IPL auction fallout: Modi 'betrayed' Pak players, says Butt

Published>Thu, Jan 21 10 01:14 PM

Lahore, Jan.21 (ANI): Accusing Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi of 'betraying' Pakistani players, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has said that he would take up the issue of the treatment meted out to the cricketers during the IPL auction with the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

"I had several discussions with Lalit on the participation of our players in the IPL this year and he had assured me they would get a chance to play in the tournament," Butt said.

Disappointed at the snub, Butt said he was surprised to see that none of Pakistani cricketers were acquired during the IPL-3's auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas. We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction. We have been trying to get in touch with the concerned authorities but with no avail. I have asked the sports minister to speak to his counterpart in India about this," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt's latest stand over the issue is in complete contrast to his earlier remarks, in which he had said that it hardly matters whether Pakistani cricketers participate in the IPL or not.

"It really does not bother us; what difference does it make to us if our players don't play in the IPL this season? They didn't play in the last season as well," Butt had said earlier. (ANI)

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IPL snub: Pak threatens to respond in 'befitting manner'

Published>Thu, Jan 21 10 12:50 PM

Angry over perceived IPL snub to its cricketers, Pakistan has threatened to respond in a "befitting manner", saying the manner in which its players were "insulted" showed that India is not serious about the peace process.

"India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us. If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pak friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons," Interior Minister Rehman Malik was quoted as saying in the TV channels.

Twenty20 champions Pakistan was stunned after none of the country's 11 players, including current Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi who had played for Deccan Chargers in the first season, were signed up during the IPL auction on Tuesday.

"The manner in which the players were "insulted" showed that India is not serious about the peace process with Pakistan," Malik claimed. Sportspersons are ambassadors of peace and India should have treated them with respect, he said, adding that Pakistan will respond in a befitting manner. Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani was also too critical of the treatment meted to the Pakistani players.

"The way India behaved with us is highly condemnable. We will give a befitting reply to them. When there is a question of Pakistan's pride we are united," he added.

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Kolkata plays host to the Royals Trophy golf

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 06:38 PM

Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS) The Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) unveiled the inaugural edition of the Vodafone Royals Trophy golf here, which will see 40 participating teams from around the world.

Initiated by the RCGC, the Vodafone Royals Trophy will bring together some of the historical Royal golfing clubs of the world on one platform as they compete for the coveted title. All the six continents were represented in the first edition.

There are many nations already in the fray to host the second edition of the tournament. RCGC has instituted the running trophy, which will travel to the respective club that plays host to this event in the future.

The Royals Trophy is a four-day event featuring some of the historical `Royal' teams from various parts of the world. Some of the clubs taking part in this tournament include the Royal Musselburgh from Scotland, which also has the distinction of being one of the first golf clubs to be bestowed with the Royal Charter.

Also in contention will be the Royal Wimbledon from England, Royal Montreal from Canada, Royal Portrush and Royal Belfast from Northern Ireland, Royal Porthcawl from Wales, Royal Colombo from Sri Lanka, Royal Adelaide from Australia, Royal Durban from South Africa and Royal Wellington from New Zealand amongst others.

The RCGC was itself established in 1829, RCGC, over the years, has played host to some of the most distinguished names and events in golf.

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Arindam tenders unconditional apology to AIFF

Deepak Jain Wed, Jan 20 10 06:10 PM

Panaji, Jan 20 (PTI) Churchill Brothers custodian Arindam Bhattacharya, who was served a show cause notice by the All India Football Federation for his off-field fervent following the Mohun Bagan match in Barasat, has tendered an unconditional apology. "I sincerely apologise for the incident and promised not to repeat it. I tendered an apology to the club management as well," Arindam wrote in his letter to the AIFF. Arindam, India''s SAFF Cup hero took everyone to surprise at the Barasat Stadium where he went up to the stand after the match and roughed up a fan, who threw a stone at his teammate Ogba Kalu. Arindam''s misbehaviour sparked off a violent reaction from the crowd, forcing the police to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. "It happened all of a sudden, it was spur of a moment and it should have not happened," Arindam wrote in the letter. PTI MCS AMA DB

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S. African thugs threaten to rob and kill Brit footie fans during World Cup

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:54 PM

London, Jan.20 (ANI): South African thugs armed with guns have gone on television and threatened to "rob and kill" England fans at this summer's World Cup.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, the thugs with stockings over their heads, warned travelling supporters they will be hunted down.

They were seen on screen brandishing and loading guns and said they were going to target innocent fans "in revenge for colonial wrongs".

And the armed louts taunted worried authorities by bragging: "We'll shoot our way out of a stand-off with police if we feel our lives are in danger."

Police are now hunting the gang and have subpoenaed two journalists on the eNews channel in a bid to discover the identities of the mob.

South Africa's police minister Nathi Mthethwa and police national commissioner Bheki Cele both condemned the TV station for allowing the thugs to go on air.

Mthethwa said: "It provides an unwanted public platform for thugs and criminals to serve to undermine South Africa's efforts to ensure a safe and secure 2010 World Cup."

Foreign Office chiefs have warned Three Lions supporters to watch their backs when they travel to watch boss Fabio Capello's men in June. (ANI)

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Scoreboard: India vs. Bangladesh, First Test, Day four

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:48 PM

Chittagong, Jan 20 (IANS) Scoreboard at the end of the fourth day's play in the first cricket Test between India and Bangladesh here Wednesday.

India: First innings 243 all out

Bangladesh: First innings 242 all out

India: Second innings

Gautam Gambhir c Shahriar Nafees b Shafiul Islam 116

Virender Sehwag c Raqibul Hasan b Shakib Al Hasan 45

Amit Mishra c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah 50

Rahul Dravid run out (Shakib Al Hasan) 24

Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Rubel Hossain 16

V.V.S. Laxman not out 69

Yuvraj Singh c Mohammad Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 25

Dinesh Karthik c Rubel Hossain b Mahmudullah 27

Zaheer Khan b Shakib Al Hasan 20

Ishant Sharma not out 7

Extras: (b-1, lb-5, w-3, nb-5) 14

Total: (For eight wickets declared in 87 overs) 413

Fall of wickets: 1-90 (Sehwag, 16.6 overs), 2-188 (Mishra, 38.4), 3-233 (Gambhir, 47.4), 4-245 (Dravid, 51.2), 5-272 (Tendulkar, 57.4), 6-313 (Yuvraj Singh, 67.3), 7-362 (Karthik, 78.3), 8-394 (Khan, 83.2)

Bowling:

Shafiul Islam 15 0 87 1

Shahadat Hossain 16 1 53 1

Rubel Hossain 15 0 94 1

Shakib Al Hasan 27 2 112 2

Mahmudullah 13 0 52 2

Mohammad Ashraful 1 0 9 0

Bangladesh second innings (target: 415 runs):

Tamim Iqbal batting 23

Imrul Kayes c Karthik b Khan 1

Shahriar Nafees c Sehwag b Sharma 21

Mohammad Ashraful batting 16

Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1) 6

Total: (For two wickets in 18 overs) 67

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Imrul Kayes, 2.3 overs), 2-47 (Shahriar Nafees, 13.5)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 8 3 34 1

S.Sreesanth 5 0 11 0

Ishant Sharma 4 1 7 1

Amit Mishra 1 0 10 0

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Marias Erasmus (South Africa)

TV umpire: Enamul Haque (Bangladesh)

Match referee: A. Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

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Westwood lands players' award ahead of Abu Dhabi challenge

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:33 PM

World number four Lee Westwood received the European Tour Players' Player of the Year award on Wednesday, the eve of his first appearance of 2010 at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The 36-year-old Briton became the second winner of the trophy that was first handed out to Ireland's Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Westwood struck a rich vein of form at the end of last year, winning the Portugal Masters and capturing the inaugural Dubai World Championship to clinch top spot in the final European money list.

"It was obviously a good year last year as I also got an award from the press writers and various other awards," he told reporters.

"But to be voted the Players' Player by the people you play with day in day out, week in week out and who know best what you go through emotionally when you are under pressure obviously means a lot."

Westwood avoided snowbound Britain this month to work on his game in Barbados.

"My goal this year is to contend in the majors again and hopefully win one of them," said the Englishman.

BRITISH OPEN

"I feel like I should have won the British Open last year but didn't so I learnt a few things from that."

Westwood finished one stroke short of the Turnberry playoff won by Stewart Cink against his fellow American Tom Watson.

"The more often you get into situations like that I feel more comfortable and I'm also getting to the stage now where I should be in that position in most majors," said Westwood.

"Winning the money list, there's not many more places to go from there other than I suppose winning it more times. But it is the majors where I can improve the most because I haven't won one and that's everybody's goal."

Westwood will play the opening two rounds in Abu Dhabi alongside Australia's Geoff Ogilvy and holder Paul Casey.

World number eight Casey was sidelined by a rib injury for more than two months last year but said he was almost back to full fitness.

"I think I'm 95 percent and there's no pain in the ribs where I tore the muscles," said the Briton.

"I actually got tired yesterday because the rough is very thick on the course this week and I don't quite have the full range of motion I'd like.

"The body has attuned itself slightly to what I did to myself last year. I am still trying to get the range of motion and breakaway so I am unable to swing a golf club like I was this time last year but it's still good enough to get it airborne," added Casey.

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Nadal eases ahead on day of domination at Australian Open

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:08 PM

Melbourne, Jan 20 (DPA) Defending champion Rafael Nadal followed Wednesday's relaxed formbook a day after a crush of 87 matches, powering past Slovak outsider Lukas Lacko 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to lead a cluster of no-stress wins at the Australian Open.

The second seed took just under two hours to advance, setting the pace for fellow top players Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez.

Nadal, who dethroned Roger Federer in last year's final, improved to 23-4 winning record at Melbourne Park.

Seventh seed Roddick, appearing fully recovered from a knee injury which ended his 2009 season early, hammered Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 while Gonzalez, seeded 11, beat Turkish qualifying lucky loser Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

Russian Evgeny Korolev also went through with minimal distraction over Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Wednesday's schedule was back to a more manageable level after officials were able to catch up after a near-rainout on Monday's opening day.

On the women's side, with temperatures warming again to summer levels following a brief cold snap down to 20 degrees Celsius, Russian third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova shrugged off a morning start as the big-match spirit helped her to a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

'I get extra motivation when I play Slams,' said the defending French Open winner and US Open champion from 2004, the first into the third round.

'It doesn't matter how bad you play, when you come to Grand Slams, it's like, you just get there, and it's special. This is what I work for, you just enjoy it so much,' Kuznetsova said.

'To play here even today the first at 11 am, there are still many people. You just have fun - this is for real.'

France's Marion Bartoli moved through easily over Czech Sandra Zahlavova 6-4, 6-4, while Belgian's power pair from the US Open - semi-finalist Yanina Wickmayer and champion Kim Clijsters - also won.

Wickmayer put out Italian 12th seed Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 and Clijsters, seeded 15th, came back from 0-3 in the second set to top Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-3.

'I feel like, I'm good enough on the day to beat my opponents,' said double Grand Slam winner Clijsters. 'It's not with my best tennis yet, but hopefully I can save that when it's really necessary.

'Today Tammy was very tricky. I was actually surprised to see she was still playing. But it's very hard to read her game.'

Britain's 83rd-ranked Elena Baltacha's win over Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-2, 7-5 duplicated her career-best showing at a major (third round Melbourne, 2005) and a similar showing at Wimbledon eight years ago.

First-round play concluded at fast rate, with four seeds sweeping ahead in quick straight sets.

Danish number four Caroline Wozniacki beat Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak for the fifth time in their past six meetings through a 6-4, 6-2 decision. Number seven Victoria Azarenka stopped Stephanie Cohen-Aloro with the loss of just two games.

It was the same dominating scoreline for Russian ninth seed Vera Zvonareva, a winner over Slovak Kristina Kucova 6-2, 6-0.

China's Li Na bet New Zealand's Marina Erakovic with a similar scoreline.

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Christine Bleakley admits she's dating Frank Lampard

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 04:41 PM

London, Jan 20 (ANI): Christine Bleakley has confirmed that she's dating Chelsea star Frank Lampard.

The popular One Show presenter made the confirmation yesterday, as she prepares to water-ski across the Channel for Sport Relief, reports The Mirror.

Christine said: "It is early days, so we are trying to be low key. But I am very happy."

While referring to skiing, she said: "I have never skied before.

I have been out at sea and it was the most exhausting thing I have done. I'm not a great swimmer so it's utterly ludicrous. But if I do it I will never be more proud of myself." (ANI)

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Roddick defends decision to skip 2010 Davis Cup campaign

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 04:29 PM

Melbourne, Jan 20 (DPA) American Andy Roddick offered no apologies Wednesday for skipping the Davis Cup campaign this season.

'I'll miss it, for sure,' the seventh seed said after reaching the third round of the Australian Open. 'It's been a big part of my career so far. I don't know if I've shut the door on as far as forever goes.'

Roddick said he made the decision late in 2009 in the midst of a recovery from injuring his knee in Shanghai, which cut his season short.

'We made the decision late last year,' said last year's Wimbledon. 'My knee was still hurt. We [he and coach Larry Stefanki] didn't think it was smart to be switching surfaces from hard to clay to hard, time zones, all that.'

The American said he's not trying to hurt his team's chances - they face Serbia away in March - but would not be changing his mind.

'I never wanted to be one of these guys who played when it was convenient,' he said. 'I feel like if you commit at the beginning of the year, then you commit. Last thing I'd want to do is have those guys go battle early in the year, then me waltz in and try to play later in the year when they've been the ones to get the team to that point.'

But Roddick said the length of the current ATP season does get on his nerves with the former number one as keen as his rivals for some kind of rational change.

He said he's all in favour of reducing the Davis Cup's annual frequency.

'We've been talking about adjustments for a long time,' he said. 'Bottom line is, until the ITF [International Tennis Federation] steps up and actually says, 'This might be better for our [Davis Cup] event,' then it's really a moot point.'

While he's not holding his breath, the American said he is optimistic that some kind of eventual compromise could be reached.

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Warne helped me join IPL, says Martyn

Deepak Jain Wed, Jan 20 10 04:25 PM

Melbourne, Jan 20 (PTI) Retired batsman Damien Martyn, one of the two Australian players sold at yesterday''s IPL auction, said it was his ex-teammate and Rajasthan Royal''s captain Shane Warne who guided him in sending his entry for the auction. The 38-year-old Martyn, who quit international cricket in 2006, was yesterday bought by the Rajasthan outfit for USD 100,000 (45.5 lakhs), giving a major boost to his seemingly finished cricket career. Another Australian, who found a place in the cash-awash tournament was one-day specialist Adam Voges, who was also picked by the Rajasthan team for USD 50,000. Martyn said that he met Warne recently in Australia and inquired about his prospects in the IPL. "We had a chat about the pros and cons and he put me on to certain people including (IPL commissioner) Lalit Modi. "I said I had to get my paperwork in order and Warnie said he might be interested, depending on which other players were available," Martyn told The Australian. That paperwork included signing out of the rebel Indian Cricket League, where Martyn had led the Ahmedabad Rockets. The right-hand batsman had attended Australia''s national cricket academy with Warne 20 years ago and they have been firm friends ever since. Other Australian players like Brad Haddin, Doug Bollinger and Phil Hughes went unsold in the auction due to uncertainty over their availability for the whole tournament, which clashes with their tour of New Zealand in March-April.

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Gerrard terms flare-up rumours as 'fantasy'

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 04:19 PM

London, Jan 20 (ANI): Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has dismissed as "fantasy" the wild rumours that he will quit the club after a flare-up with boss Rafa Benitez.

Both manager and skipper are dismayed by persistent speculation which claims the player had a furious row in the dressing room at half-time during the defeat by Reading in the FA Cup last week.

The rumours claimed Gerrard had a showdown with Benitez and coach Mauricio Pellegrino, and vowed that he would never play for Liverpool again.I've heard about a dozen versions of the same rumour and they're all as daft as each other," The Mirror quoted Gerrard, as saying.

"I'd love to know who comes up with this kind of stuff because they must have an unbelievable imagination. Nothing happened, that's an absolute fact. And if anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they're mistaken. If anything it's brought everyone even closer together because we've all had a good laugh about it.

"In the time since he's been here I've never had a problem with the manager or his staff, and certainly not at half-time in the Reading game when I was actually receiving treatment for the injury I'd picked up during the first half," Gerrard added.

Benitez too, explained that he and his skipper were laughing about the 'stupid' rumours yesterday, with the manager refusing to give them credence. (ANI)

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'Voice of Rugby' Bill McLaren dies

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 04:09 PM

London, Jan 20 (ANI): Commentator Bill McLaren, known popularly as the "voice of rugby", has died at the age of 86.

McLaren spent almost 50 years as a national broadcaster, beginning his career on BBC radio in 1953.

Tributes were flowing in from all over Scotland yesterday to McLaren.

Everybody had their individual memories of the man, two themes ran through them all: The ultimate professionalism of his commentaries in a career that spanned almost 50 years, and ability to inspire all those he came in touch with.

Players and coaches alike reminisced on Tuesday about how they would come across McLaren at training sessions in the week leading up to matches, making sure that he could recognise the players and using the time to gather the little anecdotes that would liven up his commentary.

Known as the "voice of rugby", he was honoured with an OBE, a CBE and an MBE for his services to the sport.

Until 1987, McLaren combined his broadcasting career with his role as a PE teacher, coaching several players who went on to play for Scotland.

McLaren died in hospital in his hometown of Hawick in the Scottish borders. (ANI)

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Australian Open: Somdev-Prakash advance, Bopanna-Qureshi lose

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 04:00 PM

Melbourne, Jan 20 (IANS) India's Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj fought off a stiff American challenge while Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi bowed out in the men's doubles first round at the Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park here Wednesday.

Somdev and Prakash rallied from a set down to beat American pair James Cerretani Travis Rettenmaier, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

The Indians now play the winners of the match between 11th seeds Simon Aspelin of Sweden and Australian Paul Hanley and Brazilian Marcos Daniel and Austrian Daniel Koellerer.

Bopanna and Qureshi went down to South Africa's Rik de Voest and American Scott Lipsky 6-4, 1-6, 6-7 (6).

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