Faisalabad set Sialkot a stiff victory target of 389 runs, on the third day of their Pentangular Cup match at Lahore.By stumps, Sialkot in their run chase reached 25 for the loss of one wicket. Faisalabad, following their emphatic nine-wicket triumph over Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the first round last week, now sense their second win coming their way.Sialkot resumed at their overnight score of 208 for 7, still needing a further 51 to avert the follow-on. Thanks to a 51-run eighth-wicket stand and another worth 42 for the last wicket, they saved themselves and took their first innings total to 271.Faisalabad still attained a big first innings lead of 137. In their second outing, they compiled 251 for eight and declared 388 runs ahead to leave Sialkot a rather tough task to conjure up an improbable win.Tahir Mughal, the Sialkot captain, scored 51 runs off 75 balls with five fours. Asim Butt, following his bowling effort of 6 for 85, scored a rapid 32 off only 19 balls with five fours and a six in a crucial last-wicket partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed.Faisalabad got off to a flying start in their second innings, putting on 107 for the first wicket with Mohammad Hafeez following his first innings 113 with another important knock of 60, his runs coming off 101 balls with seven fours and a six.
Zimbabwe has proposed two Tests besides a triangular one-day series for India on their scheduled visit in August and September. As per the suggested itinerary, India will arrive in Zimbabwe on August 25 and play a one-day tri-series, also involving New Zealand, before the two-Test series. The one-day tournament will be played in a double round-robin league format.”We have sent the itinerary to SK Nair [secretary of the Indian board] and are waiting for the BCCI’s response,” Qhubekani Nkala, the general manager of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union told the Press Trust of India.New Zealand are scheduled to play two Tests against ZImbabwe before the tri-series, which is slated to begin on August 26. India’s first match against New Zealand is planned for August 28 and the final for September 9. India will then play a three-day warm-up match from September 11 followed by two Tests starting on September 17 and 25 respectively.Proposed itinerary: Aug 25: India arrives in Bulawayo Aug 26: Zim vs NZ, 1st ODI, Bulawayo Aug 28: Ind vs NZ, 2nd ODI, Bulawayo Aug 31: Zim vs Ind, 3rd ODI, Harare Sept 2: Zim vs NZ, 4th ODI, Harare Sept 4: Ind vs NZ, 5th ODI, Harare Sept 6: Zim vs Ind, 6th ODI, Harare Sept 9: Final, Harare Sept 11-13: Warm-up game, Mutare Sept 17-21: Zim vs Ind, 1st Test, Bulawayo Sept 25-29: Zim vs Ind, 2nd Test, Harare Sept 30: Departure.
Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid tonight has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for a breach of the ICC code of conduct at tonight’s VB Series match between India and Zimbabwe at the Gabba.ICC match referee Clive Lloyd found Dravid guilty of a Level 2 offence and imposed a Level 2 penalty.Dravid was charged under the ICC Code of Conduct, specifically clause 2.10.Clause 2.10 refers to: “Changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 as read with Standard Test Match and ODI Playing Conditions clause 42.1 (this supplements and does not replace the provisions of the Laws of Cricket and Standard Test Match and ODI Playing Conditions).Dravid attended a hearing after the match and was subsequently informed of the penalty.
Surely, there is no country for which the home and away records are sodisparate as India. The Test ratings place India at No 7 or No 8 butif the ratings were to be based purely on home results, there islittle doubt that India would be in the top three. After all, it istaken for granted that the Indians make for really formidableopposition at home, borne out by the fact that only one team theSouth Africans two years ago have won a Test series here in the last15 years.Given this background, the general prediction was that it would be abreeze for India in their two Test series against Zimbabwe, and thehome team has indeed started off well by winning the first Test by aninnings and plenty early on the final morning. A victory is a victoryand congratulations are in order for Sourav Ganguly and his men. Butthe proceedings were along such predictable lines that one should notlose perspective. True, the batsmen and bowlers did the job that wasexpected of them against an opposition with certain palpableweaknesses. But there were occasions when India’s showing attractedsome criticism.The first was during the second wicket century partnership betweenStuart Carlisle and Alistair Campbell on the opening day. For a time,the two batsmen made the bowling look pretty ordinary. The second waswhen the bowlers allowed the tail too many runs after scything throughthe middle order in the first innings. When will we see Indian bowlersrun through the tail a la Glenn McGrath at Johannesburg on Sunday?An adverse comment has to be directed at the batsmen too for dawdlingalong on the third day. Perhaps the final result would not have beenvery different but then there might have been a chance for the Indiansto wrap up the game with a day to spare. Such a victory, besidesgiving the extra day off, can also work wonders for team morale. Andfinally, the fielding can do with improvement but then is thereanything new in this?The tardy batting approach was due to the fact that as many as threeplayers Rahul Dravid, Ganguly and VVS Laxman were looking for asubstantial knock in order to play themselves back into form.In Dravid’s case, he was making a comeback of sorts after treatment toan injured shoulder. Always one who takes his time to build aninnings, the Indian vice captain had a good look at the bowling duringhis near four hour long innings but there is little doubt that his 65will stand him in good stead in the tougher campaigns ahead.Ganguly, woefully out of touch for a rather extended period now, took2-1/2 hours over 38 but there were signs that he could be running intoform sooner rather than later. Laxman took an hour to get 13 sketchyruns and was the only real batting disappointment. He is however toogood a player to be in a rut for long.Shiv Sundar Das, who is on course to overtaking Navjot Sidhu as themost prolific Indian opening batsman in the post Gavaskar period,displayed all the qualities already associated with his play theintense concentration, technical brilliance both in attack anddefence, the ability to play the sheet anchor role to perfection and ahealthy appetite for runs.A century by Sachin Tendulkar is almost taken for granted and his 28thTest hundred was again notable for both scintillating strokeplay andthe manner in which he nursed the innings through on the third dayduring the crucial period when Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman were mostlystruggling. The bowlers, as I said, did what was expected of them.Zaheer Khan was particularly impressive while Anil Kumble andHarbhajan Singh were deadly as the pitch broke up.Deep Dasgupta had a moderate match and the second Test could wellrepresent his last chance to prove why Ajay Ratra, in hot pursuit ofthe stumper’s slot, should not be selected ahead of him.I have saved till the last the single most positive aspect of India’svictory the batting of Sanjay Bangar for I would like to emphasizeits importance. Also, I would like to think that India have unearthedan exciting, long-term prospect. The Railways opening batsman wasunder tremendous pressure to perform as he was, in a manner ofspeaking, a rather unpopular choice, having been picked ahead of thein-form Virender Sehwag, who is already a favourite with the public atlarge.He had to come off, and he did so in the most spectacular fashionpossible. With Indian cricket badly in need of an all-rounder, Bangarwas given the nod, largely on the basis of some excellent performancesaround the domestic circuit. He came good with the bat but givenadequate opportunities, it is only a matter of time before he displayshis skill with the ball too. It was a brave decision by the teammanagement to play him instead of Sehwag and hopefully it will serveas an example that such a bold, adventurous outlook is what Indiancricket is in dire need of.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union today announced the team to take on Indiain the second and final Test at Harare beginning on 15 June 2001. Asexpected, the selection committee made just one change, bringing inyoung mediumpacer Travis Friend for the injured Henry Olonga.Ironically, Friend was replaced by Olonga at the last, moment in thefirst Test as the former was injured. Olonga suffered a hamstringstrain while playing the first Test, bowled 8 overs in the firstinnings, came to bat with a runner and did not take bowl in theZimbabwe second innings.The announcement puts to rest all speculation about skipper HeathStreak’s fitness. Streak was rapped on the knee while batting and hetoo could not bowl as India successfully chased 184 to take anunassailable 1-0 lead in the 2 Test series. Streak has recovered wellin time for the second Test and will lead Zimbabwe.The rest of the side remains unchanged, with Gavin Rennie doingtwelfth man duties once more.Zimbabwe team: Heath Streak (Captain), Guy Whittall (Vice-captain),Andy Blignaut, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim,Andrew Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Brian Murphy, BrightonWatambwa and (Gavin Rennie 12th Man)
Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici has been linked with a move for Juventus attacker Paulo Dybala.
The Lowdown: Romano drops big Dybala news
According to fresh news reported by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Juventus and Dybala have failed to come to an agreement over a new contract.
Whilst there was a verbal agreement in place last October, the Serie A side have gone back on their word and have changed their proposal.
The Argentina international’s current deal expires in the summer, and it now appears that the 28-year-old will not be renewing with the Turin club as Romano told Sky Italy ‘he’s set to leave as free agent’ after a meeting on Monday morning.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Spurs join Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the race to sign the forward.
It is reported that the links are due to Paratici’s ability to use his connections with Juventus, and a proposal from the north London club is possible.
However, it has been reported that “it takes time to frame the technical aims of a club in full swing to qualify for the next Champions League”, essentially saying that Spurs’ chances of winning the race could hinge on finishing in the top four.
The Verdict: Unlikely
Given the statement about Champions League, a move for Dybala would be dependent on the end to Tottenham’s season, with a place in a European competition no doubt a necessary requirement for an international superstar in the prime of his career.
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A whole heap of legendary figures, including the likes of Michael Laudrup and Alessandro Del Piero, have heaped praise on Dybala, labelling him a “special” talent, and he certainly deserves to be playing at the highest level. Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini has even compared the Argentine with one of the greatest to play the game in Diego Maradona.
Therefore, it is easy to see why Paratici is interested in the £222,000-a-week Juventus man, but whether he can actually convince his former club-mate to make the move is a different story.
In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: John Wenham slams Sergio Reguilon
Adam Gilchrist is good enough to return to peak wicketkeeping form but he is running out of time to do so, according to his predecessor Ian Healy. Gilchrist finished the first day in Adelaide one dismissal short of Mark Boucher’s world record of 413, but he found himself under fire after dropping a sitter to give VVS Laxman a reprieve.It continued a disappointing series for Gilchrist, who was especially sloppy in Sydney. There he spilled a simple chance down leg side to give Rahul Dravid a life, grassed an opportunity low to his right that would have denied Laxman his century, and could not hold on when running backwards to try and snare a lob by Harbhajan Singh. In Melbourne he had been sharper and passed Healy’s Australian record of 395 dismissals.Healy said the heavy workload on Gilchrist, 36, who opens in ODIs and is the team’s vice-captain, entitled him to some leeway but he could not use age as an excuse. “He’s set the benchmark, we all know what his standards are,” Healy told the at lunch on the second day. “We shouldn’t be adjusting our standards to cope with a player that might be ageing.”He’s got to get back to his standards and he knows that. He’s good enough to maintain and get back to those standards, no question – he can do it tomorrow maybe, he’s done all right today – but he’s got to do it quickly.”Healy knows what can happen if a veteran does not retire of his own accord – he was 35 when the selectors told him in 1999 they were replacing him with Gilchrist in the Test team. He said with quality glovemen like Brad Haddin in the state ranks the pressure would continue to mount on Gilchrist unless he answered with a boost in form.”The frustrating thing for him is that it’s a long way back, because you’re only judged on your mistakes,” Healy said. “He could have a perfect game and catch everything that comes his way, and everyone says ‘you’re expected to do that’. He’s got to somehow take some specky catches so that people notice him in a positive sense – so it’s a hard thing to do – and not put another one down.”Gilchrist’s former captain Steve Waugh said it was fortunate the drop of Laxman on Thursday only cost Australia 18 runs. “For a world-class keeper Gilly’s concentration and consequently his sharpness of footwork hasn’t been up to his usual exceptional standard and this one could have really hurt Australia,” Waugh wrote in the .Gilchrist’s batting output has also slowed after 96 consecutive Tests, although he remains a potential danger man at No. 7. Before the Adelaide Test Gilchrist said he was not considering retirement and suggested he might still be in the side at the end of the next Australian summer.
Following his match-winning knock of 87 against England at St Lucia, Scott Styris, the New Zealand allrounder, has said that the pressure to retain his place in the squad motivated him to raise his performance and guide his side home.Styris, who came in as a replacement for the injured Peter Fulton, bailed New Zealand of deep trouble with an unbeaten stand of 138 with Jacob Oram, who made 63. He also chipped in with two wickets, including that of the in-form Paul Collingwood, which helped restrict England to 209. His allround performance earned him the Man of the Match award.”I knew the heat was on me to go out there and deliver put on a performance worthy of keeping my position in the side,” Styris was quoted in AFP. “I’m pleased that that was able to happen.”Styris said that he felt glad to get his groove back, especially since his return to international cricket after being sidelined with a back injury. He made a comeback midway through the CB Series in Australia which preceded the World Cup.”I hadn’t played very well since I came back from my back injury so it was great to contribute today,” he said. “I set myself to have a good World Cup and I wanted to do well here and it’s been a good start.”Reflecting on the partnership with Oram, Styris said that the pair were intent on preserving wickets, given that the target was always well within reach. England struck early, removing the top three with just 19 on board before Styris and Craig McMillan led the recovery with a stand of 53.”We thought we could only lose the game if we got bowled out, so we really just had to go out and play and just take it as deep as we could,” he added. “We have a naturally aggressive side and runs still came, probably for the last 30 overs, we didn’t really need to take a risk.”Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, said that it was a relief to get the two points from the win. “It was a tense day,” said Fleming. “The first game could have a massive bearing on the next stage and to win it was a great relief.”Yet he was not willing to get carried away by the fact that New Zealand would be going into the Super 8’s with two points from their win against England. “We have to do the right work in these next two games,” Fleming said. “But the four teams carrying a win could easily lose the first game [in the Super 8’s] and then you are back to scratch.”Fleming also praised his fast bowler Shane Bond who dismissed the dangerour batsmen – Kevin Pietersen (60) and Andrew Flintoff (0). “That really cut down a 250 par score to 210,” he said. “Flintoff and Pietersen, coming to the end of an innings, can be incredibly dangerous.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, and Wasim Bari, the chief selector, have defended the selection of 17 players for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka starting March 17.The selection of so many players for the ODIs led to a protest from Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Cricket Operations, who wrote a note of dissent on the squad. “We’ve picked the new players keeping in mind the next World Cup in 2007,” Bari said. ” We need to give the new players who have some potential, some exposure to see whether they can develop into steady performers for Pakistan.”Inzamam said the process of preparing for the World Cup had started with the Sri Lanka tour and that’s why some young players had been included. “We just want to have a look at them closely to check out their potential and temperament,” he added. “You can only do that on a foreign tour and it’ll be good for the youngsters to travel with the team and get used to the dressing-room atmosphere and team discipline.”The selectors have picked Tahir Khan and Abdul Rehman, two uncapped spinners, but have said changes could be made for the two Tests, which follow the one-day series. He said, “In Sri Lanka the pitches offer encouragement to the spinners and it’s not going to be an easy tour for us. Sri Lanka are a tough team to beat at home.”He added that Muttiah Muralitharan, who passed 600 Test wickets on Friday in the second Test against Bangladesh at Bogra, definitely posed a threat to the Pakistan batsmen. “There is no doubt he is a world-class performer and we’ll have to play him very carefully and properly. We’ve practiced for his type of bowling but he remains a threat and must be watched closely.”He was however confident his players could handle the pressures of the tour and noted they had played Murali before. “The only thing is against a bowler of his caliber, you can’t afford to relax at all.” The last time Pakistan played in Sri Lanka was in the 2004 Asia Cup, where they suffered a big defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, a result that eventually cost them a berth in the final.Inzamam said his players now had to learn from their mistakes of the one-day series loss to India and start afresh. He welcomed the appointment of Zaheer Abbas, as manager, and Waqar Younis, as bowling coach, and felt the youngsters should learn a lot from them on tour.Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, admitted the board had some reservations over sending 17 players for the three one-dayers to Sri Lanka. “I’ve spoken to the selectors and captain and I can understand their point of view for picking some extra players,” he said. “The idea is to give them exposure and test them out in foreign conditions. It’s also a reward for their consistent performances in domestic cricket.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has signalled to India that Pakistan will seek to avenge last year’s defeat at home. Beginning today, Pakistan embark on their first tour to India in six years, with a practice game against the Board Presidents XI on March 3.”India will be under pressure at home. We lost the home series last year, now it could be India’s turn to lose a home series,” Inzamam was quoted by . “The Australian tour has been a big learning experience for all of us and I think we are in a position to reap the benefits in India. We definitely want to make amends for last year’s defeats.”India recorded their first series victory in Pakistan last year when they won 2-1 in the Tests and 3-2 in the one-dayers. The composition of the Pakistan team has changed since then, prompting a precautionary note from Virender Sehwag, who said that the anonymity of some Pakistani players could help Pakistan. Bob Woolmer was appointed coach in place of Javed Miandad. “Woolmer has helped change the attitude of the boys which is more positive and professional,” Inzamam continued, “and I think they can take the pressure of playing in India.”Haq said that the absence of Shoaib Akhtar, who opted out of the Test series with a hamstring injury, would be felt though he expected his spinners – Arshad Khan and Danish Kaneria to do the bulk of the bowling. “Our strength is playing as a unit. These two spinners [Arshad and Kaneria] have a big role to play in India. They are the ones on whom we will be depending a lot in the Tests as we are expecting slow turning tracks and we have been practising for such conditions.”Inzamam, who will be making his 100th Test appearance in the Third Test at Bangalore, will have a lot to prove on this tour. Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, had called for Inzamam’s axing after Pakistan’s below-par performance in Australia. In the wake of severe criticism, Inzamam was uncertain about leading the side any further. “It’s a huge challenge for the team as well as me. We can beat India in India provided we remain mentally strong and play as a team, because team spirit will be a deciding factor.”