Touring Pakistan team likely to undergo changes in England

Thu, Aug 12 10 05:51 PM

Karachi, Aug 12 (PTI) The touring Pakistan squad may undergo some big changes during the remaining part of their tour as pressure grows on PCB, national selectors and team management for the string of defeats in England. Chief selector Mohsin Khan told PTI that he would be meeting PCB chief Ejaz Butt in the next two days in which future strategies for the team would be discussed. "It will be an important meeting as we have to discuss the future tours of the Pakistan team as well as the performances on the ongoing tour of England," Mohsin told PTI. Pakistan team has a packed international calendar until 2011 World Cup with a Test and one-day series scheduled against South Africa in the UAE shortly after the conclusion of the England tour and then a full tour to New Zealand in the winter. Mohsin said the selectors had got a good chance to closely assess the performances of new and senior players in the tests held so far in England. "The Chairman has given us full support so far in selection matters so I want to discuss the future plans with him for his approval," Mohsin added. Sources aware of the developments told PTI that the chief selector and other selectors were not happy with the way the team management including the tour selectors had managed things so far in England. "The selectors are surprised at the decision to neither play Yasir Hameed in the four Tests so far despite the frequent batting collapses as well as the decision to not push Muhammad Yousuf to play the second Test against England although his presence was requested on urgent basis to bolster the batting line up," one source said. The source said that the selectors also wanted to get a clear policy from the board on the future of former captain, Younus Khan. "They are keen to get Younus back into the team but now want the board to be clear about it as well. So far the board has not given any rational reason for keeping Younus out of the team after having now also invited Yousuf to join the team," he said. Another source said that the chief selector would discuss with the PCB Chairman the possibility of bolstering the team in England as well as the composition of the side for the one-day series that follows in September. "There is also the matter of the board announcing the appointment of a new selector in place of Salim Jaffer whose contract was not renewed by the board after it expired on July 31st," the source added.

Source: Published>

Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears 'pays her own bill on dates'

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 05:47 PM

London, Aug 12 (ANI): Tennis ace Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears is one girl of principles- she insists on paying her own way on their dates.

She's been working for 8 pound an hour at a Brighton clothes shop since finishing her degree.

"Kim always pays her share when they eat out," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

Kim, who quit her job to pursue a career in the arts, split with Andy last November citing his obsession with games consoles.

The pair rekindled their love in time for Wimbledon, and Kim cheered Andy to the semi-finals where he lost to Rafa Nadal. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Somdev enters, exits Toronto Masters

Thu, Aug 12 10 05:37 PM

Toronto, Aug 12 (PTI) Mahesh Bhupathi is the lone Indian survivor at the ATP Rogers Cup as Somdev Devvarman, Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna crashed out of the Masters Series event following defeats in their respective draws. Somdev entered the singles event as a lucky loser after Fernando Gonzalez pulled out but lost his first round to world number 18 Gael Monfils 6-7 (7) 3-6 after a gallant fight. Third seeded Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy, who had got a bye in the first round, lost 1-6 6-7 (6) to French pair of Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra. Bopanna and his American partner Eric Butorac lost their first round 6-3 3-6 5-10 to Frantisek Cermak of Czech republic and Michal Mertinak of Slovakia. Bhupathi and his Belarusian partner Max Mirnyi, seeded fourth, are into the second round after getting a bye.

Source: Published>

Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears 'pays her own bill on dates'

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 05:23 PM

London, Aug 12 (ANI): Tennis ace Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears is one girl of principles- she insists on paying her own way on their dates.

She's been working for 8 pound an hour at a Brighton clothes shop since finishing her degree.

"Kim always pays her share when they eat out," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

Kim, who quit her job to pursue a career in the arts, split with Andy last November citing his obsession with games consoles.

The pair rekindled their love in time for Wimbledon, and Kim cheered Andy to the semi-finals where he lost to Rafa Nadal. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Tiger Woods' 'mistress' to perform during PGA Tournament

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 05:17 PM

Milwaukee, August 12 (ANI): Tiger Woods' alleged mistress Joslyn James is all set to perform here during PGA Tournament.

James, a former porn star and stripper, is performing at Silk Gentlemen's Club.

James calls herself "the 11th hole," referring to herself as the 11th of Wood's alleged lovers to go public.

She claims she is not following Woods around the country, but that clubs keep booking her when he is in town.

"They kind of have either a golf situation or he's competing at a tournament nearby," Wisn.com quoted James as saying.

James said that she would be performing her signature routine while in Milwaukee, wearing a green jacket symbolizing the Masters tournament, which Woods has won four times.

"I think it's my funnest show because it kind of sets me free and kind of lets me let go of him and move on like I have."

James said her affair with Woods lasted three years and resulted in two pregnancies, a miscarriage and an abortion. She said they were in love.

"Some of the other girls said they were paid to be with him or they were allowed to have other boyfriends or whatever. Tiger wasn't having any of that with me. I stopped doing adult films. I didn't see anybody else but him."

James claimed their love affair ended when the scandal broke. She's not surprised Woods is golfing poorly.

"It's called karma," James added.

James' show opens at Silk and runs through the end of the PGA tournament on Sunday.

The PGA did not return a request for comment from Tiger Woods. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Blanc sees bright side of losing debut for France

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 02:57 PM

Laurent Blanc has only just started the rebuilding process for a France side suffering the effects of a dismal World Cup campaign, yet the former defender saw plenty of cause for optimism despite losing his first game in charge.

Fielding an experimental line-up featuring not one member of the squad that failed to reach the second round in South Africa, France looked nervy in defence in Wednesday's 2-1 friendly defeat to Norway but showed plenty of enthusiasm and lively movement.

"We had a lot of things to do and little time to do it," said Blanc, who has taken over the coaching duties from the controversial Raymond Domenech with a mission to restore the 1998 World Cup winner's pride and reputation.

"We needed to put into place a playing system and a new philosophy and we needed to be competitive," said the former Bordeaux coach, who took plenty of risks by fielding six uncapped players in his starting line-up. "We nearly made it."

Some of the players who boycotted a World Cup training session in June after striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home for insulting Domenech should be back for Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belarus and Bosnia early next month.

Wednesday's match, however, proved relevant for several players who could well feature in Blanc's future plans, notably playmaker Samir Nasri and midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, who capped a skillful display with a great goal.

"What I can tell you is some of the players you saw tonight will play on September 3 (against Belarus)," said Blanc, who also witnessed convincing performances from central defender Philippe Mexes, his new captain, and young midfielder Yann Mvila.

COSTLY MISTAKES

France, who made several costly mistakes in defence, looked naive at times and were clumsy in front of goal, have a long way to go to recapture their place among the world's elite.

But there is room for hope for their fans, notably because the internal squabbling and scandals that were all too evident in the Domenech era seem to have disappeared already.

"It was a different spirit, a different mentality," said Mexes, who had a difficult relationship with Domenech and was rarely picked. "We hardly knew each other and after three days, we had the impression that we had been together for two weeks."

The biggest difference from the Domenech days, Mexes said, was a more open atmosphere with permanent discussion.

"There is more dialogue with the coach, with the staff, with everybody," he said. "Everybody is talking."

Mexes did not enjoy the result but realised there was not much to play for against Norway other than needing to start a new adventure and get rid of a miserable atmosphere that had marred the team for years.

"We had lots of fun," he said. "I'm both disappointed (by the result) and very happy."

Source: Web Search

Top three from World Cup held to draw

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 02:37 PM

Berlin, Aug 12 (DPA) The top three World Cup finishers were all held to draws in friendly international football matches played Wednesday.

David Villa scored an equaliser for world champions Spain two minutes into injury time to level Javier Hernandez's first half lead for Mexico in Mexico City.

Villa, who has just joined Barcelona, spared Vicente Del Bosque's side a first defeat in a friendly since November 2006.

Runners up Netherlands, meanwhile, were held in Ukraine, while Germany drew 2-2 in Denmark.

Only Uruguay, who finished fourth in South Africa, managed to win, when they beat Angola 2-0 in Lisbon through goals from Edinson Cavani and Italian-based Abel Hernandez.

Argentina, who were knocked out at the quarter-final stage at the World Cup won 1-0 in Ireland, while Sweden beat Scotland 3-0. England, who also did not live up to expectations at the finals in South Africa beat Hungary 2-1.

In the Wembley Stadium captain Steven Gerrard struck twice as the hosts came from behind to win.

Looking for a morale-boosting win after a miserable World Cup campaign, England fell behind to a Phil Jagielka own goal in the second half, before Gerrard turned the game with two goals in the space of four minutes.

New French coach Laurent Blanc did not get the start he was hoping for as the Les Bleus, which in effect was a reserve side as Blanc did not pick any of the 23 players from the disastrous World Cup campaign, lost 2-1 in Norway.

Hatem Ben Arfa gave the French side the lead in Oslo three minutes after the restart, but Erik Huseklepp levelled matters just three minutes later.

The Brann striker added to France's misery in the 71st minute with the winner.

In Dublin, Angel Di Maria scored a controversial winner for Argentina in the 20th minute as interim coach Sergio Batista saw his side hold on to hard-earned win.

The Real Madrid winger looked offside as he lobbed over Shay Given after being fed by Gonzalo Higuain, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

For their match against the Ukraine, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk called up just one player from his World Cup squad, but saw his side take the lead in the 72nd minute after a long-range effort from Theo Janssen crashed against the bar. The rebound came to midfielder Jeremain Lens who made no mistake.

Their lead lasted just two minutes though as Alexander Aliev equalised with a well-taken free-kick.

In Stockholm Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was returning to the Swedish side after changing his mind about retiring, gave the hosts an ideal start with a fourth minute goal.

Emir Bajrami added a second six minutes from the break with a lob over the Scottish goalkeeper and Ola Toivonen scored with a header in the 56th minute.

Sweden could have scored even more goals, but goalkeeper Alan McGregor, who came back into the side after a 16-month lay-off for a disciplinary infringement, pulled off a number of good saves to deny the hosts.

In Copenhagen, Denmark came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Germany.

Goals by Mario Gomez and Patrick Helmes gave Germany a two-goal lead, but Dennis Rommedahl, who was earning his 100th cap and Mads Junker equalized for the home side.

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland were stunned 3-0 at home by Cameroon, who disappointed at the World Cup finals in South Africa and are currently without a coach.

Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o scored in the 30th and 52nd minute, with Vincent Aboubakar scoring his side's third five minutes from the end to give the West Africans a good win.

In other matches Russia beat Bulgaria 1-0, while Lithuania lost 2- 0 at home to Belarus. Iran scored a 3-1 victory in Armenia and Finland beat Belgium 1-0.

The Czech Republic enjoyed a high-scoring 4-1 victory against Latvia, while Wales also ran in the goals in their 5-1 victory against Luxembourg.

Turkey beat Romania 2-0, while Switzerland and Greece both won 1-0 away, with the Swiss beating Austria, while Greece won in Serbia.

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