Serena Williams 'out to save the traditional polish mani-pedi'

Published>Wed, Oct 20 10 04:37 PM

New York, Oct 20 (ANI): Serena Williams has always dreamt of opening a chain of nail salons, and now she is one step closer to achieving it.

The Grand Slam champ announced that she had signed a deal with nail polish company OPI. Now beauty bloggers are going bananas over her latest success story: Black Shatter, the polish by OPI that claims to crackle when it dries, reports the New York Daily News.

Over time, traditional polish has taken a bit of a back seat to nail wraps, such as Minx and Nail Rock.

Minx, a 50 dollars procedure, which uses thin layers of film, can get you nails that are anywhere from sleek and silver to wacky and whimsical.

Do it yourself Nail Rock is a lot cheaper but requires a steady hand. No manicurist needed, just 14 dollars and a hair dryer. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'Tough nut' Bell says Aussies can expect 'ton of trouble' during Ashes series

Published>Wed, Oct 20 10 04:21 PM

London, Oct.20 (ANI): England and Warwickshire star batsman Ian Bell has warned the Australians that they can expect a tons of trouble from his blade when the Ashes series gets underway Down Under from next month.

Bell, 28, is convinced he is tougher these days and better equipped to deal with the pressures of five days of turbo-charged cricket against England's fiercest enemy.

"I don't think people ever thought ability and shot-making were an issue for me. It was about being tough and scoring runs at the right times," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Bell, as saying.

"Though we lost 5-0 in Australia four years ago, my batting wasn't too bad. I didn't get a really big score but felt I improved as a cricketer," he added.

"I've become a hell of a better player in the six years since then. I'm a tough cricketer and I've learned some tough lessons along the way," he said.

Bell produced the best batting of his career following his 72 in the Ashes-winning Test at The Oval in 2009.

He plundered three Test centuries in the next nine months before a foot injury forced him to miss the second half of last summer.

Bell leaves for Australia on October 29, and is virtually certain to feature in England's first-choice XI Down Under. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Rijkaard leaves Galatasaray after poor start

Wed, Oct 20 10 04:17 PM

Frank Rijkaard's contract as coach of Galatasaray has been terminated by mutual agreement, the club said on Wednesday, ending his spell in charge after a disastrous start to the season.

The former UEFA Cup champions are currently ninth in the Turkish championship after eight games, eight points adrift of leaders Bursaspor. Galatasaray have also been eliminated from this season's Europa League.

Galatasaray held a management board meeting this week after the club's 4-2 loss at home to Ankaragucu to discuss the situation and said at the time it would announce decisions during the week.

"As a result of mutual talks with technical director Frank Rijkaard... we have decided to part ways as of October 20," the club said in a statement on its website (www.galatasaray.org).

The Dutchman took the helm at the Istanbul club in 2009 after leaving Barcelona.

Source: Published>

Now, 'match-fixing' menace hits Pak National T20 Championship

Published>Wed, Oct 20 10 04:07 PM

Islamabad, Oct 20 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started investigations into allegations that some leading players under-performed during two crucial matches of the National Twenty20 Championship, which concluded recently in Lahore.

A well-placed source in the PCB revealed that an undeclared investigation is underway to judge the credibility of the semifinal match played between Karachi Dolphins and Rawalpindi Rams, The News reported.

The PCB is investigating if any of the Rawalpindi players have under-performed to present the semis to the Dolphins, it added.

"Doubts arose when a leading Rawalpindi all-rounder seeking a place in the Pakistan team apparently under-performed with both bat and ball, forcing the PCB to scrutinise his performance," disclosed a source.

It has been alleged that the all-rounder in question, who was seeking a spot in the national team, was guaranteed a place following the completion of the task. However, his poor performance in the match forced the selectors to think otherwise.

Apart from that particular semifinal, another match is also under investigation, said the paper.

The fresh measures are being taken in the wake of the recent ICC warning, which has asked the PCB to take strict measures for curbing match-fixing menace in Pakistan's domestic cricket.

However, PCB's media director Nadeem Sarwar expressed complete ignorance when approached over these developments.

"I am completely unaware of any such development or about any such inquiry," Sarwar said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

France's Bousquet serving doping suspension

Wed, Oct 20 10 03:57 PM

French swimmer Frederick Bousquet has been serving a two-month ban following a positive test for the banned stimulant heptaminol.

The former 50m freestyle world record holder said the positive result was from an over-the-counter ointment but said he deserved the suspension.

"I can confirm that Frederic Bousquet is serving a suspension between Sept. 20 and Nov. 20," Louis-Frederic Doyez, French Swimming Federation managing director, told Reuters.

Bousquet failed a dope test last June when he was nursing an unidentified illness.

"There are no mitigating circumstances. I deserve the sanction, that's all," Bousquet told L'Equipe.

Source: Published>

Warwickshire confident of Younus fulfilling his two-year contract

Published>Wed, Oct 20 10 03:37 PM

London, Oct 20 (ANI): Warwickshire director of cricket, Ashley Giles, is confident that newly-signed player Younus Khan will fulfil his two-year contract with Edgbaston, though he admitted that one cannot 'predict anything that happens in the future, particularly with Pakistan cricket.'

Although 32-year-old Younus is currently frozen out of Pakistan's national squad, talks of his return to the fold have increased in recent times, the Daily Times reported.

Giles expressed faith about Younus joining up with the Bears for the whole of his agreed deal, saying, "I am very confident right now."

"You can't predict anything that happens in the future, particularly with Pakistan cricket, but Younus has given us his word that he's coming and he wants to commit for two years and is looking forward to the challenge. That's good enough for me because, from what I know of him, he is a man of very good integrity and just a nice guy," he added.

Giles said the club would " want him over for a period before the season starts so that he can see the boys and get to know them a bit."

Referring to the club's contract with Younus, the director said, "He is a top-quality player on the way and it's great to have that signed, sealed and delivered already." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

India opt to field against Australia

Published>Wed, Oct 20 10 03:08 PM

Visakhapatnam, Oct 20 (IANS) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to field against Australia in the second one-day international of the three-match series here Wednesday.

Teams:

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, James Hopes, Nathan Hauritz, John Hastings, Mitchell Starc, Clint McKay.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Saurabh Tiwary, R. Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, R. Vinay Kumar, Ashish Nehra.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Shavir Tarapore

TV umpire: Sudhir Asnani

Match referee: Chris Broad (England)

Source: Web Search