Rpting after spelling correction in para 4 and 7

Wed, Dec 01 10 01:22 PM

Kamran disheartened by his exclusion from team for Kiwi Tour Karachi, Dec 1 (PTI) Ignored by the selectors for the New Zealand Tour, Pakistan stumper-batsman Kamran Akmal has claimed that he had got clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to play anywhere and for any team. Selectors yesterday dropped senior batsman Mohammed Yousuf and ignored Kamran and Shoaib Malik for the intial Twenty20 and Test series against New Zealand. There are doubts if Kamran has links with bookmakers and the PCB''s decision is linked to that, the sources had revealed. Alleged bookmaker Mazar Majeed has also claimed that seven Pakistani players, including Kamran, were hand in glove with him in spot fixing. Kamran is not pleased by the decision of the selectors but has not lost hope on making the World Cup squad. "I am disheartened but certainly have not given up hope of coming back to the team," Kamran told PTI. Referring to a statement by chief selector Mohsin Khan that he was not picked for the tour because the Pakistan cricket Board did not clear his name, Kamran said he was not aware about that. "All I know and can say in response to these media reports about my not getting clearance that I got a clearance letter from the ICC and I have handed it over to the PCB," he said. Sources though said the clearance letter, however, pertained to inquiry held by the ICC anti-corruption unit into the T20 World Cup earlier this year in the West Indies . He said he was still targeting a place in the 2011 World Cup. "I have always given my best for Pakistan and even if I have to just play as a specialist batsman and not as a wicketkeeper I am ready for this challenge. If they don''t want me as a keeper I think they should consider me as a specialist batsman and my records says a lot about this," he said. Asked if he felt that claims by Mazhar Majeed, who acted as an agent for Pakistani players but is now suspected to be involved in spot-fixing, had influenced his selection, Kamran said that he knew Mazhar only as a agent. "He and his brother were agents for not just me but other players as well and we know him just as an agent and there is nothing more to our ties with him. What he claims is his business but I want to make it clear that I have always given my 100 percent for Pakistan," he said. The wicketkeeper whose two other brothers, Umar and Adnan have, however, been included in the squads for the New Zealand tour said he would welcome any investigation by the PCB. "I am disheartened but not broken. I see this as a decision taken by the PCB and selectors in which right now I don''t fit into scheme of things. But I know I can come back because I am working hard," Kamran said.

Source: Published>

Trescothick tips England for Ashes glory

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 01:16 PM

London, Dec.1 (ANI): Former England opener Marcus Trescothick has tipped England for Ashes glory.

Following Alastair Cook's record-breaking exploits in the drawn first Test at Brisbane, and centuries by Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, Tresco hopes another show of strength by England at Adelaide can drive a wedge into the Australian squad.

"If we continue to dominate in certain areas then the pressure will only be heaped onto their guys further. The Australian media is harsh on losing sportsmen and it's a big advantage for a touring team if they can get on top," The Sun quoted Trecothick, as saying.

He added: "On the last two tours, we got an absolute barrage of abuse from their press - it's something you have to deal with it in that country, but now the tide is turning and it's definitely going in our favour."

"If we can get a victory in the next two Tests, it will crank up that pressure even more," he said.rescothick could not be more delighted for Cook - the man who replaced him at the top of order following his last-minute withdrawal from 2006/07 Ashes tour.

The Somerset skipper is pleased to see the Essex boy rack up his stunning 235 not out by returning to his natural game.

"Cookie has been under pressure, with people questioning his place in the team. When you listen to people saying how you should bat, that's when you genuinely come unstuck. It shows what a character he is - it was only as a matter of time before he got runs." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Pace bowler Harris gives selectors six screeching reasons to pick him for Adelaide

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 12:52 PM

Adelaide (Australia), Dec.1 (ANI): South Australian right-arm fast bowler Ryan Harris has given the national selectors six telling reasons to include him in Ponting's squad for the second Ashes Test against England to be played here from Friday.

Six screaming deliveries to Mike Hussey have proved Harris is the man mostly likely to torment England's left-handed duo of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook in the upcomh match.

At 10.47a.m. this morning. Harris and Doug Bollinger were steaming in at Hussey. While Bollinger was having trouble with his run-up, Harris shaded him for consistency.

According to the Herald Sun, only one thing can keep Harris out of the Australian side now - his injured right knee. It was heavily strapped during his duel with Hussey and an Ashes Test is no place for a passenger.

Test selectors Andrew Hilditch and Jamie Cox watched Bollinger and Harris in action. They could not have missed this six-ball burst from Harris.

Australia's Gabba trio of Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle were rested from bowling duties so it was left to their potential replacements to attack the in-form Hussey.

They both pressed their claims in emphatic fashion, as Bollinger huffed and puffed and nearly blew Hussey down in a classic two-man show.

"They're class acts, no doubt," Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke said.

"They've both had success in international cricket, whether that be Tests or one-dayers, and they're both looking forward to an opportunity. The selectors have got a tough job, but we've got to pick the attack that can take 20 wickets on a pretty good batting wicket," he added.

Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle will steam in tomorrow in an attempt to keep Harris and Bollinger at bay. Johnson and Hilfenhaus have the most to lose.

"Mitch seems fine. All of us face criticism throughout our career.

Sometimes more often than not, especially when you're not getting as many runs or wickets as you'd like. He's faced it before and I'm sure hell face it again. He's looking forward to this opportunity out here in this Test match. The selectors will work out the 11 players for this Test match and if he gets his chance, hell grab it with both hands," Clarke said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Trescothick tips England for Ashes glory

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 12:48 PM

London, Dec.1 (ANI): Former England opener Marcus Trescothick has tipped England for Ashes glory.

Following Alastair Cook's record-breaking exploits in the drawn first Test at Brisbane, and centuries by Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, Tresco hopes another show of strength by England at Adelaide can drive a wedge into the Australian squad.

"If we continue to dominate in certain areas then the pressure will only be heaped onto their guys further. The Australian media is harsh on losing sportsmen and it's a big advantage for a touring team if they can get on top," The Sun quoted Trecothick, as saying.

He added: "On the last two tours, we got an absolute barrage of abuse from their press - it's something you have to deal with it in that country, but now the tide is turning and it's definitely going in our favour."

"If we can get a victory in the next two Tests, it will crank up that pressure even more," he said.rescothick could not be more delighted for Cook - the man who replaced him at the top of order following his last-minute withdrawal from 2006/07 Ashes tour.

The Somerset skipper is pleased to see the Essex boy rack up his stunning 235 not out by returning to his natural game.

"Cookie has been under pressure, with people questioning his place in the team. When you listen to people saying how you should bat, that's when you genuinely come unstuck. It shows what a character he is - it was only as a matter of time before he got runs." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Pace bowler Harris gives selectors six screeching reasons to pick him for Adelaide

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 12:38 PM

Adelaide (Australia), Dec.1 (ANI): South Australian right-arm fast bowler Ryan Harris has given the national selectors six telling reasons to include him in Ponting's squad for the second Ashes Test against England to be played here from Friday.

Six screaming deliveries to Mike Hussey have proved Harris is the man mostly likely to torment England's left-handed duo of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook in the upcomh match.

At 10.47a.m. this morning. Harris and Doug Bollinger were steaming in at Hussey. While Bollinger was having trouble with his run-up, Harris shaded him for consistency.

According to the Herald Sun, only one thing can keep Harris out of the Australian side now - his injured right knee. It was heavily strapped during his duel with Hussey and an Ashes Test is no place for a passenger.

Test selectors Andrew Hilditch and Jamie Cox watched Bollinger and Harris in action. They could not have missed this six-ball burst from Harris.

Australia's Gabba trio of Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle were rested from bowling duties so it was left to their potential replacements to attack the in-form Hussey.

They both pressed their claims in emphatic fashion, as Bollinger huffed and puffed and nearly blew Hussey down in a classic two-man show.

"They're class acts, no doubt," Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke said.

"They've both had success in international cricket, whether that be Tests or one-dayers, and they're both looking forward to an opportunity. The selectors have got a tough job, but we've got to pick the attack that can take 20 wickets on a pretty good batting wicket," he added.

Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle will steam in tomorrow in an attempt to keep Harris and Bollinger at bay. Johnson and Hilfenhaus have the most to lose.

"Mitch seems fine. All of us face criticism throughout our career.

Sometimes more often than not, especially when you're not getting as many runs or wickets as you'd like. He's faced it before and I'm sure hell face it again. He's looking forward to this opportunity out here in this Test match. The selectors will work out the 11 players for this Test match and if he gets his chance, hell grab it with both hands," Clarke said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Sri Lanka ask Windies to bat in final test

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 12:28 PM

Sri Lanka won the toss and asked West Indies to bat in the third and final test on Wednesday after overnight rain had delayed the start of the deciding match of the series.

Sri Lanka made one change from the drawn second test, calling up Dilhara Fernando for Nuwan Kulasekara, while the tourists made two, with Devon Smith and Nelon Pascal replacing Adrian Barath and Shane Shillingford.

The three-test series stands is tied at 0-0 after two draws.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tharanga Paranavitana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach.

Source: Web Search

Under-fire Kiwis now under Duncan Fletcher microscope

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 11:52 AM

Jaipur (Rajasthan, India), Dec.1 (ANI): With New Zealand Cricket appointing former England cricket team coach Duncan Fletcher as consultant, the under-fire Black Caps will now have to put up acceptable performances before for the remainder of their India tour.

New Zealand's cricketers can expect to be scrutinized more closely than ever while trying to level the one-day series in Jaipur today.

Fletcher has arrived in Jaipur for the start of his 10-day stint, and will assess all elements of the team over the remaining four games, including player ability, stuff.co.nz reports.

It could the making or breaking of fringe contenders trying to force places in the squad for next year's World Cup in the sub-continent.

Coach Mark Greatbatch, who welcomed Fletcher's input, said the players knew a lift was needed in all departments following a muddling performance in the 40-run loss at Guwahati on Sunday.

"We did some good stuff, but I don't know that we were consistent enough across the board," Greatbatch told Radio Sport.

Stand-in captain Ross Taylor agreed, criticising his own efforts with the bat.

Following last month's humiliating 4-0 series loss to Bangladesh, the New Zealanders are desperate to end their one-day woes.

They again will face an Indian side missing several of their resting stars. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

NBA - Rondo propels Celtics past Cavs

Wed, Dec 01 10 11:48 AM

Rajon Rondo continued his strong return to the court as the Boston Celtics avenged an early-season defeat with an easy 106-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

In his second outing since a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Rondo had a season-high 23 points and 12 assists to lead the Celtics (13-4) to their fourth straight win.

Rondo entered the night on the heels of a 14-assist performance against the Toronto Raptors on Friday, and his latest effort allowed the Celtics to stay tied with the Orlando Magic atop the Eastern Conference.

Perhaps underestimating Cleveland in its first season since franchise player LeBron James departed for the Miami Heat, Boston were beaten by the Cavs in the opening week of the season.

This time the Celtics seized control with a 35-22 advantage in the second quarter and were never seriously threatened.

Boston got a boost off the bench from Glen Davis, who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, along with reserve Marquis Daniels, who chipped in 16 points.

"I thought the bench turned the game around," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "I thought (Davis and Daniels) were the two guys that changed everything."

Anderson Varejao led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which shot just 39 percent from the field in losing for the second time in three games.

"We stopped doing the things that got us the lead. We started to let the ball stick," said Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson who had 16 points.

"Once you let the ball stick against that team, it gets really tough to score."

The Cavaliers will now turn their attention to hosting the Heat on Thursday when they get their first visit from James since he made the controversial decision to leave.

Source: Published>

Kamran disheartened by his exclusion from team for Kiwi Tour

Wed, Dec 01 10 11:22 AM

Karachi, Dec 1 (PTI) Ignored by the selectors for the New Zealand Tour, Pakistan stumper-batsman Kamran Akmal has claimed that he had got clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to play anywhere and for any team. Selectors yesterday dropped senior batsman Mohammed Yousuf and ignored Kamran and Shoaib Malik for the intial Twenty20 and Test series against New Zealand. There are doubts if Kamran has links with bookmakers and the PCB''s decision is linked to that, the sources had revealed. Alleged bookmaker Mazar Majeed has also claimed that seven Pakistani players, including Kamran, were hand in golve with him in spot fixing. Kamran is not pleased by the decision of the selectors but has not lost hope on making the World Cup squad. "I am disheartened but certainly have not given up hope of coming back to the team," Kamran told PTI. Referring to a statement by chief selector Mohsin Khan that he was not picked for the tour because the Pakistan cricket Board did not clear his name, Kamran said he was not unaware about that. "All I know and can say in response to these media reports about my not getting clearance that I got a clearance letter from the ICC and I have handed it over to the PCB," he said. Sources though said the clearance letter, however, pertained to inquiry held by the ICC anti-corruption unit into the T20 World Cup earlier this year in the West Indies . He said he was still targeting a place in the 2011 World Cup. "I have always given my best for Pakistan and even if I have to just play as a specialist batsman and not as a wicketkeeper I am ready for this challenge. If they don''t want me as a keeper I think they should consider me as a specialist batsman and my records says a lot about this," he said. Asked if he felt that claims by Mazhar Majeed, who acted as an agent for Pakistani players but is now suspected to be involved in spot-fixing, had influenced his selection, Kamran said that he knew Mazhar only as a agent. "He and his brother were agents for not just me but other players as well and we know him just as an agent and there is nothing more to our ties with him. What he claims is his business but I want to make it clear that I have always given my 100 percent for Pakistan," he said. The wicketkeeper whose two other brothers, Umar and Adnan have, however, been included in the squads for the New Zealand tour said he would welcome any investigation by the PCB. "I am disheartened but not broken. I see this as a decision taken by the PCB and selectors in which right now I don''t fit into scheme of things. But I know I can come back because I am working hard," Kamran said.

Source: Published>

NBA - Stoudemire powers red-hot Knicks to win over Nets

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 10:48 AM

The New York Knicks used a third-quarter scoring burst to beat cross-river rivals the New Jersey Nets 111-100 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for their seventh win in eight games.

Amare Stoudemire led the way for New York with 35 points, while Wilson Chandler scored 27 and Raymond Felton added 21 to lift the Knicks (10-9) above .500 for the season.

Nets center Brook Lopez was an unstoppable force inside, scoring 36 points for New Jersey (6-12), who in the end could not keep pace with the run-and-gun Knicks.

"Any kind of step forward, we'll take," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "But we're 10-9. We have to be realistic. We are playing better but we can see we can still get a lot better."

New York blew the game open with a 25-8 run that was sparked by point guard Felton just before the midway point of the third quarter.

The Knicks trailed 65-63 before pulling away with a fastbreak spree, during which Felton scored eight points and made a dazzling assist.

New York outscored the Nets 33-15 in the quarter as the Nets were held back by a knee injury that sidelined scoring guard Devin Harris.

In one sizzling stretch, Felton drove for a layup, stole the ball from Anthony Morrow to drive in for another lay-in and then drove the lane again before dishing off to Stoudemire for a slam dunk during a run of eight unanswered points.

"I think he's playing great," Chandler, who hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds, said about Felton, who joined the team this season. "He had to get used to the system, get used to the players."

Stoudemire benefited from some nice interior passing from Felton as the two new Knick additions continued to gel on the court.

"We are starting to get the chemistry down," Stoudemire said about the New York Knicks offense. "Ray and I are starting to get down the pick-and-roll."

The Knicks had not been over the .500 mark this late in a season in nearly six years.

Source: Web Search

Rain delays start of 3rd Sri Lanka-Windies test

Wed, Dec 01 10 10:28 AM

Rain delayed the start of the third and final test between Sri Lanka and West Indies at Pallakele on Wednesday.

The first two tests of the three-match series ended drawn. (Editing by Peter Rutherford; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Published>

NBA - Rondo helps Celtics gain revenge on Cavs

Wed, Dec 01 10 10:08 AM

Rajon Rondo continued his strong return to the court as the Boston Celtics avenged an early-season defeat with an easy 106-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

In his second outing since a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Rondo had 23 points and 12 assists to lead the Celtics (13-4) to their fourth straight win. Rondo entered the night on the heels of a 14-assist performance against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

Boston suffered a defeat to the Cavaliers during the opening week of the season, but this time the Celtics seized control with a 35-22 advantage in the second quarter and were never seriously threatened.

Anderson Varejao led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland which shot just 39 percent from the field in losing for the second time in three games.

Source: Published>

Tiger's event attracts top-notch field

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 08:08 AM

Quality is the watchword at this week's Chevron World Challenge where 18 of the game's best players will be vying for supremacy in a $5 million event hosted by Tiger Woods.

Simply qualifying for the elite field is an achievement in itself with every player at Sherwood Country Club ranked inside the world's top 50.

"This is definitely a way you want to finish off your year," American Sean O'Hair told Reuters on Tuesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round. "You do that, you know you're doing something good.

"It's a limited field ... but it's the best players so you're going to have to play good golf. It's just nice. You're competitive but it's somewhat relaxed. I'm excited to be here and be a part of the field."

Woods, who will be competing in his own event for the first time in three years, expressed delight over the quality of the players assembled at Sherwood this week.

"Our field is the deepest, the strongest it's ever been," the American world number two told reporters after working on his putting in front of the imposing clubhouse.

"We're really looking forward to getting out there and hopefully putting on a good show."

A four-times champion here, Woods missed the 2008 World Challenge while recovering from knee surgery and last year's edition after being engulfed by a torrid sex scandal.

Although yet to win this season while coping with the break-up of his marriage and the fourth swing change of his career, he retains his renowned appetite for victory.

"My goal is to win every tournament I tee it up in and be prepared for every event," said Woods, who was replaced as world number one by Britain's Lee Westwood earlier this month.

"But that does entail right now learning a new golf swing that requires a lot of work, some new motor patterns. It's not exactly easy, but it's a fun challenge."

WINNING WAYS

While Woods has lost the aura of golfing invincibility he once enjoyed, O'Hair expects his fellow American to return to winning ways.

"He went through a lot personally and he's obviously disappointed with his year," said three-times PGA Tour champion O'Hair. "He's got a lot of good goals and he's working hard on his game.

"Next year I fully expect him to play his normal Tiger game. You want to beat the best and you want to play with the best and he's definitely the best."

This week, 10 of the world's top-15 players will be vying for supremacy over the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout at Sherwood.

The line-up includes second-ranked Woods, fellow Americans Steve Stricker (fifth) and Jim Furyk (sixth) and British duo Paul Casey (seventh) and Ian Poulter (eighth).

Straight-hitting Furyk will be defending the title he won by one shot over Britain's Graeme McDowell last year.

Proceeds from the invitational event go to Tiger Woods Foundation projects and the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim.

The full field is: Woods, Furyk, Stricker, Nick Watney, Casey, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Matt Kutchar, Dustin Johnson, McDowell, Poulter, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Anthony Kim, Bubba Watson, O'Hair, Camillo Villegas and Stewart Cink.

Source: Web Search

Johnson's future may rest in Ashes

Wed, Dec 01 10 07:08 AM

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson's wayward first Ashes test performance in Brisbane has placed him squarely in the firing line for media and fan criticism as his dented side prepare for the second match in Adelaide on Friday.

Johnson finished with match figures of 0-170 and bowled one ball so wide commentators said he had "done a Harmison" in reference to the England fast bowler's first delivery in the last Ashes series in Australia that sailed to second slip.

Australia's selectors responded to the bowling attack's lack of penetration in the second innings when England scored 517 for one by recalling Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris for the second match and captain Ricky Ponting put his attack on notice.

While Ponting said he did not want to single out Johnson, he admitted he had seen the left-arm quick "bowl better", and the 29-year-old's performances have been analysed and critiqued by commentators, former players and the media.

Johnson, however, has received support from within the Australian setup with coach Tim Neilsen preferring to give him time to sort out his problems.

"No doubt when players don't get a result they look at the scoreboard, and the reason we're talking about Mitch is he's got no wickets on the scoreboard," Nielsen told reporters in Adelaide.

"He didn't bowl as well as he would have liked and that's our job over the next couple of days to make sure we get him back up and going."

National selector Greg Chappell also backed Johnson, who has taken just 11 wickets in his past five tests at an average of 58.90, and made a 19-ball duck and dropped a catch in Brisbane.

"We obviously recognise he's not in the peak of form at the moment, so we're keen to see him back to that as soon as possible," Chappell told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Players go through ups and downs in various stages of their careers. He's currently not in the peak of form but that doesn't mean he won't be back into that form soon.

"Obviously there's a few things he needs to sort out, and hopefully that can be done in the next few days.

"He's still one of our key bowlers. We're keen to see him back to his best form as soon as possible, if that's in Adelaide, that will be great."

Source: Published>

Oceania says will not get World Cup vote

Wed, Dec 01 10 06:08 AM

Oceania will not have a vote in Thursday's decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts after suspended delegate Reynald Temarii decided to appeal his ban, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said.

Temarii was suspended, along with Amos Adamu of Nigeria, following an investigation by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper which alleged they were prepared to sell their votes for cash.

"FIFA has outlined that Oceania's sole spot on the FIFA Executive Committee is not considered vacant as long as the appeal process is still open," the OFC said on Wednesday.

"Therefore, Acting OFC President David Chung will not be able to replace Mr. Temarii on the FIFA Executive until such time as the appeal process has concluded," the statement added.

Source: Published>

De Villiers inspired by accidental remark

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 05:28 AM

An "accidental" remark he wished he had never made is behind AB de Villiers' rapid ascent into the top-rank of the world's leading batsmen, the South African told Reuters on Tuesday.

De Villiers scored an epic 278 not out, the highest individual test score for South Africa, against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi to rise to an all-time high of fifth in the ICC test rankings.

The 26-year-old is also second in the one-day rankings, having been pushed off the number one spot by team mate Hashim Amla.

Just over two years ago, De Villiers told a news conference he wanted to be the best batsman in the world, a comment that was generally greeted with amused scepticism as he had not been a consistently heavy scorer at international level.

"I sort of said it by accident, what I meant was that it should be the dream of any international player to be the best in the world, otherwise you're playing for the wrong reasons. At the time I felt really stupid, I was saying to myself 'oh my word, now I've gone and put all this pressure on myself'," De Villiers told Reuters.

"But I had this vision and I put it out there, I was open and honest and it was the best thing I could have done. I had been in a comfort zone, scoring the odd fifty and just doing well enough to stay in the team.

"But I need to challenge myself, I need to raise the bar the whole time. Now I'm pushing myself and I'm chasing it [the number one ranking] now," De Villiers said.

De Villiers made his test debut against England in 2004, playing two games, the first as an opening batsman and the second as a wicketkeeper during which he scored an unbeaten 52 to help save the match. His breakthrough came in 2005, when he scored three centuries, but 2006 and 2007 brought low returns of just 957 runs in 20 tests.

De Villiers lowered his head as he leans forward on his chair.

"Things have changed in the last two years, not so much in terms of technique or physically, but rather in terms of belief. I still play with the same positive mindset, but I've learnt how to play situations and, even on flat decks or against minor teams, I challenge myself.

"I've definitely matured as a batsman, it comes with experience and I've travelled round a bit, it's now my seventh season of international cricket and I can read pitches and situations better. I'm a lot more patient and it's the best feeling knowing you can stick it out for a long time."

FUTURE CHALLENGES

De Villiers is thoughtful when asked where his career is headed to now, where the future challenges lie. The answer is in South Africa's forthcoming series against top-ranked India.

"I'm not a massive one for stats and records, but to get the highest score for South Africa was unbelievable, a massive dream come true.

"Playing against India is going to be a great challenge, it's number one in the world against number two and, form-wise, probably the two strongest batting line-ups in the world.

"It's going to be an amazing series and we have to see who's up to the challenge on our pitches, where a 150 all out is always on the cards. It's never easy here for batsmen, you're never in and it will be good to see who cracks first," De Villiers said.

The athletic, blond-haired cricketer is an ex-scratch golfer and junior provincial rugby and tennis player, and is a member of a pop-singing duo that has just brought out their first CD.

While De Villiers admits he is most comfortable when there is a ball nearby, he adds that he has found balance in his life.

"When I was young, I used to hit balls by myself in the garage for hours and even now, when I go for a run, I'll have a ball in my hand. At one stage I thought I might have mental problems.

"But I now know cricket is not everything, so I can play without any fear or pressure."

Source: Web Search

West Ham dump holders Man Utd out of League Cup

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 04:28 AM

West Ham United humbled holders Manchester United 4-0 on Tuesday to reach the League Cup semi-finals with Old Trafford reject Jonathan Spector scoring twice in the swirling snow at Upton Park.

With the crowd scarcely believing their eyes, striker Carlton Cole added two second half goals as the bottom team in the Premier League blew away United's 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal overcame Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the other all-Premier League quarter-final clash on a freezing night in the capital.

Birmingham City host top flight rivals Aston Villa, last season's losing finalists, in a Midlands derby on Wednesday when Roy Keane's struggling Championship (second division) side Ipswich Town are at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Manchester United, top of the league and winners of the League Cup for the past two seasons, made wholesale changes from the side that blew aside Blackburn Rovers 7-1 at the weekend and were given a taste of their own medicine.

FIRST GOALS

Alex Ferguson's men were still fancied to see off the Premier League's tail-enders but U.S. international defender Spector, playing in a central midfield role, ripped up the script with his first goals in English soccer.

Spector, who spent three years on Manchester United's books and made just eight starts before moving to Charlton Athletic on loan and then joining West Ham in 2006, opened the scoring with a looping 22nd minute header off a Victor Obinna cross.

The 24-year-old, who last played for West Ham when they lost to United in August, made it 2-0 in the 37th when Obinna again caused mayhem in the area and Spector lashed a loose ball home at the near post.

West Ham thought they had scored after 17 minutes when Obinna's shot was deflected into the net off Spector, who was belatedly ruled offside.

Arsenal, making nine changes from the side that beat Aston Villa 4-2 away in the league on Saturday, started slowly but took the lead three minutes before the break through an Antolin Alcaraz own goal.

The Gunners made it 2-0 in the 67th when Nicklas Bendtner bundled the ball in at the far post.

Source: Web Search

West Ham dump holders Manchester United out of League Cup

Wed, Dec 01 10 04:08 AM

West Ham United humbled League Cup holders Manchester United 4-0 on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals with Old Trafford reject Jonathan Spector scoring twice in the swirling snow at Upton Park.

With the crowd scarcely believing their eyes, West Ham striker Carlton Cole added two second half goals as the bottom team in the Premier League blew away United's 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal overcame Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the other all-Premier League quarter-final clash on a freezing night in the capital.

Birmingham City host top flight rivals Aston Villa, last season's losing finalists, in a Midlands derby on Wednesday while Roy Keane's Championship (second division) side Ipswich Town are at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Source: Published>

Denver, Lake Tahoe-area keen for 2022 Winter bid

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 03:48 AM

Denver and the Lake Tahoe area want to host the 2022 Winter Olympics but have been warned that any future United States bids are on hold pending a new revenue sharing deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The long-running dispute over revenue sharing was seen as a major factor in Chicago's failure to win the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) officials fear any future attempts will be doomed unless a solution was found.

"We would both like to get the revenue sharing off the table as soon as we can," USOC chief Scott Blackmun told the Reuters Global Media Summit on Tuesday.

"We'd like to start discussions in early 2011."

The U.S. currently gets the single biggest share of revenue paid by top sponsors at 20 percent and the largest share of overall broadcast television revenue at 12.75 percent.

The IOC wants to renegotiate those revenue splits so international federations and other national Olympic committees get a higher percentage of the money but have yet to reach an agreement.

The U.S. has not hosted an Olympics since 2002, when Salt Lake City held the Winter Games.

With the 2014 and 2016 Olympic sites already decided and the U.S. not in the running for the 2018 Winter Games, the earliest the Games could return to the U.S. would be 2020.

Several U.S. cities have expressed interest in bidding for 2020 but the USOC has not indicated whether they are likely to launch a formal bid. However, Blackmun said Denver and the Tahoe area, which last hosted a Winter Games 50 years ago at Squaw Valley, had both indicated they were keen to host the 2022 Winter Games, which will be decided in 2015.

"I think a U.S.-based Olympic games is good for America and good for the Olympics. Eighteen years is a long gap," Blackmun said.

In addition to solving the revenue problem, Blackmun said he and USOC president Larry Probst were aware the USOC also needed to improve its relationship with international Olympic officials and working hard at mending some of the problems.

"We're trying to be engaged, have a presence," Blackmun said.

"Larry (Probst) and I were both in Guangzhou (China) for the Asian Games a few weeks ago. We're traveling to Europe two or three times a year at least so people can get to know who we are."

At the Asian Games, Probst announced a four-year agreement with the Olympic Council of Asia for athlete exchanges, training and development.

In September, a bilateral agreement with Brazil was announced for an athletes exchange ahead of the 2016 Games.

"The relationship business is long term, not short term," he said. "If we want to be more engaged internationally, particularly with the international federations, we need to start laying the groundwork for that now for changes that might occur in five years or 10 years."

"We can't parachute leaders into federations."

There have already been some signs of a thawing in relations between the USOC and the IOC with the U.S. chosen to host the Women in Sport conference in Los Angeles in 2012 and the IOC Athletes Commission meeting in Colorado Springs in 2011.

"I think getting more of the international federation-involved people into the United States is a first step," he said.

Source: Web Search

Reuters Summit - USOC eyes revival of Olympic TV network

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 01:48 AM

Source: Web Search

Dutch and Belgian bid adds colour to wintry Zurich

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 01:28 AM

Dutch and Belgian fans added a splash of colour to wintry Zurich on Tuesday with a brass band, mulled wine and the presence of Ruud Gullit livening up a presentation by the 2018 World Cup hopefuls.

About 80 fans travelled by coach from Amsterdam and Antwerp and congregated in a small square off Zurich's most expensive shopping street Bahnhofstrasse.

While bid chief executive Harry Been, president Gullit and ambassador Jean-Marie Pfaff, emphasised the message that small is beautiful, the oompah-oompah of the band filled the night sky while the mulled wine flowed.

FIFA will choose the 2018 World Cup hosts on Thursday with the Dutch and Belgians vying with England, Russia and another joint-bid from Spain/Portugal.

Unlike most media briefings staged in clinical hotel meeting rooms, the Dutch and Belgians took over a swish city centre bar with the speeches coming in a warm party atmosphere and with fans in the orange shirts of the Dutch and the red of Belgium singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "We are the Champions".

As Gullit said: "We do things differently from the others because we always think two steps ahead.

"That's the only way to survive where big countries all the time have the possibility to do their thing. Our fans are something very special and the whole world knows that."

STRONG CONTENDERS

Been said that about a year ago, the bid was ranked as "modest outsiders" but added: "Now we feel we are in the position of being a strong contender.

"But you never know what is going to happen because in the end it is one person who votes secretly so we will never know who voted for who."

He added that by awarding the World Cup to the Low Countries, FIFA would be telling most of their member countries that hosting the World Cup was not beyond them.

"Of the 208 member countries of FIFA, maybe 10 can organise it themselves maybe 198 can only do it together with another country.

"FIFA need an example to show the world joint-bids have a future. In 2030, Argentina and Uruguay want to organise it together and they need Holland and Belgium to show them it is possible."

Gullit added: "FIFA knows we can organise a great tournament, they know what we did with Belgium in the Euros in 2000 and they know we can do it again."

Source: Web Search

Mourinho banned, Real fined after red card probe

Wed, Dec 01 10 01:08 AM

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been given a two-match ban for improper conduct by UEFA after allegations that two of his players deliberately got sent off in a Champions League match against Ajax Amsterdam.

UEFA on Tuesday also handed out fines related to events in the Nov. 23 Group G game including 120,000 euros ($156,300) for Real, 40,000 for Mourinho and lower amounts for players Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek.

The second match of Mourinho's European ban has been deferred for a probationary period of three years.

The latest setback for Real and Mourinho followed the Madrid side's embarrassing 5-0 defeat by their arch-rivals Barcelona in El Clasico at the Nou Camp on Monday.

Real have three days to appeal against UEFA's punishment.

Spain internationals Ramos and Alonso were dismissed late in Real's 4-0 win in the Dutch capital after picking up second yellow cards for time-wasting.

The sendings-off meant they would serve automatic one-match suspensions in the final group game against Auxerre, which is a dead match for Real as they are assured of first place in Group G and qualification for the last 16.

Both players had accumulated two yellow cards in the group stage before they were sent off and a further yellow card in a subsequent game would have meant a one-match suspension during the knockout rounds.

CARDS STAND

UEFA said the red cards given to Alonso and Ramos would stand and they have been suspended for one match.

The pair will start the knockout stage with one yellow card each against their names as the cards picked up before the Ajax game still stood.

Spanish media reports said the players were acting on instructions from Mourinho. They said the message was passed by reserve goalkeeper Dudek during a conversation with first-choice keeper Casillas.

Spanish television repeatedly replayed a moment during the match when the pair were seen talking with their hands over the mouths. Mourinho was also filmed with his hand over his mouth.

Two years ago, UEFA fined Olympique Lyon players Cris and Juninho 15,000 and 10,000 euros respectively for getting deliberately booked in a Champions League match against Fiorentina.

UEFA's disciplinary panel decided the pair had committed fouls in order to serve a one-match ban during their team's meaningless final group stage match against Bayern Munich.

Source: Published>

Atletico coach gets two-match ban for Espanyol fracas

Wed, Dec 01 10 12:48 AM

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores was handed a two-match touchline ban on Tuesday after losing his temper and clashing with Espanyol players during his side's 3-2 home defeat in La Liga on Saturday.

The Spanish football federation punished him with one game for receiving a straight red card and another for his unruly behaviour, the ruling body said in a statement on its website (www.rfef.es).

Sanchez Flores raced to the touchline to confront Espanyol midfielder Javi Lopez for what he saw as time-wasting and a lack of respect and clashed with opposing captain Luis Garcia before being dismissed from the bench.

He had to be restrained by Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and other players and officials when he tried to confront Garcia again after the final whistle.

Source: Published>

Mourinho gets two-match ban after red card controversy

Wed, Dec 01 10 12:28 AM

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has been given a two-match ban following allegations that two of his players deliberately got sent off in a Champions League match against Ajax Amsterdam, UEFA said on Tuesday.

UEFA also handed out several fines related to events late in the Nov. 23 Group G game in Amsterdam including 120,000 euros ($156,300) for Real, 40,000 for Mourinho and lower amounts for players Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Jerzy Dudek.

The second match of Mourinho's European ban has been deferred for a probationary period of three years.

Source: Published>

Serie A players' union calls Dec. 11, 12 strike

Published>Wed, Dec 01 10 12:12 AM

The Serie A players' union on Tuesday called a strike for matches on Dec. 11 and 12, prompting insults to be traded between the parties and throwing the Italian game into more chaos.

The union, which announced a strike for September before postponing the action to allow for more talks, is angry at league demands that unwanted players train away from the first team squads or accept a transfer even when under contract.

Last-ditch talks with Serie A and the Italian soccer federation in Rome failed to reach an agreement ahead of the union's Nov. 30 deadline.

"The strike has been called for Dec. 11 and 12. We are very sad because there was a willingness to find an agreement," union vice president Leonardo Grosso told reporters, adding that they would soon issue a statement confirming the strike.

"The league continued to ask to discuss the issue of players being placed outside of the squad, which for us was case closed."

The federation hoped the union would wait for an Olympic Committee hearing on Wednesday before calling a strike, and like so often in Serie A there may still be a twist in the tale.

Italian soccer has endured a match-fixing scandal, hooligan problems and two failed European championship bids in recent years, with decaying stadiums and low attendances adding to a sense of apathy relieved only by sporadic on-field success.

Serie A players have gone on strike in the past over similar issues, and the threat of games such as Juventus v Lazio being called off now hangs over the league, although champions Inter Milan will be away at the Club World Cup that weekend.

INDEPENDENT BODY

Serie A, in its first season as an independent body having broken away from the Italian league, has been negotiating a new collective contract with the union over basic players' rights.

The original contract expired in the close season without any agreement, and the dispute has rumbled on ever since.

Some players such as AC Milan right-back and Italy World Cup winner Massimo Oddo, who proclaimed the original strike, have since said striking is a bad idea, but the union leadership has carried on regardless.

Serie A president Maurizio Beretta, who still hopes a deal will be struck, told reporters: "Today's meeting was incredible, without precedence in history.

"The union refused to listen to the federation president's intervention, which included the issue of players outside the squad. At that point they got up from the table and left."

Media have criticised multi-millionaire players for considering a strike during a time of economic hardship, but the union can point to three cases that support their stance.

Juve's Fabio Grosso and Hasan Salihamidzic were dropped at the start of the season for turning down transfers but an injury crisis meant they were brought back.

Goran Pandev was banished by Lazio last term for demanding a move but an arbitration panel ruled in his favour and he signed for Inter on a free, a case that may have implications for Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano and Cagliari's Federico Marchetti.

Cassano and Marchetti have both been dropped for disciplinary reasons and arbitration hearings are planned soon.

Source: Web Search

Bookie accuses Akmal brothers, others, of spot-fixing

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 11:48 PM

Karachi, Nov 30 (IANS) Pakistani cricket has plunged to another low with England-based match-fixer Mazhar Majeed revealing Tuesday that four more players - Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Imran Farhat - were also involved in spot-fixing along with the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Geo News reported it had received a secret video of Mazhar in which he disclosed that Riaz, Imran and the Akmal brothers are actively involved in spot-fixing.

In the same video, Mazhar also revealed that captain Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Saeed Ajmal and Younis Khan are not involved in spot-fixing.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already suspended Butt, Asif and Aamer after British tabloid The News of the World reported that the three cricketers allegedly took millions from Mazhar for spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in August. Scotland Yard is investigating the charges.

The Pakistani selectors Tuesday had dropped Kamran and Imran for the upcoming tour of New Zealand but Umar and Wahab found a place in the team.

Earlier, Kamran had admitted that he knew Mazhar just as an agent for the players, but not as a bookmaker.

Source: Web Search

Fixer Mazhar Majeed reveals 4 more players in spot-fixing

Tue, Nov 30 10 11:28 PM

Karachi, Nov 30 (PTI) Pakistan cricket today plunged into fresh crisis with the bookie Mazhar Majeed revealing that four more players were involved in fixing international matches besides the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir. Mazhar Majeed, the UK based bookie who was at the centre of spot-fixing scandal three month back, claimed that Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat were also on his payroll, helping him do spot fixing. The video aired by ''Geo News channel'' today showed Majeed relaxing on a sofa set at his residence in the United Kingdom talking to a News of the World reporter about his contacts with Pakistani players and who are on board with him in his fixing business. It is not clear about the date of the video footage but it seemed that it was during Pakistan''s tour of England in August as Majeed talked about Salman Butt as captain. In the new video, Mazhar, who posed as the agent for the Pakistani cricketers, is heard telling the undercover reporter who posed as a businessman interested in making money from spot fixing that he had seven players on board with him. The reporter as he settles down in the room asked Majeed, "So what is the latest." Majeed then proceeded to take the names of the suspended trio and four other players -- Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz as the players who are on board with him. "I have seven out of 11 players," Majeed boasted. He said in the video that he only targetted the younger players as he planned for the future and did not concentrate on senior players. "I have only targeted younger players in the side as it is long term thinking," Majeed said. To a question about how dependable is Salman Butt, Majeed said that the former Test captain is 200 per cent dependable and trustworthy and he will remain Pakistan captain for a long time. He also talked about Imran Farhat and how he used to do what he was told to do. He said that senior players like Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Younis Khan and Saeed Ajmal were clean and not involved in corruption. "Saeed is a very religious man, he will be shocked if he heard us talking," said Majeed. International Cricket Council had provisionally suspended Butt, Asif and Aamir after a ''News of the World'' sting expose showed Mazhar Majeed claiming that the trio were involved in spot-fixing in the fourth Test against England at Lord''s in late August. Scotland Yard is also investigating into the matter. Meanwhile, Pakistani selectors today ignored Kamran and Imran Farhat for the forthcoming tour to New Zealand but selected Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz in the team. Kamran had said that Mazhar was just an agent for the players and they did not know he was also a bookmaker. PTI Corr PDS

Source: Published>

BCCI yet to take decision on Pak players taking part in IPL

Tue, Nov 30 10 10:38 PM

Karachi, Nov 30 (PTI) The participation of Pakistani players in the fourth edition of Indian Premier League remains in doubt with a top BCCI official today saying that it is yet to take a decision on the issue. Although the players'' auction for IPL IV will be held in Mumbai on January 8 and 9, the Indian Cricket Board is yet to reach a decision on whether to allow Pakistani players in the tournament. "The auction is still a month away and we have time. We will discuss this issue and take a decision at our next governing council meeting," BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla told Geo Super channel today. "When the time comes we will discus and decide whether players from Pakistan can be considered for the coming tournament," he said. Pakistani players were ignored by the eight franchises at the players auction held for the last IPL tournament drawing strong criticism from within Pakistan and even some quarters in India. The Pakistani players, the sports minister and the Pakistan cricket Board responded to the IPL snub by saying that it was an insult to Pakistan cricket. But in recent times, PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt has softened his tone as have some of the players who were snubbed at the last auction. "If we get a good and respectable offer and if we are treated properly we can consider playing in the IPL provided our government and board gives us clearance," former captain Shoaib Malik said. Sources said that some of the franchises had already started considering signing on some players from Pakistan and all-rounder Sohail Tanvir was one player in line to play as were some others including Malik. "Some franchises are in touch with a few players but one can''t talk about any details at this stage," one source said. Rookie fast bowler Muhammad Irfan also took part in trial matches for the IPL in Sri Lanka on the recommendation of former Pakistan captain and fast bowling great Wasim Akram who is a consultant with the Kolkata Knight Riders team.

Source: Published>

Pak trio to be charged under UK corruption law: report

Tue, Nov 30 10 10:22 PM

London, Nov 30 (PTI) Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif, who were suspended by the ICC for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing, are likely to be charged under a 104-year-old corruption law after a landmark ruling by the Attorney General, a report claimed. ''The Telegraph'' said, quoting legal and police sources, that "there is a strong appetite to prosecute Butt, Asif and Amir under the corruption law. "It comes after another cricketer accused of similar claims has been charged under the rarely-used corruption law, and for cheating under the new Gambling Act," the report said. "The Attorney General rubber-stamped the decision to prosecute former Essex seamer Mervyn Westfield for deliberately bowling badly during a one-day game against Durham. "It (Westfield case) paved the way for charges against the Pakistan cricketers," the report said. Scotland Yard detectives interviewed the Pakistan trio in September on suspicion of defrauding bookmakers after a ''News of the World'' sting claimed they received orders from bookie Mazhar Majeed to deliberately bowl no-balls in the Lord''s Test against England. In the NOTW sting, Majeed received 150,000 pound sterling from an undercover reporter. Two files of evidence have been passed by police to the Crown Prosecution Service, whose lawyers are under pressure to make a decision on any charges ahead of the February''s Cricket World Cup, which is being held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. They will now be able to refer to the precedent set by Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General, in the Westfield case - making charges more likely. Westfield was originally charged with conspiracy to defraud after an investigation into a match against Durham in September 2009.

Source: Published>

PCB not happy with less number of matches in new FTP

Tue, Nov 30 10 10:08 PM

Karachi, Nov 30 (PTI) Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed reservations on the new Future Tours Programme over lesser number of matches allotted to the national side against top teams, including India, at the ICC Chief Executives meeting in Dubai today. Sources in the PCB said that Zakir Khan, who attended the chief executives meeting, conveyed Pakistan''s concerns over the number of matches it was being allotted in the new FTP that starts from 2012. "There is plenty of concern that top teams like Australia, England and India are playing fewer matches against Pakistan compared to other teams in the ICC rankings," one source said. He said that the PCB had conveyed its concern to the other members that it needed to get more matches from top teams even if they are to be played at neutral venues to keep cricket going in Pakistan. "Already we are facing a crisis because of the refusal of foreign teams to tour Pakistan due to the security conditions. We have been forced to play our home series at neutral venues and now we can''t afford to get less matches against Australia, England, especially against India," the source said. The source said that in the new FTP, the three top teams had avoided scheduling regular home and away series against Pakistan. "India has also made it clear that its FTP commitments against Pakistan are subject to government clearance," the source said. India has not played Pakistan in a bilateral series since 2007 when Pakistan toured India for a Test series. Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, India has refused to play Pakistan despite attempts by the PCB and International Cricket Council to organise bilateral limited over matches at neutral venues. The source said that the top teams had however assured that if the security situation improved in Pakistan they would consider increasing the number of series even outside the FTP. PTI Corr PDS

Source: Published>

Arbitrator stays BCCI''s decision to terminate Royals'' contract

Tue, Nov 30 10 09:52 PM

Mumbai, Nov 30 (PTI) In a major reprieve for Rajasthan Royals, an independent arbitrator today granted injunction in their favour by staying the termination of its IPL contract by the BCCI. A legal source said that Justice BN Srikrishna, who was acting as arbitrator, held that prima facie the termination of contract by the Cricket Board was "illegal". The injunction against the termination will be in effect for six weeks and the arbitration proceedings will continue in the meanwhile, the sources said. Royals had challenged the termination before the Bombay High Court. However, the case in the High Court was kept pending as both the parties agreed to resolve the matter through arbitration. The BCCI had on October 10 decided to terminate the franchise agreement of Rajasthan Royals, along with that of Kings XI Punjab, for alleged breach of agreement by them. PTI KRK VKV PDS

Source: Published>

China sponsored Indian women''s water polo team in Asiad

Tue, Nov 30 10 09:48 PM

New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) China sponsored Indian women''s waterpolo team for Asian Games in Guangzhou and the Swimming Federation of India agreed to it after the Asian body sent an invitation, the SFI said today. With only three teams -- China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan -- in the fray, women''s waterpolo was in danger of being dropped from Asian Games when the Chinese Water Polo Association gave this unique "offer" to sponsor the Indian team and the SFI readily agreed. But the SFI said it was for the betterment of the sport and they obliged to the request from the Asian federation. "It was not like sponsoring us. They supported in our participation and it was for the betterment of the sport. The original invitation had come from the Asian federation," SFI General Secretary Virendra Nanavati told PTI. "Had we not sent the team, the women''s waterpolo would have been dropped in the future Games. The invited us and offered to pay us for the trip and we agreed. We felt it would be a good exposure trip for our women''s team who were selected for the Commonwealth Waterpolo Championship which were to be held in the last week of October in Chennai. "But the event could not be held as teams like Canada, England and New Zealand withdrew. Meanwhile, we got this invitation and we agreed to participate," Nanavati said. The Indian women''s waterpolo team fared expectedly, finishing at the bottom after conceding 96 goals in three matches and scoring just six. Hosts China won the gold while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan bagged the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Source: Published>

Encouragement from people motivated me to do well: Joby Mathew

Tue, Nov 30 10 09:22 PM

Kochi, Nov 30 (PTI) Joby Mathew, who bagged a silver in the Men''s Singles of the Upper Standing category of the just concluded International Badminton Para Olympic Championship at Tel Aviv, today said it was encouragement from people of the state which had motivated him to do well. The championship concluded on November 27. Mathew, who arrived at the airport here here along with Neeraj George Baby of Aluva who won a bronze in Men''s doubles in Lower standing category of Badminton championship, told reporters he was busy preparing for International Arm Wrestling championship, to be held in Ukraine in 2011. They were accorded a rousing reception by the Sports Council office bearers and elected representatives including A M Yousef MLA and Aluva municipal chairman M T Jacob. Jobby Mathew, a talented sportsman in many disciplines, represented India in the Paralympic Badminton Championship for the first time and bagged a silver on debut. Joby had won gold in the general category during the 2008 World Championship in Spain, besides seven world medals for arm-wrestling in National and International championships. Neeraj George Baby, a Post Graduate in Bio Technology from England has his leg amputated due to cancer. Using Crutches, Neeraj clinched the Bronze in Men''s Doubles in Lower Standing Category of the Championship. He had won many National Championships and was the winner in International Championship in Bangalore in 2007. Though he qualified for many International Championships, he could not participate in any of them due to lack of sponsors, Neeraj said.

Source: Published>

11th Women''s National Boxing Championship at Thrissur

Tue, Nov 30 10 09:18 PM

Thrissur, Nov 30 (PTI) The 11th women''s national Boxing championship will commence here from December 4. The training camp is now on at Kuriachira in which 10 boxers are participating, tournament general convener Paul Puther said in a statement here. While Kerala bagged the championship in 2004, they were runners up in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Indian team coach Dronacharya Chandralal expressed hope that at least four boxers from Kerala -- Ashlamol Thomas, Princy, Hema and Mrudla -- would qualify for London Olympics. Ashla Mol, besides being junior national champion, had bagged silver medal twice in the senior national championship. She won gold medal in the international junior championship at Turkey in 2007, he said.

Source: Published>

Haryana players doing well due to new Sports Policy: Cong MP

Tue, Nov 30 10 09:08 PM

Jullana (Haryana), Nov 30 (PTI) Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda today said that the success of Haryana''s sportspersons in recent Asian Games and Commonwealth Games is because of the new Sports Policy and other incentives of the State Government. Speaking at a function organised at village Akalgarh near here to honour Kaptan Singh, a member of Indian Kabaddi team, which won gold medal in Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the minister said that new sporting talents are emerging as the result of Sports Policy implemented by the Haryana Government. He said any talented player in any part of the state would not have to make any compromise even if his/her economic condition was not good as the state government was providing all help. He also added that a function would be organised by the state government to honour the medal winners of the Asian Games. Hooda said that today Haryana has emerged prominently on the world sports map as a result of better performance of players at international level. He announced a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh for Kaptan Singh and Rs 51 lakh for the development of his native village. Hooda also said that in view of the stellar performance of the players at the CWG and the Asian Games, a sports university in the state has become the need of the hour. Cash incentives, reservation in jobs, opening of academies and training facilities in rural areas has also helped in promotion of sporting activities in the state, he said.

Source: Published>

11th Women''s National Boxing Championship at Thrissur

Tue, Nov 30 10 08:52 PM

Thrissur, Nov 30 (PTI) The 11th women''s national Boxing championship will commence here from December 4. The training camp is now on at Kuriachira in which 10 boxers are participating, tournament general convener Paul Puther said in a statement here. While Kerala bagged the championship in 2004, they were runners up in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Indian team coach Dronacharya Chandralal expressed hope that at least four boxers from Kerala -- Ashlamol Thomas, Princy, Hema and Mrudla -- would qualify for London Olympics. Ashla Mol, besides being junior national champion, had bagged silver medal twice in the senior national championship. She won gold medal in the international junior championship at Turkey in 2007, he said.

Source: Published>

Much bragged about powers of the baggy green down to only Warne, McGrath: Hussain

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 02:46 PM

London, Nov 30(ANI): Former England captain Nasser Hussain reckons that the drawn Ashes opener in Brisbane establishes that Australia's perpetually bragged about special powers of the baggy green had more to do with legends Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

"As I watched England's batsmen rack up the runs on the fourth day at the Gabba, one thought kept coming back to me: welcome to Test cricket, Ricky Ponting," Hussain wrote in an article for the Daily Mail.

"For years the Aussies lectured us about the special powers of the baggy green, but my feeling was always that any special powers they had were more to do with Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," he added.

Hussain said that on the evidence of the first four days, left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty is short of Test class, while fast bowler Mitchell Johnson continued to disappoint.

"I keep waiting for Johnson to show us what all the hype is about, but he's got a slingy action, bowls gun-barrel straight and isn't express pace. He's not the most confident of guys either. All in all, you'd say Australia have more selection issues than England at the moment," Hussain wrote.

The former captain further accepted that the Brisbane pitch was very flat, where plenty of fielding captains have suffered in the past, but he insisted that credit must be given to Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook's performances.

"Unlike Johnson, Strauss is not the kind of guy to let things get on top of him. After his third-ball duck on the first morning, I didn't think to myself: 'Oh no, how is he going to recover?' I trusted in his mental strength - and he was superb in the second innings. His driving was especially good and you can tell he's on form when he's crunching it through the covers, not picking up streaky runs off the edge," Hussain wrote.

"I also liked what I saw from Cook, who began his second innings with the kind of conviction he showed during that career-saving hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.

Yes, the conditions were great for batting and the attack was run of the mill, but Cook is removing the monkey from his back after struggling here four years ago," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian team can win Olympic medal in London: Brasa

Tue, Nov 30 10 02:36 PM

Mona Parthsarathi New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) The current Indian Hockey team has the potential to have a podium finish in the 2012 London Olympics but for this to happen the training system need to change, outgoing chief coach Jose Brasa said. After missing the Olympics for the first time in 80 years when the Games were held in Beijing in 2008, Asian games bronze medalist India will have to go through qualifiers to book a ticket for the next edition. "Forget about the qualifiers, this team is capable of winning a medal in Olympic. If they are trained properly with scientific method, adequate support staff with a sports psychologist, proper programme and modern equipments. None of these is available now," Brasa told PTI before leaving for Spain as his contract expires today. "If they maintain the same form, they can beat any team. I mean the kind of hockey they played against Pakistan and England in Delhi CWG and then in Guangzhou Asian Games. I strongly believe that the same bunch of players can win qualifiers," the Spanish coach said. He emphasised on giving two years of proper training to the team. "Ric Charlesworth (Australian coach) has said and I am repeating, that one needs at least two years to prepare a team. I wanted to prolong my stay here, as I said before leaving to China, provided my programme for the team is implemented on priority basis which did not happen," he said. "I am impressed with Indian players. They are motivated, skillful and hardworking. What they need is better facilities and proper guidance. I hope that better sense prevails in officials and they provide them what they need." Brasa also urged national coach Harendra Singh to withdraw his resignation and be with the team. Harendra had resigned on moral ground after the semi-final defeat against Malaysia in Asian Games. "I think that was a mistake. Harendra should reconsider his decision. His attitude is right and he understands the team," said Brasa. He also dismissed the media reports that his contract would have been renewed had the team won a gold medal at Asian Games. "This is not correct. There is no such thing mentioned in my contract. We wanted to win the yellow medal but poor umpiring, worst pitch and lack of video referral cost us that. My team was capable of winning the title," he said. When asked about what he will miss the most about India, Brasa has said that he will never forget the time spent with players and Indian crowd. "The best memories are the time I spent with the players. On ground (I would remember) shouting in Hindi like ''peeche hato'', ''udhar banda bhejo''. "Apart from that Indian crowd is one of the best I have seen in my life. I have never experienced that kind of support even in Olympics," he said.

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Much bragged about powers of the baggy green down to only Warne, McGrath: Hussain

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 02:26 PM

London, Nov 30(ANI): Former England captain Nasser Hussain reckons that the drawn Ashes opener in Brisbane establishes that Australia's perpetually bragged about special powers of the baggy green had more to do with legends Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

"As I watched England's batsmen rack up the runs on the fourth day at the Gabba, one thought kept coming back to me: welcome to Test cricket, Ricky Ponting," Hussain wrote in an article for the Daily Mail.

"For years the Aussies lectured us about the special powers of the baggy green, but my feeling was always that any special powers they had were more to do with Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," he added.

Hussain said that on the evidence of the first four days, left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty is short of Test class, while fast bowler Mitchell Johnson continued to disappoint.

"I keep waiting for Johnson to show us what all the hype is about, but he's got a slingy action, bowls gun-barrel straight and isn't express pace. He's not the most confident of guys either. All in all, you'd say Australia have more selection issues than England at the moment," Hussain wrote.

The former captain further accepted that the Brisbane pitch was very flat, where plenty of fielding captains have suffered in the past, but he insisted that credit must be given to Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook's performances.

"Unlike Johnson, Strauss is not the kind of guy to let things get on top of him. After his third-ball duck on the first morning, I didn't think to myself: 'Oh no, how is he going to recover?' I trusted in his mental strength - and he was superb in the second innings. His driving was especially good and you can tell he's on form when he's crunching it through the covers, not picking up streaky runs off the edge," Hussain wrote.

"I also liked what I saw from Cook, who began his second innings with the kind of conviction he showed during that career-saving hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.

Yes, the conditions were great for batting and the attack was run of the mill, but Cook is removing the monkey from his back after struggling here four years ago," he added. (ANI)

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Selectors must dump 'confidence-ebbed' Johnson for Adelaide Test: Ian Chappell

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 01:48 PM

Sydney, Nov 30(ANI): Struggling Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson must be removed from the second Test of the Ashes series, former captain Ian Chappell has said.

Chappell said that the selectors had no option, but to dump Johnson, as he had shown no ability to counter the patient English batsmen and had also deteriorated as the first Test in Brisbane progressed.

"Really you could just see his confidence ebbing away to the point where there were some wides and horrible deliveries, and he just looked like a guy bowling without confidence," the Herald Sun quoted Chappell, as saying.

"So, I'm not sure you can take him into Adelaide with no confidence, that's one change they've got to make," he added.

Chappell further said that the England team has handled Johnson smartly, as they made life difficult for him by the right-handers not fishing outside off stump.

"He's always got a lot of wickets out there. They've been very smart not doing that and saying 'you show us you can bring the ball back in then we might start playing there'. At the moment he doesn't look even close to being able to swing a ball back in, so they've helped to dent his confidence," Chappell said.

"At the moment you've just got to send him away and say 'go and get some wickets and get your confidence back'', whether he can do that and come back and be a good bowler, we'll find out," he added.

Johnson finished with match figures of 0-170, the first time in 39 Tests he has gone wicketless.

His spot has been placed under added pressure by the inclusion of fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris in the 13-man squad for the Adelaide Test, which starts on Friday. (ANI)

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England, now the bookies' favourite to win Ashes series

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 01:38 PM

Brisbane, Nov.30 (ANI): England has now overtaken Australia as favourite to win the Ashes series in 2010-11.

The Herald Sun reveals that at TAB Sportsbet, England has firmed 2.30 dollars to win the series with Australia now out to 2.40 dollars and a drawn series out to 4.50 dollars.

When series betting opened in May, Australia was a 1.68-dollar favourite with England at 5.50 dollar and the draw at 4.50 dollar.

On the eve of the first Test Australia was 1.83 dollar to win the series with England at 3.00 dollar.

At Betfair there is a keen tussle for favouritism, with Australia at 2.44 dollar to win the series, England at 2.54 dollar and the draw at 4.75 dollar.

England at one stage firmed into outright favourite at 2.52 dollar.

At sportsbet.com.au England and Australia are also equal favourites at 2.40 dollar, with a drawn series at 4.50 dollar.

Sportsbet.com.au has Australia narrow favourites for the second Test in Adelaide at 2.60 dollar, just in front of England at 2.70 dollar with the draw at 2.90 dollar. (ANI)

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