Coleen could pocket 10m pounds if she divorces Wayne Rooney

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 12:07 PM

London, Sep 06 (ANI): Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen could fetch 10million pounds if she divorces the love rat footballer.

"If the Rooneys are worth around 35million pounds together, it would seem right that Coleen would be awarded around 10million pounds," the Sun quoted top divorce lawyer Ellen Kerr as saying.

"They have a child so she would have to be given enough money to secure his future and she would take a larger share of the house if it was sold.

"Those nights with another woman have cost him dearly," added Kerr.

He could also lose up to 6million pounds in "family man" sponsorship deals.

Finance expert Adam Johns said: "Rooney's philandering will hit him in the wallet. He could lose millions." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

ICC never deals with corruption properly: Boycott

Mon, Sep 06 10 11:51 AM

London, Sep 6 (PTI) Former England cricket captain Geoffrey Boycott today said the ICC has never dealt with corruption cases involving Pakistan properly and the body should hand over the latest spot-fixing scandal to ex-players such as him if it cannot punish the implicated players hard enough. "It is no coincidence that Pakistan are repeatedly implicated in these scandals because they never deal with them properly," Boycott said. "People might get suspended or banished from the team, but within a few months the regime changes, and they are back again, as if nothing happened," he added. Boycott said the ICC''s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit can take the help of former players in dealing with the case if it cannot act on its own. "I can promise you, we wouldn''t mess about," he said. Boycott also criticised Pakistan for defending the trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir who have been implicated in the spot-fixing row following a British tabloid''s sting operation. "Pakistan must join the rest of the world in deploring what happened at Lords. There is no point them trying to turn a blind eye," Boycott wrote in ''The Daily Telegraph''. "The evidence looks so bad that, whatever the police make of this case, the ACSU will be under pressure to take strong action," the former batsman said. "Within the disciplinary hearings, the burden of proof might as well be reversed: it is up to the players to prove themselves innocent." Boycott took a sympathetic view of Aamir who is just 18 and the youngest bowler to take 50 Test wickets. "Tell the truth about what took place and he can get off with a lighter sentence. If he won''t play ball, then make an example of him," he wrote. "I feel for Aamir, because any 18-year-old is likely to get dragged along by his seniors. But I still believe that he deserves a lengthy ban -- seven years, perhaps -- if he is shown to have bowled no-balls to order," he said. However, Boycott said Butt and Asif do not deserve any mercy if they are found guilty. "They should be treated even more harshly, because they have no excuse. It looks like a crime against cricket".

Source: Published>

'Pak cricket has suffered the greatest setback', says Imran Khan

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 11:47 AM

Islamabad, Sep 6(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan reckons that the latest revelations in the 150,000-pound 'spot-fixing' scandal would further damage cricket in the country.

"Pakistan cricket has suffered the greatest setback and it's going on and on with further claims of players' involvement," The Daily Times quoted Imran, as saying.

He further called for stronger 'institutions' in the country to prevent corruption undermining the sport in the future.

"This whole episode of cricket reflects what is happening in the country. We have to make our institutions strong because the future of the country is bright and we should not spoil it," Imran said.

"We are regarded as a corrupt country because our institutions are not strong and the same thing is happening in cricket because of ad-hocism in the game," he added.

Pakistan's 'spot-fixing' crisis deepened on Sunday after British tabloid News of The World revealed evidence of opening batsman Yasir Hameed claiming that some of his team-mates had been fixing 'almost every cricket match.'

Hameed's interview followed last Sunday's allegations that captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir had accepted offers from London-based agent Mazher Majeed to deliberately bowl 'no-balls' during the Lord's Test against England.

Meanwhile, News of The World also said that they can "shatter the ludicrous claims" that Pakistani cricketers were victims of a "set up".

The tabloid claims that they have cast-iron proof with timed evidence from e-mails, text messages, phone records, videos and receipts.

"We have dated receipts showing our reporters picked up 140,000 pounds from a London travel agents and took a hired car to the London hotel where our undercover Investigations Editor Mazher Mahmood met match fixer Mazhar Majeed to hand over the cash," the tabloid said.

Police possess CCTV footage from the hotel showing Mahmood and Majeed arriving separately for the meeting on August 25. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Rooney's lust puts paid to his role model past

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 11:45 AM

London, Sept 6 (ANI): There was no one who could be more boring off pitch than Wayne Rooney - the man who would head straight home after a match and never even went to a nightclub - a role model for many, but that was a few months earlier.

To say that the spate of his scandals involving the prostitute Jenny Thompson have tarnished his squeaky clean image would be an understatement.

"People look up to you. You are role models whether you like it or not. You need to do things well for kids to see," The Sun quoted Rooney as saying, back in March.

"When I first joined United I used to go out to nightclubs but it is very rare I would go out to a nightclub now. It changes with age and I made that decision myself," he had said.

But by June, Rooney was a completely changed man, and not for the better.

Constantly edgy, picking away at his arm, not making eye contact, he was in a sad state, appearing to have weighty matters on his mind. Perhaps his past life had caught up with him after all.

There were rumours he would not travel to tomorrow night's qualifier in Switzerland but these were firmly denied by the FA for whom a spokesman added, "It's business as usual."

"Some people might turn round and say, 'I've had enough, I don't need this, I just want to play football. But, whatever job you do, there will be things you like and things you don't and that comes with the territory," said James Milner.

"It's pointless saying what's ideal and what we'd like because that is the way it is and we get on with it. It would help if your life wasn't scrutinised with what you're doing in your personal life but that's football," Milner said.

"There's nothing wrong with having a drink at the right time. It's spot-on for players who want to drink and go out and enjoy themselves but there's a time and a place for everything," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Aamir''s age should be a factor in spot-fixing probe: Lorgat

Mon, Sep 06 10 11:27 AM

London, Sep 6 (PTI) Pakistan pace sensation Mohammad Aamir''s tender age of 18 may help him escape stringent punishment such as a life ban in case he is found guilty of spot-fixing allegations, ICC''s CEO Haroon Lorgat has hinted. "In my own honest personal view, yes, I think age would come into account in these matters. But that is something the independent tribunal will have to decide upon," Lorgat was quoted as saying by ''The Daily Mail''. Aamir, fellow pacer Mohammad Asif and Pakistan Test skipper Salman Butt have been provisionally suspended after being implicated in a spot-fixing scandal exposed by British tabloid ''the News of the World''. The 18-year-old, who is the youngest player to take 50 Test wickets, has had his promising career tarnished by allegations that he took bribes from a bookie to send down deliberate no balls during the Lord''s Test against England last month. The scandal has assumed gigantic proportions after Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed was shown claiming that his teammates were fixing almost every match they played in another video of the sting operation that blew the lid off the betting scam. Although Hameed has said that he was tricked into making the statements by the undercover reporter, Lorgat said the batsman''s statements were disappointing. "I feel extreme disappointment because we''ve got a code in place that obliges players to disclose any sort of information like this," he said. Lorgat said he could understand the average fan''s disillusionment with the game given the damaging revelations that are coming out every alternate day. "Of course I do. We all know we''ve got to get to the bottom of this, and everyone in cricket will have to do everything they can to eradicate it from the game," he said. PTI PM

Source: Published>

Youzhny survives barrage of aces to beat Isner

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 11:17 AM

Mikhail Youzhny withstood a barrage of 33 aces to topple American giant John Isner 6-4 6-7 7-6 6-4 on Sunday and reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.

"He served well, but I have a lot of chances to break him," said the 12th-seeded Russian, who cashed in four of 12 break point opportunities against the erratic Isner.

Youzhny dropped the second-set tiebreaker 9-7 and lost his first two serves in the next decider before battling back to win three points in a row from 4-3 down and claiming the set with his fourth ace of the match.

The 6-foot, 9-inch (2.06 m) Isner is best known for his record-breaking marathon at this year's Wimbledon, where he prevailed 70-68 in the fifth set against Nicolas Mahut in a first-round marathon that was the longest tennis match ever.

The 28-year-old Youzhny made sure there would be no fifth set at the National Tennis Center by breaking Isner in the third game of the fourth set and serving it out, finishing the three-hour, 18-minute tilt with a forehand volley.

"He's mentally tough," said Isner. "He just stayed steady and just outplayed me a little bit."

"He kind of sees my serve pretty well, a lot better than 99 percent of the players out there. So he was able to get a lot of balls back," added Isner, who contributed to his own downfall with 61 unforced errors.

Isner's defeat left 20th seed Sam Querrey as the last U.S. man standing.

Querrey beat 14th seed Nicolas Almagro of Spain to set up a fourth-round match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, who upset fourth seed Andy Murray of Britain in the biggest shock of the championship.

The center court crowd tried to lift Isner but Youzhny's steadiness and ability to deal with the towering American's serve, clocked as fast as 144 mph (232 kph), prevailed.

After the match, the Russian gave his unique salute to the crowd and later said it was his way of thanking the audience.

"I didn't feel like I played against the crowd. The crowd of course tried to help John but wasn't against me," he said. "It's a really nice atmosphere here."

Youzhny, a U.S. Open semi-finalist in 2006, advanced to a round-of-16 meeting against Tommy Robredo, one of six Spanish men in the last 16.

Source: Web Search

Hameed is mentally 15, unreliable: Afridi

Mon, Sep 06 10 10:57 AM

London, Sep 6 (PTI) Yasir Hameed might have backtracked on allegations of match-fixing against his Pakistan teammates but the side''s captain Shahid Afridi is still livid with the opener and has ridiculed him as being mentally a teenager. Afridi, who has apologised for the ''spot-fixing'' scandal involving Pakistani players that has shaken the core of international cricket, said Hameed cannot be trusted. "Yasir Hameed is about 30 or 31 - but mentally he is 15 or 16," Afridi said. "People know the type of character he is. We have known him for a long time and we know what to expect from him. He has done this sort of thing many times. Is he unreliable? Well, he is sitting with someone he does not know and gives these messages out, so, yes. "I don''t know who he was sitting with or in what situation he gave this message," he added. In the video of a sting operation carried out by the ''News of the World'', Hameed had claimed that almost every match Pakistan played was fixed. But he later went back on the statement, saying that he was tricked and later blackmailed to stand by the remarks. Afridi, who led Pakistan in yesterday''s Twenty20 match against England which the visitors lost, said he has told his players not to read newspapers. "It was a relief to be playing again. Even though it was not a perfect performance. All the allegations are history now and until the ICC completes their investigations and it is all before us, we don''t want to talk about it," he said.

Source: Published>

Fourth seed Murray limps out of the U.S. Open

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 10:51 AM

Andy Murray hobbled out of the U.S. Open on Sunday, beaten 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the third round by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka after his ailing body let him down.

Struggling to run at full speed after requiring treatment to his legs, elbow and neck, a clearly frustrated Murray appeared powerless to stop Wawrinka, who was battling his own injury problems but still played superbly, from pulling off the biggest upset of the championship.

"I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that," Murray said.

"Maybe I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments.

"It happens to everyone in life at different points."

It was another disappointment for the Scotsman, who arrived at Flushing Meadows seeded fourth, in great form, and holding genuine hopes of ending Britain's 74-year wait for a men's grand slam singles champion.

"I'm very disappointed, obviously, but I think I've been more disappointed," Murray said.

"In other Grand Slams, when you get closer to winning the tournament, it becomes a lot harder to take."

Wawrinka, seeded 25th, advanced to play American Sam Querrey in the fourth round although the big winner could well be Rafa Nadal, who was drawn to face Murray in the semi-finals.

Nadal, playing before Murray's defeat, had sent an ominous warning to his rivals about his intentions to win the U.S. Open and complete his collection of grand slam titles but Murray was looming as one of his biggest obstacles.

The Spaniard, getting better with each match on the back of a new and improved serve, overpowered France's Gilles Simon 6-4 6-4 6-2 to steam into the fourth round without dropping a single service game in three matches.

"It was important not to lose without dropping a set," Nadal said. "Every day I seem to play much better which is good for my confidence."

VENUS ADVANCES

Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters passed their first real tests of the championship with flying colours to safely book their places in the women's quarter-finals.

The pair could hardly have been more impressive as they swept past tricky opponents to remain on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown when the last grand slam of the season enters the second week.

Williams, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, defeated Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 7-6 6-3 in an ideal test for the more difficult matches ahead of her.

"It's always good to have a tougher match, a kind of a match where you have to challenge yourself against your opponent and the conditions," Williams said.

"We always have had very competitive matches, so I know it's not going to be something I just walk through when I play against her.

"I have to stay focused and ready to take every point or else she will. It was a good challenge."

Clijsters, who won the title in 2005 and again last year, thrashed Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 in just under an hour. Like Nadal and Williams, she is yet to drop a set in the championship.

"You always want to do well at tournaments where you've done well, and obviously, the U.S. Open is a special tournament for me," Clijsters said.

"Tennis wise, I feel that I've been improving every match. I want to try and keep it going."

SCHIAVONE CRUISES

Italy's Francesca Schiavone, brimming with confidence after winning her maiden grand slam title at this year's French Open, also cruised through to the last eight, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-0.

Schiavone will play Williams in Tuesday's quarter-finals while Clijsters will face the winner of Sunday's late match between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva of Russia.

"I feel better than when I was in French Open, but just because I know how to do it and how to win a match like this," Schiavone said.

"So I'm very curious, I'm interested to see (if I can) write a new history."

Spain are already assured of at least one men's semi-finalist after Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Felciano Lopez joined their countryman Nadal in the same section of the draw.

Nadal will face Lopez next with the winner to play either Ferrer or Verdasco.

Another two Spaniards, Albert Montanes and Tommy Robredo, are also through to the last 16, giving Spain a total of six, easily the most by any one country this year.

"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds," said Verdasco, who advanced with a four set win over Argentine David Nalbandian.

Source: Web Search

I was tricked, blackmailed: Hameed

Mon, Sep 06 10 10:37 AM

Karachi, Sep 6 (PTI) Disowning the startling match-fixing accusations he has made against his Pakistan teammates, opener Yasir Hameed has claimed that he was tricked into giving the statements and later blackmailed to stand by them. Hameed, in a video released by British tabloid ''the News of the World'', is shown accusing his teammates of fixing almost "every match" Pakistan has played. But the batsman denied giving any such interview to the tabloid and said the undercover reporter who spoke to him posing as a sponsorship agent sent him intimidating text messages to stick to the comments shown in the video released yesterday. Hameed was summoned to the Pakistan High Commission in England for a meeting with High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan in London yesterday. After the meeting, the Pakistan Cricket Board''s legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi released a statement on behalf of Hameed. In the statement, Hameed said that he was offered money and even blackmailed to stand by the remarks attributed to him in the video which he claims was shot without his knowledge. "I would like to respond to comments attributed to me by the News of the World today. I wish to stress I have never been approached by the NOTW and neither did I approach anyone connected with the News of the World to disclose any allegations concerning the Pakistan cricket team or any other players," Hameed said in his statement. Hameed claimed that he was having dinner with a friend at the Holiday Inn Nottingham on the evening of Monday August 30 and was approached by a man who introduced himself as Abid Khan and offered to arrange a sponsorship deal for him (Yasir) with ETIHAD Airways. "I have now seen a photograph of the so called Abid Khan and have discovered that he is Mazhar Mahmood (NOTW''s undercover reporter). "Naturally I was interested in what he had to say and we began a conversation. He offered me at least 50,000 pounds for the deal, which was for 6"x3" ETIHAD sticker at the back of the cricket bat plus TV and billboard advertisements in the UAE," he said. "He also asked me for names of 4 more players who may be interested in a similar deal I thought of Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam," Hameed added. .

Source: Published>

Fourth seed Murray limps out of the U.S. Open

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 09:57 AM

Andy Murray hobbled out of the U.S. Open on Sunday, beaten 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the third round by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka after his ailing body let him down.

Struggling to run at full speed after requiring treatment to his legs, elbow and neck, a clearly frustrated Murray appeared powerless to stop Wawrinka, who was battling his own injury problems but still played superbly, from pulling off the biggest upset of the championship.

"I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that," Murray said.

"Maybe I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments.

"It happens to everyone in life at different points."

It was another disappointment for the Scotsman, who arrived at Flushing Meadows seeded fourth, in great form, and holding genuine hopes of ending Britain's 74-year wait for a men's grand slam singles champion.

"I'm very disappointed, obviously, but I think I've been more disappointed," Murray said.

"In other Grand Slams, when you get closer to winning the tournament, it becomes a lot harder to take."

Wawrinka, seeded 25th, advanced to play American Sam Querrey in the fourth round although the big winner could well be Rafa Nadal, who was drawn to face Murray in the semi-finals.

Nadal, playing before Murray's defeat, had sent an ominous warning to his rivals about his intentions to win the U.S. Open and complete his collection of grand slam titles but Murray was looming as one of his biggest obstacles.

The Spaniard, getting better with each match on the back of a new and improved serve, overpowered France's Gilles Simon 6-4 6-4 6-2 to steam into the fourth round without dropping a single service game in three matches.

"It was important not to lose without dropping a set," Nadal said. "Every day I seem to play much better which is good for my confidence."

VENUS ADVANCES

Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters passed their first real tests of the championship with flying colours to safely book their places in the women's quarter-finals.

The pair could hardly have been more impressive as they swept past tricky opponents to remain on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown when the last grand slam of the season enters the second week.

Williams, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, defeated Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 7-6 6-3 in an ideal test for the more difficult matches ahead of her.

"It's always good to have a tougher match, a kind of a match where you have to challenge yourself against your opponent and the conditions," Williams said.

"We always have had very competitive matches, so I know it's not going to be something I just walk through when I play against her.

"I have to stay focused and ready to take every point or else she will. It was a good challenge."

Clijsters, who won the title in 2005 and again last year, thrashed Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 in just under an hour. Like Nadal and Williams, she is yet to drop a set in the championship.

"You always want to do well at tournaments where you've done well, and obviously, the U.S. Open is a special tournament for me," Clijsters said.

"Tennis wise, I feel that I've been improving every match. I want to try and keep it going."

SCHIAVONE CRUISES

Italy's Francesca Schiavone, brimming with confidence after winning her maiden grand slam title at this year's French Open, also cruised through to the last eight, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-0.

Schiavone will play Williams in Tuesday's quarter-finals while Clijsters will face the winner of Sunday's late match between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva of Russia.

"I feel better than when I was in French Open, but just because I know how to do it and how to win a match like this," Schiavone said.

"So I'm very curious, I'm interested to see (if I can) write a new history."

Spain are already assured of at least one men's semi-finalist after Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Felciano Lopez joined their countryman Nadal in the same section of the draw.

Nadal will face Lopez next with the winner to play either Ferrer or Verdasco.

Another two Spaniards, Albert Montanes and Tommy Robredo, are also through to the last 16, giving Spain a total of six, easily the most by any one country this year.

"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds," said Verdasco, who advanced with a four set win over Argentine David Nalbandian.

Source: Web Search

Wheel of fortune

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 06:37 AM

A dingy by-lane leads to a nondescript hotel, one of the many budget hotels in Karol Bagh. This is where the core members of the Indian cycling team rest and recoup after a hard day's work that begins even before the crack of dawn. This is a functional place, one which is far from fancy. None of these cyclists will think of complaining about the spartan environs. Not because they are afraid of an official reprimand. Rather, they would grin-and-bear even if they didn't receive basic creature comforts. It, perhaps, has a lot to do with their humble beginnings.

For the best in this bunch ? namely Rajendra Kumar Bishnoi, Rejani V, Rameshwari Devi, Rakesh Kumar and Okram Bikram Singh ? pedal-pushing has transformed their lives.

Three years after he lost his father in a road accident, Bishnoi took up cycling. He was just 14 when he made a mark at the national level. His family struggled to make ends meet. Being the eldest son in the family, it was his responsibility to get his sisters married. But things got better once he started winning.

"The financial situation at home was rather grave. Cycling was the way out because it is very popular in Bikaner, much like boxing in Bhiwani. So I took it up to earn money. My sisters are now married," he says.

Bishnoi has now taken his younger brother under his wings. "I want him to be part of the next Asiad squad. It will be nice if he can make cycling a family tradition. After all, everything our family has today is because of the bike." As the lengthy training schedules kept him away from home for months, he bought his mother a mobile phone. The only time he spends money without thinking twice is on those long-distance calls.

His pride possession today is a carbon-laden cycle worth Rs 3 lakh. It goes without saying that he bought it with his hard-earned money. Nearly a decade ago, Bishnoi's foray into cycling was on an iron contraption, much like the bike on which Rejani V, now a multiple national record holder, used to scurry around on, to-and-fro from the market to ensure the family's roadside provision store was stocked.

As it turned out, the road from the shop to the local market ran though a series of houses, one of which belonged to a state cycling coach, 'Usha madam'. Almost inevitably, Usha one day asked Rejani if she would fancy competing in races on a cycle. Rejani's mother, liberal in her views, agreed. Now, with 50 national gold medals in her kitty, Rejani is one of the stars in the team. Each gold Rejani won meant more money in her family's coffers, sometimes in excess of a couple of lakhs. Her mud and clay dwelling has given way to a brick and mortar house in Pallithura village in Thiruvananthapuram.

"My family has benefited after I took up cycling. I never thought of becoming a professional cyclist. Then I saw the coverage that papers back home had reserved for two cyclists when they won at the nationals and I realised cycling had the potential to change lives."

What about the provision store?

"My mother still runs it. But thanks to the cash awards, we also own a hotel and two more stores," she says.

There and back again

Running almost parallel to Rejani's career is that of Manipur's Rameshwari Devi, another multiple national record holder. Devi is back on the saddle after becoming a mother and is setting personal best timings. This CID inspector chanced up on cycling after dabbling in cricket and basketball. She took part in triathlon after being picked by a SAI talent search programme. But she hated running, so turned to cycling.

Devi is a medal prospect in the 500m time trial. But two years ago, after giving birth to her son, she had decided to devote time to her maternal duties. But potshots from peers about the two racing cycles which were left to rust, the ones she bought with the Rs 6,50,000 granted by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation, led her to return to the track.

Only on two occasions has Devi failed to win a gold at the nationals. The first time was just after a team mate was knocked down by a truck and died while training on the highway, the second when her mother-in-law passed away. "The snide remarks made about the expensive cycles did prick my conscience. Despite being a mother, I wanted to prove that I am still good enough. What I am today is because of the sport of cycling," says Devi, who wants to call it a day after the Asiad.

Like Bishnoi, cyclist Rakesh Kumar is also from Rajasthan. But the connection doesn't stop there. A chance meeting with Bishnoi is what fuelled Kumar's passion for the sport. One of his uncles from Sri Ganga Nagar ? his village ? enrolled the bright lad for further studies in Bikaner. When Kumar arrived to pursue his graduation, he met Bishnoi.

"I didn't want to do BA, I wanted to earn. My friends advised me to take up cycling because success at the national level guarantees a secure government job," Kumar said.

Now, 10 years after he first set his foot on a pedal, Kumar has been to Russia and Australia, among other countries. "I never imagined that I would leave my village."

If Kumar could've been a graduate, then Okram Bikram Singh could've become a doctor, if his parents had their way. This year he won a bronze in the Track Asia Cup. He first landed a job with the Indian Railways but has moved to BSNL in Nagaland now.

"Thanks to my cycling commitments I haven't had to report to duty for even a single day. My family is proud of my achievements, even though I never became a doctor," says Bikram, who hails from Imphal.

For these national cyclists, the humble cycle, in its carbon-fibre mutated form has made a world of difference to their lives.

Source: Web Search

IPL-IV puts broadcasters on slippery wicket

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 02:51 AM

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cutting down 20 matches in IPL-4 from what was originally planned, broadcasters and franchise owners may lose a minimum of Rs 250 crore in revenue from advertisers, sponsors and gate receipts. Also, BCCI is doing away with the 'home and away' format for IPL-4 that will drastically reduce the revenue generated from stadium tickets for franchisees, sources in existing IPL franchisees said.

Instead of 94 matches between 10 IPL franchise teams envisaged for IPL-4 by the former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, the BCCI has now announced that there will be only 74 matches in the next edition. This means, each of the 10 IPL franchise teams, including the two new teams from Kochi and Pune, will get to play seven matches before the semi-finals, final and the one match for deciding the third-place team.

This means that IPL-4 will not be played on the 'home and away' format. In the previous editions, each of the teams had a home match where it played a majority of its league matches thereby generating revenue from the sale of stadium tickets and local sponsorships.

Also, for the host broadcast ? Sony Entertainment Television ? IPL-4 will mean fewer matches than what was envisaged earlier. "On an average, each IPL match telecast on television fetched the broadcaster between Rs 10-14 crore. Less matches mean a potential loss of revenue for the host channel," a senior media planner said. "Considering the host channel has to pay nearly Rs 400 crore as rights fees to the BCCI, less matches will mean a definite loss in potential revenue as there is a limit to which Sony can squeeze in the sponsors," he said.

However, BCCI took into consideration the all round concerns generated by several international cricket boards and key international players that 94 matches will be 'too-much' in IPL-4, sources told FE.

BCCI is expected to split the teams into two groups with each team to play seven matches before the knock-out stages. "If there are two groups, then initially, there may be two-rounds of matches for each group. In the first round, each team in a group plays each other once and then may be the top-four teams from each group will play each other once before the semi-final stage," an IPL franchise executive said.

"With two additional franchise teams added to the fray, Sahara Warriors of Pune and yet-unnamed Kochi franchise, a continuation of the 'home and away' format would mean a total of 94 matches which the Council members did not find feasible," a top IPL functionary said.

Among the other major decisions taken on Sunday by the IPL governing council were the retention of players for next few seasons by the original eight franchises and date of the next players' auction.

The IPL governing council decided that a total of four players can be retained by each franchise, which includes a maximum of three Indian players. The players' auction would be held in the second week of November.

Also, there will be a cap of $9 million to spend at the next players' auction but this amount would get reduced with retention of players. At the inaugural players' auction held here in February, 2008, each franchise had $5 million to spend. Another $2 million was the cap for the second auction held in Goa and for the third auction, held again in Mumbai, each franchise was allowed to spend only $7,50,000.

Source: Web Search

Hameed says he was offered money, blackmailed

Mon, Sep 06 10 01:57 AM

London/Karachi, Sept 5 (PTI) Yasir Hameed, who has made damning revelations about match fixing involving Pakistan cricket players, today said that he was offered money and even blackmailed to stand by the remarks attributed to him. Hameed has come up a detailed explanation to his side of the story about how the ''News of the World'' newspaper released a video of him in which he accuses Pakistani players of fixing matches and losing deliberately. Tafazzul Rizvi, the legal advisor of the board released a statement on behalf of Yasir after the test batsman was called to the Pakistan High Commission for a meeting by the High Commissioner, Wajid Shamsul Hasan with PCB chief, Ijaz Butt and Tafazzul also attending the meeting in London. Yasir said in a statement that he was offered money and even blackmailed to stand by the remarks attributed to him in a video which he claims was shot without his knowledge and he was tricked into saying the things heard on the video. "I would like to respond to comments attributed to me by the News of the World today. I wish to stress I have never been approached by the NOTW and neither did I approach anyone connected with the News of the World to disclose any allegations concerning the Pakistan cricket team or any other players," Yasir said in his statement. Yasir claimed that he was having dinner with a friend at the Holiday Inn Nottingham on the evening of Monday 30th August 2010 and was then approached by a man who introduced himself as Abid Khan and offered that he would arrange a sponsorship deal for him (Yasir) with ETIHAD Airways. "I have now seen a photograph of the so called Abid Khan and have discovered that he is Mazhar Mahmood." "Naturally I was interested in what he had to say and we began conversation. He offered me at least 50,000 pounds for the deal, which was for 6x3 ETIHAD sticker at the back of the cricket bat plus TV and billboard advertisements in the UAE. He also asked me for names of 4 more players who may be interested in a similar deal I thought of Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam," Yasir said. "I also called Umar Gul during this conversation to tell him about this potential contract deal and he agreed that I should continue with the negotiations," he said. "Then Abid Khan started asking about the current match fixing allegations and as I saw him as a friend and a potential agent I naively started to answer his questions. He asked me about the match fixing allegations against the current 3 Pakistani players and if I had any further knowledge. .

Source: Published>

Yasir Hameed now accuses tabloid of blackmail

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 12:57 AM

London, Sep 6 (IANS) In a new twist to the spot-fixing saga, Pakistan's Test opener Yasir Hameed has accused The News Of The World - the British tabloid that has made corruption allegations against three Pakistan players - of blackmail.

'The incident which was largely inaccurately reported in the News of the World today (Sunday) was when I was having dinner with a friend at the Holiday Inn (in) Nottingham on the evening of Aug 30, 2010. I was then approached by a man who introduced himself as Abid Khan and offered that he would arrange a sponsorship deal for me with Etihad Airways. I have now seen a photograph of the so-called Abid Khan and have discovered that he is Mazhar Mahmood,' Yasir said in a statement issued Sunday night.

He was referring to a NOTW report that says Yasir has confirmed that some of his team-mates were involved in match-fixing. The NOTW expose was done by Mazhar Mahmood, the tabloid's investigative reporter. His sensational report last week hurled allegations of corruption at three Pakistan team players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

Yasir reportedly told The News of the World, that is owned by international media magnate Rupert Murdoch and is the Sunday sister paper of the popular The Sun tabloid, that his teammates have been fixing 'almost every match' and that he himself had refused bribes but later denied giving any interview to the tabloid.

'Naturally I was interested in what he had to say and we began a conversation. He offered me at least 50,000 pounds for the deal...,' added Yasir, who was shown in a video recording by NOTW Sunday, saying that his team-mates were involved in match-fixing.

'Then Abid Khan started asking about the current match fixing allegations and as I saw him as a friend and a potential agent I naively started to answer his questions. He asked me about the match fixing allegations against the current three Pakistani players and if I had any further knowledge.

'As far as I can recall I only told him whatever I had already read in the newspapers about this matter. It seems that Abid had a hidden camera which I was totally unaware of,' Yasir said.

'I then left the hotel with my friend and came back to where I was staying. Two days later Abid then called me and offered me 25,000 pounds to give a statement against the three current players under investigation, which I immediately refused and put the phone down.

'I neither called nor answered any calls from Abid after this conversation. When News of the World released my conversation, which Abid Khan recorded without me knowing about it, I was contacted by the media in Pakistan to confirm if I gave the statement to the NOTW, I denied categorically as explained above that this was not the case,' Yasir said.

'Subsequently, I received a text message from Abid Khan from his number 07860109876, which I found to be intimidating as reflected in his message reproduced below: 'Pls call me. Incidentally you are in video drinking wine and saying all the quotes attributed to you. Denying it is just stupid as we will be releasing the video to TV. Better that you stand up and speak the truth' However, I decided not to respond or react,' Yasir said in his statement.

He added that he had brought the matter to the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

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Team worker Lopez makes solo break for glory in Spain

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 12:37 AM

Spain's David Lopez got a rare taste of individual glory on Sunday when his gamble to attack paid off with victory in the mountainous stage nine of the Tour of Spain.

Best known as a team worker for the Caisse D'Epargne squad, Lopez claimed only the second victory of his nine-year career after a lone break six kilometres from the finish line, while compatriot Igor Anton retained the overall lead.

"For me, as a team worker, whenever the squad wins, it feels like I win," said 29-year-old Lopez, who finished six seconds ahead of Czech Roman Kreuziger and 13 seconds ahead of third-placed Italian Giampaolo Caruso in the 187.7-km stage.

"But it's nice to have my own chance to raise my arms in the air."

Part of a breakaway group of 10 riders that took off midway through a gruelling mountain stage with seven classified climbs, Lopez told reporters he was "not the strongest guy in the move by a long chalk".

"But I played my cards right and gambled on making one all-out attack just at the moment when the other riders had tried and failed to get away," added the Spaniard, whose only other victory was in a stage of the Tour of Germany in 2007.

After an arduous five-hour stage through the sierras of Alicante in south-eastern Spain, Anton retained the overall lead ahead of compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez, with Italy's Vincenzo Nibali in third, two seconds back.

Rodriguez tried to shake off Anton on the final ascent into Alcoy with a series of prolonged accelerations that strung out the main pack but the Euskaltel-Euskadi rider easily matched his closest overall pursuer.

"I knew Joaquim would try something right at the end where the road kicked up to the finish, so I shadowed him as closely as I could," Anton told reporters.

"It was a very tough day, it was really hot and there wasn't a metre of flat but we kept my rivals under control."

Italian sprinter and stage seven winner Alessandro Petacchi pulled out midway through the stage after injuring his hip and elbow in a crash on Saturday.

The Tour of Spain ends on Sept. 19 in Madrid.

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Jimenez turns the clock back, wins European Masters

Published>Mon, Sep 06 10 12:01 AM

Crans Montana (Switzerland), Sep 5 (IANS) Like vintage wine, Spanish golf star Miguel Angel Jimenez keeps getting better with age, claiming a long-awaited and popular victory at the Omega European Masters after beating Ryder Cup teammate Edoardo Molinari of Italy by three shots Sunday for his 18th career victory.

The 46-year-old veteran, making his 22nd successive visit to the breath-taking Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, withstood a late fight back by Molinari with a four-under-par 67 in the final round.

A winning total of 21-under-par 263 earned Jimenez his third title of the season and completed a fine Omega double as he also won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic along with the French Open earlier this year. It was also his 11th victory since turning 40.

Italian prodigy Matteo Manassero, who at 17 is young enough to be Jimenez's son, finished third after closing with a 68 while Korea's teenage rising star Noh Seung-yul finished an impressive fourth after a 67 to emerge as the top Asian Tour player in the Euro 2 million (US$2.8 million) event jointly sanctioned with the European Tour.

'It is an incredible feeling to win at last. I have been many times in contention and twice second and many times in the top-10. I really like the tournament and coming here. It feels nice,' said Jimenez, who joined an illustrious club of winners at Crans Montana which includes Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood, Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.

'I am like a good wine... getting better with age. To me it's a message that you can have a long career. I still have the passion for the game and I don't mind seeing the next generation,' added Jimenez, whose card included five birdies against a lone bogey.

Leading by three overnight, the pony-tailed and cigar-chomping Spaniard opened up a massive six shot lead after brilliantly turning in 32 but Molinari refused to give in and courageously produced two birdies on 12 and 14 and a stunning eagle on the par five 15th hole to reduce the lead to one as the Spaniard wobbled with a bogey on 14.

But the powerful Italian, who was bidding for his second straight win after his triumph in last week's Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland, dropped a crucial bogey on 16 when his five iron approach found the greenside bunker. And when Jimenez rolled in an eight foot curler for birdie on 17, the fight was over.

'On the back nine, I started hitting good shots. With the par fives, I knew I had a chance and I made birdie and eagle. At that point, Miguel was under a lot of pressure but on 16, I think I hit a great shot but the wind died and the ball was two yards short.

'If it had pitched to the front of the green, it would have been close. It was a bit unlucky but that's golf. You can't always win but it's still been a great week,' said Molinari, who will join brother Francesco in Europe's Ryder Cup team to face the United States next month.

The 19-year-old Noh was delighted to finish fourth on his own which earned him US$126,700 and widened his lead at the top of the Asian Tour's Order of Merit to just over US$100,000 from second ranked Marcus Fraser of Australia, who settled for tied 15th place.

'I'm really happy that I managed to score this week. I played nicely and I'm glad I put up some good scores to finish in the top-five. I feel much better now knowing that I've got a bit of a lead over Marcus after this week,' said Noh, who took his season's tally to US$630,616.

Source: Web Search

England win first T20 match since World Cup triumph

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 11:37 PM

World Twenty20 champions England celebrated their first international since winning the World Cup in Barbados this year with a five-wicket win over controversy-hit Pakistan on Sunday.

The Swalec stadium was only three-quarters full on a humid, overcast day after a dreadful week for Pakistan with further newspaper allegations of corruption in their camp emerging overnight.

England, set 127 to win in the first of two matches scheduled for Cardiff, were struggling on 62 for five at the halfway stage with Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi taking two cheap wickets with his brisk wrist spin.

However, Eoin Morgan was badly dropped at short fine-leg on 13 by Shoaib Akhtar attempting a reverse sweep and England eventually reached their target with 17 balls to spare.

Three Pakistan players, including test captain Salman Butt, have been suspended after allegations in last Sunday's News of the World that three no-balls were bowled deliberately in the fourth test against England.

The Pakistan team held an emergency meeting after new allegations by the newspaper on Sunday that a fourth player was being investigated, leading to speculation that they could pull out of the series.

After Paul Collingwood had asked Pakistan to bat following a 30-minute rain delay, England's premier bowler Graeme Swann showed his versatility in all forms of the game with two for 14 from his four overs. Pakistan scored from only 10 of the off-spinner's deliveries.

Michael Yardy was almost as parsimonious from the other end, taking one for 21 with his flat left-armers.

A late burst of 38 runs from 29 balls between Umar Akmal (35 not out) and Afridi (16 not out), who was dropped twice, took Pakistan to 126 for four. It was the first time they had failed to hit a six in a T20 match.

Shoaib Akhtar, 35 last month, recaptured the searing pace of his youth, albeit in the knowledge that he only needed to bowl a total of 24 deliveries with an opening-wicket maiden.

Although England faltered midway, losing four consecutive wickets from the last ball of an over, their target was always too small if they kept wickets in hand and Morgan (38 not out) and Yardy (35 not out) took them to victory with a sixth-wicket partnership of 67 from 43 balls.

Source: Web Search

England beat Pakistan by five wickets in first Twenty20

Sun, Sep 05 10 10:57 PM

England beat Pakistan by five wickets in the first Twenty20 international at Sophia Gardens, Wales on Sunday.

Score: Pakistan 126-4 v England 129-5

Source: Published>

Lifetime ban for tainted cricketers, if found guilty: Pak High Commissioner

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 10:37 PM

London, Sep.5 (ANI): Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan has suggested lifetime ban from cricket for the three Pakistani cricketers accused of spot-fixing, if found guilty.

The trio--Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir--is being probed by police and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Reacting to a report of the News of the World, Hasan said: "If the News of the World evidence is correct, then I would banish them from cricket."

The News of the World reported that the three men were facing a total of 23 charges.

Hasan, however, insisted the trio were "innocent until proven guilty". "That was my stance from day one and I still maintain it," he told a BBC Radio's sports related programme.

"We questioned them and all my colleagues that talked to them said that, yes, apparently they are innocent. But we're not police investigators - it's up to the police to find out if they're guilty," he stated.

Meanwhile, the paper has claimed that the ICC is investigating a fourth Pakistan cricketer.

The paper says the ICC is investigating an unnamed fourth man over match-fixing claims, a more serious charge than the spot-fixing claims faced by Butt, Asif and Amir.

The highest cricketing body, however, said it did not comment on ongoing investigations.

A spokesman said: "We are making no comment regarding the suggestion that the ICC is probing a fourth player.

"We do not comment on ongoing investigations, we will not revealing any details about the charges [faced by Butt, Asif and Amir]," added the ICC spokesman in a BBC report. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Clijsters eases past Ivanovic into U.S. Open last eight

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 10:17 PM

Defending champion Kim Clijsters eased past close friend Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 to reach the last eight at the U.S. Open on Sunday.

The match between the two former world number ones had been hotly anticipated at the Arthur Ashe Stadium but Ivanovic, who had shown signs of her best form in the earlier rounds after a difficult 18 months, seemed to lack confidence against the second seed.

Belgian Clijsters broke the Serbian's serve three times in the first set and repeated the feat in the second set for a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals.

Source: Web Search

Fourth Pakistani,a Sri Lankan cricketer now under scanner

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 10:07 PM

London/New Delhi, Sept 5 (IANS) The match fixing scandal took a new turn Sunday as the names of a fourth Pakistani cricketer and a top Sri Lankan player emerged, who are now reportedly suspected of match-fixing.

BBC reported that wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has been contacted in writing by the ICC, though there is no suggestion that he is the fourth player and it is not in relation to incidents in the recent fourth Test at Lord's.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have already been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after it was revealed in a sting operation conducted by The News of the World that they were involved in a spot-fixing scandal.

Close on the heels of the spot-fixing row involving Pakistanis, a leading Sri Lankan player is also under ICC scanner after his colleagues reported his proximity with a man they believe is an illegal bookie.

'ICC's anti corruption unit has been monitoring the activities of a leading Sri Lanka player since the World Twenty20 in England last year after teammates became increasingly unsettled by his late night fraternising with a man they believed to be an illegal bookmaker. They passed on their concerns to the captain, Kumar Sangakkara, who followed ICC protocol by contacting the anti-corruption unit,' The Guardian reported Sunday.

The player has since been investigated by the Sri Lankan police but no charges have been laid.

The ICC, however, refused to comment on ongoing investigations.

'We are making no comment regarding the suggestion that the ICC is probing a fourth player. We do not comment on ongoing investigations, we will not revealing any details about the charges (faced by Butt, Asif and Amir),' added the ICC spokesman after the News of the World reported that the three men were facing a total of 23 charges.

The Metropolitan Police said it is not investigating a fourth player.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has revealed that none of the trio have been interviewed by his organisation after police warned doing so could prejudice the criminal investigation.

Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan also changed his tone and said that the three cricketers accused of spot-fixing should receive life bans if found guilty.

'If the News of the World evidence is correct, then I would banish them from cricket,' Hasan was quoted as saying by BBC Radio 5 live.

Hasan's comments come a day after he criticised the ICC for violating the general principle of 'innocent till proven guilty' by suspending the trio even when the investigations are on.

Hasan insisted the trio are 'innocent until proven guilty'.

'That was my stance from day one and I still maintain it. We questioned them and all my colleagues that talked to them said that, yes, apparently they are innocent. But we're not police investigators - it's up to the police to find out if they're guilty,' he told 5 live's Sportsweek.

Lorgat said that ICC action would be 'prompt and decisive'.

'If people are found guilty, the consequences will be severe,' Lorgan added. 'The maximum sentence is a life ban but I don't want to prejudge any guilt or any sanction.

Lorgat admitted, however, that in 18-year-old Amir's case, age could be a mitigating factor, if he is found guilty.

'If I'm giving my own personal view, age could come into account, But an independent tribunal will have to decide on that.'

ICC president Sharad Pawar said Sunday that tainted Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer, have not been punished by the world body for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing and they will be given a chance to present their case.

'We have not punished anybody yet. Under the ICC anti-corruption rules suspected players needed to be notified and an investigation needed to be conducted. We have to send a notice to that particular player but that notice is not a final decision. It is a means of giving him (player) an opportunity to explain his position,' Pawar was quoted as saying by Times Now.

Source: Web Search

Confidential information about 'fixing' must stay private: Lee's agent

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 09:57 PM

Sydney, Sep 5(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee's agent Neil Maxwell has said he was dismayed when information provided by his client and fellow Australian players, which was supposed to be confidential, was released by the ICC's anti-corruption unit.

However, he insists that the players, who notified the anti-corruption unit of approaches made by a man linked to Indian bookmakers, were not in immediate danger of coming under scrutiny.

"I don't think there is an immediate concern [for their safety], but I do believe if I was a player I'd be reluctant to report these things if my name is going to be thrust forward whenever an incident rears its head," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Maxwell, as saying.

"They have to have the protective process as well. There are so many flaws [in what has happened]," he added.

Maxwell also questioned why a journalist had to unearth the 'spot-fixing' scam, when the ICC had spent 23.8 million dollars trying to crack down on corruption.

"It took a journalist to risk his life to achieve this. Are we really wanting it exposed?" Maxwell said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Spot-fixing: British tabloid claims to "shatter ludicrous claims" of Pak envoy

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 09:07 PM

London, Sep 5(ANI): The British tabloid, which unearthed a 150,000 pound 'spot-fixing' scandal, has said that it can "shatter the ludicrous claims" of Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Hasan, that his country's cricketers were victims of a "set up".

Hasan had earlier alleged that the video evidence was filmed after the three 'no-balls' had been bowled by Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in the Lord's Test against England.

"We are not seeing on the video what the date or time is. Do you have answers to these questions? It could have been dated before the match or after the match, or at a different time," Hasan had said.

However, News of The World claims that they have cast-iron proof with timed evidence from e-mails, text messages, phone records, videos and receipts.

"We have dated receipts showing our reporters picked up 140,000 pounds from a London travel agents and took a hired car to the London hotel where our undercover Investigations Editor Mazher Mahmood met match fixer Mazhar Majeed to hand over the cash," the tabloid said.

Police possess CCTV footage from the hotel showing Mahmood and Majeed arriving separately for the meeting on August 25. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Jimenez holds off Molinari to win European Masters

Sun, Sep 05 10 08:57 PM

Miguel Angel Jimenez chalked up his third victory of the European Tour season when he claimed the European Masters title on Sunday.

The 46-year-old Spaniard held off his Ryder Cup team mate Edoardo Molinari to win by three shots with a closing four-under-par 67.

Source: Published>

Japanese rider Tomizawa dies at San Marino race

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 08:47 PM

Misano (Italy), Sep 5 (DPA) Japanese motorcyclist Shoya Tomizawa died of injuries sustained in a crash at Sunday's San Marino Moto2 Grand Prix. He was 19 years old.

Racing in fourth place at the time, Tomizawa lost control on a kerb in the 12th lap of the race at the Misano World Circuit. He fell and was run over at high speed by the next two riders, Italy's Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding of Britain.

Tomizawa was taken to hospital but died there of the crash injuries.

'Shoya Tomizawa suffered a serious crash and subsequent cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma. Tomizawa was taken to the hospital of Riccione for immediate treatment but succumbed to his injuries at 14.20 (local time - 1220 GMT),' said a statement from race directors on the MotoGP website.

'All the MotoGP family wants to express its deepest condolences to his family and friends,' the statement said.

De Angelis reportedly walked away unharmed while Redding required treatment on so far undisclosed injuries at the circuit.

'We were both at full speed. I tried everything to hit his bike and not him when Tomizawa crashed. It is unbelievable that I am unhurt,' de Angelis was quoted as saying.

Tomizawa, who competed for the Suter team, was in his second season. He made history when he won the inaugural Moto2 class (formerly 250cc) race in Qatar this season. He came second at the following event in Spain and was ranked sixth in the standings ahead of Sunday's race.

Other riders were shocked by Tomizawa's death.

'For the race everything was perfect but now I'm totally shocked. Now my head is away from the race. There are no words,' Spain's Dani Pedroso told Italian Mediaset television after winning the following MotoGP class race.

Italian multiple MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi told the same network: 'When things like this happen nothing else matters. He was a lovely guy, it was a horrible accident.'

Tomizawa is the first rider to die in Grand Prix motorcycling since compatriot Daijiro Kato at the Suzuka home race in 2003. The previous race fatality was also a Japanese, Noboyuki Wakai, at the 1993 Spanish GP in Jerez.

Last weekend American Peter Lenz, 13, died in Indianapolis when he was run over by a 12-year-old rival after falling in the warmup lap for a junior race.

Source: Web Search

Anyone found guilty should get life ban, feels Hasan

Sun, Sep 05 10 08:27 PM

London, Sep 5 (PTI) Pakistan High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan today said if any national team members is found guilty of spot fixing they should be handed nothing less than life ban. "If the ''News of the World'' evidence is correct, then I would banish them from cricket," Hasan told BBC Radio 5 live. Captain Salman Butt and pacer duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir''s roles in the Lord''s Test against England are being probed by police and the International Cricket Council. However, the High Commissioner again insisted that the trio are "innocent until proven guilty". "That was my stance from day one and I still maintain it. We questioned them and all my colleagues that talked to them said, yes, apparently they are innocent. But we''re not police investigators - it''s up to the police to find out if they''re guilty," he said. In another development, the BBC reported wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has been contacted in writing by the ICC. "Akmal has been contacted in writing by the ICC, though there is no suggestion that he is the fourth player (under investigation) and it is not in relation to incidents in the recent fourth Test at Lord''s," the report said. During that Lord''s match, Asif and Aamir allegedly bowled three no-balls at pre-determined times to facilitate betting. PTI HSR DB

Source: Published>

Bhupathi's US Open campaign ends

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 08:17 PM

New York, Sep 5 (IANS) India's Mahesh Bhupathi's US Open tennis campaign ended with early losses in the men's doubles and mixed doubles events.

Bhupathi and his Belarussian doubles partner Max Mirnyi, seeded fourth, lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(4) in the second round to Argentine pair Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos here Saturday.

Bhupathi and Miryi were the 2002 champions at the Flushing Meadows.

In the mixed doubles, Bhupathi and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia crashed out 4-6, 2-6 to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and Swede Robert Lindstedt in the first round.

Bhupathi, a two-time mixed doubles champion here, won the trophy with Hantuchova in 2005, and previously with Japanese Ai Sugiyama in 1999.

Rohan Bopanna now remains the only Indian in the men's doubles. He and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, seeded 16th, play second seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic in the third round.

India's Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy, who were also the defending champions, fell in the men's doubles first round.

Paes, however, is still in contention in the mixed doubles and he and Cara Black of Zimbabwe now play Kanepi and Lindstedt in the second round.

India's top female tennis star, Sania Mirza, has already bowed out of the singles and the doubles events.

Source: Web Search

Suspended trio should stay away from dressing room: Afridi

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 08:07 PM

Cardiff, Sep 5 (IANS) Pakistan's one-day captain Shahid Afridi Sunday said the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif should stay away from the dressing room ahead of the T20 matches and one-day internationals against England.

The tainted trio was earlier suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over spot-fixing allegations.

Afridi said keeping them away from the dressing room is in the best interest of the team.

'We are encountering a tough situation and we can't afford to back off from this situation. Everyone knows how important this England tour is for Pakistan cricket. The tour of England will go on,' Afridi was quoted as saying by Geo News.

'I don't think that trio should be part of the team or the dressing room. Keeping them out is for our best interest,' he said.

The dashing batsman earlier issued a public apology to Pakistan cricket supporters on behalf of the three players.

The developments are part of the spot-fixing scandal in which alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed was caught accepting 150,000 pounds for fixing no-balls in a sting orchestrated by British tabloid the News of the world.

--Indo--Asian News Service

bs/abr/vm

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IPL will be played with 10 teams in two groups

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 07:57 PM

Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) The Indian cricket board Sunday unveiled a new format for the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the 10 teams split into two groups and the cap on team spending increased to $9 million.

The fourth season of the IPL will have 10 teams after the addition of two new teams. There will be 74 matches in total, compared to 60 earlier this year.

The format needed to be changed after the inclusion of two new franchises -- Pune Warriors and Kochi.

There will be 70 league matches and four play off matches with each team having the same number of matches (14 in total - 7 home and 7 away) as in the previous IPL editions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement after the meeting of the IPL Governing Council.

There will be one league table with teams divided into two groups of five teams each.

Each team would play the other four teams in its group twice (home and away), four of the five teams in the other group once (home or away) and one of the five teams in the other group twice (home and away).

The groups will be decided by a random draw, and similarly, which team will play the other from the other group twice or once will also be decided by a random draw.

This ensures all franchises will have the same number of matches at home as in the previous editions.

Teams are allowed to retain four players in their squads from the last event -- a maximum of three Indians and two foreigners.

The cap for each team to spend on the players at the auction was raised to $9 million from the $7 million.

The number of overseas players in the squad will be 10 with no more that four in the team.

Uncapped Indian players will now be getting Rs.1 million per annum if the player has not played or first played Ranji Trophy (first class or List A) in the 2009-10 or 2010-11 seasons.

It will be Rs.2 million per annum if the player has played Ranji Trophy (First class or List A) in the 2006-07, 2007-08 or 2008-09 seasons and Rs.3 million if the player first played Ranji Trophy (First class or List A) in the 2005-06 or earlier seasons.

As for the retention of players, up to four players per franchise may be signed for retention of which only up to three shall be Indian players and the squad size has been restricted to 30.

The board said it will manage all player contracts directly.

'All player contracts will now be managed by BCCI and signed by BCCI along with the franchise and the player. A new player registration and contract management process will be detailed soon. No player contracts can be signed until then. Player regulation for 2011 season will be circulated soon to all franchisees which will detail the player contract, registration and signing process,' BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement.

Also, the catchment areas have been revised and this will be now aligned according to the association instead of a states. Pune can pick its team from the Maharashtra and Vidarbha Cricket Associations while Kochi has been alloted the Kerala and Madhya Pradesh associations.

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Juventus wins The Southern Command Gold Trophy (Grade 3)

Sun, Sep 05 10 07:51 PM

Pune, Sep 5 (PTI) Fancied, Juventus, trained by S S Shah and confidently ridden by jockey C Rajendra, lifted the prestigious The Southern Command Gold Trophy (Grade 3) feature event on the ninth race day of the Pune meeting held here today. Trainer Narendra Lagad and Jockey C Rajendra scored a good treble while trainer S K Sunderji and jockey Dashrath Singh scored a good double each.

Source: Published>

Butt a liar, his defence a joke: Rameez Raja

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 04:23 PM

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has called Salman Butt a "liar" and ridiculed the suspended cricketer's defence against allegations of 'spot-fixing' as a "big joke".

"Salman Butt's claims are a joke, a big joke. If you are implicated, you've got to come out straight away and say, 'I've not done this, I don't care what the allegations are, I'm not involved and that is the truth'," Raja told 'The News of the World', which has exposed the scam with a sting operation.

"He has not done that, he has come across as a big liar.

I am so heavily and thoroughly disappointed by Pakistan's captain," he added.

Raja said for any match to be fixed, captain's involvement has to be there and Test skipper Butt cannot claim innocence in the face of some damning evidence produced by the newspaper.

"You look at match-fixing and the captain has to be crooked, they've got to be involved, along with some of the major players in the team, for it to happen," he said.

"It all depends on the captain. The way it was told in the paper '10th over, sixth ball' it actually did happen. It's up to the captain to ensure the bowler is still operating in the 10th over," he added.

Raja said he considered Butt a sensible cricketer but his actions have left him disappointed.

"I thought Butt was intelligent enough to understand the importance of leading Pakistan and setting an example.

"This is going to hurt Pakistan cricket. We have become a laughing stock. These players have brought shame on Pakistan's history. They have been caught in the act. Nothing can detract from that fact," he said.

Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were suspended by the ICC after the sting operation, which showed a bookie boasting about how he bribed them to bowl no-balls during last week's Lord's Test against England.

Source: Web Search

Three swimmers, including two in CWG team, fail dope test

Sun, Sep 05 10 04:17 PM

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Embarrassment piled on India ahead of next month''s Commonwealth Games with three swimmers, two of them part of the country''s team for the mega-event, flunking dope tests here today. Richa Mishra, adjudged the best female swimmer of the 64th National aquatic championship in Jaipur along with fellow CWG teammate Jyotsana Pansare and Amar Muralitharan, tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency this year. Intended to be a nasal decongestant, it is marketed as a dietary supplement. Swimming Federation of India Secretary Virender Nanavati confirmed the development and said both Richa and Jyotsana will be withdrawn from the team if their ''B'' samples also turned out to be positive. "We have been informed by the National Anti-Doping Agency about the three swimmers failing dope tests. Their samples were collected during the National Championships in Jaipur," Nanavati told PTI. "They can ask for a ''B'' sample test but that is their individual decision. We will see what happens after that procedure is completed. If the ''B'' samples of Richa and Jyotsana also test positive they will be withdrawn from the team. I can''t say whether we will have the replacements," he said. Of the three who have been caught in the doping net, Muralitharan had earlier flunked a dope test in 2003 as well but was cleared later that year. "All three of them have tested positive for methylhexaneamine," said the CWG Tournament Director (Swimming) Rakesh Gupta. Richa won three individual gold medals with one meet record (200m individual medley) during the Nationals, while Jyotsana clinched a gold in the 100m backstroke event in Jaipur. The latest doping scandal comes within a few days of six wrestlers and two athletes testing positive for the same banned substance. That list included this year''s Arjuna awardee Rajiv Tomar, along with fellow grapplers Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg), Gursharanpreet Kaur (women''s 72kg), Rahul Mann (60kg) and Joginder Singh (120kg). Shotputter Sourabh Vij and discus thrower Akash Antil had also failed dope tests. Days before this, net-ball player Megha Chaudharay had also tested positive for a banned substance.

Source: Published>

Aus hockey player Attard to miss CWG due to knee injury

Sun, Sep 05 10 04:07 PM

Melbourne, Sep 5 (PTI) Key defender Teneal Attard will not be a part of Australia''s women''s hockey squad for the Commonwealth Games after suffering a knee injury in the team''s loss to the Netherlands at the World Cup in Argentina. The news is particularly devastating for Attard, as it is her third injury, having only returned to the squad 12 months ago from a separate injury on her left knee, Hockey Australia said today on its website. Hockeyroos coach Frank Murray said Attard still has a chance to be part of the 2012 London Olympics squad and that captain Madonna Blyth may go back in defence to cover the loss of Attard. "When she gets back into Perth she will get it operated on and hopefully in the next 12 months, or even sooner, get back on track and is still a chance for the London Olympics," Murray said.

Source: Published>

Three swimmers, including two in CWG team, fail dope test

Sun, Sep 05 10 03:57 PM

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Embarrassment piled on India ahead of next month''s Commonwealth Games with three swimmers, two of them part of the country''s team for the mega-event, flunking dope tests here today. Richa Mishra, adjudged the best female swimmer of the 64th National aquatic championship in Jaipur along with fellow CWG teammate Jyotsana Pansare and Amar Muralitharan, tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency this year. Intended to be a nasal decongestant, it is marketed as a dietary supplement. Swimming Federation of India Secretary Virender Nanavati confirmed the development and said both Richa and Jyotsana will be withdrawn from the team if their ''B'' samples also turned out to be positive. "We have been informed by the National Anti-Doping Agency about the three swimmers failing dope tests. Their samples were collected during the National Championships in Jaipur," Nanavati told PTI. "They can ask for a ''B'' sample test but that is their individual decision. We will see what happens after that procedure is completed. If the ''B'' samples of Richa and Jyotsana also test positive they will be withdrawn from the team. I can''t say whether we will have the replacements," he said. Of the three who have been caught in the doping net, Muralitharan had earlier flunked a dope test in 2003 as well but was cleared later that year. "All three of them have tested positive for methylhexaneamine," said the CWG Tournament Director (Swimming) Rakesh Gupta. Richa won three individual gold medals with one meet record (200m individual medley) during the Nationals, while Jyotsana clinched a gold in the 100m backstroke event in Jaipur. The latest doping scandal comes within a few days of six wrestlers and two athletes testing positive for the same banned substance. That list included this year''s Arjuna awardee Rajiv Tomar, along with fellow grapplers Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg), Gursharanpreet Kaur (women''s 72kg), Rahul Mann (60kg) and Joginder Singh (120kg). Shotputter Sourabh Vij and discus thrower Akash Antil had also failed dope tests. Days before this, net-ball player Megha Chaudharay had also tested positive for a banned substance.

Source: Published>

Oz coach Nielsen worried for cricket's future, says he reported suspect behaviour

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 03:51 PM

Sydney, Sep 5(ANI): Australian cricket team coach Tim Nielsen has revealed that he has in the past reported suspect behaviour to the team management, and declared that young players are particularly vulnerable to corrupting influences.

"I've spoken to our manager once or twice about things that have happened, but nothing has ever come of them. You meet so many people, go to so many functions and events on the road and it's hard to differentiate between what's good and what's a potential problem," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nielsen, as saying.

"People love the idea of talking to a player or the coach and getting information behind the scenes. That's all innocent. But there are people who are doing it for sinister reasons," he added.

Nielsen further said that being on tour meant that players are susceptible to problematic situations at any hour.

"It was the players' responsibility to understand how easily things could go wrong. Management people - meaning captains, vice-captains, coaches - can't be with the players all the time," Nielsen said.

He was also surprised that the Sydney Test against Pakistan was now tainted.

"It's almost like we've been naive to it. I'm wondering now about a whole lot of things - why do people do it? How will the game survive? How can we ensure that people feel they still have a great team to follow? People are going to question results in all games, but especially against Pakistan," Nielsen said.

"In the Sydney Test no one had given a moment's thought about it being given up or fixed. The guys felt it was some of the hardest Test cricket they'd ever played," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Venus Williams turns heads at US Open with latest tennis outfit choice

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 03:47 PM

London, Sep 5 (ANI): Venus Williams, whose tennis outfits have often raised eyebrows in the past, turned heads yet again with her choice of attire for her latest match at the US Open.

Venus was playing at Flushing Meadows in New York.

"So far this year my outfits have been based on the cities that I play in. This outfit was supposed to be about New York. It's like bursts of fireworks," the Daily Mail quoted her as telling fans.

The 30-year-old player may have regretted her choice of outfit, however, after it continually rode up during play to reveal a pair of flesh-coloured pants of the kind she was first spotted wearing at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Venus has worn different dresses for each of her three appearances so far in the current tournament, and hopes to continue that trend as far as the final.

"Seven is a lot of dresses. It would be an honour to wear seven dresses all the way through," she said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Oz coach Nielsen worried for cricket's future, says he reported suspect behaviour

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 03:27 PM

Sydney, Sep 5(ANI): Australian cricket team coach Tim Nielsen has revealed that he has in the past reported suspect behaviour to the team management, and declared that young players are particularly vulnerable to corrupting influences.

"I've spoken to our manager once or twice about things that have happened, but nothing has ever come of them. You meet so many people, go to so many functions and events on the road and it's hard to differentiate between what's good and what's a potential problem," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nielsen, as saying.

"People love the idea of talking to a player or the coach and getting information behind the scenes. That's all innocent. But there are people who are doing it for sinister reasons," he added.

Nielsen further said that being on tour meant that players are susceptible to problematic situations at any hour.

"It was the players' responsibility to understand how easily things could go wrong. Management people - meaning captains, vice-captains, coaches - can't be with the players all the time," Nielsen said.

He was also surprised that the Sydney Test against Pakistan was now tainted.

"It's almost like we've been naive to it. I'm wondering now about a whole lot of things - why do people do it? How will the game survive? How can we ensure that people feel they still have a great team to follow? People are going to question results in all games, but especially against Pakistan," Nielsen said.

"In the Sydney Test no one had given a moment's thought about it being given up or fixed. The guys felt it was some of the hardest Test cricket they'd ever played," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Federer masters winds to cruise past Mathieu at US Open

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 03:17 PM

London, Sept 5 (ANI): World No.2 Roger Federer chasing a seventh successive US Open final, moved into the fourth round after mastering brutal winds and a flaky opponent, France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, who self-destructed in the tough conditions.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Federer beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-3 6-3. Fellow players Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling also moved safely into the last 16.

"That's what the wind can do to you. I kind of felt comfortable because you can also use it to your advantage and play really great tennis," Federer said.

"You have to be careful with it. Maybe not aim at the lines as much. I knew what I could do and what I couldn't do," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Venus Williams turns heads at US Open with latest tennis outfit choice

Published>Sun, Sep 05 10 03:07 PM

London, Sep 5 (ANI): Venus Williams, whose tennis outfits have often raised eyebrows in the past, turned heads yet again with her choice of attire for her latest match at the US Open.

Venus was playing at Flushing Meadows in New York.

"So far this year my outfits have been based on the cities that I play in. This outfit was supposed to be about New York. It's like bursts of fireworks," the Daily Mail quoted her as telling fans.

The 30-year-old player may have regretted her choice of outfit, however, after it continually rode up during play to reveal a pair of flesh-coloured pants of the kind she was first spotted wearing at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Venus has worn different dresses for each of her three appearances so far in the current tournament, and hopes to continue that trend as far as the final.

"Seven is a lot of dresses. It would be an honour to wear seven dresses all the way through," she said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search