By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The stage is set for the Shillong Lajong FC clash against Mohun Bagan in their opening encounter of the I-League on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference here in the city on Wednesday, the local organising committee (LOC), comprising officials from the Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) and Shillong Lajong FC said that the scheduled kick off time is 2:45 pm.

According to the committee, they have undertaken the task to clean the stadium, which is usually swamped with litter.

Tickets for the match go on sale from Thursday and they will be sold at three prices – Rs 100 per ticket in open gallery, Rs 250 in the covered gallery (with chairs) and Rs 300 per ticket in the VIP gallery.

Fans can buy tickets at the counters of Shillong Sports Association, Polo; Aircel Coco, Khyndai Lad; Sport Spirit, MUDA; Meba Stationery, Jingkieng; DJ Stall, Mawngap; Kit Enterprise, Rynjah; Sport Centre, Polo; Orion, Mawlai Nonglum and Sunny Auto Parts, Ummulong.

SLFC is also exploring the possibility of selling tickets online for I-League home matches in the coming months. However, they will be sold only to fans using Aircel connection, at least initially.

Meanwhile, the Mohun Bagan players arrived in Shillong on Wednesday evening for the upcoming match.

The mariners under new coach Santosh Kashyap had a nightmarish experience in the Federation Cup with one win, one loss and one draw in Group B and were ousted from the quarterfinal league stage.

Assistant coach Bernard Oparanozie, the Nigerian, resigned last week following the Fed Cup debacle.

Of the match ahead, Kashyap said, “Most of the players, including Tolgay and Odafa, have more or less recovered from injury and hopefully we will be able to make a winning start to the I-League.” (with UNI inputs)

SHILLONG: The Shillong Sports Association will hold an U-14 football tournament for SSA-affiliated clubs in November-December. The idea is to identify young talent in the city and inter-ested clubs should contact the SSA by October 25.

New Delhi: MS Dhoni’s “tactical errors” and the poor form of some senior players were the main reasons for India’s early exit from the World Twenty20, according to former cricketers who said that there was no need for making drastic changes in the team despite the debacle.

While Dhoni came under fire, some former cricketers, like Sunil Gavaskar, were not in favour of changing the captain or making too many changes in the team.

India failed to qualify for the semifinals of World Twenty20 on net run rate and former cricketers said the team’s repeated failures in this format should be analysed and corrective measures should be taken.

Former Indian captains like Gavaskar, Anil Kumble, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ajit Wadekar and a host of other ex-cricketers felt that a combination of factors led to India’s ouster from the World T20. Some of Dhoni’s decisions also evoked criticism from the former players.

Former India opener Chetan Chauhan said that Dhoni had to take responsibility for the team’s failure.

“The tournament is played in the sub-continent. We are used to these conditions. We have been to Sri Lanka, we played very well against them. Keeping this fact, I thought that we should have reached the semifinals.

“A captain has to take responsibility, he is the captain. I would not blame him alone, I would blame the entire team. A captain is as good as the team. If you don’t perform, a captain could not do anything,” Chauhan said.

“These are all the factors, plus at few stages Dhoni did make mistakes in decisions, like against Australia, there was no need to rest Virender Sehwag,” he added.

Chauhan said except for Virat Kohli, none of the batsmen were consistent.

Kumble also agreed that one of the main reasons for India’s debacle was the poor form of the top-order batsmen.

“Virender Sehwag was not in form. You want your top four to fire in T20 format and when three out of your four top batsmen are not in great always trying to settle in then get big score, it does not work,” he said.

Former opener Arun Lal said that India had a “terrific side that promised to go all the way but one bad match did the damage”.

Chetan Sharma put a little more blame on the captain, saying, “I think the entire team should not be blamed for the exit. Only Dhoni is to be blamed. He should accept his responsibility and stop blaming rain (for India’s ouster),” Sharma said about Dhoni’s excuse following the heavy defeat against Australia. Sharma also could not understand why Harbhajan was not used more in the series. (PTI)

By Sunil Gavaskar

 India were knocked out of the World Twenty20 despite winning their game against South Africa.

This happened because a demoralised Pakistan team lifted itself up brilliantly to bat in the manner that they did and then their bowlers restricted Australia.

The Pakistani win was not a surprise since they had just beaten the Australians in two out of the three T20-match series in the UAE, but it was the margin of their win that raised many an Indian eyebrow.

When a team knows that it has already qualified for the knockout stages then it can afford to make changes in its team and play a little casually and with less intensity than they would if they had a must-win game, but the Australians take every game seriously or at least that is what we are made to believe.

Their cross-batted shot-making not only lost them the game, but almost cost them a place in the semifinals. They had used their feet superbly against the Indian spin attack and played them with straight bats and hit them over the infield with what are called conventional shots.

If they had lost by a smaller margin then India would have had to win with just one run less than that margin so if they had lost by say 10 runs, India would have had to win by nine runs if they batted first, but 32 runs is tough and India were never going to be able to do that against the South Africans.

Pakistan now take on Sri Lanka in the first semifinal and with both teams high on confidence after their big wins in their last Super Eights games, it promises to be a thriller.

The Sri Lankans will have the home advantage for sure and their players are gelling well. They also have in Mahela Jayawardene a shrewd skipper and a batsman who is good not just off both front foot and back, but who also has the best hands in the business.

When he has to hit the ball in front of the wicket he powers it away with the top left hand and when it is to be played behind the stumps he deftly does it with the bottom right hand. Kumar Sangakkara and Dilshan did not get runs in the last game so they are due for runs too.

Pakistan will have to sort its batting order and too much tinkering with it is not helping them.

Nasir Jamshed is hitting the ball well and is in good form so he should play as many deliveries as possible.

Umar Akmal is another who should get to bat higher up the order. Imran Nazir will always be a hit or miss player, on his day making life miserable for the opposition, and Afridi too should come off sooner than later.

Pakistan cleverly used its spinners against the Australians and also beefed up their batting and that served them well. It will be interesting to see if they will use those tactics against a subcontinent team. That and how they tackle Lasith Malinga will decide if they go on to the next stage or not.

COLOMBO: Batsman Kevin Pietersen has committed to playing for England in all three forms of the game until at least 2015 after making peace with the England and Wales Cricket Board in a row over “provocative” text messages.

“I am committed to completing the reintegration process we have agreed over the coming weeks and resuming my England career in all formats, hopefully until the World Cup in 2015, as long as my body allows,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to my team mates, all England supporters and the ECB for the situation that has arisen over the last couple of months.

“Thankfully we have drawn a line under it and can move forward,” he added in a prepared statement after signing a new central contract in the Sri Lankan capital where he has been working as a television pundit during the ICC World Twenty20.

Pietersen was dropped in August after sending messages to members of the opposing South Africa side that he conceded were provocative but denied were derogatory about former England captain Andrew Strauss, the ECB said.

The 32-year-old, who has averaged nearly 50 in 88 test matches, said he had deleted the messages and the ECB added on Wednesday that the issue had been “successfully concluded through a binding assurance provided by Kevin”.

Pietersen added: “Although it has been made clear in the (ECB) statement, I’d like to make it clear that at no time did I share tactical information with any of the South Africans.

“It’s been a horrible situation for all involved but it is time to move forward. All being well, I’ll be back in an England shirt as soon as possible.”

ECB chairman Giles Clarke, who joined Pietersen at the news conference, said a “re-integration process”, which was intended to pave the way for the player’s recall, had begun with the pair meeting for 2-1/2 hours on Wednesday morning.

“Kevin Pietersen has apologised to Andrew Strauss and… he now wishes to put the events of the summer behind him and to focus on regaining his place in the England team,” said Clarke.

Following England’s elimination from the ICC World Twenty20 on Monday, their next competitive action is a tour of India that features four Tests, two Twenty20s and five ODIs.

The Test squad, selected last month, did not include Pietersen. The first test starts in Ahmedabad on November 15. (Reuters)

LONDON: Manchester United’s win at CFR Cluj put them on top of the Champions League Group H with maximum points after two matches but doubts remain over their prospects of major successes this season.

Man United have six points, three ahead of Cluj and Braga, which scored goals through Ruben Micael and Osorio Alan in Turkey.

The key to the 2-1 victory in Romania on Tuesday was the way Wayne Rooney worked well in attack with new Dutch signing Robin van Persie, who scored both goals as the top scorers from the last Premier League season started together for the first time.

Van Persie has now scored seven times in eight games since joining from Arsenal in the summer and while United always look dangerous going forwards, questions remain because they also look a danger – to themselves – at the back.

On Saturday, their defensive frailties were exposed by Tottenham Hotspur, who beat them 3-2 to win at Old Trafford for the first time since 1989.

United have fallen behind in six of the nine matches they have played this season and rallied to win in Cluj after again conceding first when Pantelis Kapetanos took advantage of some shoddy defending to strike after 14 minutes.

All three Spurs goals came through the heart of the United defence, as did Cluj’s strike, although the initial damage was done wide on the right, where Patrice Evra is looking a shadow of the player he was two years ago.

The French defender was out of position and was stranded in the wrong place as Modou Sougou surged past him and cut the ball back for Kapetanos to sweep home with central defender Jonny Evans standing too far off him.

United manager Alex Ferguson described the goal as “a real shocker” afterwards, and he has some real problems to solve at the back where, cruelly, United have been hit by a series of injuries to their defenders.

Nemanja Vidic has joined Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, who have yet to play this season, on the sidelines, leaving the aging and slowing Rio Ferdinand to partner Evans most of the time.

Cluj were far from impressive for most of the match, but United, a team that has thrived with wingers down the years, played into their hands by operating without a wide man.

The home side did one simple thing well by coming through United’s soft centre and goalkeeper David Da Gea preserved his team’s advantage with two late, smart saves.

United played with a lack of real urgency or drive, and the only tangible positives Ferguson could take from a largely unimpressive performance was that United won and the pairing of Rooney and Van Persie, who scored 71 goals between them in all competitions last season, augurs well for the future.

Rooney, playing the deeper provider to Van Persie’s front man role, did a superb job as he continues to regain match fitness following a month-long injury layoff for a gashed thigh.

He took the free-kick that van Persie half-headed and half-shouldered home for the 29th minute equaliser and then provided a superb pass, curling the ball high into the Dutchman’s path for the striker to score a brilliantly executed winner with the outside of his left foot.

“Wayne (Rooney) gave me the good pass, so I have to thank him,” ban Persie said of his team mate’s vision to create the winning goal. “Not many players can give a pass like that.”

Ferguson enjoyed that one, telling reporters afterwards: “The second goal was absolutely fantastic. It was a good ball from Wayne and I thought he hit it too far in front of van Persie – but his speed to get to the ball and the way he took the goal was fantastic.”

Overall, United need their injured defenders to return soon and their fit players to show a marked improvement if they are to seriously challenge for major honours this season. (Reuters)

LISBON: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi set up goals for Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas in their 2-0 Champions League Group G victory over Benfica on Tuesday, but the success was marred when captain Carles Puyol suffered a dislocated elbow.

Sanchez fired Barca ahead early on and Fabregas added a second 10 minutes into the second half but the damage to Puyol means he will miss the La Liga ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

The Catalans had Sergio Busquets dismissed two minutes from time but will be more concerned about Puyol, who landed awkwardly after leaping for a ball and was carried off on a stretcher in obvious pain after 78 minutes.

The Spain international was playing his first match since recovering from a knee problem.

“We are waiting for more information but he will certainly miss the ‘Clasico’,” Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova told reporters.

Barca defender Dani Alves, who was visibly shaken by Puyol’s injury during the match, said his team mates were concerned.

Puyol seemed in god spirits after spending the night under observation at a clinic. “Good day! The sun always comes out again… thanks for all your messages! A big hug,” he wrote on his Twitter feed.

Barca have six points from two games and although their confidence is high heading into ‘El Clasico’, they now have problems at the back with Puyol’s defensive partner Gerard Pique also sidelined by injury.

Messi was once again the architect of Barcelona’s win in Lisbon.

The Argentine sprinted down the left and crossed for Chilean Sanchez to tap home after six minutes.

Benfica also looked dangerous going forward and Brazilian striker Lima could have levelled five minutes later but Victor Valdez saved at his feet when the striker was through on goal.

With centre back Luisao suspended, the home side’s defence looked wobbly with Artur denying Messi with a reflex save and then the lively Sanchez blasted over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

“There is only one ball and when they have the ball for three quarters of the match it is very hard,” said Benfica playmaker Pablo Aimar, who Messi has said was his childhood idol.

Barca doubled their lead after the break when Messi cut in from the right and with a trademark dash left several defenders trailing. He then slid a perfect ball for Fabregas to score.

“They are, in my opinion, the best in the world, always get more than 70 percent of possession and boss around every opponent,” said Benfica coach Jorge Jesus.

Celtic beat Spartak Moscow 3-2 and are second in Group G, with four points in two games. (Reuters)

COPENHAGEN: Two goals from Juan Mata inspired holders Chelsea to a 4-0 victory over little-known Danish side Nordsjaelland in the Champions League Group E on Tuesday.

The Londoners went ahead in the 33rd minute when Fernando Torres robbed midfielder Enoch Adu and passed to Frank Lampard who deftly set up Mata to fire home with his left foot.

Joshua John twice went close to an equaliser for the home team, forcing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech into a spectacular finger-tip save on to the post in the second half.

David Luiz then made it 2-0 with a venomous free kick in the 79th minute before Mata sidefooted the third goal in the 82nd. Ramires completed the scoring from close range with one minute to go.

Cech’s flying stop earned special praise from Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo.

“It was a crucial save at that stage of the game,” Italian Di Matteo told reporters. “When the scoreline is 1-0 it’s always dangerous and they were committing players forward.

“I think we were a little bit slow in the first half but much better in the second. Once we scored the second goal we knew we were going to win the game.” (Reuters)