GANGULY WINS ASIAN CRICKETER AWARD

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been adjudged the Asian Cricketer and Asian Batsman of the year for his fighting comeback into the Indian team at the Castrol Asian Cricket Awards here on Friday.Though Ganguly was not present at the ceremony, his wife Dona took the awards on his behalf.The Bengal left-hander also expressed his happiness on receiving the awards in a video taped message.
Sourav Ganguly has shown that with class and experience, age need not be a barrier to success. He had a fantastic year in both Tests and ODIs and it was nice to see his memorable comeback to the India team capped on Friday when he became the first recipient of the Asian Cricketer of the Year Award at the Castrol Asian Cricket Awards function held in Karachi.And on that note Ganguly cannot be faulted for his performances in 2007. It was a great year for him with 1106 runs at 61.44 in Tests and then 1240 runs at 44.28 in ODIs.

Sachin Tendulkar was named the Best ODI batsman while Gautam Gambhir grabbed the honour in Twenty20. Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara took away the best Test Batsman of the year award while compatriot Farveez Maharoof was chosen as the Best ODI Bowler. Pakistan's Umar Gul was named the Best Twenty20 Bowler.Yuvraj Singh was given an special award for hitting six sixes in the Twenty20 World Cup against England.Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, not surprisingly, took away the Best Bowler award.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MS DHONI

You are the T20 World Cup winning captain, the skipper of India's first-ever Tri-series triumph Down Under too. Now that expectations are bound to multiply, are you under more pressure as captain?

I always go by my own expectations. Of course, it's important to perform well and give your hundred percent. There will be additional responsibility on all guys after our showing in
Australia, but we should not get burdened under the weight of huge expectations.
We should know what we are capable of and what we should do to get the desired results.

Did you always lead your group of friends too before you suddenly got the reigns of Indian cricket?

I am not really a born leader. In fact, I haven't led any side before I became the Indian captain.
But I always back my instincts. When the Indian captaincy was given to me, I took it as a challenge and a privilege.

Since you never led any team before actually becoming the Indian captain, how do you manage to look so comfortable in what is a very tough job?

It is very tough and very demanding, no doubt. Cricket is a religion in India. The expectation levels are too high. We play right through the year and people want us to win every game wherever we play. I guess if you have a good side with lots of potential, it eases the pressure
on you.

Some comments have been attributed to you suggesting that you tried to create a divide between seniors and juniors. It also gave the impression that your success has gone to your head?

A lot has already been said about it, I think I am a fairly level-headed guy. My team knows it and all the seniors know that I have a lot of respect for them. It was a needless controversy.
The team is strongly united. The players love and respect each other. That's what matters to me.

But the fact that BCCI chief Sharad Pawar had to intervene and actually drive home a point by announcing that you got the job only on the recommendation of Sachin Tendulkar...

Sachin Tendulkar is my childhood hero. I watched cricket only because of him and started playing the game too because of him. So I take it as a privilege that he found me worthy enough for the job. I am also grateful to the BCCI chief for making it clear that there's no division within the team. This is like one big family.
When I started playing for India we had great role models in the team like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. I have always respected, and appreciated what every senior in the side has achieved because I know the kind of hard work and sacrifice that is needed to be successful at this level.
I have been impressed by Tendulkar's focus and devotion, Dravid's discipline, Kumble's determination, Ganguly's never-say-die attitude and Sehwag's audacity and will to dominate the bowling.

Did you ever dream of such a turnaround in your life and career?

I don't dream much. I live in reality. I plan for the future and I believe in taking one step at a
time. But, I give more than hundred per cent not just in matches but also in practice sessions. Luckily, I've been pretty successful in whatever I have touched so far.

SACHIN'S ABSENCE BRIGHTENS SOUTH AFRICA'S CHANCE IN SECOND TEST

India the top test cricket team in the world next to the mighty Australians .They are currently playing test series against South Africa.They won the toss and elected to bat in the second test. Due to the pitch and excellent bowling performances of South African bowlers they demolished the Indian top orders scoring only 76 for the first innings.This clearly shows how important the little master. With his experiences in various pitches he can lift that innings. No one forgets his innings best 154 against Australia in Sydney,the best spinning track in the world. Indian selectors should be clear to get the best match for him after his retirement.

AUSTRALIAN GROUNDS ARE NOT AN EXCEPTION FOR SACHIN

The master blaster sachin tendulkar proved that australian grounds are not an exception from his century feast. For the past 20 years of his career he made 41 centuries all over the world almost in all cricket playing nation's grounds. But till today Australian grounds remained an exception and also the 42nd century created a very big gap for sachin from the 41st as he missed this 42nd for more than 6 times in his nintees. Today will be the most memorable of one of his centuries for sachin as he made the 42nd century in SCG ( Sachin's Cricket Ground, as written in a banner by a fan) , Australia against Auatraliain the first finals of the commonwealth bank series. India comfortably won the first final with the help of the elegant 117* from the mastre blaster. Also with this century sachin ends the nervous nintees streak. The Little master once again proved that he is the DON of the Indian cricket.