Indian players chart out Independence Day plans

Indian players chart out Independence Day plans
Source - in.sports.yahoo.com. Tpye the link in google.
Irfan Pathan is ready to play Independence Day quizmaster. "Accha aap batao India ka pehla pradhan mantri kaun tha? (Who was India's first prime minister?)" Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. "And now?" Dr Manmohan Singh. "Well done mate, you got both right," he says.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Independence Day memories revolve around sweets being distributed in his school, while Suresh Raina misses the kite flying sessions. Young Virat Kohli, travelling with the Indian senior side, remembers relaxed outings with his friends.

As a team, they will celebrate Independence Day. "We will have a flag-hoisting ceremony before the match," team manager Sanjay Desai says. "It will be a short ceremony though." The national anthem will be played out from one of the players' i-pods.

And while the Indian team will stand in attention during the anthem, the fans will be hoping they will be at ease once the action shifts on to the field.

IPL demand for Dammika

Dammika Prasad, who dismantled the Indian batsmen with raw pace during the Test series, couldn't find a place for himself in the one-day squad but the Sri Lankan is in high demand in South India.

The Deccan Chargers and the Bangalore Royal Challengers are fighting it out to sign up Prasad for the second season of Indian Premier League. Prasad admitted that "the two teams have shown interest in me and I am in the process of negotiation with them," but refused to dwell further on the issue.

Interestingly, both the South teams ended up at the bottom of the table in the first edition and announced their intention of shoring up their squads. India's chief tormentor, Ajantha Mendis has already been signed up by Kolkata Knight Riders last season. Sri Lanka Cricket has been at loggerheads with their players, who have forced the board to postpone their proposed England tour next year as it clashes with the second edition of IPL.

Moral of the story: Do well against India, and earn big rewards


Indian cricketers celebrate Independence Day in Colombo
Source - cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_cricketers_celebrate_Independence_Day_in_Co lombo. Type the link in google.
COLOMBO: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni raised the tri-colour as the Indian cricketers, now on a tour to Sri Lanka, celebrated the nation's 62nd Independence Day on Friday.

The cricketers joined the Independence Day celebrations ahead of their One-day warm up game against Sri Lanka Invitation XI at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium,

Dhoni recalled the sacrifices made by the people during the freedom struggle.

"While joining the independence celebrations with the people of India, we also remember all those who made sacrifices during the freedom struggles," Dhoni said during the function held at the same venue that hosted the third and final Test Match between Sri Lanka and India earlier this week.

India gained independence from the British on this day in 1947.