I don’t wish to have a bout with any Indian: Great Khali

WWF wrestler the great Khali alias Dalip Singh on Monday said that he does not wish to challenge any Indian to have a bout with him.

Talking to reporters on the sets of Ramaa-The Saviour here, Khali refuted media reports that noted actor-cum-wrestler Dara Singh has challenged him to a fight.

“I spoke to him and he has denied having ever said so. In fact, he has given me his blessings,” Khali said.

Responding to a question that singer Mika Singh’s seven feet tall bodyguard has been quoted that he wants to fight with Khali, the wrestler asked, “Have I challenged any Indian in the wrestling ring? People can go abroad and fight other wrestlers to make a name for themselves.”

When asked about his meeting with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Khali said, “SRK is a good man,” and added that they have become good friends.

Khali refused to dwell into reports that film production banners like UTV and Ashtavinayak films were on the verge of signing him for their upcoming projects.

“I will speak on such issues only when I sign on the dotted line,” he said.

“I am confused. But it is much easier than wrestling. Wrestling is injury prone and I have undergone a surgery in 2006,” Khali replied when asked about his experiences of doing dancing and stunt sequences for Ramaa-The Saviour.

When asked about his favourite actors and with whom he would like to work with, Khali said he had no particular favourites but would like to work in movies in which he feels comfortable and ones which offer good money. “Script and my role is also very important,” he added.

Delhi keep semis hopes alive

Delhi Daredevils recovered from a mid-innings wobble to hand Bangalore Royal Challengers yet another defeat, even as they strengthened their own chances of making it to the last four of the IPL.

Having asked the Challengers to bat, Delhi were set a challenging target of 155. It would not have been possible without Misbah-ul Haq’s late charge against Delhi’s bowlers. Delhi got there with five wickets and ten balls left.

Delhi got off to yet another speedy start, thanks to their in-form openers Gautam Gambhir (39 from 31 balls) and Virender Sehwag (47 form 19). But after their nexus was broken at 90, Anil Kumble briefly worked his magic that left Delhi stuttering at 133-5.

It still wasn’t enough for Bangalore to come back into the game after the vicious opening partnership that was scored in just seven overs. Shikhar Dhawan and Ferveez Maharoof knocked off the remaining runs with ease to round up a comprehensive dismantling of Delhi.

The win had been set up by another fine performance by Delhi’s seamers. Glenn McGrath (4-0-15-2), Maharoof (4-0-13-2) and Yo Mahesh (4-0-25-0) had Bangalore’s batsmen under control.

For Bangalore, Sreevats Goswami was promoted up the order at opener Bharat Chipli’s fall. The youngster, who kept wickets for India in the U-19 World Cup, aggregated 52 runs with fluent strokes.

Goswami kept at the pace going after Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid perished for small scores. Kallis (25) was caught behind to Maharoof’s first ball. Dravid (9) slogged against Tilakaratne Dilshan and missed.

Bangalore had a late order collapse where they lost Craig White (1), Praveen Kumar (2) and B Akhil (3) in quick time. But Misbah provided the boost to the innings.

He made an unbeaten 47, the last 24 of which were scored against Rajat Bhatia’s final over of the innings.

With the win, Delhi have now moved to 12 points to tie with Mumbai. However, Delhi have played 12 games to Mumbai’s six and the Daredevils must win their remaining two matches to have a realistic chance of reaching the semifinal.

ICC surprised at Shah Rukh statement

ICC on Monday appeared surprised at film star Shah Rukh Khan’s statement that its anti-corruption unit had asked him not to be with the team on the playing field, saying that the IPL tournament was being played under BCCI’s rules and regulations.

The ICC said the IPL was a domestic tournament and the game’s governing body did not have any role in formulating the rules.

“The reported incident has nothing to do with the ICC as IPL is a domestic tournament which is being held under the Rules and Regulations of the BCCI,” an ICC spokesman said from Dubai.

“Furthermore, the ICC Board in its meeting held in Dubai on 17-18 March had decided that IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that complies with ICC regulations,” he said.

Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan last night expressed disappointment, claiming he had been barred by the ICC anti-corruption unit from going to the team dug out and dressing room in the remaining IPL matches.

“I like to hang around with the boys. I am very energetic. I am very disappointed that the ICC has stopped me,” he said.

“I don’t know the ICC rules. I’ll tell only one thing. Nobody dare stop me from coming to Kolkata. I’ll be here whenever my team plays a match at the Eden,” Khan said.

Asked whether Shah Rukh needed an accreditation for the IPL matches, the ICC spokesman said, “Everybody needs an accreditation and these are in line with anti-corruption code. BCCI is following anti-corruption code. Now I don’t know what modifications they have made to the code.”

Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya played down the event and said Shah Rukh was actually stopped by security personnel for not carrying a visitors’ pass.

“Look there is nothing like that. It was a gentleman from the security who stopped Shah Rukh Khan. He said Shah Rukh didn’t have a valid visitor’s pass…I don’t think there is any controversy or issue,” he said.

He said the ICC rules were to make sure that bookies didn’t enter the dressing room.

“When these rules were framed, the concept of franchisee owners’ domestic tournament didn’t even come, the law was not framed to stop people like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Mukesh Ambani or Vijay Mallya from walking into the dressing room,” he said.

“According to even ICC regulations, there is a system of visitor’s pass, the manager and team management sign it. The person can be allowed in the dressing room as long as it is signed by. So there is no way to stop Shah Rukh from entering the dressing room,” Bhattacharya added.

I want Sachin to play next match against us: McGrath

Missing his long time on-field rival Sachin Tendulkar, retired Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath hopes to bowl at the master batsman when Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians face off again in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Hopefully, Sachin will be fit in the next match. I wish him best of luck,” the legendary pacer said.

Talking on the sidelines of a fashion event in the capital on Friday night, McGrath said the Mumbai team was dearly missing Tendulkar.

“If Sachin comes to the Mumbai side, it will add extra pressure on the rival team as the little champion has the capability to win matches on any given day, he said.

The Australian said the Delhi Daredevils was a balanced side and was one of the strong contenders for the title.

“We have a good combination of youth and experience. Losing the last match against Chennai felt bad but we played some good cricket,” said McGrath.

Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag exuded confidence that his side would lift the IPL title.

“We have performed very well till now and the boys are enjoying the IPL format. We are sure that we will win the IPL,” he said.

F1: Massa takes pole

Ferrari’s Brazilian driver Felipe Massa’s love affair with qualifying for the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix continued on Saturday as for the third successive year he took pole position.

Massa, who recorded a time of 1min 27.617sec for his second pole position of the season, headed off McLaren-Mercedes duo of Finn Heikki Kovalainen and Briton Lewis Hamilton – Massa’s stable-mate and reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest.

Fast rising Polish driver Robert Kubica took fifth position in his BMW Sauber, in front of Australian Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Spain’s two-time champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault.

Flintoff ruled out of two Tests

Andrew Flintoff will miss England’s first two Test matches against New Zealand after suffering a side strain playing for Lancashire.

The 30-year-old allrounder was expected to return to international action in next week’s opening Test at Lord’s after impressing for Lancashire following his latest ankle operation.

But Flintoff’s name will be absent when Michael Vaughan’s squad is named on Sunday after the all-rounder complained of soreness to his left side during his county’s win over Durham.

It is the latest setback for Flintoff after 16 months battling a series of ankle problems which has seen him return with excellent bowling figures but offset by dreadful batting as he has recorded four ducks already this season.

His rehabilitation from a fourth surgery on his left ankle had been going well, but his comeback will be postponed until the third Test at Trent Bridge on June 5 at the earliest.

“Obviously I’m bitterly disappointed to be unavailable for Test selection due to this injury as I’m really enjoying my cricket with Lancashire and feel my bowling has been improving with each match,” Flintoff said.

“I’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to this point after ankle surgery last year and I know I can overcome what isn’t a significant injury.

“It’s very frustrating to have picked up an injury at this time, but I want nothing more than to return to the England side and will continue to do everything required to make myself available for selection.”

I was ’summarily dismissed’: Charu Sharma

A day after Bangalore Royal Challengers spokesperson said in a press conference that their CEO Charu Sharma had stepped down citing personal reasons, the well-known commentator made an official announcement on Wednesday that he was sacked.

“Being a national level sportsman and being deeply involved with the world of sports for many decades, the last thought on my mind would have been to part ways with the team. I am not a quitter. Especially when the chips are down,” Sharma said.

“I can understand their disappointment at the team not being the fastest off the block. But, as I kept reiterating, there are many matches and many seasons to go – to get it right.”

Sharma also added that he was dismissed from his duty few hours before he had to board the flight for Kolkata where Bangalore Royal Challengers play their next game.

“I was summarily dismissed from my duties, 3 hours before I was to board a flight to Kolkata for the next match. The company has every right to hire and fire personnel,” Sharma said.

Former Test player Brijesh Patel has replaced Charu as the CEO of the beleaguered Bangalore Royal Challengers.

ICC suggests referral system in Tests

Umpiring in cricket is all set for a major revamp with the ICC Cricket Committee recommending a referral system in Tests and introduction of the hawk eye technology for deciding LBWs.

“Each team should be limited to a maximum of three unsuccessful referrals per innings,” the ICC said in a statement after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Committee.

“The process should take the form and order of: on-field umpire gives his decision; affected batsman or fielding sides captain asks the umpire to review that decision; the on-field umpire(s) and third umpire consult; the on-field umpire gives his final decision,” it added.

On the introduction of Hawk-Eye for making leg-before decisions, the committee recommended that the third umpire should be allowed to use the technology to determine the actual path of the ball.

“… Hawk Eye technology could be used by the third umpire but only for the purposes of determining the actual path of the ball up until the point that it struck the batsman and not the predictor function of the technology,” the statement read.

A Test series would be used to trial the new proposals after they are approved by the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC).

If that approval is forthcoming, then the decisions can be ratified at the ICC Board. Both the CEC and the ICC Board are scheduled to meet from June 29.

The Cricket Committee also took stock of Twenty20’s rise and stressed on the need to strike the right balance among the three formats of the game.

“The committee agreed that there was a strong need to identify and maintain a balance between the three formats so that all of them could continue to thrive,” the statement said.

“It identified Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport and expressed the need for the best available participants (players, umpires, referees etc) to be involved in international cricket.

“While accepting the need for a minimum requirement in terms of numbers of ODIs, Twenty20 Internationals and Tests between all teams, the committee stressed the need to protect icon series,” it added.

The Committee also recommended changes for the current playing conditions and suggested that “the bowl-out in the event of a tie in the ICC World Twenty20 or ICC Champions Trophy should be replaced by a one-over-per-team play-off”.

Among other suggestions, the committee said, “Substitute fielders should only be permitted in cases of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons.”

The committee felt the timing of one Powerplay should be decided by the batting side and three fielders should be permitted outside the fielding restriction circles for both the second and third Powerplays.

The proposed amendments to the playing conditions, if approved, will come into effect at this year’s Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan from September 11 to 28.

The ICC Cricket Committee is chaired by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and includes former Australia captain Mark Taylor, South Africa coach Mickey Arthur and Michael Holding, the ex-West Indies fast bowler.

It also features Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel, chief ICC match referee and former Sri Lanka captain Ranjan Madugalle, Kenya skipper Steve Tikolo, Pakistan great Majid Khan and FICA CEO Tim May.

Harbhajan appeals for ‘one final chance’

The trouble for Harbhajan Singh does not seem to end. The IPL banned him for 11 matches and also scrapped him of his match fee for slapping pacer S Sreesanth. The country’s cricket governing body BCCI had then said it would investigate the matter independently and slapped Harbhajan with a show cause notice.

They also set a committee led by Sudhir Nanavati to investigate the matter on basis of video footages and other proofs available.

Harbhajan Singh, the stand-in captain of Mumbai Indians, had slapped Sreesanth in his match against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The TV footages showed Sreesanth in tears and later it was revealed that Bhajji had hit him during the post match ceremony. Many said Sreesanth was provocative and abusive. However, umpires’ report said nothing about Sreesanth provoking Harbhajan.

Now with chances of him being banned for few international matches, Harbhajan in his letter has appealed the BCCI to give him ‘one final chance’.

“I did apologise to Sreesanth after the incident and I would do so again in public if needed. Along with accepting my most sincere and heartfelt apologies over this incident, I would like to appeal to the board’s sense of fair play and ask for one final chance before taking any disciplinary action against me over this incident.”

The BCCI sources have told NDTV that Harbhajan is likely to face a 10-match ban for slapping Sreesanth. He might also be fined 10-20% of his yearly contract of 40 lakh as a Grade B player. Harbhajan’s past record will also play a part in deciding his penalty as he has been involved in past seven instances.

The board will punish him for the level 4 offences as per the ICC Players’ Code of Conduct. A level 4 offence leads to a maximum punishment of a life ban or a minimum ban of five Tests or 10 One-Day Internationals.

The BCCI’s decision came after another review of the footage of the incident, which apparently indicated that Sreesanth hadn’t provoked Harbhajan at all. Apparently, he not even said “hard luck” to the controversial off-spinner.

The video footages showed Harbhajan first meeting Yuvraj Singh. He then met another Mohali player before proceeding to Sreesanth whom he whacked with the back of his hand and then kept walking.

Sreesanth walked back to retaliate but was stopped by other Mohali players. Lalchand Rajput, coach of Harbhajan’s Mumbai Indians was seen standing behind Harbhajan and laughing.

If it can be established through interviews with Harbhajan, Sreesanth, Yuvraj and Rajput that the action was spontaneous and not preplanned then it is possible that Harbhajan could face a smaller fine and be banned for fewer matches.

But chances of that is very bleak as the BCCI-appointed Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati said he was left stunned after seeing the video footage of the incident.

“It looks like Harbhajan’s action was pre-meditated rather than spontaneous,” Nanavati told NDTV.

Mumbai coach Lalchand Rajput was also penalised by the IPL and Nanavati justified it.

“Physical assault of another player is very serious and never done before so BCCI wants to set a precedent,” Nanavati said.

Now, Harbhajan like many of us will have to wait and watch till this weekend what BCCI has in store for him.

Warne wary of Mumbai Indians

The Rajasthan Royals team, on a roll after five straight wins coming into Wednesday’s clash against Mumbai Indians, are not taking the home team lightly despite the likely absence of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, said coach-cum-captain Shane Warne.

“We are on a roll and in an excellent position after five wins. But anything can happen in the second half of the tournament. Mumbai Indians have some dangerous players and we are wary of Mumbai,” said the Aussie spin wizard ahead of the match.

Warne, though feeling for his injured friend Tendulkar, said he was also happy that he would not have to bowl to the master batsman in the Twenty20 format and have nightmares again.

“It’s unfortunate Sachin is injured. Any team minus Sachin is weaker. He’s my good friend and the best batsman I have seen in my 20 years of first class cricket. But I won’t miss playing against him,” said Warne.

The champion leg spinner had famously said previously that he had nightmares after the mauling received from the Indian champion in the international arena.

Warne did not agree that his team were the underdogs as was projected before the commencement of the Twenty20 event.

“We never considered ourselves as underdogs. You people have said so. We have a well balanced squad. Our young guys have gelled well with the older ones,” he said.

Warne is already looking ahead to his team making it to the semis and felt that eight wins would be enough to achieve the primary aim.

“Probably with eight wins, a team can be in the semis. We are in a pretty good shape,” he said.

He praised the team’s left arm pacer Sohail Tanveer and hoped the Pakistan bowler would be able to topple Mumbai Indians top-order lynchpin and former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya cheaply.

“He is a very good bowler. He can swing the ball, bowl an effective slower ball and is very good against left-handers. If he can get rid off Jayasuriya at the top of the order it would be very good for us,” said Warne.

Warne felt his team had a good mix in the bowling department.

“There are left arm and right arm fast bowlers and different kind of spin bowlers. We have a good variety in our attack,” he pointed out.

He praised Shaun Pollock, who has led the Mumbai Indians outfit to victory in their last two ties, as a good captain who has had an outstanding international career.

“Shaun has had a wonderful career, a fantastic one. He’s a good captain too,” he said.