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Laxman has given strong and clear message to selectors: Ganguly

August 19, 2012

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Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Saturday saluted V.V.S. Laxman for his contribution to the game and said he has given a "strong and clear" message to the selectors by quitting international cricket with immediate effect.

"He has sent a strong and clear message to the selectors. Making this seem like a farewell series does not make sense. It's a tough decision, a fantastic decision. He is 200 percent right... hats off," Ganguly said.

Regretting that selection panel chairman K. Srikkanth had problem in communicating, Ganguly said the selectors should have informed Laxman in advance much before the selection of team for New Zealand that they wanted it to be his farewell series.

"You can't expect a player like Laxman to train hard to keep himself fit for only two Tests. I am surprised the selectors divulged the matter only this month. And this I think has hurt him very much," he said.

Ganguly said Laxman could not be singled out for India's recent dismal 0-8 Test record overseas.

"I was doing commentary during the series in Australia. Despite getting green-top wickets, Ishant Sharma could bag only four wickets in four Test matches. We know how Dhoni failed. Gautam Gambhir's only good contribution is a half-century. So why should only Laxman be singled out?"

"Age can't be a factor. It is a case of unequal treatment. With this policy, you cannot build a good side".

Lashing out at the selectors, Ganguly said they always go for a balancing act and do not concentrate on building a team for the future.

"They axe one player, include another. Indian cricket cannot go ahead in this manner. The thinking is the successors will take care of long term plans".

Reacting to Laxman's comment that he could not reach Dhoni, Ganguly criticised the skipper for not being available for his players all the time.

"A skipper should be available 24 hours. I don't know why Dhoni does this... But I think situation would have been different, had Laxman got Dhoni's support," he said.

Ganguly, however, showered praise on Laxman for his brilliance.

"When he came, he seemed like Azharuddin. Both were equally wristy. But later he developed as a better player than Azharuddin," he said.




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News Network
February 14,2020

Hamilton, Feb 14: Batting first, India finished at 263 for nine on the opening day of the three-day warm-up game against New Zealand XI here on Friday.

Hanuma Vihari made 101 off 182 balls before retiring, while Cheteshwar Pujara scored 93.

Besides, Ajinkya Rahane (18) was the only other Indian batsmen to register double digit score.

The likes of Prithvi Shaw (0), Mayank Agarwal (1) and Shubman Gill (0) failed to cash in on the opportunity.

Scott Kuggeleijn (3/40) and Ish Sodhi (3/72) shared six wickets between them for New Zealand.

Brief Scores:

India: 263 for 9 in 78.5 overs (Hanuma Vihari 101, Cheteshwar Pujara 93; Scott Kuggeleijn 3/40, Ish Sodhi 3/72).

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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Agencies
March 25,2020

Lausanne, Mar 25: The World Archery has hailed as a 'brave decision' the International Olympic Committee (IOC) move to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until next year due to coronavirus pandemic.

"We commend the conscientious and brave decision taken by Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee to delay this summer's Games in the face of an unprecedented challenge to humanity," Ugur Erdener, the World Archery president, said in an official statement.

The decision to postpone the Summer Olympics was confirmed by the IOC, on Tuesday, after the organising body for the event and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to reschedule the quadrennial event in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is not an easy situation, especially for the athletes who had been training hard for Tokyo 2020. I hope that everyone understands why this decision has been made and I urge archers around the world to retain hope and reset for this new timetable," he added.

The IOC has, however, said that the original name of Tokyo 2020 will remain intact irrespective of the fact that it will take place next year.

The Tokyo Olympic Games were slated to be held from July 24 to August 9.

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