Kapil Dev came down heavily on the BCCI for sacking bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh.
Former India captain on Monday said that the duo were sacked without looking into the good work they had done for the team.
Grab the espnstar.com cricket widget on your favourite social network
Kapil said both Prasad and Robin were doing a good job for the team and if they were sacked for the poor performance of the team then the manager should also have been held responsible.
"Both of them (Prasad and Robin) have done a good job for the team. The Board should have removed manager of the team also holding him responsible for poor performance of the team in Champions Trophy," Kapil told PTI.
"The basis of removal from the post should be on performance criteria. Why there should be a sword hanging over those who are giving good result?" he asked.
He said Australia were no doubt the better side in the first one-dayer in Vadodara.
"I think the team which performed better won the match and the Australians were the better side that is why they won in Vadodara," he said.
"The team needs to concentrate in each department of the game to win the seven one-day series against Australia and emerge as a force to reckon with," he added.
Wasim's Akram wife Huma buried
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram's wife Huma, who passed away at a Chennai hospital, was laid to rest.
Body of Huma, 42, who breathed her last at the Apollo Hospital in India, was flown back to Pakistan, where Akram's former team-mates Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ijaz Ahmed, Moin Khan and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt joined the mourning.
Huma was hospitalised on October 20 after her condition deteriorated, when an air ambulance flying her to Singapore from Lahore halted at the Chennai airport for a scheduled refuelling.
She was put on ventilator support after multiple organ failure and her condition had remained critical since her admission.
Besides Akram, Huma is also survived by two sons - Akbar and Taimur.
Dhoni all praise for Ishant
Ishant Sharma has come in for praise from skipper MS Dhoni after his impressive performance in the first ODI in Vodadara.
India pacer Ishant Sharma has struggled for form since his fine show in Australia last year.
Dhoni felt the Delhi youngster's performance against Australia in the opening ODI on Sunday was an indication that he was on his way back to form.
Grab the espnstar.com cricket widget on your favourite social network
"I thought Ishant bowled really well and hit right areas. If he is bowling well his speed automatically goes up. That's when you know he's bowling in right rhythm and is in the right frame of mind," Dhoni remarked after the match.
Ishant returned with figures of 3 for 50 in 10 overs and seemed to hit the deck hard and looked in good rhythm after a couple of overs in his first spell. He was spanked for a few fours in his second spell before settling down again. He accounted for Tim Paine in his first spell and returned in slog overs to dismiss Mike Hussey and Brett Lee.
Dhoni said the gangling fast bowler was a bit low on confidence since it was difficult for the youngster to face failure after tasting success at such a young age.
But, Dhoni also pointed out that Ishant needed support from everyone and that's what his teammates in the Indian squad were doing to help him come out of the rut.
"He's a bit low on confidence and that happens when you are 21 and have always seen success. So it's difficult to deal with failure. When somebody is not doing well, we as friends and teammates want to back him," he said.
Rafa: Carra is not done yet!
Benitez revealed he was determined to keep faith with his players and Carragher.
The 31-year-old has come in for severe criticism this season as Liverpool have struggled, but he produced a man-of-the-match display of defiant defending in yesterday's 2-0 home win over Manchester United.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson maintained Carragher should have been sent off for dragging down Michael Owen, but the Old Trafford chief also conceded Carragher was Liverpool's best defender, by far.
Benitez said: "Jamie played well. He had been having a difficult time but the only thing to do in such a situation is to try again and try again.
"It was only a question of keeping working hard, and he proved that he is a good centre-back and not at the end of his career just yet.
"He showed what a good defender he still is and (collectively) we have shown that we are not a bad team, not a bad squad. Maybe next April people will again judge us but at this moment we have enough quality.
"We have had five players injured, all at once. But when we are all fit we are difficult for anyone to beat.
On his own position, Benitez maintained: "I have not been reading the papers, or listening to anything. I was only trying to keep focused, and the players the same.
"We knew we were not that bad. We had won six on the trot before this run of four defeats, and we got 86 points last season. We are not as bad as people were saying."
Benitez kept faith with his squad, and continued: "The players responded to the messages they had been given. It was simple, keep training the same way, keep working hard and things will change.
"In football you can talk a lot but if you do not work hard you will not change anything.
"We worked hard on lots of things, but the main thing was that everyone was together, the team, the fans, the staff. The attitude was fantastic, and you can see that we can beat anyone.
"This was the perfect answer, the perfect response because we were not winning.
"Against a good team you have to perform really well and be focused to achieve what you want. All the players wanted to impress, that was the difference.
"It was a result that will please a lot of people, maybe not United. But I have been saying all season that the top sides will lose more points that you would expect, that will make the title race more open.
"This is the proof. I was determined to keep my confidence, to keep my faith in my players."
French striker David Ngog also had cause to be pleased with the way he coolly took his injury-time goal that ended any hope United had of saving a point.
Ngog had been criticised for missing an excellent opportunity that would have put Liverpool 2-0 ahead in the Champions League defeat by Lyon last week.
But the 20-year-old made no mistake yesterday and said: "It was a fantastic moment for me and the team and I would say it's my best moment in football.
"I have always dreamed of scoring a goal for Liverpool against Manchester United and now it has happened and it is a really good feeling.
"I dedicated the goal to my family who always support me, and to the fans because I know how much the victory meant to them.
"I also give thanks to my team-mates and the manager for always showing faith in me."
Barnsley vs Man United Preview
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will again ring the changes for the Carling Cup match against Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday.
Promising striker Danny Welbeck could be given a run-out after getting the goal that brought down Wolves in the last round. Midfielder Darren Fletcher might also feature if he recovers from a groin injury that ruled him out of the defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
Senior professionals like Michael Owen, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Wes Brown are all set to be involved against the Coca-Cola Championship side, managed by former Old Trafford striker Mark Robins.
Barnsley will be without on-loan trio Ryan Shotton, Carl Dickinson and Nathan Doyle plus striker Andy Gray.
Stoke defenders Shotton and Dickinson and Hull midfielder Doyle have all played for their parent clubs earlier in the competition while Gray played for Charlton in the first round before his move to Barnsley in late August.
Otherwise, manager Mark Robins has a full-strength squad to choose from, with no new injury problems following Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Bristol City.
Robins must decide whether to recall Brazilian midfielder Anderson De Silva and the rested Jon Macken to his starting line-up while fellow striker Daniel Bogdanovic was on the scoresheet on Saturday.
Barnsley won at Lincoln and Reading in rounds one and two respectively and beat Burnley 3-2 at Oakwell in the third round to book a fourth-round clash with Robins' former club.
Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Foster, De Laet, Neville, Brown, J Evans, Dudgeon, Fabio, Rafael, Tosic, Gibson, C Evans, Eikrem, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Valencia, Nani, Owen, Welbeck, Macheda, King.
Golfers to watch at Singapore Open
While the golfers arrive for the prestigious Barclays Singapore Open, we take a look at the players to watch at Serapong course.
By Eugene YS Han
Phil Mickelson
World Ranking: 2
Why: The affable Mickelson is a popular man wherever he goes and it's no different in Singapore. It helps a little that you are the world number two and the top seed at the Barclays Singapore Open. Mickelson reclaimed the number two spot after beating Tiger Wooods at the TOUR Championships in September.
Chances: Lefty is expected to do well on his third appearance at Sentosa Golf Club if he conquers the tropical heat. After finishing ninth last year, Mickelson will be hoping to improve and perhaps be in the final group on Sunday.
Padriag Harrington
World Ranking: 6
Why: Harrington's form may be patchy this year. He reached a new low when he missed the cut in eight tournaments this year including the US Open. But as they say, beware of the wounded, erm ... tiger. Harrington, when the three-time champion is in his element, is still considered a major force.
Chances: Padriag Harrington's form has dipped alarmingly since his last win in the PGA Championship in 2008. His form seemed to have recovered in August this year after he finished second in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational behind Tiger Woods. Since then, he has had one more second place finish and he came in third at last week's Portugal Masters. Still without a win in 2009, you can be sure that the Irishman will be fired up to win his first tournament of the year in Singapore where he finished runner-up last year to Jeev Milkha Singh.
Ernie Els
World Ranking: 22
Why: A perennial fans' favourite in Singapore where perhaps his reputation precedes him a little. Els is a two-time US Open winner ('94, '97) and also won the Open Championship in 2002.
Chances: Ranked 22 in the world, the South African has gone close on two occasions in Singapore: Losing a playoff to Adam Scott in 2006 and finishing third last year. He will be hoping it will be third time lucky this year and go on and lift the trophy at the Serapong Course.
KJ Choi
World Rankings: 73
Why: The leading Asian player on the world circuit and the favourite to be the first Asian to win a major until a certain YE Yang upstaged him. He is the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card in 1999 and is considered a trailblazer for Asians on the international stage. Choi, who has won seven PGA titles, also commands a strong following in Asia.
Chances: Choi ended an 18-month title drought after his victory at the Johor Open last week. Now buoyed with confidence, the 39-year-old will be aiming to continue his winning momentum into Singapore.
Adam Scott
World Ranking: 76
Why: The 29-year-old Australian is a two-time Barclays Singapore Open champion and has been heralded as the heir of Greg ‘The Shark' Norman. He also has the looks of a super model (and has a girlfriend with super model looks too).
Chances: Once ranked as high as third in the world in 2007, Scott has seen his form and rankings drop. Now ranked a lowly 76th in the world and his last tournament win came on 27 April 2008 in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Last year he crashed out of this event after missing the cut by three shots. But Scott's still a sentimental favourite in the Lion City and will have his die-hard fans in close support but will do well with a top five finish.
Chapchai Nirat
World Rankings: 231
Why: One of more easily recognised Thai golfer on the Asian Tour circuit, he has the booming strokes to go with his booming frame. Chapchai was commended by Phil Mickelson after his faultless displays in the Singapore Open last year.
Chances: Chapchai wowed Asian fans after he led an impressive field by three strokes on the final day last year. Chapchai, nicknamed "King Kong" by his fellow pros, seemed to be weighed down by king-sized expectations and eventually collapsed to finish seventh. He has vowed not to buckle under pressure a second time when he is in contention for the title this year.
Wanted: A big name to win S'pore Open
The prestigious Barclays Singapore Open 2009 needs a big name golfer to win it, Eugene YS Han explains why.
Sorry KJ Choi. Apologies to Gaganjeet Bhullar. And pardon me Lam Chih Bing, but my money is on either Phil Mickelson or Padriag Harrington to lift the Singapore Open trophy come Sunday.
Why? Because Asia's richest nation Open - US$5 million to be exact - needs a marquee name to lift the coveted trophy. In one of the most unexpected golf seasons ever, all the majors this year have been won by the unknowns, the unexpected and quite frankly the unheralded.
Hence we desperately need a big name golfer to lift this trophy come November 1. A high-profile last day final pairing of Mickelson and Harrington will definitely pull in the crowds and create the most dramatic finale to this tournament - ala the famous ‘Duel in the Sun'. Mind you considering the present Singapore conditions, it will literally be a duel in the baking sun.
If Mickelson can conquer the infamous heat or if Harrington can overcome his current slump in form, perhaps we'll see a famous AND top-ranked player lifting the trophy.
Mickelson now plays in selective tournaments because of his family's much-documented health problems. I'm sure he'll be doubly determined to make sure every trip he makes, every tournament he participates in, is worth the trouble and worth the precious time away from his family.
If Lefty wins, it would be his first victory on South East Asia soil. It would be Paddy's first in Asia if the Irishman wins. Either way, it will be a great advert for the Singapore Open. This way it'll not only increase the profile of this tournament, it'll also attract even more, high-ranking players for the next few installments.
It's not a slight to the rest of the field. It's not a blatant attempt to please the sponsor or the paying public. It's just a personal wish to see a global star finally win in Singapore.
Baghdatis wins Stockholm title
Marcos Baghdatis won his first ATP Tour title since February 2007 when he defeated Olivier Rochus to win the If Stockholm Open final.
The Cypriot hit 15 aces and won 62% of service points to defeat his Belgian opponent 6-1 7-5 in one hour and 39 minutes.
It was Baghdatis' first title since the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in February 2007.
Jackson stars in Philadelphia win
DeSean Jackson ran for a 67-yard touchdown before completing a 57-yard catch to lead the Eagles to a comfortable 27-17 win over the Redskins.
The Eagles scored all of their points in a dominant opening half and newly-acquired linebacker Will Witherspoon returned an interception nine yards to ensure the visitors went into the break 27-10 ahead.
Jackson's 57-yard catch marked a milestone for quarterback Donovan McNabb as his 200th career touchdown pass, while the veteran also surpassed 30,000 career passing yards during the game.
The Redskins never threatened to overhaul the deficit in the second half as their faltering offence again failed to fire. Quarterback Jason Campbell threw four interceptions and was sacked six times - twice by defensive end Trent Cole.
Washington did get some consolation when Campbell passed for Fred Davis in the final two minutes, but a bad night for the hosts got worse after it was later confirmed tight end Chris Cooley, who had gone off with an ankle injury in the opening half, will miss the remainder of the season.
The Eagles also lost Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook before half-time when he suffered a heavy blow to the head and did not get up for several minutes.
But the Pro Bowl running back was able to walk to the locker room and, after the half-time break, watched his team wrap up a win that improves their a season record of 4-2.
The Redskins remain at the foot of the NFC East with a 2-5 win-loss record.
No comments:
Post a Comment