Real Madrid call farewell news conference for Raul

Mon, Jul 26 10 01:57 PM

Real Madrid have called a news conference for striker Raul to say goodbye to colleagues and fans after 18 years with the La Liga club.

The 33-year-old is poised to join Bundesliga club Schalke 04 on a two-year deal, local media have reported.

Real president Florentino Perez and director general Jorge Valdano will attend the news conference at the club's Bernabeu stadium at 1 p.m. local time (1100 GMT), Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).

Raul joined Real in 1992 and made his first team debut against Real Zaragoza in October 1994 at the age of 17.

He helped them to six Spanish league titles and three European Champions League titles and is the all-time leading scorer for Spain with 44 goals in 102 appearances.

Source: Published>

Parimarjan to take on Andreikin in Rd 7

Mon, Jul 26 10 01:31 PM

By Our Chess Correspondent Biel (Switzerland), Jul 26 (PTI) Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi will hope to recover the lost ground when he takes on Russian Dmitry Andreikin in the seventh round of the Young Grandmasters tournament, a part of 43rd Biel Chess Festival here. After the lone rest day battle resumes in the category-17 event with Fabiano Caruana of Italy still in front on four points out of a possible six. The tournament has thus far seen just nine decisive games out of a possible 30 and Negi has been involved in three of them ending on the losing side on all the occasions. However, the Indian who has been nominated for the Arjuna Award this year by the Indian Chess Federation has staged a recovery of sorts by drawing the last three games. The fact that he has two white games remaining out of the last three gives some hopes of further revival but for that the Indian will have to do well in the next round against Andreikin. The games have been entertaining and Caruana has been in sublime form. The 2009 Corus ''B'' group winner has won two and drawn the rest of his games and he still has a game left with one of the tail enders David Howell of England whom he meets in the last round. As many as five players - top seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, Maxim Rodshtein of Israel, Philippines'' Wesley So and Russian duo of Evgeny Tomashevsky and Andreikin share the second spot with 3.5 points. The ''super solid'' Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam lies sole seventh on three points having drawn all his games so far in the tournament while Dutch Anish Giri is lying eighth on 2.5, a full point ahead of Negi and Howell. Rodshtein started the tournament as the lowest ranked player but has shown that ratings are not the only criteria to judge a player. The young Israeli who has been working with Levon Aronian and Boris Gelfand two players from the world elite - started off with a victory over Negi in the first round and since then has been consistent barring a debacle against Wesley. MORE PTI Corr DB

Source: Published>

Mani slams PCB over lack of effort to restore international matches in Pak

Published>Mon, Jul 26 10 01:11 PM

London, July 26(ANI): Former International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani has accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of dragging its feet in the bid to restore international matches to the country.

Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, which killed eight people, as well as injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.

"The PCB has yet to submit a report on the Lahore attacks to the ICC, and unless and until they do so teams will continue to refuse to tour Pakistan," The Dawn quoted Mani, as saying.

"By not submitting the report, the PCB has not been able to form a strategy with the ICC and until the member boards analyze that report they will continue to hesitate when it comes to touring Pakistan," he added.

Mani further highlighted that the way to reintroduce international cricket to Pakistan is to start with tours involving some of the sport's less high-profile sides.

"I think it will take at least two years to revive cricket in Pakistan, but firstly there should be low key tours with teams like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan so that confidence is restored," he added.

The security situation had forced Pakistan to hold its 'home' series against Australia in England.

In the last two years, Pakistan 'home' games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan's matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Ponting not in favour of changes in Oz batting line up for India tour

Published>Mon, Jul 26 10 01:07 PM

Sydney, Jul 26 (ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has said that the prospect of changes to the team's batting line-up for October's Test tour of India is remote.

Only Simon Katich (46.75) and Michael Clarke (34.75) had a batting average above 30 in the two-Test series against Pakistan. The worst averages among the specialist batsmen were from Shane Watson (16) and Marcus North (nine).

The performance of Steve Smith, who scored 77 from just 100 balls, led to speculation that he could take over North's place in the team in India and also be a secondary spin option to Nathan Hauritz.

But Ponting discounted that possibility. "I don't think Smith will put pressure on North, no," The Sydney Morning Heralds quoted the captain, as saying.

"I thought the runs we got out of Smith ... were pretty entertaining and very valuable as far as the game was concerned [but] I think you can look at all of our batsmen through this tour. We've faced some pretty challenging conditions at different times," he said.

"We all analyse ourselves pretty closely and we all want to play well all the time but unfortunately that's not the way this game works. But if you're going to win Test matches you have to have five or six or seven of your guys playing well each game and we probably didn't have that in this particular Test match," Ponting said.

The India tour would consist of two Tests and three one-dayers.

"If you were trying to set down and map out your perfect preparation for an Ashes series or a home series it probably wouldn't be playing two Test matches in India," he said.

"But you don't live in an ideal world. We'll wait and see who we've got that's fit and ready to go for that tour and pick a squad of players we think can win a Test series over there, and then worry about the start of the Ashes after that," Ponting added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Paranavitana, Dilshan guide Sri Lanka to 128 for 1 at lunch

Mon, Jul 26 10 12:57 PM

Colombo, Jul 26 (PTI) Indian bowlers struggled to make an impact as Sri Lanka scored briskly to reach 128 for one at lunch on the opening day of the second cricket here today. Defiant knocks by openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana guided the Lankans against a largely listless bowling performance by the Indians, who have to win this match to remain afloat in the three-match series and hold on to their top spot in the ICC rankings. Dilshan, whose 50 came in 39 balls and was laced with 10 boundaries, was the only wicket to fall in the session when he was caught by the perfectly positioned V V S Laxman at short extra cover of Pragyan Ojha at 54. At the break, Lankan skipper Kumara Sangakkara was batting on 18 and Paranavitana was on 45, with the help of six boundaries. Continuing from where he left in the second innings at Galle, Dilshan scored at will hammering several boundaries on a batting-friendly track. The right-hander was particularly severe on Ishant Sharma whom he hit with impunity. Though accelerating in pace, Sharma hardly troubled Dilshan and the Lankan leaned forward to a 138 kmph delivery from the lanky bowler, thumping it between the mid-off and extra cover. The very next delivery was dispatched to the mid-wicket, another short in length bowl in the same over was punched to the extra cover. Earlier in the morning, Paranavitana was fortunate when an edge off Mithun fell short of the Indian captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Paranavitana then clobbered Pragyan Ojha for two consecutive boundaries after the drinks break. Sri Lanka''s 100 runs came in just 114 balls in 88 minutes. India were dealt a massive blow even before the start of the match when opener Gautam Gambhir was ruled out following a knee injury while Yuvraj Singh made way to Suresh Raina due to fever. There was overhaul of the Sri Lankan bowling attack with Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv and Dhamika Prasad making it to the final eleven.

Source: Published>

Pakistan to play youngsters in future series

Mon, Jul 26 10 12:51 PM

Karachi, Jul 26 (PTI) Virtually ruling out Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan''s return to the side for the series against England, PCB chairman Ejaz has said that Pakistan will continue to test youngsters in future matches to build a strong team for next year''s World Cup. Butt''s statement comes on the heels of a young Pakistani side''s series-levelling Test win over Australia in 15 years in Headingley, England. Butt told ''News One'' television channel yesterday that the victory over Australia at Headingley has given the PCB confidence to repose faith in young blood. "Look these youngsters have justified their selection and performed well against the best team under pressure," he said. "The performance of young players has given us the confidence to try out more young players in the future to build a strong combination before the World Cup next year," he said. "I believe this historic win (over Australia) will not only give confidence to the players but to the whole nation. I am pretty optimistic that the team would carry this confidence in the series against England," the PCB chief added. Young batsmen, Umar Amin and Azhar Ali made their debut for Pakistan in the series against Australia. Butt''s comment lent credence to sources that the tour selection committee in England that included captain, coach and manager were not keen on recalling Yousuf and Younis. After Pakistan were humbled by Australia in the first Test at Lords, pressure grew on the board and selectors to call the two former captains back in the side to strengthen the team''s batting line-up. PCB chief selector, Mohsin Khan also made it clear that presently there were no plans to call the two senior players back in the team. "As far as Yousuf is concerned he retired himself and if he wants to play, then the PCB has to take a decision on him," Mohsin said. "The board has to give clearance to us to consider And as Yousuf and Younis for selection," he said. The former Test opener said he was a strong believer of promoting youngsters. "The selectors believe in investing in younger players because if they come through it means they will play for many more years. That solves lot of selection problems," Mohsin stated. Newly-appointed Pakistan Test captain, Salman Butt also made it clear that so far there were no talks of calling up reinforcements for the Test series against England. "When I am asked for my opinion we will see how to go about it," he said from London.

Source: Published>

Visitors sweat on Gambhir's fitness

Mon, Jul 26 10 12:47 PM

Colombo, July 26 -- Despite the Indian team the most of the opportunity to use the wicket next to the centre wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Sunday, a day ahead of the second Test, Gautam Gambhir preferred to knock a few balls in the nets outside the ground. Murali Vijay, the reserve opener in the squad, however, batted in the middle of the ground for almost two hours. Even coach Gary Kirsten spent a good amount of time with the Chennai batsman during his long stint in the middle. That was the first indication that Vijay could replace Gambhir on Monday if the southpaw's right knee keeps on troubling him. "As far as injuries is concerned, Gautam is having a niggle with his left or right knee, I am not hundred percent sure which one," said skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. "We will take a call maybe in the evening or before the game."

Source: Published>