Bronze delight for Indian hockey team

December 7, 2015

Raipur, Dec 7: They say the next best thing to do after bowing out in the semifinal of a tournament is to win the third place tie. And the Indian hockey team did exactly the same as they beat the Netherlands 3-2 (fulltime 5-5) via tie-breaker in an exciting bronze medal tie at the Hockey World League Final here on Sunday.hockey

The Indians trailed the European champions by two goals for more than half the game, but showed immense determination to rally and take a 3-2 lead in the 51st minute. But the Indians couldn’t see off the game as the Dutch dismantled their weak defence to push the game into a tie-breaker after six goals were scored in the final nine minutes.

In the tie-breaker too, the Indians found themselves on the back foot straight away. Danish Mujtaba’s successful attempt was overturned by video umpire Andy Mair for stick obstruction after Billy Bakker had given the Dutch an early lead.

However, the plot still had a few more twists and turns before the medals could be handed over to the eventual winners.

Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was the first to take the centre-stage as he showed quick feet to deny Jeroen Hertzberger and later displayed good composure to see off the Mirco Pruijser attempt.

While Amir Khan too missed his chance, India’s second, Birendra Lakra ensured that there were no hiccups as he hoodwinked the Dutch shot-stopper Pirmin Blaak to bring India back on level terms.

And with Seve van Ass and Sardar Singh converting their respective attempts, and Manpreet Singh pulling a penalty stroke for obstruction from India’s final attempt, it was Rupinder Pal Singh who stepped up to take the decisive strike.

The 25-year-old defender didn’t disappoint as he calmly slotted in his second stroke of the night as India ended their 33-year-old wait for a medal at a major global event with a thrilling win. The Indians had last won a bronze medal at the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Earlier in the day, a resolute Dutch side didn’t take much time to exploit the chinks in the Indian armour as Pruijser scored off a rebound in the ninth minute.

In the second quarter, Niek van der Schoot doubled their advantage with a quality strike from the right. A quick van der Schoot made sure that he was on the other end of a van Ass cross as he got past his marker and sent in a ferocious hit that beat the ’keeper to find the top right corner of the goal.

Leading by two goals since the second quarter, the Indians punished the Dutch for some sloppy defending as an unmarked Ramandeep Singh slotted in India’s first in the 31st minute, while Rupinder drew parity for the hosts through a short corner in the 47th minute.

Though Ramandeep gave India the lead in the 51st minute. The Netherlands then equalised through van Der Weerden but in the next minute, India earned a penalty stroke after Rupinder’s flick from their fifth penalty corner hit the foot of the last defender and the drag-flicker made no mistake to make it 4-3. Akashdeep then got slightest of deflection as India enjoyed a 5-3 advantage.

But some sloppy defending from the Indians and tremendous fighting spirit from the Netherlands took the match into shoot-out as Van der Weerden struck twice in the last two minutes of the match, with the equaliser coming in the final seconds through a penalty corner.

The Indians were not to be denied though, on a wonderful night.

Result: Bronze medal game: India: 5 (Ramandeep Singh 39th, 51st, Rupinder Pal Singh 47th, 55th, Akashdeep Singh 56th) bt Netherlands: 5 (Mirco Pruijser 9th, Niek van der Schoot 25th, Constantijin Jonker 56th, Mink van der Weerden 58th, 60th) 3-2 via tie-breaker.

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News Network
February 11,2020

Dubai, Feb 11: Two Indian players-- Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi -- and three Bangladeshis have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for involvement in the quarrel just after the U-19 cricket World Cup summit clash in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Sunday.

Akash and Bishnoi and three Bangladeshi players -- Md. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan -- were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after a few players from both sides nearly came to blows after Bangladesh beat India by three wickets to win their maiden U-19 World Cup title.

"Five players have been found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Support Personnel ... (they) were charged with violating Article 2.21 of the code, whilst Bishnoi received a further charge of breaching Article 2.5," the ICC said in a statement.

"All five players have accepted the sanctions proposed by ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Match Referee Graeme Labrooy," it added.

A near brawl broke out after Bangladesh’s historic win over India in the final. The Bangladesh players were aggressive during the Indian innings with lead pacer Shoriful Islam frequently sledging the Indian batsmen.

As soon as the match ended, Bangladeshi players rushed into the playing area.

"India's Akash accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years," the ICC said.

Compatriot Bishnoi accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of five suspension points, which equates to five demerit points.

"Bishnoi also accepted a level 1 charge of breaching Article 2.5 for a separate incident during the match, where he used language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following the dismissal of Avishek Das in the 23rd over," said the ICC.

"For this he received a further two demerit points meaning seven demerit points will remain on his record for the next two years."

Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of ten suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Shamim Hossain accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

Rakibul Hasan accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of four suspension points, which equates to five demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years.

All charges were levelled by on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Ravindra Wimalasiri as well as fourth umpire Patrick Bongni Jele. Level 3 breaches carry a minimum penalty of four suspension points and a maximum penalty of 12 suspension points.

The suspension points will be applied to the forthcoming international matches the players are most likely to participate in at either senior or U-19 level. One suspension point equals a player being ineligible for one ODI or T20I, U-19 or A team international match.

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Agencies
March 26,2020

Karachi, Mar 26: Pakistan's centrally-contracted cricketers will contribute Rs 5 million to the national government's emergency fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani on Wednesday said apart from centrally-contracted players contributing Rs 5 million, the employees in the board, up to the senior manager level, will contribute their one day's salary.

Those employed as general managers or on higher posts will give two days' salary to the fund.

"The PCB will collect all these funds and deposit it to the government's coronavirus fund," he said.

Pakistan has recorded more than 1,000 positive cases of the deadly virus, which has claimed more than 19,000 lives all over the world.

"It is the history of the cricket board that we always stand by the government in difficult times," Mani said.

The PCB has already given its high performances centre in Karachi at the national stadium to be used by paramedical staff working at the special coronavirus hospital set up at the expo centre in the in the city.

Mani said though cricket has been disrupted by the virus outbreak but it was far more important for the nation to stand by the government and also take all precautionary steps during the pandemic.

Pakistan's centrally-contracted players are entitled to monthly salaries ranging from Rs 5 to 12 lakh besides match fee and other earnings.

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News Network
January 8,2020

Indore, Jan 8: Skipper Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 30 as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international in Indore on Tuesday.

The hosts rode a 71-run opening stand between KL Rahul, who hit 45, and Shikhar Dhawan, who made 32, to chase down their target of 143 in 17.3 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first match was rained off.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took the wickets of the Indian openers but Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 before falling to paceman Lahiru Kumara, and Kohli, who hit the winning six, got the team home.

The third match is on Friday in Pune.

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