India's sports minister, MS Gill, has said India should not tour Pakistan in the wake of the terror attacks in Mumbai. While voices on both sides of the border have lobbied for and against the tour, Gill's statement is the first direct statement on the issue by a member of the Indian government.
"Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after?" Gill told PTI. Sporting contact, he said, was meant to enhance friendship, and the cricket series was not a commercial drama to go ahead under the surveillance of thousands of security personnel.
The final decision, as he pointed out, rests with the government.
Gill's Pakistan counterpart, Aftab Jilani, however, remains optimistic and said there "was a ray of hope" that the tour would go ahead. "Cricket has a huge popularity in both countries and it will help ease out the tension if the Indian cricket team tours Pakistan next month," Jilani told AP.
He, however, steered clear of Gill's statement and was hopeful that Butt's meeting with the BCCI and ICC officials would be constructive. "I can't comment on what Mr. Gill has said, it's his opinion," he said. "But I am very hopeful that something positive will come out of Ijaz Butt's meeting with officials of Indian cricket board.
"The government of Pakistan does not want tension with India and if we play cricket with each other it will be a step in the right direction," he said. "If India is not satisfied with the security situation [in Pakistan] there's a possibility of playing the series at a neutral venue. In my opinion sports should move on and we should play at whatever place it's possible."
Saturday, December 13, 2008
England strong postion in chennai test
England gained a vital first-innings lead of 75 as Andrew Flintoff wrapped up India for 241 in the first over after lunch on the third day in Chennai. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh provided the main resistance in a positive seven-wicket stand of 75, but Monty Panesar removed both batsmen as he began to regain some confidence. While England would have harboured hopes of an advantage over 100, their position remains very strong and now they can begin setting a tough target.
They found it hard replicate the intensity of the second evening when play resumed with Steve Harmison suffering stiffness behind his knee, although a scan cleared him of serious problems, and Flintoff having been sick overnight. Flintoff opened the bowling with Panesar, but wasn't as fearsome as he was on the second evening when he rattled Yuvraj Singh, although still had the heart and character to deliver for his captain. He also needed to leave the field to have his ankle re-strapped.
With India trailing by 161, Dhoni made a positive statement with a strong cut off Flintoff, but Harbhajan matched him shot for shot. Harbhajan has an individual style to his batting. He isn't afraid to use his feet against the fast bowlers and doesn't have much respect for opposition spinners. When Panesar went over the wicket, Harbhajan brought out the reverse sweep which brought a rather bemused smile from the bowler. He was equally confident against the quicks, slashing Harmison over the slips and through the covers during a loose spell.
The closest England came to a breakthrough during the first hour was when an inside edge from Dhoni shot low past Ian Bell at short leg and it was a surprise that Graeme Swann was kept waiting for his chance. However, the first wicket went to Panesar as Bell held on to a more routine offering from Harbhajan to break a stand of 75 in 17 overs. It was a confidence-boosting strike for Panesar, who had again seemed at odds with his game, and he was unlucky to have an lbw shout against Zaheer Khan turned down first ball.
They found it hard replicate the intensity of the second evening when play resumed with Steve Harmison suffering stiffness behind his knee, although a scan cleared him of serious problems, and Flintoff having been sick overnight. Flintoff opened the bowling with Panesar, but wasn't as fearsome as he was on the second evening when he rattled Yuvraj Singh, although still had the heart and character to deliver for his captain. He also needed to leave the field to have his ankle re-strapped.
With India trailing by 161, Dhoni made a positive statement with a strong cut off Flintoff, but Harbhajan matched him shot for shot. Harbhajan has an individual style to his batting. He isn't afraid to use his feet against the fast bowlers and doesn't have much respect for opposition spinners. When Panesar went over the wicket, Harbhajan brought out the reverse sweep which brought a rather bemused smile from the bowler. He was equally confident against the quicks, slashing Harmison over the slips and through the covers during a loose spell.
The closest England came to a breakthrough during the first hour was when an inside edge from Dhoni shot low past Ian Bell at short leg and it was a surprise that Graeme Swann was kept waiting for his chance. However, the first wicket went to Panesar as Bell held on to a more routine offering from Harbhajan to break a stand of 75 in 17 overs. It was a confidence-boosting strike for Panesar, who had again seemed at odds with his game, and he was unlucky to have an lbw shout against Zaheer Khan turned down first ball.
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