attendance is beyond the discretion vested in the Principal of the College to condone, and such condonation can only be given by the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University," they said.

However, the body also advised the University and colleges to "revisit" their guidelines to offer better support to sportsperson to enable them pursue competitive sports.

"It is also an opportune time for the University to consider further delegation of powers to College Principals and/or otherwise provide for liberal use of such discretionary powers without compromising minimum educational requirements in exceptional cases," they said.
Sports Minister Ajay Maken too talked to NDTV on the matter and was quite obviously in favour of sportsperson in general and Unmukt in particular.

He said,"On one hand take sportsperson of international repute and then on the other make them choose between sports and studies. Cannot put students of sports who have excelled in sports in same bracket as others. Need separate norms for such sports persons. Will take up matter with both St Stephen's and Delhi University VC."

Responding to Maken's statements, Thampu told NDTV that studies must be given some importance regardless of what field one eventually chooses.

Thampu retorted saying,"We have many examples in the college where outstanding sportspeople have 85% attendance. Spurious culture is emerging where it is believed if you are good in sports, it is OK to neglect to studies. Principals must be give discretionary powers to help such candidates; that doesn't exist at this point in time."

Former Indian cricketer and alumni of St Stephens college Kirti Azad said it was unfair to punish a player who was representing the country.

"When I was representing my country, I used to get special attention for all of that. Unmukt has won the World Cup for us. He is a good young man, he has secured good marks. Penalising him is really unfair on the part of the college," Azad said.

The university mandates that a student should pass 50 per cent of all exams in both semesters combined to be promoted. Support for Unmukt came from Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni who lamented that attendance takes centrestage and sports takes back seat.

"This shows how much importance sports has in India. Sad to hear," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Indian Premier League commissioner, Rajeev Shukla put the ball in Unmukt's court by stating that the BCCI can't interfere in the varsity's rules of attendance.

"It's purely their own decision, their own procedures and they go by that. We can't interfere in that. BCCI can only request the college authorities," Shukla told reporters outside Parliament.
(With PTI Inputs)

MS Dhoni, Unmukt Chand bag top honours at Cricket Awards

Bangalore: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was conferred with the Castrol Cricketer of 2011 for his outstanding contribution to the game and winning the 50-over World Cup last year.

The Indian cricketers in the running for the cricketer of the year included the likes of Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The current India under-19 captain Unmukt Chand has been honoured with Castrol Junior Cricketer of the Year for 2011.

Test Cricketer of the year was bagged by Rahul Dravid for scoring 1,145 runs in 12 Tests with five centuries against his name.

The ODI cricketer of the year was won by Suresh Raina and Batsman of the year was hogged by Sachin Tendulkar. Bowler of the year was conferred on Ravichandran Ashwin for his outstanding bowling performance.

Besides the above categories, the organisers who instituted two new awards this year -- the Castrol Performance Under Pressure Award and the Castrol stand out Performance Under Pressure Award were won by Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli respectively.

Tendulkar and Sehwag were honoured with Special Awards for reaching hundredth ton and scoring a one-day double ton against Sri Lanka respectively.

Former skipper Ajit Wadekar, under whose leadership India won the historical Test series against the West Indies in 1971, was conferred the Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport.

Apart from his onfield genius, Wadekar has also been the coach, manager and chairman of the national selection committee. I Initiated in 1997-98, the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence recognizes outstanding performances by Indian cricketers -- past, present and future.

No Khel Ratna for Rahul Dravid: Is it a problem of backlogs?

New Delhi: Twenty Seven athletes across various sporting disciplines will be given the National sports awards on Thursday. While the number of awardees has gone-up this year, there are some who've been in the queue for long, and have missed out again. The question then is, are the parameters for these prestigious awards good enough? And how do you deal with the problem of backlogs?

Not just one of the finest Indian batsmen, but Rahul Dravid is one of the best players to have ever played the game of cricket. But 'The Wall' who protected India on the cricket pitch for 15 long years, has still not been awarded the country's highest sporting honour - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.

Dravid finished as the highest run scorer in Tests for the year 2011, add to that his retirement from the sport early this year and many believe this was the perfect time to give the wall the honour he so richly deserves.

Instead, it's being given to Olympic medalists, shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.

"There is some lack of communication. Rahul Dravid doesn't need to prove his credentials by having that particular award, he is the greatest we've known," former India cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi said.

The BCCI has now recommended Dravid's name for the Padma Bhushan. Interestingly, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the chairperson of the Khel Ratna committee, himself got the award in 2005, a year after his Olympic silver in Athens. Surely then, Vijay and Yogeshwar could've waited as well?

"This time there was great deal of emphasis on Olympic sport. It is unfortunate, yes he (Dravid) deserves each and every award that any sportsman can get in this country," said Randhir Singh, General Secretary of Indian Olympic Association.

And then there are those who have given up after waiting for so long. Like 13-time Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi.

Or even Boniface Prabhu, the face of wheelchair tennis in India, who has won more than 15 international titles, including one Grand Slam title. "Awards are being given to two disabled athletes but I have been ignored again," Boniface Prabhu said.

While it's great that 25 athletes are getting the Arjuna this time instead of 15, and 2 are getting Khel Ratna instead of 1, the bigger problem is, how to deal with the problem of backlogs. The idea one gets is of the federations not pushing enough. It is then upto the athlete, to use all kinds of sources to get the job done, like squash player Dipika Pallikal had to do this time around, to assure herself of an Arjuna Award.

From: NDTV

Rahul Dravid for Padma Bhushan, Gautam Gambhir for Padma Shri: Sources

Mumbai: Rahul Dravid, who retired from all forms of cricket earlier this year,  will be nominated for the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, sources have said. Opener Gautam Gambhir will be nominated for the Padma Shri. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to send in these recommendations to the government soon.

Rahul Dravid, 39, played for over 16 years for India before hanging up his boots in March this year. In that decade and a half he was India's Mr Dependable, called the Wall for his steady batting that won the team many a match. His former and younger teammate, Gambhir, continues to feature in the national side. In 9 years of playing international cricket, Gambhir has some stellar performances in every form of cricket to show for his efforts and justify his nomination for the country's fourth highest civilian award.

Cricketers have been presented with the civilian awards earlier as well; quite a few have been honoured with the Padma Shri. Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer who has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award. He was honoured in 2008. Nine cricketers have received the Padma Bhushan including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Vinoo Mankad and Lala Amarnath.

The order of civilian awards from highest is as follows: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

From: NDTV

Boys do a men, lift Under 19 cricket World Cup

Three days ago, Delhi lad Unmukt Chand's BBM status said, "I can feel the Cup in my hands." Seventy-two hours later, the 19-year-old and his teammates were dizzily posing for pictures, with the U-19 cricket World Cup firmly in their hands.

The young guns came out all blazing on Sunday in coastal Australian town of Townsville to beat hosts and holders Australia by six wickets, powered by skipper Chand's unbeaten 111 in a tense final on a bouncy pitch.

Wicketkeeper Smit Patel (62*) played a perfect supporting role and their unbroken 130-run stand saw India win the U-19 cup the third time. Sent in to bat, Australia made 225-8, with captain William Bosisto scoring 87 not out. India started strongly but collapsed to 97-4 before Chand guided the winners to 227-4 in the 48th over.

From: HT

U-19 World Cup win in Australia is special: Sourav Ganguly

Hyderabad: Complimenting the Indian team for winning the Under-19 World Cup in Australia, former captain Sourav Ganguly said the victory was special since it came on Australian soil.

"It's a fabulous achievement. I saw the game on TV. Winning a world cup in Australia is a special achievement. So, on that point of view, congratulations to the Under-19 boys. Unmukt Chand and his team, they played fabulously," he said.

Ganguly lauded skipper Unmukt Chand for his brave-heart innings, which scripted the win.

"They were 105 for four, chasing 227 in a world cup final and the captain came and got a 100. So, it is a fabulous achievement," he told reporters at a commercial event.

Ganguly expressed confidence that the pool of young players would provide the base for the Indian cricket in the years to come.

"It is still early days. Indian cricket is always strong. But Under-19 is the base from which future generation players are developed. You see Virat Kohli, three or four years ago, he was the Under-19 captain who won the World Cup also.

"It is the base from which future players come in," he said, when asked how he saw the road ahead for the players who won the World Cup.

Ganguly was speaking at the launch of 'One Nation One Card' concept which aims at eradicating the burden on every individual to carry multiple ID cards for their routine works.

'It's a long grind ahead, but we won't look too far into the future'

Around 12 months ago, India capitulated in England, resulting in humiliating defeats across formats and they eventually surrendered the crown of the No 1 Test side.
However, this time, as yet another gruelling season beckons, the skipper says his side has learnt the lessons.

The team has gained in confidence after a 4-1 series victory in the one-day series in Sri Lanka, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Thursday that the team was prepared, physically and mentally, to face the challenges.
Speaking at an event to unveil the jersey for the T20 format, Dhoni threw light on the team's preparedness for the long season ahead, saying, "The one-and-half-month off was crucial from the physical and mental aspect."
Highlighting the effort put in, Dhoni added, "Even during the series in Sri Lanka we had time in between games where we put a lot of emphasis on fitness and it was good to see the way the guys responded."
India's home season starts against New Zealand with two Tests and two T20s followed by the World T20 in Sri Lanka next month after which England, Pakistan and Australia will tour the country, keeping the Men in Blue busy till March 2013.
Dhoni admitted the calendar was taxing as they would be in action till the next IPL, but said the team was planning for 15 days only.
Comeback man Yuvraj Singh was also present and the sight of the Punjab all-rounder in India colours is bound to bring cheer to Indian fans.
The man of the tournament in the 2011 World Cup has been selected for the T20 games against New Zealand and World T20. "I am feeling good. It has been a tough two months' training at the NCA but I never thought I would be able to make a comeback," said Yuvraj.
Dhoni also spoke on Yuvraj's return. "He is an important character in the team, not only when it comes to cricketing skills but also in the dressing room. The dressing room is a bit boring without Yuvraj but now it will be livelier again."

Usain Bolt may play in Australia's T20 Big Bash League

After conquering the tracks, the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt, now wants to register a win on the cricket field. The 25-year-old might be seen playing cricket in the Australia's Twenty-20 Big Bash
League in the coming season.

Former Australian captain Shane Warne has been leading a campaign to get Bolt to cricket. Bolt recently revealed that Warne had contacted him about playing in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars.

The Jamaican, who is an avid cricketer, describes himself as an all-rounder. He told an Australian TV channel that Warne was in touch with him and he was trying to work out if he could find time from his busy schedule to play cricket.

Warne has started a social media campaign to get Bolt to his Melbourne team. Warne tweeted that the negotiations were on in full swing and that Bolt would be a great addition for the team in the T20 league.

"Cats out the bag, we've spoken. Olympic legend @usainbolt would like to have a crack at 20/20 for the Melb stars 2012 Please retweet guys," Warne posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Bolt has a long history with cricket. He had started off as a cricketer in his junior days before switching to athletics. Bolt, who is a huge cricket fan, had told Headlines Today that Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were his favourite cricketers.