Won't run away from responsibility: MS Dhoni

December 10, 2012

Doni


Kolkata, December 10: Good news! Team India, down in the dumps after losing back-to-back Tests in their backyard, have identified their flaws. But, then, there is nothing new in their job description from here that they didn't know at the start of the four-Test series.

Asked if this was the lowest phase for the team, and also for him as the skipper, Dhoni responded, "I think the England and Australia series, because we were not able to compete. We know what the faults are over here and we should be able to rectify those."

He put the blame squarely on the batsmen.

"The batsmen will have to take up the responsibility. It was a very good wicket to bat on here. Of course their bowlers will send down a few good deliveries that we need to keep out, but most of us in the top seven will have to score at the same time. If you don't score runs in the first innings and the opponents score, you will find yourself under pressure," he said.

"Batsmen have to make sure if they get a start, they make it big."

On the bowling, he said "overall, they are doing well" before going on to be more specific.

"The spinners have done a good job, a bit more contribution from the fast bowlers would really help the side," he said. "Their (England's) spinners looked to bowl in one area, play with the patience of the batsman. If we can be a bit more patient and can bat for a few long sessions, their bowlers will get tired and there'll be more opportunity to score."

Defending coach Duncan Fletcher, Dhoni reminded that 'once you cross the rope, you're on your own'. "That's when you have to perform, that's where we're lacking now. Ultimately, it's about the 11 players who turn up on the field."


Is he still the best person to lead India? "The selectors are here to decide," was the curt reply.

When someone asked how difficult it would be to pick themselves up and try to level the series, the skipper was more forthcoming.


"As a leader, this is a challenge that has been thrown towards me. It's always good to lead a side when everybody is doing well, that's when you don't need a leader," he remarked after saying that "experience will count" when it came to picking themselves up after the two defeats.

"Leading a side is all about leading when the team is not doing well. You try to gel the team together, back the youngsters, back the senior guys, and try to move in the right direction... The easiest thing for me to say right now is, 'I quit captaincy' and be a part of the side. But that's like running away from responsibility. Of course, there are others like the BCCI officials who will want to look into that but my responsibility is to get the team together and be prepared for the next Test match."

He conceded that the transition from the 'Fab Four' era is proving a difficult task.

"The reason is that the experienced guys who were part of the side when the legends were around will feel they have to do exceptionally well even as the youngsters want to perform to be permanent members of the side. It's a situation where everybody is feeling a bit of pressure. We will have to get rid of this and back each other well. But, then, as an individual you have to back yourself really well. Self-belief is very important."

Does he expect a turning track for the final Test in Nagpur? "From here we really don't know what's there in Nagpur, but we've played on wickets in Nagpur that turned and those that didn't."

Well left, skipper!



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News Network
March 19,2020

Geneva, Mar 19: Regional Olympic officials are rallying around the IOC and have backed its stance on opening the Tokyo Games as scheduled, as direct criticism from gold medalist athletes built amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Leaders of continental Olympic groups praised the IOC after a conference call Wednesday to update them on coronavirus issues four months before the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 24.

"We are living through an unpredictable crisis and as such, it is important that we have one policy, expressed by the IOC, and we follow that policy in unison," the Italy-based European Olympic Committees said.

However, when the International Olympic Committee published an interview with its president, Thomas Bach, after a separate call with athlete representatives, it prompted a four-time Olympic champion to urge postponing the games.

Bach acknowledged that many athletes were concerned about qualifying events being canceled, but noted that there were still four months to go until the games are set to be opened.

"We will keep acting in a responsible way in the interests of the athletes," Bach said.

British rowing great Matthew Pinsent wrote on Twitter that the comments from Bach, his former IOC colleague, were "tone deaf."

"The instinct to keep safe (not to mention obey govt instructions to lock down) is not compatible with athlete training, travel and focus that a looming Olympics demands of athletes, spectators organisers," Pinsent wrote.

Responding to the criticism from Hayley Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic hockey gold medalist, the IOC said it was "counting on the responsibility and solidarity of the athletes."

Members reinforce faith in IOC

The IOC repeated its steadfast stance after a conference call with sports governing bodies, many of which have not completed qualification events for Tokyo.

"There is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive," the IOC said.

That message was repeated after Wednesday's conference call by IOC executive board member Robin Mitchell, the interim leader of the group of national Olympic bodies known as ANOC.

"We share the view that we must be realistic, but not panic," Mitchell said in a statement released by the IOC on behalf of the Oceania Olympic group.

Offering unanimous support for the IOC's efforts to resolve qualification issues, the 41-nation Pan-American group noted challenges facing potential Olympians.

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll said his organized recognized there was a global health crisis, but equally was assured by the IOC that the games would go ahead.

"We recognize people are suffering -- people are sick, people are losing jobs, businesses are struggling amid enormous community uncertainty. Things are changing everyday and we all must adapt," Carroll said.

"We owe it to our Australian athletes to do everything we can to ensure they will participate with the best opportunity in those Games."

Australia's team delegation leader said the focus now was "moving to the planning of our pre-Games preparation to ensure we get our athletes to the Games healthy, prepared and virus free."

"Clearly that is a major challenge for all National Olympic Committees," he said.

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News Network
April 27,2020

Lahore, Apr 27: Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for three years for failing to report spot-fixing offers, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Monday.

Umar, who turns 30 next month, pleaded guilty to not reporting the fixing offers which led to his provisional suspension on February 20 this year.

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News Network
January 13,2020

Mumbai, Jan 13: India captain Virat Kohli indicated at dropping himself down the batting order to accommodate both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul in the playing XI against Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series starting Tuesday.

With vice-captain Rohit Sharma an automatic pick, the team management is left with tough choice of selecting either Dhawan or Rahul in the XI. But the skipper sees no reason why both can't play together.

"Look, a guy in form is always good for the team. ...You obviously want to have the best players available and then chose from what the combination should be for the team. There might be a possibility that all three (Rohit, Shikhar and Rahul) might play. It will be interesting to see what balance we want to take in on the field," Kohli said on the eve of the match.

Asked if he would he be happy to bat lower down the order, Virat said,"Yeah, big possibility. I would be very happy to do so. Look I am not possessive about where I play. I am not insecure about where I bat," said the skipper.

For Kohli, it is more important as to what kind of leadership legacy he leaves behind rather than chase personal glory.

"Being the captain of the team, it is my job to make sure that the next lot is also ready. A lot of the other people might not look at it that way, but your job as a captain is not only to look after the team right now, but also to prepare a team that you leave behind when you eventually pass it onto someone else," he added.

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