Sports
Why cricket needs more men like Bedi
Rex Clementine in Bangalore
India is mourning the death of their former Test captain Bishan Singh Bendi, who passed away in Delhi at the age of 77. Bedi’s cricketing achievements are well documented. He was India’s highest wicket taker in Test match cricket before Kapil Dev went past his record.
Bedi was also captain of the Indian team during some of their finest hours. He was coach of the Indian side that consisted some of their all-time greats. But more than anything, it was Bedi’s courage to be different and frankness that fans admired.
‘Bedi’s death has robbed the game of a voice willing to speak the truth to power,’ wrote Wisden’s Editor Lawrence Booth.
Cricket is a big business these days and so much is at stake for not only the current players but even former cricketers. India has lucrative pension schemes for retired cricketers and no one dares to say anything that will upset the BCCI. Bedi though called a spade a spade.
Bedi played First Class cricket for Delhi and Northamptonshire. Of his 1560 First Class wickets, more than 400 came for the English county. He captained the Delhi side that reached four Ranji Trophy finals and won the title twice.
Bedi’s last ODI in fact was against Sri Lanka in the 1979 World Cup, a game which India went onto lose.
Apparently, Bedi was floored by a Tony Opatha bouncer. When it was Opatha’s chance to bat, Bedi greeted him with a vicious full toss that sent Opatha sprawling to the ground. Slow bowlers can retaliate too!
As captain of India, during the Jamaica Test match of 1976, he declared the innings twice as he suspected that West Indies quicks were keen to send his bowlers to the hospital than getting them out.
The Delhi cricket ground popularly known as Feroz Shah Kotla has a stand named after Bedi.
A few years ago, the name of one of India’s iconic cricket grounds was changed from Feroz Shah Kotla to Arun Jaitley Stadium. Arun Jaitley was a former Finance Minister of India. Bedi protested. He wrote to the authorities asking his name to be taken off the stand and his membership from the Delhi District Cricket Association to be cancelled.
Bedi was a bit like Arjuna. Or the right way to put it is that Arjuna is like Bedi. Both fierce fighters on and off the field, they both had powerful enemies in cricket.
Bedi was remembered all over India yesterday. There was a book launch in Bangalore. The title of the book is ‘Lords of Wankhede’. The book co-authored by former India cricketer W.V. Raman and cricket writer R. Kaushik chronicles India’s journey in world of cricket between their two World Cup wins in 1983 and 2011.
Some prominent names of Indian cricket like Dilip Vengsarkar and V.V.S. Laxman turned up for the book launch and we are treated with some fabulous stories.
Vengsarkar of course was part of the Indian side that won the 1983 World Cup. He recalls the euphoria in India after they beat the mighty West Indies at Lord’s when no one expected them to do so.
“The Indian board invited West Indies for a bilateral series later that year and we were at the receiving end,” Vengsarkar recalls about the series which Clive Lloyd’s side swept 3-0 in Tests and 5-0 in ODIs.
“One of the memories of that series is Gordon Greendige and Vivian Richards competing against each other to find out who hit the ball the furthest.”
Vengsarkar played in over 100 Tests for India. He was also the Chairman of Selectors who handed the captaincy of the Indian team to M.S. Dhoni at a time when he was unknown.
Vengsarkar was left stranded on 98 in the SSC Test match in 1985 where India escape with a draw. India were losing that Test match but together with last man Maninder Singh, Vengsarkar puts up a crucial partnership that robs Sri Lanka time to chase down the target. Draw is ensured but with Vengsarkar is denied a century by just two runs as Maninder throws away his wicket playing a cross batted shot to Saliya Ahangama.
The following year India are in England and at Lord’s Vengsarkar is nearing a Test hundred. In walks last man Maninder Singh and India’s number four reminds him not to throw away his wicket like in Colombo. Maninder behaves and Vengsarkar goes onto score a hundred at Home of Cricket.
Vengsarkar’s cricketing feats are quite unique and among them are three Test hundreds at Lord’s.
The much anticipated Juventus Training Camp organized by the Colombo Kickerz Football Academy will take place from 6th to 10th July at the CR&FC Grounds Colombo.
The Camp will be conducted by two official Juventus Academy coaches from Italy, and will provide 50 young footballers from across the country to participate in an intensive program based on the renowned Juventus methodology, focusing on technical development, tactical understanding, team work, discipline and personal growth.
Romario de Silva CEO of Colombo Kickerz Football Academy said that the objective of the Academy was to provide young footballers with access to world class coaching and international development opportunities.
He added that the Training Camp was made possible through the valued support of Hilton Colombo Residencies, Aitken Spence travels, The Pappare and Lady J.
Sri Lanka have been hit by a spate of injuries and an illness ahead of the secondbTest against West Indies, in North Sound, a game they must win to take something away from the series after suffering an innings defeat in the first.
The injuries have forced the team management to pick from a squad of 13, rather than the 17 they took on tour. The seam-bowling department has been especially hard hit, with Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando both going down with injuries.
The most serious injury, however, seems to be that of opener Pathum Nissanka, who left the squad on June 30 to undergo surgery on an injured wrist in the United Kingdom. Lahiru Udara will take Nissanka’s place at the top of the order for the second Test. Nissanka’s surgery casts a cloud over his Lanka Premier League participation as well.
Vishwa, meanwhile, has not sufficiently recovered from back and side pain to become available for the second Test. And Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler in the squad, Kumara, remains unavailable after having walked off the field with a hamstring complaint (a recurring injury) having delivered just one over in the previous Test.
These injuries, plus Kasun Rajitha’s modest performance in the first Test, have paved the way for seamer Isitha Wijesudera’s Test debut.
In addition, offspin-bowling allrounder Ramesh Mendis has contracted a bacterial infection on tour. As such, he is also unavailable for selection. Prabath Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka’s top specialist spinner over the last three years – will enter the XI.
(Cricinfo)
Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a gripping 2-1 win against Croatia.
Ramos connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time on Thursday to snuff out a Croatia team that had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping evening heat in Toronto.
In a dramatic ending, Croatia thought they had equalised in the dying seconds, but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside.
The Croatians were left stunned by the decision, while Portugal’s players celebrated.
Cristiano Ronaldo played his role in the victory, stroking home a penalty that cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener.
It was Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup, and his remarkable international career will have another chapter when Portugal face Spain in Dallas on Monday.
Perisic had stunned the Portuguese by slotting the ball under the advancing Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute.
Within minutes, Ronaldo had the ball in the net after controlling a long pass, but his effort was disallowed for offside.
But Portugal got level when Renato Veiga was grabbed by Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic in the penalty area, and after a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo stepped up to convert the penalty with ease, hitting the ball straight down the middle of the goal and pumping his fists with joy afterwards.
In a pulsating game, Manchester City forward Mateo Kovacic’s low shot was pushed onto a post by goalkeeper Costa’s fingertips.
Still, Croatia pushed, and Petar Sucic had the ball in the net, but the assistant referee’s flag was up for a clear offside.
Ronaldo was withdrawn in the 81st minute to allow Ruben Neves to come on.
Croatia continued to create more chances than their opponents, and Mario Pasalic came so close to winning the game with a header at the far post, but it bounced just wide.
But when Ramos connected, the net bulged, and Portugal were through.
(Aljazeera)
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