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 4,2020

Mar 4: The BCCI has decided to implement strict cost cutting measures with the notable decision being IPL 2020 champions' prize money will be halved as compared to 2019. In a circular sent to all IPL franchises, the BCCI has notified that instead of a whopping Rs 20 crore, the IPL champion team will now receive Rs 10 crore only. "The financial rewards have been reworked as a part of the cost cutting measures. The champions will get Rs 10 crore instead of Rs 20 crore. The runners-up will get Rs 6.25 crore from earlier Rs 12.5 crore," a BCCI notification, in possession of news agency, read.

The two losing qualifiers will now get Rs 4.375 crore each.

"The franchises are all in good health. They also have multiple ways like sponsorships to bolster their income. Hence the decision on prize money taken," a senior BCCI source said.

However, a state association hosting IPL games will get Rs 1 crore each with franchises and BCCI contributing Rs 50 lakh each.

It has also been learnt that mid-level BCCI employees won't be allowed to avail business class flights like earlier times for flying to the Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE) where the flying time is less than eight hours.

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Agencies
January 26,2020

Mumbai, Jan 26: Boxing great Mary Kom has been selected for the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award. Olympic silver medallist and reigning badminton World Champion PV Sindhu has been named for Padma Bhushan as the names of Padma awardees were disclosed on Saturday on the eve of the 71st Republic Day.

Rated as one of the most successful amateur boxers of all time, Mary Kom won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and has won gold at the boxing World Championships for a record six times. She has won a total of eight medals at the World Championships, the most recent of which came in October 2019 in Ulan Ude, Russia. The 36-year-old is now looking to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Sindhu became the only Indian woman to win an Olympic silver when she reached the final of the women's singles event at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi. In August last year, the 24-year-old became the first Indian to win gold at the badminton World Championships.

She has also won two silver and two bronze medals at the World's in the past, thus making her only the second woman after Chinese two-time Olympic gold medallist Zhang Ning to win five medals in the competition.

Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, who has been the face of women's hockey in the country and played a pivotal role in the team qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is among those who have been nominated for the Padma Shri award.

Women's football stalwart Oinam Bembem Devi, former cricketer Zaheer Khan, shooter Jitu Rai, former hockey captain and coach M.P. Ganesh and archer Tarundeep Rai are the other sportspersons to be selected for the Padma Shri award.

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News Network
June 24,2020

New Delhi, Jun 24: Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has slammed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not allowing recreational cricket to resume.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had described the cricket ball as a 'natural vector of disease' and ruled out recreational cricket's return in the country.

Hearing Johnson's argument, Vaughan tweeted: "Hand sanitiser in every players pocket. Use every time you touch the ball ... SIMPLE ... Recreational Cricket should just play from July 4th ... utter nonsense it's not being allowed back ... #Cricket."

Johnson was responding to a question from Conservative MP Greg Clark in the House of Commons, and it was then that Johnson said that it is too soon to lift current restrictions to allow the return of recreational cricket.

"The problem with cricket as everybody understands is that the ball is a natural vector of disease, potentially at any rate. We've been around it many times with our scientific friends," ESPNCricinfo had quoted Johnson as saying.

"At the moment, we're still working on ways to make cricket more COVID-secure but we can't change the guidance yet," he added.

Johnson had announced various relaxations on Tuesday, but the return of recreational cricket was not a part of them.

However, this statement given by Johnson will have no impact on the Test series between England and West Indies, scheduled to begin from July 8.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it is looking to resume recreational cricket in the country around July 4.

The board has also said that cricket is a low-risk sport as it is a non-contact sport.

"We believe that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted," the ECB said in an official statement.

"It is our strong desire to work with Government to see the return of recreational cricket on or around 4th July, as they continue to lift other restrictions more broadly across society," it added.

All international cricket has also been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it is set to resume to from July 8 as England and West Indies will lock horns in the three-Test series.

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