India started their 2010 world cup campaign in style beating arch rivals Pakistan 4-1. India dominated play for most parts and were clearly the better team overall. This is the ideal start for our team but it will be interesting to see how we cope up against more demanding oppositions like Australia, England and Spain.
Check the highlights here:
PART 1:
INDIA Vs PAK HIGHLIGHTS-FIH-WORLDCUP 2010 Part 1
Uploaded by godofcricket. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.
PART 2:
INDIA Vs PAK HIGHLIGHTS-FIH-WORLDCUP 2010 Part 2
Uploaded by godofcricket. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Men's Hockey World Cup 2010 - Delhi
After all the drama surrounding the Indian Hockey last month, the world cup is finally here. The tournament starts on 28th Feb and ends on 13 March 2010 in New Delhi. It would be cracker of a tournament and worth watching for any serious sports enthusiast. It's not very often that we get top international events in sports other than Cricket.
Here's the tournament Calendar and Ticketing details....
Here's the tournament Calendar and Ticketing details....
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hockey crisis resolved. Camp to resume tomorrow.
Indian hockey could be back on track after the strike was called off by the players. It appears that a timely intervention by sponsors Sahara could have broken the deadlock. The players have agreed to resume camp on Thursday.
Update: Sahara to release 1 crore for Indian Hockey
Sahara, the team sponsor, has stepped in to break the impasse between the striking players and the federation. Sahara has decided to release RS.1 crore immediately to be distributerd amongst the striking players.
"In the genuine interest of the national hockey players, Sahara India Pariwar has decided to pay immediately Rs 1 Crore in suspense account to Hockey India, only for distribution to the players so that they can peacefully and happily practice and play for the country," Sahara said in a statement.
"Sahara has also paid Rs 77 lacs in December as advance for the quarter of January 15 to April 14, 2010. Sahara will go through the past accounts of Hockey India and shall take suitable decision for this amount," it added.
News and comments source is NDTV. Read the entire story at:
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=495&StoryID=SPOEN20100125519&ch=113201013100PM
"In the genuine interest of the national hockey players, Sahara India Pariwar has decided to pay immediately Rs 1 Crore in suspense account to Hockey India, only for distribution to the players so that they can peacefully and happily practice and play for the country," Sahara said in a statement.
"Sahara has also paid Rs 77 lacs in December as advance for the quarter of January 15 to April 14, 2010. Sahara will go through the past accounts of Hockey India and shall take suitable decision for this amount," it added.
News and comments source is NDTV. Read the entire story at:
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=495&StoryID=SPOEN20100125519&ch=113201013100PM
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Save Indian Hockey campaign by NDTV
Read all the stories as they develop on ndtv page below. Once on the page join the petition to the government to pay hockey players their dues. Just enter your name and email id to pledge your support.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/NDTV-Show-Special.aspx?ID=495
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/NDTV-Show-Special.aspx?ID=495
Indian Hockey crisis deepens!
Crisis in Indian hockey has further deepened after an inconclusive meeting between the players and HI officials. The meeting was arranged as a last gasp effort to diffuse the situation with the all important World Cup in sight. It appears that Hockey India officials made their stand clear about non availability of funds and therefore no agreement could be reached as the players continued their demand for pending wages to be cleared before they get onto the field of play.
The latest update as of now is that the players have been given a final ultimatum of 48 hours to start practicing else the camp would be shut down. HI president AK Matoo described it as a sad development while quoting "Any player who is in the complex has to train but it seems for them (players) money is more important than playing for the country”.
Also read my view of the crisis at:
http://expresssport.blogspot.com/2010/01/indian-hockey-in-despair.html
The latest update as of now is that the players have been given a final ultimatum of 48 hours to start practicing else the camp would be shut down. HI president AK Matoo described it as a sad development while quoting "Any player who is in the complex has to train but it seems for them (players) money is more important than playing for the country”.
Also read my view of the crisis at:
http://expresssport.blogspot.com/2010/01/indian-hockey-in-despair.html
Monday, January 11, 2010
Indian Hockey in despair!
SRK’s tweet about the recent Indian Hockey imbroglio made it to the front page of our leading daily and I have little doubt his dog’s birthday would have made it too. He however touched upon a rather serious issue about sports governance in India, especially Indian hockey, which is going through one of its worst crisis. Players have revolted against the administration due to non-payment of wages at a time when India is preparing to host the men’s world cup next month and Commonwealth Games later in the year.
Before I delve further into the issue and its implications let’s get the basics right and understand the enormity of this situation. For the uninitiated, Hockey is the national sport of India and quite understandably so, since at the top level no other Indian team or individual can boast of a better record than our hockey teams of yore. The Indian team has a total of eight gold’s, one silver and two bronze medals in Olympics which is far bigger than any of our other sporting achievements.
Indian hockey has been in a state of decline for years but now it appears to be doomed. We have all heard and read players of various past generations crying foul against the federation but nothing has come of it. The corruption at the highest level has been in news over the last few years but no steps have been taken to change things. We have seen the arrival and departure of numerous coaches but hockey in India has continued to slide and I am afraid it’s not looking any better now.
The situation on the ground is that Indian hockey team players have decided to stop practicing ahead of the world cup scheduled next month. Players’ grouse is that they have not been paid their match fees for the recently concluded Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina where they had finished 3rd. The demands that Indian players have put on the table are simple:
- Payment of pending dues (nothing wrong in demanding what’s due)
- Defined Remuneration structure (it’s comical to even think we don’t have that in place yet)
- Performance based bonus (even sales reps get that so how come Indian hockey players don’t?)
- Professional management (ah, and I was crying foul about BCCI. They are all the same except that BCCI has the money and the strings to pull)
None of the above demands are such that they can put Indian hockey on hold however recent developments suggest that the federation has informed about the unavailability of funds to pay the match fees. Now there can be nothing more comical than the fact that the governing body does not have enough money to pay its players when I am absolutely sure that every top official in the federation would have swelling bank accounts with enough to pay SRK for a couple of stage shows. A recent news flash on NDTV suggests that Hockey India is mulling a ban on revolting players. Now, this is even more absurd than the no money argument since the players appear to be in the right.
There is light at the end of every tunnel and I wish this crisis would once and for all change the way Hockey is managed in India. Every Indian and not just the sports fan would like to see the end of this era and the beginning of a new one for hockey in India. Indian Hockey deserves better and it needs to be saved and now- for India’s pride at least.
Before I delve further into the issue and its implications let’s get the basics right and understand the enormity of this situation. For the uninitiated, Hockey is the national sport of India and quite understandably so, since at the top level no other Indian team or individual can boast of a better record than our hockey teams of yore. The Indian team has a total of eight gold’s, one silver and two bronze medals in Olympics which is far bigger than any of our other sporting achievements.
Indian hockey has been in a state of decline for years but now it appears to be doomed. We have all heard and read players of various past generations crying foul against the federation but nothing has come of it. The corruption at the highest level has been in news over the last few years but no steps have been taken to change things. We have seen the arrival and departure of numerous coaches but hockey in India has continued to slide and I am afraid it’s not looking any better now.
The situation on the ground is that Indian hockey team players have decided to stop practicing ahead of the world cup scheduled next month. Players’ grouse is that they have not been paid their match fees for the recently concluded Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina where they had finished 3rd. The demands that Indian players have put on the table are simple:
- Payment of pending dues (nothing wrong in demanding what’s due)
- Defined Remuneration structure (it’s comical to even think we don’t have that in place yet)
- Performance based bonus (even sales reps get that so how come Indian hockey players don’t?)
- Professional management (ah, and I was crying foul about BCCI. They are all the same except that BCCI has the money and the strings to pull)
None of the above demands are such that they can put Indian hockey on hold however recent developments suggest that the federation has informed about the unavailability of funds to pay the match fees. Now there can be nothing more comical than the fact that the governing body does not have enough money to pay its players when I am absolutely sure that every top official in the federation would have swelling bank accounts with enough to pay SRK for a couple of stage shows. A recent news flash on NDTV suggests that Hockey India is mulling a ban on revolting players. Now, this is even more absurd than the no money argument since the players appear to be in the right.
There is light at the end of every tunnel and I wish this crisis would once and for all change the way Hockey is managed in India. Every Indian and not just the sports fan would like to see the end of this era and the beginning of a new one for hockey in India. Indian Hockey deserves better and it needs to be saved and now- for India’s pride at least.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dead pitches are killing cricket in India!
While I was watching India plunder the Lankan attack at Rajkot, I couldn’t help but wonder about the poor state of our wickets. When Lanka responded the way they did I was utterly shattered. My nationality was surely not the cause of this disappointment – remember India had won- but it was the utter disdain that the bowlers were treated with and I couldn’t help but despise the fans around me who hailed it as one of the great matches.
The match was a killer all right and everyone went home happy. India for being the winners, Lanka for coming that close to a 415 target and the viewers for getting every penny’s worth.
Yes, there were some outstanding knocks played and it was a close game of cricket and a last ball decision would suggest a thrilling encounter. I profoundly disagree as I could feel the thrill and excitement for only the last 30-40 balls of Srilankan innings and that sums up to mere 30 minutes of cricket. So what was happening for the rest of 6+ hours? All I can recall from those 6 odd hours is the fact that there were some mere mortals delivering the cricket ball and were being dismissed out to the woods- not much fun. Captain had nothing more to do but to try and hand over the ball to anyone who could go for less than 10 an over- really sad.
The true cricket fan would have surely missed the lack of fight between the ball and the bat- I did. I cannot see this taking our sport too far. Someone needs to realize that we are actually killing this sport with the kind of unsporting batting beauties. Soon individual 200 would be overwhelmed in a one day game and soon there will be a 25 ball hundred but would it all be worth? - I guess not.
There would soon be too many “Great” batsmen and too few “Great” bowlers and we would have a Coliseum where bowlers would step up to be slaughtered all in the name of entertainment. I shudder to think of that day but it’s not too far away. Cricket in India is at the gallows.
PS: A lot of talk has been centered on reviving test cricket. The test matches being played around the world over the last few weeks have been excellent advertisement for the game unlike ODI’s in our part of the world.
England v South Africa went till the last ball on day 5 while Windies came as close as 30 odd to upset the Aussies. Anyone who watched those games would agree that Test cricket is alive and kicking around the world and as I had mentioned earlier, just the pitches can make a world of difference to how the game can move forward.
We don't really need a major upheaval as perceived by too many expert voices rather we need the establishments- especially in India- to realize that their myopic view will kill our beloved sport- forever.
The match was a killer all right and everyone went home happy. India for being the winners, Lanka for coming that close to a 415 target and the viewers for getting every penny’s worth.
Yes, there were some outstanding knocks played and it was a close game of cricket and a last ball decision would suggest a thrilling encounter. I profoundly disagree as I could feel the thrill and excitement for only the last 30-40 balls of Srilankan innings and that sums up to mere 30 minutes of cricket. So what was happening for the rest of 6+ hours? All I can recall from those 6 odd hours is the fact that there were some mere mortals delivering the cricket ball and were being dismissed out to the woods- not much fun. Captain had nothing more to do but to try and hand over the ball to anyone who could go for less than 10 an over- really sad.
The true cricket fan would have surely missed the lack of fight between the ball and the bat- I did. I cannot see this taking our sport too far. Someone needs to realize that we are actually killing this sport with the kind of unsporting batting beauties. Soon individual 200 would be overwhelmed in a one day game and soon there will be a 25 ball hundred but would it all be worth? - I guess not.
There would soon be too many “Great” batsmen and too few “Great” bowlers and we would have a Coliseum where bowlers would step up to be slaughtered all in the name of entertainment. I shudder to think of that day but it’s not too far away. Cricket in India is at the gallows.
PS: A lot of talk has been centered on reviving test cricket. The test matches being played around the world over the last few weeks have been excellent advertisement for the game unlike ODI’s in our part of the world.
England v South Africa went till the last ball on day 5 while Windies came as close as 30 odd to upset the Aussies. Anyone who watched those games would agree that Test cricket is alive and kicking around the world and as I had mentioned earlier, just the pitches can make a world of difference to how the game can move forward.
We don't really need a major upheaval as perceived by too many expert voices rather we need the establishments- especially in India- to realize that their myopic view will kill our beloved sport- forever.
Friday, December 18, 2009
ICC set to revamp test Cricket!
A friend of mine reported on his blog that ICC is planning to introduce D&N test cricket soon to give the format a new lease of life. I am not all that convinced though.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it expects day-night test cricket within two years and described a world test cricket championship as a "work in progress".
Reuters reports that ICC president David Morgan said yesterday: "I'd be "surprised" if we don't see day-night test cricket within the next two years - surprised and disappointed."
I am huge fan of test cricket and in my opinion there is not too much wrong with the format except for the wickets and few other minor flaws.
Following is my comment on my friend’s blog:
"Too much to digest. D&N test cricket .. Well sounds interesting but appears only half baked.. There are too many issues to sort out before that happens and my guess is if ICC does not do enough home work it would turn out to be as ugly as the newly launched referral system."
"I wish some things can remain the way they are. White clothes, red cherry and day games. What needs to change is the state of wickets and grounds. Pitches if sporting can change the state of this sport. "
"I wish ICC can stick to basics rather than going for the jugular."
Read more at:
http://sportsbizfreak.blogspot.com/2009/12/test-cricket-to-get-face-lift.html
International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it expects day-night test cricket within two years and described a world test cricket championship as a "work in progress".
Reuters reports that ICC president David Morgan said yesterday: "I'd be "surprised" if we don't see day-night test cricket within the next two years - surprised and disappointed."
I am huge fan of test cricket and in my opinion there is not too much wrong with the format except for the wickets and few other minor flaws.
Following is my comment on my friend’s blog:
"Too much to digest. D&N test cricket .. Well sounds interesting but appears only half baked.. There are too many issues to sort out before that happens and my guess is if ICC does not do enough home work it would turn out to be as ugly as the newly launched referral system."
"I wish some things can remain the way they are. White clothes, red cherry and day games. What needs to change is the state of wickets and grounds. Pitches if sporting can change the state of this sport. "
"I wish ICC can stick to basics rather than going for the jugular."
Read more at:
http://sportsbizfreak.blogspot.com/2009/12/test-cricket-to-get-face-lift.html
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sreesanth: Coming Back to Life
He was hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket when he burst onto the international scene in 2006. Johannesburg was the ideal setting for a young and sprightly Indian and Sreesanth announced himself to the cricket world in style. He had the pace, the swing and he was moving the ball both ways- he was an enigma that Indian pace bowling had always lacked.
South Africans were humiliated in their own backyard and India did it with pace spearheaded by Sreesanth. The commentary team of experts scrutinized his bowling action, seam position, wrist position and myriad other positives to hail him India’s “Richard Hadlee”. That comparison in itself was ill conceived as Sreesanth would do well to be capped as many times as the number of scalps Sir Richard Hadlee had in ’85 series against the Aussies.
He however was every bit as good a bowler as he was hailed to be and he had the aggression too- well a little too much I guess. He had a rare streak of an entertainer too and he showed that with the “Dance” routine after hitting Nel for a six and then with the Amla incident for which he was quickly reprimanded.
It was clear as early as South Africa that this young lad had some temperamental issues to sort out. He needed some counseling and support from the people who run the sport but I guess he received none. India was still in SA when Sreesanth was criticized for his demeanor and his sometimes over the top on-field antics. While I was watching him closely those days I could sense trouble brewing slowly but surely. Sreesanth the entertainer was taking over the bowler in him and it hit the rock bottom with “Slapgate”. His scuffle with Harbhajan made him infamous and he soon lost confidence of the selectors- he had gone too far for their liking.
A young man was left distraught and he cried his way to cricketing obscurity after being slapped by his India team mate. He had a few injuries thereafter and he was all but out of India reckoning. He did not really help his cause as he made one headline after the other- none for cricketing reasons. He danced his way to reality television and was soon all over the print and television media with his dance show, celebrity linkups and brawls. He was more on page3 than where he belonged – the sports page.
It all went from bad to worse when he failed to turn up for Kerala camp following which he was given the final warning - for repeatedly violating the code of conduct. BCCI too issued a final warning in October 2009. All hope must have waned for a young and talented fast bowler and I am sure he would have been at least as surprised as I was when he was recalled to the India team. I would be lying if I said I was all hopeful for him as I was completely amazed to see him in the playing eleven.
Today, in a single day of test cricket, this young maverick has put all my doubts to rest- cricketing or otherwise. He has shown he still has the pace and movement he once flattered with. He has come alive on a slow track and has all but won the test match for India. How many fast bowlers have done that for us in the years gone by?
I am sure a lot of his detractors would still cast a doubt on his temperament but for me he is a different Sreesanth. His celebration after completing his 5-for was subdued as if to give out a signal of his true intent – of playing cricket to win matches for India. If Sreesanth is a changed man as he confessed after getting the elusive India call, he is making it amply clear and rightly so. I am doubly sure he now knows the importance of making quick amends and he has taken important steps today –not only by being superb with the ball but by also being restrained in his demeanor. Entertainer has taken a back seat and rightly so. Cricketer Sreesanth has finally arrived.
South Africans were humiliated in their own backyard and India did it with pace spearheaded by Sreesanth. The commentary team of experts scrutinized his bowling action, seam position, wrist position and myriad other positives to hail him India’s “Richard Hadlee”. That comparison in itself was ill conceived as Sreesanth would do well to be capped as many times as the number of scalps Sir Richard Hadlee had in ’85 series against the Aussies.
He however was every bit as good a bowler as he was hailed to be and he had the aggression too- well a little too much I guess. He had a rare streak of an entertainer too and he showed that with the “Dance” routine after hitting Nel for a six and then with the Amla incident for which he was quickly reprimanded.
It was clear as early as South Africa that this young lad had some temperamental issues to sort out. He needed some counseling and support from the people who run the sport but I guess he received none. India was still in SA when Sreesanth was criticized for his demeanor and his sometimes over the top on-field antics. While I was watching him closely those days I could sense trouble brewing slowly but surely. Sreesanth the entertainer was taking over the bowler in him and it hit the rock bottom with “Slapgate”. His scuffle with Harbhajan made him infamous and he soon lost confidence of the selectors- he had gone too far for their liking.
A young man was left distraught and he cried his way to cricketing obscurity after being slapped by his India team mate. He had a few injuries thereafter and he was all but out of India reckoning. He did not really help his cause as he made one headline after the other- none for cricketing reasons. He danced his way to reality television and was soon all over the print and television media with his dance show, celebrity linkups and brawls. He was more on page3 than where he belonged – the sports page.
It all went from bad to worse when he failed to turn up for Kerala camp following which he was given the final warning - for repeatedly violating the code of conduct. BCCI too issued a final warning in October 2009. All hope must have waned for a young and talented fast bowler and I am sure he would have been at least as surprised as I was when he was recalled to the India team. I would be lying if I said I was all hopeful for him as I was completely amazed to see him in the playing eleven.
Today, in a single day of test cricket, this young maverick has put all my doubts to rest- cricketing or otherwise. He has shown he still has the pace and movement he once flattered with. He has come alive on a slow track and has all but won the test match for India. How many fast bowlers have done that for us in the years gone by?
I am sure a lot of his detractors would still cast a doubt on his temperament but for me he is a different Sreesanth. His celebration after completing his 5-for was subdued as if to give out a signal of his true intent – of playing cricket to win matches for India. If Sreesanth is a changed man as he confessed after getting the elusive India call, he is making it amply clear and rightly so. I am doubly sure he now knows the importance of making quick amends and he has taken important steps today –not only by being superb with the ball but by also being restrained in his demeanor. Entertainer has taken a back seat and rightly so. Cricketer Sreesanth has finally arrived.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sad state of sports reporting!
It was a good game of cricket and as usual one team had to lose. The reason I am writing this post is beyond what happened on the field and is more about what happened on Indian news channels soon after. Aussies fought like tigers and produced some fantastic on field cricket to beat India in a close game.
Soon after the match was over I flipped to a news channel and I saw some cricket experts blaming the loss on a poor umpiring decision. Mr. Expert was so vehement in his approach and so unreasonable in his argument that no amount of reasoning from the news reporter could have changed his position. The argument went something like this:
News Anchor: So "expert", do you think a bad umpiring decision cost India the game?
Expert: (screaming) the decision was poor and this is not the first time as this happens all the time to our team. Sachin was so close to taking India to a fantastic win and to get to his landmark 17k but for a disastrous decision by Asoka d'Silva. He has been giving poor decisions against us for a long time now and has to be stopped. ICC needs to make sure such incompetent umpires are not allowed to officiate in big games.
News Anchor: But don't you think it was the failure of our middle order that was responsible?
Expert: Don't underestimate the importance of losing a set batsman who was anchoring the innings and the umpire made a blunder so he should be thrown out of the elite panel.
So I sat there wondering about the state of sports reporting and the incompetence of so called 'experts'. It appears that most channels and their expert commentators are so fraught with the idea of sensationalism that they completely overshadow the basic inspiration of reporting – TRUTH.
The truth part is conspicuous by its absence in every form of news reporting these days and sensation is so prevalent around news and entertainment channels that the real story is actually lost. The story I could not understand from last night’s news was that India lost a closely fought and thoroughly entertaining game of cricket to a superior opposition on the day.
Soon after the match was over I flipped to a news channel and I saw some cricket experts blaming the loss on a poor umpiring decision. Mr. Expert was so vehement in his approach and so unreasonable in his argument that no amount of reasoning from the news reporter could have changed his position. The argument went something like this:
News Anchor: So "expert", do you think a bad umpiring decision cost India the game?
Expert: (screaming) the decision was poor and this is not the first time as this happens all the time to our team. Sachin was so close to taking India to a fantastic win and to get to his landmark 17k but for a disastrous decision by Asoka d'Silva. He has been giving poor decisions against us for a long time now and has to be stopped. ICC needs to make sure such incompetent umpires are not allowed to officiate in big games.
News Anchor: But don't you think it was the failure of our middle order that was responsible?
Expert: Don't underestimate the importance of losing a set batsman who was anchoring the innings and the umpire made a blunder so he should be thrown out of the elite panel.
So I sat there wondering about the state of sports reporting and the incompetence of so called 'experts'. It appears that most channels and their expert commentators are so fraught with the idea of sensationalism that they completely overshadow the basic inspiration of reporting – TRUTH.
The truth part is conspicuous by its absence in every form of news reporting these days and sensation is so prevalent around news and entertainment channels that the real story is actually lost. The story I could not understand from last night’s news was that India lost a closely fought and thoroughly entertaining game of cricket to a superior opposition on the day.
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