Tight security for 4th India, South Africa ODI

KOLKATA (India)—Security has been boosted around the Eden Gardens stadium for Friday’s fourth one-dayer between India and South Africa to prevent any protest over local boy Saurav Ganguly’s omission from the team. “The security arrangement is fool-proof because of the talk of protests,” N.R. Babu, deputy commissioner of police, said on Thursday.
“We have made special arrangements for the players and the (Indian) coach’s safety”. Ganguly was sacked as captain and removed from the one-day squad last month following his prolonged batting slump and a damaging row with coach Greg Chappell.
However, Ganguly has retained his place in the squad to play in the first test against Sri Lanka starting on Dec. 2. Police have thrown a security cordon around former Australia captain Chappell, blamed by many local fans for Ganguly’s omission. Effigies of Chappell and chief selector Kiran More have been burnt by protesters.
Politicians and film stars in Kolkata have also criticised Ganguly’s sacking. “We are boycotting tomorrow’s match and we urge all cricket fans to do the same. The way Saurav has been removed from the team is unfair,” said Rupa Ganguly, a leading local actress.
Although Eden Gardens has a history of boorish fan behaviour, India captain Rahul Dravid was confident there would be no disruption of the match. “A few actors and politicians do not represent Bengal,” he said. “They are a small minority and I know there are millions of fans who care for cricket.
“I can tell you this because I receive a lot of my fan mails from this part of the country”. Fan violence with India on the verge of losing the 1996 World Cup semifinal against eventual champions Sri Lanka forced the game to be abandoned and the latter declared champions.
A 1999 Asian test championship game against rivals Pakistan was completed before empty stands after rioting fans were ejected by the police after the hosts slumped towards defeat. Dravid and his South African counterpart Graeme Smith were concerned about dew on the pitch during the day-night match.
“The toss will be quite important,” Smith said. “There is usually a lot of dew in Kolkata”. Both captains would hope to bowl first and avoid problems for their bowlers in the evening when it becomes tough to grip the wet ball.
“Tomorrow’s match is going to be a humdinger and a crunch game,” Smith said.—Agencies

Smith wants to create history in India

KOLKATA—Though disappointed that their winning streak had been brought to an end in Bangalore, South African skipper Graeme Smith on Thursday said his team was seeking to become the first South African squad to win a ODI series on Indian soil. “We were disappointed to lose after 20 games. But our main target is to win the series. We want to be the first South African team to win a ODI series here,” Smith said on the eve of the fourth cricket ODI at the Eden Gardens on Friday. Undeterred by India’s valiant comeback into the series at Bangalore, Smith said, “I don’t think the momentum is with India. Tomorrow’s game is a fresh call. Our confidence is still way up there. Hopefully we will be able to win the match”. The tourists, who fell just short of a world record of remaining unbeaten in maximum number of ODI matches on the trot said, “when you come that close, you want to go all the way. But record is not going to bother us too much if we can win the series”. He said winning the toss would be crucial on Friday. “The toss will be crucial. We are just going to concentrate on our game. If we can do that, we will be able to put pressure on India”. The Eden wicket, he said, looked different from that of Bangalore, where the ball turned too much and the pitch was not conducive for an ODI. “The wicket looks good. There is a little more grass than expected.—Agencies