Karachi, Nov 8 (ANI): Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has reportedly urged the country's national team to learn a tip or two from US President-elect Barack Obama about how to focus and discipline in one's activity to register a win.

He said that Obama's win has proved that everything was possible if done with focus and discipline, and Pakistan cricketers should draw inspiration from this.

"He did it with focus and discipline and I hope the team also learn from this," Alam said and added that the world must "get a lesson from Obama's win which got an African-American into the White House. That proves anything is possible and Pakistan can take inspiration from that."

"I asked the team what the miracle of the century was, and someone rightly said it is Obama getting into the White House," the Daily Times quoted Alam as telling reporters on the sidelines of the team's two-day training camp ahead of a three-match one-day series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi. (ANI)

Kolkata, Nov 6 (ANI): As former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly plays his last test, fans at his hometown in Kolkata express dismay over his decision to retire.

The 36-year-old, left-handed batsman, Ganguly had announced at the start of the India-Australia series that it would be his last.

He was named in the squad for the first two tests despite being dropped for a premier domestic game, seen as a selection match, following a poor series in Sri Lanka in August.

Ganguly's fans, who otherwise used to celebrate cricketer's achievements were sad and gloomy as their 'hero' is playing his last match in Nagpur against Australia.

"Saurav will retire after Nagpur test it is a sad thing for me as well for all his supporters in Bengal. When Saurav used score big in his innings we used to celebrate here at this place only and today he is playing his last game so we are feeling very sad. And the saddest part is that no Bengali in India can play such excellent cricket in 50-100 years and become the captain of the team. We believe that whatever Saurav did is unforgettable for entire country," said Sunil Halder, Ganguly's fan.

Holding posters of their icon they said Sourav should not call quits as still a lot of cricket was left in him and can continue his game for the next 2-3 years.

"Saurav is a kind of person who never says anything through words to prove himself but always gives a fitting answer by his bat. He used to score good runs in his team but still he was sent out of the team. And his day will end now but we feel that he still has a lot of cricket alive within him and has a lot to give to us and to the country. He himself has accepted this as well," said Biplab Paul, another fan.

Meanwhile West Bengal Government also feels that Ganguly is like a brand ambassador of the state and can definitely help in the development and industrialization of the state.

"I don't have any plan but I will be very much pleased if he gets involved into developmental work or in any other work. That will be very much useful to us for the industrialization and development. He is an idol and icon of Bengal not only for sports but for other purposes also. His services can be utilized. He can advice us on sports development and he can advise us on industrial development," Ashok Bhattacharya, Minister for Urban Development, West Bengal.

Ganguly, a veteran of 109 test and 311 one-day internationals, faced turbulence several times in his career including his first outing in international cricket in 1992, which followed an interregnum of four years.

In 1996, he made a comeback to national team during India's tour to England where he along with Rahul Dravid made their test debut.

Ganguly, known mainly for his silken off-side drives has so far amassed 6,888 runs with 15 centuries and 34 half centuries in test matches. However, he has been more prolific in the one-day internationals with more than 11, 363 runs with 22 three-figure scores.

India's four senior batsmen are under increasing pressure ahead of the four-test series against top-ranked Australia starting in Bangalore on October 9.

A debate on their advancing ages began after India's test series defeat in Sri Lanka in August where the 'fab four' Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman fared poorly. (ANI)

Mumbai, Nov 6 (ANI): England cricket team arrived in Mumbai on Thursday for the seven-match one-day series against India.

England will be playing their first one-day match in Rajkot on November 14 and is also scheduled to play two tests in Ahmedabad and Mumbai in December.

Indian selectors named a 15-man squad for the matches at Rajkot, Indore (November 17) and Kanpur (November 20) with Murali Vijay the only new face whereas ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar has been rested for the first three matches.

The other four one-dayers will be played at Bangalore, Cuttack, Guwahati and New Delhi.

The Indian team consists of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Rudra Pratap Singh, Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay. (ANI)

London, Oct 31 (ANI): British driving sensation Lewis Hamilton has insisted that he will not crack in Sunday's world title showdown in Brazil.

The McLaren star last night admitted the pressure got to him in Sao Paulo in last year's title fight.

Hamilton, 23, needs only to finish in the top five to be sure of pipping Ferrari's Felipe Massa to the crown.

"It's quite a bit different to last year. Then, we came here and I'd had one bad race in China so it was all a bit hectic. The pressure of being at the last race was on me and perhaps it got to me. But this year I feel that it's just another race and we have come from a great race in China," The Sun quoted Hamilton, as saying.

Hamilton missed out on last year's title by one point despite going to Brazil with a seven-point lead over Kimi Raikkonen.

He was hit by gearbox trouble and finished down in seventh.

This time the Brit is seven points clear of Massa but he insisted: "I've not come here to finish down the order, but obviously I know that it is not do or die. I know I have a strong package and hopefully I can win the race." Hamilton believes Sunday's race will be a fair fight between him and Massa with no other drivers influencing the outcome.

"I believe every driver that's here is a great sportsman and we're all very competitive. I just have to trust and believe in everybody and hope that we can have a fair, straight race. That's what motor racing is all about and that's why I race, that's what makes it so exciting," he added. (ANI)