Dhoni wants Test to end in 3 days: Eden curator

December 2, 2012
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Kolkata, December 2: After having single-handedly fought a 'pitched battle' with BCCI and CAB for five days, Eden Gardens curator Prabir Mukherjee 'retired hurt' on Saturday, but not before lashing out at skipper MS Dhoni's demand for a rank turner for the third Test between India and England starting here on Wednesday.

Mukherjee, 83, reluctant to oblige Dhoni's 'unreasonable demand', complained of uneasiness on Friday night and was advised by his doctors to take complete rest for the next few days. Bowing to family pressure, the octogenarian - who lost his wife and daughter earlier this year - requested CAB on Saturday morning to grant him leave on medical grounds. But by evening, Mukherjee was back tending the Eden Gardens pitch following a sordid day-long drama.


It started with the veteran curator's now-show at Eden on Saturday morning. Instead, he addressed the media at his home during the course of which he took pot shots at Dhoni.

"Dhoni has asked for a square turner. This is immoral because you (organisers) are selling tickets for a five-day Test. On a square turner, there's every chance of a match ending in three days. Why rob people of two days' play? It's immoral and illogical to tamper with the pitch. I've not done it in my life," Mukherjee, Eden's curator for 15 years, said.

Reminded about Dhoni's preference, an agitated Mukherjee shot back: "If he asks for the moon, is it possible to give him that? The players are contracted to the BCCI and get paid handsomely to play good cricket. Their contracts don't stipulate that they would get this (turners). Climatic conditions vary from state to state. What you get in Mumbai, you won't get in Kolkata because the conditions and soil content are different," he added.

Pointing out that tending to pitches was his passion, not profession, Mukherjee said: "I don't want to be a party to tampering with the pitch at Eden Gardens. If anything goes wrong, I don't want to be hanged."

Mukherjee felt aggrieved after the BCCI rushed East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmick to Eden to "assist" him prepare the pitch. Mukherjee made it clear that he had nothing against Bhowmick. "He is a good man. Unfortunately he can't say I won't do this because he's just starting off. On the other hand, I'm at the fag end of my life," said Mukherjee, who also took CAB to task for not backing his stand on the pitch issue.

"They're threatening to suspend me if I talk about the pitch. This is the treatment I get after more than two decades of service at CAB," Mukherjee lamented.

Sensing Mukherjee's belligerent mood, CAB rushed treasurer Biswarup Dey to Mukherjee's home in the afternoon to pacify him. Dey escorted Mukherjee to CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya's residence. It required the former BCCI chief's considerable persuasive powers to convince Mukherjee to return to the Eden Gardens later in the day and resume his supervisory role. Mukherjee was seen interacting with Bhowmick, instructing the ground staff, signalling the end of the day-long drama.


"There's no issue at all. We've sorted out the differences. Prabir Mukherjee remains the Eden Gardens curator. He will be in-charge of the Test match against England starting on December 5 and the India versus Pakistan ODI on January 3 next year," Dalmiya told newsmen.

He blamed the media for creating an "unnecessary" controversy. "I've been hearing all sorts of stories everyday created by the media. He (Prabir) couldn't come to Eden Gardens this morning because he wasn't well. I've requested him to come at least for a few hours daily to supervise preparation of the pitch," Dalmiya said.




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News Network
February 29,2020

Feb 29: India were all out for 242 in their first innings following a stunning battling collapse, triggered by paceman Kyle Jamieson on the opening day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval, here on Saturday.

India were steady at 194 for five at tea but lost wickets in quick succession after the play resumed. Jamieson returned figures of 14-3-45-5.

Hanuma Vihari top-scored for India with his combative 55 while Prithvi Shaw (54) and Cheteshwar Pujara (54) hit contrasting half-centuries.

Virat Kohli's (3) poor run continued while his deputy Ajikya Rahane (7) also fell cheaply.

India lost last five wickets for 48 runs, of which 26 were contributed by last-wicket pair of Mohammed Shami (16) and Jasprit Bumrah (10).

Brief Scores:

India 1st innings: 242 all out in 63 overs. (H Vihari 55, P Shaw 54, C Pujara 54 batting; Kyle Jamieson 5/45, Tim Southee 2/38, ).

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News Network
March 21,2020

London, Mar 21: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended all professional cricket till May 28, delaying the start of the new season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ECB took the decision following discussions with the First-Class Counties, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).

"It was agreed that, given the current information available, a seven-week delay to the start of the season is the most appropriate approach," an ECB media statement said.

The Board also announced that it is working on three new options, including the three-Test series against West Indies, the T20 Cup and the women's schedule against India, for a possible start in June, July or August.

"Close liaison with the Government will continue, with discussions on the potential of starting the season behind closed doors and giving sports fans the opportunity to live broadcast action," the statement said on Friday.

"The potential for reduced versions of competitions, should the season become further truncated, will also be discussed."

The ECB said it will meet as needed to review the position and make further decisions as the UK situation unfolds.

"During this period of deep uncertainty it is the ECB’s first priority to protect the wellbeing of everyone within the cricket family, from players, to fans and colleagues across the game,’’ ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said.

"The decision to delay the start of the season has been essential, given the circumstances the nation faces. I am reassured by the collaborative effort from across the game that together, we will make the very best of whatever length of season we are able to safely schedule in the coming months," he added.

He said this would give the ECB time to keep pace with a fast-moving situation and continue to plan for how a revised season might look.

"Critically, we can also remain as flexible and adaptable as possible, within the obvious restrictions we face."

Last week, England's tour of Sri Lanka was called off mid tournament in view of the rising threat of the pandemic.

"Securing the future of the game will be a primary focus as we plot a revised schedule with an emphasis on the most financially important forms of the game for the counties across international and domestic cricket," Harrison said.

The COVID-19 global death toll has climbed past 11,000 with more than 250,000 infected. In UK, close to 4000 have tested positive so far and 177 died.

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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed live-streamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout?

Since then the Olympic silver-medallist -- and strong contender for her country's first Games gold -- has made enough money to buy food packs for hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March.

"I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I'm not physically present," Diaz, 29, told news agency.

"It's a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising."

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families.

The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete.

Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging a surprise silver in the 53 kilogramme category in Rio, becoming the Philippines' first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation's 20-year medal drought at the Games.

Two years later, she won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

However, her quest to qualify for Tokyo is on hold ahead of the Games' rescheduled opening in July 2021.

"I thought all the hard work would soon be over... then it was extended," she said. "But I'm still thankful I can still continue with (the training) I need to do."

Still, the lockdown broke her daily training regimen, keeping her away from weights for 14 days for the first time in her career.

"I felt like I was losing my mind already. I've been carrying the barbell for 18 years and all of a sudden it's gone. Those were the kinds of anxiety that I felt," she said.

But she got access to some equipment, and with her coach's urging, got back to work. She was relieved to find her strength was still there.

Instead of a Tokyo berth, the past months have been about a different kind of accomplishment for Diaz: helping her countrymen get through the coronavirus crisis.

Rosemelyn Francisco's family in Zamboanga City, Diaz's home town, is one of the first to get help from the athlete's initiative, and is deeply grateful.

Her family was not wealthy to begin with, and the pandemic has cost her husband his construction job.

"The food she donated has all everything we need, including eggs," said Francisco, 27.

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