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ICC spot-fixing verdict puts Butt, Asif and Amir in a tight spot
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The ICC tribunal hearing into the spot-fixing scandal made public its verdict last Saturday, the 5th of February 2011.
All three Pakistani cricketers— Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir—were indicted and handed bans. The bans ranged from five to 10 years.
The youngest of the lot, Amir, was sentenced to a five year involuntary hiatus from the sport.Asif and Butt were handed seven and 10 year bans, with two and five years suspended sentences. In effect, all three cricketers have been suspended from the game for a minimum of five years.
Five Sizzling Questions Facing Indian Tennis
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The Wall Street Journal—at the start of the 2011 Australian Open—published an article titled Five Sizzling Tennis Questions.
The questions were:
Are Rafael Nadal‘s injuries behind him?
What about Roger?
Who are the other challengers on the men’s side?
Is this the year of the Woz?
Is the women’s ranking system legitimate?
The answers to four of the questions are still up in the air.
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open victory has given doubters more than a hint as to who’s not hanging to the coat-tails of the big guns—Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Using the article as inspiration, I arrived at five burning questions for Indian tennis:
Cricket Bytes: Of Saurav Ganguly,spot-fixing verdicts and World Cup contenders
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Saurav Ganguly is going, going, gone…
The Bengali player’s hopes of participating in IPL4 were dealt a death-blow by objections raised by Royal Challengers Bangalore,Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. Team Kochi had evinced interest in the former Indian captain but could sign him on only if none of the other franchisees demurred. The iconic batsman remained unsold in the 2011 auction.
Although Ganguly fans—particularly Kolkattans—will be disappointed, bending over backwards to accommodate anyone is not the way to run a premier tournament. Accusations of ad-hoc decision making were leveled against Lalit Modi, the ex-IPL honcho. Modifying the rules to suit two interested parties is not in the best interest of the IPL. The IPL Governing Council is managing a business, not a charity.
Besides, if the Kochi team really needed the ex-skipper on their side, they ought to have purchased him outright when they had the opportunity. The chasing after Ganguly now smacks of ill-preparation. Verily, a case of putting the cart before the horse.
Quote/Misquote: Stanislas Wawrinka,Roger Federer,Novak Djokovic,Rafael Nadal,Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Na Li (Satire)
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STANISLAS WAWRINKA
"I have no idea. Sorry. I have no idea why."
What he really meant:
I don’t know why Europeans dominate tennis right now. I just play, man, don’t bother me.
What he definitely didn’t:
The Europeans have stolen the Americans’ and Australians’ spinach and will keep popping them in the eye.
(Popeye refrain "I’s bin hornswoggled!” in background.)
Quote Misquote: Roger Federer,Novak Djokovic, Li Na and Maria Sharapova
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ROGER FEDERER
“Yeah, I mean, they say that very quickly, so…
Let’s talk in six months again.”
What he really meant:
Don’t write off Rafa or me as yet.
What he definitely didn’t:
Yeah, Rafa and I are going to quit the sport in six months.
Rafael Nadal’s shattered dream, Justine Henin’s farewell and mused tweets
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Gloom descended on the rafters at Melbourne Park.
The courts will be bathed in bright sunlight Thursday morning, but there will be a weary leadenness in the hearts of tennis players, officials and fans.
The World No.1, Rafael Nadal, bade a somber farewell to his quest for a Rafa Slam. It was not to be.
Alexandr Dolgopolov’s unpredicted run ends predictably: Andy Murray triumphs in four sets
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So, who is Alexandr Dolgopolov?
WHO IS THIS GUY?
Why did I not know or hear of him?
He’s Ukrainian, you don’t say? Ukrainians play tennis, you say?
Aren’t Ukrainians Russian? They speak the language, don’t they?
But talk to me again about this chap.
Caroline Wozniacki’s kangaroo and Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes Vamos their opponents (Satire)
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Post-match press conferences are boring.
I mean, come on, who wants to talk about the match? It’s just another day at the office. Get wise, guys, we’re pros. It’s our job.
You don’t believe me? Ask Caroline Wozniacki.
The Great Dane felt that the best way to entertain her fans and journalists was to tell a little fib about wrestling a kangaroo.
The kangaroo gave the pretty No. 1 a small cut. Or that’s how the story went.
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer progress in contrasting styles: Djokovic, Murray and Soderling lurk in the wings
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Sunday evening and it’s seven days into the 2011 Australian Open.
The spotlight remains focused on the rivalry for the ages. Federer and Nadal are on course for a shoot-out on Sunday, the 30th of January.
That is, if the drama on court plays out as the script their fans envision.
The No.1 and No.2 seeds have taken different routes to the much expected showdown.
Indian cricket: Of team selections and plate to cup journey for Rajasthan in Ranji
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The debate rages on.
Have the Indian selectors chosen the best possible side for the ODI World Cup?
The argument centres on whether there ought to have been a back-up keeper. MS Dhoni—as captain and stumper—shoulders a heavy responsibility.
To his credit, he has borne the burden well and there is no reason to believe that he will not do the same in February-March—should he remain fit.
As for the pessimists, they will wonder who will keep wickets if Dhoni is forced to miss a match.
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Make Time For Sports. 