 | ||
July 4, 2001
Cricket |
Feedback | ||
|
Coca-Cola Triangular in Zimbabwe :
India play West Indies at Harare today in the last match of the league phase of the Coca-Cola Triangular. For once after many years, the Indian team has won all their matches during the preliminary stage of a tournament. Normally, it is a back-door entry, thanks to net run-rates. This has also put the Indian tour selection committee in a dilemma. With all the 14 
The Ashes Tour : The England team is plagued by injuries just ahead of the first Ashes Test match beginning tomorrow at Birmingham. This has necessitated some unexpected changes to their squad. Opening batsman Mark Butcher makes a comeback to the national side along with off spinner Robert Croft. Also included in the side is a new comer, Pakistan born left-handed all-rounder Usman Afzaal who appears for Nottinghamshire. With regulars Thorpe, Vaughan, Ramprakash and Giles all down with various injuries the England selectors were forced to dig deep into their resources and pull out the best possible team to meet the tough Aussies.
Miscellaneous :
Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble is still undecided as to when he should make his come back to international cricket. Kumble has been out of action for over a year now following a shoulder injury that was eventually operated upon in South Africa. Kumble who followed a strict rehabilitation programme prescribed by the doctor now says that he is able to bowl comfortably at the nets but is not keen to rush his come back lest the injury aggravate. India is due to leave for Sri Lanka on July 15 to play a tri-nation tournament and later a three Test series. The BCCI has said that it will back the former Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad whose allegations of drug use by the Indian cricketers rocked the cricket fraternity a few days ago. BCCI Secretary JY Lele termed the allegations published in the Outlook magazine as nonsense and said Gaekwad will have the backing of the Board if he decides to go to court. Lele said it was a known fact that most Indian players took cortisone injections as pain killers. Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team manager in Zimbabwe Chetan Chauhan has refuted all claims by Gaekwad and made a categorical statement that the Indian players do not take any performance-enhancing drugs. Reacting to the allegations by the Outlook Magazine, the South African team physio Craig Smith, who was also involved in a drug case in the West Indies recently, underplayed the claims that drug use is rampant among top cricket players. He said he was aware that a lot of players used nutritional supplements like proteins and carbohydrates that are legal and advisable. He felt it was just an attempt by the magazine at sensationalising the issue.
The three Goa Cricket Association officials, including its president Dayanand Narvekar, who were arrested for the fake ticket scam during the India-Australia one-day tie on April 6, 2001, have been released on furnishing personal bonds of Rs 10,000 (US$ 212) each. Chargesheets against these officials are likely to be filed by the police later this week. According to a media report from Britain, the fear of being prosecuted under the Indian Foreign Exchange Regulations Act (FERA), is the main reason for Mukesh Gupta, the Indian bookie, to refuse to give evidence against England wicket-keeper Alec Stewart to the ICC's Anti Corruption Unit. It was alleged he paid 5000 pounds to Stewart, while the latter was on tour to India in 1993. Gupta, can be prosecuted under FERA, if he unable to clarify the source of this money to the Indian authorities.
|
|
players in good form, the point to ponder is who to drop and who to select. Harvinder Singh and Debashish Mohanty who played the last match to give the main bowlers a rest gave such fine performances that its going to be embarrassing dropping them. VVS Laxman's finger injury could do with a little more rest. All in all it will be a confident Indian team that takes on an equally pepped up West Indies side after their fine win on Sunday that they snatched from the brink of defeat against the home side, Zimbabwe. Today's match is a mere curtain raiser to the final that will be played between these two teams on Saturday.
Banned former Test cricketer Manoj Prabhakar who was arrested yesterday for his involvement in a financial scam was admitted into a hospital near Haldwani. Prabhakar complained of stiffness and pain in his fingers and toes just as he was being taken to court. Prabhakar was taken to a court where doctors said he may have suffered a mild stroke. The accused has a history of brain disorder and tests are being carried out.
Former Indian pace bowler Venkatesh Prasad played a good Samaritan, when he rushed, Rajesh, a hit and run victim to the hospital in Bangalore in his car. Prasad, who returning from a practice session, picked up the injured man, who was lying on the road after being hit by another vehicle, while driving his two wheeler. According to the doctors at the hospital this timely gesture from Prasad, perhaps saved the victim's life.
Meanwhile the ACU will be questioning Pakistani batsman Inzamamul Haq regarding his performance during one of the matches in the recently concluded NatWest tri series in England. It is suspected that Inzamam, had deliberately given his wicket away off the second ball he faced against Australia at Cardiff on June 9.