'Scared' Ashley Cole 'resorts to smoking over Cheryl's tell-all interview'

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 03:33 PM

London, Mar 8 (ANI): Troubled Ashley Cole was recently spotted enjoying a secret fag in his sports injury clinic amid fears estranged wife Cheryl is set to tell all in a TV interview.

The Chelsea and England star was spotted clutching a cigarette on the third-floor balcony of his room at the CERS medical centre in France where he is being treated for a broken ankle.

Smoking is banned at the clinic, which specialises in curing crocked athletes.

However, it looked as if Cole, 29, did not want to play any heed to the rules after discovering that his long-suffering wife was thinking of going public with her heartache over his randy antics.

The footballer has been desperately trying to get in contact with Cheryl to persuade her not to go public.

However, Cheryl, 26, is apparently in talks about being interviewed by Piers Morgan, 44, for a one-hour special on ITV1 due to be broadcast in May.

In fact, publishers are courting her for a book that could net 5 million pounds.

Ashley is scared that she will trash him in public after he was caught cheating on her with five different women in five years.

"There is lots of talk that Cheryl's going to reveal the details of their marriage now that they have split," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

"But Ashley wants to try to talk her round," she added. (ANI)

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Pawar & Chavan spar over IPL tax

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 02:43 PM

TheIndian Premier League (IPL) has driven a wedge between Maharashtra's ruling alliance, if the Opposition is to be believed.

The NCP is batting for an entertainment tax exemption for all the matches of the cricket gala that the state will host.

But chief minister Ashok Chavan's Congress is in no mood to grant such a concession, which will cost the state exchequer "Rs 300 crore". Interestingly, the state's finance minister, Sunil Tatkare, belongs to the NCP. The issue is close to the party's heart because its president, Sharad Pawar, represents IPL's governing body ? the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

On January 20, the cabinet decided to levy a 25 per cent tax on IPL matches held in Maharashtra.

But the decision is yet to be ratified.

Until the minutes aren't confirmed in the cabinet meeting, the decision cannot be executed.

Sources said the NCP ? after initially agreeing to the levy ? had second thoughts, and now wants the cricket gala to be a tax- free affair in the state.

Even as Chavan claimed there was no rollback of the cabinet decision, Tatkare said the state has decided to waive the tax to promote the sport. Clearly, the two parties aren?t talking in the same voice.

"The discussion in the January 20 meeting pertained to exempting Test matches from a tax to ensure the survival of the longer version of the game. We decided to limit the levy to One- day Internationals and Twenty20 matches because they don?t need a prop," said a Congress minister.

"It was accordingly decided that tickets for these matches should be taxed at 25 per cent in Mumbai and at 20 per cent in the rest of the state. Somehow in the subsequent meeting held on February 3, there was no mention of tax on IPL matches," the minister added.

Tatkare later told mediapersons that the decision to tax IPL matches had been revoked in the interest of the sport. His logic was that giving up revenue to the tune of Rs 20 crore annually would not dent the state exchequer.

The Opposition, however, differs.

"Our estimates suggest that the loss of revenue will be much higher. The minister is only counting gate money and even that is a faulty calculation.

In 2008 alone, the state lost Rs 70 crore on just ticket sales. This year, if we take into account ticket sales, advertising ( both in- stadia and TV) and telecast rights, the turnover is not going to be less than Rs 1,600 crore. If the levy is calculated at 20 per cent, we will be losing over Rs 300 crore," said state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari.

He has written to Chavan and Tatkare on the matter. "I will meet them later this week. If they don?t relent, we will move the high court," Bhandari said.

Chavan, for his part, senses that the IPL doesn?t need any concession.

? Why should the IPL, an out and out commercial venture, get tax benefits? The tournament is a money- spinning machine for all participants and the state need not lose an opportunity to earn from it.

The amount could be used for infrastructure projects," sources close to the chief minister said.

But the game's franchisees are hopeful. " The BJP's calculations are wrong. Our collections from the stadium are not more than Rs 40 crore. So, the loss of revenue is Rs 10 crore at best," said a highly placed official in Reliance Industries Ltd, which owns the Mumbai Indians team in the IPL.

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Pak cricketers' financial assets to be scrutinised following match fixing allegations

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 02:33 PM

Islamabad, Mar. 8 (ANI): Pakistan's National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports has decided to scrutinize the financial assets of Pakistani cricketers in the wake of match fixing allegation.

"We are very much concerned over the continuous criticism from different circles over match fixing and have directed PML (N) legislator Saud Majeed, chairman sub-committee, to probe into these allegations. The sub-committee will also scrutinize the financial strength of the players besides verifying their tax returns," The Dawn NA committee chief Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, as saying

However, PCB chief Ijaz Butt informed the NA committee that the players who were involved in match-fixing were not from the current squad.

"The match fixing allegations are totally baseless and the current tour of the squad to Australia was not tainted by match fixing at all," Butt said.

He claimed that that former cricketers Saleem Malik and Ataur Rehman were in fact responsible for match fixing.

The NA committee also gave a deadline of March 11 to the Punjab government for bring responsible police officers to book who displayed slackness during their duty on March 3, 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore. (ANI)

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Holland-Germany match drawn at 2-2

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 02:13 PM

New Delhi, March 7 -- The two European giants stayed true to their reputation of playing sublime hockey. Both Holland and Germany played a brilliant game in their Pool A encounter in New Delhi on Sunday to end the match on a 2-2 draw. After Holland surged ahead with a goals lead in the first half, the Germans came back strongly striking home 2 goals in what looked like an all but over game in the final 10 minutes. The mid-filed for Germany kept feeding its offensive lines as the team went onto create several chances but it was the Dutch who led a brilliant run to score the equaliser.

A penalty corner in stoppage time was the perfect climax to an exciting match but it was the magic of Voggels again that ensured that the game did not finish against his side.

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Rooney will be fit for Man U's Euro showdown

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 02:03 PM

Ace striker Wayne Rooney will be fit for Manchester United's Euro showdown with AC Milan.

The England striker is suffering from an inflamed kneecap tendon and was rested for Saturday's 1-0 win at Wolves.

But last night it emerged that the condition is not serious enough to keep him out of Wednesday's Champions League return against the Italians at Old Trafford.

Rooney, 24, has paid for playing two games in four days on Wembley's dodgy pitch, 'The Sun' reports.

But the inflammation will go within three weeks and should not stop him playing again.

However, there are concerns that United and England defender Wes Brown may have suffered a broken metatarsal in his left foot, which would put a question mark over his World Cup hopes.

Arsenal to risk playing Fabregas to keep Euro dream alive

London

To keep Arsenal's Euro dream alive, manager Arsene Wenger is ready to risk playing skipper Cesc Fabregas.

The Gunners skipper limped off in the 3-1 win against Burnley with a tight hamstring and is doubtful for tomorrow's Porto clash.

It is the same injury that kept Fabregas out for three weeks last month.

"I'm ready to take the gamble. But if there is more than a 50 per cent chance of his "You look at the Fabregas numbers and they are amazing 14 goals and 15 assists. He's a fantastic player with fantastic attitude and commitment," he said.

"And what people forget, an unbelievable work-rate, too. This season he has taken a big step forward, massive. At 22 years of age he has matured," Wenger added.

Fabregas will have a scan today to assess the extent of the injury.

Arsenal need to overcome a 2-1 deficit and will be boosted at the Emirates by Sol Campbell's recovery from a muscle injury.

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Former NZ skipper terms Australian players ''idiots''

Published Sun, Mar 07 10 01:47 PM

Wellington, Mar 8 (PTI) Former New Zealand captain John Reid feels some members of the Australian cricket team are "idiots" who need to be reined in. Reid''s comments, also a former ICC match referee, came after Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson head-butted Scott Styris in a show of aggression during the first one-dayer in Napier. "Generally the Australian team looks good, but there are a handful of idiots who need to be reined in," Reid was quoted as saying in ''The Age''. "Do your work with the bat and the ball, not your mouth." While some praised Johnson for sparking life into the series, Reid said the aggression displayed by the pacer was "not required". Australia is playing a five-match ODI series with Kiwis. Series is levelled at 1-1. Reid said players need to understand the importance of playing the game in good spirit. "Like it or not, these guys are role models for youngsters. Johnson was the aggressor, but he''s mad head-butting someone with a helmet on." .

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'Love cheat' Terry thanks Chelsea for being supportive

Published>Sun, Mar 07 10 01:33 PM

London, Mar 8 (ANI): John Terry led Chelsea into the Football Association Cup semi-finals and defiantly showed off his captain's armband.

His decisive goal against Stoke earned a last-four tie with Aston Villa, who beat Reading 4-2 after a hattrick from John Carew.

Terry has been a target for opposition fans since losing the England captaincy due to the Bridgegate Affair.

He thanked the Blues for their support last night, appearing to compare it with a lack of backing in the Three Lions set-up, The Sun reports.

"The armband means a lot. Chelsea have been very supportive, the players as well. It has been a good week, good to get away with England, play well and then come back here and prepare for this game," Terry said.

Chelsea's assistant boss Ray Wilkins hopes that rival supporters will now call a halt to jeering Terry.

Wilkins said: "He is an exceptional captain. He leads these players on the pitch in fantastic fashion. I would like to think it would stop the abuse. It's served its course." (ANI)

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