Underfire Alastair Cook finds much-needed support from Paul Farbrace
Underfire Alastair Cook PTI London, Dec. 22: Underfire Alastair Cook might be pondering about his future as Test captain after the 4-0 series drubbing in India, but England's assistant coach Paul Farbrace said the entire team is behind the lanky opener and wants him to be in charge for next winter's Ashes series. Farbrace is confident that Cook will make his decision on captaincy keeping the team in mind. "We've planned, and have been planning, for Cooky to be captain going to the Ashes in Australia next winter," said Farbrace. "Personally, I hope that continues. We know he still has the support of the team, and he's a very popular bloke and very popular captain," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian' newspaper. "He's got that decision to make - and as he said before the series started, he and
Straussy (Andrew Strauss) will sit down in the new year and have a conversation about the way forward. The most important thing is that Cooky will make the decision based on what's right for England cricket, not what's right for Alastair Cook." The 4-0 defeat in India means England have lost six of their last eight Tests under Cook. Cook, who turns 32 on Christmas Day, has requested time to think after the disastrous India tour. Cook's future was a talking point throughout the tour after he told a magazine during an interview that he was uncertain about his future as England test captain. But Farbrace has played down the suggestion, saying there is no uncertainty in the team. "There's no uncertainty within our team. He's captain, everybody knows where they stand with him - so there's absolutely no
u n c e r t a i n t y w h a t s o e v e r. The uncertainty is outside of our team. When you lose a series 4-0, of course people will talk about the leadership. We all know that. "We would all, at the end of this series, be having a think about what we can do better, what have we learned from this series and what do we need to do to make this team win. U l t i m a t e l y, t h a t ' s w h a t we're here for. But there's nobody looking round the dressing room thinking: 'Ooh, I wonder who's in charge?' It's very clear who's in charge, and that hasn't changed," Farbrace said. "So when Straussy and Cooky sit down and have that chat, if it's decided that Cooky isn't the man to lead the team going forward, then there is still plenty of time before the first series in the summer (against South Africa in July)," he added.
Ex-South Africa batsman Petersen banned for two years
Alviro Petersen
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AFP Johannesburg , Dec. 22: Alviro Petersen, a veteran of 36 Test matches, became the highest-profile South African cricketer to be banned for corruption since former captain Hansie Cronje in 2000. Former opening batsman Petersen, 36, was banned for two years yesterday after agreeing a plea bargain with Cricket South Africa (CSA). He is the sixth player to be banned following a corruption scandal which led to former international player Gulam Bodi being banned for 20 years for attempting to fix matches in South Africa's domestic Twenty20 competition during the 2014/15 season. More players could yet be charged. A statement by CSA announcing Petersen's ban said investigations were continuing. Petersen admitted several breaches of CSA's anti-corruption code -- four charges of failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct; four charges of failing to disclose full details of evidence involving another player, four charges of failing to provide accurate and complete information to investigators; and one charge of concealing and destroying information that was relevant to the
investigation. After considering representations made by Petersen, CSA withdrew other charges, including those relating to fixing or contriving to fix any match and seeking, accepting or offering to accept any bribe or other reward to fix or influence any match. The two year-ban will be effective from November 12 this year, when Petersen was suspended because charges were laid against him. Petersen apologised, according to a CSA statement which quoted him as saying: "I would like to apologise to my family, friends, the public who are fans of the game of cricket, my team-mates, Gauteng cricket, Lions cricket and especially to Cricket South Africa for my actions. "At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money. "I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do. I understand that I need to take personal responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment that CSA has imposed on me. "I hope that other players will
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learn from my experience and be better prepared if they find themselves in the situation that I was in. - Century on debut Petersen is the fifth player from the Johannesburg-based Lions franchise to be banned. Bodi was banned in January, while former Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile received a 12-year ban in August. Petersen scored 2093 Test runs at an average of 34.88. He made a century on debut against India in Kolkata in 2009/10 and formed a successful opening partnership with former captain Graeme Smith. He hit five Test centuries, with a highest score of 182 against England in Leeds in 2012. After retiring from international cricket in 2015, he continued to play with success for the Lions and for English county Lancashire. His ban will prevent him from taking part in any activity under the auspices of Cricket South Africa. Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Our aim to deal thoroughly with any form of corruption in the game remains steadfast and we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the game. "Alviro has realised his mistakes and has acknowledged contravening the Code. He is obliged under the Code to have disclosed various approaches that were made to him to engage in corrupt activities. "While having provided certain information to the investigators he had also withheld and concealed certain material information, such as the meetings with Bodi and certain fixers. This was directly relevant to the investigation and hence why we have imposed a twoyear ban which Alviro accepts." Cronje, who captained South Africa in 53 Tests and 138 oneday internationals, was banned for life in 2000 after admitting to accepting money from bookmakers.
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Air India give measly cash awards to WC-winning coach, Armaan PTI New Delhi, Dec. 22: A struggling Air India today announced cash awards of meagre Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 for two of its employees - coach Harendra Singh and striker Armaan Qureshi who were part of the historic Indian hockey team that won the Junior World Cup last week after a gap of 15 years. Harendra, who is working as a senior manager in Air India, was the head coach of the Indian colts who defeated Belgium 21 in the final to lift the Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow last Sunday. Armaan is a contractual employee and plays for Air India in the domestic circuit. Announcing the cash awards, Air India Chairman and Managing Director, Ashwani Lohani
Air India give measly cash awards to WC-winning coach, Armaan
said if the national carrier was in a good position financially, he would have rewarded the duo more for their accomplishments. Promising to get the national carrier out of troubled waters, Lohani
said he wants Air India to promote sports as it used to do in the past. "I would like to congratulate both Harendra and Armaan for what they have achieved. It is a matter of pride for the Air India family. I would like
to announce a small cash award of Rs 25,000 for Harendra and Rs 10,000 for Armaan from Air India's behalf," Lohani said during a felicitation ceremony here today. "I would have liked to reward them more if not for
our current position. But we pledge to work as a family and get Air India back on track," he added. Asked if Air India is planning to regulrise Armaan's job or considering a promotion for Harendra, Lohani gave a diplomatic reply. "We have a policy o promote sports but we have to look at the matter. But definitely the matter will be under our active consideration," said Lohani, who is also the President of Air India Sports Promotion Board. Air India also felicitated all-rounder Jayant Yadav, who impressed in his debut Test series against England recently. Jayant is not directly associated with the Air India family but his father is an regular employee of the national carrier.
Virat Kohli captain of Olympics: Tokyo 2020 ICC ODI team of 2016, slashes budget ignored from Test side to $17 billion
PTI Tokyo, Dec. 22: Tokyo Olympics organisers unveiled a smaller budget of up to $17 billion on Wednesday after coming under pressure to cut ballooning costs. The figure, down from last month's pledge to cap expenditure at $17.78 billion, follows warnings that the bill for the 2020 Games could soar as high as $30 billion. Organising committee chief executive Toshiro Muto said the entire Games budget will be between 1.6 trillion and 1.8 trillion yen, which he put at $15-16.8 billion. Under the latest exchange rate, the same yen figure is worth $13.6-15.3 billion. This year's Rio Games cost $12 billion, while London 2012 came in ÂŁ8.77 billion or $13.7 billion under the exchange rate of the time. Wednesday's figure, the most complete budget yet for Tokyo 2020, comes after officials scrambled to slash the costs of building some Olympic venues. It was revealed at talks between the Games' organisers, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo and national governments, who are meeting regularly to try to cut costs. "This does give the overall picture," IOC vicepresident John Coates said by videolink from Sydney. "We are pleased with the progress you are con-
tinuing to make," he said, adding: "We think that we can work with you to find... more savings." Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, who was elected this year vowing to bring down costs, said some 40 billion yen would be saved after a review of the canoeing, volleyball and swimming venues. Koike said the organising committee and Tokyo and central governments will discuss further specifics early next year, including "cost-sharing". In the battle to cut costs, she had proposed moving the canoeing 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Tokyo to Miyagi prefecture, one of the areas hardest hit by Japan's 2011 tsunami disaster. But the idea faced resistance from the organising committee, which argued that changing sites was impractical and could end up costing more. Koike gave up the plan last month and announced that canoeing will stay in Tokyo as planned, but with the venue built at a sharply reduced cost. In the previous four-way meeting last month, Muto said the organising committee's working budget was capped at less than two trillion yen ($17.78 billion) and officials are committed to pushing it lower. But Coates refused to accept the figure and said overall costs would have to come down significantly.
PTI Dubai, Dec. 22: He might be on an 18match unbeaten streak as India's Test captain but Virat Kohli was ignored from the ICC Test team of the year even though he was named skipper of the ODI all-star XI which also featured Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja. Kohli, who is the vice-captain of India's ODI and T20 teams, has been named as leader of the 12-member side which features four South Africans and three Australian cricketers besides one each from England and West Indies. Explosive batsman AB de Villiers, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, pacer Kagiso Rabada and leg-spinner Imran Tahir are the South African cricketers, while David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc represent Australia in the ICC ODI team of the year. Englishman Jos Buttler and wily West Indian spinner Sunil Narine are the other two players in the side. But despite becoming
man-of-the-series with 655 runs while leading India to the 4-0 drubbing of England recently, Kohli surprisi n g l y missed
a berth i n the ICC Test o f
team the year
2016. Star offspinn e r Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone Indian i n the Test side, which surprisingly will be led by Alastair Cook, who faces an uncertain future as England's captain. Warner and Starc are two cricketers who have found out a place in both the teams. The other selected cricketers in ICC Test team of the Year 2016 are New Zealand's Kane Williamson, England's
Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper) and Ben Stokes, Australia's Steven Smith and Adam Voges, South African speedster Dale Steyn, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Besides, South Africa's Marais Erasmus has been honoured with the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year, while Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award. ICC ODI team of the year 2016: Virat Kohli (captain), David Warner, Quinton d e Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma, AB d e Villiers, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Sunil Narine, Imran Tahir. ICC Test team of the year 2016: Alastair Cook (captain), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Adam Voges, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Steve Smith.
Holland appointed England assistant manager
Chelsea coach Steve Holland AFP London, Dec. 22: Chelsea coach Steve Holland has been appointed as the assistant to England manager Gareth Southgate, the Foot-
ball Association has announced. Holland, 46, will combine his duties as assistant firstteam coach at Chelsea with his England role until the
end of the season, before linking up with the FA on a full-time basis. "I am delighted to have Steve as my assistant manager," Southgate said in a statement yesterday. "We have worked very closely for three years and I have the utmost respect for the way he works, his professionalism and the detail of his preparation." Southgate added Holland to his coaching staff when he was in charge of England's Under-21s in 2013. He thanked Chelsea for agreeing to let Holland leave. Currently top of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group, England play Germany in a friendly in their next match on March 22.
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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23