Waugh envisages tougher days ahead for India

The Australian skipper Steve Waugh on Friday sounded a further warning to the Indians saying not to expect any mercy from his team after they beat the hosts by ten wickets in the first Test at Mumbai. Waugh said the win at Mumbai was 'psychologically very significant'.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Waugh said "They appeared pretty down taking the field in our second innings. We had only 47 to get, but when you get them in seven overs, you know you have scored a point."

Waugh added "In that respect, I think we've made some inroads for the next Test match." The second Test is to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from March 11-15 while the third Test is scheduled to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from March 18-22.

New cricket stadium to come up in Goa

Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Saturday that the State Government of Goa is planning to set up a Rs 120 crore `Sports City of Goa' having multi-purpose facilities, including a cricket stadium of international standards at Santa Cruz.

The report said that the proposed project would be on lines of the Sports Cities at Cochin, Pune and Sydney (Australia) and its other attractions would include indoor and outdoor stadiums for football, hockey, athletics, cycling and other games along with the cricket stadium of 50,000 sitting capacity.

Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinals postponed

Press Trust of India reported on Friday that the Ranji Trophy pre- quarterfinals that were scheduled to be played from March 8-11 have been postponed because they clash with the warm-up game between the Board President's XI and the touring Australians.

Six of the seven matches will now be held from March 10-13 at Mohali (Punjab vs Rajasthan), Guwahati (Assam vs Karnataka), Pune (Maharashtra vs Railways), Chennai (Delhi vs Tamil Nadu), Baroda (Bengal vs Baroda) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh vs Hyderabad). The seventh tie between Orissa and Jammu & Kashmir will be held at Cuttack from March 11 to 13.

Meanwhile the Karnataka Cricket Association has named former Indian mediumpacer Venkatesh Prasad as skipper for the Ranji Trophy pre- quarterfinal match against Assam at Guwahati from March 10 to 14.

The team: BK Venkatesh Prasad (captain), Akhil B, Anand Yalvigi, Anil Kumar GK, Arun Kumar J, Barrington Rowland, M Dharmichand, Dodda Ganesh, Mansur Ali Khan, Mithun Beerala, Santosh Vadeyaraj, Sunil Joshi, VST Naidu (wicketkeeper) and Vijay R Bharadwaj. Coach: SMH Kirmani.

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