Indians mulling multi-million pound football league on lines of IPL

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 12:26 PM

London, Mar 19 (ANI): Indians are planning a multi-million pound football league on the lines of the mega rich Indian Premier League.

They want to launch a two-month league within three years using big international names who are at the end of their contracts.

Three well-known football dealmakers, Pini Zahavi, Chris Nathaniel and Kia Joorabchian will help establish the competition.

A number of Indians have been linked with takeovers at English Premier League clubs but will now invest at home and bring players to them.

Football's IPL is part of a wider strategy geared to bidding for the 2026 or 2030 World Cup. Moves are being made to attract top clubs for friendly cups over the next two years.

"It's a very exciting concept. If players are out of contract there will be nothing to stop them coming," The Sun quoted an Indian source, as saying.

"India saw how Major League Soccer got David Beckham. This would be on a much bigger scale," the source added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Chandigarh terror threat part reason behind Lee's return to Sydney for recovery

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 12:18 PM

Melbourne, Mar 19 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee's management has confirmed that the security environment in India played a part in his decision to return to Sydney to have his surgically repaired elbow checked for the Indian Premier League.

Lee, however intends to return to his Punjab Kings XI franchise upon receiving medical clearance from Cricket Australia.

"From a security point of view he'd prefer to be spending the time waiting in Sydney rather than Chandigarh," Lee's manager, Neil Maxwell, said.

Lee has been training in India under the guidance of former NSW physiotherapist Pat Farhart and has been in contact with CA's medical team since his retirement from Test cricket last month, The Age reports.

CA said the trip home was part of a plan to ease the fast bowler back to fitness before the final squad of 15 was named for the ICC World Twenty20, which starts next month.

Shaun Marsh, who missed the New Zealand tour with a bulging disc, is also awaiting the green light from CA to join the Kings XI. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indians mulling multi-million pound football league on lines of IPL

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 11:42 AM

London, Mar 19 (ANI): Indians are planning a multi-million pound football league on the lines of the mega rich Indian Premier League.

They want to launch a two-month league within three years using big international names who are at the end of their contracts.

Three well-known football dealmakers, Pini Zahavi, Chris Nathaniel and Kia Joorabchian will help establish the competition.

A number of Indians have been linked with takeovers at English Premier League clubs but will now invest at home and bring players to them.

Football's IPL is part of a wider strategy geared to bidding for the 2026 or 2030 World Cup. Moves are being made to attract top clubs for friendly cups over the next two years.

"It's a very exciting concept. If players are out of contract there will be nothing to stop them coming," The Sun quoted an Indian source, as saying.

"India saw how Major League Soccer got David Beckham. This would be on a much bigger scale," the source added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Nadal bounces Berdych to set up Ljubicic clash

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 11:28 AM

Rafa Nadal stayed on track for a successful title defence at the Indian Wells ATP tournament with a 6-4 7-6 victory over Czech Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The Spanish left-hander came from 3-1 down in the second-set tiebreak, winning the last three points of the match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to book a place in the last four against big-serving Ivan Ljubicic.

Croat Ljubicic, who turns 31 on Friday, earned himself an early birthday present by powering past Argentina's Juan Monaco 4-6 6-2 6-1 earlier in the day to reach the semi-finals.

Left-hander Nadal, twice champion at Indian Wells, broke Berdych twice to take the opening set in just over an hour in blustery conditions on the showpiece stadium court.

After the players traded service breaks in the seventh and eighth games of the second, the set went into a tiebreak which Nadal clinched when the Czech netted a backhand.

"It was a very important victory for me," the Spanish world number three said at courtside. "The conditions are always very nice here and it's amazing me for this feeling."

Former world number three Ljubicic unleashed 11 aces and 39 winners to wrap up victory in one hour, 47 minutes against Monaco on a hot afternoon in the California desert.

VICTORY LEAP

Ljubicic sealed the win by firing down a first serve at 138 mph that Monaco was unable to return, prompting the Croat to leap into the air and thrust his right arm skywards in celebration.

"It's a great win and a great present to have a day off just before the semi-finals," Ljubicic told reporters after reaching the last four in an ATP Tour event for the first time since his victory in Lyon in October.

"I got a phone call from my brother just after match. He said that in the Croatian time zone, I finish just a couple seconds before my birthday, so it's fantastic," he added with a broad grin.

"I played some great tennis and I felt really creative out there. Lobs, drop shots, volleys, winners, slices -- I felt I could hit the ball anywhere, you know.

"I'm playing fantastic tennis," said the Croat, who eliminated second-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic in the fourth round. "Now the key is to keep going."

Monaco broke 6ft 4in (1.93m) Ljubicic in the seventh game of the match to take the opening set but the 20th-seeded Croat then took control with a deft mix of power and creativity.

He broke the Argentine's serve twice in both the second and third sets to become the first Croat to reach the last four at Indian Wells since Goran Ivanisevic in 1996.

Source: Web Search

Oz club cricketers cleared of racial abuse charge

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 11:08 AM

Melbourne, Mar 19 (PTI) An Australian club cricket team, accused of racially abusing players of Indian descent during a match, has been cleared of the charge even though two of its members were banned for sledging. After a marathon hearing stretching over nine hours, the Geelong Cricket Association last night dismissed charges of racial abuse as "unsubstantiated". The racial abuse complaint was made by Waurn Ponds'' club against members of the Thomson club. "The hearing found two Thomson players and one Waurn Ponds player had breached the GCA''s code of conduct in relation to sledging and playing outside the spirit of the game," the ''Geelong Advertiser'' reported. "Thomson captain Michael O''Neill and teammate Morgan Cleary were banned from tday''s semi-final and received a three-match suspended sentence until the end of the 2011-12 season for breaching the players'' code of conduct. "One Waurn Ponds player, Chandranraj D. Basavaraju, was issued with a reprimand plus a two-match suspended sentence until the end of 2011-12 after being found guilty of breaching the players'' code of conduct," it added. Thomson was also slapped with with a 1000 dollars fine suspended until the end of 2011-12. The probe was launched after a written complaint from the Waurn Ponds Cricket Club on Sunday which stated that six Waurn players of Indian descent were racially abused by Thomson players in a fourth-grade qualifying final last Saturday. MORE PTI NC PM

Source: Web Search

Dhoni's 'lost' friend, fan gets his IPL moment

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 10:42 AM

The Tuesday night injury that put Mahendra Singh Dhoni out of the IPL for an estimated 10 days might have also shut out - or put back - a potentially touching cricket-field reunion.

Had the India skipper played the Chennai Super Kings's game against the Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla on Friday, there was a chance he might have run into - perhaps even locked horns with - an old friend who has bowled many overs to him, but whom he has not seen in a decade.

It's a story that Jharkhand-born right-arm off-break bowler Shashi Ranjan, now with the Daredevils, shies away from telling - the story of how he persuaded the man who was then just a dashing young Bihar player (Jharkhand Cricket Association did not exist then) with enormous potential to come to Delhi and raise his game by playing at a higher level.

As Dhoni became the toast of Indian cricket, Ranjan's career sputtered. He moved between Rajasthan and Jharkhand in first-class cricket, and between club cricket in Delhi and Worcester, where he dabbled in a bit of coaching as well.

"I came to Delhi from Bihar to practise at the National Stadium," says the 28-year-old. "Back home, I had seen Dhoni score a lot of runs and I would often ask him to come to Delhi too." Having seen the level of cricket in the capital, Ranjan's advice to Dhoni was simple: practise at the National Stadium, play on good wickets and take on better players. "If you can do as well against them, you will be noticed," he says he told Dhoni.

Dhoni took his advice. "He came and played a lot of club cricket for Delhi Blues," says Ranjan. "Senior players like (former Delhi and India bowler) Vivek Razdan and others saw him and said he had great potential."

This season, Ranjan's own career got an unexpected lease of life. Late last year, a friend urged him to go to the Bharat Nagar Sports Complex where India opener Gautam Gambhir - his former teammate at the capital's Hindu College - practises. "Though we were in the same batch at college, Gambhir did not know me well. He liked my bowling and asked me to bowl at the Delhi Ranji camp nets. I went there and got a good response from the selectors, including Hari Gidwani," says Ranjan.

Subsequently Gambhir, captain of the Daredevils, helped him land a contract with Delhi's IPL team.

"Everyone asked me where I had been... But I was very much here - I have not missed practice for even a single day in the last 10 years. Now, because the National Stadium is being renovated (for the Commonwealth Games), I practise at the Central Secretariat ground."

Ranjan learnt his craft from the great Bishan Singh Bedi. "Bedi sir is my guru, he has taught me a lot and I am fortunate that I have spent so much time with him," he says. He adds that he now wants to live up to the "faith that Gambhir has reposed in my abilities".

And Dhoni? Ranjan says he will "surprise" the India captain whenever they meet. "Maybe he knows I have got a contract, maybe he doesn't, but hopefully I will get him out..."

Source: Web Search

What's for supper? A menu fit for Super Kings

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 10:38 AM

Chennai, March 19 (IANS) You may not be a cricketer, but you can sure get a taste of what it means to be part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Go for the special menu that a restaurant here has drawn up keeping the team members' culinary preferences in mind!

From Sunday, Cappuccino - the 24-hour coffee shop at Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers - will dish out to its guests 'The Super King's World Menu'. They are the official hoteliers for the Indian Premier League (IPL) here, after all.

'The menu is made with the consent of the players,' executive chef Parveen Anand told IANS. It will contain gastronomic delights that the CSK cricketers have confessed their weakness for.

A look at the menu reveals that the CSK players like to quench their thirst with rose milk or a mango smoothie - when they are not busy devouring rivals on the field.

While it takes butter chicken with extra butter to stump team captain and wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni, foodie Mathew Hayden loves to have several helpings of prawn curry with kal dosa.

M. Muralitharan gets bowled over by steamed idiappam with chapa pulusu while Suresh Raina satiates his hunger off the field with grilled chicken sandwich.

Club sandwich and banana milkshake form all-rounder Albie Morkel's power play combo. Parthiv Patel is content with home-style dal tadka, steamed rice and jeera aloo while fast bowler L. Balaji is happy to be served pepper chicken gravy with veechu paratha.

Medium pacer Joginder Sharma gives the thumbs up to pindi channa with bhatura and right hander Subramanian Badrinath loves mutton biryani with baingan ka salan and raita.

CSK's coach Stephen Fleming likes to dig into braised lamb shanks with barbeque sauce and baguette. And guess what the '12th man' in the menu card is? None other than the thayir saadam/curd, pickles and the pappad as they go well with most other items.

And you can have all this on a platter, feeling right royal like a 'super king'. Howzzzat!

Source: Web Search

Dhoni's 'lost' friend, fan gets his IPL moment

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 10:06 AM

The Tuesday night injury that put Mahendra Singh Dhoni out of the IPL for an estimated 10 days might have also shut out - or put back - a potentially touching cricket-field reunion.

Had the India skipper played the Chennai Super Kings's game against the Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla on Friday, there was a chance he might have run into - perhaps even locked horns with - an old friend who has bowled many overs to him, but whom he has not seen in a decade.

It's a story that Jharkhand-born right-arm off-break bowler Shashi Ranjan, now with the Daredevils, shies away from telling - the story of how he persuaded the man who was then just a dashing young Bihar player (Jharkhand Cricket Association did not exist then) with enormous potential to come to Delhi and raise his game by playing at a higher level.

As Dhoni became the toast of Indian cricket, Ranjan's career sputtered. He moved between Rajasthan and Jharkhand in first-class cricket, and between club cricket in Delhi and Worcester, where he dabbled in a bit of coaching as well.

"I came to Delhi from Bihar to practise at the National Stadium," says the 28-year-old. "Back home, I had seen Dhoni score a lot of runs and I would often ask him to come to Delhi too." Having seen the level of cricket in the capital, Ranjan's advice to Dhoni was simple: practise at the National Stadium, play on good wickets and take on better players. "If you can do as well against them, you will be noticed," he says he told Dhoni.

Dhoni took his advice. "He came and played a lot of club cricket for Delhi Blues," says Ranjan. "Senior players like (former Delhi and India bowler) Vivek Razdan and others saw him and said he had great potential."

This season, Ranjan's own career got an unexpected lease of life. Late last year, a friend urged him to go to the Bharat Nagar Sports Complex where India opener Gautam Gambhir - his former teammate at the capital's Hindu College - practises. "Though we were in the same batch at college, Gambhir did not know me well. He liked my bowling and asked me to bowl at the Delhi Ranji camp nets. I went there and got a good response from the selectors, including Hari Gidwani," says Ranjan.

Subsequently Gambhir, captain of the Daredevils, helped him land a contract with Delhi's IPL team.

"Everyone asked me where I had been... But I was very much here - I have not missed practice for even a single day in the last 10 years. Now, because the National Stadium is being renovated (for the Commonwealth Games), I practise at the Central Secretariat ground."

Ranjan learnt his craft from the great Bishan Singh Bedi. "Bedi sir is my guru, he has taught me a lot and I am fortunate that I have spent so much time with him," he says. He adds that he now wants to live up to the "faith that Gambhir has reposed in my abilities".

And Dhoni? Ranjan says he will "surprise" the India captain whenever they meet. "Maybe he knows I have got a contract, maybe he doesn't, but hopefully I will get him out..."

Source: Web Search

Armstrong to take part in Circuit de la Sarthe

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 09:46 AM

Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will take part in the Circuit de la Sarthe, a four-day race in western France, organisers said on Thursday.

"Seven years after his last participation, he is back in Sarthe with the RadioShack jersey," the organisers of the April 6-9 race said on their website (www.circuitcycliste.sarthe.com).

American Armstrong, 38, will first take part in the Criterium International in Corsica on March 27 and 28 when he will face fierce rival Alberto Contador of Spain.

Source: Web Search

Monza extends F1 deal until 2016

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 09:26 AM

Fears that plans to stage a street race in Rome would threaten the future of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza eased on Thursday when the track announced it had extended its Formula One deal until 2016.

"The Italian Grand Prix will be at Monza until 2016," Claudio Vigano, the head of SIAS, the company that controls the circuit, told reporters. "The extension of the contract has been signed."

The sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said in January that an agreement had been signed to hold a grand prix in Rome in the coming years, without giving a date.

Source: Web Search

Whiskey galore for South Korea's Park

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 08:46 AM

Pernod Ricard Korea are hoping to cash in on the World Cup by combining two of South Korea's favourite things in a limited edition whiskey named after Manchester United's Park Ji-sung.

Midfielder Park, who advertised Hite beer before the 2002 World Cup finals, will be an integral member of the South Korean squad for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.

"We expect the whiskey to appeal to fans ahead of the World Cup in South Africa in June," an official at Pernod Ricard Korea told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

Distillers and brewers throughout Asia reported a boost in sales from the last World Cup finals in 2006 with fans staying up all night in bars to watch matches broadcast live from Germany.

A vintage whisky launched ahead of the 2006 World Cup by Perthshire distiller Tullibardine caused outrage in Scotland as it celebrated the 40th anniversary of their fierce rivals England winning the tournament in 1966. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Beijing; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Web Search

Jankovic and Stosur advance to last four

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 07:46 AM

Jelena Jankovic came from 2-4 down in the second set to book her place in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells WTA tournament with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Russian Alisa Kleybanova on Thursday.

The sixth-seeded Serbian ended an error-strewn match lasting one hour, 42 minutes on serve at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden when her opponent struck a backhand long.

Jankovic will next meet eighth-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur, who beat Spanish left-hander Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-3 7-6 after clinching the second-set tiebreak 9-7.

Second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki and fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland advanced on Wednesday and will play their semi-final on Friday.

World number nine Jankovic was delighted to reach the last four for the first time on this year's WTA Tour.

"I am just happy to be in the semi-finals again," she said at the courtside after pumping her right fist in celebration once the match ended. "Today was not easy."

Jankovic, a winner of 11 Tour titles, piled up 21 unforced errors in a match of wildly fluctuating quality while the Russian totalled 40.

"Kleybanova is a really tough opponent," added Jankovic. "Sometimes I think I have her on the run and then she just comes up with some unbelievable shots.

"She's a tricky player and can throw you off your rhythm at times. I just tried to stay focused, to play the best that I can under those circumstances. I was able to get through this match, so I'm really pleased."

AFTERNOON SUNSHINE

Jankovic, a semi-finalist at Indian Wells in 2008, broke Kleybanova in the third game of the match before taking the opening set in 50 minutes in early afternoon sunshine.

The second went with serve until the sixth game when Jankovic was broken after hitting a backhand long to trail 2-4.

However, the former world number one immediately broke back after the 23rd-seeded Russian twice double-faulted and Kleybanova also lost serve in the ninth.

Jankovic, who hit only seven winners in the match compared to 19 from her opponent, made no mistake when serving for a place in the last four, ending the Russian's unbeaten run of eight matches.

Kleybanova, who made her WTA Tour debut at Indian Wells aged 14 in 2004, won her first title on the circuit in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month.

"I'm really happy that I got so far this week," said the Russian, who was taken to three sets in her first three matches here. "They've been really long, tough matches for me."

Stosur, who is projected to break into the top 10 for the first time when the rankings are released on Monday, came from 1-4 down in the second set and squandered her first three match points before sealing victory.

Source: Web Search

Setback for Chandigarh Golf Club

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 06:08 AM

In a major setback to the Chandigarh Golf Club, a local court has declared null and void the membership of around 400 green card holders, who were enrolled in 2005 allegedly in violation of the rules.

Brigadier (retd) Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Sector 33 had moved the court in 2006 against the action of the Golf Club, alleged that members who were ineligible were granted the green card membership by bypassing rules and regulations. It was averred that in utter violation of provisions, the management committee on September 17, 2005, had decided to grant a one-time exemption to the children of members who are above 21 years and have no knowledge of golf. The decision, however, lacked quorum, he alleged.

Refuting the allegations, counsel for the defendant club argued, "There was no strict rule in the byelaws, which says that the consent of three-fourth majority of members should be taken to grant one-time exemption."

The club had said, "The membership of the candidates was granted and rights of the plaintiff were not infringed."

While deciding in favour of Brig (retd) Singh , the court restrained the club from showing favoritism while granting membership so that chances of the plaintiff and others were not ignored.

The court said the club failed to place on record any amended rules and regulations on the basis of which they had given the membership. "The club has given the membership by showing favour to their near and dear ones, which is illegal and unlawful and in violation of the rules and cannot sustain in the eyes of law," said advocate Mohit Sarin.

"The management of the club had thrown the bylaws to the winds to benefit themselves and their friends at expenses of those members who have been waiting for years to get membership of the club," said Sukhdev Singh.

President of the golf club Barinder Gill said he is not aware of the order and will have to look into the matter.

Source: Web Search

Fulham stun Juve, Villa hat-trick spurs Valencia

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 05:46 AM

Unfashionable Premier League side Fulham knocked favourites Juventus out of the Europa League after an astonishing 4-1 win over the Italians who finished the last 16 second-leg game with nine men on Thursday.

Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was sent off after less than half an hour for the twice European champions and three-times UEFA Cup winners, who went out despite a 3-1 first-leg lead and second minute goal at Craven Cottage.

It was the second time this season Juve have gone out of European competition with a 4-1 defeat after they lost at home to Bayern Munich in their final Champions League group match by the same score.

Prolific World Cup-bound Spain striker David Villa scored a hat-trick for Valencia in their 4-4 draw at Werder Bremen to go through on away goals as the drama continued in a competition usually derided as the poor cousin of the Champions League.

It did not stop there as Benfica scored twice in the last 15 minutes to win 2-1 at Olympique Marseille and qualify for the quarter-finals while Anderlecht beat Hamburg SV 4-3, only to lose 6-5 on aggregate.

Liverpool, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, kept their campaign alive by beating Lille 3-0 at Anfield. Captain Steven Gerrard scored a ninth-minute penalty and Fernando Torres added two more in the second half.

HARSH DISMISSAL

David Trezeguet's early opener put Juventus ahead against Fulham Craven Cottage but Bobby Zamora replied quickly and the Italians unravelled after Cannavaro was harshly dismissed for bringing down Zoltan Gera.

Gera scored either side of halftime before a brilliant chip by substitute Clint Dempsey seven minutes from time sent the London side into their first European quarter-final with a 5-4 aggregate win that ended Juve's hopes of silverware this season.

"It was a fantastic team performance. Their goalkeeper made four outstanding saves," Fulham manager Roy Hodgson told ESPN.

"Beating Juve is something special. I'm sure every one of them (Fulham fans) will remember this night for some time to come."

Valencia, held 1-1 at home by Bremen, were 2-0 ahead in 15 minutes with goals by David Villa and Juan Mata.

Werder managed 27 shots on target but every time they got on the scoresheet Villa stopped the recovery in its tracks.

Hugo Almeida pulled one back for the Germans only for Villa to score again on the stroke of halftime.

Torsten Frings, with a penalty, and Marko Marin scored twice in five minutes to make it 3-3 with nearly half an hour still to play, but Villa put Valencia ahead again almost immediately.

The Spaniards held on for a 5-5 aggregate draw despite Peru forward Claudio Pizarro's late equaliser.

LATE WINNER

Benfica, held 1-1 at home by Olympique Marseille in the first leg, went behind to a Mamadou Niang volley in the 70th minute.

But the Portuguese side deservedly levelled four minutes later when Argentine Maxi Pereira exploited a blunder by the Marseille defence.

Brazilian Alan Kardec scored a last-gasp winner for Benfica leading to confusion in which the scorer was yellow-carded for a shirtless celebration and Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who had only just come on, was dismissed for kicking Javi Garcia.

Argentine forward Sergio Aguero scored twice in a four-goal first half as Atletico Madrid drew 2-2 at Sporting to progress on away goals after a scoreless first leg.

Anderlecht's 16-year-old forward Romelo Lukaku was among the scorers in Brussels where the home side, 3-1 down from the first leg in Hamburg, fell behind but hit back to lead 4-2 until their hopes were extinguished by Mladen Petric's 75th minute strike.

Standard Liege kept Belgian interest in the competition alive after a 1-0 victory over Panathinaikos with a Dieudonne Mbokani goal completed a 4-1 aggregate win over the Greek side.

Wolfsburg completed the evening's action by scoring in the last minute of extra time with a Christian Gentner goal to beat Rubin Kazan 2-1 and win 3-2 on aggregate.

Source: Web Search

Nicklaus surprised that Woods opts to go to Masters "cold"

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 05:26 AM

Golfing great Jack Nicklaus has expressed surprise that Tiger Woods will break his five-month exile by going into next month's U.S. Masters at Augusta without playing any warm-up events.

"I fully expected Tiger to come back to play the Masters and that will be good for Augusta," said Nicklaus, who made a guest appearance at the Dar Es Salam course ahead of the Hassan II Trophy which started on Thursday.

"I am surprised he is not playing some place before that, but then Tiger is Tiger and he'll come back ready to play.

"Tiger's a phenomenal athlete but if I went to Augusta cold, I would not have been at my best," said Nicklaus, 70.

"If you remember the last time I won the Masters (1986) Seve (Ballesteros) went to that Masters not having played very much golf. That translated to me as that when he came down the stretch, Seve was not going to be as tough as he would be.

"So when he hit the ball into the water at 15 there was a type of swing you would expect from somebody who wasn't sharp.

"When you're sharp that doesn't happen. When you're not sharp those kind of things happen and being sharp is being tournament-tested on a recent basis.

"That would be the only negative for Tiger in that he would not be tournament-tested. But as a golfer he will be fine."

Nicklaus hosted a clinic on the Dar Es Salam course with 1985 European Ryder Cup-winning captain Tony Jacklin.

Their presence brought the range to a standstill with many competitors, including Irish players Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke and Gareth Maybin, breaking from their practice to pick up tips from the pair.

Jacklin echoed Nicklaus's remarks about Woods, who announced in December that he was taking an indefinite break from the game to save his marriage after revelations emerged about his repeated infidelity.

"I'm surprised he's not getting his feet wet somewhere else," Jacklin said. "I am going to be as fascinated as everyone else to see what happens. The Masters will have the biggest TV audience it's ever had and, like everyone else, I will be watching with anticipation."

Nicklaus said he believed that his record of 18 Major triumphs would eventually be broken by Woods.

"Yes, I still expect Tiger to go past my record," he said. "His chances of doing that are quite good -- he has five more Majors to win to break my record.

"He's still the best out there so we'll just have to wait and see."

Source: Web Search

IPL III viewership on upswing, rises 35% on Day-1

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 02:36 AM

The opening day of the Indian Premier League's (IPL) third season saw a jump of 35% in viewership compared to last year when the tournament was played in South Africa. On an average, about 4.26 crore viewers were glued into to their TV sets on the first day of IPL III, as per TAM Media, the leading TV measurement agency. TAM has released the rating numbers on all-India basis.

However, for the opening match there is a slight increase in television ratings from last year. Through cable and satellite homes (CS 4+ year) it stood at 5.9 and from the digital homes services (Digital 4+ years), it was 5.1.

TAM had initially released the data on March 16 in which they recorded feeds only from the six metros namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahmedabad. There too IPL-III was a clear winner.

IPL-III's second day, second match recorded 4.16 crore viewers tuning into Sony Entertainment Television to see the match. The number is 84% higher than last year.

The second match on Day 2 between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils recorded a rating of 5.4 (CS 4+ years) and 7.2 (Digital 4+ years). Last year, the second match on Day 2 recorded 4.7 and 6.1 for both the panels respectively, In IPL-I, the numbers were far below from this year. On an average, 2.6 crore viewers (CS 4+ years) tuned into the channel to watch the matches on the second day, whereas IPL-II had a number of 2.25 crore (CS 4+ years).

Source: Web Search

IPL Scoreboard: Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Rajasthan Royals

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 01:26 AM

Bangalore, March 19 (IANS) Scoreboard of the Indian Premier League match between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Rajasthan Royals.

Rajasthan Royals

Naman Ojha c Uthappa b Kallis 16

Michael Lumb st Boucher b Kumble 10

Damien Martyn b Kumar 19

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala b Kallis 5

Yusuf Pathan run out (Kohli) 26

P Dogra b Kumar 3

Sumit Narwal c Pandey b Kumar 0

Shane Warne b Kumble 4

Morne Morkel st Boucher b Kumble 2

Munaf Patel run out (Dravid/Boucher) 0

Siddharth Trivedi not out 0

Extras (lb 2, w 4, nb 1) 7

Total (all out in 19.5 overs) 92

Fall of wickets 1-27 (Ojha, 5.1 overs), 2-31 (Lumb, 6.2), 3-38 (Jhunjhunwala, 7.5), 4-75 (Pathan, 14.1), 5-85 (Martyn, 16.2), 6-85 (Narwal, 16.3), 7-85 (Dogra, 16.4), 8-91 (Warne, 19.1), 9-92 (Morkel, 19.4), 10-92 (Patel, 19.5)

Bowling:

Praveen Kumar 4 0 18 3

Dale Steyn 4 0 18 0

R Vinay Kumar 4 0 25 0

Jacques Kallis 4 0 20 2

Anil Kumble 3.5 0 9 3

Royal Challengers

Manish Pandey not out 42

Jacques Kallis not out 44

Extras (w 7) 7

Total (for no loss in 10.4 overs) 93

Bowling:

Munaf Patel 3 0 23 0

Morne Morkel 3 0 34 0

Shane Warne 2 0 12 0

Sumit Narwal 2.4 0 24 0

Source: Web Search

Royal Challengers thump Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 12:52 AM

Bangalore, March 18 (IANS) Bangalore Royal Challengers scored a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here Thursday night.

A hat-trick by medium-pacer Praveen Kumar and a three-wicket haul by skipper Anil Kumble enabled the home team to dismiss Rajasthan for 92 runs, and then the Bangalore openers Manish Pandey (42) and man-of-the-Match Jacques Kallis (44) knocked off the runs without being separated.

Yousuf Pathan top-scored for Royals with 26 and Praveen's three-in-a-row cost him 18 runs off four overs, and Kumble bowled a ball less to claim three wickets conceding only nine runs. Kallis got two wickets for 20.

Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 92 (Yousuf Pathan 26, Praveen Kumar 3 for 18, Anil Kumble 3 for 9, Jacques Kallis 2 for 20), Royal Challengers 93 for no loss (Manish Pandey 42 not out, Jacques Kallis 44 not out).

--Indo-Asian news Service

vs/rn

Source: Web Search

Dougherty eagle helps him to first round lead in Morocco

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 12:46 AM

Britain's Nick Dougherty shot an eagle and seven birdies on his way to a seven-under-par 66 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Hassan II Trophy in Rabat on Thursday.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Italian Francesco Molinari, playing on the blue course at Morocco's Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, were among six players tied on six under.

"It was a little bit of a battle on the front nine," Dougherty, who played the red course, was quoted as saying on the European Tour website (www.europeantour.com).

"I have been struggling a little bit with my game. Thomas Bjorn gave me a little bit of help on the range yesterday which meant the world to me and it's a work in progress.

"I played some really good stuff today and my short game was great in general. So I'm very pleased with the score but there's still a bit of work to do on my game," added the Englishman who blotted his card with bogeys at the fifth and seventh holes before eagling the par-five 10th.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul McGinley was three over for the round in his first event since a knee operation at the end of last year.

The Hassan II Trophy is making its debut on the European Tour. The opening two rounds are a pro-am on the red and blue courses. The tournament then continues with professionals only on the red course.

Source: Web Search

Royal Challengers thump Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets

Published>Fri, Mar 19 10 12:16 AM

Bangalore, March 18 (IANS) Bangalore Royal Challengers scored a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here Thursday night.

A hat-trick by medium-pacer Praveen Kumar and a three-wicket haul by skipper Anil Kumble enabled the home team to dismiss Rajasthan for 92 runs, and then the Bangalore openers Manish Pandey (42) and man-of-the-Match Jacques Kallis (44) knocked off the runs without being separated.

Yousuf Pathan top-scored for Royals with 26 and Praveen's three-in-a-row cost him 18 runs off four overs, and Kumble bowled a ball less to claim three wickets conceding only nine runs. Kallis got two wickets for 20.

Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 92 (Yousuf Pathan 26, Praveen Kumar 3 for 18, Anil Kumble 3 for 9, Jacques Kallis 2 for 20), Royal Challengers 93 for no loss (Manish Pandey 42 not out, Jacques Kallis 44 not out).

--Indo-Asian news Service

vs/rn

Source: Web Search

Russia's deputy sports minister quits over Olympic flop

Published Fri, Mar 19 10 12:10 AM

Gennady Alyoshin has quit as Russia's deputy sports minister, the ministry said on Thursday.

Alyoshin, responsible for elite and recreational sports, became the second high-ranking official to quit after Russia's dismal showing at last month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Leonid Tyagachyov resigned as president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on March 3, two days after President Dmitry Medvedev ordered top sports officials to quit or be fired. The ROC's executive board will meet next week to discuss Tyagachyov's successor.

Russia, a traditional winter sports superpower, had its worst showing in Olympic competition, winning 15 medals but only three gold.

The future of long-serving Russian figure skating chief Valentin Piseyev was also thrown into doubt on Thursday when the sport's governing body voted to hold elections in June.

In Vancouver, Russia finished out of the medals in the Olympic pairs competition for the first time since 1964. Former men's champion Yevgeny Plushenko was also highly critical of Piseyev for his lack of support, after finishing second behind American Evan Lysacek.

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, however, said he would stay in his job and vowed to improve Russia's fortunes in 2014 when the country hosts the next Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Source: Web Search

Indian archers bag 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze medals

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 11:16 PM

Kolkata, March 18 (IANS) India had a rich haul of four gold, two silver and two bronze medals on the third day of the four-day second Asian archery Grand Prix at Bangkok Thursday.

Rahul Banerjee and Deepika Kumari won the individual gold medals in the recurve section defeating Nader Ghadam Manoochehlrimo (Iran) 106-102 and Hee-jung Kim (Korea) 106-104 respectively in the final, according to information reaching here.

Former World Junior champion Palton Hansda won the men's compound gold medal overcoming compatriot C. Srither in the tie-breaker after the two tied at 115-115. The tie was resolved in the third shot after both hit 10 and 9 in the first two rounds. In the third, Hansda shot a nine as against Srither's 8.

India annexed the mixed recurve team gold medal beating Chinese Taipei also in tie-breaker. The two teams tied at 148-148. Both the teams tied again after two rounds at 18 and 19 points each but in the third round, the Indian duo shot 19 to Chinese Taipei's 18.

The other silver medal came India's way in the mixed compound team event and the two bronze medals were won by Ritul Chatterjee (compound men) and Gagandeep Bawa (compound women).

Having qualified as the top seed, Mangal Singh Champia, disappointingly lost in the pre-quarterfinals and Jayanta Talukdar went out in quarterfinals. Tarundeep Rai lost in the second round.

Dola Banerjee and L. Bombayla Devi stumbled in the quarterfinals of the women's recurve section and Rimil Buriuly was ousted in the pre-quarterfinals.

Jayantilal Ninamo was eliminated in the quarterfinals by compatriot Hansda while national champion Srither picked up the silver and Chatterjee the bronze medal in the men's compound section.

In the women's section, Bheigyabati Chanu, Jhano Hansdah and Srikonda Jayalakshmi failed to advance to semifinals.

All the four Indian teams are in the fray in the team championship to be played Friday.

Source: Web Search

Athlete killed in road accident

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 10:56 PM

Azamgarh, Mar 18 (PTI) A national-level athlete, Sanjiv Kumar Singh, was killed while three others were injured in a road accident here today. Police said Sanjiv was on his way to Gorakhpur from Allahabad in a bus when it collided with a stationary truck near Mohammadpur, killing the athlete. The injured, including Sanjiv'' colleague in the Allahabad Sports College, were rushed to the hospital where their condition was stated to be serious, police said. According to Rustam Khan, coach of the deceased, Sanjiv had participated in national level competitions and won seven medals in shot-put between 2003 to 2009.

Source: Web Search

F1's Button sees plenty of room for improvement

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 10:46 PM

Formula One champion Jenson Button says he can see plenty of room for improvement at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix after a disappointing debut with McLaren.

Speaking at the launch of McLaren's new supercar on Thursday, the Briton said he and team mate Lewis Hamilton had sat down with engineers at the factory this week to pinpoint what went wrong at the Bahrain season opener.

"Looking at it now, there are a few things that we probably would have done differently over the weekend and there's a lot of room for improvement with the car," said the 30-year-old before heading off for a final session in the team's race simulator.

"It was really tricky getting the balance right (in Bahrain) but I think with what we've learned from that weekend, and what we've talked about in the meeting on Tuesday, there are a lot of areas where we see we can improve for the next race."

Button, champion with Brawn last year, finished seventh in the dull Bahrain season-opener on Sunday. The second round of the championship, in Melbourne, is on March 28.

Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, was third in Bahrain after Red Bull's early leader Sebastian Vettel suffered a spark plug problem.

"It didn't go as well as I would have liked, the actual finish position, but over the weekend I felt that we all worked very well together," said Button.

Button said Melbourne, a street circuit where he won last year in what was then the season opener, would suit McLaren better than Sakhir's desert layout.

Hamilton, who had a difficult start to last season in an underperforming McLaren, agreed.

"You would not believe how much we've learned from just that one race weekend," he said of Bahrain.

"We had a meeting on Tuesday and we literally just drilled into the engineers to really dissect everything...I think we will be in a better position in the next race as our car should suit the corners better."

Source: Web Search

Umar''s injury was not fake in Australia: Raisbeck

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 10:42 PM

Karachi, Mar 18 (PTI) Young Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal had a genuine lower back injury during the Australia tour, according to his manager Mark Raisbeck. Some media reports and the Pakistani team management had claimed that Umar was malingering since his elder brother Kamran was dropped from the team. However Mark Raisbeck claims that Umar was genuinely injured at that time. "Umar had a genuine issue with his lower back during the series against Australia. Umar received treatment and advice through the correct channels with the Pakistan team''s medical staff and a subsequent specialist. This matter was a medical and fitness related issue," his manager told Pakpassion.net website. Umar said he wants to forget the matter. "I am very keen to put this matter behind me and concentrate solely on playing cricket for Pakistan. My sole focus is preparing to retain the T20 World Cup with Pakistan in May," he said. Abdul Raquib, manager on the Australian tour, had also mentioned the incident before the PCB inquiry committee, formed to probe into the team''s poor performance. The Board subsequently fined Umar two million rupees for giving unauthorised statements in Australia . Umar has been Pakistan''s top batsman in the last few months, scoring a century on his Test debut in New Zealand and carries a Test average of 48.16 and 41 in ODIs.

Source: Web Search

Unfair to blame IPL for injuries, says selector

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 10:36 PM

Kolkata, Mar 18 (PTI) The list of India''s injured cricketers is growing every day but national selector Raja Venkat insists the ongoing Indian Premier League could not be blamed for that. "Injuries are part and parcel of the game. But it is unfair to blame the ongoing Indian Premier League," the East Zone selector said on the sidelines of a promotional event. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who leads Chennai Super Kings, is down with a badly bruised right elbow which has ruled him out of action for the next 10 days while opener and Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir has sustained a hamstring injury. "Injuries can happen any time, why single out IPL? A professional cricketer knows where to draw a line," Venkat said. After their triumph in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, India did not have much success in the shortest format but Venkat chose to differ. "Twenty20 is highly unpredictable. There are no favourites here. On a given a day, any team can win. Nobody gave Indians the chance in absence of senior players like Sachin Tendulkar in the first edition of the World Championship. Similarly, Pakistan also surprised everybody last time," he argued. He also had high praise for Bengal ace Sourav Ganguly and said the left-hander had a role in India''s becoming the number one Test team. .

Source: Web Search

PCB in two minds on contract to punished players

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 10:06 PM

Karachi, Mar 18 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board remains undecided on whether to award central contracts to the players banned and fined recently and also on the captaincy issue. While the board announced the team management for the Twenty20 World Cup, there was still no word on who would be leading the team in the mega event in the West Indies from next month. "No decision has been taken on the captain as yet only the Chairman of the board will decide on this," a board official said. Chief selector Mohsin Khan, who met Chairman Ejaz Butt today, said he had not discussed the issue of the captaincy. "Who will be the next captain is not my domain, this is the sole discretion of the Chairman of the board whom he appoints, so I didn''t speak to him on this topic," Mohsin said. But reliable sources said the chief selector was called to Lahore mainly so that he could sign a two-year contract with the board and also give some input to the Chairman on the captaincy issue. The board is said to be wrestling with the idea of appointing Shahid Afridi as captain but the fact that they have fined him heavily for three million rupees and also kept him on probation for six months is making life difficult for them. .

Source: Web Search

Unfair to blame IPL for injuries, says selector

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 09:52 PM

Kolkata, Mar 18 (PTI) The list of India''s injured cricketers is growing every day but national selector Raja Venkat insists the ongoing Indian Premier League could not be blamed for that. "Injuries are part and parcel of the game. But it is unfair to blame the ongoing Indian Premier League," the East Zone selector said on the sidelines of a promotional event. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who leads Chennai Super Kings, is down with a badly bruised right elbow which has ruled him out of action for the next 10 days while opener and Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir has sustained a hamstring injury. "Injuries can happen any time, why single out IPL? A professional cricketer knows where to draw a line," Venkat said. After their triumph in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, India did not have much success in the shortest format but Venkat chose to differ. "Twenty20 is highly unpredictable. There are no favourites here. On a given a day, any team can win. Nobody gave Indians the chance in absence of senior players like Sachin Tendulkar in the first edition of the World Championship. Similarly, Pakistan also surprised everybody last time," he argued. He also had high praise for Bengal ace Sourav Ganguly and said the left-hander had a role in India''s becoming the number one Test team. .

Source: Web Search

The team that stays positive will win: Raina

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 09:36 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Chennai Super Kings stand-in-skipper Suresh Raina said Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be missed in Friday's Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Delhi Daredevils, though the side has good, experienced players to fill in for him.

Raina said the side that plays positive cricket will win Friday.

Dhoni is out of action for at least 10 days with an injured elbow.

'We will miss him (Dhoni), no doubt. And when a player gives his hundred percent in the field, he will also risk injury. If you look at the last match, he batted really well, till the last over,' Raina said.

'But I do not think the team should be dependent on one player, and we have other good players. Hopefully, we will do well.'

Raina said Parthiv Patel will take over from Dhoni as wicketkeeper and he will also open the innings.

'Parthiv will open the innings tomorrow and we have Justin Kemp, Morkel, myself, Badri and Vijay in the middle order.'

Raina hoped the captaincy will help his batting, and is happy that he enjoys the support of the seniors in the dressing room.

'The reponsibility will be a good exposure for me and it has come in a big tournament like this. In the dressing room, I have Haydos (Hayden), Kemp, (Stephen) Flemming, so we have a lot of experience in the team.'

'I have scored runs in the last two years and this year I have got the captaincy. The selectors must have seen something in me and I hope the responsibility helps to improve my batting,' he said.

On more and more players getting injured in IPL, Raina said: 'My job is to play and I will give my 100 percent. Injuries are in God's hands, I will play as long as I am fit. It's good for me - more I play, the better it is.'

'It will be a real contest tomorrow. The Delhi team has so many experienced players. We too have world class players. The team that plays positive cricket will win tomorrow.'

Asked if Dhoni has given him any advice, Raina said: 'He told me to keep it simple and that we have the potential. 'Whatever decision you take, you must go for it and play freely,' he said. I will do my best.'

Source: Web Search

Sangakkara a great leader, but Preity real captain: Yuvraj

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 09:16 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Yuvraj Singh heaped praises on his successor Kumar Sangakkara, saying that the Sri Lankan is the best person to lead Kings XI Punjab.

'Oh he (Sangakkara) is great - he's a great person. He understands all the local players, he takes feedback from everyone, especially Mahela (Jayawardene) and myself, and when Brett Lee was there as well. Kumar has been captaining the Sri Lankan team for a while now, so he's done a great job for Sri Lanka and I hope he does a great job for Kings XI as well,' said Yuvraj.

Sangakkara took over the reins after Yuvraj was removed as the Kings XI Punjab captain.

Asked how he felt playing under Sangakkara, Yuvraj said: 'I remember my younger days, going to Sri Lanka and playing in Sri Lanka - me and Sangakara used to fight a lot. He used to give me a lot of crap from behind the stumps and I used to give it back to him...so...but since the IPL has come, we've become good friends and we share a good rapport...you understand their culture. It's great playing with people like Brett Lee and Shawn Marsh, and Myhla, Sangakara so it's good fun to interact with cricketers from all around the world.'

On a lighter note, Yuvraj said it was co-owner Priety Zinta, who was the main leader.

'She's actually the main captain. I think Priety is great. I think, in the last series she learnt a lot about cricket and cricketers and she's very generous and she makes sure the boys are like a family and she makes sure everyone is getting good food, that they're staying in a good hotel, and everybody's got security. So she's like a very sisterly, very motherly idol...not for me but...' said Yuvraj.

Yuvraj also said his diving technique has gone wrong.

'I think my technique of diving has gone a bit haywire or something. Well, it's just been happening in the last year only,' Yuvraj told in an interview to NDTV.

He also said that the last four months have been frustrating for him.

'Last 4 months have been frustrating and I had a bit of finger injuries and a thumb injury and now a wrist injury. So, it's been pretty bad with injuries but done my best to get back into shape and it's feeling good now. So just need to get into the match scenario,' Yuvraj said.

Source: Web Search

Injury likely to keep Gambhir out of IPL for long

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 08:46 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir's hamstring injury will keep him out of Friday's Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings.

Gambhir pulled his hamstring early in the match which the Daredevils lost to Mumbai Indians by 98 runs and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik deputised for him.

Delhi Daredevils assistant coach Eric Simons said Gambir's condition is 'reasonably serious' and a decision on his return to the side will be taken after obtaining doctors' opinion on the scan he underwent Thursday morning.

'He (Gambhir) had gone this morning for the scan to see how bad the condition is. He was very tender last night and we will see the report before taking a call on how long he will be out of the game. I think he is reasonably sore, and reasonably serious. He won't play tomorrow, but we don't know at this stage how bad the injury is,' he said.

Gambhir is the latest to join the growing injury list in the Indian Premier League III. Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rajasthan Royal's Graeme Smith and Dimitri Mascarenhas are already out of the league with injuries.

Simons, who is also the India bowling coach, however, said a proper assessment needs to be made to see whether the injuries are related to the IPL.

'The IPL has become a very important part of international cricket. I suppose one has to look at the overall picture of over 12-24 months. If after assessment one finds that the injuries are related to the tournament, then we will be more aware,' he said.

The South African said they are yet to decide on the team composition.

'We had a long discussion in the morning, we have had an interesting net session where we played our options. Twenty20 is all about getting the balance right. A lot of thought needs to be given in the next 12-15 hours and we will take a call accordingly.'

Asked whether strategy has a role in Twenty20 cricket, Simons said: 'Sometimes a strategy pays off and it's very good, but sometimes it backfires. You have to take chances and in that way you win matches.'

'Instead of sticking to a plan, you should have plan A, B, and C. In fact, one needs to think as per the situation. I think what is important is to have a thought-based strategy and not think too much about the opposition.'

Simons said Mumbai Indians batted particularly well to take the match away from his team.

'Mumbai Indians batted particularly well. Their strategy also paid off. They firmly believed that they needed to score 170-180 and they got more than that. Sometimes as a bowler you have to judge whether you have bowled according to the plan and if you have and the batsmen still score runs, good luck to them. I am not looking into the amount the runs they scored, but a lot of credit should go to the Mumbai Indians for the way they batted.'

On the team's strategy against Chennai Super Kings, Simons said: 'We will focus on our strengths. Of course, you do have to keep an eye on key individuals in the opposition, but the focus should be on what we can do and what we cannot and bowl accordingly.'

Source: Web Search

Injured Gambhir ruled out of Delhi Daredevils' next IPL match

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 08:36 PM

New Delhi, Mar 18(ANI): Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir, who sustained a hamstring injury during their Indian Premier League game against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday, has been ruled out of Friday's tie against Chennai Super Kings.

Gambhir suffered the injury while fielding in the game, and later did not bat as the Daredevils went on to lose the game by 98 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik will captain the side in Gambhir's absence.

Gambhir is another addition to the Team Indian players' injury list, which also includes skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fast bowler Ashish Nehra and several others who are not fully fit. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Vijender wins gold in CW Boxing Championship

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 04:36 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (ANI): Indian boxer Vijender Singh won the gold medal in 75 kg category of the fifth Commonwealth Boxing Championship held in New Delhi on Wednesday. He defeated England's Frank Buglioni by 13-3. Later, interacting with the media persons, Vijender Singh said that he managed to win with his positive thinking. Despite being injured in the first round of the bout, Vijender, ranked number one in world amateur boxing ratings, stood to his ground and emerged the winner.

Source: Web Search

Aussies call up Tasmania fast bowler George as standby for injured Harris

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 04:28 PM

Wellington, Mar 18(ANI): Tasmania fast bowler Peter George has been called into Australia's Test squad as cover for injured Ryan Harris ahead of the first test against New Zealand in Wellington starting on Friday.

Harris had complained of soreness in his left side during the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, which had forced him to sit out of the final game.

Meanwhile, George's selection follows his outstanding record for Tasmania, where he has an overall first-class record of 56 wickets at an average of 31.05.

Talking about the surprise call, George said: "It just shows I'm next in line at this stage or thereabouts, so that's obviously fairly exciting for me. I'm not expecting really to be playing but to be around the guys and to be there ready, if I do happen to get the call-up, that would be awesome." Just to be heading over there as a back-up is unbelievable for me and to say I expected it or even dreamed of it would be an exaggeration I think," Stuff.co.nz quoted George, as saying.

Australian National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch believes that George is an exciting young fast bowler, who has the skills to succeed at the international level and will benefit reatly from being around the Australian set-up. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'Easy, good patient' Becks wins medical fans at Finland clinic

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 04:22 PM

London, March 18 (ANI): David Beckham ended up winning hearts as he stepped out of a Finnish clinic following a surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon.

The ace footballer received treatment at the Mehilainen Clinic in Turku and his recovery is expected to take at least six months.

The easy going and well behaved midfielder left medical staff wishing for more patients like him as he left the clinic with his foot in a cast to jet back with wife Victoria, The Sun reported.

Dr Sakari Orava revealed the 34-year-old star was "well and in a good mood" and told how they had ordered pizzas and watched football on a large-screen TV.

Dr Orava said: "He was a very easy and good patient. Even the nurses said they wished that all their patients were like him. He was very satisfied and didn't complain about anything and thanked veryone." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Delhi squares off against injury-hit Chennai

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 04:06 PM

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Their winning streak snapped, Delhi Daredevils will have to sort out shortcomings like poor fielding and listless bowling when they take on injury-hit Chennai Super Kings in their fourth Indian Premier League match here tomorrow. Delhi won both their away matches -- against Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals -- but faltered at home, losing by a whopping 98 runs to Mumbai Indians. Adding to their woes is the hamstring injury to captain Gautam Gambhir, making him a doubtful starter for tomorrow''s match. Gambhir had been on field for barely 10 minutes before the hamstring injury forced him out. Chennai, on the other hand, have played two matches, losing the opener against Deccan Chargers before winning against Kolkata Knight Riders. Chennai will be without talismanic skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who injured his elbow during the match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Delhi''s campaign had been going perfectly with convincing triumphs over Punjab and Rajasthan until they were blown away by Sachin Tendulkar''s Mumbai. Feroze Shah Kotla, hosting its first major game since being banned for a year following the pitch fiasco during an India-Sri Lanka match last year, turned out to be a batting paradise as Tendulkar and other Mumbai Indians batsmen made merry.

Source: Web Search

Inzy wants Afridi as skipper for T20 WC

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 03:48 PM

PCB should not waste anymore time in announcing the name of experienced all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the captain for the forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies next month, feels former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Inzamam, Pakistan's most capped player with over 400 Test and international appearances, said Afridi is country's best player in the shorter format of the game and has time and again proved his mettle.

"He has shown all the qualities required to be a good leader. He is the right choice to lead Pakistan in the World Cup and PCB is only creating more uncertainty by not naming him as the captain. It is creating doubts in everyone's minds," Inzamam said.

He said with the 15-member squad already announced for the World Cup, it makes no sense to delay appointing the captain.

"We have a good T20 outfit and with good captain at the helm of affairs, we stand a fair chance to defend our title successfully," Inzamam added.

Defending champions Pakistan had last week announced their final 15-man squad without naming the captain for the World Twenty20 championship. Chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan had told reporters that the board will name the captain later. Pakistan cricket had plunged into a turmoil earlier last week when the PCB banned and fined several leading cricketers including former captains Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi.

While Younus and Yousuf were not included in the preliminary squad, Malik had been sidelined because of the one year ban slapped on him for indiscipline. However, Afridi, and Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were picked by the selectors despite hefty fines imposed on them.

Meanwhile, sources close to the development informed that the board has delayed announcing the captain because they have sought legal opinion on the possible fallout of appointing Afridi as the T20 captain.

Source: Web Search

Flintoff planning to visit India to watch IPL

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 03:08 PM

Dubai, Mar 18 (PTI) England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League due to a knee surgery, could not resist himself from seeing his Chennai Super Kings teammates in action and planning to visit India to watch the Twenty20 event soon. "Last time when I played for Chennai, the IPL was held in South Africa. I thought this year I would get the opportunity to play for Chennai but it has not turned out the way I would have liked to (due to surgery). "I wanted to play for Chennai in Chennai. I am planning to go to Chennai in the next few weeks and watch a couple of games," Flintoff told ''Gulf News''. Flintoff said he was missing the euphoric Indian spectators. "One of the big things behind the success of IPL is the Indian public. The passion for cricket in India is splendid. In England we have football but in India, cricket is ten times bigger. IPL is a success in India because of the passion for the game," said Flintoff. "The involvement of cities in the contest is a great thing and other countries can learn from it. I would like to go to England and play for Manchester against London or Leeds against Newcastle. I think it could be a success in England too," he added. The Lancashire all-rounder, who has been out of action since undergoing a micro-fracture operation on his right knee last year, was ruled out of the tournament after he had to be operated upon in January again.

Source: Web Search

Woods would be ''terrific'': US Prez Obama

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 02:52 PM

New York, Mar 18 (PTI) US President Barack Obama hopes to see Tiger Woods in terrific form when the embattled golf champion returns to the course in next month''s Augusta Masters after details of his multiple extra-marital affairs exploded in public last year. "You know, I think that Tiger has acknowledged that he betrayed his family and that''s a personal issue that he has got to work out," said Obama who is an avid lover of the game. "I hope they have worked it out, I''m sure he is going to still be a terrific golfer," Obama told FOX news. Woods has not played for the past five months following the sex scandal that has received worldwide attention as several of the golfer''s mistresses came forward with lurid details about his infidelity. The cat was out of the bag after his wife Elin found out about his affair with, Rachel Uchitel, a New York party planner, which led to an argument and accident on November 27 when Woods crashed his SUV outside his Florida mansion sustaining minor injuries. Woods has completed six weeks of sex-rehab at two different centres in the US and last week he announced his return to the game - contrary to what he said in his apology to the world in February. "I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don''t know when that day will be," he said, ruling out 2010. "When I do return I need to make my behaviour more respectful of the game." (More) PTI BS SHN

Source: Web Search

Mourinho says he can return to Premier League anytime

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 02:48 PM

London, Mar 18 (ANI): Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has said that he has a clause in his contract which allows him to quit at any time, showing his interest to coach top Premier League clubs again.

The former Chelsea boss, who knocked his old club out of the Champions League, will review his options this summer.

"My future consists of doing my best until the end of the season, then we'll see. My contract is simple. I've got another three years, with a clause that allows me to leave whenever I want," The Sun quoted Mourinho, as saying.

That revelation will have Europe's top clubs scrambling to prise him away from the San Siro.

Manchester City, Liverpool and even Manchester United have all been mentioned as possible destinations for the Special One.

He has also been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid.

When asked about a return to the Premier League, he said: "Who knows, in the future I may coach another English team." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Dinner on the line when friends clash at Indian Wells

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 02:08 PM

The cost of dinner will be on the line when good friends Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska meet in the last four of the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Friday.

The pair, who first met in the junior ranks, regularly eat together on the circuit and they agree that whoever advances to the final will have to foot the bill for the next meal.

"If somebody wins something, it's buy the other one dinner," Radwanska told reporters after reaching her second semi-final of the year with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Russian Elena Dementieva on Wednesday.

"It's always like that," the fifth-seeded Pole added. "But if she wins, it doesn't make any changes with our relationship."

Second seed Wozniacki of Denmark, who battled past China's Zheng Jie 6-4 4-6 6-1 in the quarter-finals, agreed.

"The winner has to buy dinner, so I hope I'm gonna buy dinner," the 19-year-old said with a broad grin. "But she's a good friend. Tomorrow we're just going to relax, have fun and then we have to see what's gonna happen the day after."

Asked what they normally discussed at dinner on the WTA Tour, Wozniacki replied: "We don't talk about tennis.

"There are so many other things we want to talk about, so we prefer just to have a totally different conversation -- clothes, fashion, make-up, nail polish, boys, everything."

The two friends have played each other only twice on the WTA circuit, Radwanska winning the first encounter 6-4 6-1 in Stockholm in 2007 and Wozniacki returning the favour by the same score at the same venue the following year.

"She's a good player," said world number four Wozniacki, whose father and coach Piotr was a professional soccer player in his native Poland.

"She's getting a lot of balls back. She's thinking. She's smart on the court. We're friends off the court, and we want to win and fight on the court.

"Once you start thinking: 'Okay, it's my friend, then what happens is you lose the match. So it's just important to stay focused and don't think about who's on the other side."

Source: Web Search

'Fit' Harris can make Test debut against New Zealand

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 01:46 PM

Sydney, Mar 18 (ANI): Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that fast bowler Ryan Harris could make his debut in Friday's first Test against New Zealand, if he overcomes his side strain.

South Australia seamer Peter George has been added to the squad as cover for Harris.

Ponting said he expected Queensland's Harris, 30, to train at full pace at the Basin Reserve on Thursday, but there was some concern that he would pull up sore on Friday.

Victorian quick Clint McKay, who made his Test debut in December, is also vying for a new-ball role in place of injured Peter Siddle, who has been out for several months with a back problem.

"Ryan will play if he gets through as well as we want him to today and we'll wait and see how he wakes up in the morning," he said.

"That's going to be the important thing," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

Harris boasts of an impressive one-day international record of 29 wickets at 15.51 in 12 matches.

Ponting also said 20-year-old NSW all-rounder Steve Smith was unlikely to be promoted ahead of Test No.6 batsman Marcus North, who is struggling for form but has received the backing of his Test skipper. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Winning the Premier League means more than lifting World Cup: Clichy

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 01:38 PM

London, Mar 18 (ANI): Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has said that winning the English Premier League this season would mean more than lifting the European Cup or even the World Cup.

The French international is desperate to end the Gunners' five-year trophy drought. And with Arsenal in a three-way title battle with Manchester United and Chelsea, Clichy feels he might never get a better opportunity.

"This season is all about winning as much silverware as possible and the Premier League is now so close. The confidence and the quality are there and it's right there for us to take. I won the League in my first season with Arsenal and it was a great feeling," The Sun quoted Clichy, as saying.

"When you work so hard, go through so many good and bad times, to win the title shows that you have been the best team. That's why I want to win the Premier League over the Champions League this year, even though the European Cup may be a better trophy in the eyes of most people," he said.

"That is why I need to maintain my best form to the end of the season. If I am a champion with Arsenal it will improve my chances of going to the World Cup with France. That would be a dream come true, but if I had to choose one trophy right now I'd go for the Premier League," Clichy said.

Clichy and Sol Campbell are the only members of Arsene Wenger's 2004 Invincibles still at Arsenal.

And the full-back, 24, says there is a huge difference in the dressing room compared to the atmosphere he found as a teenager fresh from French minnows Cannes. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'Fit' Harris can make Test debut against New Zealand

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 01:22 PM

Sydney, Mar 18 (ANI): Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that fast bowler Ryan Harris could make his debut in Friday's first Test against New Zealand, if he overcomes his side strain.

South Australia seamer Peter George has been added to the squad as cover for Harris.

Ponting said he expected Queensland's Harris, 30, to train at full pace at the Basin Reserve on Thursday, but there was some concern that he would pull up sore on Friday.

Victorian quick Clint McKay, who made his Test debut in December, is also vying for a new-ball role in place of injured Peter Siddle, who has been out for several months with a back problem.

"Ryan will play if he gets through as well as we want him to today and we'll wait and see how he wakes up in the morning," he said.

"That's going to be the important thing," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

Harris boasts of an impressive one-day international record of 29 wickets at 15.51 in 12 matches.

Ponting also said 20-year-old NSW all-rounder Steve Smith was unlikely to be promoted ahead of Test No.6 batsman Marcus North, who is struggling for form but has received the backing of his Test skipper. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

NBA results

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 01:06 PM

REUTERS - NBA results on Wednesday (home team in CAPS).

CHARLOTTE 100 Oklahoma City 92

CLEVELAND 99 Indiana 94

PHILADELPHIA 108 New Jersey 97

TORONTO 106 Atlanta 105

BOSTON 109 NY Knicks 97

ORLANDO 110 San Antonio 84

DALLAS 113 Chicago 106

HOUSTON 107 Memphis 94

UTAH 122 Minnesota 100

GOLDEN STATE 131 New Orleans 121

LA CLIPPERS 101 Milwaukee 93

Source: Web Search

Benitez never tried to resolve problems at 'sinking ship' Liverpool

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:56 PM

London, Mar 18 (ANI): Liverpool winger Albert Riera has launched an astonishing attack on coach Rafa Benitez and branded the club a 'sinking ship' after reports of huge rifts in the Reds' dressing room.

"This year has been difficult and he has not changed at all. When you see the ship is sinking and you don't change. I've been here for two years and I know how he is as a person. He's never resolved a situation with a player by speaking with him.

"He thinks he is the boss and turns a deaf ear to everyone else. The dialogue with the players is practically zero," The Sun quoted Riera, as saying.

Riera is fuming with Benitez after starting just once since mid-February and is worried that a lack of games might cost him a World Cup spot with Spain.

The eight million pounds signing from Espanyol added: "When you stop counting as a player like that, it must be something personal. It's frustrating because you see you can help and he doesn't let you."

Liverpool's disastrous season is in danger of taking another turn for the worse if they fail to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Lille in the Europa League tonight.

With a top-four Premier League spot also in doubt this year, Benitez's future is hanging in the balance.

Speaking to Radio Marca, Riera left open the possibility of quitting Anfield soon to play in Russia. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Yousuf receives PCB's green signal for Bangladeshi league

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:52 PM

Lahore, Mar.18 (ANI): A day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified that players must seek permission from it to participate in any foreign cricket tournament, former captain Mohammed Yousuf has been allowed to play in a private league in Bangladesh.

"Yousuf had requested the PCB that he wanted to play in Bangladesh and Ijaz (Butt) has given him the permission," The Daily Times quoted a PCB spokesperson, as saying.

It may be noted that the PCB had issued a strict warning to the players wanting to participate in domestic tournaments of other countries, saying they must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the board.

"The PCB firmly conveys to all concerned that no player is allowed to play cricket outside Pakistan without having prior approval from the board in this regard. Any player interested to play cricket in any part of the world should apply to the board to seek permission for the same," a statement issued by the PCB said.

The PCB has prohibited players selected for the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship from taking part in Bangladesh's domestic T20 tournament, which is to be played in Sharjah.

Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Mohammed Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq and Imtan Nazir had signed for the tournament beginning March 26 but insiders said the PCB do not want to risk these players ahead of the coveted T20 World Cup and is unlikely to grant them the NOC's. (ANI)

Source: Web Search