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Despite conceding a huge deficit on the first innings, reigning champions Dhaka reversed their fate and beat Sylhet by two wickets with a day to spare in the opening match of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 7th National Cricket League at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
   Chittagong also completed the rout of Khulna with an eight-wicket victory and a day in hand in their own backyard while Barisal are battling to avoid a defeat against the hosts at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.
   Dhaka were set a target of 259 to win the match after Sylhet folded their second innings on 164, batting for 53 minutes on the third day having resumed on overnight 126 for 6. Mohammad Rafique took three of the remaining four wickets to return with figures of four for 40 finally. Talha Jubair, who took three wickets on the previous day, followed him scalping the remaining batsman. The nimble national pacer conceded just 21 runs for his four wickets.
   The target looked very simple for Dhaka when Javed Omar and Rashedul Haque plundered 175 runs in the opening pair, but the champions nearly threw away the match due to a horrifying batting of the middle-orders.
   Javed Omar was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his chanceless 92 off 153 balls that included 14 boundaries while his partner Rashedul Haque added 78 runs from 136 balls having enjoyed two dropped catches by Alok Kapali and substitute fielder Rana Miah
   Mehrab Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful continued the momentum for a while until the latter fell foolishly holing out to Imtiaz at backward-point off Enamul, triggering a mini-collapse that almost cost them the match.
   Enamul, the predator of Javed and Ashraful, sent a shiver of cold with three more wickets, which were mainly gifted to him by Sanwar Hossain, Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique, to complete his five-wicket haul for 75 runs.
   One-down Mehrab Hossain (42) hung on for long time until Alok Kapali trapped him lbw minutes after the leg-spinner had removed Sazzad Kadir. However, all hopes of Sylhet for a dramatic win evaporated when number 10 Shahadat Hossain executed an exquisite cover drive for four to steer Dhaka home finally.
   ‘We should have won the match by a bigger margin. But our batsmen threw their wickets unnecessarily,’ Dhaka captain Ashraful admitted later to the reporters. Ashrful also held himself responsible for sparking the collapse.
   At Chittagong, the home side also had to hurry to avoid going into the fourth day, after they were given a target of 41 runs by Khulna to win the match in the remaining seven overs of the day. Chittagong achieved it in 5.3 overs, but lost the wickets of Nafees Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed that denied them a clean sheet.
   Earlier, Khulna improved their batting in the second innings somewhat as they scored 258 runs, after trailing the first inning by 218 runs. National skipper Habibul Bashar notched his second half-century of the match, 54 off 93 balls, but no other batsmen could follow him this time as well.
   Left-arm spinner Illias Sunny scalped four wickets for 42 runs taking his match tally to nine, which helped him win the man-of-the-match award.
   At the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, Barisal managed to confine the hosts to 307 in the first inning, 84 more than them. Their reply in the second innings was also not very bad.
   At the end of the third day, they were reeling at 204 for 5 with skipper Shahriar Nafees biffing 83 runs (94 balls, 10 boundaries) before lofting a catch off Alamgir Kabir, who finished the day with four for 49 runs.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell steered England close to safety with contrasting centuries in the second Test against Pakistan here on Tuesday.
   Ashes hero Pietersen hammered a 137-ball 100 and Bell a watchful 115 as England reached 391-7 in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to Pakistan's 462.
   Ashley Giles (23) and Shaun Udal (six) were the not-out batsmen when bad light stopped play with 12 overs remaining.
   England began the day on a shaky 113-3 before Bell and Pietersen restored their team's fortunes, with each batsman making his second Test century.
   They added 154 for the fourth wicket to deny Pakistan a breakthrough for nearly three hours, batting confidently against both pace and spin on an easy-paced track.
   Pakistan managed to break the stubborn stand with the second new ball, with Shoaib Akhtar having Pietersen caught by Mohammad Yousuf at mid-on off a mistimed pull in the afternoon session.
   But England had already avoided the follow-on mark of 262 when the 25-year-old Pietersen departed after smashing three sixes and six fours.
   Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones then built on the Pietersen-Bell stand, scoring a gutsy 55 for his fifth Test half-century before being trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.
   Pakistan, leading 1-0 in the three-match series, had only themselves to blame for not keeping the pressure on England. They let off Bell twice and Pietersen once.
   Bell, on 38, survived a stumping chance when Kamran Akmal failed to collect the ball off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. He was on 90 when Salman Butt dropped a catch at square-leg off seamer Naved-ul-Hasan.
   Pietersen got a 'life' on 64 when Kaneria failed to judge an uppish but powerfully-struck drive off Afridi.
   Key spinner Kaneria was under pressure after being warned twice by Australian umpire Darrell Hair for running onto the pitch.
   Kaneria, who knows the third and final warning will debar him from bowling in this innings, looked ineffective when he changed ends and bowled round the stumps. He put down 30 wicketless overs for 90 runs.
   Akhtar alone impressed, removing Pietersen and ace all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in the space of 11 runs in a fiery spell.
   There were no nervous 90s for the aggressive Pietersen, who reached his hundred with a hooked six off Akhtar. The next ball was again short, but Pietersen could not time it properly and gave a simple catch.
   Akhtar got another big wicket in his next over when he uprooted Flintoff's middle-stump with a fuller-length delivery after the batsman had made one.
   Bell, who scored only 171 in five Ashes Tests against Australia at home this summer, was in danger of losing his place but was included for the first Test at Multan after skipper Michael Vaughan pulled out due to a knee injury.
   He has made the most of the opportunity, following his first-Test 71 with a disciplined century here. He was caught behind while trying to cut Afridi after hitting seven fours in a 272-ball knock.

Bangladesh national team plays their penultimate warm-up match against Abahani Limited at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 4:00pm today
   as part of their preparation for the SAFF Championship, to be held in Karachi in early December.
   The reigning SAFF champions are scheduled to play another warm-up match against Brothers Union before they depart for Pakistan.
   With just fifteen days to go all the participating teams in the foremost football tournament of the sub-continent, the South Asian Football Federation Championship, are preparing to face the final challenges.
   Title contenders India have appointed former international Syed Nayeemuddin as the national coach and he has called 29 players into his primary camp.
   Star striker Baichung Bhutia, though not in good form, has been called up by Naeemuddin.
   IM Vijayan, the versatile forward, however, was not inducted by Naeem.
   The hosts Pakistan are now in Bahrain to play four practice matches on November 24, 26, 28 and 30.
   Former Bahrain coach Salman Ahmed Sharida, who represented Bahrain at the 7th Asian Games in Tehran in 1974, is the coach of Pakistan national team.
   Pakistan have confirmed the services of Zeshan Rahman, the midfielder of English Premier League side Fulham, and he is expected to join up with the team in Bahrain.
   Sri Lanka’s national soccer team comprising 20 players and four officials are on a tour of Thailand from November 5 to play three games and also to attend a training programme for preparation for the SAFF Championship.
   The Sri Lankan side will be pitted against the Thailand national side and the Thai under-23 outfit as well as a leading club side.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to hold an independent inquiry into the incident involving Shahid Afridi scuffing the pitch on the second day of the second Test against England.
   'Afridi has apologised for his behaviour and he has also been penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.
   ‘But we will hold our own inquiry as it is not an incident in good taste,' PCB Director
   Abbas Zaidi told Reuters on Tuesday.
   All-rounder Afridi has been banned for one Test and two one-day internationals against England after pleading guilty to damaging the pitch.
   The 25-year-old described his actions as a 'moment of madness'.
   'I really don't know what happened or what I was doing out there on the pitch. I know on camera it looked very bad and I feel I have let myself and the team down,' Afridi said.
   'I really regret my actions because I have always played the game in the proper spirit.'
   'I know what I did was a big mistake and it will remain a stigma for me all my life. As a senior member of the Pakistan team I know what my responsibilities are,' he added.
   Match referee Roshan Mahanama found Afridi guilty of a level three breach of the ICC code of conduct and of violating the spirit of the game after the incident which was picked up by television cameras.

Pakistan have complained to cricket's governing body after Inzamam-ul-Haq was controversially run out in Faisalabad.
   According to the rules, Inzamam should not have been given out when England's Steve Harmison hit the stumps because he was taking evasive action.
   Coach Bob Woolmer immediately wrote to match referee Roshan Mahanama.
   And Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan phoned International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani to voice despleasure over the incident.
   A statement from the PCB read, 'The PCB conveyed its concern to the ICC regarding the apparently unlawful dismissal of Inzamam-ul-Haq.’

After two heavy defeats against India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh made a mark finally in the Afro-Asia under-19 tournament when they tore apart Zimbabwe for a nine-wicket victory at Vishakhapatnam on Tuesday.
   Bangladesh bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to only 122 runs, after skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to field first.
   Opening bowler Dollar Mahmud took three wickets for 19 while Mehrab Hossain and Nazmul Hossain returned with two wickets each giving away four and 19 runs respectively.
   Bangladesh rattled up 125 in just 12.4 overs thanks to two whirlpool innings from Tamim Iqbal and Sakib al Hasan
   Left-handed Tamim cracked 12 fours and a six to remain unbeaten on 60 off 46 deliveries while his fellow southpaw Sakib scored 40 off 33 balls. Sakib, who also got a wicket, hammered eight fours.

The first phase of final round of the Nitol-Tata National Football League kicks off at the Khulna Stadium with reigning champions Brothers Union facing local outfit Town Club on Thursday.
   Monzur Hossain Malu, the deputy general secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation and secretary of the organising committee, confirmed from Khulna. 'The local organisers vowed to keep sports out of politics and the matches will be held as per schedule. The opening match will start at 3:00pm on Thursday.'

A run out is when the batters are going for a run or runs, but fall short of the batting crease when the stumps are broken by the fielding team. The batsman must have some part of his bat or body grounded beyond the crease - on the line would be out.
   This is why you see batsmen run that bat along the ground with an outstretched arm in front of them.
   However, controversy struck in England’s second Test match against Pakistan in Faisalabad when Inzamam-ul-Haq was adjudged run out when he raised his back foot avoiding Steve Harmison’s throw at the stumps.
   Under law 38. 2 (a), ‘a batsman is not run out if he has been within his ground and has subsequently left it to avoid injury when the wicket is put down.’
   So that means a batsman cannot be run out when taking evasive action from a throw if he has not left his crease.
   But square leg umpire Darrell Hair referred the decision to third umpire Nadeem Ghauri, who adjudged - wrongly - that Inzamam was out.
   Run-out decisions are always difficult for umpires because it all happens so fast. That is why at the highest level the umpire can choose to refer the decision to the third umpire, who can watch video replays.

The beaten West Indian tourists must be bemused at Australia’s sacking of Michael Clarke after two comprehensive Test victories.
   As the once-great Caribbean team search for ways to become competitive in Test cricket again, the Australians are showing a lack of patience with ‘underperforming’ players.
   Australia crushed the West Indies by 379 runs and nine wickets in Brisbane and Hobart and yet could find no place for one-time golden boy Clarke, who became the fifth player axed in the fall-out to the Ashes loss to England.
   National selectors are showing little sentiment as they toss out players down on form, even though the team is winning easily against the spasmodic tourists.
   Fast bowlers Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz were discarded during the Ashes series in September, but since returning home middle-order batsmen Damien Martyn and Simon Katich have been dumped as selectors seek to rejuvenate an ageing team.
   It was thought 24-year-old Clarke had time on his side and was being tried in Martyn’s No.4 batting spot.
   But since his dazzling Test debut 151 against India in Bangalore in October last year and 141 in his first home Test against New Zealand in Brisbane the following month his form has plateaued.
   In his next 20 innings the right-hander, known by team-mates as Pup, could not raise another Test century. In 20 Test appearances, Clarke scored 1072 runs at 36.96, but since his Brisbane flourish his average has slipped to 24.57.
   Now it’s the turn of Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge to prove their worth at Test level. Hussey was man-of-the-match with his first innings 137 in the Hobart win, while Hodge made a compact 60 on his Test debut.
   When push came to shove and experienced opener Justin Langer was fit again after breaking a rib, it was Clarke and not Hussey or Hodge who made way.
   The West Indies top-six batsmen, criticised for playing in the comfort zone without fear of retribution, have struggled for consistency through this ill-fated Frank Worrell Trophy series, and can only look on and marvel at the depth of Australian cricket to react the way they do.
   The tourists lost batsman Marlon Samuels Tuesday as he returned home to Jamaica because of a knee injury.
   A tour which began promisingly with a career-best 257 in the opening match against Queensland fizzled out in the first two Tests with scores of 5, 17 not out, 5 and 29.
   ‘It is disappointing that I am not able to complete the tour but this is an unfortunate situation and I need to heed the medical advice now so that there is no further damage,’ Samuels said Tuesday.
   He was struck on the knee by a delivery from Australian fast bowler Brett Lee in the first innings of the second Hobart Test.
   Samuels was forced to bat with a runner and was restricted in the second innings but still managed to bat for two hours.
   His departure presents an opportunity for batsman Wavell Hinds or all-rounder Dwayne Smith to come into the side for the third and final Test at Adelaide Oval, starting Friday.

Kevin Pietersen was delighted with his second Test century as England battled back to close within 71 of Pakistan.
   ‘To get a score was a bit of a relief but the way I got them really satisfied me,’ said Pietersen, who made exactly 100 with six fours and three sixes.
   ‘It is difficult. People say it’s a flat wicket but I don’t think you’re ever totally in, especially with the wrist spinners they’ve got.
   ‘Patience is what you need and I was satisfied with the way I got to 100.’
   The way he got out was not so impressive, attempting a repeat of the pull shot for six against Shoaib Akhtar that took him to three figures and spooning a catch to mid-on.
   The Hampshire batsman, asked whether he would take on short-pitched bowling as intensely in future, said: ‘Of course I would.
   ‘It’s the way I play and another day that might go for six, but it skidded on me and that’s just the way it is,’ he remarked.
   Fellow centurion Ian Bell admitted he was surprised to get the opportunity after poor form at the start of the tour.
   He was due to be left out of the first Test but an injury to Michael Vaughan gave him a chance and an innings of 71 secured his place in Faisalabad.
   ‘I didn’t see myself playing much cricket in Pakistan,’ he said. ‘But I tried to make sure I was ready. Now it would be nice to get more big scores.’
   ‘We need to graft away and get as close to their score as we can.’
   The 23-year-old Warwickshire batsman believes England can still have an impact in the match, despite trailing by 71 runs after day three with only three wickets intact.
   ‘Hopefully we can have a good new ball session and put the pressure on Pakistan like they did to us in the first Test.’

Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has signed a one-year contract with English county club Yorkshire where he will join his South Australian captain Darren Lehmann.
   Gillespie, 30, the fifth leading wicket-taker in Australian test history with 251 victims at 26.61 runs each, lost his test place during a disappointing Ashes tour of England this year.
   ‘I am delighted to be given the opportunity to play for Yorkshire,’ Gillespie said in a statement on the club’s official website.
   ‘I am looking forward to the challenges of county cricket and being part of a successful team.’
   In an interview published in the Dec issue of The Wisden Cricketer, Gillespie said he was determined to win his Test place back and take his haul past the 300 mark.
   ‘My goal is 300 wickets but first I’d like to get another over in test cricket,’ he said. ‘Getting 300 is realistic. It would take 10 to 12 tests and I think I can get through that.’

Australian cricket’s fallen golden boy Michael Clarke knows he has to work hard to return to the Test team but is not planning on changing his natural approach.
   Clarke became another victim of the Australian fallout from the loss of the Ashes to England when he was dropped Monday from the Australian team just hours after the nine-wicket win over the West Indies to clinch the series in Hobart.
   Clarke burst into Test cricket on the back of a Test debut 151 against India in Bangalore in October last year and 141 in his first home Test against New Zealand in Brisbane the following month.
   Yet in his next 20 innings the 24-year-old right-hander, known by team-mates as ‘Pup’, has been unable to compile another Test century.
   In 20 Test appearances, Clarke has scored 1,072 runs at 36.96, but since his Brisbane flourish his average has slipped to 24.57.
   ‘I don’t want to change the way I play. I enjoy walking out and being positive and being aggressive,’ Clarke told reporters here Monday in his first comments after his demotion.
   But he conceded he may have to review his shot selection, as suggested by his New South Wales state coach Trevor Bayliss.
   ‘I haven’t had time to reassess to be honest, so I’ll spend the next few days having a look at how my cricket has gone the last 10 months,’ he said.
   ‘There’s not something that stands out to me, so I don’t want to change too much. I’ll have a look and see where I can improve.’
   The 24-year-old right-hander got down to work on Monday to recapture his Test spot.
   ‘I was here at 11 o’clock training,’ Clarke said outside the Sydney Cricket Ground nets. ‘I got straight back into the nets. I know that’s where my work needs to be done.
   ‘If I want to have any chance of getting back into that great Test team I need to work as hard as I can at my game. I need to score as many runs as possible.
   ‘It’s up to me now. I’ve got to continue working and hope that the results will take care of themselves.’
   ‘I’m definitely disappointed but I don’t blame anybody,’ Clarke said.
   ‘I look within and I see my performances aren’t where I would like them to be, so I accept the decision.
   ‘I’ve had plenty of time to perform, to score runs, and I haven’t done that.’
   Clarke is the fifth player to be dropped from Australia’s Ashes-losing test squad in England, joining bowlers Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie and fellow batsmen Damien Martyn and Simon Katich.

England were forced onto the defensive by tight Indian bowling as they slumped to 103-7 in the women’s Test at Delhi.
   The situation would have been even worse but for a patient innings of 37 by Arran Brindle, but she fell to Jhulan Goswami just before the close.
   Goswami claimed 4-16 and was supported well by spinners Nooshin Al-Khadeer and Neetu David, who conceded only 15 runs from a combined total of 31 overs.
   India were bowled out for 289 earlier in the day as Laura Harper took 5-66. It was the Somerset off-spinner’s first five-wicket haul for England in a Test and fully justified her recall to the squad in place of injured Clare Connor.
   The home side only added 48 to their overnight total for the loss of their final five wickets.
   Three of them went to Harper before Jenny Gunn (2-44) ended the innings by bowling number 11 Neetu David.
   England had begun the game in confident mood with four successive one-day wins behind them but an inspired new ball spell from Goswami left their top order in tatters.
   She bowled Laura Newton and skipper Charlotte Edwards for six and 12 respectively and then had Claire Taylor caught behind for five.
   Gunn and Lydia Greenway fell cheaply to medium pacer Rumeli Dhar and at tea, England were in dire straits on 56-5.
   Harper was stumped for 10 following the re-start and although Rosalie Birch provided Brindle with the support she needed in a stand lasting 99 minutes, they were rendered almost strokeless as Al-Khadeer and David strangled the scoring rate.
   Brindle’s two and a quarter hours of resistance was ended by Goswami and although Birch survived to reach 14 not out at the close, England are facing the prospect of a large first innings deficit.

Football legend George Best remains seriously ill in a London hospital Tuesday but is partly conscious and responding to some stimulus, his doctor told reporters.
   ‘He’s alive and his brain is working and he’s partly conscious, so we’re going to go on with all the treatment,’ said Professor Roger Williams outside the private Cromwell Hospital in west London.
   Williams said medics were cautious about recovery and reiterated the 59-year-old former Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger remained ‘desperately ill’.
   ‘He’s as ill as he’s ever been but he’s now responsive off sedation. What we hope over the next 24 hours is that he will recover further so he can come off a ventilator. All other aspects of infection and so on seem to be well controlled,’ he added.

England’s cricketers are hoping to top the charts at Christmas after recording a charity single.
   They have linked up with singer Keedie to perform a new version of Jerusalem, which became the unofficial team anthem during the summer Ashes series.
   They recorded the single, which will be released on 12 December, during the current tour to Pakistan.
   The proceeds will be divided between the Asian earthquake appeal fund and two cricket charities.
   Opening batsman Marcus Trescothick said, ‘We have to keep people aware. It’s five weeks since the quake happened.
   ‘If people aren’t reminded daily or weekly, then the funds won’t come in and the people will not cope with the disaster as well as they could do.’
   Last month Trescothick and captain Michael Vaughan took to the skies in an RAF helicopter to help distribute aid to survivors of the earthquake.
   And the single should help towards the England and Wales Cricket Board’s target of raising £100,000 for the appeal.
   The team, meanwhile, face stiff competition in the battle to reach number one in the charts.
   An all-star version of The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love has just been released as a tribute to the late John Peel, with all money raised going to Amnesty International.
   And The Choirboys - CJ Porter-Thaw, 11, Patrick Aspbury, 12, and Ben Inman, also 12 - are releasing a version of Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven which will benefit the NSPCC.
   Other number one contenders are Westlife’s duet with Diana Ross on When You tell Me that You Love Me, Tony Christie’s cover of Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody and Jingle Bell by Crazy Frog.

Sidelined Australian all-rounder Shane Watson said Tuesday he was aiming for the tour of South Africa to make his comeback from shoulder surgery.
   Watson, 24, said he had begun fitness work following surgery on his dislocated left shoulder suffered in Australia’s first Test victory over the West Indies in Brisbane a fortnight ago.
   He admits he does not know when he will play again and that when he does it will take some time to regain confidence after damaging his shoulder while diving for the ball.
   Watson said Australia’s South African tour starting on February 24 with the first of six one-day internationals was his goal.
   ‘It is looking like two to three months but I don’t know exactly. The doctor was happy with the way the surgery went. I’ll be able to start doing things in the next four or five weeks skills-wise then build it up.’

Roger Federer of Switzerland finished as world No 1 for the second year running in 2005 after winning 11 tournaments, including Wimbledon and the US Open.
   His 100 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings have only been bettered by Jimmy Connors (160 weeks), Ivan Lendl (157) and Pete Sampras (102). French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, who also won 11 tournaments in 2005, finished second, up 49 places from the previous year.
   Andy Roddick of the United States finished third, ahead of Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt. American Andre Agassi’s 7th place meant he had finished in the top ten 16 times in the last 20 years.

Ticketing details for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies will be made public on Wednesday.
   A news conference in Jamaica has been called to reveal prices and information about when tickets will go on sale.
   Cricket World Cup chief executive Chris Dehring said the building of new stadiums and upgrading of related infrastructure was on schedule.
   He told the BBC, ‘Cricket in the Caribbean is a sleeping giant, just waiting to be reawoken.’
   The World Cup, involving 12 teams, will see 51 matches played in a 47-day period from 13 March to 28 April 2007. Eight different Caribbean countries will stage matches and initial estimates put potential revenue for the West Indies Cricket Board at over £54m. And Dehring said everything possible would be done to make it a memorable experience for travelling supporters.
   ‘We are putting in place various mechanisms to make it a little easier for fans to move around the region.
   ‘For instance, we’re working on a one-stop visa to allow fans to be processed once, instead of having to process every time they go through from country to country,’ he explained.
   ‘There’s a tremendous amount of good will by all the various governments. We’ve come together realy well on this project, probably more so than at any other time in our history.’
   Dehring said that although Caribbean people had a reputation for being laid-back, he was ‘absolutely confident’ everything would be ready on time.
   ‘A tremendous amount of activity is taking place in the Caribbean.
   A lot of it may have been planned before but what Cricket World Cup 2007 has done is allow countries to focus on a timeline.
   ‘It has been a really great catalyst for development in the region,’ he added.

Sania Mirza unexpectedly ended the press conference when journalists in Kochi repeatedly asked Sania Mirza her response to the pre marital remarks made by Tamil star Khushboo and Suhasini on Sunday.
   Movie star Mohonlal was also present in the conference as the brand ambassador of Malabar Group of companies, a jewelry group who are eying a commercial complex venture in Kerala.
   Sania Mirza who already made her point on the issue at Hindustan Times summit started the press meet by saying, ‘I am here as the brand ambassador of Malabar Gold.
   ‘So please restrict to yourselves to the subject. I am here to answer questions only on Malabar gold.’
   She then requested journalists not to ask any personal questions.
   But when the controversial question on pre marital sex was eventually raised by the media the 19-year-old Sania Mirza said she already had issued an open press statement, the statement contains all that I wanted to say on the subject, If you have not seen (the statement), it is not my problem.’
   Visibly displeased tennis star Sania Mirza then even refused to talk about her future in tennis and walked out of the press conference.

Premiership giants Chelsea and Liverpool will be eyeing a spot in the Champions League knockout round today as Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Glasgow Rangers and Schalke 04 also target qualification.
   The Merseysiders lead Group G with ten points after four games and a draw would be enough to seal the title-holder’s place with a game to spare against third-placed Real Betis at Anfield.
   Betis, however, defeated Chelsea last month and, if they can repeat that feat, Liverpool would find themselves having to avoid defeat at Chelsea next month to be sure of progressing.
   Liverpool are hoping Luis Garcia, who scored in the 2-0 win over Betis in Seville in September, and fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso will both be fit.
   Garcia suffered a hip injury in Saturday’s Premiership win over Portsmouth and Alonso was also substituted, because of a knee problem.
   ‘Both came off as precautions,’ Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez said.
   ‘They couldn’t continue the match but they should be fine for Wednesday.’
   Chelsea lie second, three points behind Liverpool, and want to get back to winning ways at Anderlecht, who have lost their last eleven games in the competition.
   Chelsea have not won away from home in Europe in over a year and their last defeat to Real Betis sparked suggestions that Jose Mourinho’s side were heading for a slump.
   Victory for Chelsea will almost certainly assure them of a place in the knockout phase although Liverpool remain favourites to finish top of the group.
   But Mourinho remains confident the Premiership champions can win the group.
   ‘Our destiny is in our own hands,’ said Mourinho. ‘I still think we can win the group if we win our last two matches.’
   A win over Artmedia Bratislava would see Group H leaders Inter Milan advance at the San Siro.
   The Italians have nine points from their four matches played, four more than the Slovakian champions and Glasgow Rangers.
   Rangers could, however, become the first Scottish club to qualify from the group stages. If the Scottish champions beat 2004 winners FC Porto, while Inter Milan defeat Artmedia Bratislava, they will qualify alongside the Italians.
   Alex McLeish remains hopeful his team can repeat the success of their 3-2 win over Porto at Ibrox earlier in the competition, although he still faces the axe as his side have failed to win in five games and Saturday’s loss to Celtic leaves them 15 points behind their rivals.
   ‘We are going to have to regroup and we must keep fighting as we can’t afford to quit,’ said McLeish.
   ‘We still have a good chance of going through as the whole group is open and we can still have European football to look forward to after Christmas.’
   But he will be without star striker Dado Prso who limped off Saturday with a hamstring injury, joining Thomas Buffel, Nacho Novo, Federico Nieto, Julien Rodriguez and Olivier Bernard, also on the sidelines for the Porto game.
   Porto, meanwhile, warmed up with a 5-1 win against Academica on Saturday.
   Dutch giants PSV top Group E on seven points and know victory over Schalke in Gelsenkirchen will see them qualify, and even a draw could be enough if AC Milan defeat Fenerbahce of Turkey in the other group game.
   PSV, last year’s semi-finalist, have yet to score away from home in Europe this season but a 4-4 draw with RKC Waalwijk at the weekend showed their prowess in front of goal.
   The Dutch have won just one of their last 16 European ties in Germany but manager Guus Hiddink has fond memories having led Eindhoven to 1988 European Cup glory with a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Benfica in Stuttgart.
   Schalke are level with Milan on five points in one of the tightest groups, with Fenerbahce one point behind.
   The German league and cup runners-up have never reached the knockout phase of this competition, although this is only their second appearance, but victory over Eindhoven would give them a great chance of making history.
   Group F sees a battle between already-qualified Real Madrid and Lyon at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Spaniards gunning to end their opponents’ unbeaten record and avenge their 3-0 defeat in France earlier in the campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Monday he was forced to ditch Roy Keane for the long-term good of Manchester United.
   The United boss broke his silence on Keane’s dramatic exit by revealing the ‘horrible’ decision he had to make in axing his skipper after 12 years together at Old Trafford.
   Fergie’s admission contradicted United’s claim that Keane had left by ‘mutual consent’ and confirmed the 34-year-old was sacked because he had become a liability.
   ‘Players do get older, and that’s the horrible part when you’ve been the manager at this club for a long time,’ said Fergie.
   ‘It’s always sad when a player departs the scene of his triumphs, but football doesn’t stand still. We parted company in a decision we considered in the best interests of club and player. You see your great players get older and you have to make changes quicker than other clubs, because the demands of our club are so great.
   ‘Hopes are high and the expectation is great. So when we make moves, it’s not for any other reason than to get better and keep this club at the top.
   ‘That’s the great thing about this club. We are always trying to improve and we’re always trying to identify where we can be better.
   ‘We’ve been trying for the last couple of years to build a new team, and I think there’s plenty of evidence of that.
   ‘We won the Champions League in 1999, but you know that can’t last forever.’
   According to The Daily Telegraph, ‘Privately, Ferguson has told friends he is deeply saddened by the way their relationship ended.’
   United face a must-win game against Villarreal at Old Trafford on Tuesday. If United lose and Lille beat Benfica, Fergie’s men will fail to make the knockout stage for the first time in 11 years.
   But Fergie insisted he was not contemplating anything other than victory and called on United’s players and fans to put the trauma of Keane’s departure behind them. ‘I know Roy would be the first to agree we must focus on the Villarreal match as a crucial moment in our bid to reach the knockout stage,’ said Fergie.
   ‘It’s important our concentration is on the game itself because it’s such a vital game for the club. It’s always a must-win game here at United.
   ‘The great quality our fans have is that’s it’s not just about today, it’s about the whole history of our club and of our supporters.
   ‘You go back to four or five decades. It’s not by accident that when we lost the team in the Munich disaster of 1958, there was a phoenix on the club badge for the cup final. This club rises all the time. And go back to 1990, when everyone was predicting my demise. Not one person here could name the team we played against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup because we had that many injuries.
   ‘But the fans weren’t injured. The fans made sure we won that game, and that’s the kind of fans we have. They will rise to every challenge and they’ll do so again against Villarreal.’
   Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as United skipper on Tuesday and Fergie revealed Keane’s permanent successor would come from him, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
   ‘We’ve had a fantastic response from Ruud,’ said Fergie. ‘I think Paul Scholes was delighted someone else took the armband because I don’t think he enjoyed being captain. So at the moment I’m very happy with Ruud. He’s experienced, his demeanour is excellent and his professionalism is superb, so we’re very happy for him to continue.
   ‘Obviously when Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs come back I’ll have an interesting decision to make, but I don’t think it will be a monumental decision.
   ‘Ryan has worn the armband many times before when Roy wasn’t available. I think it’s only right that players who have been with us for such a long time are rewarded with the captaincy.
   ‘Then you have Gary, who has been a great servant here. He’s a loyal man and a very emotional and enthusiastic character and he has different qualities to the others. So who’s to say we won’t get a captain out of one of those three? I think they’d all love to be captain.’

For English champions Chelsea, a club that harbours ambitions for soccer domination lasting 100 years, the World Cup next June will be a valuable publicity exercise.
   The London side, with grand plans to wrest popularity and marketing power from the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, AC Milan and Barcelona, will have a real chance to show off in Germany where 16 of their squad will compete.
   Of first-team regulars only Damien Duff of Ireland and Iceland's Eidur Gudjohnsen will be taking early holidays next June while team-mates battle in 10 different national sides to earn the ultimate soccer accolade.
   Since Russian billionaire oil magnate Roman Abramovich bought the club, wiping out some 80 million pounds ($137 million) of debt and ploughing 300 million into players, Chelsea's ambitions have increased exponentially.
   In the preface to a recent history detailing 100 years of Chelsea, the Russian revealed something of his vision of worldwide dominance for the club, who won their first title since 1955 in his second season in charge.
   'Of course, it's 50 years since our last title and I know that everybody at the club will be working hard to ensure that we won't have to wait that long again,' he wrote.
   'I hope to carry this forward in the true blue tradition of Chelsea but also to build even stronger foundations to last us for the next hundred years.'
   Abramovich's unparalleled buying power has understandably prompted envy but also fears that Chelsea's wealth will skew competition at home and in Europe, inflating transfer costs and player prices.
   Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter has had a go. While avoiding naming Chelsea directly last month, he accused owners of the world's richest clubs of 'wild-west style capitalism' fuelled by 'pornographic amounts of money' that gave the wealthy minority control of the game.
   Chelsea have also suffered a cold shoulder from Europe's top clubs, who voted again last week to exclude the West London 'arrivistes' from the G14 pressure group of elite sides.
   'We have the stature to be there - as member of G14 - but for whatever reason we are not. It is one of those things,' chief executive Peter Kenyon said.
   Kenyon is the key mover in Chelsea's plans to become the most popular football brand worldwide.
   Abramovich poached him from Manchester United, whose profile he raised enormously in Asia and America through the team's domestic and European success - and David Beckham.
   Under Kenyon, Chelsea have changed shirt sponsor to Samsung in an 11-million-pound deal, looking at building a fan base in China where the South Korean electronics firm is a big force.
   China has a huge potential market. Kenyon says he is also targeting the US as well as Russia because the Abramovich factor is turning many Russians into Chelsea fans.
   Kenyon says his plans provide for the team to become self-sustaining within five years, no longer needing to rely on Abramovich's handouts.
   Part of his strategy is to make Chelsea's name synonymous with London, as a springboard to spreading the brand elsewhere. It is an ambition understandably scorned by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and the capital's other clubs.
   Chelsea, he says, were the first club to throw support behind London's ultimately successful 2012 Olympic bid, are based at the right (west) end of one of the top three cities in the world and have the right profile to attract floating overseas support.
   Though traditionally underachievers, Chelsea have enjoyed a fashionable image, epitomised by the trend-setting team of the 1960s and early 70s who won the FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup but were almost as famous for their flowing locks, paisley kipper ties and night-clubbing antics along the King's Road.
   At the end of the last century Ruud Gullit brought sexy football - and trophies - to Stamford Bridge, a trend continued by suave Italian striker-turned-manager Gianluca Vialli.
   The league title eluded Chelsea, however, until Abramovich brought in coach Jose Mourinho. The 42-year-old Portuguese fits Chelsea's image, his glowering good looks and confidence putting the swagger back in the club.
   Mourinho's side won the title by a 12-point canter last season and are nine points clear already this term. Continued success is vital to Kenyon's plans.
   'The success on the field is what drives business off the field,' he said, adding that pressure to succeed was immense.
   Last season's title has fuelled Kenyon's push for glory. British newspapers say retailers report Chelsea shirts are outselling Manchester United's by four to one.
   For Chelsea really to compete with the other world soccer heavyweights, however, success must soon include the European Cup. Mourinho won it with Porto; Chelsea have been knocked out in the semi-finals for the last two years.
   A couple of Champions League hiccups over the last few weeks, including defeat at Real Betis, have made qualification tougher with Chelsea, Liverpool and Betis in the running for two places. Wednesday's tie away at Anderlecht looks crucial to the Chelsea master-plan.

Eric Cantona has revealed his anger at Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United - and says he would not be boss at Old Trafford now for £70 million.
   In the aftermath of Roy Keane's departure, Old Trafford legend Cantona admitted he fears for United's future and vowed never to work for American tycoon Glazer, whose sons Avi, Joel and Bryan arrived in Manchester Monday.
   Cantona, recently voted the Premiership's greatest-ever player, has talked of his desire to return to Old Trafford as manager when Sir Alex Ferguson's reign ends.
   But the Frenchman revealed his hatred for everything United's new owners stand for.
   'Glazer could pay me a 100 million Euros to be manager and I still wouldn't go there,' said Cantona.
   'I don't think Glazer knows the game, I don't think he is passionate about the game. I don't think he loves the game.
   'I love Manchester United too much, the identity and philosophy of Manchester United. I still have Manchester United in my heart.
   'But because Glazer is a human being, he will die and Manchester United will still be there. I will die and Manchester United will be there.
   'Glazer is nothing in comparison with Manchester United. I love the club but I don't like it with him in charge.
   'I don't like this kind of people who are involved in the game. I will fight in whatever way to get Glazer out of this club.' Although the Glazers have promised Fergie significant funds to strengthen in the New Year, Cantona doubted they would provide enough backing to secure top players like Germany captain Michael Ballack.
   'Manchester United is not like Chelsea and Roman Abramovich,' he said.
   'They don't need one man. Manchester United is stronger than anybody in the world.'
   Cantona, speaking in Dubai to promote Beach Soccer, added, 'I love it when the United fans still sing my name. But now they should sing 'Cantona for chairman, we want Cantona as the new chairman of Manchester United!'
   The Glazer brothers will be at United's vital Champions League clash with Villarreal tonight, and were briefed on Monday by chief executive David Gill on Keane's departure and other issues at the club.

Football legend Diego Maradona, in a slimmer version of himself after getting his stomach stapled, has caught the attention of a beautiful model.
   The 43-year-old Argentine superstar, who had to undergo the surgery to recover from health problems linked to his cocaine abuse, has caught the eye of gorgeous model Silvina Luna when they met on a TV show, according to a report.
   'He loved her curves and they have been dating ever since', said a friend of the World Cup champion. 'Now he is really smitten.'

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that the next three months are 'crucial' in his bid to persuade Thierry Henry to stay at the club.
   Henry's contract expires in 2007 and he has refused to discuss a new deal until next year as he wants to see the ambition and progress of the Gunners.
   The Frenchman has previously made it clear that he wants to end his career at the north London club, but with Barcelona in the shadows, he wants to see Arsenal compete in the Premiership and Champions League.
   'I feel he deeply loves this club and wants us to be successful but the next three months will be crucial as they'll tell us how far we'll go,' said Wenger.
   'I'm not fool enough to say we will win the European Cup while we are still at the group stages but we have already qualified for the next round and I know that in February we will be much better than we are today.'
   Meanwhile, former Arsenal man Giovanni van Bronckhorst would like to link up with Henry again at the Nou Camp. He told The Sun, 'Thierry is a phenomenal player - I know how good because I used to train with him everyday.
   'He is very special and I think he can compete with the strikers we have. We have a great squad and if Thierry comes here he will make it even stronger.
   'He is definitely a player we could use but it's up to him to decide whether he wants to go or if he wants to stay.'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has indicated that national anthems could be scrapped before international games in an effort to reduce crowd trouble.
   In an interview with Switzerland's 'Schweizer Illustrierte' magazine, Blatter also said neutral venues might be better suited for high-profile playoff matches.
   Blatter's comments follow last Wednesday's World Cup playoff in Istanbul between Turkey and Switzerland which began with Turkish fans whistling over the Swiss national anthem and ended with a brawl in the players' tunnel.
   The Turkish team had earlier complained about Swiss fans whistling over their national anthem during the first leg of the playoff in Bern.
   'I consider this whistling to be extremely disrespectful and of course disparaging to national pride,' Blatter told the magazine.
   'I am asking myself whether it even makes sense to play the national anthems. We will at least consider (not playing them).
   'We could also insist that the teams shake hands after the match. We cannot have the situation where the winning team is unable to celebrate but must instead sprint off the pitch like thieves.'
   FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told Reuters on Tuesday that Blatter's comments were personal suggestions and no formal discussions about national anthems had yet been scheduled.
   Herren added that any such proposals would probably not be considered until after FIFA's disciplinary committee delivers its verdict on the events in Istanbul.
   Although Blatter said last week the committee would be reporting back before the World Cup draw on December 9, FIFA now says that is unlikely.
   'There are a high number of people to be questioned about what happened in Istanbul, something like 30 people in all,' Herren said.
   'The investigation will probably not be completed by December 9 because it will require a lot of time and resources.'

Germany captain Michael Ballack has reportedly been in talks with Real Madrid over a move next June when his contract with Bayern Munich runs out.
   His agent Michael Becker revealed as much when he said Tuesday, 'We haven't reached an agreement.'
   English Premiership side Manchester United had been reported to be ready to offer the playmaker a 25 million pound, four-year deal but Real would be the first club to have made an approach.
   However, Ballack himself said last week he would only open talks in the January transfer window when FIFA rules allowed him to.
   'Michael has not yet decided what he will do next season,' Becker said.

Coca-Cola have signed up as the fourth major sponsor of world soccer's ruling body for the 2007-2014 rights period, with a possible renewal until 2022 in a deal worth $500 million, the company and FIFA said on Tuesday.
   Coca-Cola joins Adidas, Hyundai and Sony in FIFA's top tier of sponsors. Two further FIFA partners will be announced soon.
   'Overall the value over the 16-year period comes ... to something that will measure up to about $500 million,' Coca-Cola chairman and CEO Neville Isdell told Reuters at a signing ceremony in Cape Town.
   The US-based soft drinks company said it intended to extend its partnership with FIFA until 2022, signing a 16-year agreement that involves the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
   The deal also includes finance for youth championships and the Womens' Soccer World Cup and it will also fund a 28-country tour of the World Cup trophy.

Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has been forced to prepare his under-fire squad for today's make-or-break Champions League encounter with French champions Lyon against a background chorus calling for his head.
   Fabio Capello, who led Real to a league title nine years ago in his only season in charge before heading back for Italy, and former Lyon coach Paul Le Guen, who has taken a sabbatical, are the favourites to replace the Brazilian.
   Bayern Munich play-maker Michael Ballack, whose contract at Bayern Munich expires next June, was said to be in talks and Real were believed to be lining up Arsenal's Ashley Cole as a possible replacement Roberto Carlos.

U-20 booters play in Iran today
Bangladesh National U-20 Football team will play their away match of the AFC U-20 Cup against Iran in Tehran today. The match is scheduled to start at 4:00pm Bangladesh time. According to a BFF message, all the members of the team are well but will have to fight the chill as the temperature drops to 6/7 degree Celsius in the evening.
— New Age

BOA chief meets Chinese officials
Bangladesh Olympic Association has asked China for providing specialised coaches for shooting, swimming, athletics and weightlifting. The president of BOA, Lt General Moeen U Ahmed, had a discussion with two consellors of the Chinese Embassy, Loui Sanjen and Gen Gui Fen, at the embassy office on Tuesday. The BOA president also requested them to arrange an 18-month scholarship for two shooters for the preparation of the next Olympics. The BOA chief ordered to make necessary arrangements for warm water in the Army swimming pool for the convenience of the swimmers, who are attending the SA Games camp.
— New Age

India-SA 3rd ODI washed out
Heavy rain and a water-logged ground forced the third one-dayer between India and South Africa to be abandoned without a ball being bowled here on Tuesday. The incessant rain over the past two days soaked the Chidambaram stadium and umpires Daryl Harper and Krishna Hariharan called off play 45 minutes after the scheduled start time of 2.30 pm (0900 GMT) as the weather showed no signs of clearing. With no provision for a reserve day, the five-match series remains locked at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match in Hyderabad by five wickets and India drew level with a six-wicket win in Bangalore. India’s success ended South Africa’s 20-match unbeaten streak just one victory short of Australia’s world record of 21 consecutive wins. The remaining two matches will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday and the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai next Monday.
— AFP

Chesnokov out of hospital after shooting
Russia’s former tennis player Andrei Chesnokov, who was shot twice on Sunday after a dispute in a bar in Ukraine, was discharged from hospital on Monday, local sports officials said. ‘He has already left hospital and returned home to Moscow,’ sports association chairman Anatoly Kosyi told Reuters from the central Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk. Chesnokov had successful surgery earlier in the day to remove rubber bullets. ‘His life is out of danger and he is expected to make a full recovery,’ Kosyi added. Chesnokov, 39, was shot twice in the stomach in the early hours of Sunday following an argument in one of the bars in Dnipropetrovsk. Local police said they had detained an individual suspected of the shooting.
— Reuters