Short Corner — 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. "I think he is entitled to his opinion," 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 action’. Speculation about his participation arose after the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that of his `action’ 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 else’s shoes today and the experience wasn’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.