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T20 World Cup 2014 schedule

2013-12-10T23:54:00.000-08:00

T20 World Cup 2014 Schedule

Taylor makes Windies pay

2013-12-10T23:33:00.000-08:00

A fine hundred by Ross Taylor and poor catching by the West Indians helped New Zealand end Day 1 of the second Test at an advantageous position. Dropped when he was on nought, Taylor capitalized by scoring 129 and he was involved in fifty plus stands with Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson as the Black-Caps ended the opening day at 307/6.

It was an eventful first session which included two wickets, a couple of dropped catches and two reviews that went in favour of New Zealand after West Indies had opted to bowl. The Hot-Spot and Snicko came to the aid of Peter Fulton after the first ball of the game. Umpire Paul Reiffel had ruled a leg-before decision in favour of Tino Best only for him to reverse it after replays showed that the batsman had got an inside edge. Hamish Rutherford, who struck a couple of boundaries off Best, had a life-line when he was put down by Darren Sammy at second slip, denying Shannon Gabriel a wicket.

The Windies skipper somewhat made up for the slip-up by getting Fulton (6) to edge one to Denesh Ramdin. Soon, New Zealand suffered another setback as Rutherford nicked Best to the keeper to depart on 11. Best could have had another one had it not been for Kirk Edwards, who put down a simple chance at third slip to give Taylor a reprieve. West Indies also wasted a review when Sammy, who rapped Taylor on the pads, ended up disappointed as replays clearly denoted that the ball was going down.

While they were posing a few questions to the New Zealand batsmen, the Caribbean pacers also erred in their line and length and were made to pay by Taylor and Kane Williamson, who hit the first six of the match. Apart from the boundaries, the 3rd-wicket-pair also rotated the strike well as they brought up the fifty-run stand in quick time and remained unbeaten at Lunch.

Williamson, who returned to the New Zealand line-up after missing the Dunedin Test with a thumb injury, was slightly watchful in the morning session. The right-hander though looked a lot more confident in the post-lunch session, finding the fence regularly to help New Zealand past the 100-run mark. However, an attempt to poke at a Best delivery out-side off resulted in an outside edge, that was snapped up by Sammy at second slip and Williamson's outing came to an end 5 short of a fifty.

The West Indian quicks were working up some good pace and tested the Black-Caps with a few short deliveries. Taylor, who took a blow to his rib, managed to keep going as he went on to bring up a well-compiled fifty. He got good support from Brendon McCullum, who had no problems in finding the boundaries as they brought up a half-century stand to keep the scorecard ticking.

Just when New Zealand were getting to a position of strength, they had another setback as part-timer Narsingh Deonarine accounted for McCullum soon after Tea. The New Zealand skipper was caught in two minds and ended up lobbing a simple catch to Edwards at short mid-wicket to depart on 37. Taylor, meanwhile, continued untroubled and he started building a partnership with Corey Anderson. The former Black-Caps skipper was involved in his third fifty plus stand of the innings to help New Zealand forward.

Anderson was slow to start off with before he decided to take the attack to the spinners. A couple of big hits too came off his bat as New Zealand, who maintained a healthy scoring-rate, went past 250. However, Anderson too fell in a tame manner after getting to a good start. The left-hander, trying to go for a sweep, got a bottom edge and was held by Kieran Powell at silly point. While the umpire turned down the appeal, a review confirmed that West Indies were right and the New Zealand No.6 had to head back on 38.

Taylor, who registered a double ton in the first Test, went on to bring up his 10th Test hundred to become the first New Zealand batsman to score a double ton and a ton in consecutive games. The right-hander, who got two more reprieves - on 122 and 124 - crossed the milestone of 4000 runs in Test cricket. He got to the landmark in his 94th innings, making him the second fastest New Zealand player to 4000 - Martin Crowe got there in his 93rd innings.

Taylor's innings finally came to an end when he went for a slash and found Shillingford at deep backward point to give Gabriel a much-deserved wicket. Tim Southee, who was the next man in, managed a couple of boundaries to help New Zealand past 300 before stumps were drawn.

Cook's "brain scrambled", Boycott fumes

2013-12-10T23:29:00.001-08:00

England great Geoffrey Boycott on Wednesday blasted captain Alastair Cook's "scrambled brain" and said the team needed to use more common sense to prevent yet another defeat to Australia.

Boycott has been shocked by England's lacklustre efforts during the Ashes tour and laid some of the blame at Cook's feet, saying he appeared frustrated and worn down by the Australian attack.

"Australia have worked Alastair out," Boycott said in a column for the West Australian newspaper.

"They give him nothing to score off his legs or hip and they are winning the battle."

The plain-speaking Boycott could barely contain his anger at Cook's second-innings dismissal in Adelaide for one, when he needed to get a big score.

"Here was our captain, who is supposed to set the tone, hooking Mitchell Johnson down fine leg's throat in the second over of the day, which shows his brain is scrambled," he said.

"We have some serious problems," Boycott added.

He pointed out that half of England's dismissals during the Ashes had come from bad shots, with their second-innings 312 at Adelaide the first time they have passed 200 in the series.

"What they have to work out is how they are going to get some pride back in the team," the former opening batsman said.

"They cannot do that unless they bat with more common sense and stop gifting wickets away."

Raina-Dhoni show scripts CSK win over Sunrisers

2013-09-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Ranchi boy MS Dhoni gave full value to the paid spectators with a brutal knock of 63 from 19 balls with a four and 8 sixes! Even before Dhoni had freed his arms, it was Suresh Raina, who provided all the impetus and took the CSK innings forward with an excellently paced knock of 84 from 57 balls with 9 fours and a six.

pectacular T20 knocks from Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni blasted Chennai Super Kings to a 12-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a high-scoring contest at Ranchi. Sunrisers Hyderabad gave stiff fight to CSK despite chasing a tall target of 203. It was an evening where it rained sixes all parts of the ground. The spectators had the luck of witnessing as many as 16 sixes and 28 boundaries.
Chasing an improbable target of 203 in 20 overs, Sunrisers surprisingly got off to a dream start of 88 for 1 in 9.2 overs. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan looked awesome before he got out on 48 (from 34 balls) to Ashwin. The match was certainly over when Thisara Perera got out at 106 for 4 in 13.1 overs. Darren Sammy ensured that the match wasn’t going to finish on a dull note. The former West Indies Captain came up with some massive hits to score 50 from 25 balls which included 5 sixes.
Toss and Teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the toss and asked Chennai Super Kings to bat first at Ranchi. Both the teams are unchanged and go into this game with a win in their first match. Although the pitch is prepared to be batsmen-friendly, the rain that has been around Ranchi could have dampened it to help the seam bowlers.
Chennai Super Kings: Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel, Jason Holder, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohit Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Parthiv Patel (WK), Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jean-Paul Duminy, Hanuma Vihari, Thisara Perera, Darren Sammy, Ashish Reddy, Karan Sharma, Amit Mishra, Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma

IPL spot-fixing: BCCI imposes life ban on S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan

2013-09-13T06:38:00.002-07:00

New Delhi: Tainted Rajasthan Royals cricketers S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan were handed life bans by BCCI on Friday for their role in the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

Other Rajasthan cricketers Amit Singh and Siddharth Trivedi were handed a ban for five years and one year respectively. While young left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh was let off with a warning, another spinner Ajit Chandila’s case will be taken up later.

The two-member disciplinary committee of the BCCI met in the national capital earlier in the day to decide the fate of the Rajasthan Royals cricketers implicated in the IPL spot-fixing scandal to deliberate on Anti-Corruption Unit chief Ravi Sawani`s report on the scam that shamed the Twenty20 league.

The players, who also served jail time after being arrested by the Delhi Police, are Test pacer S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan. The trio played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL but their contracts were terminated by the franchise after the scandal broke out.

Strauss backs Pietersen as England `mentor`

2013-09-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

Pietersin

Birmingham: Andrew Strauss believes Kevin Pietersen can act as a "mentor" to an inexperienced England one-day side despite his own sometimes difficult relationship with the star batsman.

Pietersen was briefly cast into the international wilderness last year after being accused of sending derogatory text messages about then England captain Strauss to South Africa players.

England lost that Test series to the Proteas and Strauss, who`d been struggling for runs, promptly retired from all senior cricket -- a decision he insisted had nothing to do with the fall-out from the controversy sparked by Pietersen, the man he succeeded as England skipper.

Pietersen, however, was soon back in the England fold and now finds himself the senior player in a one-day squad where his fellow recent Ashes-winners Alastair Cook, now the regular captain, Ian Bell, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have all been rested ahead of the return Test series in Australia starting in November.

England are 1-0 down in a five-match series, with their convincing 88-run loss at Old Trafford separating rain-ruined no results at Headingley and again at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

But whatever the outcome of the series, which continues in Cardiff on Saturday, Strauss believes the experience of playing alongside Pietersen, whose 2013 has been blighted by injuries, can only benefit the likes of 22-year-old all-rounder Ben Stokes.

"He can be really good with young players, actually," Strauss told reporters at Edgbaston on Thursday when asked about the 33-year-old Pietersen.

"I think it`s good that he`s playing this one-day series, and him opening the batting in one-day cricket is an interesting and potentially quite explosive option for England to use.

"Given that he`s had injuries, and whatever, it`s quite nice for him to have a good run of cricket.

"I hope he is playing that mentoring role and playing it well."

Strauss added: "I suppose Kevin is a complicated character. But he can be fantastic, really good and engaged in the dressing room and really go out of his way to help other people at times.

"You want to see him do that, because he`s at the stage of his career now where he`s got a lot to offer those young players coming through -- and they all look up to him as well.
"So it`s good to hear that he`s doing that."

Only slightly more than 15 overs were possible at Edgbaston on Wednesday, but that was enough time for often erratic Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson to bounce out Pietersen, having dismissed Jonathan Trott for a duck in Manchester.

"He`s a very dangerous bowler," said Strauss.

"We`ve seen him at his best; in Perth in 2010 he was phenomenal. The England players have seen a lot of him, and kind of know how to deal with him. But if it`s his day, and he`s on song, he`s a handful for anyone."

Trott averaged under 30 during England`s 3-0 Ashes series win this season, compared with a career mark of nearly 50, but Strauss was confident the Warwickshire batsman would come good again.

"I suppose it looks like Trotty`s fighting with himself a bit at the moment," said Strauss before setting off to join fellow ex-England captain Michael Vaughan on his 500-mile (805-kilometre) charity bike ride.

"He`s had a tough summer, by his very high standards.

"But I`ve seen a lot of Jonathan Trott, as an individual and as a batsman, and he`ll come back strong," Strauss insisted.

"One thing he does know how to do is keep calm out there in the middle and trust his gameplan -- that`s always the best way to score runs consistently."

Stop running after BCCI: Shoaib Akhtar to PCB

2013-09-13T06:30:00.002-07:00

Karachi: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar says instead of running after the BCCI for normalising cricket ties, the Pakistan Cricket Board should focus on converting the national team into a world class side.

The Indian government has rejected visa applications of the players of Pakistani side Faisalabad Wolves, which was to play in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

"I am not surprised that the Indians have not issued visas to the Faisalabad Wolves team for the Champions League. The fact is that until and unless we have normal and friendly relations at the government to government level why do we expect the Indian cricket board to be supportive.

"I have always said that we don`t need to run after India all the time and we need to stop begging on different issues whether it is resumption of bilateral cricket ties, allowing our players for the IPL or our team for the Champions League," Akhtar said.

The outspoken fast bowler said that BCCI simply followed the policy of its government when it came to Pakistan.

"We should have never expected them to issue visas for the Faisalabad team. When they first invited us we should have taken a bold stance and said `thank you`. When will we as a nation or board show some self respect and pride in our stance towards India," he told a TV channel.

Akhtar said it was time that PCB start making efforts to develop the national side into a strong team.

"(what we will lose?) A few hundred thousand dollars. But it is time we stopped going after India all the time. We need to start setting our house in order and strengthening our own domestic cricket and infrastructure.”

"We need to concentrate on building up our cricket structure and building up a world class side. When we have a world class side everyone will not only want to play against us but on our terms as well," he said.

"There is no doubt that the standard of cricket has not only gone down in Pakistan but even worldwide. But in Pakistan we are facing problems because we haven`t had a bold captain like Imran Khan for years now and we are not facing role model players who serve as inspiration to others," Akhtar added.

He said that Indian cricket had progressed not because of the IPL but because of just one man- Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"Dhoni may not be as good looking as Imran but he has all the qualities of Imran as a captain and player and he has given their cricket a new direction and life. He has turned Indian cricket around."

He also lashed out at the ICC and member boards for not realising that there was urgent need to inject money into Test and one-day international cricket.

"These were the formats which are real cricket and these were formats where players should be earning more money but instead the money was injected into T20 cricket and the IPL has taken the lead in this," he said.

Arjun Tendulkar, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

2013-09-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

Like his illustrious father, Arjun Tendulkar has also set out to seek a career in cricket. Although these are still very early days in Arjun’s career, it goes without saying that he will have to deal with the pressure of excess expectations. Even though Tendulkar himself may have appealed for the media leave his son alone and let him concentrate on his cricket, it is an almost impossible demand. The ruthless media in our country will chase him everywhere he goes and try to get in as much of Arjun as they can. In short, Tendulkar junior faces a massive test even before his cricketing journey has actually kicked off.
Another big challenge for him to deal with will be the pressure of comparisons. It can be said numerous times that Arjun should not be compared with his legendary dad, and that Tendulkar’s records are almost impossible to be broken. But that isn’t going to happen, at least in a cricket-mad country like India. Comparisons would always be there, and this is where Arjun will have to handle himself very carefully. The best he can do is concentrate on his individual game keeping aside all the comparisons being made with his father. It is easier said than done, but Arjun will have to find a way to do the same if he wants to excel in the sport.

International cricket and, Indian cricket in particular, are filled with instances of sons not being able to replicate the success tasted by their great fathers. The biggest example of all is that of the Gavaskars. While Sunil remains the greatest opener India has ever produced, Rohan came nowhere near to achieving anything decent in international cricket. He did play a few ODI matches, and even notched up a half-century, but was never in the frame for Test selection. In fact, after being dropped, he headed to the now defunct and then unrecognised Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Rohan is not alone. Sanjay Manjrekar also suffered owing to the burden of expectations, being the son of the great Vijay Manjrekar. Unlike Rohan, Sanjay played a fair bit of Test cricket and even compiled some famous marathon knocks, but his figures always paled in comparison to his father. Even as a standalone player, he did not perform consistently enough, and although he made a number of comebacks after being dropped, he never quite made it big.
Vinoo Mankad’s son Ashok is another illustrious example of a son who was burdened by the pressure of expectations. Although Ashok scored runs by the gallons in domestic cricket, he came nowhere close to matching the feat at the Test level. It goes without saying that Arjun will also be judged by a certain yardstick. Of course it is unfair that he be spoken of in the same vein as his legendary father. But the fact is that things aren’t going to chance. The sooner Arjun accepts the fact and learns to deal with these distractions, the better for him.

A better player is one who responds to situations: MSD

2013-06-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes that a better player is the one who responds a particular situation well and cricket is more than just talent and technique.

"A lot of people talk about technique but what is important for me is that a better player is one who responds to the situation. Credit to Rohit and Shikhar as they have batted well at the top and as far as our fielding is concerned, there has been a cultural change," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"I am the oldest in this team and during our younger days we used to roll over while the youngsters now dive and slide due to lush green outfields."

For someone, who has won all the ICC events, when Nasser Hussain asked that what else is left to achieve, he could only offer a smile that defined containment. "What matters is the next game. We are going to West Indies now. Winning is important for the team. I am happy my players are playing well when it matters."

About the new bunch that has adapted so well in international cricket, Dhoni said that playing in front of big crowds in the IPL has certainly helped. "Some of our players are experienced in international cricket. New players have played IPL matches in front of thousands."

Dhoni also gave credit to his batsmen for scoring 130 on a sluggish pitch where batting looked difficult due to rain interruptions.

Shikhar Dhawan, who had a fantastic tournament said that the pace and bounce of the wicket did suit his style of play. "I love bouncy tracks as it suits my game. I practice hard in the nets and I am loving every moment of it. It's doubly special as I was out for two years. I always knew I had the talent but I wasn't scoring that many runs."

Virat Kohli, the top-scorer of the final said that "winning seven out seven matches (including practice games) was a special feeling and the boys showed a lot of character." Kohli enthralled the crowd with his own version of "Gangnam style" and a few push-ups that reminded one and all of his RCB colleague Chris Gayle's manner of celebration after winning World T20 in Sri Lanka.

Man of the match Ravindra Jadeja said,"I did well throughout the tournament and I was very positive. It was quite difficult to rotate the strike, so myself and Virat just tried to build a good partnership. I was enjoyed bowling on this wicket. The skipper always backs me when I bowl."

A dejected England captain Alastair Cook said,"It's a tough loss to take at the moment. I think both sides found the pitch quite hard to bat on. You are always going to think of different reasons. I'm proud of the way the players have performed in this tournament. With 20-odd needed off 16 balls it was in our hands. There have been a lot of good performances, but at the moment we are a bit devastated."

My job is to bring improvement in PCB: Najam Sethi

2013-06-23T22:50:00.001-07:00

Newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Najam Sethi on Sunday said he would look to introduce discipline, accountability and transparency in the affairs of the cricket board and the national team.

"Obviously people are very disheartened by the performance of the team in the Champions Trophy but my job is to not only look at the team and bring about improvement it is also to bring improvement in the board affairs; both are equally important," he told Geo Super channel.

Shakeel Sheikh, a senior member of the PCB Board of Governors, confirmed that Sethi's name was recommended by the Inter Provincial coordination ministry to the Prime Minister who approved it on Sunday. "Sethi has been given the responsibility of resolving many cases concerning the board in the courts, its financial affairs and also the constitutional matters. Until a new Chairman is elected, he will continue to work as interim Chairman," Sheikh said.

The PCB interim Chairman said he was very keen to see revival of international cricket in Pakistan. "I want to see the empty stadiums of our country filled with people and international teams playing on our grounds, that is my priority."

Sethi also promised he would make every effort to improve the image, credibility, and prestige of Pakistan cricket globally and to improve relations with other boards.

The Pakistan cricket community, however, reacted cautiously to Sethi's appointment although there were some critical comments coming from some quarters.

Pakistan's former captain, Rashid Latif, who has a constitutional petition against the board and the election of Zaka Ashraf pending in the Sindh high court, said that Sethi's appointment could be challenged in court. "Under the PCB constitution clause 6 (2) the interim Chairman can only be appointed from amongst the Board of Governors or under clause 6 (3) it can designate Chairman powers to the chief operating officer," he said.

Arif Ali Khan Abbasi, the former chief executive of the board, said that it was sad that government interference in cricket affairs was increasing. "I am not a great fan or supporter of Zaka Ashraf but it is not a good sign the way government interference has started not only in cricket but in other sports as well," he said.

Abbasi said that Pakistan needed to learn from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that the way Zaka Ashraf had been sidelined as Chairman was not fair.. "Despite the hue and cry raised by the spot fixing scandal in the IPL, the BCCI is handling everything and their government has not interfered at all in this matter and this is how a democratic and independent sports body should be run," he said.

Watson to captain Australia

2013-03-23T04:59:00.002-07:00

Shane Watson will become Australia's 44th Test cricket captain after Michael Clarke's back injury ruled him out of the fourth and final Test against India starting today.

Watson's promotion caps a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the vice-captain after he was suspended from last week's third Test at Mohali.

He only arrived back in India on Tuesday after returning home and attending the birth of his first child when suspended along with three other players for failing to submit ideas on how to improve the struggling team as required by coach Mickey Arthur.

"It's really a dream come true to be asked to captain your country," said Watson.

"I've captained some one-day internationals, but to be asked to captain a Test will be the ultimate honour.

"It's obviously very disappointing that Michael hasn't come up. His batting and leadership will certainly be sorely missed.

"But I'm looking forward to the challenge and responsibility over the next five days."
Duty national selector Rod Marsh said Clarke had done everything he could to be fit in time for the Test where Australia will battle to avoid a 0-4 series whitewash.

"(He) has worked hard to be fit and done everything the medical staff have asked of him, but has not come up," Marsh said.

"The decision for Shane Watson to step in as captain was a very straightforward one for the National Selection Panel.

"Shane is the vice-captain on this tour and as a senior member of the group is well credentialled to lead Australia in Michael's absence.

"The CA Board has endorsed the NSP recommendation that Shane should captain Australian in the fourth Test.

"Shane is an experienced player in Indian conditions and has captained the Australian ODI side nine times."

Australia's final XI will be announced at the coin toss.

Courtesy: Tvnz

Wasim Akram to help groom fast bowlers for Pakistan

2013-03-20T00:51:00.001-07:00

Karachi: Pakistan pace great Wasim Akram on Tuesday promised to help groom a future generation of speedsters as his country looks to recapture former fast bowling glories.

Wasim was part of a long line of world-class Pakistani fast bowlers that began with Fazal Mahmood in the 1950s and featured the likes of Imran Khan, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar.

But pace stocks have dwindled in recent years and Pakistan currently have no fast bowlers among the top 10 in either Test or one-day rankings.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim last week expressed disappointment over the lack quality fast bowlers, a concern which Wasim hopes to help address by holding a two-week camp in April to unearth new talent.

Wasim, who is regarded as the best left-arm fast bowler ever to play at international level with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets, said Pakistan need to improve their bench strength to excel in the long form of the game.

"I am sure talent is there but there is no plan B," he said. "We don't have good bowlers for Tests which was proved in the series against South Africa where we lacked in that department."

Pakistan were white-washed by world number one South Africa 3-0 last month in their recently concluded Test series. The hosts also hold a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five match one-day series.

Wasim added Pakistan's inability to make use of home-advantage, which allows players to excel, was a key factor holding back the development of youngsters.

"Not playing at home is the key factor in not producing quality players. Until and unless you don't play top quality teams at home it will be hard to find quality players," he said.

Pakistan have not hosted top-level international cricket since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, an event which prompted foreign teams to shun tours to the country over security fears.

Wasim said it was time for cricket authorities to take concerns over fast-bowling more seriously.

"The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) needs to lift the first-class cricket and find some quality fast bowlers. Once I get 10-12 fast bowlers, I will work on them and they can be groomed to play at international level," said Wasim.

The PCB is also trying to rope in Waqar Younis, with whom Wasim formed a fearsome partnership during the 1990s, for their national cricket academy in Lahore, built to groom young players.

With the emergence of Twenty20 cricket, the shortest form of the game, teams around the world have experimented with different bowling line-ups for each format. But Wasim said when it comes to pace bowling, one size should fit all.

"It's hard to find separate fast bowlers for three formats. I believe if a fast bowler is good enough for Tests, then he must be good for all formats and sustain himself for the limited over matches as well."

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

7th National Cricket Tournament for disabled starts on Wednesday

2013-03-20T00:49:00.002-07:00

The three-day 7th National Cricket Tournament for the disabled will start in Ranchi on Wednesday.

In all, 16 teams from various states and zones are taking part in the tourney, A W Siddiqui, secretary general of the Indian Cricket Federation for Disabled, said in a release on Tuesday.

He said the matches would be played at Mecon, J L Nehru Stadium, and Steel Authority of India Limited grounds.

The players having 40 per cent to 90 per cent physical disabilities, even amputees of upper and lower limbs would take part in this tournament.

During the matches, the federation would introduce soft leather ball for the first time and the Twenty20 tournament would be played on knock-out basis.

ICFD has announced cash prizes of Rs 50,000 to the winner and Rs 30,000 to the runners-up while Rs 4,000 each would be given to best bowler, batsman, fielder and all-rounder.

For the first time in history of cricket for disabled, the differently 'abled' players from different tribes of Jharkhand are being given opportunity to take part in the event as a separate team.

"The main aim of the federation is to enhance physical mobility of such persons through cricket and integrate them into the mainstream of the society. The federation has also started Premier leagues & zonal cricket tournaments for disabled all over the country," he said.

The event is being hosted by Jharkhand Disabled Sports and Welfare Academy, the state affiliate body of ICFD. The visiting teams are provided free lodging, boarding and other facilities, he said.

Congress MP Subodh Kant Sahay would inaugurate the tournament at 9.30 AM at Mecon Stadium.

The participating teams are: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Mobility India, Jharkhand and Girijan Jharkhand (team of tribal disabled players from Jharkhand).

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

ICC rejects Pakistan's allegations about umpiring bias during SA series

2013-03-20T00:47:00.003-07:00

Karachi: The ICC has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's reservations about some umpiring decisions and the way the Decision Review System was used in the team's Test series in South Africa.

According to sources in the board, the ICC has put down the umpiring blunders to human errors and mistakes and nothing more.

"The ICC has said that none of the umpiring mistakes were intentional and were part of the game. It has also said the UDRS system is working well and producing productive results," one source was quoted as saying.

The PCB had, on the request of its team management in South Africa after the first Test in Johannesburg, written to the ICC raising concerns over some of the decisions and the performance of umpire Steve Davis.

The PCB had also expressed reservations over the effectiveness of the hot spot technology used by umpires in the DRS system.

"The ICC has now sent its reply to the PCB and said that none of the umpiring errors were intentional and were just human errors," the source stated.

The ICC also said the technology used in the DRS had helped reduce the number of umpiring mistakes.

In case of Davis, the ICC had reminded the PCB that it had a proper system in place to assess the performance of an umpire.

According to ICC guidelines, umpires whose performances are under review are given only one year contracts, and if they didn't improve they are released from the elite panel of umpires.

The PCB had asked the ICC to not post Davis in the remaining two Tests of the series that South Africa won by 3-0.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Umpire Nadeem Ghauri implicated by PCB committee Sources

2013-03-18T04:57:00.000-07:00

Nadeem Ghauri
Karachi: Suspended Pakistan umpire Nadeem Ghauri, facing corruption charges, has been found guilty of misconduct and is facing punishment on the recommendations of a PCB probe committee, sources have claimed.

Ghauri and another Pakistani umpire Anis Sadiq were suspended by the ICC three months back when an Indian television channel in a sting operation alleged that five umpires from three countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - were involved in accepting bribes to do spot fixing.

Ghauri, a well known Pakistani umpire who has served on the ICC international panel, was among those named in the sting operation and was shown in loose talk on skype with an Indian reporter posing as an agent.

The PCB had appointed an inquiry committee as per the ICC instructions under its Director Vigilance and Security, Ehsan Sadiq to probe into the matter.

"The committee has apparently completed its probe and found the umpires guilty of misconduct and recommended some penalties to be imposed on them. The PCB Chairman has told the committee to submit its report and make a presentation to the Board soon and explain on what grounds it has recommended the penalties," one source said.

The source said the presentation would be made and then the report will be sent to the ICC as soon as Ehsan Sadiq returns from vacation.

The Bangladesh and Sri Lankan boards have also to yet make public their inquiry into the allegations against their umpires named in the sting operation.

Some months back another Pakistani umpire, Asad Rauf who is on the ICC elite panel was also accused by an Indian model of misconduct but since then she has not carried the case further after lodging a complaint with the police.the police.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Shane Watson to return to India for Delhi Test

2013-03-18T04:55:00.004-07:00

live Cricket Streaming
Sydney: Speculation about Australian vice-captain Shane Watson's Test future was put to bed on Monday with an announcement that he will return to India after serving a one-match ban.

The 31-year-old returned to Sydney last Tuesday after he was dropped for the third Test after failing to prepare feedback on how the team could improve and deliver it to management. Three other players were also axed.

Watson, whose wife gave birth last week, made clear he felt the punishment was overly harsh and said he would be considering his future, but has decided to battle on.

"Shane Watson will return to the tour of India and will fly out of Sydney tonight to join the Australian squad in India ahead of the fourth Test," Cricket Australia said in a brief statement.

His dumping fuelled rumours of a rift with skipper Michael Clarke, which was intensified by Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard saying Watson was only "sometimes" a team player.

Watson, who has known Clarke for 20 years, insisted their relationship was "going really well".

If he had decided to quit, Clarke would have been desperately short of experience ahead of an Ashes double header against England starting in July, after the recent retirement of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Michael Clarkes back injury adds to Australia woes

2013-03-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

Live Cricket Streaming
Seeking to save the third Test match, Australia's miseries have been compounded by a back injury to skipper Michael Clarke, which has raised a question mark over his batting position going into the final day's play of the third cricket Test on Monday.

Cricket Australia (CA) media manager Matt Cenin said today the batsman will undergo treatment overnight and then the physiotherapist Alex Kountouris will assess his condition.

"He'll undergo further treatment overnight. We'll assess that and see how it settles in the morning to determine when he's able to bat," Cenin told reporters after the end of fourth day's play at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium (PCA).

After conceding a lead of 91 runs, Australia were struggling at 75 for three at stumps in their second innings, still 16 behind India's first-innings score of 499 all out.

In the current scenario, Clarke aggravating his back injury will be the last thing Australia would need.

Due to the skipper's sore back, the out-of-form Phillip Hughes, Steven Smith and night-watchman Nathan Lyon were promoted up the order in the second innings.

Hughes, though, finally made it count with a gritty half-century, after seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar rocked the Australia top-order with the wickets of David Warner, Ed Cowan and Smith.

Clarke has a history of back problems and he is learnt to have picked up the latest one during some warm-up game in Australia.

Having lost the first two matches in Chennai and Hyderabad, Australia are training 0-2 in the series, and face the prospect of suffering their biggest-ever series defeat to India.

Courtesy: Cricbuzz

3rd ODI South Africa beat Pakistan despite Shahid Afridis fireworks

2013-03-18T04:48:00.005-07:00

Live Cricket Streaming
Johannesburg: Captain AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla set a record stand for the third wicket as South Africa survived Shahid Afridi's later onslaught to win the third one-day international by 34 runs on Sunday.

The victory earned South Africa a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Afridi smashed five fours and seven sixes in a blistering knock of 88 off 48 balls before Pakistan was bowled out for 309 in 48.1 overs after centuries from de Villiers (128) and Amla (122) had led South Africa to 343-5.

De Villiers and Amla put on 238 off 182 balls to better the mark of 237 set by India's Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar against Kenya at Bristol during the 1999 World Cup.

"It's always nice to bat with Amla, he makes it easy for me, he rotates the strike very well," de Villiers said.

Afridi, who had not scored a half century for 13 months, struck form at last with some clean hitting after Pakistan was on the ropes at 5-132 midway to their run-chase.

Afridi got the run-chase back on track with a 71-run sixth wicket stand off 48 balls with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (28) and completed his half century off 31 balls. Afridi braved a severe pain on his right thumb soon after completing his half century while facing Dale Steyn's short pitched delivery.

"The way we played today, it showed we can be a good chasing side," Misbah said. "We know he (Afridi) can hit it a long way and when he came to bat and hit the first six, I told him, 'mate, you can score a hundred here.'"

Luck seemed to be on Afridi's side when, on 73, his off stump was knocked over by Ryan McLaren only to be recalled after television replays showed that the seamer had bowled a no-ball.

Afridi capitalized on the chance and smashed McLaren over the long off and the ball landed in the golf course.

South Africa finally heaved a sigh of relief in the 36th over when Afridi was caught in the deep by McLaren as he looked for another big hit off seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe full toss delivery.

"I told the boys in a huddle: 'We cannot get ourselves down when a guy like Afridi is playing like this' and I'm proud of the way we fought back," de Villiers said.

Wahab Riaz, who earlier recorded Pakistan's worst ever bowling figures in an ODI with 2-93, made some amends with the bat by scoring 45 off 52 balls before he was the last man to be dismissed.

Pakistan started off confidently with Mohammad Hafeez (57) and Kamran Akmal (30) putting on 82 runs off 76 balls for the second wicket after Nasir Jamshed gave a regulation catch.

McLaren, who broke the threatening stand, was the pick of the bowlers with 3-56 while Tsotsobe got a bit of hammering from Afridi and returned with 3-74.

Earlier, de Villiers scored 128 off 108 balls with 12 fours and three sixes, while Amla hit 122 off 113 balls with nine fours and a six after South Africa was put in to bat.

Amla successfully used the television review to overturn an lbw decision before South Africa had scored, and he was dropped on 36 by Hafeez at point.

Mohammad Irfan took 2-34, while left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz, playing his first ODI in a year, was hammered for 93 runs for the wickets of Amla and Faf du Plessis.

Misbah's decision to field first looked on track when 2.16 meter (7-foot-1) Irfan removed Graeme Smith (3) and Colin Ingram (17) as South Africa struggeld to 42-2 in the 14th over.

But once the spinners came on, along with Riaz, Amla and de Villiers scored at will.

Amla scored his 11th ODI century and second against Pakistan off 99 balls with a single to midwicket off Hafeez in the 39th over. De Villiers completed his 14th hundred off 87 balls in more attractive fashion, cutting Afridi to the point boundary.

Amla was out soon after breaking the world record in the 45th over, caught by Misbah to give some relief to Riaz. De Villiers was caught in the deep by Shoaib Malik in the 47th over off Saeed Ajmal, who took 1-62.

Pakistan badly missed Irfan in the later stages with the lanky fast bowler falling ill and having to leave the field after bowling only seven overs in two spells.

Faf du Plessis rubbed more salt into the wounds of Pakistan by hitting an entertaining knock of 45 off 19 balls with four boundaries and three sixes, including two fours and two sixes in one of Riaz's overs.

South Africa's team wore a unique pink uniform in support of breast cancer awareness, while Pakistan's players also wore pink ribbons on their chest.

The fourth match of the series will be played at Durban on Thursday before the series winds up at Benoni next Sunday.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Elgar Kleinveldt awarded CSA central contracts

2013-03-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

CSA
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday announced a list of 21 players who have been awarded national contracts for the 2013-14 season. The new contracts run from 1 May, 2013 to 30 April, 2014, a press release said.

Dean Elgar and Rory Kleinveldt, who are part of recent South African Test squads along with Marchant de Lange and Aaron Phangiso have been awarded contracts for the first time. All-rounder Ryan McLaren has been re-awarded a contract after missing out for the past 12 months.

Five players including Mark Boucher (retired), Ashwell Prince, Rusty Theron, Albie Morkel and Jacques Rudolph have been omitted from the contracted list while Johan Botha was released from his contract at his own request after last year's ICC World Twenty20.

"Dean Elgar has established himself in the Test squad while Rory Kleinveldt has done well across all three formats," said CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson.

"Ryan Mclaren has come back very strongly this season and, like Kleinveldt, has featured across the formats," he added.

CSA contracted squad:

Graeme Smith , AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Kiwi appointed new cricket World Cup chairman

2013-03-13T07:31:00.001-07:00

world Cup Chairman

Former deputy Ralph Waters has been appointed chairman of the organising committee for cricket's 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after the death last week of James Strong.

Waters, a prominent New Zealand businessman, was promoted to the role by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday to replace Strong, who died in Sydney aged 68 from complications following surgery.

"Like myself, James had lived and worked in Australia and New Zealand and was determined to put on a truly world class tournament in 2015," said Waters.

"I share his vision and will work closely with the ICC (International Cricket Council), Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to deliver a successful tournament for cricket fans around the world."

The World Cup takes place in Australia and New Zealand in February-March 2015

Courtesy: Tvnz

Bangladeshs chance to surprise new look Sri Lanka

2013-03-07T21:52:00.001-08:00

A Test match in Galle against Bangladesh might usually comprise a straightforward challenge for Sri Lanka, but with the contracts crisis less than a week behind them and a fresh-faced top order set to take guard, the potential for an upset has shot up. Sri Lanka's selectors have approached the tour as an opportunity to blood young players, tilting the squad balance heavily towards raw talent, and if an improving Bangladesh side score a shock victory, Angelo Mathews' Test captaincy will have had as poor a start as he could have imagined.

On paper, Sri Lanka are by some distance the favourites in Galle - a venue from which they have customarily taken a 1-0 lead into the remainder of the series, having lost only three times in 21 matches there. The pitch, which usually takes turn from day one, shapes as a paradise for all spinners, but even men as gifted as Saeed Ajmal and Graeme Swann have not managed to imitate the success Sri Lanka's slow bowlers achieve there as a matter of routine.

It will help too for Sri Lanka that several batsmen in the likely top seven have scored heavily in first-class engagements since the tour of Australia. Angelo Mathews and Tillakaratne Dilshan both made big hundreds in their last match, while Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne have also strung together solid scores in the past few weeks. Either Jeevan Mendis or Kithuruwan Vithanage are likely to debut, and both men are also coming off big scores - in Vithanage's case, against the very attack the visitors will probably field in the first Test.

Bangladesh are also with several key players, but the ones on tour are a different breed than the cricketers who have visited Sri Lanka in the last four full tours. Bangladesh now gives their youngsters time on the domestic circuit before drafting them into the senior side. Anamul Haque and Mominul Haque are the latest talents to roll out of age-group and domestic cricket, with Jahurul Islam and Marshall Ayub being picked on their recent form.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal will have to do most of the running, but the likes of Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain have soaked up pressure in the recent past. Bangladesh's bowling attack however is thin, and the gap left by the injured Shakib Al Hasan will take some filling. Someone has to fill his role as the wicket-taker and then run-controller, but none of these bowlers have done so on the big stage for an extended period.

Sri Lanka's off field problems may have closed the gap between the teams somewhat, at least psychologically, but those who have seen Bangladesh capitulate in a matter of overs in Test cricket would still be wary of a one-sided contest. But this is a young team with several cricketers who seek the limelight; their desire would have to be translated on to the field for this to be a good Test match.

Courtesy: Espncricinfo

Australian team arrives for third Test

2013-03-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Cricket Streaming
Chandigarh: The Australian cricket team arrived in Chandigarh on Thursday afternoon for their third Test match against India, to be played at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium from March 14.

The team, led by Michael Clarke, is trailing 0-2 in the four-match Test series having lost in Chennai by eight wickets, before the innings and 135-run humiliation in Hyderabad.

Chairman of the PCA Media Committee G S Walia, who is also the PCA Joint Secretary, said the 30-member Australian contingent, including the players and service staff, arrived here by a chartered flight from Hyderabad.

The team was taken to its hotel in sector 35 amid tight security arrangements made by the Chandigarh Police, which had deployed its personnel on the route from airport to the hotel.

Walia said the visitors have no engagements for the next two days. They are scheduled to hold the practice sessions from March 10 onward.

He said members of the Indian team will start arriving from Monday as the players will be coming straight from their respective home towns.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Sehwag should have played at Mohali Gavaskar

2013-03-07T21:50:00.002-08:00

Virender Sehwag
Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar is not surprised with the decision to drop Virender Sehwag from the remaining two Tests against Australia. He however told NDTV on Thursday that he thought the Delhi batsman could have been given another chance to play, especially on a flat surface in Mohali.

Sehwag has been woefully out of form and has just 27 runs to show from three innings played in the ongoing series. Gavaskar however said that conditions in Mohali venue for the third Test would have suited Sehwag's style of batting.

"I am not surprised with the decision that the selectors took. Sehwag has been short of runs. But with the class and the record that he has, one would have thought he would be given another game particularly looking at the surface in Mohali. The ball comes onto the bat quite nicely and it bounces just a little extra which is what Sehwag likes to bat on," Gavaskar said.

The Indian selection committee on Thursday announced the squad for the final two Tests and left Sehwag out. No replacement however was named in his stead.

Gavaskar feels the decision to drop Sehwag may have been taken keeping India"s future tours in mind. Is Sehwag's career over?

"I also think at the back of the selection committee's minds would be the fact that India is now going to be on overseas tours over the next year and a half and therefore, are having a look at somebody else. There is a tour to South Africa coming up and rather than to blood somebody there, the selection committee may be thinking it's better to try somebody here," Gavaskar said.

Sehwag himself told NDTV earlier in the day that he is not ready to hang up his boots. He even tweeted saying he will trust his game.

Gavaskar too is confident that hard-work will bring Sehwag back in contention.

"All he has to do is get back to getting big hundreds in domestic cricket and he should be back in contention," Gavaskar said.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv

Shahid Afridi Crickets one and only ageless wonder

2013-03-02T05:18:00.002-08:00

Until October 4, 1996, Shahid Afridi was known as a good-looking, young prodigy who could blossom in due course of time to become a regular fixture in the Pakistani side. Just two days earlier, on October 2, he made his debut against Kenya, but didn"t walk out to bat even after the fall of the sixth wicket. However, against Sri Lanka, he was promoted to the No 3 slot, and little did the cricketing world expect what was to follow. A 16-year-old Afridi blazed his way to a hundred in just 37 balls, the fastest ever in One-Day Internationals a record that remains intact till date.

In just the second delivery of his first international innings, he socked the ball for a six over mid-wicket. Thereafter, he cleared the rope on 10 more occasions, and quickly equalled Sanath Jayasuriya"s record of sixes (11) in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He hammered as many as 90 runs in 17 scoring strokes and emphatically announced what his modus operandi would be on the big stage, irrespective of the bowling attack. That innings created an aura around him, and it would be safe to say that it lingered even after his batting prowess had long faded away.

For the next many months, he never scored a hundred in either format of the game, but the crowds went berserk every time he walked out to the middle, anticipating carnage from his willow. He looked to attack right from the first delivery, something that was applauded back then, but was seen as tomfoolery during the later stages of his career. In the September of 1998, just when questions were being raised on his position in the batting line-up, Afridi opened the innings and slaughtered a frail Indian attack during the Sahara Cup at Toronto. His 115 off 94 deliveries gave Pakistan an unassailable lead in the series, and he was instantly placed on a pedestal back home.

In some circles, after his performance in Canada, he was being hailed as Pakistan"s best all-rounder since Imran Khan. The five for 52 he took on his Test debut against Australia, just one month after his ton at Toronto against India, fuelled that belief. From September 1998 to the end of 2000, runs flew sporadically from Afridi"s blade, but the Test at Chennai in 1999 which is fondly remembered for India"s fumble after Sachin Tendulkar"s heroics breathed fresh life into his career. He was single-handedly responsible for steering Pakistan to a formidable total on a crumbling pitch to set India a target of 271 runs. The hosts fell short by 12 runs.

His next Test hundred was registered only in 2002, against the West Indies at Sharjah, where he meticulously made his way to 107 off 150 deliveries. Just when it appeared as though he"d done enough to command a regular place in the Test side, a failed series against New Zealand three months later saw him exit the arena, and thereafter, he was left out for a good 32 months. Nevertheless, he continued to plunder opponents in the ODIs, barring the period during which he was temporarily dropped after a disastrous outing in the 2003 World Cup. In 2004, he treated the Indian bowlers with disdain, scoring 80 off 58 deliveries during an ODI at Rawalpindi, and one year later scored one of his most memorable centuries, against the same opponents, at Kanpur.

It was this 46-ball-102 that made Afridi a feared batsman, yet again, and associated him firmly with the nickname "Boom Boom". One year after that momentous innings, in April 2006, he called it quits from Test cricket, albeit temporarily. He returned in 2010 to captain his side at Lord"s, but retired immediately after a horrendous performance. However, it was after 2006 that he comprehended the fact that he could add more value to the Pakistani side with his leg-spin. He became the highest wicket-taker in the 2007 T20 World Cup, which eventually led to him being winning the Player of the Series award. From then till the end of the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent, Afridi featured in 82 ODIs and 40 T20s, picking 112 and 53 wickets respectively, at averages of 31.25 and 17.50. The problem, however, was that his batting average was almost equal to his bowling average during this phase. He was also the captain of his side, which made matters all the more complicated. He was just doing enough with the ball to keep his place and position in the side.
With Afridi, controversies were never very far. He was first pulled up for sledging the Indian batsmen during the World Cup fixture at Centurion in 2003, scuffed the pitch at Faisalabad during a Test against England in 2005, banned for four ODIs for brandishing his bat at a spectator during a tour to South Africa in 2007, bites the ball in full view of cameras during an ODI against Australia at Perth in 2010, and not to discount, his many tiffs with team-mates and former captains right throughout his career.

Despite his on-field and off-field antics, Afridi continues to be one of the most popular figures on the international stage. His unique celebration at the fall of a wicket arms outstretched and fingers pointing to the sky will be etched in the minds of many. Multiple retirements, and subsequent retractions notwithstanding, there are people who still do not get enough of the entertainment he dishes out with his presence in the middle. Let us hope this ageless wonder regains some of his lost charm, and, importantly, retains it this time around.

Courtesy: Cricketcountry

Unmukt Chand is new brand ambassador for Pepsi

2013-03-02T05:15:00.004-08:00

New Delhi: India's Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has joined the list of star cricketers who endorse Pepsi after the soft drink giant roped him in as its brand ambassador on Friday.

Unmukt, who is emerging as one of the most promising cricketers in the country, will now be seen in Pepsi's "Oh Yes Abhi!" campaign focussing on youth.

Having led the Under-19 Indian Cricket Team to a World Cup victory last year, he will now be seen in the IPL in April-May.

He will feature in Pepsi's upcoming advertisement which will have a face-off between him and the captain of the India's senior cricket team MS Dhoni along with Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina. The campaign went on air from Friday.

Speaking about the association and the upcoming campaign, Homi Battiwalla, Senior Director - Marketing (Colas, Juices and Hydration), PepsiCo India, said, "We are proud to associate with Unmukt Chand, who truly reflects Pepsi's Oh Yes Abhi! attitude and are confident that he will lead the next-generation of players who personify the same philosophy."

The brand had signed Dhoni and Bollywood's reigning star, Ranbir Kapoor before they became the achievers they are today.

"Pepsi is an iconic youth brand that has always celebrated young India's aspirations, dreams and attitudes. As a cricketer and a youngster, I can relate to the Oh Yes Abhi! spirit of the brand," said Unmukt.

"I feel privileged to join the extraordinary league of achievers and youth icons that endorse Pepsi, and look forward to a great journey ahead. For me, this is not a regular endorsement deal but my commitment to Indian cricket fans of always trying to take my game to the next level," he added.

In the commercial, Unmukt is shown waiting impatiently, all anxious to get hold of a Pepsi bottle. Also seen waiting are Dhoni, Kohli and Raina.

What follows is an entertaining war of words between the youth icons and the rising star.

"The young cricket star Unmukt shows his impatient side in a refreshing and cool manner, bringing alive the philosophy of Oh Yes Abhi," said, Surjo Dutt, Executive Creative Director - JWT India.

Courtesy: Sports Ndtv