www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 20th September 2014
Ravi Shastri backs Duncan Fletcher
His report will decide Duncan Fletcher's future as India's cricket coach and Ravi Shastri, who served as Team Director during the just-concluded limited overs series against England, has put his weight behind the underfire Zimbabwean by calling him a "solid character". Shastri lavished praise on Fletcher, who is under the scanner after a mixed tour of England during which the Indians were thrashed in the Test series before bouncing back to win the ODIs. "He is tremendous. He would have done over a 100 Tests as coach, which is massive. He is technically very sound. He is a solid character. He is respected. He is a fatherly figure," Shastri said. "I knew Fletcher from the 1983 World Cup. Then in 1984 I led an India Under-25 side to Zimbabwe, where he was my counterpart. So I was aware of his leadership qualities already. Also what made Fletcher's job easier was having the trio of Sanjay Bangar, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar as his assistant coaches," he added. "Fletcher is the coach. He looks after the handling of various things including little, little stuff.
My experience comes into play from the outside - of having been there, done that. The fact that I watch so much is a massive help. And my personality is such if I feel like saying something I don't hold back. I don't care who it is."Speaking about his own stint with the team, Shastri said he is glad to have made a positive difference after the 1-3 loss in the Test series. "I got more than I would have expected. I say that only because of England's record at home, not many sides have thrashed them 3-0 in a four-ODI series. It is a big achievement: from what they were mentally after the Test series defeat, and then to respond in that fashion made me feel proud," he said. "I had to make it (the dressing room) a place
where the boys wanted to enjoy themselves. I was very clear when I said I am doing this job because I believe in them. And that was enough. As I got talking to them one on one, things started falling in place," he added. Shastri said he had plenty of one-on-one chats with the players during the ODI series, which India won 3-1. "I was not afraid to speak to a guy individually. Ground, bus, bar, dressing room, while eating - we were talking cricket. Communication is important. The advantage I had was I had watched these boys a lot. I told them I have watched more cricket than I have played. I have learned more about cricket after I stopped playing," he said. . Shastri especially focussed on star batsman
Virat Kohli, who had a somewhat subdued run in both the Tests and ODIs. "About Virat, you knew it was due (the half-century in the Edgbaston Twenty20). The reason he did not perform earlier was a combination of mental and technical issues. You cannot get out to the same bowler in the same fashion five to six times. So there is an issue. "He has to accept there is something wrong otherwise you cannot get out. And that had to be addressed, which we did. There are certain issues Virat understands he needs to work on, which he has been doing. Similar case with Shikhar (Dhawan)," he explained. On his equation with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shastri said, "...both of us know each other well. Our job was to make his life easier after the Test series. Our job was to take the pressure off him. Our job was to communicate more with the players, make them at ease, and give them the confidence." Shastri agreed with Dhoni's assessment that it turned out to be a decent outing for the team with a lot of positives to take home.
(PCB) spokesman. Saqlain, who took 208 Test and 288 one-day wickets in an illustrious career that included a long stint at Surrey, confirmed he would help. "Yes, I am ready to help and I am in contact to work out modalities of my travel to Pakistan," Saqlain said. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Ajmal would be suspended
from international cricket after a biomechanical analysis of his action in Brisbane found his bowling arm flex was more than the 15 degrees allowed. His action was reported during Galle last month's Test against Sri Lanka. The PCB initially said it would appeal against the suspension but later changed its stance and asked its committee on illegal bowling action to assess the report. The committee has recommended that Saqlain must be requested to help Ajmal. As per ICC rules Ajmal will remain suspended until remedial work on his action after which he can apply for a reassessment.
But if reported again within two years, Ajmal would be banned for a year. Ajmal's suspension has dented Pakistan's hopes for next month's limited overs and Test series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates next month and more importantly in next year's World Cup. The PCB, meanwhile, has stopped Ajmal from speaking to the media. "I shall wait for the outcome of deliberations and verdict of Pakistan Cricket Board's Illegal Bowling Action Committee and until that process is complete, I shall not be making any further comments on the subject," Ajmal was quoted in a PCB release as saying.
ers had no belief that they could win the gold (at the Commonwealth Games). It's a process of development, it doesn't happen overnight. But I think these group of players sincerely believe that if they play to their potential they can beat against Malaysia, Korea, China, Pakistan, Japan and win the title," the Australian said.
Insisting that India and Korea are the teams to beat in the Asian Games, Walsh said they have improved upon their defensive skills post the World Cup earlier this year. "Teams are always going to concede late goals, early goals and goals in the middle period. But i think we have improved as a defensive structure. I think we are getting better at knowing on how to play during situations and there comes the business of self belief. "You got to understand what you are trying to do and believe in your abilities. I think we are growing and leaning those things," he said. Walsh feels going by form India's has a realistic
Saqlain to help Ajmal correct illegal action
Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will help countryman Saeed Ajmal correct his bowling action which led to his suspension from international cricket. Saqlain, 37, invented the "doosra", a delivery which turns away from the batsman as opposed to conventional off-spin. It is widely believed that bowlers who bowl the doosra bend their arm more than the allowed 15 degree, though Saqlain himself was not accused of chucking during his career. "We are in contact with Saqlain and are in the process of negotiating the contract with him to help Ajmal on his action," said a Pakistan Cricket Board
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Rohit Sharma to miss entire CLT20
Rohit Sharma is facing a lengthy layoff from the game due to multiple injuries. After sustaining a fractured finger in the recent ODI series against England, Rohit has also suffered a shoulder injury, thus effectively ruling him out of the CLT20. According to a report, Rohit visited the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. Physiotherapists stated that this additional shoulder injury means that Rohit will miss another four weeks and he now faces a race against time to be fit for the first ODI against the West Indies in Kochi on October 8. Rohit's unavailability is a big jolt for Mumbai Indians, who are the defending CLT20 champions. Pollard, who led the Barbados Tridents to the 2014 CPL, might lead the team as they take on Lahore Lions in the first qualifier in Raipur on September 13.
Saina Nehwal wants Vimal Kumar as coach for Asian Games
Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, who has been training under Vimal Kumar for the last one week, wants the former chief coach to travel to Incheon, Korea with her for the upcoming Asian Games. "Saina has requested BAI to include Vimal Kumar in the list of coaches who would be travelling to Korea for the Asian Games. We have requested the authorities and are awaiting their decision," said a senior BAI official. "Initially, three coaches - Pullela Gopichand, Madhumita Bisht and Vijaydeep Singh were supposed to go but now we have included Vimal's name and dropped one sports analyst from the list. An additional coach will help when simultaneous matches of Indian players are held on adjacent courts," he added. Battling with poor form, Saina had decided to train under former chief coach Vimal Kumar to prepare for the prestigious Asian Games after returning from the World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark where she lost in the quarterfinals.
Sania meets Modi after US Open victory
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after her victory in the US Open mixed doubles last week. Sania met the Prime Minister in a courtesy visit. She was accompanied by her mother Naseema Mirza. Partnering with Bruno Soares of Brazil, Sania clinched her third mixed doubles Grand Slam title recently. Modi had congratulated Sania just after her victory. Earlier, she met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad. She is the brand ambassador of the newly-created state.
We have 'self belief' to break Asian Games jinx: Walsh Looking to break the 16year-old Asian Games 'gold' jinx, Indian men's hockey team coach Terry Walsh said that the current lot of players have the "self belief" to come up trumps in the upcoming quadrennial event in Incheon, South Korea. Walsh said unlike the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Sardar Singhled side has the ability to turn the 2010 Guangzhou bronze into a gold at the Asian Games to be held from September 19 to October 4. "One of the really important area is self belief. That's very closely linked with confidence and the willingness and ability to play the level without
the fear of losing," Walsh said ahead of the team's departure for Incheon. "Confidence is a huge part of performance. Confidence and anxiety are very closely related and that's something you have to guard. You need to know the difference between being confident and being anxious. "The problem was that the play-
chance of lifting the Asian Games title and earn a direct qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics. "My view is that we are progressing really well. There is a considerable difference in our level of performance from pre-World Cup to post-Commonwealth Games," the coach assessed. "If you ask me are we in a position to do well, my answer would yes we are. I an very open and honest about what in think and i think this tournament puts us in a position where we can do extremely well. If we continue to do well then the opportunity to play in the final for the gold medal is in front of us." India won the Asian
Games only two times -the last time being 1998 edition in Bangkok. In the Incheon Games, India are placed in Pool B along side arch rivals Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka and Oman. India will open their campaign against minnows Sri Lanka (September 21) and Oman (September 23) before taking on tough teams like Pakistan (September 25) and China (September 27). "That's one of the advantages of being a higher ranked team in a competition because you get a chance to build into the tournament. We want to get progressively better as the tournament goes and build towards the semifinals," Walsh said.