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Asian City October 25 - November 7, 2012
AsianCity
Dev fears for India
SPORT BRITAIN’S BEST ASIAN NEWSPAPER
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•MOBBED Amir Khan with reporters
Khan goads Brook AMIR Khan has told Kell Brook he still has plenty to prove, despite a three-round demolition of Hector Saldivia on Saturday. Brook is now the No. 1 contender for Devon Alexander’s IBF welterweight crown, and has also expressed a desire to face Khan. However, Khan - who has lost his last two fights - does not feel his fellow Brit is worthy of his attention. “Well done Kell,” Khan tweeted. “Did what he had to. Time to move up in game. He’s been saying this for the past 10 fights. Before you think of fighting me or Ricky [Hatton], PROVE yourself (against someone in the top 50).” Meanwhile, Ricky Hatton has also raised doubts over the quality of Saldivia, who had only been beaten twice before stepping into the ring with Brook.
•WIN Kell Brook on his way to victory over Hector Saldivia
•OUT OF FORM Sehwag and Gambhir have struggled recently
FORMER India cricket captain Kapil Dev today conceded that the form slump of senior openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag is a big worry for the team ahead of the twin Test series against England and Australia. “Of course, it is a cause of worry if players of that calibre don’t get runs. They have big reputations and when you have such big reputations then there is a case for you to defend that,” Kapil said on the sidelines of the Junior National tennis Championships where he was chief guest for the finals. “They are big players and it is important for them to score runs not only for the team but also for themselves otherwise there will be worrying signs,” he added.
Both Gambhir and Sehwag struggled at the recent World Twenty20 Championships but remain India’s best opening option ahead of the upcoming home series against England next month and Australia which will take place in February-March. Kapil sidestepped queries on the issue of whether Sachin Tendulkar should retire from international cricket. “Bade player ke baare mein na hi baat karein to accha hai (It is better not to talk about the decisions of big players),” he said. “He had recently given an interview and he has said what he had to say,” he added referring to Tendulkar’s statement that he would reassess his plans next month.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWENTY-20
DHONI ON FORM Captain aids win over Yorkshire
KOLKATA OUT OF CLT20 HAD it not been for the washed-out game against Perth Scorchers, reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders could have made the semi-finals of the ongoing Champions League Twenty20, said senior all-rounder Jacques Kallis. KKR, however, went out of the CLT20 with a bang thrashing in-form Titans by 99 runs in their final Group A game, and Kallis said it was “pity” that the Kolkata outfit did not start the tournament on perfect note. “It’s a pity we didn’t start off the tournament like this. I felt that we started playing some good cricket in Durban (against the Perth Scorchers) but unfortunately the weather stopped us from getting through to the next round. That was disappointing,” Kallis said after the win over Titans. “This was almost a perfect game for us. We came out and batted really well and paced the innings nicely. There were some fantastic individual knocks and then we bowled with the intensity we needed to bowl with. “This was a nice way to end this campaign. The guys now go away to different parts of the globe and will play for different teams. Hopefully, they gain form again in time for the IPL.”
CHENNAI Super Kings produced a clinical all-round show as they scored a comfortable fourwicket victory over Yorkshire to sign off their Champions League Twenty20 campaign with a win.
•VICTORY Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Opting to field, Chennai restricted Yorkshire to 140 for six on the back of impressive bowling from pacers Albie Morkel (2/12) and Doug Bollinger (2/16)and then romped home with six balls to spare in the inconsequential Group B match at Kingsmead. S Badrinath top-scored with a 38-ball 47 which he made with the help of four boundaries while Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who played under Suresh Raina’s captaincy in the match, made 31 from 23 balls. Raina himself contributed 31 from 30 balls. Chennai, the 2010 champions, ended third in Group B with eight points behind Sydney Sixers and Highveld Lions, the two teams who made it to the semifinals. Wriddhiman Saha, who kept wickets in the match as Dhoni also
decided not to wear the wicketkeeper’s gloves, hit the winning run -- a single -- as Chennai reached 141 for six on the last ball of the 19th over.
Target Chasing 141 for a win, Chennai did not have the best of starts as they lost opener Faf du Plessis (1) in the second over of the bowling of Steven Patterson. The other opener Murali Vijay (13) struck two fours in the next over before he was out in the fifth over. Chennai were then at a wobbly 26 for two but Raina and Badrinath settled down quickly and shared a 48-run stand for the third wicket from 6.9 overs to take Chennai closer to the target. Raina fell in the 12th over with Hannon-Dalby taking his second wicket with a slower ball. Raina struck a four and a six in his 30-ball knock. Dhoni came in when his side were 74 for three in the 12th over and he was watchful for a while before easing himself off with a six off Adil Rashid in the 15th over.