I am still an ordinary boy: Ishant Sharma

With his curly long lock and standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Delhi boy Ishant first caught the public’s attention during the 2007-08 Test series in Australia, especially when he delivered bowling at a pace of 152.6 kph at Adelaide, the fastest ever bowled by an Indian. Though he veered towards serious cricket at the rather tender age of 14 and made his rapid Ranji Trophy debut at 18, Ishant got his chance to play in the big league as a replacement of another pace Prince Munaf Patel. Thereafter, he found a place in the Team India when it was touring Bangladesh in May 2007. And now, he is definitely a rock-star on the ground.

Q: How do you describe your school days?

Ishant Sharma: Whatever the best one can describe about his or her alma-mater! As I studied in Ganga International School at Hiran Kudna, Delhi, I’ll definitely term it as my second home or a temple, where I learned discipline and toughness to go ahead and lead my life. Though I was average at studies, my teachers and buddies supported me a lot at every step in every possible way. Thanks to my principal and the school management, who figured out my bowling-prowess and encouraged and promoted me. Moreover, it was not only me, but our school still has a record pool of budding talents in different sports and extracurricular activities. Many of them are excelling in their respective fields.

Q: Was there ever a family pressure against cricket?

Ishant Sharma: No. Though I come from a lower middle-class background, my parents never let me feel low. Instead they have been encouraging throughout. However like all middle-class family, they would also advise me to take study seriously. I think my family was much surer of my rising and flourishing future that whenever I asked for sports-equipments and money, they would never say No. Instead, killing their own basic needs they would complete my demands immediately.

Q: Now, as you are a successful cricketer and buck is raining over you from different quarters, what do you want to pay back or return your parents?

Ishant Sharma: Every success of mine is dedicated to my family. So, what they will ask, my reply will unarguably be ‘Yes’. By the way, no person on the earth can return the hard-earned fortune of his parents. For me, my parents top the priority chart. I feel blessed of being their son.

Q: How has your life changed from an ordinary middle class guy to a celebrity?

Ishant Sharma: I am still an ordinary boy, and satisfied with my down-to-earth status. However, it feels great when I look back to my success stairs. Earlier, I could move freely but now I’ve to think twice before venturing out, as wherever I go I get mobbed. Thanks to the well wishes of my friends, fans, the people of India and the Media or Press that I could achieve this position.

Q: Besides your family, friends, and school, to whom do you owe the credit for your success?

Ishant Sharma: Undoubtedly, my coach and guru, Shravan Kumar. Whatever I am today at the professional front, the credit goes straightly to Shravan sir, who made me technically profound in bowling and other aspects. Though he lives a low-profile life, every chapter of his coaching paid me. He is quite friendly and more like my parents. His disciplinary approach drove me to this stature.

Q: Do you believe in God and destiny?

Ishant Sharma: Certainly, yes. The Almighty power plays a paramount role in carving and designing one’s career. God is more like a support-vehicle. If you work hard with sheer dedication, he’ll definitely bail you out to your goal. I am a true God-fearing person and pray to God daily in all his forms.

Q: How much time do you spend on cricket practice daily?

Ishant Sharma: Earlier, it was 4-6 hours daily but now it depends on the schedule of the matches, tours and locations.

Q: Which have been your favourite cricket ground(s)?

Ishant Sharma: Kotla, because it is in Delhi, where I have been playing since my formative phase of cricket. Eden Gardens, as I am associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders. And the Adelaide, where my pace- attack was first noticed at a global level, which grabbed people’s attention.

Q: Who is your idol?

Ishant Sharma: Mc Grath. He is one of the best pacer in the history of cricket. It is not only his sporting skill but he is also a very nice person by heart. His perfect line and length with variations during delivery, makes him an extraordinary bowler.

Q: If not a cricketer then …?

Ishant Sharma: I never thought of this because I was in school and my timing of selection in the national squad was a bit early unlike many struggling cricketers.

Q: Which format of cricket do you like most; Test, ODI or Twenty20?

Ishant Sharma: It’s quite difficult to choose because every version has its own appeal. The only difference is that both the ODI and T20 emerged in two different eras keeping in view the taste and interest of two respective generations. T20 is super-hit because it matches the mood of today’s rocket-paced life.

Q: As a celebrity-cricketer now, how do you cope with the alleged controversies?

Ishant Sharma: After becoming famous, it’s a usual phenomenon. So, it is better to ignore them instead of taking seriously. One should focus on his priorities and I follow the same.

Q: How do you feel when cricket-pundits compare you with the speedsters like Mc Grath, Shoaib Akhtar, Bret Lee, etc.?

Ishant Sharma: It feels great but I am nothing before them. They are seasoned pacers while I am a beginner. I have a long way to go to parallel their stature.

Q: What keeps you engaged apart from cricket in off time?

Ishant Sharma: Listening to music and watching movies especially comedies and patriotic. Lagaan, Chak De India, Hera Pheri  and Munnabhai series are my all time favourite. Hanging out with friends gives me a great pleasure to share views. I am also passionate of driving and motor-biking.

Q: What are your aims and targets?

Ishant Sharma: To play as long as I can and make records for my country.

Q: Any message for upcoming players?

Ishant Sharma: Draw an objective or goal. Work hard with maximum capacity and leave rest to the God.

Akshay Kumar on Desi Boyz

Akshay Kumar gets chatty about pole dancing in his latest film and why he is not making his directorial debut anytime soon

Over the past few days, Akshay Kumar has been hopping from one promotional event to the other. Ask him if he believes that promoting a film can make or break a film, he quickly retorts, "I'd rather put my heart and soul into making a film, instead of wasting most of my year just promoting them," he says. In a free- wheeling chat, the Khiladi Kumar gets chatty about pole dancing in his latest film and why he is not making his directorial debut anytime soon.

Excerpts from the interview:
We have seen you playing such characters earlier. What made you take up 'Desi Boyz'?

Actually you haven't. When you see the film, you will realise that it is actually a first of many scenes for me, but I'm keeping all that under wraps so that I can give my audience something unfamiliar to look forward to. Our director Rohit Dawan has made sure that only subtle humour was allowed though the film is full on 'dramedy' with fresh and hot ideas. I'm so proud to be a part a film about male escorts, so it's already in a league of its own.

Then, what is different about your role in 'Desi Boyz'?

I begin the film as a bit of a carefree slob. I work as a temp so one week I'm serving behind a chicken joint, next week I'm a mall security guard. My goal in life is just to have fun with my best friend Nick and I won't let anything or anyone come between our friendship. When the recession kicks us both in the butt, we have no other choice but to turn to the oldest profession, we become male escorts. But that is not what the film is about, there's a lot of drama involved since the film is based on real circumstances.

We see you pole dancing in the promos. Did you take lessons to perfect your move?

Luckily for me, my 'Parkour Gym' is made of poles that I swing, jump, climb and play on a daily basis, so apart from having to perfect a few gyrating hip dance moves, I actually had a riot shooting this song. The innocent old me has never actually been to a bachelorette party, so performing in my first one was entertaining for sure. As for the fire breathing, that was a spontaneous last solo shot of the song where the set dada was walking around setting the pillars from props on fire, and I decided to take the flaming stick off him and make some fire of my own.  You can tell the surrounding models were as shocked as the director.
Watch: 'Subah Hone Na De'

Film promotions are getting bigger and better. We saw you and John set the stage on fire recently. Do you think marketing a film can make or break a film?

I believe it depends on the film. You'll never see me go all out for all my films. It's almost humanly impossible and I'd rather put my heart and soul into making a film, instead of wasting most of my year just promoting them.

Promotion is always a win-win situation, for both media and the film itself. Until it becomes too much, expectations do become high. Media and critics focus so much on a film that that controversies tend to get created, opinions fly high and comments are made. I think all films should be given a fair chance and audiences should be strong enough to make up their own minds about a film. Cinema is not about going to court and trying to prove your innocence, it is about entertainment.

John and your chemistry in 'Garam Masala' was appreciated a lot but surprisingly no one cast you both in a film together before this one. How have you both evolved as actors during this period?

When you have a pair like me and John, you have to have a script and a half. It is a fabulous reason to come together, other wise the purpose will be defeated. We've both waited many years to be reunited and this is a perfect situation to be joined at the hip again. John has grown not only upwards and outwards; he's also been experimental with the roles over the years. He knows how much I love shooting with him, and now we're already doing another film together 'Housefull 2'
Check out: John-Akki on fire

There seems to be a disparity between the critics and the audience. Even though critics have often thrashed your films, the audience has mostly given them a thumbs-up. Why is there a disconnect?

I feel most of the time; the difference is only about the kind of audience the film is pleasing. A lot of my kind of films tends to cater to good old masala loving fanatics, which a few of our critics are not huge fans of, which is why I think there is a clash. Most of my flops have been hugely critically acclaimed so how does one argue with great films that are loved by audiences but unappreciated by intelligent critics, or dramatic artistic films which will never do well at a box-office but get you so much recognition as an actor?It is strange but true.

After being in the industry for so long, what has been your biggest learning curve?

Learning to trust my own instinct. You can get very swayed by many people in this kind of an industry, so being able to see people at face value and remembering why they are around you is a very important lesson to learn. As glamorous as being a star may seem to be, it can be a very sad lonely place also, keep the real people around you and one has a chance at being sane after so many years.
See: Akki-Chitrangada’s hot jodi

You have always been forthcoming about your 'desi' roots. What keeps you grounded?

I keep myself grounded; I couldn't live with myself if I became too big for my boots and my roots. Plus I have the luxury of being surrounded by my family always, and considering our background, I don't think we'll ever forget where we came from. Only true Desis remain to live eat breathe from the very soil they grew up in, even if they are thousands of miles from there homes, they take their hearts & their families blessings with them.

When can we see you donning the director's hat?

The auspicious director's hat has to wait as I have no sudden urges as of now. I'm busy with my own production house.  Whatever energy I have left after acting my heart and soul out, I am putting into realizing my fathers dream of producing 'Our kind of films' under my banner 'Hariom Entertainment'. I am leaving directing for the future, when my back can't take stunts anymore and my knees become more than happy sitting at a monitor directing all day, but right now I have so much energy to perform and create so that is exactly what I am doing.

Global award for Buddh International Circuit

New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The Buddh International Circuit (BIC), which hosted India's maiden Formula One Grand Prix last month, has been awarded the 'Motorsport Facility of the Year' award at the Professional Motorsport World Expo 2011, held in Cologne, Germany.

Boris Lazaric, COO Construction, Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) received the award on behalf of JPSI, Tuesday. Baltimore Street Circuit, Mugello Circuit and Phoenix International Raceway were the other contenders.
'This is a very proud moment for us and it feels great to be acknowledged for the hard work that made the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at BIC a resounding success. I would like to congratulate my team and dedicate this award to every member who worked tirelessly in making BIC a world class racing facility,' Manoj Gaur, the Chairman of JPSI said in a statement.
Gary Anderson, a member of the PMW Expo Awards judging panel, said the BIC was an excellent circuit.

'Over the last 10 years we have seen many new F1 circuits created around the world, most of these to an excellent standard as far as the overall facility is concerned but lacking imagination when it comes to the actual circuit design. Buddh International Circuit has gone the other way and created an excellent circuit layout, which the drivers, engineers and spectators love. With adequate facilities to put on a great event, it will mature into one of the best,' he said.

Professional MotorSport World Expo is central Europe's leading trade-only motorsport exhibition.

Kallis passes Lara but South Africa stumble

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Jacques Kallis became the fourth leading run-scorer in tests as he passed 12,000 runs but South Africa ruined the party by being bowled out for 266 on the first day of the second test against Australia on Thursday.
South Africa were in a strong position thanks to half-centuries by Kallis (54), AB de Villiers (64) and Ashwell Prince (50), but they lost their way after tea as Australia took six wickets for 25 runs in 11 overs.

The home side were all out in 71 overs, having won the toss and chosen to bat at the Wanderers.
Paceman Peter Siddle claimed three for 69, while spinners Nathan Lyon and Michael Clarke took two wickets apiece as South Africa let a weakened Australian attack off the hook in perfect batting conditions.
The visitors were a man down for most of the day after seamer Shane Watson limped off with a hamstring strain after bowling just 3.5 overs.
South Africa had the bowlers at their mercy as Kallis and Hashim Amla (19) added 80 runs off just 85 balls for the third wicket and their collapse was down to loose strokeplay more than anything else.
Kallis lashed his 54 off just 41 balls before casually flicking Siddle to midwicket.
Amla fell three overs later, edging a slash off debutant Pat Cummins to second slip, before De Villiers and Prince combined to put South Africa back in control with a fifth-wicket stand of 112.
The left-handed Prince began the final-session collapse when he shimmied down the pitch and drove off-spinner Lyon to deep mid-on.
De Villiers fell five balls later as a loose pull shot skied the ball over bowler Siddle's head, Cummins doing well to run backwards and hang on to the half-chance.
Vernon Philander was trapped plumb in front of the stumps by Lyon for a duck and Mark Boucher (3) also fell to an unconvincing pull shot off Siddle.
The floodlights came on and bad light would almost certainly have intervened if Australian captain Clarke had not turned to the slow bowlers.
Clarke himself took the last two wickets - Morne Morkel for six and Imran Tahir for a duck - to claim impressive figures of two for six in four overs.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith had earlier won what seemed a valuable toss and he and opening partner Jacques Rudolph put on a first-wicket stand of 24.
Smith (11) then edged a top-class delivery from left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson to Clarke at second slip, while Rudolph scored a bright 30 before he edged a catch off Watson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Kallis played with tremendous authority and a sumptuous cover drive sent his first ball, bowled by Watson, racing to the boundary and drew him level with West Indian left-hander Brian Lara on 11,953 runs.
He then took a single off his third delivery to surpass Lara, leaving only Indians Sachin Tendulkar (15,086 in 183 tests) and Rahul Dravid (12,979 in 159 tests) and Australia's Ricky Ponting (12,495 in 155 tests) ahead of him on the run-scorers' list.
South Africa were unable to bowl a single delivery at the Australians as bad light prevented the visitors from starting their innings before the close.

India wraps up series with innings victory

Kolkata, November 17 (AP):  India dismissed the West Indies for 463 in its second innings eight minutes before tea on the fourth day after the visitors resumed the day at 195-3.

Pragyan Ojha dismissed Darren Bravo after lunch to trigger a West Indies collapse as India claimed an innings and 15-run victory in the second test on Thursday to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the three game series.


It was then left to pace bowler Umesh Yadav to help remove the tail and finish with figures of 4-80.
The West Indies batting lineup showed a new strength in its second innings as its free stroke play changed the tempo of the game even though it was always doomed to lose after being dismissed for only 153 in the first innings.
The West Indies was cruising at 401-4 at one stage before Ojha, Ashwin and Yadav claimed a pair of wickets each to pick up the last six for just 62 runs.
Bravo was the pick of the batsman and his aggression seemed to rub on to others. After making 195 against Bangladesh at Mirpur last month, Bravo brought up his second test century in 12 matches.
The 22-year-old left-hander dominated the bowling and reached his century with a four, celebrating by taking off his helmet, pumping his fist in the air and waving his bat toward the dressing room.
Bravo earlier survived a chance on 54 when Gautam Gambhir's throw from mid-off went wide of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the batsman almost at the other end.
Then on 119, he was given not out when replays showed a clear bat-pad catch taken by Gambhir at short-leg off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
His fifth-wicket partnership with Samuels made the Indian bowling look pedestrian as they plundered 132 runs off 158 deliveries before Bravo was out caught to a low catch by Rahul Dravid at slip off left-arm spinner Ojha.
Dravid also took a fine one-handed catch to his right off Ojha to dismiss Carlton Baugh for 3, before offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Samuels lbw in the next over to end West Indies' hopes of prolonging proceedings.
Captain Darren Sammy made a dashing 32 off 37 balls with one four and three sixes, but the end was always inevitable.
Earlier, Chanderpaul, seen as the visiting side's best hope of putting up a resistance, was dismissed when he seemed to be settled in for another big innings.
Chanderpaul hit six fours off 94 balls before he was dismissed by Yadav with the second new ball. Chanderpaul, resuming on 21, played-on a delivery around the off stump much to the joy of the few thousand spectators at the stadium.
The final test will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh to be divided into four parts, announces Mayawati

Lucknow, Nov 15 (ANI): With state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh a little over six months away, Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday announced that the state cabinet has approved a proposal to split the state into four regions.

Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati announced that Uttar Pradesh would be reorganised into four smaller states - Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh, Poorvanchal and Paschim Pradesh.

She further revealed that the resolution for a division of the state into four parts would be formally passed during the state assembly session that is to begin from November 21.

Poorvanchal comprises of 22 eastern districts of the state, including Gorakhpur and Balia. The current capital Lucknow would fall in Awadh Pradesh, which comprises of 14 districts.

Bundelkhand has seven districts, including Jhansi, while Paschim Pradesh would have 22 districts, comprising Meerut, Ghaziabad and Gutam Buddh Nagar among others.

Further emphasizing that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has always worked for the betterment of weaker sections of society, Mayawati said: "The Uttar Pradesh government had asked the Centre to provide more funds for development but the Prime Minister didn't respond." (ANI)

Petrol prices slashed by Rs 1.85 per litre across India

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - State-run oil refiners will cut petrol prices by about 3.2 percent from Wednesday, the first reduction since the government ended pricing controls nearly 18 months ago.
With the latest cut of 2.22 rupees a litre, a litre of petrol in Delhi will now cost 66.42 rupees.
Indian Oil Corp, the country's biggest fuel retailer, confirmed cutting petrol prices by 1.85 rupees a litre excluding local taxes.
"Basic price has been cut by 1.85 rupees litre (over 3 cents) and add a 20 percent value added tax in Delhi. It should be about 2.22 rupees a litre," a company source told Reuters.
Earlier this month, state oil retailers -- Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp -- raised petrol prices, the sixth major adjustment since June 2010.
The move, which raised the price of petrol in Delhi by 1.80 per litre, spurred public backlash and criticism from political parties within and outside the government given high inflation and a bulging fiscal deficit.
India's headline inflation was nearly unchanged in October at 9.73 percent, above the 9 percent mark for the eleventh straight month, in spite of 13 interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank over the past year and a half.
"The reduction has been possible as a result of favourable impact of the slide down both in the international prices of gasoline and in the Rupee/Dollar parity," the statement said.
The rupee dollar exchange rate came down marginally and remained more or less stable at around 49.30 rupees to a dollar in the fist fortnight of this month, it said.
"If the Rupee/Dollar parity remains at this level or moves further away, its impact would get reflected in the next pricing cycle," the IOC statement said.
The rupee has been Asia's worst performing currency this year and continued to trade at its lowest level in nearly 32 months at 50.67/68 per dollar