The Nation : Sports News

Have some pity on cricket, PCB!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � After watching the abysmal performance of the senior Pakistani batsmen against the Kiwis on Monday night in Abu Dhabi, there is one question that arises in the mind of every cricket-lover in the country: why is Younus Khan still leading the team, despite it being almost a fact that he doesn�t deserve a place in the starting eleven ,at least in ODIs.
Younus already inflicted damage on his team in the Champions Trophy with his ridiculous catch drop at a crucial stage

Inactive federations big worry for lawmakers

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � The Senate Standing Committee on Sports criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and national sports federations on the declining standard of sports in the country and decided to summon Ijaz Butt, chairman PCB, in the first week of December 2010.
The House met Tuesday here at Parliament House with Senator Abdul Ghafar Qureshi (PML-Q) in the chair and also formed a three-man sub committee to present a report in the House till December 15 regarding the performance of

Safin tells Agassi to return titles and prize money

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

PARIS (AFP) � Russian tennis star Marat Safin has criticised Andre Agassi for the American�s recent admission that he took drugs in the 1990s and encouraged him to hand back his titles and prize money.
Agassi, 39, won eight Grand Slam titles and earned over 30 million dollars during his career but revealed in his autobiography that he failed a drug test for crystal meth in 1997 and lied about it to escape a suspension.
His revelation was met with shock in tennis circles and

Davydenko through in Paris, closer to London

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

PARIS (AFP) � Russia�s Nikolay Davydenko eased into the third round at the Paris Masters by beating Germany�s Benjamin Becker on Tuesday and took a step closer to securing an ATP World Tour Finals place in the process.
The sixth seed prevailed 6-2, 6-1 to set up a meeting with either Croatia�s Ivo Karlovic or ninth seed Robin Soderling of Sweden, who is one of Davydenko�s rivals for a spot in the year-ending tournament in London. With six of the world�s top players already

Islamabad restrict Rawalpindi in Quaid Trophy

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � Rawalpindi managed 218 for 8 on the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy cricket match against Islamabad here at Diamond Club Ground on Tuesday. The first day was washed out.
Hosts Islamabad decided to field first after winning the coin�s battle at wet surface and skipper Rauf Akbar got two wickets at total of 12 runs by the start of the innings. Later, Adnan Mufti (79) and Naveed Ashraf (48) saved their team Rawalpindi from a big disaster.
Rawalpindi were 218

Zaheer back for India against Lanka

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

MUMBAI (AFP) � Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan was on Tuesday included in India�s squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka after being sidelined for five months with a shoulder injury.
The selectors also recalled temperamental fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth in a 15-man squad for the first two Tests of the three-match series, which opens in Ahmedabad on Monday.
Khan, 31, who injured his left shoulder during the Indian Premier League in May, proved his fitness during a

PSB plans dope tests ahead of SA Games

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ISLAMABAD � Pakistani boxers and weightlifters would probably undergo dope tests before visiting Dhaka for the 11th South Asian Games 2010, scheduled to be rolled off from January 29 in the capital city of Bangladesh.
Chairman Anti Doping Organisation of Pakistan (ADOP) Dr. Waqar Ahmed told �TheNation� here Tuesday that Pakistan had to give back two gold medals of the 10th South Asian Games 2006 that were held at Colombo after positive dope test of two athletes. �Our two boxers

Former cricketers urge Zardari to intervene

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

LAHORE � Former Test cricketers and captains have asked the PCB chief patron to spare some tine to intervene in the falling standard of the game before its too late.
Former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail said that the chief patron should also spare some thoughts for the game and take note of the poor performance of the team in the series against New Zealand and those held earlier.
He said that Pakistan won just the T20 World Cup and other than that, they have lost series

PFF asks AFC to allot one int'l event

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

LAHORE � The Pakistan Football Federation has requested the Asian Football Confederation not to ignore Pakistan in its 2010-11 calendar and allot it an international tournament.
Talking to journalists here, President PFF Faisal Saleh Hayat said that it was unfortunate that due to security concern teams are not coming to Pakistan and major events are being shifted from here but still the Pakistan football is on the rise and its performance is improving. �The standard of football

NZ & China remain unbeaten in WC hockey qualifiers

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

KARACHI � Favourite New Zealand and challengers China remained unbeaten in the league round of the six nation men�s World Hockey Cup qualifiers on Tuesday in Invarcargill, New Zealand, according to information received here.
In the third of the five league round competition which will throw up one qualifier for the main round at New Delhi next year, New Zealand, ranked 8th in the world, defeated 16th ranked Malaysia 4-2 after leading 2-1 at half time.
13th ranked China beat

Ajmal's best restricts New Zealand to 211

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

ABU DHABI (AFP) � Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took a career-best 4-33 to help Pakistan dismiss New Zealand for 211 in 46.3 overs in the third and final day-night international here on Monday.
The 32-year-old initially put brakes on New Zealand, who won the toss and batted, before triggering a middle-order collapse which saw seven wickets falling in the space of 47 runs.
Brendon McCullum, who scored a brilliant hundred in New Zealand�s 64-run win in the second match on Friday,

PCB wants short series with India in near future

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

LAHORE � The Pakistan Cricket Board is looking for a short series against India at a neutral venue, most probably in England, before a complete series being planned for next year. The cricket boards of the two countries are looking for an opening in their busy schedules to plan a short series ahead of a full bilateral series which is likely next year provided the governmnents in Islamabad and New Delhi allow it to happen.
However, the way the intelligence agencies across the

Abrar, Strings to perform ahead of T20 matches in UAE

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

DUBAI � Two Pakistani music figures - Abrar-ul-Haq and Strings- have been invited by the hosts to entertain the fans ahead of the Cool & Cool Cup Twenty20 Internationals between world champions Pakistan and New Zealand later week.
Abrar will perform ahead of the first match at the Dubai Stadium on Thursday, November 12.
Strings will play before the second encounter, which will take place on Friday, November 13.
Dubai Sports City General Manager Sports Business Maqbul

Fergie fumes at referee after Chelsea defeat

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

LONDON (AFP) � Sir Alex Ferguson launched a furious attack on referee Martin Atkinson after his decison to award a controversial free-kick sent Manchester United crashing to a 1-0 defeat by title rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
Atkinson ruled that Darren Fletcher�s 76th minute challenge on Ashley Cole was worthy of a foul even though the Scot appeared to win the ball and, from the resulting Frank Lampard set-piece, John Terry headed in the winner.
Ferguson�s side are now five

Preempters win in grand style

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0300

LAHORE � The 13th Balijee Bridge Championship held at the bridge tables of Lahore Gymkhana from November 6 to November 9 brought together the best bridge players of the country.
With the top ones competing, visible was an exotic mix of intelligent play, control and strong moves and one can safely say that the ultimate victors, the Preemptors comprising Jahangir Ahmad, Izzat Khalil, Anisur Rehman, Shahab Sarki, Farrukh Liaquat and Junaid Said turned in consistent play in the last