Quantcast
Channel: Sports
Viewing all 13989 articles
Browse latest View live

2013 ABL Champions: Filipinos avenge loss to Indonesian Warriors

0
0

MANILA: Philippines’ San Miguel have been crowned the 2013 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) champions, as they avenged their loss to Indonesia Warriors in last year’s championship.

This year’s league MVP Asi Taulava finished with 19 points to crush the warriors, 70-55, in Game 3 of AirAsia’s ABL at Mahaka Square, in Jakarta, on Wednesday night.

“San Miguel have been very vocal about their intentions from the start, and head coach Leo Austria dedicated their win to his predecessor, the late Bobby Parks,” ABL said in article posted June 12 on its website.

While San Miguel scrambled in the first two games held in Manila, they dominated Game 3 with ease and made the defending champions, who managed just 23 percent from the field, uncomfortable in the opening and struggle with their shots.

San Miguel were 44 per cent in the field during the first half, but missed all their attempts at a three-point shot. Still, they managed to hold on to a six-point lead, 33-27, heading into the break.

The Warriors still struggled in the second half, although Chris Daniels came in off the break with two fast baskets, narrowing the Beermen’s lead to 31-35.

San Miguel’s Paulo Hubalde put a stop to it, however, before a Taulava basket gave San Miguel their first double-digit lead of the game at 49-38, with 2.20 left until the fourth quarter.

And despite a gutsy performance from Mario Wuysang, who finished with 21 points, the Warriors found themselves down 17 points halfway in the last quarter.
 


Warner sorry for Joe Root attack

0
0

Australia batsman David Warner on Thursday apologised to Joe Root after punching the England batsman in a Birmingham bar during the ongoing Champions Trophy.

"I am here today to put my hand up and apologise to Joe. I've let my team-mates, family and everyone down," the 26-year-old told a news conference.

Warner said he had exchanged text messages with Root and that his apology had been accepted.

Earlier Thursday, the controversial Australian batsman had been fined Aus$11,500 (£7,000, $11,000) and suspended until the start of the Ashes by Cricket Australia.

He will miss the rest of title-holders Australia's involvement in the Champions Trophy, starting with their final group game against Sri Lanka at London's Oval ground on Monday - a match they must win to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals - and their two warm-up matches ahead of the Ashes.

However, he will be available for the first Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, which starts on July 10.

Warner said he was determined to play a role in the Ashes despite his second brush with the authorities in the space of a month.

Three weeks ago, he was fined Aus$5,750 over an expletive-ridden Twitter tirade at two Australian journalists.

"It's up to me to be accountable for my actions, which I am, and try not to be aggressive like I did," added Warner at his London news conference on Thursday.

"I've just got to move on and do everything I can to get picked for the first Test.

"We're not here to speculate about what happened beforehand. I definitely remember the night. It started out with a few drinks in the bar and as a team we went to the Walkabout (bar)."

Australia captain Michael Clarke said that Warner must learn to behave if he is ever to realise his potential as a future skipper himself.

"I think David (Warner) knows how I feel about the culture of this Australian team and how important I feel the standards are in this Australian team," said Clarke.

"I respect the fact David has put his hand up and wants to move forward, has apologised to Joe and acknowledged he has made a big mistake. He does deserve credit for putting his hand up.

"Although the punishment for David is quite harsh that's the reality when you play for the Australian cricket team. This is not an IPL team, this is not state cricket, it's not county cricket, when you play for Australia there are standards you have to uphold."

Warner, who admitted he was lucky to still be involved on the tour, was dropped for Wednesday's no-result match against New Zealand, although he appeared as 12th man.

Warne says Warner row could unite Australia

0
0

Shane Warne said the fall-out from David Warner's controversial attack on England batsman Joe Root could yet "bring Australia together" as they bid to regain the Ashes.

Opening batsman Warner was suspended by Cricket Australia on Thursday until the first Ashes Test, which starts at Nottingham's Trent Bridge on July 10 and fined AUS $11,500, (£7,000, $11,000).

He will now miss the rest of title-holders Australia's Champions Trophy campaign, starting with their final group game against Sri Lanka at London's Oval ground on Monday, and their two warm-up matches ahead of the Ashes.

But he will be eligible for the first Test itself.

The 26-year-old was dropped for Australia's Champions Trophy match against New Zealand on Wednesday, although he did appear as 12th man, after the incident at an Australian theme pub in the central English city of Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday morning followed England's tournament-opening 48-run win over the Aussies.

"In a funny sort of way this could bring Australia together. I think it is a chance for them to gel together," Warne wrote in his column on Thursday, before Warner's hearing was held.

"They really have to take this opportunity to sit down and have a chat about what they want to achieve,"

"After this incident England could be thinking to themselves Australia are there for the taking," the leg-spin legend, himself no stranger to off-field controversy during a colourful career, added.

"But if Australia re-group then they might get a surprise.

Warne, who said Warner had let himself and the team down barely three weeks since the opener was fined Aus$5,750 over an expletive-ridden Twitter tirade at two Australian cricket journalists, recalled how senior players had been a key factor in maintaining team discipline at the start of his Australia career.

"I was one of a group of young guys... rubbing shoulders with David Boon, Allan Border and Ian Healy. If you were not on time for the bus or out too late they absolutely nailed you verbally. You felt embarrassed and as if you had let the team down.

"We had a saying: 'Before midnight is your time. After midnight is cricket time'. If you can't do what you want before midnight it's not worth doing," explained the 43-year-old, who took 708 Test wickets before retiring from Australia duty in 2007.

Warne said Australia were missing the influence of captain Michael Clarke, yet to feature in the Champions Trophy while he undergoes treatment in London for a longstanding back injury.

It was a point emphasised by former England captain Michael Atherton, now cricket correspondent, who wrote in Thursday's paper: "The early part of any tour is vital for a captain to set out his stall, but Clarke has been absent... The team need their captain like never before."

Messi latest name to attract interest of tax authorities

0
0

Lionel Messi's picture was on the front pages rather then in the sports sections of the Spanish media on Thursday, after the World Player of the Year and his father were accused of tax fraud.

The news is damaging to the Argentina and Barcelona forward's image, and he joins a long list of top athletes who have been investigated by the tax authorities, including Luis Figo, Boris Becker and Diego Maradona.

"Leo Messi marked financially by the tax man," wrote daily El Pais, while sports paper Marca's front page said: "A symbol under suspicion."

The 25-year-old player and his father Jorge Messi were accused on Wednesday of defrauding the Spanish state of more than four million euros after allegedly filing fraudulent tax returns for the years 2006 to 2009.

The prosecutor's office for tax crimes in Catalonia alleged that the sale of Messi's image rights had been hidden from the authorities via a complex web of shell companies in Uruguay, Belize, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

"It is something that surprises us because we have never committed any offence," Messi said in a statement on his Facebook page.

Under Spanish law an examining magistrate has to decide whether to continue the investigation and whether to bring formal charges.

"If an (examining) judge accepts the case, he would call Messi and his father to give evidence, which is what the tax authority has called for," the prosecutor's office said.

With the Spanish government under pressure to reach tough European deficit reduction targets, they have cranked up their efforts against tax evasion.

Former tennis world number one Arantxa Sanchez Vicario was ordered to pay 3.5 million euros in unpaid income tax in 2009 after it was deemed she was a resident of Spain rather than of Andorra, as she had said.

Last June, a Spanish public prosecutor accused Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o of conspiring to evade 3.5 million euros in taxes owed on income from his image rights when he was playing for Barcelona between 2006-2009.

Eto'o allegedly created two companies, one in Hungary and another in Spain, and used them to channel income obtained from ceding his image rights to Barca and sportswear maker Puma, the prosecutor said.

In March last year, former World Player of Year Figo was ordered to pay some 2.4 million euros in income tax to the Spanish government from his time as a Barcelona player, in a supreme court ruling.

The former Portugal international had appealed against a 2008 demand from the Spanish tax authorities which claimed monies due from 1997 to 1999 relating to his image rights when he was a player at the Nou Camp.

Outside Spain, former tennis world number one Steffi Graf's father went to prison after a tax investigation in Germany and compatriot Becker, another former tennis world number one, was fined for tax evasion in 2002.

In Italy, former MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi agreed to pay $51 million to Italy's tax agency in 2008 after a lengthy investigation.

Argentine great Maradona recently denied that he owed Italian authorities 38 million euros in unpaid taxes.
 

No doubt over Lionel Messi innocence: Barcelona

0
0

Barcelona threw their support behind Lionel Messi on Thursday, insisting they had no doubt that the superstar was innocent of tax avoidance.

"We are all calm," said Barcelona president Sandro Rosell.

"His family have all of our support. I do not doubt their innocence."

Argentina star Messi and his father Jorge Horacio have been accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of more than four million euros ($5 million, £3.4 million).

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta also defended Messi against allegations of tax fraud on Thursday, a case that experts say could carry a prison sentence for the Argentina star.

A Spanish state prosecutor filed a fraud complaint on Wednesday alleging that Messi and his father Jorge avoided paying 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in back taxes through illegal overseas tax havens.

"I am convinced that neither Leo nor his father have committed any infraction," Laporta told Cope radio. "The situation could be that they don't have any responsibility in these events. There can be third parties who are responsible.

"I know them and they have always wanted to act within the law, and that's how they acted with the club, at least when I was president."

Laporta said that Messi and his family lacked the financial know-how necessary to have set up the network of shell companies and tax havens in countries including Belize and Uruguay described in the prosecutor's complaint.

"They were always careful, let's say even wary, when faced with these situations that were over their heads because they didn't have the knowledge of a lawyer or a tax expert, and so they went out and got advisers," he said.

Messi has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers issued a statement on Thursday saying that he "has always punctually attended to his fiscal obligations."

The case was submitted at the court in Gava, near the Mediterranean coastal town where Messi lives. A judge at the court must accept the prosecutor's complaint before charges can be brought against Messi and his father.

If found guilty and barring an out-of-court deal with the tax office, Messi and his father could face 2-6 years in jail, according to Professor Sandalio Gomez, a sports finance analyst at the IESE Business School.

In the complaint, state prosecutor Raquel Amado alleges that from 2006-09 Messi "obtained significant revenue derived from the transfer to third parties of his image rights, income which should have been taxed."

Laporta, who was Barcelona's president from 2003-10 and is considering running again in 2016 after his foray into politics, said that under his mandate Messi directly controlled 100 percent of earnings from his image rights.

But, Laporta said, Barcelona did follow a common practice of paying 15% of Messi's salary to a company that controlled his image rights. He also said that he didn't remember where that company was based.

"If it was a company based outside Spain it would have been a registered company and in that sense a lawful company," Laporta said.

The 25-year-old Messi has won four straight FIFA world player of the year awards. He has scored 133 goals for Barcelona over the last two seasons and helped it win its fourth Spanish league title in five seasons this year.

Messi, who is rated by Forbes as the world's 10th highest-paid athlete, reportedly earned $41.3 million to June this year; with $20.3 coming from his club salary and $21 million in endorsements.

Surging Bolt powers to 200m victory in Oslo

0
0

Olympic champion Usain Bolt responded to last week's surprise sprint defeat in Rome by storming to a world-leading time of 19.79 seconds over 200 metres at the Bislett Diamond League meeting on Thursday.

The Jamaican world record holder, surprisingly beaten over 100 metres by American Justin Gatlin in Italy, streaked away from the field to win comfortably on a chilly night in his first competitive race over the distance this season.

"I need to work on my curve, as my coach has said, but overall it was a good race," said the 26-year-old who is the first man to break the 20 seconds mark this year.

"Under better, warmer conditions... (I could do) a 19.50 race, easily," he told a news conference.

Bolt said his confidence was high ahead of the Jamaican trials, starting on June 20, where he needs to be in the top three in the 100 to qualify for the world championships after the country's automatic entry went to titleholder Yohan Blake.

Ever the showman, Bolt appeared to have put the loss to Gatlin out of his mind as he rubbed his arms and pretended to shiver while standing at the blocks before the start.

But once down to business, the six-times Olympic gold medallist showed he had recovered from the hamstring injury that dogged him earlier this season with a meeting record, having said earlier in the week he was in shape to go below 20 seconds.

FALSE START

Home favourite Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was second in 20.36 in a field lacking any other Jamaican or American athletes. European champion Churandy Martina of the Netherlands was disqualified from the event for a false start.

"I thought I could take him," said Norwegian Saidy Ndure. "All the way to 150 I thought I could catch him... But then he accelerated."

Olympic champion Meseret Defar shook off Kenya's Viola Jelagat Kibiwot and fellow Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba over the last 200 metres to win a fast women's 5,000 in a world leading 14:26.90 - the fastest time since 2011.

"I felt very comfortable throughout the race. I knew I had the shape. I think I'm in world record shape, but was not confident to try it," the 29-year old said.

Kenya's 18-year old Conseslus Kipruto followed up on his Diamond League victories in Shanghai and Eugene by again beating London Olympic gold medallist Ezekiel Kemboi in the 3,000 metres steeplechase in 8:04.48.

The Bislett "Dream Mile" was won by Djibouti's Ayanleh Souleiman with a time of 3:50.53.

Russian Olympic and world high jump champion Anna Chicherova suffered her first defeat of the season when she finished third with 1.95 metres behind compatriot Svetlana Shkolina who cleared 1.97 on her third attempt.

The event had been billed as a match-up between Chicherova and former world champion Blanka Vlasic, who missed last season after Achilles surgery, but the Croatian was a disappointing fifth after failing to clear 1.90.



 

Warner 'lucky' to be available for Ashes

0
0

David Warner is lucky to be available for Ashes selection and the batsman's attack on England's Joe Root was "despicable", according to Australian cricket board chief James Sutherland.

Sutherland also said Warner's team mates should be held to account for being out drinking with the opener at the Birmingham pub in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"David Warner has done a despicable thing but I also hold the team into account here," Cricket Australia chief Sutherland told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.

"There were other people there with him and those who were there need to take account of that and so does the team as a whole as well.

"There's not a lot that is good that happens at 2.30 in the morning at a pub or a nightclub."

Warner issued an apology on Thursday after being suspended until the first Ashes test on July 10 and fined A$11,500 ($11,000) for his part in the incident, which occurred early on Sunday after Australia's Champions Trophy defeat by England.

British media reported that the "unprovoked physical attack", in the words of the England and Wales Cricket Board, was triggered by Root wearing a fancy dress wig in Australia's green-and-gold colours as a beard.

Warner is alleged to have tried to grab the beard and then swung a punch before other players intervened.

Cricket Australia said Warner would miss the rest of the ongoing Champions Trophy and Australia's two tour matches against Somerset and Worcestershire before the Ashes after pleading guilty to breaching their rule on 'unbecoming behaviour'.

The left-hander, once touted as a possible test vice captain to replace Shane Watson after the burly all rounder stepped down from the post earlier this year, was also fined A$5,750 last month for a Twitter outburst against two prominent Australian cricket journalists.

"I think he's very lucky," Sutherland said of Warner's availability for the Ashes. "It could have been a lot worse, couldn't it?

"What counts is his actions going forward in the future and we're watching those very closely.

"He's under no illusions to which direction his career is heading at this moment.

"He's making some pretty ordinary decisions and getting himself into trouble and bringing the game, his teammates and the team down and that's not going to be tolerated much longer."

South Africa scrape into semi-finals

0
0

South Africa scraped into the Champions Trophy semi-finals after their Group B match against West Indies in Cardiff on Friday was declared a tie on the Duckworth-Lewis method for determining rain-affected matches.

West Indies, who were 190 for six off 26.1 overs chasing a target of 231 in 31 overs when the game was abandoned, would have been declared the winners had Kieron Pollard not been dismissed off what turned out to be the final delivery.

If Pollard had kept his wicket intact, West Indies would have been the winners and advanced along with India from Group B.

West Indies and South Africa finished the group stages on three points. With Pakistan already eliminated, South Africa got the second semi-final spot because of their superior net run rate.

Marlon Samuels gave West Indies real hope when he blazed 48 off 38 balls with two sixes after opener Chris Gayle had failed for the third time to convert a good start into a big score.

After hitting JP Duminy into the stands for a six, Gayle guided a tame catch to point and was out for 36.

South Africa welcomed back leading paceman Dale Steyn, who missed the first two matches because of injury, and he bowled with venomous pace and intent.

TWO DROPS


Steyn dropped a hard caught-and-bowled chance to his left hand when Gayle had scored six. Johnson Charles then received a life on 10 when Duminy dropped a much easier offering at short mid-wicket.

Devon Smith stroked an elegant 30 before he was lbw to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson after an appeal to the third umpire by the South African side when the left-hander was originally given not out.

Colin Ingram, the only South African to score a century on his debut in one-day internationals, earlier top-scored with 73 from 63 balls after West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo had won the toss and elected to field.

Ingram drove West Indies' most potent one-day bowler Sunil Narine out of the ground and hit another six off Darren Sammy with a similar shot over long-on.

He put on 80 for the first wicket with Hashim Amla who was caught at cover by Gayle off Samuels for 23 in the 13th over.

Gayle juggled with the catch twice before finally securing the ball in his left hand.

Ingram used his feet adroitly, moving into the drive and stepping back to cut into the gaps, reaching his half-century from 46 balls.

He was out caught in the deep off Pollard's medium pace, mistiming a lofted on-drive. Duminy fell shortly after for two, caught behind off Bravo trying to swing the ball to leg.

Captain AB de Villiers, promoting himself to number three in the order, top-edged a hook off Tino Best for six on his way to 37 from 26 balls before he was brilliantly caught at mid-wicket by Darren Bravo leaping to his right off Ravi Rampaul.

David Miller (38) kept up the pressure on West Indies, slapping a low drive off Narine over the long-on boundary for the fourth sixth of the innings.

He hit two further sixes over the short boundaries while Faf du Plessis (35) and Ryan McLaren (seven not out) hit one apiece.
 


Former Australia coach Dwyer says Lions are serial 'cheats'

0
0

The British and Irish Lions would sooner "cheat" the best than "play" the best rugby, and it's no surprise given their coach is a New Zealander, according to former Australia coach Bob Dwyer.

Dwyer, who guided Australia to their maiden World Cup triumph in 1991, told The Australian newspaper the Lions were cheating at the scrum, the breakdown and in loose play.

The comments are certain to ignite tensions between the Warren Gatland-coached Lions and the Wallabies ahead of their three-match series starting with the first Test in Brisbane on June 22.

"We have a great game and there is massive scope for playing attractive rugby," Dwyer said in comments published on Saturday, hours before the Lions play the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

"It's not supposed to be a contest to see who can cheat the best. It's who can play the best.

"One comment I'd like to make after having seen the Lions in action on tour is that it doesn't come as any surprise they're coached by a New Zealander because they play outside the laws of the game as every New Zealand side does."

Dwyer, 72, has long accused New Zealand teams of cheating, and in recent years has criticised captain Richie McCaw and the All Blacks forwards for using negative tactics and duping a succession of referees.

On Saturday, however, he failed to mention the Wallabies are also coached by a New Zealander, Robbie Deans, who was a long-term coach of McCaw at the Canterbury Crusaders before he took the Australia job in 2008.

Dwyer added the Lions forwards were illegally pushing upwards in the scrum to dislodge the opposing teams' hookers and win penalties and their props were binding illegally and putting their hand on the ground for extra stability.

"When they put the delayed shove on, they scrummage upwards so there is nowhere for the opposing hooker to go but up," he said.

"The thinking seems to be that if you can get a penalty so easily, why not do it?"

Lions players were also infringing at the breakdown, by going to ground to hold up the ball, while impeding opposing players arriving at the tackle area.

"They power past the ball by a metre and a half and then they hold on to defenders' jerseys," Dwyer added.

Further Dwyer complaints included the tourists screening their team mates going to receive kicks, and their decoy runners illegally making contact with opposing defenders to impede them.

"When they run decoy plays, the decoy runner invariably makes contact with the defender. He doesn't smash him out of the way or anything so blatant, but it has the effect of impeding the defence," Dwyer said.

"You don't have to be smart to cheat," he said.

"You just have to be a cheat."


 

Tiger and Rory inseparable at US Open

0
0

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy played together for the first two rounds at this week's US Open and they remained in lock-step after battling to matching scores in difficult scoring conditions on Friday.

World number one Woods and second-ranked McIlroy each carded a level-par 70 on a brutally challenging Merion Golf Club layout where finding rough was a virtual guarantee of a bogey with tough pin positions to tackle on the greens.

Both players were happy with their respective positions going into the final two rounds of the year's second major, despite finishing at three over par - six strokes off the early lead.

"I played well,' Woods told reporters after mixing three birdies with three bogeys on a sun-drenched, breezy afternoon at Merion that followed a week with rain.

"I just made a couple of mistakes out there today, but I really played well. Maybe I could have gotten one or two more out of it, but it was a pretty good day.

"They've really tried to protect the golf course, with it being as soft as it is. And they've given us some really, really tough pins."

Asked if he liked his chances heading into the weekend as he continues his bid for a 15th major title, but his first in five years, Woods simply replied: "Yes."

Though Merion is hosting the US Open for the first time in 32 years after long being viewed as too short to stage a major, Woods disagreed with suggestions that the iconic East Course would be exposed by the power hitters in the modern game.

"Unless you have played practice rounds out here and you've seen the golf course, you don't realise how difficult it is," the three-times US Open champion said.

"The short holes are short, but if you miss the fairway, you can't get the ball on the green. And the longer holes are brutal.

"And this is probably the stiffest set of par-threes that we ever face. And then they've thrown some of the pin locations in that they have and it's really tough."

BIGGEST FACTOR

McIlroy, the 2011 US Open champion at Congressional, felt the combination of tricky pin positions and swirling breezes had been the biggest factor in pushing up the scores in the second round.

"They put the pins in places that even when you hit it close, you had a tough putt for your birdie or your par or whatever," the 24-year-old said after offsetting four birdies with four bogeys.

"The wind is up, and it's tough to gauge this wind. It swirls a little bit in these big trees and it's hard to pull a club sometimes. That's why I think you're seeing the scores rise a little bit today.

"And if you don't hit the fairways here, you're not going to score. If you do hit the fairways, it's still a big challenge from there."

Like his good friend Woods, McIlroy was also delighted with his two-round total on a challenging venue where the average score in the second round was almost five over par.

"I'm very happy," said McIlroy, who clinched his second major title at last year's PGA Championship to put the seal on a stellar 2012 campaign which he ended by leading the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Right in there for the weekend. I don't think I'll be too far away by the end of the day. I'm in a nice position going into the last two days."

McIlroy and Woods attracted huge galleries at Merion after being grouped with Masters champion Adam Scott for the first two rounds in a mouth-watering combination of the world's top three players.

However, Australian Scott has not fared as well, struggling to a 75 to finish at seven-over 147.

 

Manchester City appoint Pellegrini as manager

0
0

Manchester City have named former Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini as the successor to the sacked Roberto Mancini, the Premier League club said on Friday.

The 59-year-old Chilean, whose appointment had been widely expected for weeks with Pellegrini saying last month he had a verbal agreement, takes over following Mancini's dismissal on May 13 after City were runners-up in the league and FA Cup.

"I am delighted to accept this hugely exciting opportunity. The club has a clear vision for success both on and off the pitch and I am committed to making a significant contribution," Pellegrini said on the club's website.

"Everything is in place for Manchester City to continue to be successful and I am excited to be able to work with such a talented squad, the executive team and the board to deliver for fans who are renowned for their steadfast support."

Former Villarreal and Real Madrid boss Pellegrini takes over a club with huge financial resources who last season failed to launch a meaningful defence of the Premier League crown they won in 2012, allowing Manchester United to win it back with ease.

Defeat by Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the top flight soon afterwards, in the FA Cup final capped the end of a disappointing campaign for City and their Arab owners, who also watched a second successive Champions League group-stage exit.

Expectations are high at silverware-hungry City with chief executive Ferran Soriano saying last month that the club wanted to win five trophies in the next five years.

Pellegrini, known as 'The Engineer', has earned himself a reputation for building teams who play attractive, possession-based football which fits in with the style City have sought to play in recent seasons.

"Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record," chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said on the website.

"We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long term development of Manchester City. I am delighted that he has joined us."

Before a ball is even kicked, though, one of his first tasks will be to make a decision on the future of striker Carlos Tevez.

The Argentine, a former captain before a big fall-out with the club and subsequent reconciliation, has 12 months left on his contract and Pellegrini will need to weigh up whether to sell him, offer a new deal or let him just see out his contract.

He will also need to work out how to get the best back from the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, who were instrumental in their league title a year ago but who were often below par last season.

Cristiano Ronaldo hints at Real Madrid rift

0
0

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo threw further doubt over his future in Spain on Thursday by suggesting he has not penned a new deal.

"All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false," Ronaldo tweeted, without elaborating.

The Portuguese's current deal is due to expire in 2015.

Ronaldo has been linked with a move to big-spending French clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

Even former club Manchester United have been mentioned as potential buyers, four years after he left Old Trafford.

Two weeks ago, Real president Florentino Perez denied reports that Ronaldo had rejected a new contract.

"This information is misguided," Perez told Spanish media.

"I am not going to enter into more details but I will only say that Cristiano's renewal is not deadlocked, this doesn't correspond to the reality as we stand today."

Scolari tells critics to lay off Neymar

0
0

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Friday threw his support behind Neymar, the under-pressure star widely-regarded as Pele's heir apparent.

Neymar, who has just signed for Barcelona from Santos, Pele's former club, has come in for repeated criticism from the media, who feel that he has not produced the goods for the Selecao.

He hasn't scored for nine games for club and country and will be in the spotlight again on Saturday when Brazil kick-off the Confederations Cup against Asian champions, Japan.

"He does not wear 11 jerseys but one - he is part of a team," Scolari told a press conference on Friday.

"He has done what is requested of him with a lot of dedication.

"We want him to be a useful, team player - that is what makes a good player," added Scolari, who expressed some frustration with what he feels is an overly-critical press.

"Everyone from abroad respects us a lot yet here in Brazil people are always saying what a bad team we have. Yet it is crucial to have the crowd supporting us," said Scolari, as he insisted that the team did not have to feel extra pressure simply because the three-time Confederations Cup winners are hosts.

Scolari said on returning to the job last November in place of sacked Mano Menezes that he was clear the fans would demand success and expect to win both the Condeferations Cup and next summer's World Cup - also on home soil.

But he said achieving those aims were advancing step by step.

"We must dedicate ourselves to helping Brazil evolve in all areas, not just in terms of football. We must be patient."

Scolari said he wanted to produce attacking, flowing football but said ability to adapt was what counted for him.

"I have to adapt players - obviously they won't all play the same way they play for their clubs, so we must adapt. We need to give the players freedom to play based on their characteristics."

Saying he expected Japan, beaten 4-0 the last time the countries met in an October friendly, to attack, Scolari added he wanted to pursue a variety of options when it came to Brazil's own offensive prowess.

That meant giving Neymar licence to roam on occasion for the benefit of his teammates, if not his own goalscoring opportunities.

"Many times we use Neymar in the middle as a second main striker and sometimes out wide as he also has that skill and has done very well," said the coach.

"If he hasn't scored he is trying to support others and he does not have to score a goal. He doesn't have to dribble past 20 players but be a team player. Then everyone will feel great.

"We have not removed his skills, but he has to be part of a team. He is an idol for Brazilians and we must therefore protect him. He is 21 years old and cannot win on his own."

Not withstanding their recent friendly thumping, Japan are Asian champions and have already become the first side to book their World Cup berth through the qualifying process.

As a result, Scolari says he expects a tough encounter at the Estadio Nacional, an arena also named after Mane Garrincha, a star of Brazil's 1958 world champions.

"I would not be embarrassed to lose to Japan. We will play our football and play to win but if Japan did not have qualities they would not be here."

I'll win titles with style, says Pellegrini

0
0

Manuel Pellegrini has pledged to bring titles and style to Manchester City after being named as the new manager of the English Premier League giants.

The 59-year-old Chilean left Malaga to pen a three-year deal as Roberto Mancini's replacement.

His task is to snatch the league title back from neighbours Manchester United and go deep into the Champions League where Mancini constantly fell short.

"Everyone knows if you arrive at a club like Manchester City you need to win titles," Pellegrini, nicknamed 'The Engineer' told ManCity TV.

"I think Manchester City have invested a lot of money to improve the squad every year and try, every year, to win titles.

"They were not successful in winning some titles but I am sure we are going to win - maybe the Premier League, the Champions League. We will try to win a lot.

"My first message is to tell all the supporters they will enjoy the season. I am sure they will enjoy the way our team will play.

"We will play an attractive, offensive play."

Pellegrini has more than 25 years' of managerial experience in South America and Spain and has taken Malaga and Villarreal to the latter stages of the Champions League.

He spent a single season in charge of Real Madrid before he was succeeded by Jose Mourinho, also now back in England at Chelsea.

"With Malaga I reached the quarter-final of the Champions League, with Villarreal also and the semi-final. All my experience will be very useful for me.

"I am sure we are going to have a very good season. I can tell all the fans of Manchester City I work very hard."

Pellegrini will have plenty of talent at his disposal at Eastlands after Fernandinho and Jesus Navas signed earlier in the summer for a combined initial cost of almost £45million.

City have also been linked with Malaga playmaker Isco and Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.

Pellegrini brings with him assistant Ruben Cousillas, goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach Jose Cabello.

But Mancini's assistant manager Brian Kidd will also remain as part of the set-up.

Kidd said: "I am pleased. It is a compliment and a great honour that I am stopping with the club. I am very pleased that Mr Pellegrini wants me to stay."

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who has ploughed millions into the club, said of Pellegrini's appointment: "Manuel is a hugely experienced and successful manager with a proven track record.

"We have been greatly impressed throughout the selection process by his philosophy, his attitude and his commitment to the long term development of Manchester City.

"I am delighted that he has joined us."

Chief executive Ferran Soriano described Pellegrini as "a very experienced coach with a recognised ability to get the most out of his players and build cohesive teams.

"He shares the club's approach to football and our ambition to achieve on-field success, coordinating with the wider football support teams to ensure natural progression from the Academy to senior level."

Pellegrini's appointment at City came shortly after Malaga named former Real boss Bernd Schuster, as his successor.

Champions Trophy IND v PAK: India thump Pakistan by 8 wickets

0
0

India defeated a disappointing Pakistan side on the Duckworth-Lewis method on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at Edgbaston in Birmingham after a series of rain interruptions resulted in three revised victory targets.

The Indians reached their final target of 102 from 22 overs with 17 balls to spare in bright evening sunshine after dismissing Pakistan for 165 from 39.4 of their allotted 40 overs.

Opening batsman Shikar Dhawan, who scored 114 and 102 not out in the first two group matches, again top-scored for the winners with 48 from 41 deliveries.

The final match in Group B had no bearing on next week's semi-finals as India had already qualified while Pakistan were eliminated after losing their first two matches.

There was still plenty of pride at stake, though, in what was only the third competitive match in England between the two sub-continent rivals. All 24,000 tickets were sold within three hours of going on sale in November.

On the day it was the Indian supporters who were celebrating after Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won the toss and elected to field.

SPIN TWINS

Nasir Jamshed (2) was caught at second slip by Suresh Raina pushing forward to a full delivery from paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, promoted to open in an attempt to bolster the fragile Pakistan top order, and Mohammad Hafeez took the total to 50 from 12 overs before the players went off for a brief rain break.

On their return Hafeez (27) nibbled at the first ball of the 13th over from Kumar and was caught behind by Dhoni, diving to his right.

Akmal then followed for 21 attempting to drive off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He got an inside edge which flew off Dhoni's left thigh to Virat Kohli at leg-slip.

Ashwin was getting significant turn and Dhoni called up a short-leg to add to the pressure when the rain came again and the players left the field for more than 2-1/2 hours with India 70 for three off 19 overs.

After the resumption Ravindra Jadeja struck a blow by bowling Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq for 22.

Misbah had scored 96 not out and 55 in his previous two innings.

Jadeja, who took seven wickets in India's first two matches of the tournament, finished with two for 30 from eight overs and Ashwin snapped up two for 35 from eight overs. The last two batsmen were both run out without scoring.

India's initial target was 168 from 40 overs based on the Duckworth-Lewis method for rain-affected matches. It was reduced to 157 from 36 following another interruption and finally to 102 from 22.

Dhoni told Sky Sports television that India were now the world's top fielding side.

"The whole team is doing very well in all three departments," he said. Kumar was named man-of-the-match after taking two for 19 in eight overs.

INDIA INNINGS

India coasted to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in a rain-affected Champions Trophy Group B clash at Edgbaston on Saturday.

The tournament favourites maintained their unbeaten record and finished top of the group after humbling Pakistan who were bowled out for 165.

Chasing a revised target of 167 in 40 overs, India romped home after two more interruptions for rain.

Shikhar Dhawan led the way with fluent knock of 48 off 41 balls which contained five boundaries while Kohli made sure India crossed the line without any further mishap.

It was the first time Pakistan had a lost to India in the ICC Champions Trophy clash.

Karthik and Kohli scramble for a single as India romp to an eight-wicket victory under the D/L method with 17 balls to spare.

Kohli pulls Riaz around for a boundary to tie the scores.

Karthik hits a classic boundary off Ajmal. India are 96-2 in 18 overs.

India need 12 runs for victory. India are 90-2 in 17 overs.

Kohli hammers a boundary off Ajmal as India race to victory. India are 87-2 in 16 overs.

India are 78-2 in 15 overs needing 24 for victory.

Dhawan falls two short of half century cutting Riaz straight to Jamshed at third man. Ind 78-2.

S Dhawan c Nasir Jamshed b Wahab Riaz 48 (41b 5x4 0x6)

Dhawan slams a couple of boundaries off Riaz, including a streaky edge over the keeper.

India play Ajmal cautiously not being in a hurry to beat the rain and race to victory. India are 69-1 in 14 overs.

India are 67-1 in 13 overs needing 35 for victory.

India are 64-1 in 12 overs chasing a D/L target of 102 in 22 overs.

Play set to resume with India's target being revised to 102 in 22 overs.

Rain has caused another stoppage with India 63-1 in 11.3 overs.

Kohli whips Ajmal with disdain through the covers for a boundary to open his account. Ind 62-1 in 11 overs.

Pakistan get a breakthrough as Sharma chips Ajmal to Misbah. Ind 58-1.

R Sharma c Misbah-ul-Haq b Saeed Ajmal 18 (32b 2x4 0x6)

Hafeez comes into attack after Ajmal completes his unfinished over after the rain interruption. Ind 52-0 in 9 overs.

Play is set to resume shortly with India being set a D/L revised target of 157 off 36 overs.

Dhawan is leading the way having cracked three boundaries in his 29 while Rohit is with him on 16 having hit two boundaries.

Rain has caused another interruption in play with India 47-0 in 8.1 overs chasing a D/L target of 168.

Spin introduced with Ajmal coming into the attack.

India have a made solid start making 45 without loss in the Powerplay overs. Ind 45-0 in 8 overs.

Dhawan cracks another boundary off Irfan uppercutting him to third man. Ind 37-0 in 7 overs.

Dhawan survives after giving the charge to Junaid and missing before cracking the next ball to the point fence. Ind 28-0 in 6 overs.

Irfan digs a bouncer which is hooked to square leg fence by Rohit. Ind 22-0 in 5 overs.

Rohit drives Irfan through the covers with superb timing for his first boundary.

Dhawan cracks a boundary off Junaid through point. Ind 13-0 in 4 overs.

A good over by Irfan conceding just two runs. Ind 7-0 in 3 overs.

Rohit survives a confident appeal for leg before off Junaid Khan's first ball. Ind 5-0 in 2 overs.

India begin their run chase picking up four runs in the first over from Irfan with Dhawan and Rohit opening the innings. Ind 4-0 in 1 over.

Since Duckworth/Lewis is in operation because of rain delays, India's revised target is 168 in 40 overs.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Pakistan tumbled to 165 all out from 39.4 overs in their rain-interrupted Champions Trophy Group B match against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday.

The final match in the group was reduced to 40 overs a side after a lengthy rain break.

India, who had already qualified for next week's semi-finals along with South Africa from Group B, were set a victory target of 168 on the Duckworth-Lewis method for rain-affected matches.

Left-armer Ravindra Jadeja, who took seven wickets in India's first two matches of the tournament, captured two for 30 from his eight overs and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two for 35, also from eight.

India enjoyed early success after their captain MS Dhoni had won the toss when Nasir Jamshed (2) was caught at second slip by Suresh Raina pushing forward to a full delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, promoted to open in an attempt to bolster the fragile Pakistan top order, and Mohammad Hafeez took the total to 50 from 12 overs before the players went off for a brief rain break.

On their return, Hafeez (27) nibbled at the first ball of the 13th over from Kumar and was caught behind by Dhoni, diving to his right.

Akmal followed shortly afterwards for 21 attempting to drive Aswhin. He got an inside edge which flew off Dhoni's left thigh to Virat Kholi at leg-slip.

Ashwin was getting significant turn and Dhoni called up a short-leg to add to the pressure when the rain came again and the players left the field for more than 2-1/2 hours with India 70 for three off 19 overs

After the resumption, Jadeja struck a critical blow by bowling Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq for 22. Misbah had scored 96 not out and 55 in his previous two innings.

Shoaib Malik was lbw to Jadeja for 17 and Ashwin bowled Wahab Riaz for a second-ball duck. There were also two run-outs as Pakistan failed to bat out their overs.

Umar Amin is unbeaten on a run-a-ball 27 having hit three boundaries as Pakistan are bowled inside 40 overs with two balls remaining.

Put into bat, Pakistan struggled from the beginning under overcast conditions after the in-form Jamshed fell in the third over.

Hafeez (21) and Akmal (27) staged a recovery of sorts with a stand of 46 for the second wicket before falling in quick succession.

Pakistan's innings was punctuated by two breaks because of rain.

Misbah (22) held the innings together before being bowled by a beauty from Jadeja who claimed two for 30.

Shafiq top-scored with 41 before Dhoni held a brilliant catch off Sharma.

His dismissal in the 32nd over triggered a Pakistan collapse which saw them lose their last six wickets for 34 runs.

Kumar who bowled unchanged had the best figures of 8-2-19-2 while Sharma and Ashwin also claimed two wickets apiece.

Last man Irfan is run out after his shot hits the stumps at the non-striker's end as Pakistan put into bat are all out for 165 in 39-4 overs.

Mohammad Irfan run out 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan crash to 159-9 as Junaid Khan is run out by a direct hit from Kohli.

Junaid Khan run out 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Ajmal perishes scooping a catch to Rohit off Sharma. Pak 159-8.

S Ajmal c R Sharma b I Sharma 5 (16b 0x4 0x6)

Amin lofts Jadeja back over his head for a boundary. Pak 156-7 in 37 overs.

Amin cracks a boundary off Sharma. Pak 149-7 in 36 overs.

Jadeja bowls a maiden over having figures of 7-1-23-2. Pak 141-7 in 35 overs.

Pakistan are collapsing in a heap as Ashwin strikes to bowl Riaz. Pak 140-7.

Wahab Riaz b Ashwin 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Jadeja strikes again trapping Malik leg before with Pakistan being unsuccessful with with the decision review. Pak 139-6.

S Malik lbw b Jadeja 17 (23b 2x4 0x6)

India are successful with a decision review after Shafiq was given not out off an inside edge off Sharma to be caught behind. Pak 131-5.

Asad Shafiq c Dhoni b I Sharma 41 (57b 3x4 0x6)

Malik takes on Sharma slapping his to the point boundary. Pak 126-4 in 30 overs.

Jadeja bowls a tight over conceding just a single. Pak 119-4 in 29 overs.

Malik hits a boundary slamming Kohli to midwicket. Pak 118-4 in 28 overs.

Jadeja strikes bowling the in-form Misbah with a beauty. Pak 102-4.

Misbah-ul-Haq b Jadeja 22 (33b 1x4 0x6)

Shafiq cracks consecutive boundaries off Jadeja to bring up the half century partnership in 67 balls.

The Indian spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja are keeping the Pakistan pair under wraps. Pak 101-3 in 26 overs.

Another tight over by Jadeja. Pak 97-3 in 25 overs.

All-spin attack now with Jadeja being introduced. Pak 91-3 in 23 overs.

Kohli has come into the attack. Pak 81-3 in 21 overs.

Misbah hits the first boundary after the rain break reverse sweeping Ashwin. Pak 77-3 in 20 overs.

It will now be a 40-over game because nearly 20 overs has been lost due to rain.

Play is expected to resume in less than half an hour if there is no further rain.

The covers have come off after the second inspection by match officials raising prospects of play resuming soon.

Another inspection is due but the outlook is bleak because areas of the outfield are wet.

The covers have not come off despite an inspection by the match umpires because still there is a slight drizzle.

It's raining heavily at Birmingham and predictions this could be a lengthy interruption.

Play has been suspended for the second time because of rain. Pak 70-3 in 19 overs.

Shafiq gets his first boundary slamming Yadav to midwicket.

Ashwin bowls a tight over conceding just two runs. Pak 66-3 in 18 overs.

Misbah ul Haq has come into the middle as Pakistan face another crisis situation. Pak 64-3 in 17 overs.

Yadav back into the attack replacing Kumar.

Pakistan are struggling at 61-3 after 16 overs.

Pakistan are tottering as Ashwin strikes getting an inside edge off Kamran which loops to Kohli. Pak 56-3.

Kamran Akmal c Kohli b Ashwin 21 (38b 2x4 0x6)

Kohli hangs onto the chance at leg slip as the ball ricocheted off Dhoni's thigh as Kamran attempts a wild slog.

Kumar continues to bowl unchanged and concedes just two runs. Pak 56-2 in 15 overs.

Spin introduced for the first time as Ashwin comes into the attack and gets turn immediately. Pak 54-2 in 14 overs.

Kumar has superb figures of 7-2-17-2 so far. Pak 51-2 in 13 overs.

Kumar strikes with the first delivery after the break as Dhoni takes a brilliant one-handed diving catch off Hafeez. Pak 50-2.

M Hafeez c Dhoni b Kumar 27 (31b 5x4 0x6)


Play resumes after a 15-minute break.

The good news is that the covers are coming off and play is to resume shortly.

Pakistan have recovered after the early loss of Jamshed with Kamran (20) and Hafeez (27) putting on 46 runs for the second wicket when play was suspended because of a persistent drizzle which becomes heavy. Pak 50-1 in 12 overs.

Kamran survives lofting Kumar just wide of Karthik in an eventful over which saw Hafeez nearly being run out. Pak 47-1 in 11 overs.

Hafeez gets another boundary off Sharma glancing him to fine leg. Pak 43-1 in 10 overs.

Another tight over by Kumar conceding just a single. Pak 36-1 in 9 overs.

Sharma has been hit for a couple of boundaries by Akmal and Hafeez who flicks him round to fine leg. Pak 35-1 in 8 overs.

Akmal gets his second boundary steering Sharma through the covers.

Sharma into the attack now replacing Yadav.

There is a slight drizzle at the moment but play continues. Pak 26-1 in 7 overs.

Kamran also gets into act pulling Kumar to the midwicket fence.

Kumar bowls a second consecutive maiden over as he beat Kamran Akmal. Pak 7-1 in 5 overs.

Yadav bowls a tight over. Pak 7-1 in 4 overs.

It's a wicket maiden over by Kumar who has got a breakthrough for India. Pak 4-1 in 3 overs.

Another poor start by Pakistan with Hafeez coming into another pressure situation and is beaten off the first ball from Kumar.

Kumar draws first blood striking in his second over as Jamshed edges straight to Raina at second slip. Pak 4-1.

N Jamshed c Raina b Kumar 2 (9b 0x4 0x6)

Jamshed is stunned after being adjudged leg before after being rapped just above the knee roll off the first ball from Yadav and is successful with a decision review. Pak 4-0 in 2 overs.

Kamran edges the fourth delivery from Kumar between the slips for a single. Pak 3-0 in 1 over.

Jamshed is off the mark with a single off the first ball.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to open the attack for India.

India have taken the field while Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal open the batting for Pakistan.

The teams walk out for the national anthems.

Sun or rain, there is tension all around as fans await the start of the 'dead' Champions Trophy clash between India and Pakistan.

Misbah called it wrong but does not mind losing the toss because they have the arsenal to defend any total.

Dhoni must be eager to be chasing with rain forecast later in the day.

India have won the toss and put Pakistan into bat in the Group B Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston on Saturday.

India field an unchanged side while Pakistan have brought in Asad Shafiq in place of Imran Farhat.

PLAYING XI

India - S Dhawan, R Sharma, V Kohli, D Karthik, S Raina, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, I Sharma, B Kumar, U Yadav

Pakistan - N Jamshed, K Akmal, M Hafeez, A Shafiq, Umar Amin, Misbah-ul-Haq, S Malik, S Ajmal, W Riaz, J Khan, M Irfan

The sun is peeping through the cloud cover which hangs over Edgbaston with the ICC tweeting with a picture a while ago.

"Edgbaston looks good this morning in the run up to #indvpak!" (@cricketicc)

Former Indian cricket turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has just tweeted some good news for cricket fans around the world.

"In Birmingham for the Ind/Pak game. Sun is out. Here's praying, it stays out." (@sanjaymanjrekar)

Australian cricket legend Shane Warne tweeted less than an hour ago that it is raining heavily in Edgbaston.

"Just stopped to get petrol on way to Edgbaston & it's absolutely bucketing down with rain & freezing, 8 degrees. (warne888)

Despite the threat of rain and the fact that the final Group B Champions Trophy clash between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday is a dead rubber, cricket fans are waiting with bated breath in anticipation of another explosive battle between the two Asian giants.

Thick layers of cloud have been hovering over Birmingham with forecasts suggesting more showers likely which means there will be a complete washout or truncated match.

What was expected to be the marquee battle of the eight-nation tournament – tickets for the match were sold out within hours of going on sale last November – has been reduced to a dead rubber.

Seventy per cent of tickets for the game have gone to the Indian supporters and 15 per cent to Pakistan, while the other 15 per cent has been distributed among neutral fans and the ICC and member board officials who will be present here in good numbers.

Fans stood outside the renovated stadium throughout Friday, concerned with the buzz surrounding the two teams, as players drove into Edgbaston for practice and drove out looking up at the sky, according to Times of India.

These fans have shelled out a good deal of money a month in advance, regardless of what effect the game might have on the tournament, simply because it's India versus Pakistan.

"Kal dekhna, pata chalega India-Pakistan ka kya importance hota hai (Watch out, tomorrow you'll know the importance of an India-Pakistan match)," said Misbah-ul Haq, the Pak skipper, hoping like his Indian counterpart MS Dhoni that a full day of cricket is available for fans.

World Cup champions India are already through to the semi-finals after winning both group B matches so far, while Pakistan have crashed out of the race with two successive defeats.

But sporting contests between the arch-rivals are never irrelevant for players and millions of fans across the globe as heroes turn villains – or vice-versa – depending on the result.

The Pakistanis are treating Saturday's ICC Champions Trophy match against India "like a final."

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq told a packed media press conference on Thursday that the contest against India will be "one last chance to prove ourselves in front of the world."

Misbah said his team "will play for the fans."

"It's a final for us. A win against the world champions will be a great compensation. At least, the fans will be happy," Misbah said after Pakistan trained under overcast conditions and a light drizzle on Friday morning.

The Pakistan captain refused to take the match against India as just another game.

"For us, it's a big opportunity. Everywhere in the world, fans look forward to this game and I would like India and Pakistan to play more often for the sake of the audience. It's the biggest rivalry in cricket," the 39-year-old told reporters.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni in contrast was treating it as just another game.

"Doesn't really matter which side you are playing, because the reason is all international sides are good enough, so no real point taking any added pressure," Dhoni said when asked about the importance of the Saturday game.

Dhoni was perhaps looking beyond this clash after emerging as the tournament favourites with consistent performances against South Africa and West Indies.

"I think the fact that we have consistently scored runs. That's something very important. The fact that we have been able to chase scores, and good scores, against good bowlers on good wickets has been a very pleasing aspect.

"Our fast bowlers have been very good and they have shown if there's a bit of help for them, they can come back into the game and bowl very well in the middle overs. I'm very happy.

"We are not known for our fielding standards, but I think right now we are the best fielding side. You can compare us to any team and most of our fielders are good while the rest are above average."

The beleaguered Indian team rocked by the spot-fixing scandal in IPL are looking to return with their heads high and are not short of motivation.

"Motivation has never been a factor, especially when you're representing a country of about 1.2 billion people and the expectation level is always very high. I think all of them are very motivated. It's just that it's important to enjoy the game," said Dhoni.

Misbah said there was no pressure on the team and the boys were in a relaxed frame of mind.

"We know we are out of the tournament, but I have told the boys to look at every game as their last chance to prove themselves. We will express ourselves well tomorrow," Misbah promised.

The Pakistan skipper said his team will remember the 2-1 ODI win in India last winter.

"The teams are almost the same and our bowlers have the experience and belief to challenge Indian batsmen," Misbah said.

India's batting is on a high, admitted the affable Pakistan skipper.

"When you score 300 runs consistently and win your opening two games of a short tournament quite easily, a team is bound to look good, but tomorrow, we will give them a good fight," he said.

Pakistan have never lost to India in six editions of this championship.

They have beaten India twice in the Champions Trophy, the first time at Edgbaston in September, 2004.

On the other hand, India have never lost a World Cup game in five meetings between the two sides.

But Misbah said history won't matter.

"Every game is a fresh game. The team that will take the conditions in stride, handle fan pressure and play well shall be the clear winner," he explained.

Misbah pointed out Pakistan's bowling will be their biggest strength going into Saturday's match.

"Our top order has failed and we have been unable to build partnerships. We have always felt the pressure while batting but we can surely redeem ourselves against India this time," the captain said.

As India look to smoothen rough edges ahead of the semi-finals, Pakistan will play for pride hoping to build on the 2-1 series success in India in December-January.

“I don't think the Indian team has ever played a dead game,” skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, referring to the huge fan following his side enjoys.

“The match is also important to improve in the areas we want to.”

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore added: “It's an important match. It's certainly not a dead game for us and we will look to give our best.”

Pakistan were let down by poor batting, having been bowled out for 170 by the West Indies and then dismissed for 167 by a depleted South African attack missing frontline strike bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq and Nasir Jamshed were the only batsmen to offer resistance in the two games, which put the hard-working bowlers under additional pressure.

Misbah, who top-scored with an unbeaten 96 and 55 in both matches, conceded the batting failure cost his side dearly.

“There are a lot of positives to take from this tournament,” he said. “We bowled and fielded very well, but the batting has not been good. The batsmen are much better than what they have done here.”

Misbah, whose side was taunted by fans after the loss to South Africa, insisted the team were still very motivated to perform well against India.

“When a team plays the way we have, criticism is bound to come,” he said.

“Supporters are like that. They also praise you when you do well. “We must now play to our potential against India. We should not go back empty-handed.”

India, meanwhile, justified their number one ranking in one-day cricket with two impressive performances against South Africa and the West Indies.

They piled up 331-7 against the Proteas to win by 26 runs on a flat Cardiff pitch, and then restricted the West Indies to 233-9 at the Oval to win by eight wickets.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan shone with superb back-to-back centuries, making 114 off 94 balls against South Africa and an unbeaten 102 against the West Indies.

It was the third successive international century for the moustache-twirling 27-year-old from Delhi, who scored a spectacular 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut in March.

India have also been well-served by Rohit Sharma, who partnered Dhawan for two century stands at the top of the order, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose five wickets laid low the West Indies.


Champions Trophy: England accused of ball-tampering against Lanka

0
0

A storm is brewing in the Champions Trophy with England being forced to deny allegations of ball-tampering during their match against Sri Lanka.

The furore, blown into the open by former England captain Bob Willis, started when umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden changed one of the two balls in the 26th over of Sri Lanka`s successful run chase at the Oval on Thursday evening in the ICC Champions Trophy.

England captain Alastair Cook has angrily dismissed it saying that the bowlers can reverse swing the ball because of their skill and hard work.

Cook was visibly upset when the umpires had changed the ball as they believed that it was out of shape, although he believed that the ball was reaching the optimum condition to start reverse swinging.

“The ball was changed because it was out of shape. That was the umpire’s reasoning," Cook was quoted as saying in The Sun.

“The umpires make those decisions, so you have to accept them. Sometimes you don’t think they are the right decisions but there’s not much you can do about it.”

Fast bowling legend Willis, speaking on Sky Sports, had alleged in an incendiary claim that one English player had been illegally damaging the ball with his fingernails.

An ICC spokesman has said: “The umpires and match referee cannot talk about specific incidents during a tournament.

“But our understanding is that the ball was changed because it went out of shape.”

Reverse swing has been considered something of a dark art ever since the ball was changed during a one-day international between England and Pakistan at Lord`s in 1992.

James Anderson is England’s king of swing both reverse and orthodox.

England gained it against Australia at Edgbaston last Saturday and won by 48 runs, but were  blunted by Sri Lanka losing by seven wickets.

Last week, umpire Dar was seen speaking to Bopara during the final match of England’s one-day series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, The Sun reported added.

And former Aussie speedster Dirk Nannes, working as a summariser for BBC Radio, suggested sweets were brought out to Bopara by the 12th man during Saturday’s victory over Australia in Birmingham.

In 2009, former England player Dermot Reeve accused Bopara of ball-tampering during a domestic match in New Zealand — a claim that was strongly denied.

 

India vs Pakistan: Cricket fans go crazy in stands

0
0

 India fans pose before their ICC Champions Trophy group B match against Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, central England, June 15, 2013. (REUTERS)

 Pakistani fans cheer before the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013.(AFP)

 Indian fans wait for the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013. (AFP)

 Fans arrive to attend the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013. (AFP)

 A Pakistan flag and balloons are released before their ICC Champions Trophy group B match against India at Edgbaston cricket ground in Birmingham, central England, June 15, 2013. (REUTERS)

A fan holds a placard before the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013.  (AFP)

India and Pakistan line up ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakiatan at Edgbaston on June 15, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Getty Images)

Pakistan's fans cheer before the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013.  (AFP)

A pakistani fan dressed as Elvis Presley waits for the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013. (AFP)

Cricket fans are seen outside the ground before India's ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England, Saturday June 15, 2013. (AP) 

Cricket fans are seen outside the ground before India's ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England, Saturday June 15, 2013. (AP)

 

Cricket fans are seen outside the ground before India's ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England, Saturday June 15, 2013. (AP)

An Indian fan waits for the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 15, 2013. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat in the last group B match of the Champions Trophy. (AFP)

ricket fans, one dressed as US singer Elvis Presley are seen in the ground prior to the start of the India's ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against Pakistan at Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham, England, Saturday June 15, 2012. (AP )

MUST READ:

Football transfer alert: Torres to stay at Chelsea… leaves Lewandowski for Man Utd

0
0

Spanish international Fernando Torres has said he is determined to see out his contract at Chelsea and hopes that the return of Jose Mourinho to the Europa League winners can inspire him to regain his top form.

Torres has struggled to reach the heights he did in his first two seasons in England with Liverpool since Chelsea paid £50 million ($78.4 million) for his services in January 2011 and despite speculation linking him with a move away from the club, he insists he intends to see out the five-and-a-half-year deal he signed with the blues.

"I want to continue, I want to complete the contract that I signed, I want to continue winning titles and return to being the best in my position," he told Spanish newspaper AS in an interview published on Saturday.

"There is no better place and better conditions than with Mourinho at Chelsea.

Reports have indicated that Chelsea have joined the race to sign Borrusia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski.

Manchester United are also reported to be very keen on the Polish striker, after Dortmund ruled out a move to Bayern Munich for the man who set the Champions League alight.

However, with Torres staying, Mourinho may not want to spend on another striker.

"If you think about the players that have passed through his clubs, the strikers, all of them have had great years," Torres said.

The 29-year-old did show some flashes of his old self during Rafael Benitez's short reign at Chelsea last season as he scored 22 goals, including one in the final of the Europa League against Benfica last month.

That run of form was enough to convince Vicente del Bosque to recall the former Atletico Madrid man to his squad for the Confederations Cup after he had been left out of the last couple of Spain squads and he is delighted to be back in the fold for another major championship.

"When you are not in the squads before a championship, then it is difficult. The same thing happened with the Euros last year, but I have always had confidence I would come and do things well," he said.

"This year I have finished the season well and I have been able to be here. I hope that we will have the same result this year as in the Euros."

And despite all their success in recent years, Torres believes defeat to the USA in the Confederations Cup four years ago will spur them onto success in Brazil.

"We haven't won everything. This tournament we still haven't won and we are here to do so. The desire, the inertia, the moment always asks more of you. That is why you are always desperate for the next tournament to arrive to be able to win it and continue making history.

"We have won the European Championship, World Cup, European Championship, and we want to lift the Confederations, which is what we are lacking. And then add on the World Cup again, why not?"

Football transfer shocker: Liverpool's Suarez ready to seal the deal... to leave

0
0

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's open courting of Spanish giants Real Madrid to make a bid for him continued on Saturday as he once again said he would find it hard to turn down an offer if they came knocking in the next few months.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan signed a contract tying him to the Premier League club until 2018 just last August, but he has endured another controversial season in England and ended the campaign serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

"I think every player aspires to be at the top and if you ask any eight-year-old child they will tell you that one day they would want to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona.

“They are big teams and everyone wants to go there," he told Spanish sports daily Marca on Saturday.

"Firstly, I have a contract with the club. But if one day they wanted to sign me, Liverpool would listen to the offer, as they have with other players and as all clubs do.

"Then the teams would have to come to an agreement, although, of course, the word of the player, in this case mine, is important. If one needs a change, they have to listen to the player."

Suarez was one of the Premier League's standout players last season with 23 goals and five assists in just 33 appearances.

However, Suarez was also banned for eight matches in the 2011/12  season for using racist language towards Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and he repeated his belief that the English press have gone overboard in criticising some of his on-field antics.

"Simply (I want) the people to not remember me for this, that they don't attack me as a person for this. I prefer footballing, technical criticism than for the attitudes I have had once in a while. This is what distresses me currently in the Premier League.

"The love that I have for Liverpool I will never forget. I love the city, the club and the fans. They have received my family very warmly. We are all happy there. I don't have to say or demonstrate it.

“They all love me there, but I ask for respect for what they have suffered due to what has been said, because my family can suffer at hearing these things that are far removed from football."

With Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain looking set to leave Real Madrid, the nine-time European champions are expected to be in the market for a striker and have also been linked with a move for Suarez's international teammate Edison Cavani.

However, it is unlikely the Spanish side will make any moves in the transfer market until they appoint a coach for next season with Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti still the favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho.

Suarez and Cavani meanwhile are currently on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup with the Copa America champions due to get their campaign underway against world champions Spain on Sunday evening.
 

US Open golf: Mickelson, Horschel tied for lead

0
0

Four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and second-time major starter Billy Horschel remained tied for the lead late in the second round of the US Open on Saturday as challengers faded.

The storm-hit golf showdown at Merion, thrown off schedule after play was halted for more than four hours on Thursday, continued in perfect conditions with the cut expected late in the morning ahead of an afternoon third round.

Mickelson, a five-time US Open runner-up still chasing the elusive trophy, and fellow American Horschel, who missed the cut at the 2006 US Open in his only prior major start, set the overnight pace at one-under 139 for 36 holes.

England's Luke Donald and Justin Rose and American Steve Stricker were also in the clubhouse just one stroke back on 140.

England's Ian Poulter, one off the lead with four holes to finish when the darkness-halted round resumed Saturday, stumbled with a bogeys at the par-4 16th and 18th to finish on 142 after back-to-back rounds of 71.

Taiwan amateur Pan Cheng-Tsung, showing poise at age 21, was two-under for the round and level par overall after nine holes Friday. He was the closest threat still on the course, one off the lead with with five holes to play.

Americans Charley Hoffman, Jerry Kelly and Michael Kim each returned two shots off the pace but fell back with early bogeys. Kim made his at the fourth and fifth holes, Kelly at the 14th and 15th and Hoffman at 14 and 16.

World number one Tiger Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, stood on 143 in his bid for a record-tying fourth US Open crown.

But Woods has never won any title when over par after 36 holes. Nor has he won a major when he was not in the lead after 54 holes, making his upcoming third round even more crucial.

Among those with Woods just four off the lead were world number two Rory McIlroy, the 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship winner, and South Africa's Ernie Els, a two-time US Open winner and the reigning British Open champion.

Mickelson sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole Friday, his only birdie in a round of 72, to match Horschel for the lead.

"It was a nice way to finish," Mickelson said. "I fought hard to stay in there and hit a lot of good quality shots. Made a bunch of good pars."

Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion who won another major at the 2005 PGA Championship, finished second at the US Open in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009 but appears primed to charge at the title that has so long eluded him.

"It's fun having a chance heading into the weekend," he said. "I'm very excited about the opportunity this weekend."

Horschel fired a 67 on Friday, becoming the first player to reach all 18 greens in regulation in a round at the US Open since the statistic was first kept in 1992.

Viewing all 13989 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images