Champions League: Inter edge Chelsea 2-1 after thrilling first leg

MILAN: Jose Mourinho got one over his former employers as Inter Milan beat Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League last 16, first leg clash at the San Siro on Wednesday.

It's a slender advantage but a crucial one for Inter ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 16th and also represented a milestone as it was the first victory for the Italians against an English team since 2003 and a 3-0 win over Arsenal in London.

For Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti it was an unhappy return to the stadium where he served AC Milan for eight years with such distinction, winning two Champions League titles and one scudetto.

Inter were off to a flying start and went ahead after just three minutes following some shoddy defending by Chelsea, as Thiago Motta played the ball into Samuel Eto'o who fed it on to Diego Milito, the Argentine cutting too easily inside the wrong-footed John Terry and shooting home at Peter Cech's near post.

It was just the dream start Inter would have wanted but Chelsea's reaction was awe-inspiring as the visitors took total control.

Their first chance came on 11 minutes as Nicolas Anelka shot wide of the near post before a minute later Salomon Kalou twisted and turned on the edge of the box but shot straight at Julio Cesar.

Then up stepped Didier Drogba on the quarter-hour mark to crash a free-kick from 25 yards against the cross-bar and follow that up with a fine effort that forced Cesar into a sprawling save.

Cesar then had to parry from Michael Ballack and Drogba hooked a volley wide after controlling the ball on his chest in the box and then sent another volley wide when fed by John Obi Mikel.

Inter finally got a chance on 33 minutes when a defence splitting pass from Walter Samuel found Wesley Sneijder on the left and he crossed to Samuel Eto'o but the Cameroon forward connected only with air with a wild left foot swipe from eight yards.

The half ended in controversial fashion as Samuel appeared to trip Kalou in the box referee Manuel Gonzalez waved away Chelsea appeals.

Chelsea got what their play deserved just six minutes after the restart but from some poor Inter defending.

Thiago Motta let Branislav Ivanovic run forward from right back to the edge of the Inter area without a challenge before the Serbian cut across the box and tapped the ball out to Kalou, whose nonchalant side foot from 20 yards somehow found its way through a crowd of defenders and past Cesar, who possibly should have done better.

And yet four minutes later Inter were back in front as Esteban Cambiasso's wild shot from distance, which was going wide, struck Ivanovic in the midriff and came back to the Argentine whose second effort deceived Cech and found the far corner.

Mourinho then made the surprising move of bringing on striker Mario Balotelli for midfielder Thiago Motta while Cech suffered a serious knee injury and was replaced by Henrique Hilario.

On 65 minutes great play between Drogba and Anelka teed up Frank Lampard but Cesar parried his close range effort.

Chelsea dominated the ball but created little in the way of clear cut chances in the final stages and it is advantage Inter and Mourinho.

India, Pakistan players weak in hockey basics: Sardar

NEW DELHI: Think of the Indian hockey team's 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Pakistan in the Asian Games final here in 1982, and the images of Hassan Sardar's sizzling runs come back.

The ace Pakistani forward ran the Indian defence ragged, playing a pivotal role in his team's historic win in that final which still haunts the Indian team.

"That win is certainly the most memorable in my career," recalled Sardar, who now is the chairman of Pakistan hockey's selection committee.

"Both the teams were desperate to win the Asian Games final. There was a lot of pressure as the crowd was roaring, chanting. But once we absorbed the pressure, things became easier for us," Sardar told TOI from Karachi.

Commenting on India and Pakistan's chances in the World Cup opener, the former Pakistan captain said: "The first match is important for both of us. Whoever converts the opportunities into goals and hold the nerve will win. I think Pakistan can make it to the semi-final but India would need to put in extra effort to get through to the last four stage."

During his short span as a player (1979-87), Sardar was one of biggest stars of Pakistan hockey. "It was a hugely talented team. We dominated world hockey for long," he recalled.

But he rued the lack of quality in the current bunch of players on both sides of the border. "They don't know the basics, the ABC of hockey. I don't blame them. Actually, we need foreign coaches to train our own coaches so that they can take care of the grassroot programmes. In Pakistan, we have achieved some success after carrying out development programmes," he explained.

"Modern hockey has changed. It is a 100-yard game now. Those eye-catching skills are absent because there is no grass-root programmes both in India and Pakistan."

Sardar didn't hesitate in offering some suggestions for Indian hockey. "Engage former players. There are so much talent in India. Careful planning can change everything. But the problem is that we are not as organised as the Europeans. We should take their help."

Who are his favourites this time?

"Australia and Germany," replied Sardar.

Modi slams Ponting for being a 'spoilsport'

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi on Wednesday blasted Ricky Ponting on Wednesday after reports suggested that the Aussie captain was advising his compatriots to shun IPL-3. "I have been told Ponting is telling players not to come to India. Maybe its due to the fact that he was dropped from KKR," Modi wrote on his Twitter page.

Modi recalled that most Aussie players had taken part in the first two seasons of the IPL only during the end of the tournament. "This year too, they are due to play in the last two weeks only and it doesn't make much of a difference if they don't show up at all," Modi wrote.

Speaking to TOI, Modi was critical of what Ponting did during a meeting held at a Sydney hotel, where the players were briefed by the association on security. "Some of these players and their associations can't dictate terms like this. Where is the issue of security when some big sporting events are already in progress in India and some more important ones are round the corner," Modi said.

"South Africa is currently touring India and the hockey World Cup is about to start. There is absolutely no reason to worry. I have updated all the cricket board on security arrangements for the IPL and they are all satisfied," Modi added.

The IPL chairman also praised the Indian government for its role in securing sporting events in the country presently. "The government has gone out of its way to help the IPL. We have been given ample assurance. The players association in Australia and some other countries want us to share security plans with them but they should know that police can't give such details to bodies we don't recognise. It's a sensitive matter after all," Modi said.

"Those foreign players who are supposed to come have already been updated on the arrangements and so, there is nothing to worry. If a few players play into the hands of the players' association and don't show up, there is no issue. In any case, we allow only four international players in the playing eleven. In their absence, there is great talent in every team. This will be an opportunity for the young ones," Modi felt.

Sensed a double century only after 175: Tendulkar

GWALIOR: Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar said he sensed he could be the first batsman to hit an ODI double century only after he had reached 175 in the second one-dayer against South Africa.

Tendulkar, whose unbeaten 200 earned him a slice of one day history, said he was merely striking the ball well early in his innings. It was only in the final eight overs that he realised he stood a chance to re-write history.

"In the first half an hour, I was striking the ball well and timing well. The ball was coming nicely onto the bat," Tendulkar said after the match.

"I was not thinking about it all along. It was only when I crossed 175 and realised that it was still the 42nd over, I felt I have an opportunity. So I decided to take singles and give strike to (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni who was hitting so well," said the batting great.

On his epic knock, Tendulkar said, "I don't know how to react. I'd like to dedicate this double-hundred to the people of India for standing behind me for the last 20 years, come what may."

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association on Wednesday gifted Tendulkar a silver bat apart from Rs 10 lakh and announced that a pavilion in the Captain Roop Singh Stadium would be named after the Mumbaikar.

Tendulkar said he expected India to score somewhere in the vicinity of 340-350 but it was the big-hitting spree of Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan which guided the team to 401 for three.

"I felt a good target was around 340-350. We had some fantastic batting by Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf and MS. If you look at the partnerships, every over there was a big shots played. Yusuf changed the momentum and MS finished well," Tendulkar said.

His captain Dhoni lavished praise on Tendulkar and felt promoting Yusuf Pathan had paid off for the team.

"Once Viru got out it was important to get some runs. Dinesh and Sachin batted really well, they went on with the innings. We were eyeing 350 when they were going strong. But Sachin batted through the innings and he played really well, using the pace of the ball when he got tired," he said.

"Yusuf was sent up the order and with the talent he's got, he can be a great asset to the side. He needs to be given confidence," Dhoni explained.

His counterpart Jacques Kallis had no qualms in admitting that the South Africans just could not make a match of it Wednesday night.

"The toss was quite vital. Our basics were just weren't good enough today. We were outplayed. We lost wickets at crucial stages, or basics let us down. A fantastic innings by Sachin. He took advantage of some good conditions and he played superbly. We let us down in some areas," Kallis said.

Woods apologizes to school parents: Report

ORLANDO: Tiger Woods has offered another apology, this time to parents of children at the preschool that his 2-year-old daughter attends, an Orlando television station reported on Tuesday.

WFTV reported on its Web site that it has obtained a letter that Woods and his wife, Elin, wrote to parents of children attending Premier Academy to apologize for increased media scrutiny around the school.

"We hope that the paparazzi will find something better to do with their time in the near future," the letter said.

Media coverage around Woods and his family has been intense since the Nov. 27 accident outside his home led to revelations that the world's No. 1 golfer had been cheating on his wife. Woods did not make his first public appearance until Friday at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Woods' wife did not attend his nationally televised appearance, and photographers were seen outside the Premier Academy that day. WFTV says an off-duty sheriff's deputy has been hired to sit outside the school.

The station did not say when the letter was sent. During his 13{-minute statement, Woods lashed out at paparazzi for chasing after his family, including his daughter, Sam.

"However, my behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location," Woods said. "They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone."

Woods thanked parents for their support and did not indicate he would remove his daughter from the school.

"In the meantime, it is our goal to keep life as normal as possible for our children," the letter said. "We are sure that as parents you can appreciate that. For Sam, that normalcy means attending the school that she enjoys so much."

Indian hockey adamantly rooted in the past

The dribble and the dodge continue to be a sub-continental joy. What isn't is the way India has wrong-footed itself over the years by overdoing what was essentially a shock element.

From the advent of the artificial turf to the rolling substitution and the no-offside rule, every twist international hockey took has come as a blow to India, only because it has been adamant on staying rooted in the past and content with modest results in smaller tournaments.

The rain-hit 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur is distant memory. What's perhaps more pertinent now is the result in the last three editions — 9th in Utrecht (1998), 10th in Kuala Lumpur (2002) and 11th in Monchengladbach (2006) — a slide that shows where the team stands. India aren't even the dark horses now.

Where India have gone wrong is not that easily explained. Is it the absence of midfield supremacy? Is it lack of firepower in the attack? Or is it simply lack of guile in the striking circle that may lead to a penalty corner?

It is in fact a combination of all these factors and a mindset that refused to accept or imbibe anything new. Take, for example, the 16-yard hit — the hard whack that portrayed terrific power and very little forethought. It was not until the mid-90s that India actually began realising that it was the easiest way of losing possession. It was replaced by sweep shots between defenders and a slow build-up of attack — an adaptation of the European theory that had already become part of the coaches' manual decades earlier.

Resistance to change, such as this, has manifested itself in the anachronistic ways on the pitch. It becomes rather stark when one tends to compare what is done at the camps and what is finally seen on the pitch.

Conflict still persists with setpiece drills and instinctive play with the players unable to replicate what they learn at camps. Peripheral vision is still at a premium as forays are still pieced together with an unusually high percentage of forward passes when a pass back or two would have resulted in a better variety in attack; solo runs replace every plan drawn on paper when confronted with a dour opponent, penalty corners are still a monopoly of the dragflickers even as other teams have struck a healthy balance between direct and indirect conversions while in the defence, India continues to commit the basic of errors without much inclination towards damage control thereafter.

What perhaps has contributed to the downfall is the way camps have been run by the coaches. Whether it is video analysis, team tactics or the level of execution at the camps, hockey tutors have fallen short while implementing their concepts.

Suggestions on shorter camps with intense practice sessions and simulation of fast match situations too have been dismissed with disdain, with the coaches sticking to their view that drills over a long period of time have actually helped the players.

There were a few — Joaquim Carvalho and now, Jose Brasa — who have made attempts to deviate from the norm but the truth has been that neither of them were given enough time to produce results. Carvalho hardly got a chance to regroup after the Olympic qualifier debacle in 2008 while these days, Brasa is being accused of teaching basics to a side that is demanding a lesson or two in tactics.

Brasa may be right in doing so, for the Indians will have to go back to the basics. And, that in itself is a message to all — 34 years after artificial turf did us in in Montreal, we still haven't learnt our lessons.

What the Indians do right...
1 They still hold the advantage in the circle as the dribble and the dodge help them in one-on-one situations.
2 They have players who can establish midfield supremacy and the forwards who can beat any defence in the world.
3 Penalty corners: Dragflicks
4 Goalkeeping is a strong point. But only as long as Adrian D'Souza is there.

Where they go wrong...
1 Penalty corners: Dragflicks are okay. But indirect conversions are poor. Indians still lack the ability to think on their feet.
2 No plan B in tense situations in the circle. Players resort to solo runs again.
3 Defence tends to slip into errors under pressure. No forethought here again as impetuous attempts at clearances or tackles lead to penalty corners.
4 Lack of peripheral vision. Game is unidimensional at crucial junctures.
5 Conflict still persists with setpiece drills and instinctive play. How well the Indians have managed to blend both only Jose Brasa can say.
6 Accent still on set roles (forwards, defenders etc) despite Brasa's insistence that they are allrounders.
7 Rolling substitution needs to be a lot more smooth and unrelenting.
8 Goalkeeping... lack of options after Baljit met with an accident.
9 Captaincy and money controversies may have hit morale of team..
10 Not strong in the mind
11 Fitness has improved by leaps and bounds but Indians haven't shown the presence of mind to conserve energy.

Players to watch:

Matias Vila (Argentina)
Born: July 7, 1979
Position: Midfielder
Internationals: 213
WC Matches: 16
WC Goals: 5
The 32-year-old veteran midfielder has been on Argentine national duty since 1997. Experience, therefore, is his biggest strength besides his swift counter-attacking skills from the midfield. Played a key role in his country's bronze medal finish at last year's Champions Trophy. Vila, who is also the team's skipper, is realistic about their chances at the World Cup. "Of course we shall aim for the gold, but even a classification finish (5 to 8) would be great for us," Vila, who would be playing his last World Cup, said recently.

Jamie Dwyer (Australia)
Born: March 12, 1979
Position: Forward
Internationals: 228
WC Matches: 15
WC Goals: 8
Few can forget the three-time FIH Men's Player of the Year and Australia skipper's match-winning goal during extra-time at Athens 2004, which gave Australia their first-ever Olympic hockey gold. The 32-year-old Queenslander is also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and was also part of the Kookaburra squad that won the bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. Dwyer, who suffered a career-threatening knee injury in 2003, has time and again said 2010 could be his last year at the game's highest level.

Prabhjot Singh
Born: August 14, 1980
Position: Forward
Internationals: 212
WC Matches: 9
WC Goals: 3
His off-field ‘leadership' qualities have been more in the news recently than his on-field showings. Prabhjot, who successfully led the players' revolt against Hockey India in the days leading up to the World Cup, was coach Jose Brasa's pick to lead India's World Cup campaign too, but HI thought otherwise. The wily striker, who rose from the junior ranks, has made a strong comeback after being overlooked for quite a while and has a huge responsibility on his experienced shoulders as far as Indian hopes are concerned.

Oddities at the World Cup

- In a rain-ravaged tournament, a 1975 World Cup match was split over two grounds — a bus ride from each other! Pakistan scored a goal in either half — and on either ground — to beat New Zealand 2-0 in a pool match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

- Douglas Knapp could be the only player to represent two countries at the World Cup! The player in Canadian colours at the 1986 World Cup was last seen donning a Scotland shirt at the corresponding Inter-Continental Cup, a qualifier for the World Cup, in Spain the previous year. To add to the intrigue, Knapp did not reside in either country. He lived in The Netherlands at the time!

- India and Pakistan have won 11 Olympic gold medals and five World Cup titles between themselves. They spread the gospel of hockey over five continents, converting the uninitiated with their skill and artistry. The roles were reversed, however, at the 1986 World Cup in London, when Pakistan beat India 3-2 in the 11th-12th place play-off, leaving India with the wooden spoon.

Security issue overshadows hockey World Cup

NEW DELHI: The strange ways of the stakeholders have ensured that the original objective behind holding the hockey World Cup in India — to revive the game in the country which taught the world how to play it — has been lost even before the event has begun.

With just four days to go for the event, there's hardly any buzz around what is hockey's showpiece event. There have been almost no attempt to involve the fans and give the event a broadbase; the media has been kept out of bounds even though the tournament is on our heads, thus not allowing it to let the public come face-to-face with the event.

All one has been hearing in the run-up to the Cup are jarring voices over never-ending controversies.

An inexplicable blanket ban on the media in the name of security cover, as well at the puzzling approach of the organisers, have meant that no one is talking hockey. The organisers are simply hiding behind one word: security.

Almost all the foreign teams are here in the city and the scribes have still not got access to either the squads or the competition venue, the Major Dhyanchand National stadium, as they have not been given accreditation cards. They have even been barred from interacting with the Indian players despite the fact that they have been training here for almost a fortnight now. As things stand now, providing security has become more important than hosting the World Cup itself.

There's no doubt that security is of paramount importance, but it should not be as oppressive as it is right now. It should not create a wall between the players and the media, for the very purpose of playing sport gets defeated here.

At the team hotel, if you are lucky, you can reach the players by identifying yourself as an ‘acquaintance' and can talk about everything under the sun except the game! The moment the monitoring security personnel, hovering all around the place, hear the word ‘hockey', they promptly intervene. Surely, someone has goofed-up big time here.

With no interaction with players and no means to enter the venue, the expected hype is missing, something which has even disappointed the players. "It's really bad. We are disappointed that there's hardly any build-up. They should allow media to cover our practice sessions," said an Indian player.

Hockey India and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have done little to improve the situation. Rather, they have added to the confusion.

Sample this. On Tuesday noon, FIH tournament director Ken Read issued a statement saying that media access to training won't be possible until "accreditations are active, which is expected to be on February 27th".

Six hours later, the World Cup Co-ordination Commission announced after a meeting that the accreditations would be completed by Wednesday, "so that the accredited media could attend an interaction with the teams during practice at the National Stadium on February 25."

The TOI has been highlighting the shabby manner in which the Commonwealth Shooting Championships, going on in the Capital, have been organised. Add to that the World cup mess and you can't help but feel uneasy about the prospects of the Commonwealth Games in October.

India look to seal series and No.2 spot in ICC Rankings

GWALIOR: After escaping with a narrow win in Jaipur, India would aim to plug their bowling loopholes and seal the three-match series to retain the number two spot in ICC rankings when they take on South Africa in the second ODI on Wednesday.

The Indian batsmen are in good nick but the worrying factor for the hosts is the bowling department as they leaked too many runs in the series opener and received an unexpected bashing at the hands of tail-enders Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell in Jaipur.

What looked like a one-sided contest in India's favour at one stage became an edge-of-the-seat thriller as the host bowlers let go their grip over the match with their wayward line. India, though, managed to pull it off by just a run, the closest of victory margins.

It was a psychological blow for the South Africans, who have been labelled chokers for losing close matches on a regular basis, but they are expected to come hard at the Indians in do-or-die tie at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium.

They failed to dislodge India from the number one spot in Test rankings after losing the Kolkata Test so the Proteas would do everything to give themselves a chance to at least snatch back the number two position in the One-day rankings.

The team who which wins this series will end the year as number two behind world champions Australia.

India's gamble of playing only three specialist bowlers - all pacers - paid off in Jaipur, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni must be scratching his head while weighing his options for Wednesday's tie.

India do not have much of a choice in the absence of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, and Dhoni is most likely to go with the same combination.

He will hope that part-timers Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan would yet again contribute in stifling the South African innings and the pace trio of Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and S Sreesanth will put up a better show.

Sreesanth was off colour in Jaipur and it remains to be seen if the team management retains him or calls up Uttar Pradesh paceman Sudeep Tyagi.

Since Jadeja and Pathan have done well, leg-spinner Amit Mishra is unlikely to get a call.

As the curator has predicted a batting paradise for the match, Indian batsmen would aim to convert good starts into big knocks.

Putting up a big total, on batting first, is the only way to put pressure on South Africa and the tried and tested Virender Sehwag along with Sachin Tendulkar will be key to India's plan.

Due to a sore back, Sehwag did not field in the first match but India is not in danger of missing his services as the team management has hinted that there is nothing serious.

Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Jadeja did reasonably well in Jaipur to help India post a fighting total.

For South Africa, the swashbuckling opening pair of Loots Bosman and Herschelle Gibbs has to strike form for the visitors.

The ever-reliable stand-in skipper Jacques Kallis is a solid pillar in the visitors middle-order and can shape the innings quite well but he needs support at the other end to make his innings count.

History favours the hosts at this venue since out of nine matches they have played here, seven have resulted in victory for India.

The Teams (from):

India: M S Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Sudeep Tyagi, Praveen Kumar, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan and Amit Mishra.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Venue: Captain Roop Singh Stadium

Time: Live on NEO Cricket at 14:30 (IST)

Scorecard: 1st ODI, India vs South Africa

Scorecard: 1st Test, India vs South Africa

Scorecard: 2nd Test, India vs South Africa

QnA: Without a team that is strong in every department, are we worthy of the No 1 Test team status?

Wadia planning to opt out of Kings franchise?

MUMBAI: All is not well in the Kings XI Punjab ranks. The latest buzz is that one of the co-owners who forms a part of the KXIP consortium is looking to opt out.

TOI has learnt that Ness Wadia of the Bombay Dyeing Group, said to be having a little more than 25% stake in the franchise, is keen to take the exit route. In turn, the managing director of Hero Honda, Pawan Munjal, is looking to buy a personal stake in an IPL franchise if he gets an opportunity.

Highly-placed sources say that a marriage of convenience is about to take place soon.

Despite continuous efforts to reach him, Wadia remained unavailable for comment. On the other hand, Munjal spoke to TOI about his IPL interest but without naming KXIP in particular. "I have been a keen follower of IPL from the beginning. If a good opportunity comes knocking, I will be most willing to consider it. At the moment, there has been no development in this regard," he told TOI.

Wadia bought the team in the 2007-08 auction with a consortium backed by actress Preity Zinta, Mohit Burman of the Dabur Group and Karan Paul of the Apeejay Surendra Group. The franchise, based out of Mohali, had been bought for $76m in 2007-08.

When TOI contacted KXIP, the franchise repeated the statement they had released a couple of weeks ago when reports of Hero Honda buying the team had surfaced.

"Kings XI Punjab continues to be co-owned by a consortium which includes, industrialists Mohit & Gaurav Burman, Karan Paul, Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta," the statement read. Interestingly, at the time of releasing the statement, Wadia was outside the country and could not be contacted.

"There has been no deal signed as yet but expect something very soon," an official in the know of things said.

Aussies players briefed on security in IPL

SYDNEY: The Australian Cricketers' Association on Tuesday briefed its Indian Premier League-bound players about the security threat to the event and demanded specific assurance on their safety from the organisers.

ACA chief executive Paul Marsh met the players contracted with various IPL franchises and handed an independent security assessment on IPL prepared by renowned expert Reg Dickason.

The meeting came after IPL players like Simon Katich (King XI Punjab) and Shaun Tait (Rajasthan Royals) made public their safety concerns about travelling to India for the event after terror outfit al-Qaeda warned of attacks on foreign players.

"The Australian Cricketers Association has just met with the majority of Australian IPL players to update them on the information contained in the independent security report commissioned by the Player Associations of Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa and to discuss the next steps in the IPL security process," Marsh said after the meeting.

"From the outset, it is important to reinforce that players want to play in this year's IPL, however the independent report has identified some serious concerns with aspects of the current security situation around the 2010 IPL event," Marsh added.

Marsh said the cricketers' bodies of England, South Africa and New Zealand would also discuss the matter with their players before a formal letter of demands is sent to IPL organisers.

"These concerns relate to the reported direct threat against the event and the status and implementation of the IPL's security plan," he said.

"The process from here is for all Player Associations to meet with their player groups and for all of us to feed back the concerns raised from these meetings to the IPL.

"This will be coordinated through our peak body, the Federation of International Cricketers Associations (FICA). From here we will await a response from the IPL," Marsh said.

Incidentally, IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has refused to deal with the players' bodies

Dhoni regains No.1 spot in ICC ODI Rankings

DUBAI: India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday reclaimed the number one position in the ICC One-day batting list, dislodging Australian Michael Hussey from the top spot.

Dhoni benfitted from Hussey's absence from the field as the Australian southpaw did not play the fifth and final match of the series against Pakistan and scored just 23 runs in the fourth match, and thereby dropping below Dhoni.

Sachin Tendulkar (6) and Virender Sehwag (9) are the two other Indian batsmen in the top-10.

After playing a drawn Test series, India and South Africa will now battle it out in a three-match One-day series with number two position in team ratings at stake.

India will have to win the series to retain their number two position and South Africa can move ahead of the hosts if it wins the series 2-1 or better.

India, even with a 3-0 win cannot catch number-one-ranked Australia, which is the clear leader with 134 points.

India have 121 points, two ahead of South Africa. The series is beginning on Sunday in Jaipur. Harbhajan Singh is the only Indian bowler in the top-10 at sixth position with Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori atop the list.

Narang bags second gold in Commonwealth Shooting Championship

NEW DELHI: India's gold count in the Commonwealth Shooting Championship increased with Gagan Narang winning the men's 10 metre air rifle singles event and Navy man Sanjeev Rajput bagging the silver at the Karni Singh Shooting Range on Saturday.

Narang shot a total of 699.5 (595 qualification, 104.5 finals) for the yellow metal and also came close to breaking his own championship record of 699.7 set in Australia in 2005.

Rajput got the silver shooting a total of 694.8 (591 qualification, 103.8 finals) and the bronze went to Englishman Huckle James with an aggregate of 694 (593 qualification, 101 final).

Another Indian P.T. Raghunath, who bagged the gold in the pairs event with Narang, narrowly missed out on a medal as he finished fourth with a total of 693.2 (592 qualification, 101.2 final).

India coach Sunny Thomas was happy with Narang's performance but was disappointed with Raghunath.

"Raghunath could have done better. He came close to win the bronze. He did poorly in the first two shots in the finals and then picked up well to score 101.2. Rajput also performed well in the final. He was fourth after the qualification but then bounced back to finish second," said Thomas.

Narang was elated after winning his second gold in the championship.

"I got 104.5 in the final, but I could have done better. But good to see India finishing 1-2 in a single event," he said.

We are eyeing a semi-final spot in the World Cup: Rajpal Singh

NEW DELHI: India were a big disappointment in the last edition of the hockey World Cup in Germany but with home support behind them, the eight-time Olympic champions are confident of a top four finish in the 12-team quadrennial event starting this month.

As the countdown for the February 28-March 13 mega-event started, India captain Rajpal Singh and his fellow colleagues said the team was working hard to improve upon their 11th place finish in the last edition of the tournament.

"We are eyeing a semi-final spot. From there anything can happen. We are training hard and have adopted some European tactics without leaving our traditional style," Rajpal said.

"We have the home advantage on our side. A little bit of pressure will be there but it should work as a positive factor."

Downplaying the hype over his side's opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Rajpal pinpointed Australia and Germany as the two teams to watch out for in the tournament.

"It is good that India and Pakistan are playing the first match. Apart from Germany, I feel Australia is the toughest side in the tournament. It is good that we will face Australia in the pool and not in the semi-final," he said.

Rajpal also welcomed the presence of three drag-flickers -- Sandeep Singh, Diwakar Ram and Dhananjay Mahadik -- in the side.

"It is for the first time we have three flickers in the team and they are capable of changing the course of any match."

For senior striker Arjun Halappa the World Cup comes with an added motivation to perform at the big stage.

"I don't know whether I will be playing next World Cup or not. I am not sure how long I will carry on playing hockey. So, personally this World Cup is very important for me.

"The tournament is also very important for the future of the players and Indian hockey," said the 29-year-old Bangalorean, who played in the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World but missed the next edition four years later in Germany.

"As a player I think the first match is crucial for us. It will set the tone for the entire tournament. Personally, I feel we should make the semi-finals," Halappa said.

"We are working hard on attack as well as defence. The coordination between attackers and defenders is the key to success in modern day hockey," he said.

Senior player Prabhjot Singh said being a senior member of the side there is extra burden on his shoulders.

"There is more responsibility on my shoulders. I have a role to play in the team and I will give my best.

"I have been in the team for a long time and playing the World Cup at home will be a different experience. All the matches are important for us. We will take one match at a time and hope to make it to the semi-finals," he said.

Former captain Sandeep Singh was of the view that the World Cup brings with it the biggest opportunity to revive the national game's sagging fortune.

"We will definitely better our last World Cup performance. The entire team is confident about a good result. Not just ours, Indian hockey's future rests highly on this World Cup," the ace drag-flicker said.

An 'idiot' does not play 13 years for country: Harbhajan

NEW DELHI: Seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday lambasted his detractors for questioning his ability, saying a bowler who has taken more than 350 wickets in a 13-year career could not possibly be "dumb or an idiot".

Harbhajan, who was instrumental in India's dramatic win over South Africa in the second Test on Thursday, feels coming among the top 10 bowlers in ICC rankings itself speaks a lot in his favour.

"We are neither dumb, nor idiots. The idiots don't play 13 years for their country. Nor do they claim 350 Test wickets during their career," fumed Harbhajan, who picked five for 59 at the Eden Garden.

"Critics have a job to do. I respect it, however, I can make a few points for their benefit. Can a bowler, who often has been in ICC's list of top 10 bowlers during the last two years be that bad and that stupid?" Harbhajan said.

Harbhajan, who made his Test debut in 1998 against Australia, also considers the "straighter" deliveries as one of the effective weapons in his armoury and said it should not be seen as "inability" of the bowler to turn the ball.

"When a left-arm spinner bowls a straighter delivery, you credit him with one. Why a slider from an off-spinner is viewed as his inability to spin it?" asked Harbhajan, whose one such delivery dismissed Morne Morkel in the dying moments yesterday", he said.

"I bowl onto the stumps occasionally because on those wickets where ball does a little, you need to create angles for bowled and lbw decisions to come into the play. If the batsmen can use their feet, why you do not credit a bowler for not allowing a batsman to use his feet?" Harbhajan said.

The 29-year-old bowler also feels it was nothing but consistent performance which has helped India climb on top of the ICC Test ranking.

"Can the number one Test ranking be achieved overnight? Is it not a reflection of sustained progress achieved by the Team India over the last two years?

"Just as the critics have a job to do, we also have a job to keep India's tricolour flying. We know what our success means to millions of fans across the world and we are prepared to walk on the fire to bring honour and glory to the country," he added.

The spinner said that critics should put the interest of Indian cricket before everything.

"Everyone must keep the interest of Indian cricket as a priority. There is no reason to get personal, this success is as much for us as it is for our critics."

On India's victory, he said: "Let this moment be dedicated to those fans who stay all nights, travel miles, bear hardships and have all the affections for the welfare of Indian cricket.

"Let it be a promise on our part that we would only treat this moment as just the beginning," Harbhajan said.

India a safe venue for Australian players: Smith

NEW DELHI: After assessing the security measures put in place for the forthcoming sporting events in India, Australian Foreign Ministry, on Friday, said that it is satisfied with the security arrangements put in place for the athletes in India.

"We are satisfied with the efforts to ensure safety of the Australian athletes," Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith said. "Security risk exists in all sporting events, whether in Australia or India," he added.

The concerns over athletes' safety in India came up after HuJI chief and al-Qaida commander Ilyas Kashmiri warned of possible violence against foreign teams visiting India.

Earlier, in an email to a Hong Kong-based news website, Kashmiri warned of several attacks like the one in Pune in the near future.

"We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India - if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences," said the threat.

"We, the mujahideen of 313 Brigade, vow to continue attacks across India until the Indian Army leaves Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right of self-determination. We assure the Muslims of the subcontinent we will never forget the massacre in Gujarat and the demolition of Babri Masjid," it added.

Miandad to become coach again

KARACHI: They might be at loggerheads but that has not stopped Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt from offering the coaching job of the national team to former captain and PCB's Director General Javed Miandad.

Butt's offer came at the hearing of the Senate standing committee on sports in Islamabad on Monday which was held to discuss the state of cricket and also the ongoing feud between Butt and Miandad.

Miandad told the committee that Butt was ignoring and bypassing him in important matters and was not willing to give him an assignment which is in line with his status as a former Test captain and coach.

Butt told the committee that he had a lot of respect for Miandad's abilities as a cricketer and had previously also offered him the job of coaching the team.

"Butt renewed the coaching offer to Miandad at the hearing pointing out to the members that Miandad's real expertise lay in his cricketing skills and acumen and he was best suited to take on a coaching assignment," a member said.

"But Miandad again made it clear that due to his busy schedule and domestic issues he could not take up a full time coaching assignment," the member added.

He said the committee heard both the former players patiently and the Senate committee Chairman formed a sub committee which he is heading himself to try to bring a truce between the two former players.

Top English football club planning to buy IPL team: Modi

LONDON: Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has claimed that a top English football club is planning to bid for an IPL team but the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have denied any such interest.

"There is a very famous football club in the UK very interested in bidding. (They are) probably one of the most famous football clubs - probably top three. They are interested in taking a stake," Modi told 'The Times'.

Manchester United quickly clarified that they were not keen on any such move while Chelsea's name was shot down by Modi himself.

The likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are in debt and unsure about their long-term ownership, ruling out any such move from them.

Manchester City, a club acquired by Gulf-based owners, may be interested but a team official denied that Modi could be referring to them.

The IPL will include two new teams from the 2011 season and these will be auctioned before this year's edition starting March 12.

The franchise rights' base price has been set at $225 million and potential investors could make their first move as early as this week.

IPL may ban Jadeja from 2010 edition

NEW DELHI: India and Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja may have to miss this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) for violating the Code of Conduct.

According to well-placed sources, the IPL has suspended the Saurashtra cricketer for this season - as he was bargaining for more salary from various franchisees, without getting a clearance from the Royals for this season. Jadeja can now appeal against this decision.

Sources said that when the Royals signed up Jadeja for the inaugural season, he was an under-19 recruit and was inducted into the team through the 'draft system' for which he was paid the stipulated Rs 20 lakh. In the second season, when the franchise got the opportunity to sign Jadeja for two years, he was reluctant to sign on the dotted line and only agreed to play for the Royals for a year.

After his contract with the Shane Warne-led team ended on December 31, 2009, Jadeja started looking for a better bargain. Rules say that he can talk to other teams only if Royals - who have the first right to refusal - agree to let him go.

Sources added that Royals discussed the issue with the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and it was decided to suspend Jadeja. "We strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct and if any cricketer is violating it then we won't tolerate it," a BCCI official said.

Jadeja could not be contacted. Sources said that if Jadeja wishes to appeal, he will have to take an appointment with Modi in this regard. "Then, if the governing council decides to consider his case, he could be pardoned."

India face SA with number one Test tag at stake

KOLKATA: Their number one ranking under threat, a desperate India cannot settle for anything less than a win when they go into the second and final Test against South Africa, who might have to take the field without inspirational captain Graeme Smith.

Smith has been rendered a doubtful starter because of a finger injury he sustained during practice on Friday and a final call on his availability will be taken on Sunday.

Having crushed India by an innings and six runs in the first Test in Nagpur, South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 and they just need a draw at the Eden Gardens to snatch the top spot in the ICC rankings from the hosts.

With both the series and their Test ranking at stake, India have been bolstered by the return of VVS Laxman, who is all set to make a comeback at his happy-hunting ground where he scored a 281 in the second innings to script an epochal turn-around in their Test against Australia in March 2001.

In the absence of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh due to injuries, Laxman, who is back after recovering from a finger injury, will form Indian batting's backbone along with the ever-reliable trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

The injury-hit Indian line-up was blown away by speedster Dale Steyn, who secured match figures of 10/108, in the Nagpur Test where an unbeaten 253 by Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis' 173 also played a major part in the host team's loss.

The loss also brought India's 11-match undefeated streak to an end as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni conceded, "We were outplayed by South Africa in all departments of the game."

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan did not get much support from Ishant Sharma in Nagpur and the think-tank may bring in temperamental S Sreesanth back after his recovery from an injury.

Another reason for worry would be off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's lackluster form as India could not bundle out South Africa despite the good start given by Zaheer in Nagpur.

Harbhajan conceded 166 runs from 46 overs in Nagpur at an economy rate of 3.6 and in his entire bowling he had only one maiden compared to 19 in the match by his South African counterpart Paul Harris.

A green-top Eden Gardens might not have cheered Harbhajan at first sight, but the off-spinner will surely be happy to be back at his favourite ground where he picked 38 wickets in six Tests.

In fact, Dhoni has backed him saying, "I'm not worried about him. He is a great bowler as is evident from his statistics. He is a big match player and makes comebacks in big games."

There has been lot of talk surrounding the Eden strip especially after India's loss in the Nagpur Test. The BCCI reportedly asked curator Prabir Mukherjee to prepare a turning wicket to help India's traditional strength.

But Mukherjee and CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya have denied this outrightly saying a wicket could not be prepared overnight.

In contrast, the Eden track sported a green tinge and Mukherjee said, "It would be mowed down in time. But the wicket will be a sporting and result-oriented."

"We always get to see results on Eden wicket barring the last Test (vs Pakistan) where it went up to the fifth day. This time also it will be no different," he added.

He, however, said seamers might get help from the breeze with a few stands demolished because of the World Cup renovation work.

On a two-match winning streak, South Africa are high on confidence as they eye a win at the Eden for a rare series victory.

"The momentum is with us, we are focusing on what we can do best and are not thinking much about our opponents," said a confident AB de Villiers ahead of the Test.

Eden Gardens last hosted a Test in 2007 (November 30-December 4) when India and Pakistan played out a draw in a match that saw four centuries (Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal) and one double century (Wasim Jaffer).

India have only lost two Test series at home in the last decade, to South Africa in 2000 and Australia in 2004.

At Eden Gardens, both the teams have played twice with each winning once.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (Capt.), Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Morne Morkel, AB de Villiers, Alviro Petersen, Ryan McLaren, Mark Boucher (wk), Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Ashwell Prince, Paul Harris, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Match Name: 2nd Test

Teams: India vs South Africa

Venue: Eden Gardens , Kolkata

Previous Scorecard: 1st Test, India vs South Africa

Time: 0930 IST

Channel: Neo Cricket

Schedule