IPL auction fallout: Modi 'betrayed' Pak players, says Butt

Published>Thu, Jan 21 10 01:14 PM

Lahore, Jan.21 (ANI): Accusing Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi of 'betraying' Pakistani players, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has said that he would take up the issue of the treatment meted out to the cricketers during the IPL auction with the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

"I had several discussions with Lalit on the participation of our players in the IPL this year and he had assured me they would get a chance to play in the tournament," Butt said.

Disappointed at the snub, Butt said he was surprised to see that none of Pakistani cricketers were acquired during the IPL-3's auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"The IPL had given us the mandate to get permission from our foreign office, to obtain other clearances and to finalise visas. We did all this, but it is a surprise that none of them have been taken at the auction. We have been trying to get in touch with the concerned authorities but with no avail. I have asked the sports minister to speak to his counterpart in India about this," The Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt's latest stand over the issue is in complete contrast to his earlier remarks, in which he had said that it hardly matters whether Pakistani cricketers participate in the IPL or not.

"It really does not bother us; what difference does it make to us if our players don't play in the IPL this season? They didn't play in the last season as well," Butt had said earlier. (ANI)

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IPL snub: Pak threatens to respond in 'befitting manner'

Published>Thu, Jan 21 10 12:50 PM

Angry over perceived IPL snub to its cricketers, Pakistan has threatened to respond in a "befitting manner", saying the manner in which its players were "insulted" showed that India is not serious about the peace process.

"India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us. If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pak friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons," Interior Minister Rehman Malik was quoted as saying in the TV channels.

Twenty20 champions Pakistan was stunned after none of the country's 11 players, including current Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi who had played for Deccan Chargers in the first season, were signed up during the IPL auction on Tuesday.

"The manner in which the players were "insulted" showed that India is not serious about the peace process with Pakistan," Malik claimed. Sportspersons are ambassadors of peace and India should have treated them with respect, he said, adding that Pakistan will respond in a befitting manner. Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani was also too critical of the treatment meted to the Pakistani players.

"The way India behaved with us is highly condemnable. We will give a befitting reply to them. When there is a question of Pakistan's pride we are united," he added.

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Kolkata plays host to the Royals Trophy golf

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 06:38 PM

Kolkata, Jan 20 (IANS) The Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) unveiled the inaugural edition of the Vodafone Royals Trophy golf here, which will see 40 participating teams from around the world.

Initiated by the RCGC, the Vodafone Royals Trophy will bring together some of the historical Royal golfing clubs of the world on one platform as they compete for the coveted title. All the six continents were represented in the first edition.

There are many nations already in the fray to host the second edition of the tournament. RCGC has instituted the running trophy, which will travel to the respective club that plays host to this event in the future.

The Royals Trophy is a four-day event featuring some of the historical `Royal' teams from various parts of the world. Some of the clubs taking part in this tournament include the Royal Musselburgh from Scotland, which also has the distinction of being one of the first golf clubs to be bestowed with the Royal Charter.

Also in contention will be the Royal Wimbledon from England, Royal Montreal from Canada, Royal Portrush and Royal Belfast from Northern Ireland, Royal Porthcawl from Wales, Royal Colombo from Sri Lanka, Royal Adelaide from Australia, Royal Durban from South Africa and Royal Wellington from New Zealand amongst others.

The RCGC was itself established in 1829, RCGC, over the years, has played host to some of the most distinguished names and events in golf.

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Arindam tenders unconditional apology to AIFF

Deepak Jain Wed, Jan 20 10 06:10 PM

Panaji, Jan 20 (PTI) Churchill Brothers custodian Arindam Bhattacharya, who was served a show cause notice by the All India Football Federation for his off-field fervent following the Mohun Bagan match in Barasat, has tendered an unconditional apology. "I sincerely apologise for the incident and promised not to repeat it. I tendered an apology to the club management as well," Arindam wrote in his letter to the AIFF. Arindam, India''s SAFF Cup hero took everyone to surprise at the Barasat Stadium where he went up to the stand after the match and roughed up a fan, who threw a stone at his teammate Ogba Kalu. Arindam''s misbehaviour sparked off a violent reaction from the crowd, forcing the police to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. "It happened all of a sudden, it was spur of a moment and it should have not happened," Arindam wrote in the letter. PTI MCS AMA DB

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S. African thugs threaten to rob and kill Brit footie fans during World Cup

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:54 PM

London, Jan.20 (ANI): South African thugs armed with guns have gone on television and threatened to "rob and kill" England fans at this summer's World Cup.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, the thugs with stockings over their heads, warned travelling supporters they will be hunted down.

They were seen on screen brandishing and loading guns and said they were going to target innocent fans "in revenge for colonial wrongs".

And the armed louts taunted worried authorities by bragging: "We'll shoot our way out of a stand-off with police if we feel our lives are in danger."

Police are now hunting the gang and have subpoenaed two journalists on the eNews channel in a bid to discover the identities of the mob.

South Africa's police minister Nathi Mthethwa and police national commissioner Bheki Cele both condemned the TV station for allowing the thugs to go on air.

Mthethwa said: "It provides an unwanted public platform for thugs and criminals to serve to undermine South Africa's efforts to ensure a safe and secure 2010 World Cup."

Foreign Office chiefs have warned Three Lions supporters to watch their backs when they travel to watch boss Fabio Capello's men in June. (ANI)

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Scoreboard: India vs. Bangladesh, First Test, Day four

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:48 PM

Chittagong, Jan 20 (IANS) Scoreboard at the end of the fourth day's play in the first cricket Test between India and Bangladesh here Wednesday.

India: First innings 243 all out

Bangladesh: First innings 242 all out

India: Second innings

Gautam Gambhir c Shahriar Nafees b Shafiul Islam 116

Virender Sehwag c Raqibul Hasan b Shakib Al Hasan 45

Amit Mishra c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah 50

Rahul Dravid run out (Shakib Al Hasan) 24

Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Rubel Hossain 16

V.V.S. Laxman not out 69

Yuvraj Singh c Mohammad Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 25

Dinesh Karthik c Rubel Hossain b Mahmudullah 27

Zaheer Khan b Shakib Al Hasan 20

Ishant Sharma not out 7

Extras: (b-1, lb-5, w-3, nb-5) 14

Total: (For eight wickets declared in 87 overs) 413

Fall of wickets: 1-90 (Sehwag, 16.6 overs), 2-188 (Mishra, 38.4), 3-233 (Gambhir, 47.4), 4-245 (Dravid, 51.2), 5-272 (Tendulkar, 57.4), 6-313 (Yuvraj Singh, 67.3), 7-362 (Karthik, 78.3), 8-394 (Khan, 83.2)

Bowling:

Shafiul Islam 15 0 87 1

Shahadat Hossain 16 1 53 1

Rubel Hossain 15 0 94 1

Shakib Al Hasan 27 2 112 2

Mahmudullah 13 0 52 2

Mohammad Ashraful 1 0 9 0

Bangladesh second innings (target: 415 runs):

Tamim Iqbal batting 23

Imrul Kayes c Karthik b Khan 1

Shahriar Nafees c Sehwag b Sharma 21

Mohammad Ashraful batting 16

Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1) 6

Total: (For two wickets in 18 overs) 67

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Imrul Kayes, 2.3 overs), 2-47 (Shahriar Nafees, 13.5)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 8 3 34 1

S.Sreesanth 5 0 11 0

Ishant Sharma 4 1 7 1

Amit Mishra 1 0 10 0

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Marias Erasmus (South Africa)

TV umpire: Enamul Haque (Bangladesh)

Match referee: A. Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

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Westwood lands players' award ahead of Abu Dhabi challenge

Deepak Jain>Wed, Jan 20 10 05:33 PM

World number four Lee Westwood received the European Tour Players' Player of the Year award on Wednesday, the eve of his first appearance of 2010 at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The 36-year-old Briton became the second winner of the trophy that was first handed out to Ireland's Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Westwood struck a rich vein of form at the end of last year, winning the Portugal Masters and capturing the inaugural Dubai World Championship to clinch top spot in the final European money list.

"It was obviously a good year last year as I also got an award from the press writers and various other awards," he told reporters.

"But to be voted the Players' Player by the people you play with day in day out, week in week out and who know best what you go through emotionally when you are under pressure obviously means a lot."

Westwood avoided snowbound Britain this month to work on his game in Barbados.

"My goal this year is to contend in the majors again and hopefully win one of them," said the Englishman.

BRITISH OPEN

"I feel like I should have won the British Open last year but didn't so I learnt a few things from that."

Westwood finished one stroke short of the Turnberry playoff won by Stewart Cink against his fellow American Tom Watson.

"The more often you get into situations like that I feel more comfortable and I'm also getting to the stage now where I should be in that position in most majors," said Westwood.

"Winning the money list, there's not many more places to go from there other than I suppose winning it more times. But it is the majors where I can improve the most because I haven't won one and that's everybody's goal."

Westwood will play the opening two rounds in Abu Dhabi alongside Australia's Geoff Ogilvy and holder Paul Casey.

World number eight Casey was sidelined by a rib injury for more than two months last year but said he was almost back to full fitness.

"I think I'm 95 percent and there's no pain in the ribs where I tore the muscles," said the Briton.

"I actually got tired yesterday because the rough is very thick on the course this week and I don't quite have the full range of motion I'd like.

"The body has attuned itself slightly to what I did to myself last year. I am still trying to get the range of motion and breakaway so I am unable to swing a golf club like I was this time last year but it's still good enough to get it airborne," added Casey.

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