Gibson to take over as West Indies coach

Published Tue, Feb 02 10 01:25 PM

St John''s (Antigua), Feb 2 (PTI) Former right-arm pacer Ottis Gibson will take over as West Indies coach for the home series against Zimbabwe starting with the lone Twenty20 match on February 28 in Port of Spain. In an interview to CBC Radio, the West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Ernest Hilaire has confirmed that Gibson has left his job as England''s bowling coach to take up the assignment with the national team, which has been lying vacant after John Dyson''s sacking last year. "Ottis will begin his appointment from the start of the home series against Zimbabwe.

Qasim turns down Butt's request to continue stint as chief selector

Published>Tue, Feb 02 10 12:59 PM

Lahore, Feb.2 (ANI): Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned from the post after the team's 5-0 whitewash in the one-day international series against Australia, has turned down Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt's request to continue on the post.
"I am thankful to the PCB chief, but it is not possible for me to continue as chief selector," Qasim said.
Qasim had resigned from the post taking moral responsibility for Pakistan's pitiable performance both in the Test and one-day series Down Under.

Chelsea's title hopes could evaporate in less than a week: Fabregas

Published>Tue, Feb 02 10 12:11 PM

London, Feb.2 (ANI): Skipper Cesc Fabregas admits Arsenal's title dream could be over in less than a week.
Third-placed Gunners face Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday still smarting from a 3-1 thrashing at home by Manchester United.
Arsenal were thumped 3-0 by Chelsea earlier this season and Fabregas reckons it is win-or-bust at Stamford Bridge with another year of frustration looming.

SRK stands by his IPL remarks, says India a welcoming place

Published>Tue, Feb 02 10 11:19 AM

Under attack from Shiv Sena for his remarks on the IPL fiasco, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said he was not apologetic for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani players and termed the activities of the party as "undemocratic".
Standing by his comments, Shah Rukh asserted he believed that every Indian would agree that India is a "good country" and that "everyone is welcome as a guest", but at the same time said too much importance was being attached to the words of "just an actor".

Smith turns on the charm

Published>Tue, Feb 02 10 11:13 AM

The banquet hall - a sea of red, with a whiff of rich perfume dominating the air inside while Kenny G played in the background - seemed more like a venue for a wedding reception rather than the first media briefing of what has been billed as the battle for the Test championship. But that wasn't the most unsettling thing about Graeme Smith's press conference here in Nagpur on Monday.

SRK stands by his IPL remarks, says India a welcoming place

Published>Tue, Feb 02 10 11:09 AM

Under attack from Shiv Sena for his remarks on the IPL fiasco, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said he was not apologetic for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani players and termed the activities of the party as "undemocratic".

Standing by his comments, Shah Rukh asserted he believed that every Indian would agree that India is a "good country" and that "everyone is welcome as a guest", but at the same time said too much importance was being attached to the words of "just an actor".

"It makes me feel that activities like this are unhealthy, undemocratic, its insensitive but this is the world is and you can only say what you believe in and stand by it and hopefully I will have the strength to do so," Khan told reporters when asked about the Shiv Sena protests back home.

"As an Indian I'm not ashamed, guilty or unhappy about what I said neither am I sorry," he said.

Following the IPL snub, Khan who is also the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, had spoken against ignoring the Pakistani players and said he would take in cricketers from across the border if his team had an empty slot.

Shiv Sena activists reacted angrily terming it an issue of patriotism, burnt the posters of his upcoming film 'My Name is Khan,' and took their protest to his bungalow in Mumbai.

The party has threatened to not allow the screening of the film, unless the actor apologises.

"Shah Rukh should go to Pakistan if he wants to speak in favour of Pakistani players," said Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab as protesters displayed a 'ticket' from Mumbai to Pakistan.

Senior party leader Manohar Joshi said: "This is the issue of patriotism and Shah Rukh should not interfere in politics".

Far from the unfolding drama, Khan said his comments were made from the standpoint of an Indian and he believed tensions on the border should not be turned into personal hate.

"Whatever I said, which has created an issue... I said it because I am an Indian... I think that every Indian would say the same that we have a good country and that everyone is welcome as a guest," the actor, here to promote his upcoming film, said.

"Every country has tension on its borders but for that tension we can't teach our children and young people the wrong thing... X is wrong, Y is bad and C is dirty," he added.

It was a busy day for Khan and his My Name is Khan co-star Kajol in the Big Apple as they began their morning by ringing the NASDAQ bell and went into a torrent of press conferences with the Indian and international media to speak about their upcoming film.

Journalists, however, were keen to discuss the controversy brewing at home to which Khan asked why his remarks were attracting so much attention.

"I'm not a politician, I'm not a radical... I'm just an actor and I say a lot of things and many times people take it rightly or wrongly but its not to be paid so much attention to".

Source: Web Search

I''ll not take back my resignation: Qasim

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 10:10 PM

Karachi, Feb 1 (PTI) Pakistan chief selector Iqbal Qasim has refused to take back his resignation despite the cricket Board here refusing to accept it today. PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt told reporters in Lahore that he did not accepted Qasim''s resignation and he wanted him to continue until the T20 World Cup later this year. Qasim, a former Test spinner who played 50 Tests, had stepped down yesterday after Pakistan were swamped 5-0 in the one-day series by Australia. "I have no intention of taking back my resignation, my decision is final,

KCA expresses willingness to host India-Australia ODI

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 09:38 PM

Kochi, Feb 1 (PTI) The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) today expressed willingness to host one of the one-day international matches between India and Australia scheduled to be held in October if the state is alloted it. Speaking to reporters here, TC Mathew, Secretary, Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), said the Australia cricket team was scheduled to tour India in October for an ODI series and that KCA is ready to host a match if it was allotted to the state. Kochi had missed out an ODI during the India-Sri Lanka series last year as per the rotation policy of the BCCI,

Pak-Australia Perth ODI marred by controversies

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 09:34 PM

Islamabad, Feb. 1 (ANI): Sunday's ODI match between Australia and Pakistan would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. First, Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi was caught biting on a ball and then Pakistani batsman Khalid Latif was tackled to the ground by a Perth spectator.
Latif expressed deep concern about the tackling incident.
"It shouldn't be happening. It just should not be happening. It is not that big a deal to me because I am OK. I am not hurt. It was nothing too shocking, but it was still not what you want to have happening in a game of cricket," the Sydney Morning Herald Quoted him, as saying.

The Henin fan who propelled Serena to Oz Open win

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 09:24 PM

London, Feb.1 (ANI): Serena Williams takes some time to blow her fuse, but when she does, at least on court, the devastation is there for all to see.
Williams won her 12th major title on Saturday night, and credited a Justine Henin fan for her eventual 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory in the Australian Open.

Every team tampers ball: Afridi

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 08:54 PM

Karachi, Feb 1 (PTI) A defiant Shahid Afridi today made a startling allegation that every team indulges in ball-tampering even though felt he should not have done it. Banned for two Twenty20 Internationals for biting the ball during the fifth and final ODI against Australia in Perth, Afridi said ball-tampering was nothing new and that only his method was wrong. "There is no team in the world that doesn''t tamper with the ball," said Afridi in his defence. "My methods were wrong. I am embarrassed, I shouldn''t have done it.

India thump Sri Lanka in handball

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 08:30 PM

Dhaka, Feb 1 (PTI) India demolished first timers Sri Lanka 58-10 to start their handball campaign in thumping fashion at the 11th South Asian Games here today. Deepak Ahlawat (10 goals), Feroz Ahmed Khan (8), Praseed Kumar Kundhuthodiyil and Sachin Choudhary (7 each) and Siddharth Bidhuri (6) were the main scorers for India. Apart from them, Mohinder Singh Rawat and Samsher Singh netted five each while Naya Chandra scored four goals. Naveen Kumar and Parduma Singh also registered their names in the score-sheet, scoring two goals apiece while Susant Mishra found the net once against the hapless Lankans. For Sri Lanka, Nalaka scored four goals, while Pahan, Nama and Roshan managed two each. In another match, Bangladesh beat Nepal 40-18.

Source: Web Search

Dadu wins weightlifting silver in South Asian Games

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 08:20 PM

Dhaka, Feb 1 (PTI) Indian weightlifters opened their campaign with a silver medal through Mali Chandra Kant Dadu in the men''s 94kg category of the 11th South Asian Games at the National Sport Council Gymnasium Hall here today. Competing only in one category, Mali lifted 312 kgs in snatch and clean-jerk to finish behind Usman Ajmal of Pakistan, who got the gold. Usman lifted 330kg, while Sri Lanka had to settle for the bronze finishing behind India with 273kg. Earlier, hosts Bangladesh won their first gold when Hamidol Islam bagged it in the men''s 77kg category. Bangladesh had a 1-2 finish with Monoronjon Roy taking the silver. Bronze went to Mustafa Kammand of Afghanistan. Out of eight weight categories, a country can take part only in six.

Source: Web Search

Maha Governor congratulates Paes on Grand Slam win

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 08:10 PM

Mumbai, Feb 1 (PTI) Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan congratulated ace tennis player Leander Paes for winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title. In a congratulatory message to Paes, the Governor said, "the entire nation is proud of you for your spectacular win at the Australian Open Mixed Double title match. "The victory is particularly special as it is the 11th Grand Slam title won by you in your illustrated career. You are truly a warrior, who despite carrying the burden of expectations of a billion plus population of India, have always elevated your performance to win a crucial matches for the nation. "On behalf of people of Maharashtra and on my own behalf, I congratulate you on your achievement and wish you glorious success in your future career," he added.

Source: Web Search

Malik to lead Pakistan in T20 against Australia

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 07:54 PM

Lahore, Feb 1 (PTI) Beneficiary of the ball-biting episode that earned Shahid Afridi a two-match ban, former captain Shoaib Malik will lead Pakistan in Friday''s one-off Twenty20 International against Australia in Melbourne. "Malik will lead the Pakistan team in the only Twenty20 match against Australia in absence of Afridi," Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement today. Regular Twenty20 captain Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after he was caught on camera biting at the ball during the fifth and final one dayer against the Aussies in Perth. Analysts here believe the decision to revert back to Malik is a clear indication that the board might be thinking on lines of bringing him back as captain of the Test and one-day sides as well. "Younus Khan has ruled out captaining the team again, Mohammad Yousuf was a total disappointment in Australia and Shahid Afridi has done no good to his chances of becoming the permanent captain of the Test or ODI squads after the ball-tampering incident," one source in the board said. Malik was removed as captain in early 2008 on the recommendations of coach Intikhab Alam and former manager Yawar Saeed after Pakistan lost a home one-day series to Sri Lanka. Malik was then accused of not communicating well with other players and being both a loner and dictator.

Source: Web Search

Indian Fed Cup team favourite to qualify: Piperno

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 07:50 PM

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) India's Fed Cup coach Enrico Piperno feels Indian girls are the favourites to qualify for the Asian-Oceania Group-I stage in the Feb 3-6 competition at Kuala Lumpur's National Tennis Centre.

In the absence of an injured Sania Mirza, India were relegated to Asia-Oceania zone group II after losing to Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) 3-0 in the playoff last year.

But with a fit Sania back in action, Piperno says chances of India are 'extremely bright.'

'Last year Sania was battling injury problems and we missed her. Now she is back and hitting the ball well at the practice. Sania has always enjoyed team atmosphere. She looks relaxed and is here with her mother,' said Piperno, dispelling all doubts of a possible strain on Sania after her recently broken engagement.

'The team is looking good now and raring to go. I feel we are the favourites to qualify,' Piperno told IANS Monday.

India, at 43rd position, is top ranked country in the group that also has Hong Kong China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Syria. The seven teams will be divided into two pools and the winners of both pools will face each other for a place in Group I.

'We have two strong teams in Hong Kong China and Kyrgyzstan in the group. In Kyrgyzstan especially, there are lot of Russians coming to the country and playing which poses a real challenge for the Asians. Imagine, an unknown country like Kyrgyzstan had two

players in top-100 last year. But then we are likely to meet them only in the later stages of the competition,' Piperno said.

While Sania is the obvious choice for the first singles players, 19-year-old Poojashree Venkatesha, who had a good run on the ITF circuit last year, is likely to play the second singles.

'I think it is a great opportunity for Poojashree to go and prove that she can do it. I think she has the potential. As for the doubles we are trying various combinations but we are yet to finalise on one,' Piperno said.

Rushmi Chakravarthi and Sanaa Bhambri are the other two members of the team with Rohit Rajpal as non-playing captain. The draws will be made Tuesday.

Source: Web Search

Sevilla loan Ivory Coast striker Kone to Hanover

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 07:40 PM

Sevilla have agreed to loan Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone to the Bundesliga's Hanover 96 until the end of the season, the La Liga club said on their website (www.sevillafc.es) on Monday.

Kone, 26, joined Sevilla from PSV Eindhoven in 2007 for a then club record fee of 12 million euros ($16.85 million) but has struggled to make an impression. He missed most of last season with a serious knee injury.

Sevilla said Hanover did not have an option to make the move permanent.

Source: Web Search

Shot putter Om Prakash wins bronze US Indoor Meet

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 07:24 PM

Flagstaff (USA), Feb 1 (PTI) Indian shot putter Om Prakash Singh started his preparation for this year''s Commonwealth Games with a bronze medal at Mountain T''s Indoor meet here. Om Prakash, the current Asian champion, tossed the iron ball to a new indoor personal best of 19.37m. American shot putters Ryan Whiting (20.57m) and Russ Winger (19.56m) took the the first two places. Om Prakash cleared 20.02m, the third all-time best by an Indian, while winning the Inter-State championships at Chennai last year. However, he missed the best Indian mark at Indoors (19.60m) held by Vikas Gowda at Chapel Hill, USA, since 2005. PTI PM SSC

Source: Web Search

Banned Afridi invites more trouble

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 07:20 PM

Karachi, Feb 1 (IANS) After being banned for two Twenty20 Internationals for biting the seam off the ball, Pakistan's Shahid Afridi might land himself in more trouble for claiming that every team in world cricket tampered with the ball.

Sources told IANS Monday that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken note of Afridi's comments that all international teams are involved in ball-tampering and might decide to grill the experienced allrounder about it.

'There is no team in the world that doesn't tamper with the ball. My methods were wrong. I am embarrassed, I shouldn't have done it. I just wanted to win us a game but this was the wrong way to do it,' Afridi said after TV cameras caught him biting the ball during Pakistan's fifth and final One-day International against Australia in Perth Sunday night.

Under ICC rules, any attempt to change the condition of the ball through illegal means is a violation of the players' code of conduct and the offender is liable to be punished.

Afridi, who was leading Pakistan in that match because of the absence of regular captain Mohammad Yousuf, later said he was sorry for his bizzare action.

'I apologise to all and everyone involved in the match and to the fans around the world. This will never happen again,' he said.

'Being the captain, I should have been a role-model for my players which I was not, but I hope I will be forgiven.'

Afridi, 29, may have apologised but his brain snap could seriously dent his hopes of taking over as Pakistan's long-term captain.

Afridi was tipped to replace Yousuf as the new Pakistan skipper within the next few weeks but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might now have second thoughts about picking the allrounder for the challenging job.

Source: Web Search

Indian shuttlers win double gold in South Asian Games

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 06:54 PM

Tapan Mohanta Dhaka, Feb 1 (PTI) National champions Chetan Anand and Trupti Murgunde led from the front as Indian shuttlers dominated the courts in the 11th South Asian Games, winning both the men''s and women''s team gold medals at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium here today. Up against Sri Lanka in both the men''s and women''s event, India did not give their opponents any chance and romped home with an identical 3-0 scoreline. Women''s trio of Trupti, Sayali Gokhale and PC Thulasi started the proceedings for India as they earned the first gold, while Anand, RMV Guru Sai Dutt and Aditya Prakash bagged the second gold in the men''s category. Anand gave India the 1-0 lead when he prevailed over Lankan No 1 Niluka Karunaratne 21-12, 21-18. Lagging behind 9-11 at one stage, Anand pulled up his socks and pocketed the first game conceding just one more point. The strapping Indian completed the formalities in the second game as the match lasted 37 minutes. RMV Guru Sai Dutt blew away Dinuka Karunaratne 21-8, 21-18 in a battle that lasted for 33 minutes as India continued their march for the second gold in badminton. MORE PTI TAP ATK

Source: Web Search

Circumstances forced us to name Yousuf as captain: PCB chairman

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 06:50 PM

Lahore, Feb 1(ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has reiterated that circumstances prior to the tour of New Zealand had compelled the board to appoint Mohammad Yousuf as captain.

Butt said that as in the case of the Cricket Australia, they too wished to have only four captains being changed in the past 25 years, but the unpleasant developments had forced the board to change four skippers in just one year.

"It was not possible to appoint a young player to lead the Pakistan team on long, difficult tours of New Zealand and Australia. That's why we were forced to make Yousuf captain," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

"Yousuf led the national team after five long years and it was a difficult task," he added.

He also defended the appointment of three coaches - Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed, saying that they properly guided bowlers in the national team.

When asked about the poor seventh ranking of the national team in both Test and one-day cricket, Butt claimed that it was mainly because Pakistan had been playing at off-shore venues and had aced lack of cricket since last year due to security issues prevailing in the country. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

India committed to providing security to foreign players: Chidambaram

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 06:40 PM

New Delhi, Feb 01(ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said here on Monday that India is committed to providing security to players of all the countries playing in India.

Releasing his ministry's monthly report card for January, Chidambaram said: Let players from Australia, let players from Pakistan come to India,let them play in Mumbai or any other part of the country. I guarantee their security."

Chidambaram also strongly condemned the views expressed by the Shiv Sena against non-Marathi speaking people working in Mumbai.

"We reject the thesis of the Shiv Sena, we reject the thesis of the MNS. Mumbai belongs to all Indians. Indians are free to move anywhere in the country and work," Chidambaram said.

Earlier, Chidambaram had said the decision of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees not selecting any of the 17 Pakistani cricketers who had been given Indian visas for participation in the third edition of the IPL was a disservice to the game of cricket.

He had said these players were 20-20 World Champions and did not deserve to be treated this way.

He had said that any suggestion that the Indian Government had "nudged" the IPL not to select Pakistani players was not true and had no foundation. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Paes into Bollywood films now

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 06:10 PM

Kolkata, Feb 1 (PTI) Indian tennis ace Leander Paes, who won the Australian Open mixed doubles Championship yesterday, is also trying his hand at acting and has already completed part of a Bollywood film''s shooting. "Paes is into films now and could take up a career in Bollywood when he decides to hang up his racquet," Hiranmoy Chatterjee, Secretary of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) and considered close to the tennis player, told PTI today. Chatterjee said that Paes had already shot part of the film and is expected in Kolkata next month for more shooting. Paes, who is from the Beckbagan area of the metropolis and learnt his tennis lessons here, grabbed his 11th Grand Slam when partnering, Cara Black of Zimbabwe, he defeated Russia''s Ekatarina Makarova and Czechoslovakia''s Jaroslav Levinsky 7-5, 6-3 in the mixed doubles final at Melbourne. "Leander has been offered the hero''s role in the movie," Chatterjee said, but refused to divulge details about the film. "As for other details, it is for Paes or the director of the film to make public," he said. .

Source: Web Search

Dempo to clash with Mohun Bagan

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 05:54 PM

Margao, Feb 1 (PTI) Leaders Dempo will take on Kolkata giant Mohun Bagan, who would strive to shrug off the hangover of a 1-2 defeat at the hand of Salgaocar, in a 13th round I-League football match at Nehru Stadium at Fatorda tomorrow. Dempo, on the other hand, had to share the points after another Kolkata outfit East Bengal held them to a draw in the last match. Now the Goan side, which has emerged as one of the title contenders in the tournament, will desperately try to pocket full points against Bagan. "We have to compensate ourselves with a win. We did not play bad in the last match but couldn''t score also. Our opponent had lost in their last match, so it''s natural that they''ll come hard against us but we have to be prepared for that," Dempo coach Armando Colaco said. "The boys had shown tremendous spirit in maintaining a good run in the previous matches and since we''re coming at a crucial stage of the league it will be very useful to end up with a win," Colaco added. Meanwhile, Dempo have a couple of worries with winger Clifford Miranda and defender Samir Naik being the doubtful starters. With Brazilian medio Beto and Nigerian striker Ranty Martins continuing their recovery form injury, Climax Lawrence and Peter Carvalho will have to share the responsibility in the midfield. (More) PTI COR VKV DB

Source: Web Search

Major January transfers

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 05:50 PM

REUTERS - A list of major European moves in the January transfer window which closes on Monday (* denotes undisclosed).

Player Clubs Cost

Ruud van Nistelrooy Real Madrid to Hamburg SV *

Patrick Vieira Inter Milan to Manchester City *

Younes Kaboul Portsmouth to Tottenham Hotspur *

Andrea Dossena Liverpool to Napoli *

Chris Smalling** Fulham to Manchester United *

Thomas Hitzlsperger VfB Stuttgart to Lazio *

David Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan Loan

Robinho Manchester City to Santos Loan

Luca Toni Bayern Munich to AS Roma Loan

Landon Donovan Los Angeles Galaxy to Everton Loan

Eidur Gudjohnsen Monaco to Tottenham Hotspur Loan

Jo Everton to Galatasaray Loan

Yildiray Basturk VfB Stuttgart to Blackburn Rovers Loan

Amr Zaki Zamalek to Hull City Loan

Goran Pandev Unattached to Inter Milan Free

Sol Campbell Unattached to Arsenal Free

Maxi Rodriguez Atletico Madrid to Liverpool Free

** Player to join club at end of season.

Source: Web Search

I guarantee Australian, Pakistani players security in India: Chidambaram

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 05:40 PM

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Monday guaranteed 'full secu

PGA Tour money list

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 05:30 PM

REUTERS - Leading money winners on the 2010 PGA Tour on Monday (U.S. unless stated):

Murray's fans confident about his time in the sun

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 04:54 PM

London, Feb.1 (ANI): Fans of British tennis star in his hometown of Dunblane have said they are very proud of him reaching the Australian Open final, and while sad at his loss to Roger Federer, they say they are confident about him winning a Grand Slam title or titles one day.

"His time will come," said one supporter, adding "Win or lose, we're just terribly proud of him."

In truth, the game did not give Murray fans much to cheer about. Fairly rapidly, as Federer set about their local hero with a master class in clinically unbeatable tennis, any sense that this was to be Murray's day waned.

The tension then became a different kind: not in the possibility of the winning, but in the slow motion, teeth-gritted tenacity of the losing. Roars of approval at Murray's winning shots were so few and far between, that when they came some toddlers burst into tears at the noise.

"My daughter woke me up at 7.30 banging on the bedroom door," said Jaqui Walker, the mother of Chelsea, 11, who together watched the game at the Dunblane centre. "She was desperate to come and watch the game. Everyone in the school has been talking about it.

"There's a real sense of community around here. They care about Andy and they talk about him. It was lovely to be invited down here and although it's sad he was beaten he put up a great fight and I'm sure he'll be back," said another.

"Andy means such a lot to this town," said Ian Conway from Tennis Scotland, watching the game as avidly as any ordinary fan. "I've known him since he was ten, and known the Murray family for 25 years. There's a great loyalty there."

"Last summer, we were short of players for the North of Scotland Tennis team for a game in Eastbourne. I phoned Andy and said to him, 'I have an injury, get your backside down here'.

"He came and played and the next day he was sitting his driving test, and the day after that flying to America, but he still found time to phone and find out how we did. It was akin to a local non-league football team phoning up Wayne Rooney and asking him to play for them." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Flintoff's evolution from a booze cruiser to a doting father of three

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 04:48 PM

Dubai, Feb 1(ANI): England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, the swashbuckling hero of the cricket field and star of famous booze-fuelled escapades has sobered up to be a doting father of three and a devoted husband to wife Rachael.

Flintoff, the man who made a new drinking phrase - to go out and get Freddied - is now clear-eyed and smartly suited.

"I'm not that wild lad any more. I was young, I made mistakes and it was never easy to phone Rachael explaining the latest stories about me and what I'd been up to," The Mirror quoted Flintoff, as saying.

Flintoff also admits that's it his responsibilities and especially his wife, pulled him back from the brink.

"I got wrapped up in all kinds of other nonsense off the field, that was my trouble, I didn't appreciate just what you had to do to maintain your place at the top, and it took Rachael to show me. She's very driven, a very focused kind of person, and I'm a laid-back kind of bloke, so it was always interesting to hear her telling me where I was going wrong," Flintoff said.

"In other words, she would give me a b******ing, and I would listen. I would appreciate what she was saying, honestly. I'll always reflect on those years, but I've done it. In the dressing room culture Freddie Flintoff was one of the lads. Now? He's a dad and a husband," he added.

Rachael says that Flintoff was never a bad person at heart, but he was just a bit of "a rascal, still growing up."

"I never had to threaten him, I never once said, 'Carry on like this and I'm off!', our relationship was never like that. I didn't have to hand out ultimatums, I simply let nature takes its course. He's now got three young children, and every morning at 7am they're jumping on his head, shouting for Daddy to get up and play," Rachael said.

"Andrew has changed over the years, that's obvious. There's less of the Freddie about him now. But actually he's always had a quiet, mellow side, it was just that the public never saw it," she added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Now, emergency body to decide ICC's Antipodean candidate

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 04:40 PM

Sydney, Feb.1 (ANI): The search for an ICC Antipodean candidate grows more farcical by the day, according to cricket columnist Peter Roebuck.

The latest development is that Sir Rod Eddington has been asked to preside over an emergency committee formed to resolve the increasingly testy dispute between Australia and New Zealand over the selection of the candidate to act as ICC deputy chairman in July, rising to chairman in 2012.

Under ICC rules, these countries are obliged to agree on a single nomination for the position, and were supposed to produce a candidate months ago. After weeks of discussions, the talks remain deadlocked, says Roebuck.

According to usually reliable sources, Eddington, the former chief executive of British Airways and current chairman of Infrastructure Australia, has agreed to serve as the independent chair of a small group comprising two representatives from each country. In effect, he will decide the occupant of the most prestigious and important office in the game. It is an extraordinary state of affairs. His involvement is merely the latest aberration in an absurd episode, Roebuck adds.

Australia continues to push John Howard's credentials while the Kiwis argue that Sir John Anderson is the right choice. Anderson is a well respected and popular man with a lengthy and distinguished career as a servant of the game. It is difficult to find anyone in cricket with a bad word to say about him. Not that he is a pushover. Among other things, he has served as CEO of ANZ Bank and as chairman of NZ Television and involved himself in wildlife preservation. Oh yes, he has also stood as chairman of NZ Cricket and has represented his country at the ICC for years. It is a formidable CV.

He knows the innards of the game, and could hardly be better qualified for the job. As far as can be told, the only black mark against him is that he comes from the wrong country.

Howard, Roebuck says, has no such cricketing record.

The objections to the former prime minister him are not political. Except that he has more pressing matters in Adelaide, Ian McLachlan, another Liberal, has all the required credentials. He played first-class cricket and has been involved in the game all his life. Contrastingly, Howard lacks cricketing expertise.

"Australia ought to have acknowledged Anderson's qualities and backed him. Instead, it refused to budge and, as a last resort, the countries have now been forced to form an ad hoc committee in an attempt to discover a consensus candidate," Roebuck says, adding that by giving an Australian the casting vote, New Zealand has acted with the generosity missing in its counterpart.

According to Roebuck, Eddington is not a wise choice to sort out the mess.

"His career outside the game suggests that he lacks the judgment and diplomatic skills needed to meet the occasion. At least he is a cricketing man well up in the game and especially fond of watching Test matches. In his youth he played for Oxford University, where he continued his studies after graduating in Perth. A steady left-handed batsman, he was unlucky not to be awarded his blue in 1976, an oversight his captain subsequently regretted," says Roebuck.

Ever since he has steered clear of cricket administration, instead immersing himself in business, where he has been a prominent and controversial figure. His status as a cricketing outsider was part of his attraction.

In every other respect, though, his nomination appears questionable, Roebuck says.

He concludes by saying that New Zealand is entitled to feel flabbergasted by Australia's intransigence, which is well nigh untenable.

Eddington's only option is to back Anderson. (ANI)

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Paes rises; Sania, Bhupathi slip in Tennis rankings

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 04:20 PM

Newly-crowned Australian Open mixed doubles champion Leander Paes on Monday rose a rung to seventh in the ATP doubles' ranking, displacing one-time partner Mahesh Bhupathi in the latest list.

Paes has 5575 ranking points, while Bhupathi lost a spot to slip to eighth with 5015.

Paes had made the quarterfinals in the Australian Open men's doubles event with Czech Lukas Dlouhy. He clinched the mixed doubles' championship on Sunday with Zimbabwean Cara Black.

Bhupathi, on the other hand, had a forgettable outing at Melbourne Park, losing in the very first round of the men's doubles event due to a calf muscle injury.

The veteran later pulled out of the mixed doubles' event in which he was to team up with compatriot Sania Mirza.

Sania, meanwhile, also slipped down three rungs to 59th following her second-round exit from the Australian Open.

The Hyderabadi, who recently broke off her engagement with childhood friend Sohrab Mirza, however, rose five places to 33rd in the doubles' chart.

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Tennis - Men's world rankings

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 04:14 PM

REUTERS - Men's tennis world rankings on Monday (Jan. 18 rankings in brackets):

1. (1) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 11350 points

2. (3) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 8310

3. (4) Andy Murray (Britain) 7800

4. (2) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 7670

5. (5) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 6400

6. (6) Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 5290

7. (7) Andy Roddick (U.S.) 4150

8. (8) Robin Soderling (Sweden) 3375

9. (10) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 3235

10. (14) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 2970

11. (11) Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 2870

12. (9) Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 2760

13. (12) Gael Monfils (France) 2520

14. (13) Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 2445

15. (16) Tommy Robredo (Spain) 2005

16. (15) Gilles Simon (France) 1915

17. (17) Tommy Haas (Germany) 1855

18. (18) David Ferrer (Spain) 1780

19. (22) Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 1770

20. (20) Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 1770

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IPL fiasco: parliamentary panel summons PCB heads

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 04:00 PM

Islamabad, Feb 1 (IANS) A parliamentary panel has summoned officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Wednesday to explain the circumstances under which the country's players were ignored at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last week.

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports will question PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari on the IPL fiasco in which none of the 11 Pakistani players on offer found any takers.

This apart, the officials, as also Pakistani team coach Intikhab Alam, will have to explain the 0-3 loss to Australia in the Test series and the 0-5 loss in the just-concluded One-day International series.

The two Twenty20 match ban handed to stand-in captain Shahid Afridi for ball tampering in fifth ODI at Perth will also come in for discussions, with PCB director general Javed Miandad being summoned 'to know the reasons and problems which the legendary batsman (Afridi) is facing besides hurdles in PCB', Online news agency reported.

The standing committee had taken 'belligerent notice of Pakistan's pathetic defeat at the hands of Australia both in Tests and ODI's besides Pakistani superstars being ignored for the cash rich IPL', the agency added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday banned Afridi for two Twenty20 matches.

Afridi, who was leading the side in the final ODI in the absence of an injured Mohammad Yousuf, was caught by TV cameras appearing to chew on one side of the white ball, shortly before the umpires changed it at the end of the 45th over.

Afridi admitted the charge, after which match referee Ranjan Madugalle slapped the ban.

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John Terry's 'romp scoresheet' could leave Tiger Woods behind

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 03:54 PM

London, Feb 1 (ANI): English football captain John Terry is now being compared to golfer Tiger Woods after his romps with a string of secret lovers were revealed.

The married footie's name has already been linked to 10 girls, and if sources are to be believed Terry could outscore Woods with his flings.

"John Terry has a problem. He's like Tiger Woods and doesn't give a damn who he hurts. He's a sex addict and needs to take a good look at himself," the Daily Star quoted a Premier League source, as saying.

Glamour girl Alicia Douvall, 30, and promotions model Jayne Connery, 42, are among those who claim to have slept with Terry.

Model Shalimar Wimble, 36, claims he had sex with her at Wayne Bridge's mansion. He is also believed to have bedded Emma Kearney, then 31, Rebecca Ryan, then 18, Nicola Ulian, then 26, and ex-porn star Karina Clarke, then 24.

Terry has also been linked to Lianne Johnson, then 21, and is said to have romped in his Bentley with 17-year-old Jenny Barker in 2005.

Shamed golf star Woods, 34, is currently reported to have had 19 mistresses. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Meet Mike Tyson, the dancer

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 03:40 PM

London, Feb 1 (ANI): Boxer Mike Tyson has jumped from the ring to the stage to prove he can be as good with his feet as with his fists.

The 43-year-old former heavyweight champion appeared on Dancing With The Stars, Italian television's version of Strictly Come Dancing, as a special guest at the weekend, reports the Daily Express.

The pugilist, nick named Iron Mike, scored well on points with partner Elena Coniglio. (ANI)

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Hussey dethrones Dhoni from ODI batsman top spot

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 03:20 PM

Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey dethroned Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the top spot in the ICC ODI batsmen chart updated on Monday.

Hussey, whose 46-ball 40 was instrumental in Australia's win in the fifth ODI against Pakistan on Sunday in Perth, has 825 rating points, three more than Dhoni who also had a good show in the recent tri-series in Bangladesh.

Sachin Tendulkar (at seventh), who skipped the Bangladesh tri-series, and Virender Sehwag (at ninth) are the other Indian batsmen in the top 10 with 723 and 702 points respectively.

Yuvraj Singh (12th), Gautam Gambhir (19th) and Suresh Raina (20th) make it to the top 20. Bangladesh tri-series top-scorer Virat Kohli is at 21st.

Among the bowlers, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is the only Indian in the top 10 at sixth. Pacer Zaheer Khan is the next highest ranked Indian at 21st.

Meanwhile, India retained the second spot in the ODI team chart at 121 rating points, 12 adrift of leaders Australia who beat Pakistan 5-0 in the series concluded on Sunday.

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Jaffer to lead Mumbai in zonal one-day tournament

Published Mon, Feb 01 10 03:04 PM

Mumbai, Feb 1 (PTI) Wasim Jaffer will lead Mumbai in the West Zone one-day league to be held at Ahmedabad from February 10-14. The team: Wasim Jaffer (capt), Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Nayar, Ajinkya Rahane, Aditya Tare, Usman Malvi, Abhishek Raut, Dhaval Kulkarni, Sushant Marathe, Avishkar Salvi, Iqbal Abdulla, Suryakumar Yadav, Harmeet Singh. Coach: Pravin Amre.

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Wenger criticises 'naeve' Arsenal players after loss to Man U

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 02:10 PM

London, Feb 1 (ANI): Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has launched a fierce attack on his players after branding them "naive" following a devastating 3-1 defeat against Manchester United.

Wenger said it would take "something special" for them to get back into the title race after losing to bitter rivals Manchester United.

"We were naive. We were never close in our marking, and you do not win big games like that. It's difficult to accept but easy to explain: we were poor defensively and offensively, cohesion-wise, and delivered an off the mark performance completely. It's a massive disappointment for us," The Mirror quoted Wenger, as saying.

"We were poor defensively and offensively. We didn't really have much cohesion in the team. We gave them too much room. There were massive individual errors. That's why we were well beaten. We gave them too much room and were naive. We have to stick together and put in a better performance at Chelsea next Sunday," he said.

"Next Sunday, we have to deliver another (kind of) performance before we can think about winning the game. We have to deliver a completely different performance about this," Wenger said.

Arsenal was beaten by Manchester United's in-form Wayne Rooney who scored his 100th Premier League goal in a stunning man-of-the-match performance.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Rooney by calling him "unbelievable."

"I think he was the key point for us because they just couldn't handle him. Everything was played towards him, behind him or in front of him, he was on it all the time. It was really great play today," Ferguson said. (ANI)

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'Arsenal fighting to be in Premier League title hunt'

Published>Mon, Feb 01 10 01:40 PM

London, Feb 1 (ANI): Boss Arsene Wenger has confessed that Arsenal is now fighting to save their title challenge after his side lost 3-1 to Manchester United at the Emirates.

The Gunners' manager admitted the Premier League race could all be over if Arsenal surrender again against leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Wenger said: "We need to do something special now to stay in the race. Of course I'm conscious of that."

"It's difficult to accept - but easy to explain. We were poor defensively and offensively and delivered an off-the-mark performance completely," The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

"That's why we were well beaten. It's a massive blow and a massive disappointment. We gave them too much room, were naive and there were massive individual errors," he said.

Wenger lashed his side for failing to cope with most of United's stars.

He pointed out that United had taken one point from their last six games against clubs in the top four and yesterday's victory was their first away from home against a top-four team in two seasons.

But his comments contrasted with his pre-match declaration that Arsenal is a "different animal" to the one that meekly capitulated against United in last season's Champions League semi-final. (ANI)

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