Pakistan aims for gold in Asian Games cricket

Published>Wed, Oct 27 10 06:58 PM

Karachi, Oct 27 (IANS) Pakistan is aiming to clinch the cricket title at next month's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, where the sport makes its debut in the Asiad.

With India not sending its cricket team, Pakistan believes its second string team can win the Asian Games gold. Khalid Latif, Pakistan's young captain, stressed that his team will do their best for a medal finish.

'We (cricketers) have never featured in events like the Olympics or the Asian Games, but we can sense the feeling athletes experience when their country's flag is on top after winning a gold medal,' Latif told the Express Tribune. 'It's an important assignment for us and we won't take it lightly.'

'Playing for the senior side is a big honour but representing the country in an event like this is nothing less. I'm proud to be named captain.'

Pakistan is among the seeded teams in the event that also features Test nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh besides Afghanistan, who were impressive in the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean this year.

Hosts China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Nepal are the other teams taking part. Latif said India's absence has made Pakistan one of the favourites.

'It would have been good to have India in the event because it would have added to the excitement. They are tough competitors but their absence has made us one of the favourites.'

But the right-handed batsman, who has played five One-Day Internationals and equal number of Twenty20s for Pakistan, added that the event would be competitive given the nature of the format.

'Our former greats are serving as coaches in China and Afghanistan so we can expect tough competition from them.'

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Dip in team''s form will not affect demand for Aus coaches: CA

Wed, Oct 27 10 06:36 PM

Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) Their aura of invincibility may have been shattered following defeats against England, India and South Africa, but it would not have any negative impact on demand for coaches from the country, Cricket Australia''s coaching programme manager Matthew Betsey said today. "The Australian team hasn''t performed as well as it usually does in the last two-three years. But the structure is good. The strong point of the system is that because of the structure, we know where our next breed of cricketers would be coming from," Betsey said here today. "There is a certain planning involved and the methodology is structured. It (Australia''s defeats) may have some effect, but the entire cricketing world knows that Cricket Australia (CA) has a good system in place," he added. Betsey, who is here to present a raft of coaching education courses in the Cricket Education Programme, said the country''s defeats had in fact helped in generating a lot of interest about the game among Australian spectators. "After we lost last year in England, the interest (among the public) actually grew. Because people now feel the game won''t be one-sided and they will get to watch some good, exciting cricket. This is what happened in the recent series against India," he said. "However, they know this is just a temporary blip as they believe in the system," he added. More PTI VKV SSR DK AT

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Injury woes continue for United striker Michael Owen

Wed, Oct 27 10 06:18 PM

Michael Owen's injury-interrupted season will be back on hold for a few weeks more after suffering a hamstring problem, the Manchester United striker said on Wednesday.

The ex-Liverpool frontman had only just returned to training after a groin problem but was ruled out of Tuesday's 3-2 League Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers after suffering "a different muscle injury".

His career has been consistently hampered by injury setbacks in recent years, which have also seen him slip from the international scene despite having scored 40 goals for England.

"It's not going great. I had a bit of a tight groin a while ago and I've trained for a week preparing for last night's game but then I had a setback," Owen told BBC radio.

"Unfortunately, because of a training ground injury I'm going to be out for the next few weeks, which is disappointing."

Owen has not played since being substituted in the goalless Premier League draw at Sunderland on Oct. 2.

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England camp furious over Russian WC 2018 soccer bid chief's derogatory comments

Published>Wed, Oct 27 10 05:56 PM

London, Oct 27(ANI): England's 2018 World Cup bid has filed a complaint with FIFA after the head of Russia's campaign made derogatory comments about London's crime rate and alcohol problems.

Alexei Sorokin, the Chief Executive of the Russian bid, sparked controversy after he launched an attack on London in an interview with a Russian newspaper.

"We do not enter into squabbles although we have much to say. It's no secret, for example, that London has the highest crime rate when compared with other European cities, and the highest level of alcohol consumption among young people," the Guardian quoted Sorokin, as saying in the interview.

He also reportedly said that Manchester United supporters burning a US flag in protest against the club's American owners were "inciting ethnic hatred".

FIFA's rules dictate that bidders must not make comments about their rivals "whether adverse or otherwise".

Meanwhile, Sorokin has said that he would explain the comments, arguing that they had been misinterpreted and mistranslated.

"I do not feel that what I said originally requires an apology. I am sure there is a record of that which, if forced, I'll have to find," Sorokin said.

"The idea was that the media did not focus on the negative manifestations of any other societies, ours or anyone else's. The examples may have been bad examples, as it turned out, but they were just examples," he added.

England and Russia, along with Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal, are bidding to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA will announce the winner on December 2. (ANI)

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Tasmanian tweaker Doherty trying for World Cup spot

Published>Wed, Oct 27 10 05:52 PM

Hobart (Tasmania, Australia), Oct. 27 (ANI): Tasmanian tweaker Xavier Doherty, 27, has said that though he nurtures dream to represent Australia in a World Cup, he will concentrate on a more immediate chance of representing Australia in the one-day series against Sri Lanka that gets underway from next month.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Doherty has been guaranteed a game in Australia's three-match limited overs series against Sri Lanka starting November 3, with chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch also rating him a strong contender for the World Cup campaign starting next February.

But Doherty said he did not want to start dreaming of a trip to the subcontinent, before he had even donned the green and gold. (ANI)

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Broad wants to 'throw the first punch' in Ashes sledgefest

Published>Wed, Oct 27 10 05:38 PM

London, Oct 27(ANI): England fast bowler Stuart Broad has admitted that he can't wait 'to throw the first punch' of verbal taunts during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

Broad said that it brings out the best in him, and would also provide an edge to his team.

"I'm not thinking about winning the Ashes in January, I'm thinking about that first hour of the First Test in Brisbane - we have to throw the first punch. I have had a few battles in the past. I'm willing to fight my corner," the Sun quoted Broad, as saying.

"If someone comes at me I'm not going to take it. I'm going to go back at them. That's built within me. Is that the Broad gene? Probably. In the 2009 Edgbaston Test, Johnson was giving Graeme Swann a lot of grief and I told him simply to shut it and get on with bowling."

"I enjoy that side of cricket, it gets me pumped up. If I'm batting it makes me more determined not to get out to them and smash anything loose for four," he added.

Broad further admitted that the Australian supporters would put up a hostile environment, but he said that he is ready to face it.

"Gone are the days of soft England. We want to be seen as men who stand up to it. We know they will come hard at us in their own backyard and we have to expect that from both the players and the crowd," Broad said.

"I don't think I will have played these kind of cauldrons, I'm expecting it to be hefty. I think, potentially, it will be like a football crowd that tries to nail the away team at every opportunity."

"As a bowler you will get stick at fine leg. It's only banter, so as long as you don't take it to heart you will be OK," he added.

England's tour of Australia gets under way on November 5 with a warm-up game against Western Australia.

The first of the five Ashes Tests will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from November 25 to 29.

It will be followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

The tour also has two Twenty20 clashes and a seven-match ODI eries. (ANI)

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Inspired by Tendulkar, Hussey has no plans to retire

Wed, Oct 27 10 05:24 PM

Melbourne, Oct 27 (PTI) Inspired by Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, Australian Mike Hussey today said he has no plans to retire despite the criticism of his continuing poor form and growing age. The 35-year-old said watching Tendulkar, who is two years older than him, play gives him enough inspiration to continue. "It does give you a bit of inspiration ... and I''ve got a lot of inspiration from a lot of guys," Hussey was quoted as saying by ''The Australian Associated Press''. "Steve Waugh played quite late into his 30s, Matthew Hayden played very well, Justin Langer played very well into his late 30s, so I don''t think age is a barrier whatsoever. "It''s about whether you''re up for the battle, you''re enjoying the challenge out in the middle, enjoying playing for Australia - which is a pretty easy thing to do - and as long as you''re contributing to the team, that''s what it comes down to the end as well," he added. Hussey said given the struggle he endured to get a place in the Australian side, he is in no mood to give up easily despite mounting concerns about his form. "It took me 10 years just to get one game for Australia so I don''t want to wish it away too quickly. You''re a long time retired," he said. "I''m still enjoying it and I love pulling on that baggy dream cap, it''s a dream come true. Maybe (giving up one-day cricket) is something to look at in the future but I''m really enjoying one-day cricket and I really enjoy Twenty20 cricket. "So while I''m enjoying it and while I feel like I can contribute to the team, I want to try to keep going as long as I can," he added.

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