 Colombo:
Humiliated by Australia in their opening Super Eights match, a jittery
India will have to pick up the pieces from their all-round failure and
come up with an inspired performance against arch-rivals Pakistan in
their do-or-die game in the World Twenty20 on Sunday.The Indian team looked completely out of sorts against Australia and they now have to quickly address their woes in all departments of the game when they take on an upbeat Pakistan, who had beaten South Africa in a thriller, if they want to remain afloat in the tournament. India`s five bowler strategy was a big hit against England in the group match but in conducive conditions against Australia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s frontline spinners were hammered by Shane Watson-David Warner duo in last night`s match. Dhoni blamed the short spell of drizzle before the start of the Australian innings as a reason for his bowlers` failure. But the fact that the entire bowling unit failed to put up a semblance of a fight came as a surprise. From Ravichandran Ashwin to Piyush Chawla, everyone bowled half-trackers and full-tosses which proved to be cannon fodder for the two dashing `Ws` of Australian cricket. Although Dhoni may persist with his five bowler strategy, it will be very surprising if leggie Chawla gets another chance in the tournament. Pakistan are far superior players of spin bowling and consistency has never been Chawla`s forte as he is primarily a rhythm bowler. On their day, the likes of Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez can take Chawla to the cleaners --- something Dhoni can`t afford at this juncture of the tournament. Dhoni had suggested that "slower deliveries will be effective on Premadasa strip" which means that a bowler like Lakshmipathy Balaji will be more effective. The Indian team also has their share of batting worries and it will be interesting to know whether Dhoni will persist with Irfan Pathan as the makeshift opener and keep Virender Sehwag out of the equation. Sample this. The Indian batsmen in the three matches so far in the tournament have been able hit only seven sixes (four vs Afghans, one vs England and two vs Australia) while Watson alone has hit seven sixes against India yesterday. Dhoni incidentally said at the post match press conference that "it was very difficult to justify why Sehwag was dropped". However, there are serious questions that need to be asked about Yuvraj Singh`s inclusion in the team. Largely an emotional decision by the selectors after his remarkable recovery from rare germ cell cancer, each and every passing match has been a proof of the fact that the talented left-hander needed some serious match practice at the domestic level before making an international comeback. He has totally looked out of sorts while batting although he has somewhat made up with his bowling. Yuvraj has been quiet with the bat and that has affected India`s chances of putting up a big score against Afghanistan and Australia. The choice between Sehwag and Yuvraj is a difficult one at the moment as both are not contributing with the bat. But there is still an outside chance of Sehwag playing an impact innings at the top of the order but getting a 40-ball-70 from Yuvraj will be asking for too much at this stage. Pakistan, on the other hand, would look to put up an improved batting performance as it was due to sheer brilliance of Umar Gul that they were able to beat South Africa after being 76 for seven at one stage. Talent has never been an issue with Pakistan cricket as they have had that in abundance but consistency has been a problem. While they employed four spinners against South Africa, they might not use rookie slow left-arm orthodox bowler Raza Hasan against India. While skipper Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal are automatic choices, there is a chance that Pakistan may play Mohammad Sami who, with his raw pace, can be a bit of an enforcer. The only problem for Pakistan has been Afridi`s sharp dip in form with the willow which at times does hamper Pakistan`s batting prospects. Afridi`s propensity of playing high-risk-no-gain kind of strokes have always put his team in trouble and it was not an exception against South Africa. A lot will also depend on Pakistan`s most talented young batsman Umar Akmal who on his day can take apart any bowling attack in the world. Skipper Hafeez`s consistency, Ajmal`s tricks and Shoaib Malik`s calming presence are certain positive aspects for the team. The Squads: India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt; wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh. Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (capt.), Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Asad Shafiq, Raza Hasan. Match starts at 7.30 pm (IST). |
Saturday, 29 September 2012
INDIA TAKING ON PAKISTAN IN SUPER 8..
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Friday Release: Spy thriller 'Agent Vinod'
Mumbai: On the eve of release of the spy thriller 'Agent Vinod', director Sriram Raghavan says that the audience will be 'surprised' to see the other side of real life couple Saif Ail Khan and Kareena Kapoor on the screen.
Since the time they started dating, Saif and Kareena have acted together in two films, namely 'Tashan' and 'Kurbaan', however, both the movies failed to click with the audience.
"For us that was (pairing Saif and Kareena) something we were conscious of....But it did not scare me...I took it as a challenge. Here he (Saif) is playing a spy, don't know much about him, his past, what he would do next, while Kareena plays a mysterious girl who Saif encounters in Morocco. I am not making a love story with them, I am making a plot driven film," Raghavan told PTI in an interview.
The Saif and Kareena-starrer spy thriller is scheduled to hit the screens tomorrow.
"Probably, viewers would expect something...I hope we kind of a defy that and so they would be like surprised seeing a different kind of a relationship that they have seen (between the two). Even the audience would forget that they are a real life couple. They would be seen in a different way..," he said.
The director said it was Saif's idea to cast Kareena opposite him in 'Agent Vinod'.
"Saif and I thought of coming together with a spy movie as we both liked the old 'Agent Vinod'. The fact that Saif has his own production house and Kareena as his friend and also that she was not cast in 'Love Aaj Kal' so Saif asked is there a role for her, so I told him let me finish the script first," Raghavan said.
"I did not want to give Kareena a role just like that, I wanted to give her a good role as she is a fantastic actress. So if they are real life couple or not I don't care as long as I get two good actors in my film. My only worry was that she might say is the role good enough for me, but she was happy with the role," Raghavan said.
His earlier two movies, 'Ek Hasina Thi' and 'Johnny Gadar'--both thrillers--did not have much of song and dance, unlike 'Agent Vinod' which has an item number, a Mujra and a few other songs.
"The earlier movies were small and I had then thought that I don't need to incept song and dance, but 'Agent Vinod' is a big adventurous film. I am still to get over my inhibition of getting my hero suddenly burst into a song and
dance....Iam not good at that, though I love watching it," the director said.
Justifying the need for song, Raghavan said, "Agent Vinod needs flamboyant music. The song takes the story forward and does not just interfere in between...with each song something else is happening".
On Kareena's maiden mujra, the director said initially they were undecided whether the actress would feature in it.
"Initially we were not sure. She plays a character in the film and we did not want her to suddenly burst into a Mujra, like a typical Hindi film. We did not want tha...but we got that link," he added.
visit this link for official trailer of agent vinod.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw7xdgV-kP0&feature=player_embedded
Checking if foreign funds in nuke protest: govt
The government today said it was still not proved that the money received by NGOs in Tamil Nadu from abroad was being used for protests against nuclear power projects and a probe in this regard is underway.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for PMO, V Narayanasamy also refused to identify the NGOs, which are under investigation, and said it can not be divulged as long as the investigations are not completed.
In his statement, he said preliminary reports indicate that NGOs in the country, especially those working in and around Kudankulam area and involved in the agitation against the nuclear power plant, are receiving funds from certain countries.
"Detailed investigation will reveal the source of funding and the expenditure pattern of these NGOs, that are opposing the Kudankulam nuclear power project. CBI inquiry against two NGOs have been ordered. Two criminal cases have been referred to Tamil Nadu police for investigation," he said.
Quoting a recent interview of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said while Singh had very clearly said that the NGOs from US and Scandinavian countries are sending money to people who are involved in the protests here, "whether the same money is being used (to fuel protests here) is not proved."
To repeated questions, he said, "investigations are going on... so far as investigations are not complete" and refused to identify the suspected NGOs.
He said as far as the question about the name of NGOs is concerned, the entire investigation is being carried out by the Home Ministry.
I am happy with what I did: Ex-rail minister Dinesh Trivedi
New Delhi: After new Rail Minister Mukul Roy rolled back the passenger fare hike announced by Dinesh Trivedi in the Rail Budget, the former rail minister said he is happy with the Rail Budget that he prepared.
Saying that it is not proper for him to react on the current Railway Minister's comment, Trivedi said he raised the fares to make the Railways safer.
"I am concerned about railway safety," said Trivedi.
Trivedi also said that he is happy with his version of the Budget.
"If I have to present the Budget, I would have presented the same Budget without any change," he said.
"I had spent nearly eight months in its draft. Safety is the priority and I wanted to give dignity to people while travelling. AC First Class is just 8 per cent, entire nation uses sleeper class. They travel like prisoners of war," he added.
Trivedi had increased the passenger fares by 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class; 3 paise per km for mail/express second class; 5 paise per km for sleeper class; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and First Class; 15 paise per km for AC 2-tier and 30 paise per km for AC I. Even the price of platform tickets has been raised to Rs 5 from Rs 3.
The new Railway Minister withdrew the fare hikes in suburban and ordinary second class, mail/express second class, sleeper class, AC Chair Car and AC 3-tier.
However, the fare hike of 15 paise per km for AC 2-tier and 30 paise per km for AC I will stay
Report on coal block loss 'exceedingly misleading': CAG
PTI Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi during the ongoing budget session. PTI/TV Grab The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said that the media reports quoting an audit report of a loss of Rs 10.76 lakh crore by... |
Friday, 12 August 2011
Bollywood film Aarakshan sparks angry protests
Bahujan Samaj Party activists demand the Bollywood film Aarakshan, or Reservation, be banned. Picture: APSource: AP
IT is an explosive social issue that for centuries has divided India into a rigid social hierarchy.
Now a Bollywood film about caste, which opened yesterday, has unleashed violent protests and a legal battle to stop it from being screened in three of the country's biggest states which are home to 312 million people - more than a quarter of India's population.
The film, Aarakshan, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, offers a highly critical interpretation of India's so-called reservation policy.
It is a system of affirmative action in which every year, tens of thousands of the best government jobs and university places are reserved for Dalits or "Untouchables".
The policy, which was adopted after India gained independence from British rule in 1947, was designed to end centuries of social discrimination during which Dalits suffered appalling prejudice and were permitted to undertake only the most menial tasks, such as sweeping streets and cleaning toilets.
In recent years, the system has stirred growing resentment among middle-class, educated Indians, many of whom feel they have been excluded from jobs despite being better qualified than many of the Dalits and other low-caste groups who have benefited.
Just as with race-based affirmative action in the US, the policy has been criticised as anti-meritocratic, leaving many young Indians from higher castes frustrated and disillusioned.
In a country where caste prejudice persists and remains a highly controversial issue, the film has provoked a furious backlash. Huge demonstrations have been held from Rajasthan to Mumbai, where the house of the film's director, Prakash Jha, was vandalised.
In India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Andra Pradesh and Punjab, the film has been banned.
Last night , Dr Udit Raj, president of the Indian Justice Party which represents India's estimated 166 million Dalit, called for further "massive protests" against Aarakshan, which he said "goes against the social fabric of India".
He told The Times: "We cannot allow the screening of this kind of negative and inaccurate film. India needs reservation. It is an inclusive policy which has strengthened the nation."
P.L. Punia, the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes said the film was "loaded with anti-Dalit and anti-reservation dialogue". But in an interview with The Times, Mr Jha strongly rejected the claims and was yesterday mounting an appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn the ban.
"Caste feeling runs very deep in this country," he said. "We felt that these were social issues that needed to be debated ... This film should be a cathartic experience for India, but we never expected this level of opposition."
He denied that the film, which depicts an idealistic teacher who turns his school into one of the best in India while keeping tuition free, was opposed to affirmative action and said it was simply an honest depiction of the education system, which is underfunded.
Security around Amitabh Bachchan and his co-star Saif Ali Khan has been stepped up.
The word Dalit in Sanskrit means broken people. Historically, Dalits have been forced into occupations considered ritually impure by the Hindu faith. These include leatherwork, butchering, and removal of waste.
Engaging in these activities was considered to be polluting to the individual, and this pollution was also considered contagious. Consequently, Dalits were often segregated from other castes and not allowed to live in the same villages or enter Hindu temples or schools.
Widespread caste-based discrimination persists although there are signs of greater social mobility in some cities and specific areas of the economy, such as the IT industry.
India vs England: Bowling combination a big worry for Dhoni
Edgbaston: With Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh out of the Test series, the dilemma over a apt bowling combination will be giving Indian skipper MS Dhoni sleepless nights ahead of the third Test at the spinner-friendly Edgbaston ground. The pitch at Edgbaston is likely to help the spinners and will also offer reverse swing to the pacers.
Dhoni did not rule out playing a four-pronged pace attack in the third Test. "We have seen that the wickets have not assisted the spinners so far. There is not much for the slow bowlers. There is a possibility of playing four pacers although over rate is something we have to look into. But when you go into a match, you don't think about over rate and select the best 11.
Dhoni did not rule out playing a four-pronged pace attack in the third Test. "We have seen that the wickets have not assisted the spinners so far. There is not much for the slow bowlers. There is a possibility of playing four pacers although over rate is something we have to look into. But when you go into a match, you don't think about over rate and select the best 11.
"The wicket looks good and there is a cover of grass. It will help the seamers more. But we will have a look at the pitch before the match and then decide on the combination."Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel and S. Sreesanth are expected to be the frontline bowlers.
While Zaheer has been replaced by RP Singh who had great time during India’s last tour to England, Pragyan Ojha was picked by selectors as a replacement of Harbhajan. But will the two make it to the playing XI for the Edgbaston Test?
According to former Pakistani skipper Wasim Akram RP Singh is one bowler who can trouble the English batsmen and he should be picked over Sreesanth.
"I am happy to see RP Singh's return to the Indian team. He is a good replacement for Zaheer and is one bowler who can really trouble the English batsmen. His upright, seam-up action helps the ball slant easily and India will be tempted to play him ahead of Sreesanth," Akram wrote in his column for a leading sports website. Read: Mukund or Raina in 3rd Test?
"Ishant and Praveen will complete the pace troika but this duo must not lose heart when a partnership is building. Having said this, I would have loved to see Laxmipathy Balaji in England. He swings the ball well and can work up a decent pace too."
Singh claimed 12 wickets in the three-Test series that India won in England in 2007. However, the left-arm seamer has been out of the Test squad for the last two years. And getting all his moves right in different English conditions may not be easy for him.
The conventional swing at Edgbaston has reduced significantly after the construction of a new eye-catching four-storey 32 million pound pavilion since England last played here 12 months ago.
India’s spin attack, on the other hand looks depleted. Amit Mishra, who didn’t feature in the first two Tests, was ineffective during the tour game against Northamptonshire. His performance at the international arena has been so far disappointing. The leg-spinner has picked up 42 wickets at an average of over 40 per wicket.
And with England having developed their skills against spin considerably in the past few years, how much of an impact Ojha will have is doubtful.
According to former Pakistani skipper Wasim Akram RP Singh is one bowler who can trouble the English batsmen and he should be picked over Sreesanth.
"I am happy to see RP Singh's return to the Indian team. He is a good replacement for Zaheer and is one bowler who can really trouble the English batsmen. His upright, seam-up action helps the ball slant easily and India will be tempted to play him ahead of Sreesanth," Akram wrote in his column for a leading sports website. Read: Mukund or Raina in 3rd Test?
"Ishant and Praveen will complete the pace troika but this duo must not lose heart when a partnership is building. Having said this, I would have loved to see Laxmipathy Balaji in England. He swings the ball well and can work up a decent pace too."
Singh claimed 12 wickets in the three-Test series that India won in England in 2007. However, the left-arm seamer has been out of the Test squad for the last two years. And getting all his moves right in different English conditions may not be easy for him.
The conventional swing at Edgbaston has reduced significantly after the construction of a new eye-catching four-storey 32 million pound pavilion since England last played here 12 months ago.
India’s spin attack, on the other hand looks depleted. Amit Mishra, who didn’t feature in the first two Tests, was ineffective during the tour game against Northamptonshire. His performance at the international arena has been so far disappointing. The leg-spinner has picked up 42 wickets at an average of over 40 per wicket.
And with England having developed their skills against spin considerably in the past few years, how much of an impact Ojha will have is doubtful.
"Ishant and Praveen will complete the pace troika but this duo must not lose heart when a partnership is building. Having said this, I would have loved to see Laxmipathy Balaji in England. He swings the ball well and can work up a decent pace too."
Singh claimed 12 wickets in the three-Test series that India won in England in 2007. However, the left-arm seamer has been out of the Test squad for the last two years. And getting all his moves right in different English conditions may not be easy for him.
The conventional swing at Edgbaston has reduced significantly after the construction of a new eye-catching four-storey 32 million pound pavilion since England last played here 12 months ago.
India’s spin attack, on the other hand looks depleted. Amit Mishra, who didn’t feature in the first two Tests, was ineffective during the tour game against Northamptonshire. His performance at the international arena has been so far disappointing. The leg-spinner has picked up 42 wickets at an average of over 40 per wicket.
And with England having developed their skills against spin considerably in the past few years, how much of an impact Ojha will have is doubtful.
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