Aussies to put pressure from first ball in Kolkata: Buchanan

Australian coach John Buchanan said on Thursday that his team was moving in the right direction after the match against the Board President's XI. Talking to reporters, he said "This match was a crucial point in this series. We came into this game looking for some batting practice... and I am happy that a couple of batsmen had solid hitouts." He also said that his side was making good progress on capturing what has been described as its 'last frontier' - that of beating India at home - and would go all out for a win in the second Test starting in Kolkata on Sunday.

On the Kolkata Test, Buchanan said "We will try to build pressure right from the first ball in the second Test at Kolkata and try to increase our authority." Gilchrist was recovering well said Buchanan adding that "He had a few days off and there are still two days to go for the Test. I hope he would be 100 per cent fit by then."

Buchanan said that the Indian captain missed out in the match to strike form adding that the Aussies did not enforce the follow-on to deny Ganguly any batting practice. "Obviously it was important for us not to let him make a big score," the Aussie coach said.

Bukhatir, Asif Iqbal express hope on India's participation

The chairman of Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), Abdul Bukhatir has expressed the hope that the Indian team would play in the forthcoming Sharjah series to be played from April 8 to 20. Talking to Gulf News from London, Bukhatir said that as far as he was concerned, there was no negative signal from the Indian Cricket Board regarding their participation in the three-nation tournament. Bukhatir had earlier visited Mumbai on an invitation by the BCCI to watch the first Test.

The CBFS chief coordinator Asif Iqbal also expressed optimism that the tournament would go on as scheduled. "We deal with the cricket boards and none of the three boards have conveyed to us that they are not coming", Iqbal told the Gulf News from London. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled to play in the Coca Cola Cup to be staged at the Sharjah Stadium.

Veteran cricketers to play at golf course for earthquake victims

Veteran Australian players will clash with Indian players and corporates for a noble cause at a golf course instead of the cricket ground. The game will be played at the golf course at the Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai on March 19 to raise funds for earthquake victims in Gujarat. The Australian contingent includes Allan Border, David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Dean Jones, Ray Bright, Greg Ritchie, Craig McDermott, Simon Davis, Bruce Reid, Tim Zoehrer and Alan Crompton, according to a press release.

The Indian contingent will consist of former India cricketers Karsan Ghavri, Ashok Mankad and Yajuvindra Singh, all of whom are active golfers, the release said. The corporate executives who have already confirmed participation are Baby Malkani of Advani Oerlikon, Aditya Gupta, President, Infovision and the sportscaster Charu Sharma, the release added.

Sony to make television cricket programme

Sony Entertainment Television has announced its entry into cricket television programmes. Talking to the media on Thursday, Sony's CEO Kunal Dasgupta said his company has been working with a group of associates to develop an innovative, transparent 'made for television' cricket format using the latest available technology. Dasgupta said "However, the details of the programme where even the audience (common man) can take part with national and international cricketers would be announced later."

Dasgupta said that Sony MAX, which has telecast rights of cricket tournaments in Sharjah, Singapore and Bangladesh, would telecast live the Sharjah tourney slated for next month even if India does not participate in the tournament.

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