New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb. 23: President Pratibha Patil today congratulated the team of 'Slumdog Millionaire' which created sensation by winning eight Oscars.
The President is happy that 'Slumdog Millionaire' has won Oscars in various categories. She congratulated the winning team, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said.
"The President is specially thrilled with the remarkable feat achieved by A.R. Rahman, Gulzar, Resul Pookutty and making India proud," the spokesperson said.
The film bagged eight awards including two Oscars for Rahman for Best Original Score and Best Song for "Jai Ho", which was penned by lyricist Gulzar.
Pookutty, a sound technician from Kerala, won the Oscar in the Sound Mixing category. The film went on to bag the award for Best Film, Best Director for Danny Boyle and Best Adapted Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi congratulated the 'Slumdog Millionaire' team, particularly Rehman and Resul Pookutty.
"I am delighted that A.R. Rehman and Resul Pookutty have won this year's much coveted Oscars for music and sound editing. They have done India proud, as have all the Indian actors, technicians and support staff who participated in the making of 'Slumdog Millionaire'," Gandhi said in a statement.
"They represent the finest traditions of our film industry and are an inspiration to all of us," she said.
Home minister P. Chidambaram favoured tax exemption to two Oscars bagged by Rahman for 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
"If the Oscars carry a cash award, I will recommend to the finance minister that it should be exempt from taxation," Chidambaram, who is also former finance minister, said.
When asked whether such tax exemption would be given, CBDT chairman S.S.N. Moorthy refused a direct reply, saying this is a policy decision.
As Rahman and Pookutty scripted history, members of the film fraternity joined voices to applaud the enviable feat achieved by the duo.
Lyricist Gulzar, who penned the Oscar-winning song 'Jai ho' for which Rahman won an Oscar, said, "It is a great thing to be a part of this composition which has won an award. It is an extra happiness and extra thrill for me."
"My first reaction was surprise and thrill but as soon as the programme started my bet was on Rahman. I am very happy for Resul, another Indian technician who brought home the Oscar," said Gulzar, whose name was mentioned by the award presenter Alicia Keys while announcing the nominees.
"What a film and what a team to work with. The spirit of the film is reflected in its team," he said and crediting Rahman with "changing the entire face of Indian film music".
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar hailed Rahman saying, "May he win such an award every year. He is a genius. Rahman's music is a blend of a little South Indian music and what we commonly call Hindi film music."
Sister and veteran singer Asha Bhonsle, who has sung for Rahman in many films, said, "Rahman is a genius and has made the world sit up and take notice of Indian talent with his success. He has put the Indian film industry on the world map."
Chennai, the home city of Rahman, erupted into spontaneous celebrations as the music maestro bagged two Oscars for his score in 'Slumdog Millionaire' at the 81st Academy Awards.
As TV channels flashed the news of the Mozart of Madras bagging the coveted award, his fans celebrated it cutting cakes, distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
Family members of Rahman and his fans cut a huge cake right in the middle of the street opposite his house in the Kodambakkam area and burst "10,000 wala" crackers.
Students of several city colleges also joined the celebrations distributing sweets while the film fraternity, including leading singers, hailed his achievement.
Similar scenes of celebrations were witnessed at the house of Rahman's sister Rehana in nearby Virugambakkam area.
"We were just waiting for his name to be announced. I was praying to God at that time," an elated Rehana said.
"I always wanted him to talk in Tamil after receiving the award and that is the way he spoke; I am happy about it," she said overwhelmed by joy.
Rehana said formal celebrations would be planned after Rahman's return in consultation with his managers, team and fans.
Residents of Dharavi locality here were glued to the TV screens to celebrate the magical run of 'Slumdog Millionaire,' whose backdrop is their locality.
"We plan to celebrate the win. There will be a party tonight. In fact, people are already in a celebratory mood," said Azhar Shaikh, who has been living in Dharavi for the past decade.
Danny Boyle's film is a stark look at Dharavi slum, where lakhs of people live in a square kilometre area.
Family of Rubina, who plays little Latika in the film, is readying to greet her after she returns from the Oscars ceremony.
"We will all be there at the airport when she returns," her father Rafique said.
His neighbours are also happy that the film, shot in their locality, has cornered Oscar glory.
The film had received mixed response across India as some slum dwellers found it offensive, with some critics even labelling it as "poverty porn".
Some like Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen said the movie shows reality.
"When I see 'Slumdog...', I say Mercedes as well as a bullock cart run on the streets of my country," she said
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscar Awards
Los Angeles (Agencies): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar, Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinky made it Day of India at the Oscars with the Mozart of Madras winning two awards for original score and best song along with Gulzar.
An ecstatic Rahman perfomed his O Saya and Jai Ho as he accepted the awards.
India-based Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinky won seven awards together on Sunday. While Slumdog... won the best original score, best song, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best sound mixing and best film editing statuettes, Pinky won the best short documentary.
India's Resul Pokutty, who won the best sound mixing Oscar for Slumdog... along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke, dedicated the award for the country.
LOS ANGELES: Slumdog Millionaire is arriving at the last stop in its rags-to-riches journey, steaming into the Academy Awards as the surefire favourite.
In keeping with its theme of bottomless optimism amid adversity, it has led a charmed life, dodging a flirtation with going straight-to-DVD, winning over critics and climbing toward a $100 million hit status. The film has won top honours at all key earlier awards ceremonies, with one to go.
As Sunday dawned under grey skies here, with rain threatening to dampen the red carpet for the second year in a row and Hollywood’s latest labour feud kicking up fresh news of another contract rejection, it seemed nothing could drag down the year’s most uplifting storyline.
Now its cast of unknowns — from new celebrities Dev Patel and Freida Pinto to kids plucked by British director Danny Boyle from the slums of Mumbai, India — are all getting a trip to Hollywood’s glitziest party.
For best picture, Slumdog Millionaire faces off against the romantic epic The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Richard Nixon saga Frost/Nixon, the Harvey Milk tale Milk and the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader.
Shot in India on a modest budget of $14 million, the Boyle film traces the life of a Mumbai orphan who overcomes poverty, betrayal, police torture and other hardships on his way to a reunion with his childhood love and success on India’s version of the TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
After last year’s Oscars delivered their worst TV ratings ever, producers this time say they aim to liven up the show with some surprises and new ways of presenting awards. While some details have surfaced in the past week, most plans have remained a secret, including the identities of celebrities who are presenting the trophies.
The host is no secret. The producers have tapped 40-year-old Australian entertainer Hugh Jackman, who has hosted Broadway’s Tony Awards three times, to emcee the Oscars for the first time.
“If I hadn’t done the Tonys, I think I’d be a lot more nervous than I am,” Jackman said.
Sunday’s ceremony, airing live on the ABC television network, features a mix of fresh faces and old Oscar hands in the acting categories.
Two-time winner Meryl Streep extended her record to 15 nominations, this time for best actress in Doubt, while other past Oscar recipients and nominees include Sean Penn (best actor for Milk, Kate Winslet (best actress for The Reader, Robert Downey Jr. (supporting actor for Tropic Thunder and Philip Seymour Hoffman (supporting actor for Doubt)
Newcomers include a rush of veteran performers, among them best-actress contenders Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) and Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and best-actor candidates Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor).
The Dark Knight co-star Heath Ledger is considered as strong a candidate for supporting actor as Slumdog Millionaire is for best picture and director. Ledger, who died on Oscar nominations day last year, took comic-book villains to new heights with his delirious incarnation of Batman foe the Joker.
Past winner Angelina Jolie and her man, Brad Pitt, both are nominated. She’s up for best actress in Changeling and he’s competing for best actor in Benjamin Button, which leads with 13 nominations, followed by Slumdog with 10
An ecstatic Rahman perfomed his O Saya and Jai Ho as he accepted the awards.
India-based Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinky won seven awards together on Sunday. While Slumdog... won the best original score, best song, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best sound mixing and best film editing statuettes, Pinky won the best short documentary.
India's Resul Pokutty, who won the best sound mixing Oscar for Slumdog... along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke, dedicated the award for the country.
LOS ANGELES: Slumdog Millionaire is arriving at the last stop in its rags-to-riches journey, steaming into the Academy Awards as the surefire favourite.
In keeping with its theme of bottomless optimism amid adversity, it has led a charmed life, dodging a flirtation with going straight-to-DVD, winning over critics and climbing toward a $100 million hit status. The film has won top honours at all key earlier awards ceremonies, with one to go.
As Sunday dawned under grey skies here, with rain threatening to dampen the red carpet for the second year in a row and Hollywood’s latest labour feud kicking up fresh news of another contract rejection, it seemed nothing could drag down the year’s most uplifting storyline.
Now its cast of unknowns — from new celebrities Dev Patel and Freida Pinto to kids plucked by British director Danny Boyle from the slums of Mumbai, India — are all getting a trip to Hollywood’s glitziest party.
For best picture, Slumdog Millionaire faces off against the romantic epic The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Richard Nixon saga Frost/Nixon, the Harvey Milk tale Milk and the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader.
Shot in India on a modest budget of $14 million, the Boyle film traces the life of a Mumbai orphan who overcomes poverty, betrayal, police torture and other hardships on his way to a reunion with his childhood love and success on India’s version of the TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
After last year’s Oscars delivered their worst TV ratings ever, producers this time say they aim to liven up the show with some surprises and new ways of presenting awards. While some details have surfaced in the past week, most plans have remained a secret, including the identities of celebrities who are presenting the trophies.
The host is no secret. The producers have tapped 40-year-old Australian entertainer Hugh Jackman, who has hosted Broadway’s Tony Awards three times, to emcee the Oscars for the first time.
“If I hadn’t done the Tonys, I think I’d be a lot more nervous than I am,” Jackman said.
Sunday’s ceremony, airing live on the ABC television network, features a mix of fresh faces and old Oscar hands in the acting categories.
Two-time winner Meryl Streep extended her record to 15 nominations, this time for best actress in Doubt, while other past Oscar recipients and nominees include Sean Penn (best actor for Milk, Kate Winslet (best actress for The Reader, Robert Downey Jr. (supporting actor for Tropic Thunder and Philip Seymour Hoffman (supporting actor for Doubt)
Newcomers include a rush of veteran performers, among them best-actress contenders Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) and Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and best-actor candidates Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) and Richard Jenkins (The Visitor).
The Dark Knight co-star Heath Ledger is considered as strong a candidate for supporting actor as Slumdog Millionaire is for best picture and director. Ledger, who died on Oscar nominations day last year, took comic-book villains to new heights with his delirious incarnation of Batman foe the Joker.
Past winner Angelina Jolie and her man, Brad Pitt, both are nominated. She’s up for best actress in Changeling and he’s competing for best actor in Benjamin Button, which leads with 13 nominations, followed by Slumdog with 10
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Iran plans to build world's largest artificial beach
Kerman (Iran): Iran plans to build the world's largest artificial beach in this provincial capital city in central Iran, an official said Wednesday.
Director of Kerman's Ashkan water park Arash Salehi said that the 60,000-square-metre project is to be constructed at a cost 160 billion rials ($16 million) and it would be larger than the world's largest artificial beach at present, called the Ocean Dome, in the Japanese city of Miyazaki that has an area of 56,000-square-metre.
Salehi added that a water park would also be built in the Kerman within seven months and added that Iran has talked to some Indian and Chinese experts for carrying out the project.
Kerman, some 1,076 km south of the capital Tehran, is a popular tourist hub.
Director of Kerman's Ashkan water park Arash Salehi said that the 60,000-square-metre project is to be constructed at a cost 160 billion rials ($16 million) and it would be larger than the world's largest artificial beach at present, called the Ocean Dome, in the Japanese city of Miyazaki that has an area of 56,000-square-metre.
Salehi added that a water park would also be built in the Kerman within seven months and added that Iran has talked to some Indian and Chinese experts for carrying out the project.
Kerman, some 1,076 km south of the capital Tehran, is a popular tourist hub.
Satyam recalls 1,500 onsite staff as clients call off contracts
New Delhi: As clients cancelled contracts with troubled Satyam computers, more than 1,500 employees of the company working overseas have been called back to India. Followed by Rs. 7,800 crore scam in Satyam, many foreign clients have terminated their contract with the company, reported The Economic Times.
About 170 employees who were working for State Farm Insurance, an Illinois-based insurance company, have already returned to Satyam headquarters in Hyderabad, as State Farm Insurance terminated the contract with Satyam. Most of the employees were technical and support staff that were involved in delivery management and support. "The disengagement took place in an abrupt manner. Satyam staffers were not allowed to access the computers and their belongings after termination of the contract," said a Satyam executive.
According to the company executive, some other larger clients such as Philadelphia-based Cigna Corporation, Melbourne-based Telstra, Sydney-based Qantas airlines and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola have also started disengaging from the company, resulting in over 1,500 employee redundancies across Satyam's onshore operations in the U.S. and Asia Pacific. Satyam gets more than $300 million revenue from these four clients.
Indicating further cost-cutting measures in future, another senior executive of Satyam said that there would be a lot of restructuring as business overseas has been severely impacted and hence workforce rationalization is definitely on the cards. "Investments in training and development and infrastructure will be brought down significantly," executive added.
Employees, concerned over the future, have started to approach various employee organizations to resolve the problem. For instance, UNITES, an organization working for the rights of IT employees has received several queries from Satyam employees based in the U.S., U.K. and Japan about how they should go about finding a solution to the current crisis.
About 170 employees who were working for State Farm Insurance, an Illinois-based insurance company, have already returned to Satyam headquarters in Hyderabad, as State Farm Insurance terminated the contract with Satyam. Most of the employees were technical and support staff that were involved in delivery management and support. "The disengagement took place in an abrupt manner. Satyam staffers were not allowed to access the computers and their belongings after termination of the contract," said a Satyam executive.
According to the company executive, some other larger clients such as Philadelphia-based Cigna Corporation, Melbourne-based Telstra, Sydney-based Qantas airlines and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola have also started disengaging from the company, resulting in over 1,500 employee redundancies across Satyam's onshore operations in the U.S. and Asia Pacific. Satyam gets more than $300 million revenue from these four clients.
Indicating further cost-cutting measures in future, another senior executive of Satyam said that there would be a lot of restructuring as business overseas has been severely impacted and hence workforce rationalization is definitely on the cards. "Investments in training and development and infrastructure will be brought down significantly," executive added.
Employees, concerned over the future, have started to approach various employee organizations to resolve the problem. For instance, UNITES, an organization working for the rights of IT employees has received several queries from Satyam employees based in the U.S., U.K. and Japan about how they should go about finding a solution to the current crisis.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
IPL 2009 : IPL Fixures , Schedule 2009
Indian Premier League will kick off on April 18 in Bangalore with the match between Bangalore and Kolkata. Mumbai will host the semifinals and the final, which is scheduled for June 1.
April 18: Bangalore v Kolkata at Bangalore
April 19: Mohali v Chennai at Mohali and Delhi v Jaipur at Delhi
April 20: Mumbai v Bangalore at Mumbai; Kolkata v Hyderabad at Kolkata
April 21: Jaipur v Mohali at Jaipur
April 22: Hyderabad v Delhi at Hyderabad
April 23: Chennai v Mumbai at Chennai
April 24: Hyderabad v Jaipur at Hyderabad
April 25: Mohali v Mumbai at Mohali
April 26: Bangalore v Jaipur at Bangalore; Chennai v Kolkata at Chennai
April 27: Mumbai v Hyderabad at Mumbai; Mohali v Delhi at Mohali
April 28: Bangalore v Chennai at Bangalore
April 29: Kolkata v Mumbai at Kolkata
April 30: Delhi v Bangalore at Delhi.
May 1: Hyderabad v Mohali at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Kolkata at Jaipur
May 2: Chennai v Delhi at Chennai.
May 3: Hyderabad at Bangalore at Hyderabad; Mohali v Kolkata at Mohali
May 4: Mumbai v Delhi at Mumbai; Jaipur v Chennai at Jaipur
May 5: Bangalore v Mohali at Bangalore
May 6: Chennai v Hyderabad at Chennai
May 7: Mumbai v Jaipur at Mumbai
May 8: Delhi v Chennai at Delhi; Kolkata v Bangalore at Kolkata
May 9: Jaipur v Hyderabad at Jaipur
May 10: Bangalore v Mumbai at Bangalore; Chennai v Mohali at Chennai
May 11: Hyderabad v Kolkata at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Delhi at Jaipur
May 12: Mohali v Bangalore at Mohali
May 13: Kolkata v Delhi at Kolkata
May 14: Mumbai v Chennai at Mumbai; Mohali v Jaipur at Mohali
May 15: Delhi v Hyderabad at Delhi
May 16: Mumbai v Kolkata at Mumbai
May 17: Delhi v Mohali at Delhi; Jaipur v Bangalore at Jaipur
May 18: Hyderabad v Mumbai at Hyderabad; Kolkata v Chenna at Kolkata
May 19: Bangalore v Delhi at Bangalore
May 20: Kolkata v Jaipur at Kolkata
May 21: Mumbai v Mohali at Mumbai; Chennai v Bangalore at Chennai
May 22: Delhi v Kolkata at Delhi
May 23: Mohali v Hyderabad at Mohali.
May 24: Delhi v Mumbai at Delhi; Chennai v Jaipur at Chennai
May 25: Bangalore v Hyderabad at Bangalore; Kolkata v Mohali at Kolkata
May 26: Jaipur v Mumbai at Jaipur
May 27: Hyderabad v Chennai at Hyderabad
May 28 and 29: Rest days
May 30: First semi-final at Mumbai
May 31: Second semi-final at Mumbai
June 1: Final at Mumbai
April 19 : Delhi v Jaipur at Delhi
April 20: Mumbai v Bangalore at Mumbai;Kolkata v Hyderabad at Kolkata
April 21: Jaipur v Mohali at Jaipur
April 22: Hyderabad v Delhi at Hyderabad
April 23: Chennai v Mumbai at Chennai
April 24: Hyderabad v Jaipur at Hyderabad
April 25: Mohali v Mumbai at Mohali
April 26: Bangalore v Jaipur at Bangalore; Chennai v Kolkata at Chennai
April 27: Mumbai v Hyderabad at Mumbai;Mohali v Delhi at Mohali
April 28: Bangalore v Chennai at Bangalore
April 29: Kolkata v Mumbai at Kolkata
April 30: Delhi v Bangalore at Delhi.
May 1: Hyderabad v Mohali at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Kolkata at Jaipur
May 2: Chennai v Delhi at Chennai.
May 3: Hyderabad at Bangalore at Hyderabad; Mohali v Kolkata at Mohali
May 4: Mumbai v Delhi at Mumbai; Jaipur v Chennai at Jaipur
May 5: Bangalore v Mohali at Bangalore
May 6: Chennai v Hyderabad at Chennai
May 7: Mumbai v Jaipur at Mumbai
May 8: Delhi v Chennai at Delhi; Kolkata v Bangalore at Kolkata
May 9: Jaipur v Hyderabad at Jaipur
May 10: Bangalore v Mumbai at Bangalore; Chennai v Mohali at Chennai
May 11: Hyderabad v Kolkata at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Delhi at Jaipur
May 12: Mohali v Bangalore at Mohali
May 13: Kolkata v Delhi at Kolkata
May 14: Mumbai v Chennai at Mumbai;Mohali v Jaipur at Mohali
May 15: Delhi v Hyderabad at Delhi
May 16: Mumbai v Kolkata at Mumbai
May 17: Delhi v Mohali at Delhi; Jaipur v Bangalore at Jaipur
May 18: Hyderabad v Mumbai at Hyderabad; Kolkata v Chenna at Kolkata
May 19: Bangalore v Delhi at Bangalore
May 20: Kolkata v Jaipur at Kolkata
May 21: Mumbai v Mohali at Mumbai; Chennai v Bangalore at Chennai
May 22: Delhi v Kolkata at Delhi
May 23: Mohali v Hyderabad at Mohali.
May 24: Delhi v Mumbai at Delhi; Chennai v Jaipur at Chennai
May 25: Bangalore v Hyderabad at Bangalore; Kolkata v Mohali at Kolkata
May 26: Jaipur v Mumbai at Jaipur
May 27: Hyderabad v Chennai at Hyderabad
May 28 and 29: Rest days
May 30: First semi-final at Mumbai
May 31: Second semi-final at Mumbai
June 1: Final at Mumbai
IPL Teams
Team: Bangalore Royal Challengers
Owner’s Name: Vijay Mallya
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Rahul Dravid (icon) - 15% more
Anil Kumble - $5,00,000
Jacques Kallis - $9,00,000
Zaheer Khan - $4,50,000
Mark Boucher - $4,50,000
Cameron White - $5,00,000
Wasim Jaffer - $1,50,000
Dale Steyn - $3,25,000
Nathan Bracken - $3,25,000
Shivnarine Chanderpaul - $2,00,000
Team: Mumbai
Owner’s Name: Mukesh Ambani
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Sachin Tendulkar (icon) - 15% more
Harbhajan Singh - $8,50,000
Sanath Jayasuriya - $9,75,000
Shaun Pollock - $5,50,000
Robin Uthappa - $8,00,000
Lasith Malinga - $3,50,000
Dilhara Fernando - $1,50,000
Loots Bosman - $1,75,000
Team: Kolkata
Owner’s Name: Shah Rukh Khan
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Sourav Ganguly (icon) - 15% more
Shoaib Akhtar - $4,25,000
Ricky Ponting - $4,00,000
Brendon McCullum - $7,00,000
Chris Gayle - $8,00,000
Ajit Agarkar - $3,30,000
David Hussey - $6,75,000
Ishant Sharma - $9,50,000
Murali Kartik - $4,25,000
Umar Gul - $1,50,000
Tatenda Taibu - $1,25,000
Team: Delhi Daredevils
Owner’s Name: GMR Holdings
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Virender Sehwag (icon) - 15% more
Daniel Vettori - $6,25,000
Shoaib Malik - $5,00,000
Mohammad Asif - $6,50,000
Dinesh Karthik - $5,25,000
AB de Villiers - $3,00,000
Farveez Maharoof - $2,25,000
Tillakaratne Dilshan - $2,50,000
Manoj Tiwary - $6,75,000
Gautam Gambhir - $7,25,000
Glenn McGrath - $3,50,000
Team: Chennai Super Kings
Owner’s Name: India Cement
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
M.S.Dhoni - $1.5 million
Muttiah Muralitharan - $6,00,000
Matthew Hayden - $3,75,000
Jacob Oram - $6,75,000
Stephen Fleming - $350,000
Parthiv Patel - $3,25,000
Joginder Sharma - $2,25,000
Albie Morkel - $6,50,000
Suresh Raina - $6,50,000
Makhaya Ntini - $2,00,000
Michael Hussey - $3,50,000
Team: Mohali
Owner’s Name: Preity Zinta & Ness. Wadia
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Yuvraj Singh (icon) - 15% more
Mahela Jayawardene - $4,75,000
Kumar Sangakkara - $7,00,000
Brett Lee - $9,00,000
S.Sreesanth - $6,25,000
Irfan Pathan - $9,25,000
Ramesh Powar - $1,70,000
Piyush Chawla - $4,00,000
Simon Katich - $2,00,000
Ramnaresh Sarwan - $2,25,000
Team: Jaipur
Owner’s Name: Emerging Media
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Shane Warne - $4,50,000
Graeme Smith - $4,75,000
Younis Khan - $2,25,000
Kamran Akmal - $1,50,000
Yusuf Pathan - $4,75,000
Mohammad Kaif - $6,75,000
Munaf Patel - $2,75,000
Justin Langer - $2,00,000
Team: Hyderabad
Owner’s Name: Deccan Chronicle
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
V. V. S. Laxman (Captain) - $375,000
Andrew Symonds - $1,350,000
R. P. Singh - $875,000
Rohit Sharma - $750,000
Adam Gilchrist - $700,000
Shahid Afridi - $675,000
Herschelle Gibbs - $575,000
Chaminda Vaas - $200,000
Scott Styris - $175,000
Nuwan Zoysa - $110,000
Chamara Silva - $100,000
April 18: Bangalore v Kolkata at Bangalore
April 19: Mohali v Chennai at Mohali and Delhi v Jaipur at Delhi
April 20: Mumbai v Bangalore at Mumbai; Kolkata v Hyderabad at Kolkata
April 21: Jaipur v Mohali at Jaipur
April 22: Hyderabad v Delhi at Hyderabad
April 23: Chennai v Mumbai at Chennai
April 24: Hyderabad v Jaipur at Hyderabad
April 25: Mohali v Mumbai at Mohali
April 26: Bangalore v Jaipur at Bangalore; Chennai v Kolkata at Chennai
April 27: Mumbai v Hyderabad at Mumbai; Mohali v Delhi at Mohali
April 28: Bangalore v Chennai at Bangalore
April 29: Kolkata v Mumbai at Kolkata
April 30: Delhi v Bangalore at Delhi.
May 1: Hyderabad v Mohali at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Kolkata at Jaipur
May 2: Chennai v Delhi at Chennai.
May 3: Hyderabad at Bangalore at Hyderabad; Mohali v Kolkata at Mohali
May 4: Mumbai v Delhi at Mumbai; Jaipur v Chennai at Jaipur
May 5: Bangalore v Mohali at Bangalore
May 6: Chennai v Hyderabad at Chennai
May 7: Mumbai v Jaipur at Mumbai
May 8: Delhi v Chennai at Delhi; Kolkata v Bangalore at Kolkata
May 9: Jaipur v Hyderabad at Jaipur
May 10: Bangalore v Mumbai at Bangalore; Chennai v Mohali at Chennai
May 11: Hyderabad v Kolkata at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Delhi at Jaipur
May 12: Mohali v Bangalore at Mohali
May 13: Kolkata v Delhi at Kolkata
May 14: Mumbai v Chennai at Mumbai; Mohali v Jaipur at Mohali
May 15: Delhi v Hyderabad at Delhi
May 16: Mumbai v Kolkata at Mumbai
May 17: Delhi v Mohali at Delhi; Jaipur v Bangalore at Jaipur
May 18: Hyderabad v Mumbai at Hyderabad; Kolkata v Chenna at Kolkata
May 19: Bangalore v Delhi at Bangalore
May 20: Kolkata v Jaipur at Kolkata
May 21: Mumbai v Mohali at Mumbai; Chennai v Bangalore at Chennai
May 22: Delhi v Kolkata at Delhi
May 23: Mohali v Hyderabad at Mohali.
May 24: Delhi v Mumbai at Delhi; Chennai v Jaipur at Chennai
May 25: Bangalore v Hyderabad at Bangalore; Kolkata v Mohali at Kolkata
May 26: Jaipur v Mumbai at Jaipur
May 27: Hyderabad v Chennai at Hyderabad
May 28 and 29: Rest days
May 30: First semi-final at Mumbai
May 31: Second semi-final at Mumbai
June 1: Final at Mumbai
April 19 : Delhi v Jaipur at Delhi
April 20: Mumbai v Bangalore at Mumbai;Kolkata v Hyderabad at Kolkata
April 21: Jaipur v Mohali at Jaipur
April 22: Hyderabad v Delhi at Hyderabad
April 23: Chennai v Mumbai at Chennai
April 24: Hyderabad v Jaipur at Hyderabad
April 25: Mohali v Mumbai at Mohali
April 26: Bangalore v Jaipur at Bangalore; Chennai v Kolkata at Chennai
April 27: Mumbai v Hyderabad at Mumbai;Mohali v Delhi at Mohali
April 28: Bangalore v Chennai at Bangalore
April 29: Kolkata v Mumbai at Kolkata
April 30: Delhi v Bangalore at Delhi.
May 1: Hyderabad v Mohali at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Kolkata at Jaipur
May 2: Chennai v Delhi at Chennai.
May 3: Hyderabad at Bangalore at Hyderabad; Mohali v Kolkata at Mohali
May 4: Mumbai v Delhi at Mumbai; Jaipur v Chennai at Jaipur
May 5: Bangalore v Mohali at Bangalore
May 6: Chennai v Hyderabad at Chennai
May 7: Mumbai v Jaipur at Mumbai
May 8: Delhi v Chennai at Delhi; Kolkata v Bangalore at Kolkata
May 9: Jaipur v Hyderabad at Jaipur
May 10: Bangalore v Mumbai at Bangalore; Chennai v Mohali at Chennai
May 11: Hyderabad v Kolkata at Hyderabad; Jaipur v Delhi at Jaipur
May 12: Mohali v Bangalore at Mohali
May 13: Kolkata v Delhi at Kolkata
May 14: Mumbai v Chennai at Mumbai;Mohali v Jaipur at Mohali
May 15: Delhi v Hyderabad at Delhi
May 16: Mumbai v Kolkata at Mumbai
May 17: Delhi v Mohali at Delhi; Jaipur v Bangalore at Jaipur
May 18: Hyderabad v Mumbai at Hyderabad; Kolkata v Chenna at Kolkata
May 19: Bangalore v Delhi at Bangalore
May 20: Kolkata v Jaipur at Kolkata
May 21: Mumbai v Mohali at Mumbai; Chennai v Bangalore at Chennai
May 22: Delhi v Kolkata at Delhi
May 23: Mohali v Hyderabad at Mohali.
May 24: Delhi v Mumbai at Delhi; Chennai v Jaipur at Chennai
May 25: Bangalore v Hyderabad at Bangalore; Kolkata v Mohali at Kolkata
May 26: Jaipur v Mumbai at Jaipur
May 27: Hyderabad v Chennai at Hyderabad
May 28 and 29: Rest days
May 30: First semi-final at Mumbai
May 31: Second semi-final at Mumbai
June 1: Final at Mumbai
IPL Teams
Team: Bangalore Royal Challengers
Owner’s Name: Vijay Mallya
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Rahul Dravid (icon) - 15% more
Anil Kumble - $5,00,000
Jacques Kallis - $9,00,000
Zaheer Khan - $4,50,000
Mark Boucher - $4,50,000
Cameron White - $5,00,000
Wasim Jaffer - $1,50,000
Dale Steyn - $3,25,000
Nathan Bracken - $3,25,000
Shivnarine Chanderpaul - $2,00,000
Team: Mumbai
Owner’s Name: Mukesh Ambani
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Sachin Tendulkar (icon) - 15% more
Harbhajan Singh - $8,50,000
Sanath Jayasuriya - $9,75,000
Shaun Pollock - $5,50,000
Robin Uthappa - $8,00,000
Lasith Malinga - $3,50,000
Dilhara Fernando - $1,50,000
Loots Bosman - $1,75,000
Team: Kolkata
Owner’s Name: Shah Rukh Khan
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Sourav Ganguly (icon) - 15% more
Shoaib Akhtar - $4,25,000
Ricky Ponting - $4,00,000
Brendon McCullum - $7,00,000
Chris Gayle - $8,00,000
Ajit Agarkar - $3,30,000
David Hussey - $6,75,000
Ishant Sharma - $9,50,000
Murali Kartik - $4,25,000
Umar Gul - $1,50,000
Tatenda Taibu - $1,25,000
Team: Delhi Daredevils
Owner’s Name: GMR Holdings
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Virender Sehwag (icon) - 15% more
Daniel Vettori - $6,25,000
Shoaib Malik - $5,00,000
Mohammad Asif - $6,50,000
Dinesh Karthik - $5,25,000
AB de Villiers - $3,00,000
Farveez Maharoof - $2,25,000
Tillakaratne Dilshan - $2,50,000
Manoj Tiwary - $6,75,000
Gautam Gambhir - $7,25,000
Glenn McGrath - $3,50,000
Team: Chennai Super Kings
Owner’s Name: India Cement
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
M.S.Dhoni - $1.5 million
Muttiah Muralitharan - $6,00,000
Matthew Hayden - $3,75,000
Jacob Oram - $6,75,000
Stephen Fleming - $350,000
Parthiv Patel - $3,25,000
Joginder Sharma - $2,25,000
Albie Morkel - $6,50,000
Suresh Raina - $6,50,000
Makhaya Ntini - $2,00,000
Michael Hussey - $3,50,000
Team: Mohali
Owner’s Name: Preity Zinta & Ness. Wadia
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Yuvraj Singh (icon) - 15% more
Mahela Jayawardene - $4,75,000
Kumar Sangakkara - $7,00,000
Brett Lee - $9,00,000
S.Sreesanth - $6,25,000
Irfan Pathan - $9,25,000
Ramesh Powar - $1,70,000
Piyush Chawla - $4,00,000
Simon Katich - $2,00,000
Ramnaresh Sarwan - $2,25,000
Team: Jaipur
Owner’s Name: Emerging Media
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
Shane Warne - $4,50,000
Graeme Smith - $4,75,000
Younis Khan - $2,25,000
Kamran Akmal - $1,50,000
Yusuf Pathan - $4,75,000
Mohammad Kaif - $6,75,000
Munaf Patel - $2,75,000
Justin Langer - $2,00,000
Team: Hyderabad
Owner’s Name: Deccan Chronicle
Players - Bid Amount (figures in USD):
V. V. S. Laxman (Captain) - $375,000
Andrew Symonds - $1,350,000
R. P. Singh - $875,000
Rohit Sharma - $750,000
Adam Gilchrist - $700,000
Shahid Afridi - $675,000
Herschelle Gibbs - $575,000
Chaminda Vaas - $200,000
Scott Styris - $175,000
Nuwan Zoysa - $110,000
Chamara Silva - $100,000
Thursday, February 12, 2009
26/11: Pak files FIR, admits many Indian charges, plot on its soil
Islamabad, Feb 12: Pakistan admitted on Thursday that at least part of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai were planned in Pakistan but a major part was done in India.
Announcing that the Pakistan government had lodged an FIR in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks, interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said that Pakistan had identified the main conspirators in the attack as Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah of the Lashker-e-Tayyabba.
“Some part of the conspiracy was plotted in Pakistan,” Malik stated. He said that the Lashkar-e-Tayyabba was involved in the attacks.
Three persons have been named in the FIR lodged under Anti-Terrorism Act, said Malik. Hamad Ameen Sadiq, who facilitated money transfer for the terrorist attack in Mumbai, has been arrested.
A Pakistani national, Javed Iqbal, who acquired the VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phones for Mumbai attackers in Spain, was also arrested.
Three boats were used from Pakistan to reach Mumbai. The engine of the rubber boat that brought the terrorists to Mumbai had been traced to a shop in Lahore, he acknowledged.
Pakistan had identified the boat that took the terrorists to the high seas, and was interrogating its crew. It had changed its name to cover its tracks.
He said the safehouses and training grounds had been identified in Pakistan. He said that Ajmal Kasab had been booked under the anti-terror Act.
He said the internet communication had been traced to Spain. The server of emails send by the terrorists was based in the USA.
The Pakistani reply to the dossier provided by India on the 26/11 attacks had been handed over to New Delhi, he said.
Mr Malik said that the Pakistan government had acted on information given by the Indian government and "had gone the extra mile." This "proves our sincerity in fighting terror," he said.
He said more information was needed on many aspects, including how the terrorists came to posses "7-10" Indian SIM cards.
He wanted details from India on how the boat carrying the terrorists was refuelled in the high seas.
Pakistan wanted the DNA samples of all the 10 terrorists including Kasab to establish their identity.
He said more informaton was needed on certain details, including a terrorist who was only named by India as "Ali".
He said Pakistan needed information from the US, Spain, Italy and Russia, from where the terrorists had routed their resources.
Earlier, Pakistan's response to the Indian dossier was handed over the the Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Satyabrata Pal, by Mr Malik.
The meeting took place a day after there was confusion over reports that Pakistani authorities had filed a case against Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during the November 26, Mumbai attacks and 12 others in connection with the strikes. The government had denied those reports.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Giant blast shakes up city
Feb. 9: A loud explosion at a chemicals unit on Monday night triggered fears of largescale damage and sent emergency services, and the media, into a frenzy. It turned out later that two persons were injured in the explosion at SM Labs Pvt Ltd, a drug intermediates manufacturing company at Moula Ali.
The Alwal DCP, Mr Sudheer Reddy, said there were no deaths. The blast was attributed to a petrochemical-based solvent used in manufacturing medicines. The shockwaves from the blast was felt even 10 km away. Smoke engulfed the area, window panes of many buildings developed cracks and some buildings in the vicinity shook. “I could not breathe properly,” said Mr Jitender Red-dy, a local.
Five fire engines and three water tenders battled the blaze for three hours to bring the fire under control. Eight ambulances were rushed to the site.
According to a witness, Mr Mohammed Ismail, there was a huge explosion at 9 pm. “We rushed into the factory and brought two injured. As there was fire and smoke nothing could be seen,” he added.
The factory which manufactures anti-depressant drugs to Dr Reddy Labs and Cipla, is owned by Mr Manik Reddy. It makes intermediary drugs used in manufacturing 5-cyanophthalide. The fire occurred in the storage tank. Mr Manik Reddy said eight persons were working when the accident occurred and two were injured: Sravan Kumar (26) and Niranjan (27).
Mr Niranjan who was admitted to Poulami Hospital said they ran outside after the blast. “A big stone like missile hit me on my stomach. I fell unconscious after that,” he said.
Thousands of locals thro-nged the spot and police had to cordon off the area.
Locals said they had alerted the factory management about an “unbearable, pungent, chemical odour” on Sunday. The IDA canteen proprietor, Mr P. Praveen, said, “Gas was leaking for a few days.” According to sources, the ACB had arrested an inspector of boilers two years ago on charge of accepting Rs 75,000 as bribe for renewing licences for three boilers at SM Laboratories.
The Alwal DCP, Mr Sudheer Reddy, said there were no deaths. The blast was attributed to a petrochemical-based solvent used in manufacturing medicines. The shockwaves from the blast was felt even 10 km away. Smoke engulfed the area, window panes of many buildings developed cracks and some buildings in the vicinity shook. “I could not breathe properly,” said Mr Jitender Red-dy, a local.
Five fire engines and three water tenders battled the blaze for three hours to bring the fire under control. Eight ambulances were rushed to the site.
According to a witness, Mr Mohammed Ismail, there was a huge explosion at 9 pm. “We rushed into the factory and brought two injured. As there was fire and smoke nothing could be seen,” he added.
The factory which manufactures anti-depressant drugs to Dr Reddy Labs and Cipla, is owned by Mr Manik Reddy. It makes intermediary drugs used in manufacturing 5-cyanophthalide. The fire occurred in the storage tank. Mr Manik Reddy said eight persons were working when the accident occurred and two were injured: Sravan Kumar (26) and Niranjan (27).
Mr Niranjan who was admitted to Poulami Hospital said they ran outside after the blast. “A big stone like missile hit me on my stomach. I fell unconscious after that,” he said.
Thousands of locals thro-nged the spot and police had to cordon off the area.
Locals said they had alerted the factory management about an “unbearable, pungent, chemical odour” on Sunday. The IDA canteen proprietor, Mr P. Praveen, said, “Gas was leaking for a few days.” According to sources, the ACB had arrested an inspector of boilers two years ago on charge of accepting Rs 75,000 as bribe for renewing licences for three boilers at SM Laboratories.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Raju has it tough with Sebi
Feb. 4: The interrogation of Mr B. Ramalinga Raju by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), which began on Wednesday, wou-ld have come as quite a change for the man who had it easy with CID officials.
Unlike at the CID questioning, where officials were not allowed to carry a pen and paper, where Mr Raju’s counsel were present throughout, and where questioning was restricted to an hour a day, Sebi officials proved to be tougher.
Mr Raju was grilled by a five-member team from the Sebi, led by Mr Sunil Kumar. Mr Raju’s counsel, Mr S. Bharat Kumar, was not allowed into the room. The questioning was primarily about alleged insider trading, sources said.
Sources said Mr Raju was mostly quizzed about transaction of Satyam shares in the last six months. It is learnt that Mr Raju answered most questions in the negative.
Jail officials said they provided a room with a table and few chairs for the exercise. According to sources, he was quizzed at the jail superintendent’s office. The questioning session began at 10.30 am and went on till evening with a one-hour lunch break thrown in.
Outside the jail, Mr Raju’s counsel, Mr S. Bharat Kumar, said the Sebi team had turned down his request to provide Mr Raju some documents. He said Mr Raju did not have documents to answer Sebi’s questions. He said they would question the validity of statements recorded by Sebi. It is learnt that Mr Raju was briefed by his defence lawyers on Tuesday on answering Sebi’s questions.
It is learnt that Mr Raju’s brother, Mr B. Rama Raju, will be interrogated on Thursday. Elsewhere, the two Pricewaterhouse officials, Mr S. Gopalakrishnan and Mr T. Srinivas were handed over to police custody at 10.30 am on Wednesday. The custody period will end at 4 pm on Thursday.
Unlike at the CID questioning, where officials were not allowed to carry a pen and paper, where Mr Raju’s counsel were present throughout, and where questioning was restricted to an hour a day, Sebi officials proved to be tougher.
Mr Raju was grilled by a five-member team from the Sebi, led by Mr Sunil Kumar. Mr Raju’s counsel, Mr S. Bharat Kumar, was not allowed into the room. The questioning was primarily about alleged insider trading, sources said.
Sources said Mr Raju was mostly quizzed about transaction of Satyam shares in the last six months. It is learnt that Mr Raju answered most questions in the negative.
Jail officials said they provided a room with a table and few chairs for the exercise. According to sources, he was quizzed at the jail superintendent’s office. The questioning session began at 10.30 am and went on till evening with a one-hour lunch break thrown in.
Outside the jail, Mr Raju’s counsel, Mr S. Bharat Kumar, said the Sebi team had turned down his request to provide Mr Raju some documents. He said Mr Raju did not have documents to answer Sebi’s questions. He said they would question the validity of statements recorded by Sebi. It is learnt that Mr Raju was briefed by his defence lawyers on Tuesday on answering Sebi’s questions.
It is learnt that Mr Raju’s brother, Mr B. Rama Raju, will be interrogated on Thursday. Elsewhere, the two Pricewaterhouse officials, Mr S. Gopalakrishnan and Mr T. Srinivas were handed over to police custody at 10.30 am on Wednesday. The custody period will end at 4 pm on Thursday.
SEBI grills Ramalinga Raju
HYDERABAD: Officials of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Wednesday interrogated the former chairman of Satyam Computers, B. Ramalinga Raju, for nearly five hours at the Chanchalguda Central Jail here.
SEBI general manager A. Sunil Kumar, who is the divisional chief for southern States, grilled Mr. Raju with the assistance of four officers.
The SEBI team walked into the jail at 9.45 a.m. and left only at 7 p.m. though the actual interrogation lasted only from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch.
Rama Raju not quizzed
Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s brother and former managing director Rama Raju was not quizzed. The SEBI has been permitted by the Supreme Court to examine the two for three days.
Officials of the market regulator did not permit Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s advocate S. Bharat Kumar to be present during the interrogation, though he entered the jail with the permission of Superintendent M. Chandrasekhar.
Later, talking to the media, Mr. Kumar took exception to the denial of legal assistance to the accused during the examination.
He held that the two accused were not in possession of records. Neither were they in a proper state of mind to depose.
He said the apex court issued ex-parte orders permitting their interrogation before these exceptions were brought to its notice.
To file petition
He said Mr. Raju’s counsel would file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking remedy.
The Crime Investigation Department picked up from the same jail suspended Price Waterhouse partners S. Gopalakrishnan and Talluri Srinivas for interrogation. They will be in its custody till Thursday afternoon.
The officials questioned the two on their job chart and whether they verified cash and bank balances of Satyam Computer Services periodically.
A senior officer told The Hindu that the focus of interrogation was on whether they properly vouched for the related party transactions under the Indian Companies Act.
Foreign remittances
Another important area of probe would be the inward foreign remittances made to the company on account of operations in 60 countries.
The role of auditors in verification of softex forms (proof of company’s turnover) submitted to the Software Technology Parks of India for claiming income-tax benefits would also come under scrutiny.
SEBI general manager A. Sunil Kumar, who is the divisional chief for southern States, grilled Mr. Raju with the assistance of four officers.
The SEBI team walked into the jail at 9.45 a.m. and left only at 7 p.m. though the actual interrogation lasted only from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch.
Rama Raju not quizzed
Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s brother and former managing director Rama Raju was not quizzed. The SEBI has been permitted by the Supreme Court to examine the two for three days.
Officials of the market regulator did not permit Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s advocate S. Bharat Kumar to be present during the interrogation, though he entered the jail with the permission of Superintendent M. Chandrasekhar.
Later, talking to the media, Mr. Kumar took exception to the denial of legal assistance to the accused during the examination.
He held that the two accused were not in possession of records. Neither were they in a proper state of mind to depose.
He said the apex court issued ex-parte orders permitting their interrogation before these exceptions were brought to its notice.
To file petition
He said Mr. Raju’s counsel would file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking remedy.
The Crime Investigation Department picked up from the same jail suspended Price Waterhouse partners S. Gopalakrishnan and Talluri Srinivas for interrogation. They will be in its custody till Thursday afternoon.
The officials questioned the two on their job chart and whether they verified cash and bank balances of Satyam Computer Services periodically.
A senior officer told The Hindu that the focus of interrogation was on whether they properly vouched for the related party transactions under the Indian Companies Act.
Foreign remittances
Another important area of probe would be the inward foreign remittances made to the company on account of operations in 60 countries.
The role of auditors in verification of softex forms (proof of company’s turnover) submitted to the Software Technology Parks of India for claiming income-tax benefits would also come under scrutiny.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Highlights India Vs Sri Lanka 3rd Odi in srilanka tour
Yuvraj Singh (117 runs of 95 balls) and Virendra Sehwag (116 runs of 90 balls) scored a swashbuckling century to help India to clinch the IDBI Fortis Wealthinsurance cup. Within six months time this is second time that India able to win the ODI Series against the home team.
Electing to bat first India scored a mammoth total of 363/5 in their allotted 50 overs with the help of blistering third wicket stand between Yuvraj Singh and Virendra Sehwag. The duo went on to put record 221 runs stand for the third wicket of just 167 balls.
Both Yuvraj and Sehwag looks in sensational form and some poor Sri Lankan fielding did allow both of them at start of their inning but after that it was all Viru and Yuvi who murdered Sri Lankan bowling attack and both went on to score blistering century. After being reduced to 24/2 in the fourth over with Sachin Tendulkar once again adjudged leg before for third consecutive time and G.Gambhir unluckily run out, Sri Lanka looks on top at that stage it was Yuvraj Singh who cornered most of the strike, stroking some magnificent boundaries on either side of the wicket.
Sehwag was spectator in the early part of their partnership but once both get going it was nightmare for the Sri Lankan bowlers. Once the duo was dismissed it was up to M.S.Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan to guide India to safe target. Both did what exactly required by putting 85 runs in 69 balls. Yusuf Pathan went on to score his second fifty in one day international with four 4’s and one huge six over long on boundary, while Dhoni remain unbeaten on 35 runs.
During Indian innings M.Muralitharan also went onto equal the world record of Wasim Akram when he dismissed Yuvraj Singh in the 32nd over and now he is just a wicket away from becoming the leading wicket taker in ODI.
Chasing the mammoth total, Sri Lanka folded for 216 in 41.4 overs, despite Kumar Sangakara 83 runs of 82 balls not able to snatch unlikely victory from the hands of Indians. Pragyan Ojha did most of the damage to Sri Lankan batting as he went on to pick four crucial Sri Lankan wickets by conceding just 38 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
Chasing such a huge total, Sri Lanka badly needed a big knock from Sanath Jayasuriya but the veteran opener let the side down today. But Sanath Jayasurya is also not able to handle the pressure of chasing huge target as he dragged P.Kumar ball onto his stump to in the 2nd over of Sri Lankan inning to get out for 1st ball duck.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (30 off 26 balls) sizzled for a while in Sangakkara's company before an inside edge off Zaheer Khan upset his timbers. Like Dilshan, Sri Lankan captain M.Jayawardne also got the start but with the asking run rate mounting all the time he tried something unnatural to throw his wicket away to P.Kumar.
Last match hero T.Kadamby also didn’t last longer as he got out while playing reverse sweep on the bowling of V.Sehwag and in the very next over P.Ojha bowled C.Kapugedara to tighten the noose around the host.
India now takes an unbeatable lead of 3-0 in five match ODI series against Sri Lanka and now they would like to give the chance to some of the other players like L.Balaji and I.Pathan in the next match. Next match will be played at same venue on 5th of February which will be another day/night encounter.
Yuvraj Singh was declared Man of the Match for his swashbuckling centuries of 117 runs of 95 balls.
Match Summary
India – 363/5 in 50 Overs
Y.Singh- 117 V.Sehwag –116
M.Muralitharan– 10-0-60-1 A.Mendis– 9-0-64-1
Sri Lanka – 216/10 in 41.4 Overs
K.Sangakara- 83 T.Dilshan– 31
P.Ojha– 10-0-38-4 P.Kumar– 7-0-41-2
Electing to bat first India scored a mammoth total of 363/5 in their allotted 50 overs with the help of blistering third wicket stand between Yuvraj Singh and Virendra Sehwag. The duo went on to put record 221 runs stand for the third wicket of just 167 balls.
Both Yuvraj and Sehwag looks in sensational form and some poor Sri Lankan fielding did allow both of them at start of their inning but after that it was all Viru and Yuvi who murdered Sri Lankan bowling attack and both went on to score blistering century. After being reduced to 24/2 in the fourth over with Sachin Tendulkar once again adjudged leg before for third consecutive time and G.Gambhir unluckily run out, Sri Lanka looks on top at that stage it was Yuvraj Singh who cornered most of the strike, stroking some magnificent boundaries on either side of the wicket.
Sehwag was spectator in the early part of their partnership but once both get going it was nightmare for the Sri Lankan bowlers. Once the duo was dismissed it was up to M.S.Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan to guide India to safe target. Both did what exactly required by putting 85 runs in 69 balls. Yusuf Pathan went on to score his second fifty in one day international with four 4’s and one huge six over long on boundary, while Dhoni remain unbeaten on 35 runs.
During Indian innings M.Muralitharan also went onto equal the world record of Wasim Akram when he dismissed Yuvraj Singh in the 32nd over and now he is just a wicket away from becoming the leading wicket taker in ODI.
Chasing the mammoth total, Sri Lanka folded for 216 in 41.4 overs, despite Kumar Sangakara 83 runs of 82 balls not able to snatch unlikely victory from the hands of Indians. Pragyan Ojha did most of the damage to Sri Lankan batting as he went on to pick four crucial Sri Lankan wickets by conceding just 38 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
Chasing such a huge total, Sri Lanka badly needed a big knock from Sanath Jayasuriya but the veteran opener let the side down today. But Sanath Jayasurya is also not able to handle the pressure of chasing huge target as he dragged P.Kumar ball onto his stump to in the 2nd over of Sri Lankan inning to get out for 1st ball duck.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (30 off 26 balls) sizzled for a while in Sangakkara's company before an inside edge off Zaheer Khan upset his timbers. Like Dilshan, Sri Lankan captain M.Jayawardne also got the start but with the asking run rate mounting all the time he tried something unnatural to throw his wicket away to P.Kumar.
Last match hero T.Kadamby also didn’t last longer as he got out while playing reverse sweep on the bowling of V.Sehwag and in the very next over P.Ojha bowled C.Kapugedara to tighten the noose around the host.
India now takes an unbeatable lead of 3-0 in five match ODI series against Sri Lanka and now they would like to give the chance to some of the other players like L.Balaji and I.Pathan in the next match. Next match will be played at same venue on 5th of February which will be another day/night encounter.
Yuvraj Singh was declared Man of the Match for his swashbuckling centuries of 117 runs of 95 balls.
Match Summary
India – 363/5 in 50 Overs
Y.Singh- 117 V.Sehwag –116
M.Muralitharan– 10-0-60-1 A.Mendis– 9-0-64-1
Sri Lanka – 216/10 in 41.4 Overs
K.Sangakara- 83 T.Dilshan– 31
P.Ojha– 10-0-38-4 P.Kumar– 7-0-41-2
India Vs Srilanka 3rd ODI Hilights
Statistical highlights of the third India vs Sri Lanka ODI on Tuesday.
# India registered their second highest total against Sri Lanka - their highest being 373-6 at Taunton on May 26,1999.
# India's highest against Sri Lanka in India is 350 for six at Nagpur on October 25, 2005.
# India's total of 363/5 is now the highest by any team against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, eclipsing their 307 for six at Colombo, RPS on July 7, 1998.
# India is the only nation to register a total of 300-plus against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, achieving the feat three times.
# Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh have set a third wicket partnership record (221) for India against Sri Lanka, eclipsing the 175 (twice) by Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjot Singh Sidhu at Sharjah on April 14,1995 and by 175 by Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar at Delhi on March 2,1996.
# The 221-run stand is now the second best by any pair against Sri Lanka for the third wicket. Allan Border and Dean Jones had put on 224 (unbroken) against Sri Lanka at Adelaide on January 28, 1985.
# The aforesaid partnership is also the second best for India for the third wicket, next only to the 237 (unbroken) between Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid against Kenya at Bristol on May 23, 1999.
# Yuvraj Singh (117 off 95 balls) registered his second hundred in Sri Lanka. He had made 110 against West Indies at Colombo, RPS on August 7, 2005.
# Yuvraj's first hundred against Sri Lanka is his 11th in ODIs.
# Sehwag (116 off 90 balls) became the seventh Indian batsman to register a hundred against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, joining Sachin Tendulkar (3), Sourav Ganguly (2), Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh and Yuvraj Singh.
# Sehwag's 75-ball hundred is the fastest century by an Indian against Sri Lanka in ODIs. His innings is also the fastest hundred in India-Sri Lanka ODIs. Sanath Jayasuriya had recorded a 79-ball hundred against India at Karachi on July 6,2008.
# Sehwag's first hundred against Sri Lanka is his tenth in ODIs.
# Sehwag is now the only Indian batsman to register four hundreds off less than 80 balls.
# During his hundred knock, Sehwag completed his 6,000 runs for India. His overall aggregate includes 6004 runs for India in 188 games; 214 in 7 innings for Asia XI and 64 in 3 games for ICC World XI.
# Sehwag became the second batsman after Shahid Afridi (111) to register a strike rate of 100 in ODIs - 6282 runs in 198 ODIs at an average of 33.77, including 10 centuries and 33 fifties at a strike rate of 100.36.
# Sehwag also completed his 1,000 runs against Sri Lanka during his century knock - 1068 at an average of 34.45 in 35 games.
# With Yuvraj's wicket, Muralitharan became the leading wicket-taker in India-Sri Lanka ODIs. He now has a tally of 71 wickets at 30.59 runs apiece in 59 matches, bettering Chaminda Vaas' tally of 70 (ave.31.61) in 61 games.
# Muralitharan, with his aforesaid wicket, has equalled Wasim Akram's tally of 502 (ave.23.53) in 356 games.
Muralitharan's brief record is - 502 (ave.22.66) in 327 games, including 10 five-wicket hauls. Both now share the record for most wickets in ODIs.
# Yusuf Pathan (59 not out off 38 balls) registered his career-best score in ODIs - his second fifty. His only other fifty is 50 not out against England at Indore on November 17, 2008.
# Jayasuriya, with his first-ball duck, has extended his unwanted record for most ducks in ODIs to 33.
# India posted their biggest victory against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in terms of runs, bettering their 46-run win at Colombo, RPS on August 27,2008.
# Sri Lanka's defeat by 147 runs is their biggest in terms of runs in Sri Lanka in ODIs, suirpassing their previous biggest defeat to South Africa by 124 runs at Colombo, RPS on 2.9.1993.
# Dhoni is the fourth Indian skipper have won 8 games in a row - the first three being Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly & Rahul Dravid.
# Mahela Jayawardene became the fourth Sri Lankan and the 18th to complete 8,000 runs in ODIs. The three leading Sri Lankans in terms of run-aggregate are Sanath Jayasuriya (13087), Aravinda de Silva (9284) and Marvan Atapattu (8529).
# Pragyan Ojha's figures of 4/38 are not only his career-best in Limited-Overs Internationals, but also the best by an Indian spinner against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
# Sangakkara (83 off 82 balls) recorded his fifth fifty against India - his 46th in ODIs
# India became the first team to register two successive bilateral series wins against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Last year, they won the series by 3-2, followed by 3-0 in the 2008-09 series, now-in-progress.
# India registered their second highest total against Sri Lanka - their highest being 373-6 at Taunton on May 26,1999.
# India's highest against Sri Lanka in India is 350 for six at Nagpur on October 25, 2005.
# India's total of 363/5 is now the highest by any team against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, eclipsing their 307 for six at Colombo, RPS on July 7, 1998.
# India is the only nation to register a total of 300-plus against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, achieving the feat three times.
# Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh have set a third wicket partnership record (221) for India against Sri Lanka, eclipsing the 175 (twice) by Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjot Singh Sidhu at Sharjah on April 14,1995 and by 175 by Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar at Delhi on March 2,1996.
# The 221-run stand is now the second best by any pair against Sri Lanka for the third wicket. Allan Border and Dean Jones had put on 224 (unbroken) against Sri Lanka at Adelaide on January 28, 1985.
# The aforesaid partnership is also the second best for India for the third wicket, next only to the 237 (unbroken) between Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid against Kenya at Bristol on May 23, 1999.
# Yuvraj Singh (117 off 95 balls) registered his second hundred in Sri Lanka. He had made 110 against West Indies at Colombo, RPS on August 7, 2005.
# Yuvraj's first hundred against Sri Lanka is his 11th in ODIs.
# Sehwag (116 off 90 balls) became the seventh Indian batsman to register a hundred against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, joining Sachin Tendulkar (3), Sourav Ganguly (2), Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh and Yuvraj Singh.
# Sehwag's 75-ball hundred is the fastest century by an Indian against Sri Lanka in ODIs. His innings is also the fastest hundred in India-Sri Lanka ODIs. Sanath Jayasuriya had recorded a 79-ball hundred against India at Karachi on July 6,2008.
# Sehwag's first hundred against Sri Lanka is his tenth in ODIs.
# Sehwag is now the only Indian batsman to register four hundreds off less than 80 balls.
# During his hundred knock, Sehwag completed his 6,000 runs for India. His overall aggregate includes 6004 runs for India in 188 games; 214 in 7 innings for Asia XI and 64 in 3 games for ICC World XI.
# Sehwag became the second batsman after Shahid Afridi (111) to register a strike rate of 100 in ODIs - 6282 runs in 198 ODIs at an average of 33.77, including 10 centuries and 33 fifties at a strike rate of 100.36.
# Sehwag also completed his 1,000 runs against Sri Lanka during his century knock - 1068 at an average of 34.45 in 35 games.
# With Yuvraj's wicket, Muralitharan became the leading wicket-taker in India-Sri Lanka ODIs. He now has a tally of 71 wickets at 30.59 runs apiece in 59 matches, bettering Chaminda Vaas' tally of 70 (ave.31.61) in 61 games.
# Muralitharan, with his aforesaid wicket, has equalled Wasim Akram's tally of 502 (ave.23.53) in 356 games.
Muralitharan's brief record is - 502 (ave.22.66) in 327 games, including 10 five-wicket hauls. Both now share the record for most wickets in ODIs.
# Yusuf Pathan (59 not out off 38 balls) registered his career-best score in ODIs - his second fifty. His only other fifty is 50 not out against England at Indore on November 17, 2008.
# Jayasuriya, with his first-ball duck, has extended his unwanted record for most ducks in ODIs to 33.
# India posted their biggest victory against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in terms of runs, bettering their 46-run win at Colombo, RPS on August 27,2008.
# Sri Lanka's defeat by 147 runs is their biggest in terms of runs in Sri Lanka in ODIs, suirpassing their previous biggest defeat to South Africa by 124 runs at Colombo, RPS on 2.9.1993.
# Dhoni is the fourth Indian skipper have won 8 games in a row - the first three being Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly & Rahul Dravid.
# Mahela Jayawardene became the fourth Sri Lankan and the 18th to complete 8,000 runs in ODIs. The three leading Sri Lankans in terms of run-aggregate are Sanath Jayasuriya (13087), Aravinda de Silva (9284) and Marvan Atapattu (8529).
# Pragyan Ojha's figures of 4/38 are not only his career-best in Limited-Overs Internationals, but also the best by an Indian spinner against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
# Sangakkara (83 off 82 balls) recorded his fifth fifty against India - his 46th in ODIs
# India became the first team to register two successive bilateral series wins against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Last year, they won the series by 3-2, followed by 3-0 in the 2008-09 series, now-in-progress.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Wipro sees slowdown in new contracts
DAVOS: India's No. 3 software services exporter, Wipro Ltd, expects demand for new software and systems to stagnate for up to two years as a res
ult of the global economic slowdown, a top executive said.
In response, Wipro plans to focus on providing operations services and helping clients cut costs, Wipro joint Chief executive Girish Paranjpe told Reuters in an interview.
He sees a return to growth in the new software and systems segment "18 to 24 months from now" when clients could look to launch new products or streamline internal systems which have come about through mergers and acquisitions.
"We are really using this next 12 to 18 months to invest in that capability, so that when growth returns and clients look at their own internal systems more rationally, we are there (and) well positioned to help them actually to execute on that."
Paranjpe, speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, declined to give a projection for revenue growth in the 2009/10 fiscal year, but said he thought Wipro could attain its target of 18 per cent revenue growth for the full 2008/09 year to March.
Wipro's profits rose 8.7 per cent in the October to December period, but it said last week that it anticipated a quarter-on-quarter decline in revenue for the January-to-March quarter.
Wipro, which counts Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Cisco among its clients, had so far not seen any impact on its business from the recent revelations of overstated profits and fictitious assets at rival Satyam Computer Services, Paranjpe said.
"So far we have not seen any fallout in terms of cancelled orders or withdrawn inquiries or anything of that sort, maybe just a higher degree of due diligence from new prospects before they close the deal," he said.
Wipro had not proactively approached any of Satyam's clients, he added.
"But some of the clients have tried to make contingency plans, saying that if they wanted to continue their business operations without Satyam being in the fray, how could we help," he said.
"We don't want the reputation of the industry to go down, so as long as clients' business operations don't suffer, broadly they will be alright."
ult of the global economic slowdown, a top executive said.
In response, Wipro plans to focus on providing operations services and helping clients cut costs, Wipro joint Chief executive Girish Paranjpe told Reuters in an interview.
He sees a return to growth in the new software and systems segment "18 to 24 months from now" when clients could look to launch new products or streamline internal systems which have come about through mergers and acquisitions.
"We are really using this next 12 to 18 months to invest in that capability, so that when growth returns and clients look at their own internal systems more rationally, we are there (and) well positioned to help them actually to execute on that."
Paranjpe, speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, declined to give a projection for revenue growth in the 2009/10 fiscal year, but said he thought Wipro could attain its target of 18 per cent revenue growth for the full 2008/09 year to March.
Wipro's profits rose 8.7 per cent in the October to December period, but it said last week that it anticipated a quarter-on-quarter decline in revenue for the January-to-March quarter.
Wipro, which counts Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Cisco among its clients, had so far not seen any impact on its business from the recent revelations of overstated profits and fictitious assets at rival Satyam Computer Services, Paranjpe said.
"So far we have not seen any fallout in terms of cancelled orders or withdrawn inquiries or anything of that sort, maybe just a higher degree of due diligence from new prospects before they close the deal," he said.
Wipro had not proactively approached any of Satyam's clients, he added.
"But some of the clients have tried to make contingency plans, saying that if they wanted to continue their business operations without Satyam being in the fray, how could we help," he said.
"We don't want the reputation of the industry to go down, so as long as clients' business operations don't suffer, broadly they will be alright."
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