Ganguly to miss second one-dayer

Sourav Ganguly, who pulled his right hamstring while fielding in the first one-dayer against Australia in Bangalore, has been rested for the second game in Kochi as a precautionary measure. The team management has informed that the injury is not serious, and that Ganguly should be available for the remainder of the series.

"An MRI scan was performed on Sourav's right hamstring this morning and it has determined no injury to the region," Niranjan Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, said in a statement. "Based on the findings, a vigorous rehab approach will be commencing immediately. On the report of team physio John Gloster and other analysis, the team management feels that Sourav will progress quickly and hence it was decided to rest him for a game."

The second one-dayer gets underway on October 2 while the third, at Hyderabad, is scheduled for October 5.

American Gandhi

Another Gandhi Jayanti will go by in a couple of days. More pious song and sentiment will be sung and wrung from it even as the world indulges in violence and bloodshed. Poor Mahatma will be turning in his grave when the UN celebrates his birthday as the "International Day of Peace and Non-violence" with a speech by Sonia Gandhi — "no relation to M.K.Gandhi," as the western media will note.

Americans love Gandhi, probably more than Brits, who lost the jewel in their crown to him and, therefore, had less reason to. President Roosevelt nagged Churchill into granting independence to India. Martin Luther King was profoundly influenced by Gandhi during the civil rights movement.

First One Day International, Bangalore: No result

The first one-day international between India and Australia in Bangalore was abandoned due to rain with the tourists in a strong position. The world champions had made 307-7 in their 50 overs and then took an early wicket to reduce India to 9-1 before the weather intervened.

Michael Clarke's career-best 130 was in vain, the 26-year-old having rebuilt the Aussies' innings after Sri Sreesanth had grabbed three wickets. That left Australia on 90-4 in the 17th over, but Clarke and Brad Haddin (69) put on 144 for the fifth wicket to change the course of the match. Clarke was finally run out off the last ball of the innings, having hit 10 fours and three sixes.

AJAY DIRECTS KAJOL IN 'U ME AUR HUM'

Ajay Devgan is known as a versatile actor who has umpteen numbers of movies to his credit and those in different roles. However, this time he will be seen as three-in-one - actor, producer as well as director. Another highlight of his forthcoming venture is that he will act along with his wife Kajol. Yes, he did act with her in his earlier production - 'Raju Chacha', too. Ajay has titled this movie as 'U, Me Aur Hum'. In this romantic film, Ajay Devgan and Kajol play lead roles with Sumeet Raghvan, Karan Khanna and Isha Sharvani. Written by Robin Bhatt, Sutanu Gupta and Akarsh Khurana, the film has dialogues by Ashwani Dheer. Vishal Bharadwaj has given music and Munna Dhiman, lyrics.

The co-producer of the film is none other than Ajay's one time very close colleague in production -- Kumar Mangat. Though the film had its Muhurt at Andheri , the first shooting schedule was flagged off on a cruise liner later. This is to recall that Ajay Devgan had directed for the first time brilliant promos of Gordhan Tanwani's 'Pyar To Hona Hi Tha' as early as 1998. Besides himself, it featured his wife Kajol, with Remo's rocking title track playing in the background.

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This had then proved that Ajay would one day direct a movie, too. However, it was only in 2007, that Ajay announced his directorial debut movie 'U, Me Aur Hum'. The second shooting schedule of ' U, Me Aur Hum' that commenced at Bombay's Filmistan studio got completed there. Interestingly, Ajay has roped in Isha Sharvani, who hasn't been in the industry for long. After debuting in Subhash Ghai's 'Kisna' she was first noticed in Ram Gopal Verma's 'Darwaza Band Rakho' . Incidentally, Isha is currently promoting her forthcoming movie 'Good Boy Bad Boy'. But, Isha is very excited to work with "the very talented Ajay and Kajol". Isha, who is a trained dancer, had rehearsed for Ajay and Kajol's Salsa number in the past. Again, she has worked with both in 'U Me Aur Hum'.

"CHAK DE"....INDIA........!!!!!!

Ten days earlier, India and Pakistan couldn't be separated in Durban. In front of a frenzied crowd at the Wanderers on Monday, they played out perhaps the best final ever seen in a major tournament. Once again, the ice-cool Misbah-ul-Haq threatened to drag Pakistan back from the brink, but the Indians just about held their nerve to clinch a five-run victory and the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.

After scrapping hard to get to 157 for 5 in the face of some tigerish bowling and fielding, India were inspired with the ball, and Pakistan appeared to be well out of contention with 54 needed from 24 balls and just three wickets in hand. But when Misbah thumped Harbhajan Singh for three sixes and Sohail Tanvir chipped in with a four-ball 12, the improbable became possible.

With Misbah on strike, Pakistan needed 13 from the final over. After a great deal of thought, Mahendra Singh Dhoni gambled on the inexperienced Joginder Sharma. When he started with a wide, Indian fans groaned, and the situation became even more desperate when Misbah pummelled a full toss miles over long-off for six. But with victory in his grasp, his judgement failed him. Moving across his stumps, he went for the scoop down to fine leg. He didn't connect cleanly, and millions on the subcontinent held their breath as Sreesanth came under the ball at short fine leg. When he held it, the stadium erupted.

The architects of the Indian triumph were the two left-armers, Rudra Pratap Singh and Irfan Pathan, both of whom scalped three wickets to scupper the chase. Singh struck in both his opening overs, having Mohammad Hafeez caught at slip and knocking Kamran Akmal's off stump out of the ground, but Imran Nazir played a blinder at the other end to keep his side ahead of the asking rate.