I won`t even be 41 when IPL 6 starts, says Ganguly

by Babu Ram : Turning 40 might club him in the league of veterans but Sourav Ganguly is not yet ready to throw in the towel as far as his participation in the next edition of IPL is concerned.

"I will take a call next season. As a matter of fact, I would not be even 41 when the IPL 6 would begin in 2013," Ganguly, who turns 40 tomorrow, said when asked about his plans for next year`s Indian Premier League.

This despite a poor fifth season for Pune Warriors India as the team`s skipper.



Ganguly is a believer and 40 is just a number for him.

Talking to a news agency on the eve of his birthday, Ganguly said: "40 is just a number to me. For me life is simple and consistent. It (the age) does not matter to me, it makes no difference at all.

Taking a dig at his detractors, India`s most successful Test captain had earlier said: "I`m also a human and prone to failures. Somehow you have to deal with it. Many captains have failed (in the IPL) but it`s Sourav Ganguly who always makes the headlines."


Asked to pick his finest moment as a cricketer, the stylish left-hander, who guided India to the 2003 World Cup final, said his entire life has been satisfying.

"I cherish my entire life. I`ve been blessed with a life full of good memories," Ganguly, who has the most number of Test wins (21) as captain of India, said.

At the same time, he refused to talk about former coach Greg Chappell with whom he had a stormy relationship, leading to his ouster from the Indian team in 2005.

Asked whether he regrets his decision of bringing the Aussie and get him the Indian coaching job, Ganguly said: " As I`ve said earlier, I don`t want to talk about Greg Chappell."

He might not have put it in as many words, but Ganguly obviously seemed unhappy about Chappell`s fresh salvo at him in one of the articles in a book on Rahul Dravid.

"Sadly, the success of the team (under Dravid) was not universally enjoyed within the team. Some individuals felt threatened by the new world order and appeared to work against Rahul...," wrote Chappell in the book `Timeless Steel`.

The Aussie did not name anybody but many believed that he pointed his fingers at Ganguly again.

"I`ve read his comments. I don`t think it has put me against Dravid," Ganguly said.

MI vs DD: Delhi Daredevils need 179 runs to win against Mumbai Indians

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By Babu Ram
  
NEW DELHI: Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma added quick 50-run partnership to lead Mumbai Indians innings against Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League match at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Click here to watch Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai

Morne Morkel claimed Rohit Sharma after the later scored a quick-fire 49 of 32 balls.

Scorecard

Mumbai lost Sachin Tendulkar (14) and Aiden Blizzard (37) in quick succession after giving a flying start against Delhi.

Shahbaz Nadeem got rid of Aiden Blizzard for 37 of 23 balls. Nadeem bowled a quicker delivery, Blizzard mistimed the pull shot, and the ball went straight to Sehwag's hands at mid wicket.

Irfan Pathan dismissed Sachin for 14. It was a short of length delivery that curled into off stump, Sachin missed the ball and the off stump was pegged back.

Earlier, Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to field first.

Mumbai retained the same eleven that defeated Pune Warriors in their previous game while Delhi Daredevils brought in opener David Warner and all-rounder Colin Ingram in place of Aaron Finch and Travis Birt besides replacing Avishkar Salvi with Shahbaz Nadeem.

Teams:

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar(c), Aiden Blizzard, Ambati Rayudu(w), Rohit Sharma, Tirumalsetti Suman, Kieron Pollard, Andrew Symonds, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Munaf Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni

Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag(c), David Warner, James Hopes, Venugopal Rao, Colin Ingram, Naman Ojha(w), Yogesh Nagar, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Morne Morkel, Shahbaz Nadeem
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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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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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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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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.

Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka knock out jaded England

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By Babu Ram-ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 quarter-final: Sri Lanka v England, Colombo: Sri Lanka 231-0 beat England 229-6 by 10 wickets

ngland crashed out of the World Cup as Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga hit centuries to guide Sri Lanka to an emphatic 10-wicket quarter-final win.

Jonathan Trott's stubborn 86 provided the spine as England battled to a seemingly competitive total of 229-6.

But Tharanga and Dilshan made quick progress in the run-chase to take the game away from a tired England.

Dilshan ended with 108 and Tharanga 102 as Sri Lanka consigned England to only their fifth 10-wicket one-day loss.

This was an even more decisive quarter-final defeat than the one they inflicted on England 15 years ago, when another opener - Sanath Jayasuriya - clubbed 82 from 44 balls to set up a five-wicket win in Faisalabad.

However, in contrast to the 1996 tournament and the subsequent three global events, England can take something positive away from this World Cup.

"We've always been hopeful of showing up on the night, there's never been a clear plan. There's been confusion and a feeling of not knowing what our best XI is. We won the Ashes 3-1, brilliant. Now they have to admit they got the situation for the World Cup completely wrong. I remember in 2003 we complained about the schedule, in 2007 it happened again. In 2011 it happened again. It wasnt professional, The Ashes was."  Test match Special's Michael Vaughan

While they failed to consistently reach the standards expected of them - no more so than in Colombo - they were always worth watching.

For better or worse, Andrew Strauss' side have been the tournament's entertainers - participating in the kind of tense, narrow encounters the competition desperately needs to maintain public interest.

But unlike England's previous games this was disappointingly lacking in tension as openers Tharanga and Dilshan set about pursuing a target that appeared competitive at the break, but was soon shown to be inadequate.

No opening pairing has performed better at this World Cup than the two Sri Lankans, who added 282 against Zimbabwe in the group stage and were in similarly aggressive mood.

They had a few slices of luck on a surface that certainly offered some purchase to the spinners, but as the innings wore on rarely looked like being parted as they carried their side through to a semi-final showdown with New Zealand at the same ground on Tuesday.

Defeat brought an end to England's long winter, which peaked with victory over Australia in the Ashes in January but had been in steady decline since and a physically and mentally tired squad were unable to raise their game as the Sri Lankan batsmen drove relentlessly towards the finishing line.

Tharanga and Dilshan had 50 on the scoreboard before nine overs had been bowled and 100 up by the end of the 18th, whereas it took England until the end of the 27th over of their innings to reach three figures, by which time they had also lost three wickets, such was the gulf in class between the two sides.

Earlier, Trott had been the stand-out batsman for England with a defiant 86, while Eoin Morgan had chipped in with a typically busy 50, but both of these paled in comparison to the innings played by Sri Lanka's dynamic opening pair.

England made an uneasy start to their innings, with Strauss clearly uncomfortable against the off-spin of Dilshan, and it was no surprise when he was bowled for five, playing attempting an ugly swipe to leg.

Tharanga and Dilshan were the architects of Sri Lanka's victory

Ian Bell made a more promising start in his first match as an opener since 2008 but was back in the dressing roon after his captain following a mis-timed on-drive that was caught by Thilan Samaraweera off Angelo Mathews.

Trott and Ravi Bopara steadied the ship by adding 64 in 18 overs, but their partnership was ended by Muttiah Muralitharan, who trapped Bopara trapped lbw as he attempted to sweep a full delivery.

Trott though continued in typically stubborn fashion to elevate himself to the top of the tournament's high scorers list by passing the 400-run barrier, before being caught in the deep off Muralitharan in the penultimate over.

Prior to this, the South African-born batsman shared a stand of 91 with Morgan, who benefitted three times from dropped catches and also Sri Lanka's decision to eschew referring an lbw appeal that replays showed to be clear-cut.

However, the curse of the powerplay did for Morgan as Mathews made amends to catch him off the bowling of Mendis, who with his very next ball brought an immediate end to the experimental elevation of Swann to number six in the order.

A 22-run cameo from Matt Prior helped England to 229-6, but the total proved woefully short of what was required.

ICC World Cup: Sri Lanka v England
Saturday, 26 March 2011 at Colombo RPS

Sri Lanka beat England by 10 wickets

England won the toss and decided to bat

England Innings 229 for 6 (50.0 overs)

Sri Lanka Innings 231 for 0 (39.3 overs)

England 1st Innings - Close

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Strauss		b Dilshan	5	19	0	0
Bell	c Samaraweera	b Mathews	25	32	3	0
Trott	c M Jayawardene	b Muralitharan	86	115	2	0
Bopara	lbw	b Muralitharan	31	56	1	0
Morgan	c Mathews	b Malinga	50	55	4	0
Swann	lbw	b Mendis	0	1	0	0
Prior	not out		22	19	2	0
Wright	not out		1	3	0	0
Extras		6w 3lb	9
Total		for 6	229	(50.0 ovs)

Bowler O M R W Malinga 10.0 0 46 1 Dilshan 6.0 1 25 1 Mathews 5.0 0 20 1 Herath 10.0 1 47 0 Mendis 10.0 0 34 1 Muralitharan 9.0 0 54 2

Fall of wicket 29 Strauss 31 Bell 95 Bopara 186 Morgan 186 Swann 212 Trott

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Sri Lanka 1st Innings - Close

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
Tharanga	not out		102	122	12	1
Dilshan	not out		108	115	10	2
Extras		6w 9b 6lb	21
Total		for 0	231	(39.3 ovs)

Bowler O M R W Bresnan 8.0 1 40 0 Swann 9.0 0 61 0 Tremlett 7.3 0 38 0 Bopara 5.0 1 22 0 Tredwell 6.0 0 38 0 Wright 4.0 0 17 0

Fall of wicket

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Umpires: B R Doctrove, Taufel, J J Crowe, A L Hill
Sri Lanka: Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara (C/W), M Jayawardene, Mathews, Samaraweera, Silva, Herath, Malinga, Muralitharan, Mendis
England: Strauss (C), Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Wright, Prior (W), Tredwell, Bresnan, Swann, Tremlett