Snippets

Father to Ranatunga’s rescue

COLOMBO: Reggie Ranatunga, father of beleaguered Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna, today slammed the local media for singling out his son for the team’s disastrous performance in the cricket World Cup. Ranatunga senior, Sri Lanka’s deputy minister of ports and rehabilitation, alleged "malicious campaign" by a section of the media had affected the morale of the team. "If a team isnot in a sound frame of mind, how can the country expect them to do well," he said, charging the media with carrying out "irresponsible and unpatriotic" criticism of the World Cup squad.

South Africa are tough: Wasim Akram

DERBY: Paksitan captain Wasim Akram feels that the World Cup has progressed satisfactorily for them and that his team is improving with every outing. The skipper was particularly happy that they could come out with four straight wins despite having no warm up games due to inclement weather against county sides prior to the championship. Pakistan are now being touted as realistic candidates for the Cup, behind South Africa. They have already finished on top of Group `B’ with eight points, though they still have to play Bangladesh on Monday at Northampton.

`Tendulkar as omnipotent as Sir Don’

EDGBASTON: Sachin Tendulkar is as omnipotent as Donald Bradman and is assured of a place in the pantheon of cricketing gods thus spake former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe. "He(Tendulkar) is at present to one-day international cricket what Bradman was to Test cricket omnipotent," Crowe said, adding "Sachin will evoke the same aura in the years to come."

Tendulkar’s technique, determination, manner and humility are a powerful combination to make him an "aristrocrat among cricketers."