Short Corner 8212; Chandigarh

Sachin laughs off Aussie provocation
Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar today laughed off the suggestions from Australian camp that their fast bowler Glenn McGrath fancied his chances against him. quot;I think he is entitled to his opinion,quot; said Tendulkar, clearly unperturbed about the provocative suggestion from his Australian counterpart, Steve Waugh.

Shoiab chucks?
Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar faces a threat of being kept out of the tri-nation cricket series involving India and Australia in January due to possible suspect action8217;. Speculation about his participation arose after the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that of his action8217; had been reported to the International Cricket Council.

JCT win
Mohun Bagan and Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills completed the formalities in the quarter-final league stages of the Allwyn Durand Cup, moving into the semi-finals in their own ways. JCT of Phagwara beat Bhutan XI 3-0 to send the only foreign team of the meet back to the hills while Bagan could manage only a solitary goal win over Army XI today.

Paes wins
Leander Paes actually put himself in someone else8217;s shoes today and the experience wasn8217;t bad. After his grasscourt shoes gave way during training, Paes borrowed a pair from Mustafa Ghouse and later went on to win his match in the ATP Challenger.