Spotlight on Harbhajan, Sreesanth as selectors to bank on experience

February 10, 2013

Harbhajan-Sreesanth

New Delhi, Feb 10: As the selectors meet in Mumbai on Sunday to pick the team for the Australia series, they will be looking for experienced campaigners who can change the fortunes of the Test team. The likes of Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and even Wasim Jaffer, therefore, are all in the fray.

According to sources in the Indian cricket board ( BCCI), the selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil is not too keen on tampering with the Sehwag-Gambhir opening combination, in spite of their recent indifferent run. To start with, the selectors are looking to field the best XI based on previous records against the Aussies.

The selectors will, however, discuss the possibility of including a replacement opener, just like they had in the England series. Murali Vijay is in the reckoning, and so is the prolific Wasim Jaffer, who has been in fine form for Mumbai during the domestic season.

Another Mumbai opener, Ajinkya Rahane, failed to capitalize on the chances he got in the ODIs against England and so may lose out on a berth.

Sehwag, who missed the Irani Cup match due to a stomach bug, may not be in the ODI scheme of things but the selectors are still backing him to open the innings in Tests. If he fails to hit form, he may not play the entire series.

The selectors may be tempted to pick Suresh Raina in the middle-order for his superb batting displays in the recently-concluded India-England ODI series and a dominant century in the ongoing Irani Cup.

Harbhajan, too, has a good chance of making a comeback into the Test team. As reported by TOI earlier, the selectors had spoken to Harbhajan before the Ranji Trophy semifinal matches, telling him he would be considered for the Australia series if he could hit form.

Harbhajan, on his part, has shown glimpses of his old wicket-taking. He took four wickets in the second innings while playing for Punjab against Saurashtra in the Ranji semis, and in the Irani Cup he looked good while taking three scalps in Mumbai's first innings. Most importantly, he has a good track record against the Aussies.

Harbhajan's immediate competitor R Ashwin is now being expected to play more of a bowling all-rounder's role, like Ravindra Jadeja, and both may be retained in the team.

Also in the running in the spin department are Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra. Incidentally, Mishra also has a decent bowling average against the Australians.

In the pace department, Sreesanth has made a good impression. Bhuvneshwar Kumar too may earn a Test berth. Ishant Sharma is also expected to be in the team in spite of all the talk about his ankle injury. Dhawal Kulkarni's name is also doing the rounds.

Ashok Dinda, who was in the Test squad during the England series, will have to consider himself lucky if he is retained.

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News Network
April 12,2020

Mumbai, Apr 12: Always eager to share his vast knowledge and experience, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has interacted with 12,000 doctors on sports injuries.

In his over two decade long illustrious career, Tendulkar suffered many health issues, the most prominent being the tennis elbow injury.

The veteran of 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, got to know through one Dr Sudhir Warrier, an orthopaedic surgeon, that several young doctors across the country were utilising the lockdown time to effectively gain knowledge on sports injuries through live webinars.

A session on sports injuries was held on Saturday and Tendulkar, knowing that his experiences will help these doctors, volunteered to be a part of it.

Tendulkar, accordingly, interacted with around 12,000 doctors, who attended the session.

It is reliably leanrt that the 46-year-old legend said he was grateful to the medical fraternity for their service.

During the session, the young orthopaedic doctors got to know how the requirements and treatment outcomes of athletes are different from regular patients, sources said.

Dr Warrier moderated the session with Dr Nitin Patel, physiotherapist, who has worked with Indian cricket team and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.

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News Network
June 20,2020

Jun 20: Bengaluru FC (BFC) have signed Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva for a one-year deal, the ISL club said in a statement on Saturday.

As per the agreement, BFC have the option of extending Silva's contract for another year.

The 33-year-old, who started his career with Brazilian side Madureira, moved to Thailand where he spent the better part of the decade playing for Muangthong United and Suphanburi, apart from stints in Mexico and China.

Silva, who also operates on the wing, became the first foreign player to reach the 100-goal mark in Thailand and finished top scorer of the Thai League 1 for two seasons. He also tops the charts of the all-time leading scorers of the League.

His biggest success came at Muangthong where he racked up 57 goals in 79 appearances and won three major trophies in as many seasons at the club.

The Brazilian, who was in talks with the Blues last season before the deal didn't materialise, said he was glad to have finally made the move.

"I've signed with Bengaluru FC because I want to be a champion and this is a club that is always after titles. I have that opportunity once again at BFC. I want to make the club and its fans happy. I have been following the club for some time now because we were in talks a while ago. And I liked what I saw. I am looking forward to making my way to Bengaluru and am excited to meet my new teammates, the fans and embrace the city," said Silva.

Silva, thus, became BFC's first new foreign signing of the season after the club had handed extended deals with Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado and Erik Paartalu.

Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat said Silva's addition was an important one, given his penchant for scoring.

"Cleiton has a proven track record when it comes to scoring and this is an area we needed to strengthen on the squad. The goals aside, he even has an eye for a quality final pass and we're looking forward to working with him," he said.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Colombo, Aug 1: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his interest in playing the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), scheduled to start from August 28.

Pathan is among 70 foreign players to have shown interest in playing the LPL, ESPNcricinfo reported.

It is believed that Pathan has taken permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take part in the competition. 

BCCI doesn't allow active players to participate in other T20 leagues but Pathan announced his retirement in January this year.

Former swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also played in a foreign league last year. He played for Maratha Arabians in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Pathan will now be put in a player draft unless one of the five franchises choose him to be a marquee player. The details of the draft, and the franchise owners, are yet to be finalised and announced. 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is also waiting on some government clearances even as it decides on franchise owners. The five franchises will represent Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.

On Monday, SLC Executive Committee granted approval for the tournament.

"The 23 match League will be played on the four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium. Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League," SLC said in a statement on Monday.

Sri Lanka has controlled the spread of COVID-19 better than many other cricket-playing nations.

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