SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

Standoff over India’s Asian Games delegation rumbles on

MUMBAI: India’s sports authority has recommended and minimum sixth for individual events,” Ajit Sharan, office before announcing the delegation list. The coun- slashing the country’s proposed Asian Games delega- India’s sports secretary said yesterday. “We have spoken try’s sports officials have said the issue was not one of tion by a third and sending only medal hopefuls to to the sports minister (Sarbananda Sonowal) on the cost, but one of prestige and national pride. South Korea’s Incheon later this month. The Indian issue and it will be up to him to take a final call.” India “We don’t want the athletes to cut a sorry figure Olympic Association (IOA) has sent a list of 944 athletes sent 609 athletes in a delegation of 933 to the there,” SAI Director General Jiji Thomson told Reuters and officials for government approval to travel to the Guangzhou Games in China four years ago where they on Thursday. “We want to send people with a realistic Sept 19-Oct. 4 Games. However, the Sports Authority of participated in 35 disciplines and won 65 medals, chance of winning medals since it’s the country’s pride India (SAI) wants that figure cut down and for the coun- including 14 gold. that is at stake.” According to local media, the Olympic try to only send athletes with genuine medal chances to Last week, the SAI said India was not likely to com- Council of Asia have warned the IOA of sanctions if they prevent India’s athletes being embarrassed on such a pete in baseball, , fencing, karate, modern pen- withdraw athletes who have already been entered for big stage. tathlon, rugby, soft ball, soft tennis and triathlon in the Games at the last minute. The SAI wants the sports ministry to approve a dele- Incheon because of the athletes’ poor standards. “The team draw has already been completed. As per gation of around 600 people to participate in 26 disci- Football, basketball, sepaktakraw, handball and table the constitution, if the IOA withdraws now, a penalty plines at the Incheon Games and expect at least 70 tennis could also face the axe. With the individual feder- will definitely be levied and the whole draw will need to medals. “We have set a criteria for athletes to be ranked ations trying to muscle their way into the delegation, be done again,” local media quoted the OCA saying in at least eighth in Asia to participate in the team events Sonowal has sought guidance from the prime minister’s an email to the IOA. — Reuters

Botham blasted for IPL scrapping call

NEW DELHI: Organizers of ’s hit back angrily yesterday at former England all-rounder ’s call for the tournament to be scrapped, criticiz- ing him for having the “temerity” to issue lec- tures. Delivering a keynote speech in London earlier this week, Botham said the IPL was “too powerful” for cricket’s long-term good. But Sanjay Patel, secretary of the Indian board (BCCI), said Friday that Botham was in no position to take the moral high ground after his involvement in disgraced Texas fin- ancier Allen Stanford’s ill-fated T20 competi- tion between the West Indies and England. “I can still visualize the photo of Botham sitting in the front when Stanford went to England-and he has the temerity to talk about IPL,” Patel told the Press Trust of India news agency. “We don’t want his advice. We have enough top players like (former Indian players) Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and to advise us.” Botham was one of several cricketing legends who appeared alongside Stanford at the 2008 launch of his competition which was can- celled after the first edition following allega- tions of fraud against the Texan. HARARE: ’s batsman Mitchell Johnson (bottom) is run out by ’s wicketkeeper during a one-day inter- Stanford was later sentenced to 110 years national triangular series cricket match between Australia and South Africa at the Harare Sports Club on September 2, 2014. — AFP in prison for heading up a $7 billion Ponzi scheme in a verdict which was seen as a CRICKET huge embarrassment for the England cricket board. While few England players appear in the IPL, the annual tournament does feature star names from most of the Test-playing Australia have the nations. Some have shunned the chance of playing for their country, opting instead to take the greater financial rewards on offer at the IPL. “How on earth did the IPL own the best players in the world for two months a edge, says Johnson year and not pay a penny to the boards who brought these players into the game?” Botham said on Wednesday as he delivered HARARE: Predictability will meet adaptability game.” There is some truth in Johnson’s assess- and Kane Richardson preferred to James the annual MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey when South Africa face Australia in today’s tri- ment. Australia have a middle order packed Faulkner, McLaren’s departure has forced South lecture at Lord’s. angular series final in Harare - at least according with power hitters such as and Africa to rebalance their side. Rilee Rossouw was “I’m worried about the IPL. In fact, I fear it to Mitchell Johnson. Days after fracturing South , who have twice seen them to drafted into the team to provide an extra bats- shouldn’t be there at all. It is changing the Africa all rounder Ryan McLaren’s right arm, the scores above 325 in a tournament characterized man in Thursday’s victory over Zimbabwe, as priorities of world cricket.” But Patel said Australian quick has ramped up the mind by slow, dry pitches. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Imran Tahir made way to leave Aaron Phangiso Botham had failed to “get his facts” right and games after the Proteas saw off Zimbabwe on batsman tend to be more orthodox as they rely as the only specialist spinner. “We felt it was that India had “distributed over $10 million Thursday to confirm their place in the final at on their inherent quality - as they did when AB really important to get runs on the board, which as compensation to other cricket boards for Harare Sports Club. Johnson claimed that de Villiers and Faf du Plessis scored hundreds to worked exceptionally well,” De Villiers said of allowing their players to play in the IPL”. Australia can easily forecast South Africa’s game chase a target of 328 in the first meeting the selections. The IPL is currently being investigated for plan, and suggested his own side are more ver- between the two sides last week. However, “Today’s obviously a different opponent. It’s match-fixing and corruption by India’s satile in the way that they go about their ’s own adaptability has not always a possibility that we will use the same ploy. It’s Supreme Court. International news organiza- “We know what they’re like and they’re pret- been up to the mark - most notably when they definitely something to talk about.” While both tions, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), ty structured in their ways,” he said. “They like to failed to get the hang of a turning pitch on sides still have plenty of cricket to play before have suspended their on-field coverage of play a certain way and they do it most times. It Sunday and lost to Zimbabwe for the first time next year’s World Cup - and will face each other matches hosted by the BCCI since 2012 after gets brought up in most meetings that we have, in 31 years. in a five-match series on Australian soil later this the board imposed restrictions on picture that they have that structure. “We’re ready to While Australia appear to have settled on year - De Villiers acknowledges that there are agencies. — AFP adapt to any conditions and we’ve done that in their best team since that defeat, with Steve points to be scored in a rivalry over which no the past. We go out there and play our own Smith returning to provide a second spin option love has been lost. —AFP