Johannesburg, Sep 19 (PTI) Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today conceded that his side's fielding standard needs to improve considerably for it to do well at the Champions Trophy starting here from September 22.
"Our fielding standards, compared to the ones we had in Australia in 2007, is now very different. A lot of it has to do because of different conditions in which cricketers come up," Dhoni said in a pre-tournament press conference.
"I, for instance, come from a place where throwing and diving could really hurt. Newer generation of cricketers are much better in sliding and throwing themselves in the field.
National Cricket Academy and all those camps have also helped," he added.
Dhoni said the Indians, who take on New Zealand in their only warm-up game tomorrow, cannot be expected to become the world's best side in matter of days.
"It's not like, we can be world beaters in seven days.
Records don't matter, winning does: Tendulkar
New Delhi: It was the winter of 1989 when a 16-year old Sachin Tendulkar made his debut for India against Pakistan, their fiercest rival. He came armed with an already formidable reputation and began the journey that scaled a summit that a few would imagine was possible.
Twenty years later, Sachin Tendulkar is a legend among his peers and a colossal that history would place on a heady pedestal. He still plays the game with limitless enthusiasm and continues to enchant.
CNN-IBN brings you the man himself, his unmatched success and the hunger that continues to drive him on in Tendulkar@20 in his own words.
CNN-IBN: Are you still as excited as ever to begin a new season of cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar: I am always excited to play cricket. Twenty years ago, it was a similar kind of excitement and today also it's the same. When it's cricket, the heart starts beating faster and it's not just me, but everyone around us. They all are looking forward to the season and so am I.
CNN-IBN: As you said, as the season starts, the heart starts beating faster but now you must know how to deal with the positive nervous energy in a much better way than when you were 16.
Sachin Tendulkar: Initially, I didn't realise this but as time went by I came to know that this is how my body gears up before a big game. I am a little restless and that's how my body is preparing and my subconscious mind is getting ready for the event. Now I am used to it. So I like it when I am a little restless. I'm comfortable with it.
CNN-IBN: Have you redefined the word genius? In two months time, you will become the second cricketer to complete two decades in international cricket. How do you look back at this entire journey?
Sachin Tendulkar: It's been a fantastic journey. I thoroughly enjoyed it and every moment has been a special one. Playing for India means the world to me. I grew up dreaming about playing for India and I am living my dream. It's almost going to be 20 years now.
I am thankful to God that I have been given the opportunity to play for the country for such a long period. I have been fortunate because so many people dream of playing for the nation and I have been doing it for a couple of decades. So I am quite happy about it.
CNN-IBN: You have broken almost all records a batsman can. So now what motivates you personally, apart from the team goals like winning a World Cup for India? Do you aspire to get 15, 000 runs or hundred centuries?
Sachin Tendulkar: First of all, when you play for India, you do not need any external factor to motivate you. When you play for India, you are motivated from within. I don't think anybody plays for the records. Records are just mere reflection of what I have been able to do for the country. It's just my contribution.
While playing, if records are broken, it's great. But what we look to do is go step by step towards achieving the team's target. And while achieving that the various things that happen are always welcomed. The most important thing is the team's glory and that's what we all focus on.
CNN-IBN: But someone as Roger Federer aims to have this many grand slam titles. Do you see yourself achieving 15, 000 runs? Is it something you are looking to achieve?
Sachin Tendulkar: I have never said I want to score 15,000 runs. When I achieved 10,000 runs Sunil Gavaskar said to me that I should achieve 15,000. And that was what I was asked and I answered that if my hero tells me to do something, I have to put a big effort to do that. And that is where it ended.
It was projected differently. I have never made such big statements. I would like to enjoy the game. And if it has to happen, it will happen.
The only target that I can say I was given was 35 Test hundreds because we grew up watching Sunil Gavaskar and every now and then his examples were used. And if you wanted to be regarded as one of the greatest players, then you have to get to 34 hundreds and go past that. That was the target. I am quite happy because Gavaskar played a role in motivating all of us and left such a legacy that the next generation got inspired by what he did. And in every step in our cricketing life, we have used his example.
CNN-IBN: Gavaskar was a hero for you, Rahul and Sourav. But now you are the hero for the next generation. Piyush Chawla was born in the same year you made your debut. So what do you think you have given to the art of Indian batting?
Sachin Tendulkar: I don't know. I guess I am the wrong person to ask this question. I have just gone ahead and expressed myself. I have just played the game I know and I have been taught. And if the kids watching me got inspired then I think it's for them to answer this question. You can ask them what were the qualities they liked and what were the factors that motivated them.
For me I can say that winning the 1983 World Cup was a huge thing and again the victory in Australia in 1985 when Ravi Shastri became the champion of the champions played a huge role in motivating me and making me feel that one day I have to be a part of this team. So I will leave the question you asked for the youngsters to answer.
CNN-IBN: Do you think you brought a Viv Richards style batting to India, one which is aggressive?
Sachin Tendulkar: My two batting heroes have always been Gavaskar and Viv Richards and I have always felt that I should be a mixture of both. When it comes to attacking, I should be able to play shots like Richards and when it comes to concentration, mental toughness, determination and guts, I should be Gavaskar. I grew up watching them and wanted to play like them. And also, achieve what they have been able to for their countries.
CNN-IBN: Sir Don Bradman said you bat like him. That's not a small compliment. Do you feel there is any young cricketer who plays like you?
Sachin Tendulkar: The statement from Sir Don was a huge thing for me. I remember I was in Sharjah and I was told that this is what Sir Don said about you and I was on top of the world. I was extremely happy and I didn't know how to react. Then I got the opportunity to meet him on his 90th birthday. I spent an hour with me, which is always going to be the highlight of my life.
If I have to describe somebody who comes closest to my batting style, it has to be Virender Sehwag. Even at home, people get confused as to who is batting because the attire is almost the same after he started wearing those leg-guards.
CNN-IBN: There is a massive book coming on you called the Sachin Tendulkar opus. Now when we saw the list institutes on which the books have been written. It's Manchester United, Wimbledon, Formula One, Maradona and Mohammad Ali. Where do you see your name on that list?
Sachin Tendulkar: I see myself somewhere there. It's a huge book. I have got Mohammad Ali's book at home. It weighs 35 kilos and is a pictorial book. It's like watching a movie with some exclusive pictures and you won't get to see anywhere else. And I can vouch for that because I have seen couple of Mohammad Ali's pictures in that book that I have not seen anywhere else.
It's very exclusive and the moment I saw the copy, I said that yes I will do it because this is something exciting and special. I have never seen anything like this before. Can you imagine a book weighing 35 kilos? It's something unique.
One foot in the World Group
New Delhi: Before the World Group playoff between South Africa and India got underway, the home team’s top-ranked South African, Rik de Voest, decided to begin the early mind games with a comment on the togetherness of his squad, even going on to compare it with that of the Indians, who arrived in Johannesburg in batches. After being soundly defeated by India’s No 2 player Rohan Bopanna on Friday, though, the 29-year-old’s crestfallen expression made it clear he wouldn’t have much to say for a while as India put the finishing touches on a 2-0 lead.
After Somdev Devvarman gave the visitors a perfect start with a 7-6 (5) 6-3 6-4 defeat of Izak van der Merwe, Bopanna came back from a first-set capitulation to beat de Voest 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-4, celebrating with a roar and a jump as the rest of the Indian contingent reached over to congratulate him.
“I told Rohan that I have full confidence in him, and he repaid my faith in him. The first set was a washout, but I told him to hang on till he gets his bearing,” a delighted SP Mishra, the team’s non-playing captain, told The Indian Express from Johannesburg. “Compared to when they play on tour, Indians move up to another level when it comes to Davis Cup, they rise to the occasion. Both Somdev and Rohan played very well, and it was a great performance. But no celebrations today, we’re taking it day by day, the doubles is next and it will be tough too,” he added.
Bhullar-Randhawa shootout for DLF Masters
GURGAON: It may well be one of best match-ups the Aircel professional golf Tour has seen when Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jyoti Randhawa walk out in Bhullar the final grouping on the last day of the Rs.8 million DLF Masters at the DLF golf and Country Club on Sunday.
Bhullar, unbeaten in his last four starts on the Indian Tour, is at 11-under 205 after a round of three-under 69, and one shot behind him is Randhawa (67), unbeaten in his last five starts on the Indian Tour. Given such an amazing record between the two, it remains to be seen whose streak will finally come to an end Sunday afternoon.
Behind Bhullar and Randhawa Saturday were Shamim Khan and Digvijay Singh at eight-under 208, while Toran Bikram Shahi (68) shared the fifth place at six-under 210 with Ashok Kumar (71), who had a bad patch with a double bogey and a bogey on 14th and 15th.
S.S.P. Chowrasia (71) and Yusuf Ali (67) were at five-under in tied seventh. Anirban Lahiri (71) and Rahil Gangjee were ninth and 10th, while Shiv Kapur ((72) was tied 12th with six others, including C. Muniyappa (69) at one-under.
"I am not going to put any pressure on myself in the final round. I hit some really good approach shots today. But my overall performance was not as good as yesterday. I'm quite disappointed about missing some short putts.
"Jyoti had a great round considering the pin positions were very tough today. I'm now looking forward to an interesting contest on the final day," said Bhullar.
Randhawa on his part said: "This has been a good week to build back my confidence. I played well on the front nine and it was going fine till the 12th, where I went out of bounds and made a double (bogey). The back nine was up and down. Still I think I played fine. It is great for Indian golf that Gaganjeet and I go out together in the final round."
Bhullar returned a 69 in the third round to lead by one from Randhawa. Shamim and Digvijay are tied for third at eight under 208.
Bhullar took time to settle down in the third round. He was one over after six holes, having missed a short putt for par on the fifth. He then picked up three birdies on the seventh, ninth and 11th to turn the heat on Randhawa, who had grabbed the lead by then.
The Kapurthala lad, who has won once and finished second three times on Asian Tour this year, made bogey on the 12th but came roaring back with great approach shots on the 13th and 15th to grab two invaluable birdies. On the 13th his lob wedge approach came up six feet short of the cup and on the 15th he had a similar result with his approach shot from the right rough. He closed with a bogey-birdie on the last two holes to snatch the lead from Randhawa.
Randhawa came out firing on all cylinders Saturday as he birdied the third, fourth, fifth and seventh to make the turn at four under. He then went past Bhullar and Shamim and took the lead with an incredible eagle-birdie run on the 10th and 11th. On the par four 10th, Randhawa used his pitching wedge to great effect from the right rough. He holed the shot from 125 yards out.
The former Asia no. 1 then stumbled with a double bogey on the 12th as a result of his tee shot going out of bounds. A birdie followed on the 13th before an ordinary approach shot on the 15th led to another bogey. He thus conceded the lead to Bhullar at the end of the day.
WC cancelled due to quota issue
NEW DELHI: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Friday denied that it had decided against hosting the World Cup in March 2010 due to "infrastructural delay" at the Karni Singh shooting ranges here.
The NRAI said that the event had to be scrapped as it did not offer qualifying berths for the 2012 London Olympics. This explanation came a day after NRAI secretary Baljit Singh Sethi had reportedly linked the decision to lack of preparedness at the ranges.
"We would like to clarify that this has been done purely on the basis of withdrawal of the quota place from the World Cups by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has decided that there will not be any quota place during World Cups being conducted during the year 2010," Sethi said on Friday.
"We were under the impression that 10 spots would be on offer in the event. When that was not on, we had to cancel it. But
I have never linked the cancellation decision to the pace of construction," Sethi
Senior officials of NRAI said that the world body’s (ISSF) fresh guidelines would have resulted in top shooters staying away from the World Cup. "We had been hoping for home advantage to get some quota places. But why waste resources when we are not going to get anything?" said NRAI official Rajiv Bhatia.
To prove their point, NRAI mailed the letters exchanged between the federation and ISSF over the issue. The ISSF website also gave the Olympic quota place as the reason behind cancellation. It said the first quota places event will be the World Championships in Munich in July next year.
The NRAI secretary said that work at the Karni Singh ranges was on track to host the Commonwealth Championships in February and there’s no threat to the event. He also said that the NRAI has also requested the world body to allot them a World Cup in 2011.
Meanwhile, sports ministry sources said things were heading in the right direction at the ranges. "It’s ridiculous. Pace of construction can’t be the reason for the cancellation. Construction is going on in full force. Equipment for the 50m, 25m and 10m events is already here and will be fitted in by October end. The trap and skeet machines provided by Laporte will be installed soon after," ministry sources said.
"Both the Sports Authority of India and CPWD have given assurance that the range would be ready by Dec 31, 2009. To help our shooters get used to the home conditions, we will allow them to practise there from mid-November," they added.
Sources said the machines were airlifted by Siusascor just to ensure that things were in place in time."We will not wait for the civil work to get over. The equipment will be fitted simultaneously."
Flavio Briatore faces threat of legal action from Nelson Piquet Sr
Friday 18 September 2009 23.34 BST:Monday's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council is unlikely to draw a line under the Formula One race-fixing scandal. Nelson Piquet Sr yesterday threatened legal action against the departed Renault managing director, Flavio Briatore, to release his son from his contract.
Despite Piquet Jr's assertion that Briatore asked him to crash at last year's Singapore grand prix, in order to improve Fernando Alonso's chances of victory, it has emerged that the Brazilian remains contracted to the Italian for 15 years and is obliged to hand over 20% of all future earnings. Briatore, along with the former Renault executive director of engineer-ing, Pat Symonds, left the team on Wed-nesday when Renault said they would not contest the allegations at Monday's hearing.
Piquet Sr said he was waiting for the FIA's verdict before deciding whether to take further action against Briatore.
"I could not talk to other team members about it [the contract] because Nelsinho was working for Flavio and his management has a contract with the team," Piquet Sr told Auto Motor und Sport in Germany. "Now I finally have something – contract violation – to put pressure on Flavio. If the FIA world council confirms the case, I will have a hold for going to court."
The three-time world champion also challenged Briatore to follow through on his threat of legal action over claims that Piquet Jr attempted to blackmail Briatore and the team into keeping him as a driver. He said: "Just go ahead. I have enough money to afford the best lawyers. And what is he going to trial for? Does he want to put the truth on trial?"
The status of the legal claim, launched by Briatore and Renault in the hope of receiving a more sympathetic hearing from the FIA, is unclear. The Piquets are not believed to have received any legal papers and the Metropolitan Police, which Briatore and Renault said they would contact, has no record of any complaint.
After being sacked from Renault and going to the FIA with his claims in July, Piquet Jr last month issued a statement. "I always believed that having a manager was being a part of a team and having a partner," he said. "A manager is supposed to encourage you, support you and provide you with opportunities. In my case it was the opposite. Flavio Briatore was my executioner."
Piquet Sr, who first blew the whistle on the saga to the FIA, said: "At a certain point people like Flavio have so much power they believe they can walk on water. He obviously thought, even though there was lots of proof, no one could catch him."
Briatore and Symonds will not be at Monday's hearing. As they have left Renault the FIA, which licenses teams and drivers but not other individuals, has no power to sanction them. Piquet Jr was offered immunity in return for his co-operation.
