Banned Younis, Malik and ageing Akhtar in PCB's list of 35 probables for Asia Cup

Published>Wed, May 26 10 12:23 PM

Lahore, May 26 (ANI): Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and banned former captains Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik have been included in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) list of 35 probables for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Announcing the probables for the forthcoming Asia Cup here, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt also declared that T20 skipper Shahid Afridi would be leading the side in the quadrangular one-day tournament, which would be held in Sri Lanka from June 15-24, and would also captain the squad in the 'home' Test series in England.

Afridi has been appointed the skipper of the Test side, despite that fact that he has not played any five-day game in the last four years.

Butt said that inclusion of Younis and Malik, both of whom are serving a year ban, in the final team for the upcoming assignments, would depend upon the decision of the appeal tribunal, which is hearing their case.

"Both Younis and Malik's inclusions are subject to the outcome of their appeals.We have promised to review the fines and bans on six of our top players, so the names of Younis and Malik will only be included in the final squad after a decision on their appeals," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

The PCB's list of players did not include former captain Mohammed Yousuf, who had retired from international cricket in protest against the PCB's indefinite ban. Afridi said he has been trying to persuade Yousuf to come out of retirement, but the former skipper has refused to do so.

"I talked to him on telephone yesterday and requested him to reconsider his retirement, but he refused to do so. I still believe Yousuf can play international cricket for two to three more years," Afridi said, adding that Yousuf has taken up a coaching job in Canada.

Probables for Asia Cup:

Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Khurram Manzoor, Shahzaib Hasan, Azhar Ali, Azeem Ghumman, Younus Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam, Hasan Raza, Azhar Shafiq, Umar Amin, Aamir Sajjad, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Tanveer Ahmed, Ejaz Cheema, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Zulqarnain Haider (ANI)

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NBA - Suns shoot down Lakers to even series 2-2

Published Wed, May 26 10 11:47 AM

The Phoenix Suns rained three-pointers in a 115-106 home victory over NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday to level their Western Conference series and re-ignite their title hopes.

The Suns pulled away in a rampant fourth-quarter phase to win their second straight and send the best-of-seven series back to Los Angeles tied at 2-2.

Amare Stoudemire led a balanced Phoenix attack with 21 points and Channing Frye broke through with 14 points and four three-pointers after making only 1 of 20 shots in the first three games.

Kobe Bryant sparkled with 38 points and 10 assists but the Lakers were left behind in a cloud of smoke when the Suns made three straight three-pointers to take control with an 98-89 lead in the fourth.

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Indian team leave for Zimbabwe

Published>Wed, May 26 10 11:23 AM

A second string Indian cricket squad, led by young Suresh Raina, on Tuesday left for Zimbabwe where they will play a tri-nation series and two Twenty20 internationals against the hosts.

The team boarded a Jet Airways flight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here for Johannesburg from where they will take a connecting flight to Harare.

India will begin their campaign in the tri-nation series, also involving Sri Lanka, on May 28 against the hosts at Bulawayo and then play Sri Lanka on May 30 at the same venue.

India's next two matches will be held in Harare - against Zimbabwe on June 3 and Sri Lanka on June 5.

The final of the tri-series will be held on June 9 in Harare.

The Indians will then play two T20 internationals against Zimbabwe in Harare on June 12 and 13, for which leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will join the squad later.

Experienced members like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra have been rested for the tour.

The squad: Suresh Raina (capt), Virat Kohli (vc), Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Pankaj Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Naman Ojha.

Coach: Gary Kirsten.

Manager: G V K Ranga Rao.

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Why I have been singled out? Rana Naved

Published Wed, May 26 10 10:53 AM

Karachi, May 26 (PTI) Disappointed at being ignored from the list of probables for the Asia Cup and the subsequent tour of England, out-of-favour Pakistan all-rounder Rana Naved has questioned the selectors decision to include other banned players Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik in the 35-man chart. Apart from former captain Mohammad Yousuf, who has retired from international cricket, Rana is the lone player out of the seven banned or fined by the Pakistan Cricket Board in March, who did not feature in the list of probables announced yesterday. Interestingly, former captains Younus and Malik, who too were banned and fined by the PCB, were also conditionally included in the 35-member list which will be culled down before the two events. Rana, who is facing one-year ban and fine of two million rupees, said he was baffled by the selectors step-motherly attitude towards him. "They (Shoaib Malik and Younus Khan) are also banned and have appealed against their penalties. I am also under a ban and have appealed against it. So why I have been singled out," he said from England where he is playing county cricket. Rana said he was hoping for some kind of reprieve from the PCB and was expecting to represent Pakistan in England. "May be I will get my chance. I have not given up hope. If I can celebrate at my selection, I can also accept that they (selectors) have not picked me this time," he said. The all-rounder said he would try to speak to the selectors to find out the reason of his exclusion. "My performance has been as good as some of the other players," Rana said. Rana said he was not even aware of the selectors decision to include banned players in the probables list. "I have learnt it from the media. I was sure if the penalised players were considered I would also be given a chance," he said. Interestingly in the video recordings of the inquiry committee proceedings leaked out recently, Rana was heard telling the members that he did not want to be part of any team politics or groupings. "I have always played my cricket on my own basis and performances. I told others I don''t want to be involved in groups and these things," he said.

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Young talent, gunning for glory

Published>Wed, May 26 10 10:47 AM

New Delhi, May 26 -- Tennis runs in her blood, as does a strong sense of defiance. Sixteen-year-old Ushna Suhail is the only Pakistani girl in the Asian Junior Tennis Championships, and having made it to the second round in both singles and doubles, she's looking to further the cause of her ilk back home. The pedigree is beyond doubt - Pakistan's best-known tennis player, Aisam Qureshi, is her first cousin, and her grandfather, Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmad, was once among the top-ranked players of Asia. "Taking up tennis was a natural choice, it's always been a sport that my family has been closely associated with. I have been playing since I was 11." During her first ITF junior tournament in Doha, Suhail told her mother that she hoped to see the Pakistan flag flutter at the stadium in future. That passion still drives her. Suhail has trained in Delhi before, but the ITF tournament held last week, was her first in India. The experience has been enjoyable. "The excitement of playing competitive tennis, against good players, is a great motivator. The field here is fantastic. In Pakistan, there are only 4-5 girls who are competitive, so we don't get much match practice." Lack of competition or not, Suhail achieved a feat this March, winning both the under-17 and the ladies' titles at a major domestic event back home. She hopes to carry on the good run here. "I don't set too many goals for myself, but I hope to get as far as I can. I want to give my best and leave the rest to God." The future looks bright and daunting in equal measure. Suhail plans to go professional by the end of the year, mixing ITF events with WTA tournaments. That will mean lots of hard work. So far, her tennis career has been almost entirely funded by her parents. Her father is a senior executive with Pakistan International Airlines, which is helpful, as it gets her cheaper air tickets. The fiery youngster gets a lot of her strength and confidence from her mother, Sabrina, who is the first female professor of dermatology in Pakistan. Doing things a normal teenager wants, is also a conflict. The O-level aspirant doesn't get to go to school much, but manages to keep in touch with friends on her cell phone and through Facebook. But this is a price she more than willing to pay.

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FIH, Ministry corner HI over polls

Published>Wed, May 26 10 10:37 AM

New Delhi, May 26 -- Hockey India (HI) on Tuesday found itself in a sticky situation. After expressing the desire to conduct elections on June 5, it has come under fire from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Sports Ministry. While the FIH expressed its displeasure over HI missing the May deadline that the international body had set previously, the Ministry has advised HI to "not take further action" related to elections in the light of Delhi High Court order quashing the de-recognition of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), HI's rival body. According to reports, FIH secretary general, Peter L Cohen, had a telephonic conversation with his HI counterpart, Narinder Batra. Cohen is believed to have told Batra that the FIH was disappointed that HI could not meet the May 31 deadline. However, he assured that no penalty would be imposed on the body or on its players. The FIH's patience could well be tested, as even the June 5 date seems improbable.

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England win warm-up, coach blows hot and cold

Published>Wed, May 26 10 10:17 AM

England enjoyed a triumphant home send-off to the World Cup when an unfamiliar team packed with reserves outmuscled a skilful Mexico side 3-1 in their last home friendly at Wembley on Monday.

Manager Fabio Capello may have learned little that he didn't know before a contest in which England recovered from a ragged first half showing to ensure win.

But for the Italian, it was a night to ink over a few pencilled ticks against certain names and etch a line across others as he finalises the decisions that will cut his 30-man squad to 23 for the finals in South Africa. "I wasn't too concerned. It was very important to know where we are now - physically and mentally - and I think when we play on the counter, we look really dangerous. But we can't just play on the counterattack."

Goals from defender Ledley King, with a well-placed header, and striker Peter Crouch, with what appeared to be his right arm, put England 2-0 ahead before striker Guillermo Franco pulled one back from close range three minutes into first half added time. England goalkeeper Robert Green made two outstanding saves and saw another Mexican shot hit a post before the interval as England struggled to survive against spells of good possession and sharp attacks from the visitors. "The manager told us what he thought at halftime - we had to be a lot more aggressive and get in their faces," said Steven Gerrard.

Argentina thrash Canada

In Buenos Aires, Maxi Rodriguez scored two goals and Argentina defeated Canada 5-0 on Monday in the Gauchos' final tuneup before their World Cup opener on June 12. Argentina's farewell match was played with FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi on the bench as coach Diego Maradona decided to rest the Barcelona playmaker.

Midfielder Javier Pastore started up front with Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain. Rodriguez scored in the 16th and 32nd minutes and Angel Di Maria added another in the 37th. Tevez scored in the 63rd and Sergio Aguero added his in 71st, seconds after coming on as a substitute.

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Rudderless, DSA gropes in the dark

Published>Wed, May 26 10 10:07 AM

New Delhi, May 26 -- If the state of affairs in the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) is an indication, football in the Capital is not in safe hands. Sample this. There hasn't been an Annual General Body meeting in two years. The Divisional League, which was postponed last year for "random" reasons, is being held this year. What's more, with no one to approve and sanction budgets for organising tournaments or sending teams for championships, there is no account of how funds are being used. "How can you send teams out without the permission of the managing committee? They first cancelled the 2009 Division League and are now organising it this year at their convenience," an executive committee member told HT. The official alleged that the DSA hadn't conducted a managing committee meeting for a while. "Neither are they holding an AGM, which approves the budget, nor is the managing committee meeting. There is no control over the flow of money in DSA, it's a total mess," he said. N.K. Bhatia, secretary general of DSA, refuted the allegations. "The AGM couldn't be held as last year as tournaments like the Durand Cup, Nehru Cup kept us busy. "Besides, most of the time, nobody turns up for the managing committee meeting. You can't blame us."

In addition to the lack of grounds, some players had to write their exams in December, so we conducted the Senior Division League first and slotted the 'A' and 'B' Division Leagues for May. Hopefully, the 2010 League will take place in August," he said.

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No holds barred: Modi attacks BCCI bosses

Published>Wed, May 26 10 09:37 AM

New Delhi, May 25 -- In a sensational twist to the whole Indian Premier League saga, Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, has accused BCCI president Shashank Manohar of fabricating evidence, lying, favouring certain teams under pressure from "a Cabinet Minister", putting pressure on corporates to go with what he wanted -- almost eerily similar to some of the allegations against Modi himself -- and asked Manohar to remove himself from the panel that will judge whether Modi's suspension from all BCCI and IPL posts stands or not. In what is an all-out frontal attack on the Indian cricket board's two most powerful men, he has made even stronger accusations against BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, and accused him of a "brazen" misuse of his power as secretary to "confer benefit" on the Chennai Super Kings (owned by India Cements, the company where Srinivasan is managing director). He has asked that Srinivasan be issued an immediate showcause notice and "be suspended" pending investigation. In an 14-page letter to Manohar on Tuesday (May 25), a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, Modi has stated: "The allegation that I tried to rig the bidding in favour of two bidders, namely Adani's and Videocon has caused me much anguish. I had kept my peace in the larger interest of the Board but now that such an allegation has been made I am constrained to put the following facts on record." His reference is to the first auction for two new IPL teams on March 7 this year. It was cancelled by Manohar and the IPL's Governing Council because of alleged 'irregularities' by Modi in the bid process. A fresh tender was issued. The bid was ultimately won by the Sahara Group (for Pune) and a consortium of promoters led by Rendezvous Sports World (for Kochi). Modi's letter continues: "After the deadline for submitting bids, late in the evening and into the night of 5th March 2010 and in the morning of 6th March 2010, I received several calls from (then junior External Affairs minister) Mr Shashi Tharoor and his Secretary Mr Jacob, informing me that a third bid ("Kochi Bid") was coming from Delhi and requesting that I accept the same. I informed him that the deadline for submission of bids had expired at 5 pm on 5th March 2010.... Mr Tharoor told me that he would take up this matter with the (BCCI) President." What Modi says next puts a whole new spin on last month's Kochigate controversy, because he basically states that Manohar, under pressure from Tharoor, tried to force him to accept the Kochi bid and when that failed, got the entire bid process cancelled. He writes: "While you and I were sitting together at the Four Seasons Hotel, at about 7 pm on 6th March 2010, a representative of the Kochi Franchise came with the Kochi bid and sought to hand it over to me. I declined to accept the same, saying it was beyond time. You however asked me to accept the bid. You advised me to anti time the bid to 12 noon for 6th March 2010." And then, here's the explosive part. Modi spares no punches: "You seemed to be under extreme pressure to ensure that the late bid be included in the bidding process. Since you failed to ensure that the bid could not be included you then decided to ensure that the bid process itself is cancelled." ".I appreciate that due to involvement of a Cabinet Minister you had to do things which knowing you I believe you would not do in the normal course." Modi states that after the incident, Manohar told him that he would "persuade the governing council" that the bids had to be cancelled and told him to inform the lawyers of both the BCCI and the International Management Group, the event organisers, to prepare fresh bid documents. "Then you started calling various people from my phone asking them to get letters of objection from different corporate entities objecting on the different clauses relating to criterion of $1 billion and bank guarantee," writes Modi. Manohar, unusually in this time and age, doesn't generally carry a cell phone nor does he have an email account (he uses his wife's email address to receive mail). Modi then says that these letters (addressed to Manohar) were sent to his own email account and were used by Manohar the next day in the Governing Council to cancel the bidding process. ".you relied on these letters to persuade the Governing Council to cancel the bid -- inter alia pointing out that there had been complaints about the excessive unreasonable and disproportionate bid conditions." Modi has also said that Manohar was keeping daily tracking the TV rights deal with Sony-Multi Screen Media and was well aware of the deal with the World Sport Group, Mauritius - the company alleged to have accepted an $80m (Rs 360cr) facilitation fee to transfer broadcasting rights from themselves to MSM. Modi calls Manohar's professed ignorance of the deal "astonishing". "Hence," he adds, "to ensure that correct position of facts, your cross-examination in the matter is necessary."... While part a of Modi's letter is a no-holds-barred attack on Manohar, the second part deals with Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary. Modi has asked that Srinivasan be "barred and totally excluded" from being part of the proceedings relating to his showcause notice. "The Honorary Secretary has been instrumental in sponsoring complaints against me - I would like to cross-examine him in the present enquiry. His participation would tantamount to him being a judge in his own cause." He has accused Srinivasan of "misusing his position" as BCCI Secretary to "confer wrongful benefit to his team (Chennai Super Kings) at the cost and expense of other teams and the BCCI".

And then there's this, from a previous time, when Srinivasan was BCCI treasurer: "The Honorary Secretary allowed a Bank Guarantee given by Zee, in the sum of US $.60m (Rs 276cr) to lapse despite ZEE being in breach of its obligations. This was done to cause wrongful loss to the Board and wrongful gain to ZEE. When I raised this, the response given was that he forgot about this." Modi, who has copied all members of the IPL's Governing Council on the letter, has asked that an independent panel (preferably including eminent judges) be appointed to judge him in "fairness". Whether or not they agree, we'll know very soon.

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Czechs give United States 4-2 wake-up call

Published Wed, May 26 10 09:27 AM

The United States were given an early World Cup wake-up call when they were beaten 4-2 at home by the Czech Republic in their opening warm-up game on Tuesday.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley rested many of his likely starters but gave a run-out to key central defender Oguchi Onyewu, who had been sidelined since a knee operation in October and looked well short of match fitness.

The States, who face England in their World Cup opener on June 12, took the lead in the 17th minute through Maurice Edu but goals from Tomas Sivok (44) and Jan Polak (58) put the Czechs in front.

Substitute Herculez Gomez equalised but a shaky American defence conceded twice more as Martin Fenin (77) and then Tomas Necid (90+2) led the Czechs to victory.

Bradley will reduce his 30-man squad to 23 on Wednesday but were he looking for players to give him a last minute re-think, there would seem little scope for adjustment.

"I think for the most part we had good ideas there were certain things that were on the fence and so we will have some discussions tonight and make some tough decisions," said Bradley.

Midfielder Stuart Holden, another player returning from a lengthy lay-off, created both goals.

His in-swinging free-kick from the left was only flapped at by Czech keeper Petr Cech and allowed Edu to tap in the loose ball. Later, Holden's corner kick was nodded back by defender Clarence Goodson before Gomez headed in at the back post.

Gomez and Brian Ching caused more danger than the first half strike pairing of Eddie Johnson and Edson Buddle and Bradley singled out central defender Clarence Goodson for praise.

"I thought that Clarence Goodson still did a solid job at the back and helped us on some set pieces, that was good to see," he said.

But Bradley's biggest concern will be the condition of AC Milan defender Onyewu who was at fault for the first Czech goal, failing to jump and challenge Sivok for his header.

Onyewu looked awkward at times and not surprisingly, after seven months out, was far from the commanding figure before his injury.

"It is good to see him back on the field. Throughout this period in the camp he is moving better all the time, we will see how he comes out of this game, I think he felt good coming off the field and we will keep working him hard," said Bradley.

The United States also face Slovenia and Algeria in World Cup Group C. Before then, Bradley's team face Turkey in Philadelphia on Saturday and then Australia in Roodepoort, South Africa, on June 5.

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PREVIEW - Tamim gives Bangladesh glimpse of hope

Published>Wed, May 26 10 08:27 AM

Tamim Iqbal gave Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for the first test against England starting at Lord's on Thursday by promising to take his place at the top of the order despite a painful wrist injury.

The dashing left-hand opener has been told he can play with his left wrist taped, although he may eventually need surgery.

"I don't want to take any chances but I'm batting okay in the nets and the pain is getting better day by day," he told reporters.

Tamim, who scored three fluent half-centuries during the two-test home series against England this year, is one of Bangladesh's two world-class players.

The other is captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who expects to play despite contracting chicken pox.

Cooler weather and showers predicted for the weekend after a brief burst of searingly hot weather in south-east England will also create the usual problems for visiting teams at the start of the English summer with assistance for the home bowlers.

England have rested their Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood and all-rounder Stuart Broad at the start of a hectic season, giving an opportunity to Eoin Morgan to show he can take his one-day form into the test arena.

Morgan does not have a great first-class record but the England management are impressed with his temperament under pressure and the Bangladesh attack provides as gentle an introduction to test cricket as anyone could wish.

England begin the home season buoyed by their win in the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and with an Ashes defence against losing finalists Australia to look forward to at the end of the year.

TURBULENT PAKISTAN

After the two-test Bangladesh series they play four tests against Pakistan, who are condemned to play their international cricket abroad because of the uncertain security situation at home.

Pakistan also play two tests against Australia and for the first time since the rain-drenched 1912 Triangular series between England, Australia and South Africa, Lord's will stage three tests.

Even by their own turbulent standards, Pakistan have endured a spectacularly troubled year.

The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit is investigating their woeful performances in Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned former captains Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik after an internal inquiry.

The pair were still included in a preliminary tour party on Tuesday pending their appeals against the bans along with fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who has had more than his share of brushes with the Pakistan authorities.

They will be captained by the flamboyant wrist-spinning all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who ended a four-year self-imposed exile from test cricket at the weekend and who is, himself, appealing against a fine for ball-tampering.

The clear indication is that the PCB is determined to field the best side it can muster regardless of its own sanctions, a team who at their mercurial best can fully test both England and Australia and give useful hints to the course of the subsequent Ashes series.

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Dates for Ranchi Games finalised

Published>Wed, May 26 10 06:09 AM

After five postponements, the Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday said that the 34th National Games will be held from December 9-22 in Jharkhand. The Games, originally scheduled to be held in 2007, were first postponed due to delay in infrastructure construction.

After another three postponement due to one reason or the other, the Games were slated to be held in November-December last year only to get postponed as the dates clashed with the Assembly polls in the state.

State capital Ranchi will host 24 disciplines, including athletics, badminton, shooting and aquatics. Dhanbad and Jamshedpur will stage six and four disciplines respectively, an IOA release said.

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Stressed Nadal unhappy with winning start

Published>Wed, May 26 10 04:47 AM

Rafael Nadal's 6-2 6-2 6-2 win over French teenager Gianni Mina looked as stress-free as it gets for the four-times Roland Garros champion but the Spaniard was far from happy on Tuesday.

"I played poorly because I made a lot of unforced errors," said Nadal, back to reclaim his crown after last year's shock fourth-round defeat by Robin Soderling.

"The ball was not doing what I wanted to do. I didn't play well. That's the truth. That's why I couldn't play my game as usual. I did things in such a way that I couldn't play well compared with what I usually do.

"I'm a bit nervous or stressed. It's the first round. The first round is always difficult in this tournament. But I have to re-focus and calm down and move forward," he told reporters.

Nadal's French Open build-up was perfection with 15 consecutive wins on clay in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid and despite being seeded behind defending champion Roger Federer he is most people's favourite to reclaim the title.

INJURY PROBLEMS

The Mallorcan, who endured injury problems and poor form in 2009 after suffering his first defeat at Roland Garros a year ago, was at pains to play down those expectations as he continues to try and recover his best form.

"Right now it's very difficult to speak about the favourites," he said. "Sure I am one of the players that if I play my best tennis I'm gonna have chances but a lot of players think the same than me."

Nadal had plenty in reserve against 18-year-old wildcard Mina who was far from overawed by playing one of the greatest claycourters the game has seen in the first round.

The runner-up in last year's junior singles delighted the crowd on a muggy Court Suzanne Lenglen with bold shot-making, occasionally wrong-footing his opponent with flashing winners.

He never really threatened to extend the contest, however, and bowed out with a forehand over the baseline as Nadal took his Roland Garros record to 32-1 and set up a second-round match against Argentine Horacio Zeballos.

"I had some nice exchanges and very nice shots," Mina told reporters. "I don't know if it was his best match but he had to fight back. I was probably a pain for him."

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Jong's double secures draw for North Korea

Published>Wed, May 26 10 03:47 AM

North Korea forward Jong Tae-Se, dubbed the 'People's Wayne Rooney' by Asian media, scored twice for North Korea in a 2-2 draw with fellow World Cup finalists Greece in a friendly on Tuesday.

Greece twice took the lead but were pegged back by the impressive Japan-based frontman.

Kostas Katsouranis's second-minute strike from close range after defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos headed a Giorgos Karagounis free-kick across goal gave Greece the perfect start.

But the Koreans, with their direct running and incisive passing making the pedestrian Greeks look embarrassingly one-dimensional, dominated the remainder of the half.

North Korea skipper Hong Yong-Jo twice rattled the crossbar and on 23 minutes Jong equalised with a superb long range effort that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Greece's sole threat stemmed from their set pieces and after making five changes at halftime, they regained the lead through substitute Angelos Charisteas's volley from another Karagounis free-kick.

But Jong showed his class with a clinical finish moments later, controlling a long ball, skipping past Nikos Spiropoulos and then firing powerfully past substitute goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas to level again.

Greece, who begin their Group B campaign against South Korea on June 12, struggled to make an impression in a disjointed display and coach Otto Rehhagel will be hoping for an improvement when they continue their preparations against Paraguay on June 2.

"I expect us to get better as things move on from here," he told reporters.

"What I didn't like was that we were slow with our passing.

"They (North Korea) play a fast game and I expect us to play the ball more quickly and have more fluency. Our group opponents South Korea are a very good side and we must be absolutely ready for the start of the World Cup because we will have to give our all in every game."

North Korea are in Group G with Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

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Indian team leave for Zimbabwe

Published Wed, May 26 10 03:01 AM

Mumbai, May 25 (PTI) A second string Indian cricket squad, led by young Suresh Raina, today left for Zimbabwe where they will play a tri-nation series and two Twenty20 internationals against the hosts. The team boarded a Jet Airways flight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here for Johannesburg from where they will take a connecting flight to Harare. India will begin their campaign in the tri-nation series, also involving Sri Lanka, on May 28 against the hosts at Bulawayo and then play Sri Lanka on May 30 at the same venue. India''s next two matches will be held in Harare -- against Zimbabwe on June 3 and Sri Lanka on June 5. The final of the tri-series will be held on June 9 in Harare. The Indians will then play two T20 internationals against Zimbabwe in Harare on June 12 and 13, for which leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will join the squad later. Experienced members like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra have been rested for the tour. The squad: Suresh Raina (capt), Virat Kohli (vc), Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Pankaj Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Naman Ojha. Coach: Gary Kirsten. Manager: G V K Ranga Rao.

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Japanese veteran upstages Rafa and Justine show

Published>Wed, May 26 10 02:47 AM

On the day King Rafa and Queen Justine took the first steps to reclaiming their Roland Garros thrones, veteran Kimiko Date Krumm eclipsed both former champions with a fairytale victory.

The Japanese, who turns 40 this year, sent 2009 runner-up and recent world No. 1 Dinara Safina packing in three sets despite a calf injury that meant she ended the match hobbling around virtually on one leg.

Rafael Nadal, playing his first match at Roland Garros since his shock fourth-round defeat last year, beat French teenager Gianni Mina 6-2 6-2 6-2 and Justin Henin, also four-times champion, overcame Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.

Sixth seed Andy Roddick avoided a first-round exit at the hands of Finn Jarkko Nieminen with a battling 6-2 4-6 4-6 7-6 6-3 victory.

"It's just a matter of surviving and advance. Today I guess I found a way to get through it," the American said.

Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, fellow Spaniard David Ferrer and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt enjoyed more comfortable routes through while former world number one Maria Sharapova reached the second round just before a late-evening downpour.

Date Krumm made her French Open debut in 1989 when Safina was three but, in her 32nd grand slam, she showed amazing tenacity to outlast the brittle Russian for a 3-6 6-4 7-5 victory. She become the oldest woman to reach the second round at the claycourt slam since Briton Virginia Wade in 1985.

"Today during the match many times I was thinking is it better to retire or not," Date Krumm, who quit the sport in 1996 before her racing driver husband convinced her to return 11 years later, told reporters.

"My condition was very bad. But she started to get a little bit nervous and then started to make easy mistakes. I tried everything. I'm sad for her but very happy for me."

VIRTUALLY EMPTY

Court Suzanne Lenglen was virtually empty when Fernando Verdasco opened the third day by beating Igor Kunitsyn but by the time Date Krumm limped off to make way for Nadal there was not an empty seat in the house.

It is impossible to walk far in Paris without seeing a poster of the Spaniard and after last year's shock loss to Robin Soderling and his subsequent knee problems there was a sense of relief among his adoring fans that the real Rafa was back.

Not that he played anywhere near his best against 18-year-old Mina and his aura will take a while to return.

At times Nadal, who bagged the Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid titles en route to Paris, was surprised by the zest of an opponent with nothing to lose, but was never seriously ruffled.

"I didn't really serve well and I was playing too much from the baseline and I couldn't really move around the way I wanted to because I was too nervous," Nadal, who wore a space-age $425,000 watch, told reporters after his workout against the world No. 655.

"Today, unfortunately I couldn't really play the way I wanted. I was a bit tense, more than usual."

Like Nadal, Henin is a massive fans' favourite at Roland Garros -- a place the Belgian has described as her own private garden.

After a three-year absence she returned to find everything pretty much how she left it before retiring in 2008.

Dressed in a no-nonsense pink skirt and top, she eased back into the old routine with a 6-4 6-3 victory -- her 22nd consecutive win at Roland Garros albeit three years after her 21st sealed a rare hat-trick of titles.

"I was feeling very happy just to be back on centre court," former world number one Henin, who came out of retirement in January, told reporters.

"It's something that I never expected any more. I was here two years ago and last year just as a spectator and I never thought I'll be on this court again. But as soon as I walked in and I was into my match, I felt a lot of things coming back."

Source: Web Search

Hobbling Date Krumm, 39, stuns Safina in Paris

Published>Wed, May 26 10 01:47 AM

Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm made a mockery of a 15-year age gap by stunning former world number one and last year's runner-up Dinara Safina 3-6 6-4 7-5 in the French Open first round on Tuesday.

Date Krumm, 39, made her Roland Garros debut in 1989, when Safina was just three, and with the victory became the second oldest player behind Britain's Virginia Wade to win a main draw women's singles match in Paris since the game went professional.

The Japanese player repeatedly called on the trainer to treat a calf problem during the match and lost the first set in 36 minutes, but Safina lost focus and Date Krumm prevailed after two hours and 34 minutes.

"I am very sad for her, very happy for me. I just tried," Date Krumm said in a courtside interview.

"I was more thinking about her than about myself, what I had to do. I lost the momentum," Safina, who could barely put the ball in court by the end, told reporters.

"In the first set I think I was doing pretty good, but then I got tight and I lost the motion."

The Kyoto-born Date Krumm, who had called it quits in 1996 before returning to the tour two years ago, looked set for a quick drubbing at the hands of last year's finalist when she went 5-0 down in the opening set.

Date Krumm, now 72 in the WTA standings and making her first Roland Garros appearance since 1996, did not panic, however. She managed three games in a row before letting the first set slip.

She went 4-2 down in the second set before reeling off four games as Safina lost her composure, smashing her racket into the ground but sparing the courtside geranium displays.

Safina broke again in the third set to open a 4-1 lead as Date Krumm, her face a mask of pain, stretched at the change of ends and had the tape on her right calf tightened by the trainer.

With her Russian opponent making a string of unforced errors, Date Krumm, who has reached the last four in all grand slams apart from the U.S. Open, simply hung on, waiting for Safina to crack.

The unthinkable eventually happened as Safina fired a forehand long on her first match point.

Source: Web Search

Sharapova breezes into French Open second round

Published Wed, May 26 10 12:47 AM

Maria Sharapova eased into the second round of the French Open with a 6-3 6-2 win over fellow Russian Ksenia Pervak on Tuesday.

Barely bothered by a few drops of rain on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the former world number one, seeded 12th in Paris, was broken early in the opening set before turning on the power.

Sharapova, who won the Strasbourg warm-up tournament last Saturday, ended the contest after one hour and 20 minutes on her third match point.

She will face Belgian Kirsten Flipkens for a place in the third round.

Source: Web Search

Afridi named as Pakistan captain for England tour

Published Wed, May 26 10 12:27 AM

All-rounder Shahid Afridi will captain Pakistan on their tour of England this year after announcing at the weekend he was available again for test cricket after a four-year absence.

Afridi, 30, will lead Pakistan in the four-nation Asia Cup from June 12 and then in the six tests and five one-dayers that Pakistan are scheduled to play against Australia and England.

Former captains Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik, who were recently banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board for indiscipline, have been selected in a 35-man preliminary squad.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has not represented Pakistan for a year because of fitness and disciplinary problems, is also included in the preliminary squad.

Younus and Malik are appealing against their bans while Afridi is appealing against a fine imposed for ball-tampering in Australia this year. Afridi captained Pakistan in the subsequent Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies where the 2009 champions lost to Australia in the semi-finals.

"It is a great honour for me but also a big challenge but test cricket is not like T20 or one-day cricket it is tough and very very challenging," Afridi told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I don't want to make tall claims because we are going through a rebuilding phase in our test team so it is going to be a tough tour for us."

Chief selector Mohsin Khan said Younus and Malik's inclusion was dependent on their appeals succeeding.

"We have included them because we need the best available players for the coming tours. And they have appealed against their bans and the board has also said it will be reviewing their bans," Khan said.

Khan said leg-spinner Danish Kaneria had also been included after clearance from the board although he is facing an inquiry from Essex police for alleged involvement in spot fixing during a county match.

Source: Web Search

INTERVIEW - India fear Commonwealth Games venues will not be ready

Published>Wed, May 26 10 12:11 AM

Construction delays have raised fears that Commonwealth Games venues may not be fully ready in time providing a potential embarrassment for India which hopes the Games will showcase its rising economic power.

The country is expecting two million tourists in New Delhi, as well as athletes from 71 teams from the 54 Commonwealth member states for the Oct. 3-14 Games. About 10,000 athletes and officials are due to take part.

However, with 132 days to go, the main stadium is months overdue and completion of the swimming pool and other venues has been delayed, highlighting the slow pace of India's infrastructure development.

"I am not wanting to sound alarmist, but the reality is there is a lot more to be done, a lot of finishing work to be done," Mike Hooper, chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Games Federation, told Reuters in an interview.

Other officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Indian Olympic Association voiced similar concerns.

India had initially promised to hand over the venues to Games organisers by Dec. 31, 2009.

Targets have been consistently missed for building roads, ports and power plants. Bureaucracy and red tape and difficulties in acquiring land have delayed plans to overhaul infrastructure to sustain 8-9 percent economic growth by 2012.

Experts say poor infrastructure shaves an estimated 1 or 2 percentage points off India's annual economic growth.

The capital is also repairing old colonial buildings and completing new roads and rail links to give the city a makeover to try to ensure a successful event.

DEADLINES MISSED

But the signs have not been encouraging.

"The construction agencies have promised that they will meet deadlines but, unfortunately, we have had times when many promises were made and then we find one reason or another that delivery hasn't been there," Hooper said.

Authorities now fear the schedule will become so tight they will have insufficient time to check venues for glitches before the Games open.

Heightening those fears, the lights went out at a stadium on the first day of an Asian junior tennis tournament on Monday, forcing officials to abandon eight matches.

"The Games will happen, swimming will happen, athletics will happen," Hooper said. "But it comes down to the level and standards of completion, I suppose."

India is also endeavouring to reassure foreign participants that it will provide foolproof security for the Commonwealth Games.

Threats to sporting events were underscored in April when bombs went off outside a packed cricket stadium in south India. That stirred concerns India might not be able to secure events involving large numbers of athletes and spectators at a variety of venues.

A comprehensive setup to provide security, including high-tech scanners and X-ray equipment, has yet to be purchased by authorities, let alone installed at venues, officials say. Thousands of security staff will oversee the venues.

Hooper said he was wary of threats by mostly Pakistan-based militant groups but said security drills had been satisfactory so far.

"Everybody is concerned about the security environment... but no team has said we are not coming to the Games," Hooper said.

Source: Web Search

Wednesday's order of play at the French Open

Published Wed, May 26 10 12:07 AM

Order of play for the fourth day of the French Open on Wednesday (all matches second round, prefix denotes seedings, times GMT)

Court Philippe Chatrier - play starts 0900

Arantxa Parra Santonja (Spain) v 2-Venus Williams (U.S.)

1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) v Alejandro Falla (Colombia)

Fabio Fognini (Italy) v 13-Gael Monfils (France)

5-Elena Dementieva (Russia) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain)

Court Suzanne Lenglen - play starts 0900GMT

Taylor Dent (U.S.) v 5-Robin Soderling (Sweden)

Josselin Ouanna (France) v 8-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)

15-Aravane Rezai (France) v Angelique Kerber (Germany)

Tathiana Garbin (Italy) v 3-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

Court One - play starts at 0900

Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) v Julien Benneteau (France)

6-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) v Andrea Petkovic (Germany)

4-Andy Murray (Britain) v Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina)

Stephanie Cohen Aloro (France) v 11-Li Na (China)

Source: Web Search

S.Africa's home-based players give coach headache

Published>Tue, May 25 10 11:27 PM

South Africa's home-based squad players have made such a dramatic improvement that the host country's European contingent face a struggle to secure their usual starting places for the World Cup finals.

"It's a good problem for a coach to (have) but it is giving me a headache," coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said as he mulled who to select before trimming his squad to 23.

"I have to make some tough decisions," he added.

His dilemma is whether to stick by the home-based players he has worked with continuously since March or make room in an improving team for more experienced, overseas-based players.

South Africa finished their league season early in February to allow Parreira to take the best domestic-based players for intensive training camps in Brazil and Germany.

This group now seems to have an edge over many of the European-based players, who have only joined the World Cup preparations in the last fortnight.

"The competition is very tough between the overseas and home based players," the coach added.

Parreira, who plans to name his final squad on May 31 as they prepare for group matches with Mexico, Uruguay and France, started with the South Africa-based players against Bulgaria in a warm-up match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Monday.

After a 1-1 draw in which Siyabonga Sangweni opened the scoring before Valeri Bojinov equalised, Parreira again expressed his delight at the progress of his team.

KHUBONI PRAISED

Teko Modise, playing his 50th international in three years, led the way in a playmaking role and Parreira heaped particular praise on Thanduyise Khuboni, virtually unknown before this season but now entrenched in a holding midfield role.

"He is man of the match game after game. We were laughed at when we first introduced him," said Parreira.

In the second half, the coach did introduce some of his 10 foreign-based players for the first time since last November including Portsmouth defender Aaron Mokoena, Fulham midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and Israeli-based left back Tsepo Masilela.

But a cold sidelined West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar was not used after having an extra week to rest before joining the squad last Friday.

McCarthy's fitness and podgy frame has been the subject of much media coverage in South Africa over the last week and he now faces a tough fight to get into the starting lineup for the opening World Cup match against Mexico on June 11.

However, he is not the only established player who will have a tough fight to break into the lineup for the finals starting on June 11 when South Africa play Mexico at Soccer City.

Parreira made it clear many top names will now find it hard to win places in the team that they usually take for granted.

"It is always difficult to establish a shape and I am not intending to change the shape of the team now," said Parreira.

South Africa had been given little chance of making any impact at the finals but they are now gaining in confidence.

For their next World Cup warm-up against Colombia on Thursday at Johannesburg's Soccer City, Parreira said he would only tinker slightly and keep down the number of changes.

"I want the team to be settled," he said.

Source: Web Search

Modi demands Shashank Manohar,Srinivasan to be removed from probe panel

Published>Tue, May 25 10 11:07 PM

Mumbai, May 25 (ANI): Suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi on Tuesday hit back at Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar and Secretary N Srinivasan, asserting that both should be removed from the proceedings against him.

"Shashank Manohar and Srinivasan have conflict of interest against me," said Modi in his e-mail to the BCCI.

"There should be an independent body to adjudicate the show-cause notice served to him by the BCCI," he added.

Modi further charged the BCCI President of playing an important role in the bid for the newly formed Kochi team.

"Manohar used my phone, e-mail to contact Sahara Group and Dainik Bhaskar on bids. Manohar was fully aware of details of TV rights to Sony-MSM. I have documentary evidence to support the latest charges," said Modi.

Earlier on May 10, the BCCI granted Modi five more days to respond to a showcause notice served to him on April 26.

Modi was given a showcause notice by the BCCI on charges of financial irregularity.

There are five main charges against Modi, ranging from receiving kickbacks for allotting TV broadcast rights to indiscipline and leveling baseless charges against the BCCI.

He is also facing charges of rigging the bidding of two new IPL teams, which were eventually won by Sahara and the Kochi IPL consortium and also for being a ghost owner in three IPL teams. .

Modi has claimed that he has submitted most of the relevant IPL documents.

They include all franchisee agreements, global media rights agreements, the global media rights packages, bid documents, media rights licensee agreements, eligibility letters of all bidders with details and all sponsorship agreements entered into by IPL. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

FIH lets HI defer poll date, government stalls process

Published>Tue, May 25 10 10:37 PM

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Even as Hockey India received support from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for deferring its elections, the sports ministry Tuesday directed the ad hoc body not to go ahead with the poll process in view of the Delhi High Court judgment quashing the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) de-recognition of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

The communication by the sports ministry was sent immediately after HI released a statement from FIH that it could now hold the election of its office-bearers before July 5 instead of the earlier May 31 deadline.

FIH secretary general Peter L. Cohen in a letter to HI secretary general Narinder Batra said the world body is disappointed that HI elections will not be held before May 31, but said no action will be taken against it.

'I note your advice that the date for the elections of the Board of Hockey India is set for July 5, 2010. This is well outside the deadline previously advised to and approved by FIH of 31 May, 2010. The FIH is very disappointed that the deadline cannot be met,' Cohen wrote.

'You have asked FIH to extend the May 31 deadline but this FIH cannot do. However, I can advise that, provided that the elections are held on or before July 5, 2010, thereafter Hockey India is and remains the sole governing body for hockey in India. Hockey India is administered in accordance with its statutes as approved by the FIH and it will not take any further action in the meantime.'

Cohen said that FIH is interested to see HI fully constituted so that the sport in India will develop and flourish. 'FIH has no desire to penalize anyone, least of all the players.'

'I look forward to your positive advice that all processes are in place and that the elections are held on or before 5 July, 2010.'

The sports ministry, however, told HI not to initiate the election process.

'In the light of the high court judgment in the matter of Indian Hockey Federation Vs UOI & others, whereby Hon'ble high court has quashed the suspension and disaffiliation/de-recognition orders passed by Indian Olympic Association and Union of India, you are advised to not take further action with regard to holding of elections till the entire matter is examined in consultation with the Ministry of Law,' said the letter sent by an under secretary in the sports ministry.

Source: Web Search

Modi's stunning charges against Manohar, Srinivasan

Published>Tue, May 25 10 10:23 PM

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Lalit Modi, the suspended chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Tuesday came up with startling discolsures of serious misuse of power by Indian cricket board president Shashank Manohar and secretary N. Srinivasan, pointing out their culpability in a number of decisions, which he alleged were illegal and fradulent.

Modi asked Manohar and Srinivasan to recuse themselves from all proceeding regarding showcause notice to him and to constitute an independent panel to adjudicate as they are party to all the decisions as IPL Governing Council members.

As IANS reported May 14, Modi had prepared a long charge-sheet against Manohar and Srinivasan along with his reply to the showcause notice slapped on him on April 26.

After waiting for ten days for the chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a view on it, Modi sent out his 14-page charge-sheet against the two top officials to all GC members.

Modi in his letter pointed out how Manohar was solely invovled in some charges levelled against himself in the BCCI notice. He pointed out that the controversial decision to scrap the initial opening of tenders was taken by Manohar and it was he who went out of his way to entertain former minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor and accept the Kochi bid much after the lapse of deadline.

Modi's charges against Srinivasan were much more serious. He accused the BCCI secretary of manipulating the minutes of the board meetings, players' auction for the third edition and the appointment of umpires in the second IPL in South Africa to help his team, Chennai Super Kings, misusing his office as the board secretary.

Modi revealed another startling fact, which was part of former BCCI president A.C. Muthaiah's contention before a court: That the BCCI's constitution to allow Srinivasan to own an IPL team was never amended, and that he has submitted a false affidavit in the court to justify his dual status, with the connivance of Manohar and IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah.

'Muthiah has raised the issue relating to conflict of interest. It is unfortunate that to protect the position of Mr. Srinivasan, false statements have been made in pleadings filed in court.'

'No such amendment was ever made and the secretary has filed false affidavits in the Hon'ble High Court to support his own case. In the proceedings filed by Mr. Muthiah, it has been stated by the Honorary Secretary on oath that the Regulation 6.2.4 was amended after an action taken report was filed by the two-member committee consisting of Mr. Shashank Manohar and Mr. Niranjan Shah recommending amendment,' Modi said.

'I state that no such committee was ever appointed, no recommendation was ever made, no special general body meeting approving such report and such amendment ever took place, and hence Mr. Shashank Manohar (the present president), Mr. Niranjan Shah, the Vice Chairman IPL and Mr. N.Srinavasan have connived and played not only on the members of the board but also on the Hon'ble Court,' Modi claimed.

'I further state that the minutes of the Annual General Body Meeting dated 28th September, 2008, were written up by the honorary secretary in a manner to reflect a position which is simply not true, when the same were presented for approval in the A.G.M in September, 2009.'

'These documents were created or fabricated only post a notice was issued by Mr. A.C Mutthaiah to the honorary president, asking the president to look into this matter and issue a show cause notice to Mr. N Srinivasan for violating the regulation 6.2.4 of the Regulations.

'Since I have been opposed to this manner of functioning from the very inception, it is obvious that to protect his position, the Hon secretary has good reason not just to defame me but also to find me guilty of these imaginary wrong doings alleged in the show cause notice.'

Modi cited innumerable cases of Srinivasan's conflict of interest and also charged him with causing the board a loss of $60 million by allowing Zee to withdraw its tender deposit.

Modi reminded Manohar that all GC decisions were gone twice over by him as GC member as well as board president and they have all been ratified by both the bodies.

As for tender bids, Modi stated that GC and approved them after consultations among the members, including that of M/s Emerging Media and so Manohar would be a potential witness in any legal proceedings. All aspects about Emerging Media were well known to not only Manohar but also the entire GC, including that the franchisee would be an Indian company of 100 per cent subsidairy of Mauritius holding company.

Modi also countered the charge that Manoj Badale is not part of the Jaipur franchisee, saying the board chief was very much aware of his credentials as a leading businessman and that he has no direct or indirect interest in the Jaipur franchise.

As for the allegation that he failed to disclose that his co-brother Suresh Chellaram was bidding for Rajasthan, Modi clarified that he has no direct or indirect interest in the franchise.

'Mr. Suresh Chellaram is an independent business man and man of extensive financial resources. It is further submitted that he is my co-brother is known to all, including you from many years.'

Modi refuted the allegation that he tried rigging the bids in favour of two business houses for the two new teams added for the fourth edition of the IPL.

He pointed out that the bids were processed and vetted by the board's corporate lawyers and counsel Ms Akhila Kaushik, who 'also happens to be an ex-junior of your father V.R. Manohar.'

The suspended IPL chairman also reminded Manohar that he was party to the decision that the net worth of the bidder should be $ 1 billion and that he discussed the issue of deposit also with him at the GC meeting on March 7 and got his approval.

Modi said the decision to cancel the March 6 tenders was taken by Manohar 'without any consultation with the GC members' and went into a lengthy explanation on how the board chief interfered with the process.

He said, in fact, it was Manohar who pitched in for Tharoor to include the bid of Rendezvous after the deadline had lapsed.

'You wanted me to wait till the Kochi bid came from Delhi,' Modi said, adding that the board chief spoke to Tharoor and his secretary several times after he refused to entertain the minister's request for extension of deadline.

Atttacking Srinivasan for manipulating the auction of players for the third edition, Modi said the secretary used his power to alter the auction rules specifically for himself to ensure the Chennai Super Kings could retain their full purse of $2 million -- although the purse available to him was only $1.85 million as circulated prior to the auction.

'Despite my opposition he used his clout as secretary to pressure the management to accept back-dated player contracts and cancel the contracts of one of his players so that he could have his full purse and thereby have a advantage in the bidding process.'

Modi alleged that Srinivasan made every effort to stop West Indies all-rounder Keiron Pollard from playing for Mumbai Indians by raising frivolous issues with the West Indies Board because his Chennai Super Kings were also interested in the player.

'Here again the actions of the Hon. secretary were a brazen act of abuse of power.'

Indo-Asian News Service

--vs/av/vt

Source: Web Search

Sports Ministry asks HI not to proceed for elections

Published Tue, May 25 10 09:53 PM

New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) The Sports Ministry today asked the Hockey India (HI) to suspend its election process in the wake of the Delhi High Court order reviving the Indian Hockey Federation (FIH). The Ministry today wrote a letter to the Secretary General of the Hockey India Narinder Batra asking him not to take any further action with regard to holding of the HI elections. "In the light of the High Court Judgment... whereby Hon''ble High Court has quashed the suspension and disaffiliation/de-recognition orders passed by Indian Olympic Association and Union of India, you are advised to not to take further action with regard to holding of elections till the entire matter is examined in consultation with Ministry of Law," the letter said. The controversial elections has been postponed thrice due to legal hurdles and other issues. The election which was supposed to be held last year, was pushed back to January 29 after HI failed to give a mandatory 21-day notice to the Sports Ministry for the same. It was again deferred to February 7 because of a stay order from the Rajasthan High Court after which the International Hockey Federation (FIH) set the May 31 as the final deadline.

Source: Web Search

Garzelli wins Giro 16th stage, Arroyo leads

Published Tue, May 25 10 09:47 PM

Italian Stefano Garzelli of the Acqua e Sapone team won the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, a mountain time trial.

Spain's David Arroyo remained the race leader.

Source: Web Search

Mandela chooses Brit tune for World Cup song

Published>Tue, May 25 10 06:09 PM

Johannesburg, May 25 (ANI): Former South African President Nelson Mandela has chosen a tune written by two British songwriters as World Cup anthem.

Rock legend Russ Ballard, lead singer and guitarist of Argent, and solo artist Chris Winter are the names behind the song Hope which will open the World Cup competition on June 11, the Daily Express reports.pera star Siphiwo Ntshebe, 34, who grew up in a shack in Port Elizabeth, will perform the song, which incorporates classical strings, a full choir and African drums.

Mandela, 91, has pre-recorded a spoken segment but it is hoped he will be able to perform live.

"Three billion viewers is a pretty good advert for any musician," a delighted Ballard, 64, told the Daily Express.

"I think I will shed a tear if Mr. Mandela is strong enough to make it in person. It's a great honour and his spoken contribution to the song is very impressive and uplifting," he added.

Hope is released as a single on June 6 and is the title track of Siphiwo's debut album, also titled Hope, to be released by Epic Records on June 14. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Eoin Morgan should effectively use T20 skills in Test format: Vaughan

Published>Tue, May 25 10 05:53 PM

London, May 25 (ANI): Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan has said T20 specialist Eoin Morgan should exhibit all his natural shots in Tests.

"Eoin Morgan has already been a trailblazer in his short career, and now, he is in position to kickstart a new era by becoming the first Twenty20 specialist to be picked for an England Test team," The Telegraph quoted Vaughan as saying.

Due to Paul Collingwood's unavailability, Morgan with a first-class average of 36.54 has been elevated to the Test squad for the opening match against Bangladesh.

By showing the mental aptitude of performing in high-pressure situations, Morgan has earned his place in the Test squad.

"It was a different era when I came through but what is interesting is he is the first Test cricketer produced by the T20 system. A lot of people in this country are still scared of T20. But it is here to stay and Eoin Morgan has come through it and no doubt has the temperament to succeed and cope with the pressures of the big stage," said Vaughan.

"His technique against pace we have not seen, and we will see a bit more of that against Pakistan. But I like his manner. He plays all his shots from a good position and whether he is reversing, hitting over the top or driving the ball, he has a good solid base. I don't see him having any problems," he added.

England's coach Andy Flower too has backed Eoin's selection. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Sports ministry accuses IOA of misleading IOC

Published>Tue, May 25 10 05:47 PM

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Firm on fixing tenure and age limits for sports bodies and their chiefs despite threats of sanctions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Sports Ministry Tuesday shot off another letter to IOC seeking an early meeting to sort out the issue.

The ministry also charged Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh, also an IOC member, with not consulting them before raising the issue with the world body.

The IOC had intervened in the ongoing battle between the IOA and the ministry over restoration of the 1975 government guidelines that limited the tenure of office-bearers of sports bodies.

IOC in a letter dated May 21 held out a veiled threat to the union sports ministry that the country's apex sports body would face 'sanctions' if the government did not stop meddling in the affairs of the sports bodies by fixing the tenure and age limit of their office-bearers.

In his reply to IOC president Jacques Rogge, Injeti Srinivas, secretary in the sports ministry, said they are yet to receive an official copy of the letter jointly written by IOC and Olympic Council of Asia, and said: 'It was released to the Indian media by the IOC member from India.'

'It is unfortunate that the IOC member (Randhir Singh) from India has not even cared to consult us before taking up this matter with you. In our view, therefore, this is an attempt to create a false situation of crisis, by a few interested persons, whose only aim is to protect their unduly long tenures in the IOA and the (National Sports Federations) NSFs. Moreover, the matter is sub-judice. It is, therefore, imperative that the matter is not escalated any further at this stage.

'He (Randhir) is fully aware of the proceedings before the Delhi High Court, as IOA is a respondent, in the ongoing public interest litigation. Further, as the Secretary General of OCA, he is conversant with the sports legislations of Malaysia and Sri Lanka. However, it appears that IOC has not been apprised by him of the national perspective in its entirety, thereby exposing his conflict of interest as well, since he has been holding the post of secretary general, IOA, for over two decades.'

Srinivas said the government has not imposed any new regulation.

'It only restores with prospective effect, the tenure regulation of 1975, which was put on hold in October 2001. The Delhi High Court is continuing its hearings on this issue, and on other matters concerning good governance in sports.

'We would like to mention that the tenure regulation was accepted by the IOA and all recognised NSFs when they were introduced in 1975. In fact, the NSFs had sought time up to 1st December 1975, and IOA up to 31st January 1976, to incorporate them in their respective constitutions. Consequently, many federations incorporated them in their constitutions, only to have them later deleted unilaterally.'

The ministry said they have studied regulations prevalent in more than 30 countries before taking the decision and gave a detailed account of the 'countries which enacted sports legislations, which contain several mandatory provisions that their sports federations have to conform, to obtain recognition and financial support from the government.'

The ministry also pointed out that the Olympic Charter requires the National Olympic Committee and the NSFs to secure and maintain their autonomy through good governance; financial independence; and coordination, cooperation and consultation with the government. None of these requirements have been fulfilled in the present case.

'We are confident that IOC will acquaint itself with the full facts before forming any view in the present case. We expect that our meeting with you can be scheduled early to enable a comprehensive appreciation of the entire matter.'

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BCCI to decide on team sponsors on May 31

Published>Tue, May 25 10 05:09 PM

Cricket Board's marketing committee is to meet in Mumbai on May 31 to wrap up the much-delayed team sponsorship details for which the BCCI issued a tender notice inviting bids on Monday.

"The marketing committee of the BCCI will meet on the 31st to decide on the team sponsorship. It will be chaired by the President (Shashank Manohar)," BCCI sources told said.

BCCI's deal with Sahara Group for team sponsorship is coming to an end next month-end and it has invited bids from companies for sponsoring four Indian squads, including the much sought-after men's outfit.

The Board has fixed Rs 2.25 crore as the base price per match for the bids for all three formats for the men's outfit - Tests, ODIs and T20s, it was learned.

The tender notice, issued by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, called for firms to bid for sponsorship of the men's, women's, India A and India under 19 teams, indicating the documents would be available from May 24 for a non-refundable payment of Rs 5 lakh.

It said all bidders need to fulfil the eligibility criteria set up by the Board as well as other requirements as mentioned in the bid document.

Submission of the bids has also to be done as per conditions outlined and the Board reserved its rights "to cancel or amend the entire bidding process at any stage and to reject any and/or all bids without providing any reasons, including calling for a re-tender."

Sahara, which has supported the Indian team for several years as its main sponsor, recently bid successfully for the new Pune IPL franchise for a staggering Rs 1700 crore.

Sahara will review its sponsorship to the Indian cricket team, Group chief Subroto Roy had said after winning the IPL franchise bid on March 23.

Sahara had bagged the sponsorship for the Indian cricket team for Rs 400 crore for a four-year period ending December 2009, and agreed to continue for six more months as BCCI could not find any sponsors.

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Afridi named captain for Asia Cup, tour of England

Published>Tue, May 25 10 04:53 PM

Lahore, May 25(ANI): Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been named the captain of the national team for the Asia Cup and the tour of England.

Announcing the decision, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt said that Afridi had the confidence of all players during the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, and that was the reason behind him getting the captaincy.

"It is a quality of a captain that he fosters cooperation and good relations among the players while following the rules and regulations of the game. Afridi has done all that," The News quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt further said that the names of the 30 players for the England tour will be announced after the upcoming meeting.

The Asia Cup will be played in Sri Lanka from June 15 to 25, while the series against Australia and England will be played between July and August. (ANI)

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Vettori says two-month break before tours welcome

Published>Tue, May 25 10 04:37 PM

London, May 25 (ANI): New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori has said that his side welcomes a two-month break before the beginning of four consecutive tours to the subcontinent, including the World Cup to be played in February.

"New Zealand's 2009-10 season officially ended today with a whimper in Florida, as they posted just 81 in the second Twenty20 international before Sri Lanka cruised home by seven wickets to level the series 1-1," reports Stuff.co.nz.

It was the first series to be played in the United States. The New Zealand players, however, failed to impress the spectators and failed on a sub-standard pitch at the otherwise impressive Broward County Cricket Stadium in Lauderhill. The next Kiwi tour begins on August 2 in Dambulla in a tri-series to be played between New Zealand, India and hosts Sri Lanka.

Vettori said his side would take full advantage of the break and try to perform exceptionally well in their next assignment.

"I think all the guys are ready for it. They have been going non-stop for about nine-10 months so everyone's due a break," said Vettori.

"We have got to make sure that we use this break to try and improve as a side and when we go to Sri Lanka we're ready to try and win over there," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Dhoni gives a miss to graduation exams again

Published Tue, May 25 10 04:23 PM

Ranchi, May 25 (PTI) The Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies forced India cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to skip his graduation exams for the second consecutive year. Dhoni, who is enrolled with St Xaviers College here to study Office Management and Secretarial Practices (OMSP), thus failed in his exam for the second time. Last year also he did not appear in the exams as dates of the T20 World Cup in England clashed with it. "Yes it is true, that Indian skipper MS Dhoni did not take exams," examination controller Prof. Ajit Kumar Sinha told PTI. India were ousted from the World Cup after losing all the Super Eights matches. Prof Sinha said that the examination of the fourth semester began on May 10 and will conclude on May 29 whereas the World Cup began on April 30 and concluded on May 16. The entire programme is of six semesters, spread over three years but Dhoni had hardly attended any class because of a busy cricket schedule. Dhoni missed the first semester exams and has not been able to clear his Part I exams either, said Prof Sinha. Dhoni has the option to clear all his papers in six semesters within a period of five years but till date he has not appeared for even a single paper. After completing his schooling from DAV School nearly a decade ago, Dhoni had sought admission to the college in 2008 for his graduation under sports quota and was exempted from attending classes because of his cricketing commitments. Vice Chancellor of the Ranchi University Prof. AA Khan said St Xaviers College is an autonomous College of the University and conduct exams on its own.

Source: Web Search

Jose Mourinho doesn't mind Cristiano Ronaldo partying with Paris Hilton

Published>Tue, May 25 10 04:09 PM

London, May 25 (ANI): Jose Mourinho, who is set to become the coach of Real Madrid, says he has no problem with the club's star player Cristiano Ronaldo's partying habits, as long as he plays well.

The coach added he had no queries over the Portuguese spending time with hotel heiress and party animal Paris Hilton.

"Cristiano is a phenomenon. Nobody can criticise him if he is with Paris Hilton on holiday, or he goes to Los Angeles, or he buys a Ferrari," the Sun quoted Mourinho, as saying.

He added: "Somebody who works and plays the way he does is from another world.

"Of course, I will enjoy coaching him. He will be extremely easy to coach.

"But I don't think Cristiano is pleased even after having an incredible season or scoring 26 goals in La Liga. He's not happy because he's not won titles." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Mary Kom in Asian C''ship quarterfinals

Published Tue, May 25 10 03:53 PM

New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Four-time world champion M C Mary Kom stormed into the quarterfinals with a thumping first-round triumph on an all-win day for the Indians at the fifth Asian Women''s Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Mary Kom, a Khel Ratna awardee, defeated Filipino Josie Gabeuco 8-1 in a lopsided bout to enter the pin weight (46kg) category quarterfinals. The other Indian in action yesterday, Venlal Duati (48kg) was even more dominant as she out-classed Kyrgyzstan''s Rahatova Nazira in just over a minute to march ahead. The Manipuri was leading 9-0 when the referee awarded the bout to her. Duati too is into the quarterfinals now. Mary Kom, who won a silver in the previous edition of the event in Guwahati, said it was not too tough a bout to start with. "It wasn''t very difficult. I have got a good draw, it shouldn''t be too tough but then, I am not taking anybody lightly either. Upsets happen, it''s an unpredictable sport but I am confident about myself," Mary Kom told PTI from Astana. Mary Kom took a 3-0 lead in the opening round. She kept widening the gap with every round and didn''t let Gabeuco strike a single scoring blow after the lone punch she managed in the second round of the bout. India, which finished third in the previous edition of the event with three gold and two silver medals, have an 11-strong presence this year, comprising former world champions and other international medallists. In all, 16 countries are participating in the tournament. PTI PM AT

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Plot to smear Beckham in a bid to wreck England World Cup hopes

Published>Tue, May 25 10 03:37 PM

London, May 25 (ANI): In a bid to wreck England's World Cup hopes in South Africa, ace footballer David Beckham was at the center of "dirty tricks" and unfounded personal allegations when he touched down in the UK from Afghanistan.

He was the innocent victim of claims made in an attempt to disrupt England's preparations for the tournament, which kicks off in South Africa in just 17 days.

They were printed in an Australian magazine, but soon spread across the globe, the Daily Star reports.

Sources close to the Beckhams described the allegations as "complete nonsense", and said the injured football ace was considering legal action to defend his reputation.

A spokesman for the Beckhams dismissed the false allegations concerning David's private life, insisting: "There is nothing to discuss."

Although Beckham is not fit to play, he is travelling with the squad to South Africa as a goodwill ambassador.

Sources believe it is no coincidence that England's highest-profile star should be the target of a dirty tricks campaign. (ANI)

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The Highest-Paid Coaches In Sports

Published>Tue, May 25 10 02:53 PM

Tom Van Riper, Forbes.com

Phil Jackson is arrogant, condescending and wacky. His shtick over two decades as an NBA coach includes whining over alleged preferential treatment of opponents by referees and throwing barbs at opposing players and coaches who he thinks play too physically, all while trying to impart Zen wisdom on his players.

That "I know better than you" smirk Jackson regularly flashes from the bench has been grating on opponents and viewers for years. Nonetheless, a 0.705 career winning percentage and 10 championships say there's one thing you also have to call Jackson: the best coach in pro sports. Put that together with a glamour franchise, a big market and a relationship with the owner's daughter, and it's no wonder he's paid over $10 million per year, easily ahead of every other coach in American sports.

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Jackson, who currently has the Los Angeles Lakers up two games to none in the Western Conference finals, is trying to add to his own record by taking an 11th championship ring as an NBA coach. Even with the good fortune he's had to coach superstars Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, Jackson's run of titles is pretty astounding in the modern NBA of 30 teams and four playoff rounds.

Legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who presided over a dynasty during the late 1950s and '60s, won his nine championships during an era in which the league had eight and then nine teams, two playoff rounds and limited player movement. That's not to diminish Auerbach--he's one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time--but a modern coach with more rings than Bill Belichick and Joe Torre combined has a strong case for best-ever status.

The runners-up to Jackson in the money department: NFL Super Bowl winners Belichick and Mike Shanahan (just lured back to the sidelines by the Redskins a year after being let go by Denver), and veteran NBA coach Larry Brown, all of whom earn annual salaries around $7 million.

Not surprisingly, all of the 10 highest-paid coaches hail from the NBA or NFL. They have a salary-boosting career option that coaches in Major League Baseball and other sports don't--a lucrative college business. Big-time coaching gigs in college football and basketball can pay as much as many pro jobs. Industry observers generally point to the hiring of college hoop hot-shots John Calipari by the New Jersey Nets and Rick Pitino by the Boston Celtics in the 1990s as the main triggers that sent NBA coaching salaries upward.

Other NBA coaches on the top 10 list: in slots six through eight are New York's Mike D'Antoni, San Antonio's Gregg Popovich and Golden State's Don Nelson, the league's all-time regular season wins leader, all making around $6 million per year.

To the extent that coaching offers serve as a barometer of confidence in an improving sports economy, some recent NFL moves are certainly encouraging. Following a period in which several highly paid veterans (Shanahan, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren) walked away or were let go, replaced by younger, cheaper coaches, spending is picking up in some quarters. After a year off following his dismissal by the Broncos, Shanahan was handed a five-year, $35 million deal by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, complete with control over the football operation, with marching orders to turn around the franchise.

The Seattle Seahawks forked over a nearly identical contract to pluck Pete Carroll from the college ranks, along with eating the remaining $12 million on former coach Jim Mora's salary. A veteran coach who had scant NFL success in the 1990s with the Jets and Patriots, Carroll was able to burst into the NFL high-rent district after creating a juggernaut at the University of Southern California, where he went 97-19 with a pair of national championships from 2001 to 2009.

Source: Web Search

Afridi to captain Pakistan in all three formats

Published Tue, May 25 10 02:23 PM

Karachi, May 25 (PTI) Pakistan''s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi is all set to take over the reins of the ODI and Test side as well for the upcoming Asia Cup and the tour of England. Although the board was yet to make a formal announcement in this regard, sources confirmed that Afridi along with team manager Yawar Saeed today met Butt in his office to discuss the future tours where the flamboyant all-rounder was offered the captaincy for all three formats of the game. "The meeting also discussed the scenario in view of yesterday''s meeting of the National Assembly standing committee on sports which recommended that the bans and fines on players be removed," a source said. "Afridi was asked by the chairman whether he had any problems accepting Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik back in the team and he said no he was fine with their presence in the Test side," the source added. This is the first time that Afridi will lead Pakistan in Tests and the all-rounder himself has not played any since mid 2006 in England. "Yawar''s presence indicates how influential a role he is wielding these days in the cricket affairs because he was the one who convinced Afridi to make himself available for the Tests as well," another source said. After their meeting, Afridi and Butt went into a discussion with the national selection committee at the Gaddafi stadium for the finalisation of the names of 30 probables for the Asia Cup and England tour. Former captain, Younis Khan, who today left for England to play for county Surrey until mid-July, is expected to be named in the probables for the England tour. Fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar is also expected to be recalled in the short list of players. Pakistan, after playing in the Asia Cup in June, will leave for England to play two-Test series against Australia and then a four-Test series against England. They will also feature in four T20 internationals and five one-dayers on the tour. Afridi recently led Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies where they lost to Australia in the semi-finals.

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