Unstoppable Tendulkar bags another crown
By Khurram Mahmood
Little master Sachin Tendulkar, during his record innings of 175 off 141 balls in the fifth one-day international of the ongoing ODI series against Australia at Hyderabad, became the first batsman in the history to cross 17,000 runs in the shorter format of the game.

  By Hasan Junaid Iqbal

Former American tennis star and eight Grand Slams winner Andre Agassi's autobiography by the name of 'Open' -- a drug mea culpa -- is shaking the tennis world now a days.

"Open" is turned out to be very open book of real confessions in which Agassi, a son of an Armenian immigrant father, admitted that he used a drug called "crystal methamphetamine", which he believes was "speed".

"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've crossed," he confessed in his book.

"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful -- and I've never felt such energy," he wrote.

In the latest passage revealed from the book, which was published in the German newspaper Bild, Aggasi said his father gave him an unidentified little white pill and he took it.

"I swallow it and I feel good. Not much different. A bit more alert," Agassi wrote in comments, adding his brother Phillip had warned him against taking anything from their father because it was the amphetamine speed.

"Next time you go to the nationals and dad gives you pills, don't take them," Agassi quotes his brother Phill as saying. "As Philly predicted, at the national tournament in Chicago, my father gave me a pill."

The former champion said his father was violent in nature as he recalled that one day riding around with somebody his dad pulled a gun and pointed out at the driver.

"Is it cathartic? I don't know. I think it's strictly from the heart. That's the way he has operated in my view, going back to the latter portion of his playing career," said Arlen Kantarian, who ran the US Open from 2000-08. "I'm sure he feels good about getting it out on the table."

Bald truth about Agassi's childhood at last being revealed, ofcourse he was never an ordinary jock, even if you didn't know the difference between a backhand slice and a forehand volley, you knew the wild child of tennis. He hit the ball harder than anyone, he dated a procession of famous stars, and he looked like he'd just walked out from hard rock video. But all of that -- even the hair, it turns out -- was a lie. Agassi hated tennis, he wore a wig to disguise his premature baldness, and, most shockingly of all, he hid a drug habit that would cost him his number one ranking and his marriage to Brooke Shields, a Hollywood star. Agassi, now married to former women's number one tennis star Steffi Graf with whom he has two children.

"Every morning I would get up and find another piece of my identity on the pillow, in the washing sink, down the plughole," Agassi wrote of his disappearing natural hair. "I prayed -- not for victory, but that my hairpiece would not fall off."

"I asked myself; you want to wear a toupee? On the tennis court? I answered myself; what else could I do?"

"After shampooing the rug the night before the final, it started to fall apart, with the young player more worried about that disaster than what might happen on court."

With the help of his brother, the pair made repairs with Agassi taking to the clay looking like the young rebel he was meant to portray.

After an exhibition match last week in Macau against long-time rival Pete Sampras, Agassi was asked if the book contains major revelations.

"I think I had to learn a lot about myself through the process," Agassi said.

"Whatever revelations exist, you'll get to see in full glory," he added. "But the truth is, my hope is that somebody doesn't just learn more about me, what it is I've been through, but somehow through those lessons, they can learn a lot about themselves. And I think it's fair to say that they will."

The most surprising response to Agassi's disclosure came from Boris Becker, the Wimbledon darling who once, allegedly, fathered a child in an abbreviated, broom-closet encounter. "Saddened", the German said: "I'm not one to throw stones, but this is probably the most shocking thing I've heard in tennis."

Now the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has asked Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to investigate Andre Agassi's admission that he took drugs in 1997.

WADA director-general David Howman would not elaborate on what he wrote in a letter sent to the ATP, but said he hoped it "would bring a considered response".

Agassi's compatriot Venus Williams refused to become entangled in the fall-out from Andre Agassi's shock drugs confession. "I'm sure his book will sell good," said Venus. "But I can't say anything about Andre Agassi's life."

Serena Williams had some different approach when she heard the news, she said she was "shocked".

Few weeks ago Andre criticised Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal saying that the era of these two players' domination at the men's singles is almost to an end.

Now its Rafa and Fed's turn to pay back. Nadal said he was shocked when heard that Andre took drugs in 1997 but lied about the circumstances to avoid a ban. World number one Roger Federer too voiced disappointment at Andre's confession. For Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi is still a hero and he (Roddick) speaks up for him. "Andre is and always will be my idol. I will judge him on how he has treated me and how he has changed the world for the better," Roddick said.

Rest of the revelations will be revealed when book will be out in the market.

By Malik Arshed Gilani p.s.n.

The fight against terrorism continues in Pakistan. The world now also accepts that we are doing all we can towards eradicating terrorism from within our borders. Importantly there is a fast growing public opinion that 'enough is enough' and no amount of spin can term these terrorists as Muslims. With this moral high ground, the ICC and its full members need to be approached using 'charm' and logic to draw up some ground plan to revive International Cricket in Pakistan.

If this was the aim of the PCB Chairman, then it is fair to comment that India should not have been the starting point. It appears that PCB had the foresight to predict that following the visit of Madame Secretary some polite words would be forthcoming from the Indian leadership. However, as is evident from newspaper reports those feelings have not seeped down to the BCCI. Add to this the fact that our diplomatic Chairman in a meeting of the ICC had expressed his bonhomie towards a very senior official from India loudly in the vernacular to say "oye (name in shortened very familiar form) tera kee haal ay", presumably to show all his familiarity with the individual only resulted in much pique. To visit Chandigarh, even if invited, to talk to the BCCI was bound to receive the comment that we have all read in the press. It seems that the PCB led by its undeserving CEO who first brashly suggested; "We will soon play India", have started to believe their own rhetoric. Will we never learn when to politely decline an invitation or is a freebie too difficult to resist. Will we never learn that the BCCI, rightly, only cares for its own interests.

One possible plan to encourage teams to visit Pakistan could be that PCB manufacture a reason and use its good offices to invite the CEO's of Sri Lanka and South Africa or whomsoever they can convince along with an official of the ICC to visit Pakistan. Should it be necessary our CEO in one case and the Chairman in the other must travel with them to ensure that they are comfortable in taking the trip? A goodwill visit to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad with a trip to Chitral should be organised to show that travel to these places is possible without any difficulty. A well orchestrated publicity campaign should accompany this exercise.

Following this, an unofficial international event say a T20 match be planned with players from these countries mixing with players from Pakistan. All this must be done with the knowledge and blessings of the ICC. This is only one thought which no doubt the PCB can improve upon with their knowledge of the existing situation and is not presumed to be the only way forward.

It is apparent from what is stated in the press reports that the Chairman's main interest for the India visit is to make every effort to retrieve the income due from the India part of its television rights contract.

Only such high stakes could have warranted such a high risk visit which now has to be covered by the spin on it's great success. Incidentally such a tour is also of great interest to the rights buyer as it will be hugely rewarding. For the PCB to chase this money suggests visions of Pakistan accepting the military part of the KLB in spite of its wording. There must be better ways of maximising earnings other than compromising the dignity of our country.

We are presently in the UAE playing New Zealand; we have in the pipeline two tours next year in England so it is not as if we have an empty program. With our past experience in the UAE of the Australian Tour we should have learned the ropes and this visit should be much more profitable.

The Tours in England have the potential of good earnings if we ensure that we maximise our earnings. If one is to read the Draft Audit Report of the PCB by a government authority it is apparent that the rental income that should accrue to the PCB from the shops/offices around the Gaddafi Stadium is also not maximised. This is another sector that hopefully has been attended to so that PCB's liquidity is increased. The other side of the coin is to reduce the expenses of the PCB to balance the scales.

Pakistan played a brilliant match in Abu Dhabi. The team played as a unit and to its strengths. In spite of the early set backs it reached a reasonable total and then bowled well. The body language in the dressing room visible on the television was also more professional. The new manager was not in your face each time the camera covered the players which implied that he and his assistant were doing their job i.e. Managing!

It is sad that the Captain has not yet recovered his form. It is hoped that he will take comfort from the old saying that "Form is temporary, but Class is permanent". He needs to keep at his efforts and take note that he still needs to cover his back.

Email: malikgilani2002@gmail.com.

 By Khurram Mahmood

Little master Sachin Tendulkar, during his record innings of 175 off 141 balls in the fifth one-day international of the ongoing ODI series against Australia at Hyderabad, became the first batsman in the history to cross 17,000 runs in the shorter format of the game.

Tendulkar rated his innings as one of his best in his long career. Chasing a tough target of 351, Tendulkar's patient innings with Suresh Raina and Jadeja kept the Indian hopes alive while the top order failed on the other hand. At one stage he was looking to become the first batsman in one-day internationals to score double hundred, but just one bad shot not only kept him away and India were defeated by 3 runs.

So far, Tendulkar has played 435 One-day International matches in a career spanning over 19 years scoring 17,168 runs at a magnificent average of 44.5, at a strike rate of 85.81 per innings.

Tendulkar, 36, has scored 45 centuries in the one-day format besides going past the half-century mark on 91 occasions. He is the first batsmen to have scored 50 or more international hundreds. Now, Tendulkar has 87 hundreds in international cricket that include 42 tons in Test matches.

Interestingly, he failed to score his first century till his 79th One-day International, but after that didn't look back and became the highest century-maker in both forms of the game.

After Tendulkar there are only six players -- Sanath Jayasuriya (13,377), Ricky Ponting (12,286), Inzamam-ul-Haq (11,739), Sourav Ganguly (11,363), Rahul Dravid (10,765), Brian Lara (10,405) and Jacques Kallis (10,328) -- who have scored more than 10,000 runs in One-day Internationals.

When Tendulkar is on song, there is not a more majestic sight in the cricketing world. He has scored heavily on all kinds of wickets around the world. His batting is a balanced combination of timing, elegance and power. If he remains fit and keeps his form, he can create some unbeatable records in international cricket.

His nearest contestant is Sri Lanka's master blaster opener Sanath Jayasuriya, but he is around 4,000 runs behind and there is no chance for any batsman to beat Tendulkar's milestones in the near future. 

Tendulkar has suffered a series of wear and tear injuries in the last few years and recovered from a long-term tennis elbow injury to play against Pakistan last year.

High expectations from the millions of fans who do not accept anything less than a century from him the build-up puts a lot of pressure on the master batsman. No other player suffers so much from the pressure of expectations like that. Either he is in form or struggling to keep the opposition always under pressure.

Tendulkar also has the record of most runs 1,796 in the World Cup at a very high average of 59.87 including four hundreds and 13 half-centuries. His best score in the World Cup 152 not out was against Namibia in 2003.

Sachin Tendulkar, with his 12,773 runs in Test cricket also the highest run-getter in longer version of the game as well.

LEADING RUN-GETTERS IN ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS

Player     Span                Mat                Inns                NO                Runs                HS                Ave                SR                100                50

SR Tendulkar (India)    1989-2009        435                424                39                17168                186*                44.59                85.81                45                91

ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL)                1989-2009        441                429                18                13377                189                32.54                91.31                28                68

RT Ponting (Aust/ICC)                1995-2009        329                320                36                12286                164                43.26                80.63                28                73

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/Pak)                1991-2007        378                350                53                11739                137*                39.52                74.24                10                83

SC Ganguly (Asia/India)                1992-2007        311                300                23                11363                183                41.02                73.70                22                7

R Dravid (Asia/ICC/India)                1996-2009        339                313                40                10765                153                39.43                71.17                12                82

BC Lara (ICC/WI)                1990-2007        299                289                32                10405                169                40.48                79.51                19                63

JH Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA)                1996-2009        294                280                51                10328                139                45.10                71.98                16                73

Note: All statistics are updated upto 5th ODI India v Australia on Nov 5

The writer works in the art department at 'The News on Sunday' in Karachi

khurrams87@yahoo.com