Lankan players fixing matches since 1992, claims Tillakaratne

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By Babu Ram:Dropping a bombshell, former Sri Lanka skipper Hashan Tillakaratne has claimed that match-fixing is common in his country since 1992 and promised to reveal names of those involved, soon. Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and 200 ODIs for Sri Lanka, made the sensational claim while appearing in a TV


show.
"I can tell this in agreement with my conscience. Match fixing is not something that started happening yesterday or today. According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992. I say this with great responsibility," Tillakaratne said.

Tillakaratne, who was Sri Lanka's captain between April 2003 and March 2004, said people involved in the menace have been successful in burying the issue with money power but promised to expose them soon.

"There were threats of this issue being exposed during various times. But it was pushed down by giving money to various people. If the people who were responsible for that are listening to this, I state this today with great responsibility, I will shortly reveal the names of those responsible," he said.

Tillakaratne, who led the side in 10 Tests during his tenure as captain, stopped short of calling the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka a fixed match but had some reservations about selection.

"I am not saying that this match (The world cup final) was fixed. But anyway match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today," he said.
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BJP backs Joshi, accuses govt of stalling probe into 2G scam

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By Babu Raam:NEW DELHI: Standing firmly behind PAC Chairperson Murli Manohar Joshi against the onslaught by Congress and DMK members, the BJP today alleged that these were "calculated, deliberate and sponsored" attacks by the ruling coalition to stall the investigation into 2G scam.

"The BJP strongly condemns the attacks on the PAC chairperson. These are calculated, deliberate, concerted and sponsored attacks," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Joshi had faced stiff opposition from Congress and DMK members in the PAC meeting today, when they alleged that he was trying to destabilise the government. They opposed the draft report and said it had been outsourced.

Supporting its senior leader and former president against these barbs, the BJP alleged that when the probe reached the top levels of power like PMO and Finance Minister this "sponsored campaign" started.

"There is a design behind this attack," Prasad said, adding that the attempt was to forestall the report.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier said Joshi is a seasoned politician and a senior parliamentarian. He had also offered to appear before the PAC. The Congress members had also praised the PAC earlier," Prasad said.

He recalled that during the April 4 meeting of the PAC, the panel had unanimously decided that it should submit its report on 2G spectrum issue by April 30.

The BJP objected to the manner in which some Congress members of PAC commented in the press against Joshi.

"We want to ask the Congress a question that when the Prime Minister had praised Joshi how has he now been painted as a villian?" Prasad said.

The main opposition also charged the UPA government with attacking government institutions one by one.

"First Kapil Sibal attacked the CAG, then the others also attacked him. Then came the appointment of a person (with a tainted record) as CVC . Now a Parliamentary committee is being attacked," Prasad said.

The Rajya Sabha MP alleged that Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal had visited some PAC members from other parties to influence them.

"The government does not want the PAC report. It had no objection when industrialists or editors were called. The whole hungama started when officials from the PMO and the Attorney General were called," Prasad alleged.

"Regardless of repeated rebuffs from the media and the judiciary, the government has shown dogged determination to stall a fair investigation (into 2G scam)," Prasad said.
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Sathya Sai Baba's last rites begin

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By Babu Ram:PUTTAPARTHI: The last rites of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba began with full state honours at Prashanti Nilayam here Wednesday morning amid the chanting of Vedic hymns.

The ceremonies began at 9 a.m. in Sai Kulwant Hall, where the Baba used to give 'darshan' to devotees and deliver discourses.

As the rituals began inside, policemen outside Prashanti Nilayam gave a gun salute. Baba's nephew R.J. Ratnakar performed rituals like sprinkling of holy water on the mortal remains before the burial.

Only 600 selected people, including family members of Baba, members and officials of Sathya Sai Central Trust, his close disciples and VIPs, were attending the last rites, being telecast on various television channels.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L.K. Advani, Punjab Governor Shirvraj Patil, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and several ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka paid their last respects.

Thousands of devotes had last 'darshan' of Baba till Tuesday midnight. The 85-year-old guru died Sunday, 28 days after he was admitted to hospital with multi-organ dysfunction. Since then, the body has been kept in Prashanti Nilayam to enable people to pay their last respects. 
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2G scam: Kanimozhi, 4 others summoned on May 6

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By Babu Ram:The CBI on Monday filed its second charge sheet in the 2G spectrum case naming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter and MP Kanimozhi and four others as accused.

However, the CBI has not named Mr. Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal, whose name had figured in the 2G probe, as the accused in the supplementary charge sheet filed before Special judge O.P. Saini.

Others who have been charge sheeted along with Ms. Kanimozhi are Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar, Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa’s cousin Asif Balwa, Rajeev Agarwal — Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, and Karim Murani of Cineyug Films (Pvt) Ltd.

The special court summoned Kanimozhi, Sharad Kumar and Karim Morani to appear before it on May 6 as accused in 2G spectrum case saying “there is enough incriminating material on record” to proceed against them.

Ms. Kanimozhi has been charged with section 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The sections deal with acceptance of alleged gratification.

Ms. Kanimozhi, Mr. Sharad Kumar and Mr. Murani have not been arrested by the CBI but Mr. Asif Balwa and Mr. Agarwal are in judicial custody.

The charge sheet said the investigation into the case disclosed that money had travelled from DB Realty to Kalaignar TV.

Ms. Kanimozhi, Ms. Dayalu Ammal and Mr. Sharad Kumar have 20, 60 and 20 per cent shares in the channel respectively.

The CBI told the court that Rs 200 crore connected with the 2G spectrum scam had travelled from a partnership firm of Swan Telecom Promoter Shahid Usman Balwa to Kalaignar TV Pvt. Ltd.

The agency, which in the first charge sheet had said the money travelled through a “circuitous route” through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, a DB group company and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd, has maintained the position in the second charge sheet.

“Investigations have revealed that in furtherance of the conspiracy, Dynamix Realty, a partnership firm of DB Realty Ltd and other DB group companies, paid Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV Pvt. Ltd during December 2008 to August 2009, following a circuitous route through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd (DB group holds 49 per cent equity in it),” CBI had said in its first charge sheet filed on April 2.
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PWI vs MI: Mumbai Indians beat Pune Warriors by seven wickets

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By Babu Ram:NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians pulled off a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Pune Warriors in their IPL clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Click here to watch Mumbai Indians vs Pune Warriors India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai

It was one of the rare games where a side chasing is in full control despite the match going into the final over and the final ball.

A walk in the park for Mumbai and they have bounced back in style after the loss to Kochi.

Sachin played the sheet-anchor once again and though he fell, the others took them home. Mumbai played at their own pace and the game dawdled along after Rayudu fell. Pune needed to take wickets early on, once they failed to do so, the game was all over.

After the early loss of James Franklin, Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu steadied the Mumbai Indian innings.

Mumbai Indians lost their first wicket early in pursuit of 119 runs to win against the Warriors.

James Franklin (6) got forward and just chipped the leg stump full ball down mid on as Mithun Manhas took a simple catch.

Robin Uthappa smashed a quick-fire 45 but top-order of Pune Warriors India put up a pathetic display and were shot out for 118 in 17.2 overs against Mumbai.

Uthappa cracked a six and six fours in his 27-ball knock to help Pune rally from a sorry-looking 17 for four and get past the 100-run mark which may not be enough on the good batting track.

The initial damage was done by Assam seamer Abu Nechim Ahmed, who replaced an injured Harbhajan Singh in the playing XI today.

He took two wickets in three balls in the fourth over before Munaf Patel also grabbed a couple in three balls to leave Pune on the ropes at 17 for four.

Uthappa's cameo ended, courtesy an outstanding catch in the deep by West Indian Kieron Pollard.

Although there weren't any big partnerships but Uthappa was involved two such efforts which yielded 35 each. First one was for the fifth wicket with Mohnish Mishra (12) and the next for the sixth wicket with Murali Kartik (11).

Munaf Patel was easily the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, ending up with three for 8 in 14 deliveries.

Abu Nechim grabbed two for 13 while Ali Murtaza made ample amends for his costly 19th over during the defeat against Kochi Tuskers Kerala last week by opening the bowling and returning with figures of two for 18.

Warriors, who are eager to get back to winning ways after losing to Delhi Daredevils three days back, made a reasonable start after opting to bat when openers Jesse Ryder and Tim Paine put on 16 with the former being the aggressor.

But things went horribly wrong in the fourth and fifth overs when they lost four wickets in the space of just 7 balls, including that of in-form opener Ryder for 12.

Former India U-19 pacer Abu Nechim, came on to bowl the third over was the unlikely hero.

Ryder mistimed a pull-shot as Nechim fed him with short stuff and Tendulkar took a smart overhead catch running backwards.

If that wasn't enough, Mithun Manhas (0) followed suit when he edged one to Ambati Rayudu who kept today instead of Davy Jacobs.

From 17 for two, it suddenly became 17 for four with Tim Paine (2) and skipper Yuvraj Singh (0) were sent back by Munaf. While Paine got one that climbed pretty fast clipping the off-stump as he tried to pull, Yuvraj had minimal footwoork as he nicked it to give Rayudu his second catch.

Uthappa, who came in at the fall of the second wicket then started a repair job with Mohnish Mishra.

Uthappa hit a four and six off Pollard to provide some momentum to the team's total however Mishra who hit two boundaries was holed out in the deep off Ali Murtaza's bowling with Warriors tottering at 52 for five.

Then it was Kartik who joined Uthappa as they added another 35 runs to take the total to 87 before Kartik chipped a fuller delivery from Malinga to Andrew Symonds at mid-on.

Uthappa who looked good enough and deserved a half century was finally gone when he tried to hit Murtaza but Pollard's acrobatic effort cut short his innings.

At 98 for seven, it was difficult for the Warriors to put up a respectable T20 score. Leggie Rahul Sharma (13, 9 balls) hit a six and four off James Franklin to take the score past 100 but Munaf got his third wicket as he was caught bu Murtaza at deep point.

The worst part about Pune's batting was they failed to utilise 16 deliveries in the end which could have meant another 25 runs if they had wickets in hand.

Teams (from):

Pune Warriors: Jesse Ryder, Tim Paine(wk), Mithun Manhas, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh(c), Mohnish Mishra, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Murali Kartik, Rahul Sharma, Shrikant Wagh, Alfonso Thomas

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (c), Ambati Rayudu (wk), Abu Nechim, Rohit Sharma, James Franklin, Andrew Symonds, Kieron Pollard, Rajagopal Sathish, Lasith Malinga, Ali Murtaza, Munaf Patel
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Buoyant Daredevils cross swords with Deccan

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By Babu Ram:After experiencing the high of India’s World Cup triumph, the country’s cricket crazy fans were expected to take time to warm up to the Indian Premier League.

If the IPL managed to ignite the interest of the followers sooner than expected, it has a lot of do with one peculiar trend that emerges from the results so far. The defeat of a pre-match favourite in T20 is not all that surprising. But what catches the eye is the uniform manner in which the underdogs have inflicted defeats on previously unbeaten teams by chasing down targets in excess of 180. Indeed, the script could not have been better.

After two losses, Kochi Tuskers Kerala brought down the mighty Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab shook off an embarrassing defeat in its opener to stun defending champion Chennai Super Kings. Delhi Daredevils, following two defeats, is the latest to join the ‘club’ in opening its account at the expense of then leader Pune Warriors.

These results ensured there were no unbeaten teams in the fray and also, no team was without a win. Remember, so far, less than a third of league matches have been played.

Perhaps, this unpredictability was needed to bring the cricket watchers back to the stadium in good numbers. Armed with just one big victory, even those placed among the bottom-four in the league table have ensured that their ‘fans’ pack the stadium during the home games.

Two such teams, Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers, face off at the Ferozeshah Kotla here. Deccan, the 2009 champion, has lost three games, including the first two, but recorded a jinx-breaking triumph at its home ground by stopping Royal Challengers Bangalore after setting up a target.

Daredevils, pounded by Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, is understandably upbeat following its praiseworthy run chase over the Yuvraj Singh-led Warriors. Arguably, Daredevils relies far too heavily on skipper Virender Sehwag and left-handed David Warner, the two survivors from the team that lost to Deccan here precisely a year ago. Upfront, the pair is most destructive in the competition but also, always, offers the opposition the hope of a breakthrough.

Venugopal Rao is looking increasingly confident, unlike the rest in the middle-order. James Hopes, the man who put the finishing touches after being drafted in at the last minute, is a handy all-rounder. But the bowling resources make Daredevils a vulnerable team.

Deccan Chargers must be licking its fingers in anticipation of facing the new-ball attack in the hands of an inconsistent Ashok Dinda and an off-form Irfan Pathan, the all-rounder bought for a whopping $1.9 million! Morne Morkel, who missed the last game due to injury, is without doubt a better option.

Some among the untested bowlers like Avishkar Salvi, Ajit Agarkar, Rajesh Pawar, Yogesh Nagar and Vikas Mishra, among others, may have to be summoned at some point because the current attack is, perhaps, the weakest in the competition.

The talent-hunters from Daredevils, including its manager Aashish Kapoor, could well be left red-faced should the bowlers continue to concede more runs than their strong batting line-up is capable of scoring.

The Deccan line-up, including skipper Kumar Sangakkara, the talented Jean-Paul Duminy, Delhi lad Shikhar Dhawan, in-form Bharat Chipli and Ravi Teja, can combine to exploit the home team’s weakness.

The attack, including speedster Dale Styen, Delhi boy Ishant Sharma and former Daredevils leg-spinner Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha and an unpredictable medium pacer Manpreet Gony, gives Deccan a more balanced look.

However, both teams lack the look of assurance. Though these are still early days in the competition, it is also time to score over the unsettled formations before they find their feet. By the looks of it, the decisive phase of the match could well be how Deccan bowls to Daredevils. Yet, no clear favourite here.
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the new experimental color reading in blog

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Babu Ram-If your blog content is abundant, then the blogger as the new experimental color reading- in terms of reading is very good and effective
For example, the blog and see the new link click http://hindiwebdunianews.blogspot.com/view/  .You see the contents of this blog will find the following 5 options -

Aflipakard
Mozacka
Sidebar
Snapshot
Taimslaead

Composers such as blogs and even then it's great. The facility should be open to fullfeeds of your blog.

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Japanese PM Says Nuclear Plant Stabilizing

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By Babu Ram-Japan's prime minister says the situation is stabilizing at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant even though his government has elevated the level of the crisis on an international scale.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan offered the assurances Tuesday in a nationally televised news conference, hours after his government designated the accident as a level seven - the highest level on the nuclear incident scale formulated by the International Atomic Energy Agency. That puts it on the same level as the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl.

A series of strong aftershocks is hampering efforts to repair systems at the Fukushima plant, including a 6.0-magnitude quake Tuesday that forced workers to evacuate the site for the second time in two days. The plant's operators said there were no immediate signs of new damage from the aftershock, which followed a 6.2-magnitude quake on Monday.

Officials raised the crisis from a five to a seven on the international scale, indicating a major accident with widespread health and environmental effects. But they stressed that radiation released since an earthquake and tsunami destroyed the plant's cooling systems on March 11 is only 10 percent of what was released at Chernobyl.

Kan said at his press conference that the levels of radiation leaking from the plant are now decreasing and that the situation is moving "one step at a time" toward stability.

He also said it is time for the country to turn to the task of reconstruction, saying it must regain the determination it showed in rebuilding after World War II. He said Japan should not just restore things as they were before but build a better future than before.

Kan urged citizens to abandon the self-restraint they have shown out of respect for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which has left about 28,000 people dead or missing. He said they should help the survivors by buying good including food products from the areas most affected by the disasters.

Officials with Japan's nuclear safety agency said the decision to raise the accident level was based on a detailed assessment of how much radiation has escaped from the plant over the past month, especially in the first days after the tsunami knocked out its cooling systems.

A similar assessment led to a decision Monday to evacuate residents from five communities outside the existing exclusion zone and urge residents between 20 and 30 kilometers from the plant to be prepared to move quickly.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano stressed that, unlike the Chernobyl accident in what is now Ukraine, there has so far been no "direct health hazard" from the Fukushima accident. The Chernobyl disaster is believed to have killed about two dozen people within days and thousands more over the ensuing years.

Safety agency officials also noted that, in Chernobyl, radiation spread over a wide area when a reactor exploded. So far at Fukushima, most of the radiation has been contained within large concrete chambers, though they may be leaking.

SBI-led consortium picks up about 23.3% stake in Kingfisher

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By Babu Ram-Mumbai, Apr 6 (PTI) As part of debt recast process of Kingfisher Airlines, a consortium of banks, including SBI and ICICI Bank, has converted debt of Rs 750 crore into equity shares amounting to over 23 per cent in the company. Kingfisher Airlines owed about Rs 7,600 crore to 13 banks which was restructured last year. As many as 11.6 crore shares were alloted to banks for Rs 750.09 crore. A conversion price of Rs 64.48 a piece was arrived on March 1 as per a SEBI guideline. The market value of these shares at today''s closing price of Rs 48.05 per share is Rs 557.38 crore. SBI was alloted 2.8 crore equity shares on preferential basis on account of conversion of compulsorily convertible preference shares under corporate debt restructuring, the bank said. By virtue the conversion, State Bank of India (SBI) holds 5.67 per cent in the airline. Another lender ICICI Bank was allotted 2.6 crore shares and the lender owns 5.3 per cent in the airline. Both the lenders together hold about 10.97 per cent in the carrier. The allotment of shares was done on March 31, 2011. This cashless transaction is a part of corporate debt restructuring agreed by banks and the airline company. Other large lenders like IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank have also got some stake in the airline after conversion of a portion of the debt. While IDBI Bank has got about 3.4 per cent stake in the second largest domestic airline company, Punjab National Bank holds about 1 per cent. After the debt restructuring, the combined shareholding of Kingfisher''s promoters has declined to 58.6 per cent from earlier level of 66.2 per cent, Kingfisher Airlines Director Ravi Nedungadi told PTI over phone from Bangalore. Nedungadi is also Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of UB Group, promoter of Kingfisher Airlines. The paid-up equity capital of the company has increased to Rs 497 crore from Rs 265 crore as allotmnet include fresh equities as well. "We have issued 5.68 per cent new equity shares to SBI, which is our largest lender, under the master debt recast plan which we accepted late last year," he said. This move by the lenders follows a decision taken during end-November 2010 on a debt recast package, effected after a one-time relaxation in restructuring guidelines sanctioned by the Reserve Bank of India. The consortium had given loans to UB Group''s Kingfisher Airlines which was restructured last year as the airline companies found difficult to repay loans hit by global meltdown. Shares of Kingfisher Airlines closed at 48.05, up 4.57 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange. .
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US death row injection comes from Mumbai firm

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By Babu Ram-MUMBAI: Correctional services in the US are buying sodium thiopental from a little-known firm in Borivli (West) for use in lethal injections to execute death sentences.

Kayem Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, at Marian Colony, shipped a 500-gram consignment of the yellow powder, packed in a hefty 25-kg strongbox, on December 8, 2010, to the Nebraska department of correctional services. Sodium thiopental is generally used along with pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride to create a cocktail with which several states in the US carry out the death sentence by lethal injection. In February this year, Kayem sold another consignment to the South Dakota department of corrections. Executions are yet to be carried out by Nebraska or South Dakota with the drug purchased from Kayem.

Sodium thiopental has been in short supply in the US for about a year after the sole American company that manufactured it ceased production. That has forced American prisons to look abroad. For Nebraska and South Dakota, that search led to the residential Greenfield Cooperative Housing Society in Borivli (West), where Kayem is located. Kayem is a two-room set-up — office and storeroom — with a balcony that doubles as a kitchen.

American prisons have taken flak for purchasing sodium thiopental, used in lethal injections, from overseas. An earlier purchase from the UK apparently degraded by the time it reached American shores, said Clive Stafford Smith, director of Reprieve, an international charity assisting people around the world facing the death penalty. "The failure of the sodium thiopental purchased in the UK has thus far caused the excruciating and torturous death of three people, one in Arizona and two in Georgia," Smith said.

That prompted a lawyer in Nebraska — where the execution of Carey Dean Moore, 53, is pending — to move court there against the use of the sodium thiopental bought from Kayem. There were also questions raised about whether Kayem is properly registered in the US.

Officials in the Nebraska corrections department did not respond to queries emailed by this newspaper. However, replying to the court in the Nebraska case, state solicitor-general J Kirk Brown said: "The state of Nebraska has duly enacted a new statutory method of execution (lethal injection) and adopted an execution protocol pursuant to the statute, which together satisfy all currently understood requirements of our state and federal constitutions."

Kayem, a small-scale Indian company, may now be in a position to increase its business. "Several American states have now approached us for sodium thiopental," said Navneet Verma, director, Kayem Pharmaceuticals. Verma said he sold the first consignment of 500 grams to the Nebraska correctional services at $3.50 a gram. That works out to $1,750, or around Rs 78,000. When officials at the South Dakota department of corrections evinced interest to buy the same drug, Kayem jacked the price up to $10 a gram.

Derived by mixing sodium and thiopentone, the drug sodium thiopental doesn't really require a huge facility to manufacture and goes for around Rs 35 a gram in the Indian market.
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Sachin Tendulkar rules out immediate retirement

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By Babu Ram-NEW DELHI: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Monday made it clear that he has no immediate plans of quitting ODIs, saying he was enjoying the game even more now and still has the "desire and the passion" to play for India.

Tendulkar said that the thought of retirement had not crossed his mind and he would let everybody know when he decides to call it a day.

"I have not thought about all that (retirement). If I have ever think about it, what is there to hide. I will tell you openly that day, whatever I decide to do, now I want to enjoy the game," he said, scotching speculation that the champion batsman may quit the shorter version of the game to prolong his Test career.

"The passion of cricket has not died. The love of the game is very much alive and I have played such a long time because of that I don't see any reason why that would change now. It is time to enjoy the game even more. I'm looking forward to it and continue. It is a wonderful moment and I should cherish it," he said in media interviews.

Asked where he saw himself five years down the line, Tendulkar said, "I don't know I'll still be Sachin Tendulkar... I don't think I'll be playing in the next World Cup but I am enjoying right now and I want to enjoy the moment."

"This is a rare moment and we have to appreciate the fact that something special has happened to this nation and just enjoy this moment," he added.

Asked what is the difference between this side and the teams of the past, he said, "This side has more match-winners, guys who can win a match on their own. There is a fine balance in the team."

In a career spanning 21 years, Tendulkar has played in 177 Tests and 453 ODIs so far, scoring a record 14,692 and 18,111 runs respectively.
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World Cup 2011 Cricket Team India

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By Babu Ram-MUMBAI: When Mahendra Singh Dhoni lofted Nuwan Kulasekara for the winning six against Sri Lanka, he stood gazing at the ball as it flew through the Mumbai night sky, soaking up the sweet moment and the reward for four years of hard work and the introduction of a work ethic and team bonding not seen in previous Indian teams.

Four years ago, the team was in ruins after crashing out in the first round of the World Cup in the Caribbean, with fans baying for the cricketers' blood.

But the transition in the next four-year cycle has been outstanding, the picture completed with the six-wicket victory at the Wankhede Stadium, when Dhoni anchored the run chase with his knock of 91.

The three characters who stand out for India in the transformation of the team's approach are Dhoni, low-profile coach Gary Kirsten and the indefatigable Sachin Tendulkar.

If Dhoni has marshaled his resources well, Kirsten has been the facilitator of systems and Tendulkar the biggest inspiration for younger players.

These three have transformed the team into a powerful unit that has done well in different conditions around the world and also come back from the brink to achieve impressive victories.

Tendulkar, who has played with many top players in his 21 years of international cricket, said Saturday he was enjoying playing like never before.

"This team shows a lot of self belief and is extremely consistent," Tendulkar said after the victory. "It is a great honor to be part of this team."

The Indian team, already enjoying top ranking in Test cricket, is now also atop the one-day table.

In the past few years, India has come back undefeated from Test tours of Australia and South Africa, won a Test series in New Zealand as well as one-day series in Australia and Sri Lanka, all considered difficult feats for any team.

But the one event that triggered the cycle was the Twenty20 World Championship victory in South Africa four years ago, which offset the despair of the 2007 World Cup and refreshed the side.

Dhoni gave the first glimpse of his charismatic qualities as a leader of a young team and slowly took over as captain of one-dayers and test matches too.

Dhoni conceded the other day that he does not believe in too much planning and likes to give players freedom as well as responsibilities.

"I don't even attend the bowlers' meeting. I'm happy to let them come up with strategies and keep that out of my mind," he said about the Zaheer Khan-led attack.

But Dhoni, like most others, accepts that South African Kirsten's contribution has been immense, specially in removing the insecurities that have dogged players in the past.

"Everyone knows what he has done for the team. He knows our players very well and is probably the best thing to happen to Indian cricket," Dhoni said of him.

Supporting Kirsten has been South African Paddy Upton, credited with the players' better mental conditioning.

The team management has also thought out of the box and been inspired by the likes of high altitude climber and Arctic explorer Mike Horn.

"Mike is an adventurer and the stories that he tells of his experiences are simply outstanding. He has given us insight into what the human mind can do for us," Dhoni said of him.

India opener Virender Sehwag, like many of his teammates, said the team had been wanting to win the World Cup for Tendulkar and revealed that the team had been aiming for the win for over a year.

"For more than one year, we have been aiming to do this. It has been a team effort with even a 38-yer-old Tendulkar diving on the boundary line today," Sehwag said after the victory.
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India beat Sri Lanka to win ICC World Cup 2011

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NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni (91 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (97) helped India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the ICC World Cup 2011 at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. Dhoni joined legendary Kapil Dev to lift the coveted trophy for India. 
Dhoni played captain's innings in the summit clash as he hit two sixes and eight fours in his 79-ball innings and raced to fifty in just 52 balls.

The skipper added a record 109-run partnership with Gambhir for the fourth wicket, which was highest for India in World Cup finals, to chase the challenging 275-run target.

Gambhir missed to score a hundred in the World Cup final as Lankan all-rounder Thisara Parera clean bowled him in the 42nd over.

After losing two quick wickets, Virat Kohli (35) added a valuable 83-run stand with Gambhir to resurrect the Indian innings.

Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga dismissed Sachin Tendulkar (18) and Virender Sehwag (0) early to jolt the India run-chase. Tendulkar was going smoothly as he hit two fours in his 14-ball 18 innings before Malinga struck in the seventh over.

India started the run-chase on terrible note as they lost Virender Sehwag (0) on the second ball of the match as Malinga trapped dashing opener LBW in his opening over.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene slammed 14th one-day hundred, second of the mega-event, to help Sri Lanka post 274/6 against 1983 champions.

Jayawardene used all his experience to score unbeaten 88-ball 103 as he hit 13 fours and raced to his hundred in just 84 balls.

With this Jayawardene joined the elite group of batsmen who scored a century in the World Cup finals - Clive Lloyd ('75), Viv Richards ('79), Arvinda de Silva ('96), Ricky Ponting ('03) and Adam Gilchrist ('07).

Thisara Perera joined the party in their batting powerplay as he slammed a six and three fours in his 9-ball 22 blitzkrieg. Sri Lanka piled agony for India in the period as they scored 63 runs and lost only a wicket.

For India, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh took two wickets apiece to halt Sri Lanka innings before Jayawardene started dominating the proceedings with Nuwan Kulasekara (32).

In between, Zaheer equalled Shahid Afridi as leading wicket-taker when Chamara Kapugedera became his 21st victim of the World Cup.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against India.

Sri Lanka (SL) vs India (Ind)		Sri Lanka
India: 277/4(48.2 ov)		Series:	Cricket World Cup, 2011
India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets		Venue:	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
		Date:	Feb 19 - Apr 02 , 2011

India Batting innings BATSMAN STATUS RUNS BALLS 4's 6's SR Virender Sehwag lbw b Lasith Malinga 0 2 0 0 0 Sachin Tendulkar c Kumar Sangakkara b Lasith Malinga 18 14 2 0 129 Gautam Gambhir b Thisara Perera 97 122 9 0 80 Virat Kohli c & b Tillakaratne Dilshan 35 49 4 0 71 MS Dhoni (C) (W) not out 91 79 8 2 115 Yuvraj Singh not out 21 24 2 0 88 Suresh Raina Harbhajan Singh Zaheer Khan Munaf Patel Sreesanth Total: (277/4 in 48.2 overs)

Sri Lanka Bowling innings BOWLER OVER MAIDEN RUNS WICKET NO BALL WIDE ECO Lasith Malinga 9 0 42 2 0 2 4.6 Nuwan Kulasekara 8.2 0 64 0 0 0 7.8 Thisara Perera 9 0 55 1 0 2 6.1 Suraj Randiv 9 0 43 0 0 0 4.7 Tillakaratne Dilshan 5 0 27 1 0 1 5.4 Muttiah Muralidaran

Sri Lanka (SL) vs India (Ind) India Sri Lanka: 274/6(50.0 ov) Series: Cricket World Cup, 2011 India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Date: Feb 19 - Apr 02 , 2011

Sri Lanka Batting innings BATSMAN STATUS RUNS BALLS 4's 6's SR Upul Tharanga c Virender Sehwag b Zaheer Khan 2 20 0 0 10 Tillakaratne Dilshan b Harbhajan Singh 33 49 3 0 67 Kumar Sangakkara (C) (W) c MS Dhoni b Yuvraj Singh 48 67 5 0 72 Mahela Jayawardena not out 103 88 13 0 117 Thilan Samaraweera lbw b Yuvraj Singh 21 34 2 0 62 Chamara Kapugedera c Suresh Raina b Zaheer Khan 1 5 0 0 20 Nuwan Kulasekara run out (MS Dhoni) 32 30 1 1 107 Thisara Perera not out 22 9 3 1 244 Lasith Malinga Suraj Randiv Muttiah Muralidaran Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 6, nb 2) Run Rate:5.48 Total: (274/6 in 50.0 overs) Power Play 1: 1-10, 2: 11-15, 3: 46-50 overs; India Bowling innings BOWLER OVER MAIDEN RUNS WICKET NO BALL WIDE ECO Zaheer Khan 10 3 60 2 0 1 6 Sreesanth 8 0 52 0 2 0 6.5 Munaf Patel 9 0 41 0 0 1 4.5 Harbhajan Singh 10 0 50 1 0 1 5 Yuvraj Singh 10 0 49 2 0 0 4.9 Sachin Tendulkar 2 0 12 0 0 3 6 Virat Kohli 1 0 6 0 0 0 6

  

Just one step

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Babu Ram-Just one step ... A match and ... Only a full understanding of the innings with Sachin Tendulkar and thus the country will fulfill the dream of millions. Before the World Cup, winning him the captains of the claim, not a lack of players. They also under a strategy to win Huankar fill out in order to bring pressure on rivals. But Tendulkar World Cup Huankar not loaded, but he appeared to pray.

In his typical modest style that appeared to say that his last wish is that once he won the World Cup bike. Sachin Tendulkar who has the desire not be sentimental. Give other players a team after a statement appeared that they must win the World Cup for Sachin. But Sachin and his own Fains also knew that to aspire to be a full second later and wish.

But now the Indian World Cup win came at a distance of one step, now seemed that the only aspire not only to Sachin. He just prayed he did not forget, but then to meet him like he had a Karmayogee body itself - the mind was saddled with the job. It is no coincidence that Sachin has scored 464 in the World Cup, which most are from India.

Top scorers of the tournament just three runs from Dilshan running back. India had reached the 2003 World Cup finals, even the most scored by Sachin Tendulkar won the Golden Bat. If the time noticed Tendulkar's role limited to only team to score. The time of his fielding style looks different, not like a 36 year-old man is 20 years young is fielding.

More importantly, the entire team because of his unique enthusiasm and commitment is visible. Would not be a surprise if the World Cup later that Yuvraj Singh, Sachin to disclose that he wanted to win the World Cup. Sachin the team has worked nearly every player's mentor. He told them not only to technical requirements of the game, the guide is taking them to the mental needs.

Sachin's commitment to see millions of their fans would be disappointed at least reaching the final. Rather than own them to Sachin about, they do not want to disappoint them. Sachin Tendulkar playing cricket for the country as a young age and all the way to create such a record despite the anguish in their hearts to win the World Cup is not made up, like a child wishes to become the object of her choice . Why not aspire too?

Who does not wish to complete? Sachin's cricket career will be complete from the World Cup. Saturday will find the prayers of millions in their prayers. Some even get to see the result, India win or lose, it's sure to be Haoaihval entire nation wakes up after the match.