OID ‰‰ ‰ † K OID ‰‰ ‰ † OID ‰‰ ‰ † M OID ‰‰ ‰ † C

The Times of India, New Delhi, Tuesday,May 20, 2003

V for Vijay Stringing it together Anna’s warming up Vijay Singh loves the limelight. England bat Mark Butcher is humming Let’s hope she’s there and there for “I thrive on it,” the Fijian says. it right with a guitar in hand. The long at Wimbledon. For starters, the Basking in that, he fended off dimpled-cheek has cut a music album stunning Anna Kournikova is getting Nick Price to win the $5.6 and is quite touchy about it. “The lyrics ‘serious’ about courting grass as she million PGA Byron may not be mine but the soul in the has decided to play the DFS Classic championship by two strokes music is,” the Surrey man says tournament from June 9-15 Aussies stretch their unbeaten ODI to 19 games

I reckon Wasim and Michael Holding are two of the best and most natural fast Fiery Akram hailed Vettori puts Kiwis in final bowlers of the century Reuters — Dambulla: gave Sri Fleming criticised the pitch, saying Lanka a dose of their own medicine it was very difficult to bat on. “It SPORTS DIGEST as pride of Pakistan as he led to the final of was rubbish,” said Fleming. “One a triangular One-day series with an should be looking at scores of bet- Reuters Karachi: Famed Akram, who turns 37 next month, exciting nine-run victory here on ter than 150 or 160. We didn’t get too Pakistani pacer announced his retirement in London Monday. many runs, but Vettori bowled very on Sunday saying he wanted to make The left-arm spinner grabbed 4-14 well,” he said.AFP was showered way for younger players. off 10 economical overs in a career- with praise by In 104 Tests Akram took 414 wick- best performance to help New SCOREBOARD former colleagues ets, and a world record 502 in Zealand defend a modest total of 156- New Zealand: on Monday fol- 356 One-day matches. 8 with five balls to spare on a turn- C. Nevin c Sangakkara b Nissanka 8 lowing his deci- He is the only bowler to have taken ing track at the Rangiri Stadium. S. Fleming lbw b Muralitharan 16 L. Vincent run out 12 sion to retire over 400 wickets in both forms of the crashed to 147 after S. Styris c Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 29 from a 19-year in- game. spinners and C. Cairns c Dilshan b Jayasuriya 9 ternational crick- Akram and seven other senior play- had shared C. Harris run out 4 et career. ers were axed for the Sharjah Cup in B. McCullum 47 four wickets to restrict New K. Mills c Jayawardene b Jayasuriya 17 Former April following Pakistan’s first round Zealand in the fifth successive low- A. Adams run out 1 and revered all-rounder Imran Khan, exit from the World Cup in February scoring match of the tournament. Extras: (b1, lb5, nb3, w4) 13 who mentored Akram as an 18-year- and March in Africa. Total (for eight wickets in 50 overs) 156 The hosts needed 10 to win off Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-40, 3-42, 4-69, 5-76, old, hailed him as one of last centu- He was also omitted from the cur- the last over with one in 6-88, 7-138, 8-156 ry’s greatest fast bowlers. rent One-day triangular series against hand, but Mahela Jayawardene (38) : Vaas 8-2-11-0, Nissanka 8-1-19-1, “I reckon Wasim and West Indian Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Dharmasena 10-2-19-0, Muralitharan 10-2-41- attempted an ambitious reverse- 2, Lokuarachchi 5-1-25-0, Jayasuriya 9-0-35-2 Michael Holding are two of the best Khan, who led Pakistan to its only sweep off and was Sri Lanka: and most natural fast bowlers of the World Cup victory in Australia in caught by at back- S. Jayasuriya c McCullum b Tuffey 9 century,” Khan said. 1992, accused the Pakistan Cricket R. Kaluwitharana c McCullum b Adams 18 ward point. M. Atapattu c sub (Horne) b Vettori 13 Taking Akram under his wing in Board (PCB) of dumping Akram in an New Zealand now lead the league K. Sangakkara b Vettori 11 1984, Khan nurtured him until he be- undignified manner. standings with two wins from three M. Jayawardene c Harris b Styris 38 came one of international cricket’s “I do think the PCB...should not matches. Sri Lanka finished their T. Dilshan c Fleming b Vettori 7 C. Vaas c McCullum b Mills 4 most productive fast bowlers. have dumped him in such an uncere- engagements with two victories K. Dharmasena c McCullum b Harris 11 Padraig Harrington of Ireland re- “Grooming Wasim was the easiest monious manner,” said Khan. from four games.Pakistan, with one K. Lokuarachchi lbw b Styris 8 acts after his winning putt on the thing because he was naturally gifted. Another former captain, Zaheer win from three matches, will have M. Muralitharan c Mills b Vettori 4 first extra hole of the final round at P. Nissanka not out 6 All I ingrained in him was the ability Abbas, described Wasim as the “pride to beat New Zealand in the last Extras: (b3, lb2, nb4, w9) 18 the German Open at Gut Kaden to take wickets,” said Khan. Khan of Pakistani cricket.” league match on Tuesday to make it Total: (all out in 49.1 overs) 147 near Hamburg on Sunday. backed Akram’s retirement decision “Losing a player like Wasim is the to the final. New Zealand have 12 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-43, 3-60, 4-63, 5-79, 6-87, 7-101, 8-121, 9-136. as “the right thing.” most depressing thing.” AFP points, including two bonus points, New Zealand’s Chris Harris celebrates the Bowling: Tuffey 9-4-22-1, Mills 8-2-30-1, Indo-Pak cricket ties: Sports followed by Sri Lanka with 11 and dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Adams 3-0-14-1, Styris 9.1-0-30-2, Vettori 10- Minister Vikram Verma has said bi- Pakistan with seven. 4-14-4, Harris 10-2-32-1 Dharmasena during the One-day International Man of the match: Daniel Vettori (NZL) lateral cricket matches between In- New Zealand skipper Stephen match in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Monday. dia and Pakistan were not possible until relations between New Delhi and Islamabad improved consider- ably. “Cricket matches between In- dia and Pakistan appear impossible Australia humiliate Windies again as long as relations do not improve Kingston: Australia humili- game is in St Lucia on between the two countries,” Verma SCOREBOARD ated the West Indies by eight Wednesday. told reporters in Dhar on Sunday wickets to stretch their un- Disgruntled West Indies West Indies: Bowling: McGrath 10-2-31-4 (1 w), Lee evening. PTI beaten One-day Internation- fans were screaming from the C. Gayle c Gilchrist b Bichel 28 7-0-22-2 (2 w), Gillespie 9-0-28-1 (2 w), D. Smith c & b Lee 1 Bichel 5-0-27-2, Hogg 10-3-27-1, Wadekar to return award: For- al run to 19 matches at Sabi- ground long before the end as M. Samuels c Gilchrist b McGrath 6 Symonds 8-0-22-0 (3 w). mer India captain Ajit Wadekar on na Park here on Sunday. the Australians clinically ac- B. Lara c Gilchrist b Bichel 5 Australia: Monday said as a mark of protest he The World Cup champions cumulated the required runs R. Sarwan c Hayden b Gillespie 14 A. Gilchrist c Samuels b Collymore 27 was returning the ‘Maharashtra Gau- bowled out the West Indians and only lost the wickets of R. Powell c McGrath b Hogg 32 M. Hayden c Collymore b Banks 51 rav’ award conferred upon him by O. Banks c Gilchrist b Lee 29 R. Ponting not out 57 for 163 off 49 overs and Adam Gilchrist (27) and C. Baugh b McGrath 29 A. Symonds not out 17 the central government.”The gov- strolled to victory off 35.1 Matthew Hayden (51) along V. Drakes b McGrath 1 Extras: (lb 10, w 3, nb 1) 14 ernment neither intimated me about overs, scoring 166 for two. the way. Ponting maintained M. Dillon not out 3 Total: (For 2 wkts, in 35.1 overs) 166 this award nor asked me for my con- C. Collymore lbw b McGrath 0 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-120 The comprehensive victo- his rich scoring form and sent. Besides, I was not even called Extras: (b 2, lb 4, w 9) 15 Bowling: Dillon 10-1-45-0, Collymore for the award function,” Wadekar ry opened up a 2-0 lead for brought up his 33rd ODI half- Total: (All out, in 49 overs) 163 8.1-1-35-1 (1 nb), Banks 10-0-42-1, Ricky Ponting’s team in the century to remain uncon- Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-21, 3-43, 4-50, 5- Drakes 1-0-6-0, Gayle 6-0-28-0 (2 w). said in Mumbai.”The award was 75, 6-103, 7-157, 8-160, 9-163. Man-of-the-match: Glenn McGrath (Aus). sent to my residence by the govern- seven-game series. The third quered on 57 off 71 balls. AP ment a few days back,” he claimed adding that “in protest against this Lawson ruled out attitude of the government, I am re- Ajit Ninan turning the award”. PTI of ODI series Bangladesh captain fined: The WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ICC fined Bangladesh captain Waqar set for against Australia Khaled Mahmud for his comments Akram is the best fast bowler I have ever played to the media criticising umpires dur- against in the world. His deceptive bouncers Warwickshire Kingston: West Indies fast ing this month’s second Test match were very lethal and because of that Akram bowler Jermaine Lawson against South Africa in the capital, found success so often. Akram will be remem- London: Former Pakistan will miss the remainder of , a cricket official said Mon- bered for ever as one of the all time greats. captain is the One-day International se- day. “The ICC has decided to —Former India captain Krisnamachari set to sign for English ries against Australia be- deduct 50 percent of Mahmud’s county Warwickshire as a match fee following a complaint by Srikkanth cause of a back injury, the replacement for injured West Indies Cricket Board re- match referee of the New Zealand paceman West Indies” informed Mahbub He was a magician with a cricket ball who ported Monday. . Anam, a could do anything with it. I think his strength The 21-year-old Lawson di- A source close to the official AFP was his intelligence. Based on that he developed agnosed with bulging discs the skill that was par excellence. He’d know ex- Pakistani fast bowler in- in the lower back by WICB formed on Monday: Streak shines: Zimbabwe captain actly what to do in different conditions. No other doctor Akshai Mansingh. Heath Streak gave the tourists a bowler has ever come closer to him in this regard “Waqar said the deal would “Jermaine will undergo boost ahead of Thursday’s first Test and if anyone does he has to be real special. be announced tomorrow physiotherapy and rehabili- against England at Lord’s by playing Akram is a true great. (Tuesday).” tation in for a mini- a full-part in the Africans final warm- — Former India captain Waqar, 31, is already in mum of two weeks,” WICB up game. AFP England, where he has chief executive Roger Brath- He was the finest left-arm bowler I faced. He done commentary work for waite said. Beach Volleyball meet: The had a lot of variety, the amount of cricket he satellite broadcaster Sky, Lawson first complained of seventh National Beach Volleyball played in England and Pakistan shows that he and is due to take part in a soreness in his back during Championship will be held at Tuti- was extremely fit. He was also a good captain. celebrity cricket match on corin by the Tuticorin Port Sports the fourth Test against Aus- Pakistan’s performance would have been better behalf of London-based Council from May 22 to 25. PTI tralia, a match in which he than it has been had Akram continued to lead for charity Cancer Research he was their best skipper after Imran Khan. UK next month. was reported by umpires BETTING METER — Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar Bond returned home last David Shepherd and Srini- vas Venkataraghavan for a TENNIS week from New Zealand’s suspect bowling action.Andy Wimbledon women’s singles: Akram was among the most skilful fast tour of Sri Lanka with a S. Williams 8/13 bowlers ever, arguably among the great left-arm- back injury. If he is out of Roberts will work with Law- V. Williams 9/4 ers. On the personal side he was very gentle and action for more than four son on his action once he has K. Clijsters 7/1 humble off the field. On the negative side the Jus- weeks, England and Wales been cleared by doctors to re- J. Henin 25/1 tice Qayyum report on match-fixing was the only sume playing. Roberts, the A. Mauresmo 40/1 Cricket Board (ECB) regu- (as per ladbrokes.com) blot on his record. lations allow a county to former West Indies pacer, — Former Test player Sanjay Manjrekar sign a replacement.AFP will conduct the sessions in Antigua. AP Why India remain behind in race for excellence By Chetan Baboor The table tennis world championships got under way in Paris on deal by associating with this Monday. India are participating too but they are unlikely to create game. It doesn’t cost too much I got my first glimpse of table to fund a player and they will tennis when I a stir. Chetan, who has played in the European League, envisions a get enough publicity if the was a little boy. viable system to transform the game in the country. number of meets is increased. I used to go to They can employ or hire PR the club that nity the play other tourna- enough tournaments. A pro- ments in Europe. INDIAN SPORT fessional league is what we firms to achieve it. The only was next to my problem is lack of funds. For By the time my I could ac- sorely need. Incidentally, TT house in Chen- SLEEPING that they need mileage... Yes, tually do that I was 21. And I used to be very popular in the nai. I could its a vicious cycle. Something thought it was a little too GIANT 80s, during Kamlesh Mehta’s barely reach the table but an like ‘‘can’t swim till I get into late. (I believe the only way reign. It was being played and enthusiastic coach liked my water; won’t get into water till to improve our standing is to ers should play in Europe followed all over the country. commitment and took me I swim...’’ under his wings. By 10, I was send as many players as pos- and go for training camps in But during the mid-90s, it playing in the sub-juniors; sible to Europe. And that too Asian powerhouses. somehow plumetted. The tal- As told to Indraneel Das by 15, I was playing in the before they attain a particu- One more thing is missing ent base dried up; it is now con- Chetan Baboor is the coun- senior nationals. I moved to lar age, before it becomes im- here: professionalism. In our centrated in just a handful of try’s number one paddler. Bangalore when I turned 16. possible to change their country, it just doesn’t pay to pockets. It may be the result of Since the exit of Kamlesh I played my first world style.) It wasn’t easy to find a turn professional. It would a change in our lifestyles. As Mehta, he has been carrying championships in Gothen- club as no Indian had ven- help if our employers become the economy opened up crick- the country’s table tennis burg three years later. It was tured there before me. I had more proactive and have bet- et, tennis and golf have pro- torch. Although he’s ranked a completely new world for to start my career from divi- ter sports programmes that gressed. I still feel TT is one of 80, he can spring a few sur- me; I saw the way the game sion two. It was a long jour- may include better incentives the most popular sports. It is prises. He feels it is still a vi- was treated and handled and ney to graduate into division and give us some security. very easy to play but very dif- brant sport in the country. It I was desperate to shift there. one and then into the pre- They should also make us ac- ficult to master. We must re- will really catch with good There are two reasons for mier league. countable: in many cases, vamp our basic structure so training methods and a prop- that: one, my game was stag- I obviously learnt a lot by players stop playing as soon that it percolates down to the er selection process. They key nating in India (lack of com- playing on the European cir- as they get a job! masses. We need to look to- is giving exposure to the boys petition and constantly fac- cuit. It helped me imbibe the I must add that table tennis wards schools and colleges. If and girls at the right time. ing the same players) and best of the two worlds (Euro- has become better than other we can raise our standards Readers are invited to write in two because it would give me pean and Asian) and, indeed, sports with a substantial in- half our job will be done. their thoughts to good exposure (tough compe- mould it around my crease in prize-money meets. I would like to point out that [email protected]. tition and also the opportu- strengths. Ideally, our play- However, there just aren’t sponsors would benefit a great Or fax at 23323346 or 23324173.

TOID200503/CR1/21/M/1TOID200503/CR1/21/C/1TOID200503/CR1/21/K/1TOID200503/CR1/21/Y/1 CMYK