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CRICKET
Indian batsmen practice with
synthetic balls
 JAN
11: Indian batsmen practiced at the Pakistan National Cricket Academy near the
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore with synthetic plastic balls bounced at them from
short distance on concrete pitches.
The Indian team practiced in similar fashion at home before reaching Pakistan to
get used to the thunderbolts of the strong Pakistan pace attack led by Shoaib
Akhtar and Mohd Sami, Virender Sehwag, the vice-captain revealed to PTI.
The team also utilized the services of the bowling machine at the well-equipped
venue under the watchful eyes of coach Greg Chappell and the other support staff
of the team. All the 16 players were at the practice venue.
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CRICKET
India may opt for
experienced Ganguly
 Lahore,
Jan 11: The possible recall of former India captain Saurav Ganguly for the first
test against Pakistan has overshadowed the normal diplomatic ramifications of
clashes between the two countries.
Frequent meetings between the two teams over the last two years have gradually
shifted the emphasis from political to cricketing matters and Ganguly's future
is the hottest of those topics ahead of the Friday's start to the Lahore test.
Ganguly, a veteran of 86 tests, led India to victory in Pakistan in 2004 --
their first series triumph away from home in 11 years -- making him India's most
successful test captain.
After being dropped in the test series against Sri Lanka late last year, a
decision that was met with protests in his home city of Kolkata, Ganguly was
recalled to the India squad for the three-test Pakistan tour.
But he faces stiff competition from youngsters Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Jaffer and
Yuvraj Singh for a place in the starting lineup.
All three scored half centuries in India's only practice game before the test,
which 33-year-old Ganguly missed as he was asked to play in a domestic game in
which he scored two half centuries.
Captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell might be forced to consider Ganguly
because in the hothouse of a test against Pakistan, experience is often given
preference over talent.
"Due to frequent cricket exchanges the people have learnt to cope with victory
and defeat," Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq told foreign media on Wednesday.
"But the pressure still remains there in some form or the other on the players
and this series is also about who copes best with the pressure on and off the
field."
Inzamam, 35, should know because he was captain when India won in Pakistan two
years ago.
He got a measure of revenge by leading Pakistan to a drawn test series and
clinching the one-day rubber 4-2 last year in India, a series that paved the way
for the Indian selectors to sack Ganguly as captain.
Inzamam's presence as captain and his outstanding form with the bat -- he scored
431 test runs in Pakistan's 2-0 win over England recently -- could give Pakistan
the edge despite the strong Indian batting line-up.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan,
Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Rana
Naved, Danish Kaneria, Imran Farhat, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Arshad Khan.
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir,
Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh
Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Anil Kumble,
Harbhajan Singh and Parthiv Patel.
Related stories:
 Cricket blackout in India
Ganguly on Ganguly
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CRICKET
Team India Overwhelmed by Imran's Cancer Hospital
 JAN 11 -
India's cricket team met patients and handed out sweets at
former Pakistan captain Imran Khan's cancer hospital in
Lahore on the
Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha Wednesday.
Imran set up the Shaukat Khanum memorial hospital in memory
of his mother after she died of cancer.
He was himself was present to receive the team led by their
skipper Rahul Dravid,, which spent about an hour with the
cancer patients being treated there.
"It was a great
gesture from the Indian team and a great boost for my
hospital, staff and, above all, to the patients of the
hospital," Khan told reporters.
''I remember in 1989, when we laid the foundation stone of
this hospital, the Indian team had come here,'' said an
overwhelmed Imran who then went on to wish the team.
It is Pakistan's largest charitable organization and spends
approximately $12 million annually for treating poor
patients.
''I wish you all a very enjoyable -- but not successful --
stay here in Pakistan,'' he quipped.
On his part, Sachin Tendulkar felt that it was an
unforgettable experience for him.
''I wished a kid good health and speedy recovery and he told
me 'my life is in your hands. Only your prayers and wishes
will help me recover'. It's only when you get to hear such
things that you are brought face to face with some harsh
realities of life,'' said Tendulkar.
Captain Rahul Dravid, who turned 33 today, described the
visit as a touching moment. He was presented with a crystal
ball as memento by Imran.
''It was good that on this auspicious day of 'Id-ul-Doha',
we paid a visit to the cancer hospital. It's a good
state-of-the art hospital and I was very impressed,'' he
said.
Coach Greg Chappell said that it was a very humbling
experience while Anil Kumble said that Imran was indeed
doing a great service to humanity.
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CRICKET
Cricket blackout in India
JAN 10 - Doordarshan viewers may not be able to watch the live
telecast of India-Pakistan series starting this Friday.
The
radio waves might not get any bit of the series either. That
leaves an estimated 40 crore-radio listeners without any idea of
what the score will be.
Ten Sports which had bought the telecast
rights of the event from the Pakistan Cricket Board, has
however, agreed to give Doordarshan 90 minutes of TV highlights
each day. Dubai-based ARY Digital holds the radio rights to the
cricket matches.
They want $200,000 for broadcasting rights. All
India Radio has offered $80,000.
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CRICKET
I have a little cough but
- Inzi
 JAN
10: Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has scotched speculation that he was a doubtful
starter for Friday's first cricket Test against India due to high fever.
Not me but the entire country is in cricket fever. The Indian cricket team is in
Pakistan and with them here, my fever has no value," Pakistan captain Inzamam
said in a lighter vein when asked about news reports that he was down with
fever, reported PTI on Tuesday.
"I have a little cough but it is certainly not an illness that would keep me
away from the Test. The weather here is chilly and you catch cough if you do not
protect yourself properly. But I don't think any cricketer would miss any Test
because of cough," he said.
Inzamam said his team's training camp would break for Eid-ul-Azha on Tuesday
evening but the players would reassemble on Thursday morning.
"My concern is that with this two-day break, the boys might lose focus. We have
concentrated and stayed focused during the training camp and this break can
easily distract you because of the nature of the occasion.
"I thought to cancel the holidays but then allowed them to proceed for a couple
of days because this occasion comes only once in a year and although the players
would hardly get a chance to celebrate it, they would still have the
satisfaction of being with their families," Inzamam said.
Asked candidly what he would have done had the first Test been in Karachi and
training camp was in progress here, he said, "I would not have terminated the
camp and stayed back in Karachi to attend the camp. As a captain, you need to
lead by example".
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CRICKET
Pak squad for first Test
against India named
JAN 09 - Pakistan Cricket Board has announced 15-member squad for
the first Test against India from January 13 in Lahore.
Team: Inzamam-ul-Haq (Capt.), Shoaib Malik, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Mohammed
Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar,
Mohammed Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan and Mohammed
Asif.
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CRICKET
Ganguly on Ganguly
 JAN
08 - Dona Ganguly, wife of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, has offered a
rare insight into her husband’s mindset on the recent controversies: "This whole
Greg (Chappell)-Sourav saga has left him shattered but he never shows it."
For his part, Ganguly said, "There is no problem and he [Chappell] has told
Sharad Pawar that he has no problem with me. I have read a lot in the newspapers
about the whole issue, but apart from the email that Chappell sent to the board,
the rest is mere speculation and I would not like to believe it."
He was the centre of attraction for the
television cameras and photographers when he arrived at the Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground
in Lahore on Sunday.
"I am still
good enough to give Indian cricket something back. I will be back in the Indian
one-day squad and I will play in the 2007 World Cup." he added.
Looking ahead on his career, he said, "I don’t have to prove to the world I can
play. I will go out and give it my best shot. I am confident I will succeed. But
even if I don’t it won’t be the end of my life... I’m not an insecure man. I am
not dependent on cricket for my life. If I fail I will think of something else."
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HOWZZAT!
HUM HAIN DONO BHAI BHAI...Look-alike fans of India's Sachin Tendulkar,
left, and Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar display the victory signs
during the third day of the third cricket test match between
India and Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, Dec. 20. (AP
Photo) |
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Top
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