MS Dhoni With His Sister's Cute ♥ Daughter ♥ .....

Michael Hussey is an inspiration: Fleming.....

Chennai coach Stephen Fleming was all praise for Michael Hussey, who came up with a brilliant knock against Kolkata, saying that the way he has batted so far in the tournament has been "dynamic". 

Hussey smashed a 59-ball 95 to power Chennai to a commanding 200/3 and also effected an important run-out during the chase when BIsla was batting confidently on 92. 

"It was great innings, isn't it? He has been consistent though there was some criticism in the manner in which he scored runs. The way he has played against different teams has been quite dynamic. I cannot speak more highly of Hussey on the influence he has and the way he conducts himself," Fleming said. 

"His name is Mr Cricket; what he means to the side is phenomenal and he is halfway to our batting unit. He leads by example, not only runs that he scores but the way he trains and conducts himself," he added. 

Fleming said Hussey's presence lifts the performance of the other players, who look up to him as an inspiration. 

"By his performance, Hussey lifted Saha, who played well today. Vijay had played well in the past and Raina had played well with Hussey, and Dhoni, when he gets a chance, plays well with Hussey. He is an inspiration. He has got instincts to read the game situation. If you feel he was struggling for about 60 runs, it was because of the desire to convert good starts to a winning score. He should have got a hundred." 

Asked if Chennai were under pressure during the chase, Fleming said: "We were under pressure, we got some catches in the second 20 overs but we fumbled under pressure. But you must admire the two teams playing such close games. It is quality cricket. Somehow we came on top at the end." 

On the dropped catches and a missed stumping chance, Fleming said: "In cricket, it always happens. Suresh Raina (who put down a catch) is one of the best fielders. Ashwin is not the most mobile. As I said we were under pressure. On the whole, it was a wonderful game." 

Speaking about the bowling performance, Fleming said they were found wanting for most part of the innings before Chris Morris bowled an outstanding last over, giving away just 4 runs when Kolkata required 19 to win. 

We probably did not respond well with the ball but the last over in particular was outstanding. We are still working for progress and it is nice to see some good bowling in the death overs." 

While mentioning that there was room for improvement in the bowling department, Fleming said he was impressed with the way the seamers bowled. 

"The Seamers, in a high-scoring match, were a lot more smarter and that from a coaching point of view is pleasing. I am sure the captain would like to see quickly some improvements. I know he would. It was a tough start today as we gave 20 runs in the first over," he said. 

Asked if his side's bowlers were complacent while defending a big score, Fleming said, "Impressions can be different. Sometimes one gets such impressions but on the flip side, the team chasing on a big ground have a lot of opportunities. We were not complacent." 

Asked how his side came out unscathed on most occasions when they were in trouble, he said, "It might sound strange to say that we are a good battling side. But, we really fight for our win. We have some gifted and wonderful players in our ranks. We find our ways to be aggressive. Our attitude is good and we do at times manage to win." 

Every match is a knockout match for us: Dinda........

Pune suffered their seventh loss when they were beaten by Delhi by 15 runs to slump to the bottom of the table. Ashok Dinda, who came up with an impressive bowling performance in the match, said his team played good cricket but luck did not quite favour them. 

Chasing a target of 165, Pune ended up being restricted to 149. Dinda, who finished with figures of 3/31, said they had done a reasonably good job in restricting Delhi to a total below 170 and pointed out Aaron Finch's dismissal on 37 as the key moment of the match. 

"We played good cricket, but at the last moment luck was not on our side. We got a good start thanks to my bowling. But in the death overs, David Warner took the attack to our bowlers. Still, we managed to hold them back to 164, which was a good effort." 

"The turning point was Aaron Finch's dismissal. Under that situation, the umpire adjudged him out (caught behind) when he was going well. But cricket is a funny game, especially T20, where even a single over can change the game. So, we've learnt that until it's over, don't raise your hopes," Dinda added. 

With their backs to the wall, Pune have to win their remaining seven matches to stand a chance of making it to the play-offs. Dinda said it is not an impossible feat and Pune will be trying their best. 

"Now seven matches are remaining and we will have to win them all. Let's see. Nothing is impossible and we will try our best," Dinda said. 

Dinda said Pune will have to now approach the Indian T20 League as a 7-game tournament and consider each game as a knock-out match. 

"We don't have to think that it's a 16-game tournament. Starting now, we have to take it as a seven-match tournament, where each and every match is a knockout match. And if we lose even one game, we are out of the reckoning. Basically, play each and every match like it is the final." 

Pune's next match will be a home game against the table-toppers Chennai, against whom they had emerged victorious on the previous occasion. While mentioning that Pune will be hoping for a similar result, Dinda said he wanted to target MS Dhoni, who according to him is a key member of the Chennai side. 

"I will be focusing on Dhoni Bhai. He is batting really well these days. I need to work out where to bowl to him. I have to plan out differently for him, since he knows how I had bowled at him in the last match when I got him out and sealed a win for us," Dinda said. 

We have to be at the top of our game: Lehmann.......

Punjab will be taking on an upbeat Mumbai side at the Wankhede stadium and the hosts will be rearing to go after their thumping 58-run win against Bangalore a couple of days back. Punjab coach Darren Lehmann said his team will have to be at the top of their game if they are to defeat a "quality" Mumbai side. 

"Mumbai are a quality side and they have played really well in the tournament so far. We have to be at the top of our game to beat them and we have to have some good man-of-the-match performances." 

While mentioning that Mumbai will be a dangerous team at home, Lehmann said the wicket at the Wankhede will assist his team's bowlers, who according to him are the side's main strength. 

"We saw the Mumbai-Bangalore game and felt it was a good T20 wicket. Obviously it has a lot of bounce and carry in it. Mumbai are a dangerous side to play at home and we will have to bowl well against them. Our strength is our bowling, so I expect us to bowl well." 

Punjab's batting has been a cause for worry but the coach says he is impressed with the batters in the side, especially after their performance against Kolkata in their previous match when they put up a total of 149. 

"Our batting has been a bit of a worry. But I have been impressed with the batting in the last few games. We played well against Kolkata in the previous game and got to 149 which we felt was defendable on that surface." 

Adam Gilchrist has had a string of failures and when asked if the former Australian wicket-keeper would opt to sit out like Ponting has done for Mumbai, Lehmann said: "Look, Gilchrist would like to get some runs under his belt, just like we all would like to. Gilly knows he has to make some runs, be it this game or the next game or the game after. Gilly has to come good soon. When a player is not scoring well, he is under scrutiny and it will be no different in Gilly's case. We will sit down and see if he is a part of our selection plans." 

Lehmann said he was impressed with the domestic talent in his side with the likes of Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra standing up to the occasion. 

"I am impressed with the domestic talent. We have to harness our talent and it is our motive to make the local talent play to their best as much as they can. We have seen a lot of young players in the side who have done well for us. For example; Manan Vohra has been impressive in the opportunities he has got and we are exposing him to the big stage. 

While he praised the young Indian players, Lehmann felt the overseas players need to contribute more. 

"I feel the overseas players need to make more contributions to make the job of the domestic players easier. This will be a good batting track and we expect our batsmen to play with a lot of freedom." 

Bangladeshis dedicate test win to factory victims.......

Bangladesh's cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim on Monday dedicated his team's victory over Zimbabwe in a Test match to several hundred of their compatriots who lost their lives when a factory collapsed last week. 

The match got underway on Thursday -- a day after a garment factory collapsed with around 3,000 textile workers inside - with Bangladesh's cricketers wearing black armbands to show solidarity with those affected by the tragedy. 

Although thousands of people either escaped unscathed or have been pulled from the rubble alive, almost 400 deaths have been confirmed with many more bodies thought to be trapped under the fallen concrete. 

Bangladesh picked up the six wickets required for victory on the final day of the second Test to win by 143 runs and earn a share of the two-match series, and Mushfiqur confirmed that the team's thoughts had been with their compatriots. 

"It's a very sad moment for us back home, so we really dedicate this win to those people who died in the tragedy," he told reporters. 

"We've been thinking about it during the match, and we discussed it when we got back to the hotel after day one. 

"We've been trying to keep in touch with everyone back home because it really is a disaster. Hopefully the families of those who died this tragic death will be fine." 

Fall of Dravid's wicket made me more determined: Sanju Samson......

After his eye-catching performance in the T20-League here on Monday, 18-year-old Sanju Samson said the fall of Rahul Dravid's wicket did not affect his batting, but made him "more determined" to play a part in helping Rajasthan get over the line against Bangalore. 

"I was not nervous when Dravid fell but was more determined to carry on with my plans. We had a strong batting line-up for this match so the confidence was there," Samson said. 

The youngster from Kerala, who is a A B de Villiers fan, smashed 63 off 41 balls to lay the foundation for Rajasthan's four-wicket win in a thrilling finish. He bagged the Man-of-the-Match award for his fine effort. 

Samson said he had been told beforehand that he would be playing up in the batting order. 

"Yes I was told that I would be playing up in the order with a certain role. I had planned accordingly and could execute them because it was my day," he said after becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in T20-League. 

Asked about the fancy shots he's played, especially over the extra-cover region, Samson said, "I am used to playing such shots. I had to play them in accordance with the need of the hour and the field placement. 

"I normally play a lot of shots in that region and more so the area was vacant, so I tried to hit the ball there." 

Asked if he would like to be included in the team purely as a batsman, he said, "No I would like to be a wicketkeeper-batsman but it also depends upon the team management - what they want from me." 

Clarifying the confusion over his name, he said, "I had changed my name to Sanju Viswanath (from Samson) but there is nothing like superstition behind it." 

He denied that being the youngest player in the team he was treated like a child. 

"No there is no childlike treatment with me. I feel lucky to be with so many experienced players. I try to learn as much as I can from their experience," he said. 

Mumbai seek third win on the trot.......

Buoyant after a morale-lifting win over hotshots Bangalore, Mumbai will be hoping to register their third win on the trot when they take on Punjab at the Wankhede stadium. Meanwhile, the inconsistent Punjab side will be hoping to get their campaign back on track after suffering their fourth loss of the tournament when they were outclassed by Kolkata in their previous game. 

Mumbai: 

With 10 points in their kitty at the halfway stage, Mumbai are placed fourth following their third consecutive victory at home, which they have turned into an impregnable fortress. Under Rohit Sharma, who has taken over the captaincy from Ricky Ponting, Mumbai have been pretty impressive and will look continue in the same vein. 

In-form player: Things seem to be falling into place for Mumbai with talented West Indian Dwayne Smith making his presence felt at the top of the order. Smith has scored two fifties in the four games he has played so far and also delivered with the ball by taking two wickets in the game against Bangalore. 

Hit: After his surprise exclusion from the previous matches, Dhawal Kulkarni finally got an opportunity against Bangalore and he made it count with a three wicket burst that paved way for Mumbai's big win. While Mitchell Johnson and Lasith Malinga have been doing a fine job with the ball, Smith and Harbhajan Singh also came to the party in the previous match, which makes the Mumbai's bowling line-up appear all the more formidable. 

Miss: While Sachin Tendulkar got off to a start against Bangalore, he once again could not convert it to a bigger contribution, which is something Mumbai will be slightly concerned about. 

Punjab: 

After ending up on the losing side at the Eden Gardens, Punjab, who have won four and lost four, will be eager to make a comeback and get their points tally to double figures. 

In-form player: The inclusion of Mandeep Singh has been a big boost for the Punjab side as the right-handed opener has been giving good starts. With an ability to clear the ropes with nonchalance, Mandeep has scored 219 runs in eight matches, and has been the highest run-getter for this season for Punjab, who will be hoping that the 21-year-old continues piling on the runs. 

Hit: David Miller has done a good job for Punjab with the bat, and along with Mandeep Singh, has been responsible for Punjab registering back to back wins before they lost to Kolkata. He remains a crucial player in the middle order. 

Miss:The visitors have an under-performing retired Australian great at the helm just like Mumbai, but unlike the hosts, who have preferred to leave out Ponting, they have not yet taken the big decision. The wicket-keeper batsman is yet to provide the flying start which he was known for in his heydays and a tally of 94 runs in eight games has hurt his side's chances. 

CB pick: While Mumbai start as favourites, Punjab are known to spring a few surprises and will be eager to bring down a big side such as the Ambani owned team. 

Pakistan unearth new fast bowling hope......

Little-known bowler Ahmed Jamal has vowed to make a name for himself after winning a nationwide "King of Speed" competition launched by cricket chiefs to unearth a new Pakistani quick. 

Pakistan boast a proud history of pacemen including the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, and Jamal showed he has the pace to frighten batsmen with a fastest delivery of 143 kilometres (89 miles) an hour. 

The 24-year-old, who hails from the city of Abbottabad where Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in 2011, came out on top in the competition organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

Jamal, who plays first-class cricket for Port Qasim, was delighted to scoop the one million rupee ($10,000) prize after the four-man final. 

"I am thrilled and very happy," Jamal said. "My feet were on the ground before I won this and will remain on the ground after winning the prize as I want to make a name for myself." 

The PCB organised the hunt for fast bowlers ahead of a 10-day training camp led by Wasim after chief selector Iqbal Qasim raised concerns about poor quality in the pace department. 

Wasim, regarded by many as the best left-arm fast bowler ever to play the game, said he was satisfied with the talent on display at the camp, where around 20 bowlers trained. 

"It was a short camp and we will not stop here," he said at the end of the camp. 

"What I have noticed that all these bowlers are passionate and want to learn, which proved that the next five years we will have no problem in the pace department." 

Jamal was picked from trials in Abbottabad earlier this month, one of a series in 10 cities to find a bowler with 145 km speed. The other three finalists were Faisal Yasin, Abdul Hameed and Mohammad Imran. 

Former Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram said Jamal, who is six feet four inches tall (1.93 metres), has the ability to thrive. 

"I noticed him on the first day and he looks very talented," Wasim said of Jamal. "I think with some hard work he can increase his pace and can become an asset for the country." 

Jamal said he was inspired to bowl fast by Shoaib Akhtar. 

"The desire was inspired by watching Shoaib," Jamal recalled. "I want to achieve his speed and want to bowl as fast as he used to." 

Wasim will also help the bowlers at the national team's camp next month to tune up for the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England where they will be without their usual pace spearhead Umar Gul, who is injured. 

Supreme Court to hear Jagan Mohan Reddy's bail plea today.......

The Supreme Court will hear YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy's bail plea today. Mr Reddy was arrested on corruption charges on May 27, 2012 and has been lodged at the Chanchalguda Jail for almost a year now. 

This is Mr Reddy's sixth attempt at getting bail. His last plea was rejected by the top court on October 5, 2012. In its order that day, the Supreme Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI to file a consolidated charge sheet against Mr Reddy. The CBI has so far filed five different charge sheets against Mr Reddy, charging him with entering into a criminal conspiracy with his late father and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy to dole out favours to companies and individuals who made investments in his businesses.

Several ministers, who also served in YSR Reddy's cabinet, and officials are also under the CBI's scanner for allegedly issuing controversial orders, allotting land, granting mining licenses and other favours to various companies promoted by Jagan Mohan Reddy. 

Narendra Modi campaigns in Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi said one man can't fix everything, I'll prove him wrong......

 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday challenged Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on why one person cannot set everything right and offered to show how it can be done.

"I will show him (Rahul) how one man (guy) can set everything right, in response to a sermon he gave recently," Mr Modi said at a BJP election rally in Bangalore ahead of the Karnataka assembly poll on May 5. 

"Though born with a golden spoon, he (Rahul) did not read much, especially Indian history. He should have done some homework before giving sermons. "He may be right about Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi that one man (or woman) can't do everything. But Sardar (Vallabhai) Patel and Lal Bahadur Shastri have shown how one man can change everything," Mr Modi added. 

At the annual meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on April 4 in New Delhi, Rahul told India Inc: "If you think there is a guy who will come on a horse charging through and set everything right, that is not going to happen".

Though Rahul did not take Mr Modi's name in his long speech, those who heard him felt he was indirectly referring to Mr Modi, who is being projected as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the next general elections in 2014.

Mr Modi told about 30,000 people in the National College ground in Bangalore that while India's first Prime Minister (Jawaharlal Nehru) was in-charge of integrating Jammu & Kashmir with the country, it was Sardar Patel as the home minister who united all the princely and feudal states across the country and brought them under the federal republic.

Similarly, he recalled how Mr Shastri (then prime minister) with a single slogan of "jai jawan aur jai kisan" (victory to soldier and victory to farmer) brought green revolution into the country. 

He said Mr Shastri increased food production enabling the country to stop importing wheat under Public Law (PL) 480 from the US in mid-sixties after the Indo-Pak war in 1965.

"If he (Rahul) thinks that way, I am sorry for him as this country had shown many a time how one man with vision and leadership can bring about a drastic change in the lives of the people.

"Even I can show how to set right everything. Let him come to me for an open debate on what he said recently," Mr Modi said, asking the electorate to reject the Congress in the assembly poll as the party's symbol (hand) was deceptive. 

Mr Modi said it was so because it does not show the face of its would-be chief minister unlike the BJP, which has projected state chief minister Jagdish Shettar as its chief ministerial candidate.

Priyanka Chopra turns Pinky for next item number.......

For the remake version of megastar Amitabh Bachchan's 1973 film Zanjeer, Priyanka is performing an item number which is reportedly called Pinky.

"I have done a song for Priyanka in Zanjeer that is being choreographed by Ganesh Acharya. You will 
get to hear it in say two months' time when thetrailer of Zanjeer will be out," Mamta said.

Narendra Modi can say anything, who will stop him?: Sushil Kumar Shinde.....

DAMAN: Apropos Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's comments on Sarabjit Singh issue, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said nobody can stop the BJP leader from speaking, but "speaking without knowing the facts" was wrong. 

"Modi-ji can speak anything, who will stop him? But anybody speaking without knowing the facts is wrong," Shinde said here, when asked about Modi's criticism of UPA government's foreign policy over the issue of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian convict who was assaulted at Lahore jail yesterday. 

Modi today called Centre "weak" and said it had suffered a "total blackout" in foreign policy, and failed on all fronts, which was reflected in incident at Lahore. 

Shinde was in the union territory here to lay foundation stone of its first police training school.

He also took on Modi on the condition of roads, saying, "Modi talks about development, but condition of Gujarat roads between Daman and Dadra Nagar-Haveli is indicator of the development. They are in very bad shape, and home ministry will write a letter to Gujarat government on the issue."

Kapil Sibal mocks Narendra Modi, says Delhi is 'distant'......

PUNE: Taking potshots at Gujarat ChiefMinister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Kapil Sibal said today that internal bickering within the BJP would frustrate Modi's bid for Prime Ministership. 

About Modi's aspiration to take central stage for the top job, Sibal said, addressingCongress workers, "Delhi is distant. Who will allow you to reach there? There are so many eying the post within that party, including the one who has been standing behind the chair for year," indirectly referring to senior BJP leader L K Advani. 

Speaking at a Maharashtra Congress conclave at Balewadi, near here, Sibal alleged that Modi presents a misleading picture of Gujarat's growth under his leadership, with wrong sets of figures, adding that in reality, the state's population under the below poverty line (BPL) had increased in rural segments along with a rise in malnutrition. 

"If Gujarat has made any progress, it is because of the people of Gujarat and not because of Modi", he said. 

In a caustic attack on the BJP poster boy, Sibal said "Modi puts on a mask to hide his true face. If one goes near him, the real face is exposed". 

He said only the Congress had a vision for 21st century India and the country could progress only on the path of secularism and not on the one represented by Narendra Modi. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan asked Congress workers to convey UPA government's "achievements" to the people and prepare for the 2014 general elections.

source:economictimes.indiatimes