Clarke backs Ponting as right man to lead in Ashes

Sat, Oct 16 10 07:56 PM

Kochi, Oct 16 (PTI) Australia''s stand-in captain Michael Clarke today stood firmly behind an under-fire Ricky Ponting, terming him the "right man to lead the country in the upcoming Ashes." "Ricky is certainly the right man to lead Australia. Think Ricky has been a wonderful player for a long period of time in all forms of the game. He is a wonderful captain and he has batted really well throughout the recent Test series. He was disappointed not to make a century but hopefully he is saving those centuries for the Ashes," Clarke told the reporters during the pre-match media conference. On the lessons learnt by him out of the Test series, Clarke said, "Definitely the Test series has been helpful. I think it was disappointing to not to get the results we wanted but we had the opportunity to play against the world No 1 team in tough conditions. I think for a player, it is a tough challenge to play in India." "Conditions are so different in India from the ones you are accustomed to in Australia. I think we have seen again one of the greatest players of all time, bat like a genius Sachin Tendulkar. I think Nathan Hauritz would have learnt a lot about the difference between bowling in India and Australia. The wickets have less bounce, less carry." Clarke explained that, I think for me again I have learnt that it is hard to negotiate good spin bowling in India. They had two good spinners in the Test series. You have to be very positive and be confident in your own ability to play the way you want to. "I think Shane Watson would have learnt a lot about his game. He played really well and made a lot of runs and he will take the confidence into the Australian summer." "Everybody would have learnt something from this tour. We will be back here again playing in the World Cup in five months time and back for Test cricket soon hopefully." PTI RE KHS

Source: Published>

`Blackjack'' lifts Goffs Juvenile Million

Sat, Oct 16 10 07:52 PM

Pune, Oct 16 (PTI) Fancied `Blackjack'', trained by Bezan Chinoy and ridden by jockey P Kamlesh, bagged The Goffs Juvenile Million, the chief event on 16th race day of the Pune meeting held today. Jockey Dashrath Singh scored four winners while trainer Bezan Chinoy saddled a good double on a day.

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Kiwi swimmer Bell's future on the line over Delhi CWG booze-ban violation

Published>Sat, Oct 16 10 02:52 PM

Canberra, Oct 16 (ANI): New Zealand swimmer Daniel Bell would reportedly be called to a meeting next week to discuss his future in the sport after he was sent home in disgrace from the Commonwealth Games for breaking his team's zero alcohol policy.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Swimming New Zealand stood by its decision on Friday for sending back Bell from New Delhi following his misconduct, which was reported by two of his team-mates to head swim coach Mark Regan on Monday.

New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie left New Delhi before the story broke and is due to arrive in New Zealand on Saturday afternoon.

Although Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne confirmed the New Zealand Olympic Committee was consulted "and they endorsed our decision," a spokesman said that NZOC said that, "it had nothing to do with us".

"But we had jurisdiction to send him home and that's what we decided to do. As chief executive I was consulted and also endorsed the recommendation made by the senior management team," Byrne said.

"It would not have mattered whether he had one beer or 100 beers. He knew about the rule but still went ahead and broke it," he added.

The penalty at first glance would seem extremely harsh, even accounting for Bell's track record, where he has been involved in two previous alcohol-related incidents, the report said.

Earlier, team-mates Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson were expelled from the New Zealand team and the Olympic village after taking a photo of a drunk Bell sitting on the toilet at a social function at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bell was believed to be unwinding with some friends in the team village when he was caught. (ANI)

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Beer firm dumps Rooney in wake of his hooker shame

Published>Sat, Oct 16 10 02:36 PM

London, Oct 16 (ANI): Love rat Wayne Rooney has reportedly been dumped by a beer firm in the wake of his philandering.

It has emerged that a TV ad in which Rooney plugs south-east Asian beer brand Tiger, who pay him a whopping 300,000 pounds a year, has quietly been ditched, reports the Sun.

The "The Game Never Ends" commercial shows Rooney using his footie skills to win the last bottle of Tiger left in a bar. But the Singapore-based brewery has now stopped showing it.

The move comes after soft drinks giant Coca-Cola, who has a 600,000 pounds-a-year-deal with Rooney, shelved plans to put his face on cans and bottles. (ANI)

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Younus Khan seeks meeting with PCB chief Butt to resolve disputes

Published>Sat, Oct 16 10 02:26 PM

Lahore, Oct 16(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Younus Khan wants to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt to resolve their outstanding disputes, his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum has said.

Qayyum confirmed that Younus has sent a letter to the board asking them to give time for a meeting.

"Younus is keen to resolve this issue. So, he has sent in writing he is available for a meeting.

Now it is up to the board when they call him for the meeting. From day one of this problem my client has been keen to resolve this problem," the Daily Times quoted Qayyum, as saying.

Younus along with Mohammad Yousuf was banned indefinitely from the team in March following an inquiry committee report, which had probed Pakistan's dismal performances and disciplinary problems during the tours of the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia.

Five other players - Shoaib Malik, Rana Navedul Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal - were also banned or fined.

However, the appellate tribunal later lifted bans on Younus, Naved and Malik and halved the fines.

The other players had apologized to the board and accepted their mistakes, clearing the way for their return.

However, Younus has refused to do so, insisting through his lawyer that he had done nothing to apologize for and had instead maintained that he wanted to clear his name fully of the charges laid against him.

Earlier, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports had instructed the PCB to give a patient hearing to the cricketer within a span of seven days. (ANI)

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Beer firm dumps Rooney in wake of his hooker shame

Published>Sat, Oct 16 10 02:22 PM

London, Oct 16 (ANI): Love rat Wayne Rooney has reportedly been dumped by a beer firm in the wake of his philandering.

It has emerged that a TV ad in which Rooney plugs south-east Asian beer brand Tiger, who pay him a whopping 300,000 pounds a year, has quietly been ditched, reports the Sun.

The "The Game Never Ends" commercial shows Rooney using his footie skills to win the last bottle of Tiger left in a bar. But the Singapore-based brewery has now stopped showing it.

The move comes after soft drinks giant Coca-Cola, who has a 600,000 pounds-a-year-deal with Rooney, shelved plans to put his face on cans and bottles. (ANI)

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Younus Khan seeks meeting with PCB chief Butt to resolve disputes

Published>Sat, Oct 16 10 02:06 PM

Lahore, Oct 16(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Younus Khan wants to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt to resolve their outstanding disputes, his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum has said.

Qayyum confirmed that Younus has sent a letter to the board asking them to give time for a meeting.

"Younus is keen to resolve this issue. So, he has sent in writing he is available for a meeting.

Now it is up to the board when they call him for the meeting. From day one of this problem my client has been keen to resolve this problem," the Daily Times quoted Qayyum, as saying.

Younus along with Mohammad Yousuf was banned indefinitely from the team in March following an inquiry committee report, which had probed Pakistan's dismal performances and disciplinary problems during the tours of the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia.

Five other players - Shoaib Malik, Rana Navedul Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal - were also banned or fined.

However, the appellate tribunal later lifted bans on Younus, Naved and Malik and halved the fines.

The other players had apologized to the board and accepted their mistakes, clearing the way for their return.

However, Younus has refused to do so, insisting through his lawyer that he had done nothing to apologize for and had instead maintained that he wanted to clear his name fully of the charges laid against him.

Earlier, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports had instructed the PCB to give a patient hearing to the cricketer within a span of seven days. (ANI)

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