lahiri 2 off lead, Jeev misses cut
Crans Montana: Finishing blues saw Anirban lahiri slip down the leader-board but he was still only two shots behind the leader, while Jeev Milkha Singh missed the cut after the second round of the Omega European Masters at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre here. lahiri, who shot eight-under 63 in the first round, hit a double bogey on 16th and slid down. He was two-under through 15 holes in second round and in shared lead, when a double bogey on the par-three 16th cost him heavily. He finished the second round at even-par 71 and a total of eight-under, the same as first day. But he slipped from first to eighth, as veteran Thomas Bjorn (66) and Stephen Gallacher (65) were in tied first place at 10-under.
‘We don’t underestimate any team’
Kathmandu: They may have tasted success in their their last two outings against Maldives, but Indian football coach Wim Koevermans said ahead of their SAFF Cup semifinal against the islanders that underestimating a team was not in his nature. “That is past. We need to lie in the present. We don’t underestimate any team and won’t ever underestimate any,” Koevermans said. The Dutchman stressed on the importance of recovery of players in such a hectic schedule. “It’s a difficult schedule. But I’m still not happy with the quality of the practice ground,” he said at the official media interaction. “Everyone is available for the semifinal against Maldives,” he added.
Pak beat Zimbabwe by 221 runs
Harare: Pakistan removed nine Zimbabwe batsmen on the final morning to convincingly win the first test by 221 runs as the host crumbled to 120 all out at Harare Sports Club on Saturday. Spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman had four wickets each to rip the heart out of Zimbabwe’s batting lineup, which came nowhere near the 342 it needed to win on the final day. Zimbabwe lasted just 46.4 overs in its second innings and lost 9-107 on the last day to slump to a heavy defeat after holding the upper hand in the early part of the match following its first-innings score of 327. Brief Scores: Pakistan: 249 & 419/9 dec (Younis 200 no, Akmal 64) beat Zimbabwe: 327 & 120 (Ajmal 4/23, Rehman 4/36) by 221 runs.
‘manage time to avoid burn out’
Bangalore: Considering the grand success of the inaugural IBl that has put a halo around Indian badminton, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal says the franchise-based meet should be held in such a way from next year onward that players don’t miss out on any other major tournament due to burnout. “Playing in a long tournament like the Indian Badminton league, players of course will get a little tired. We need to manage time or whatever, but this will happen slowly. “From next year of course myself and IBl organisers will find a way so that we don’t get tired and are able to play in all tournaments,” Saina told reporters after the launch of Yonex-Sunrise Store here on Saturday.
Relief for Shetty in MCA ban case
Mumbai: In a relief to BCCI’s game development officer Ratnakar Shetty, a civil court here today stayed the Mumbai Cricket Association’s five-year ban on him. Shetty, who has served MCA in various capacities over the last three decades, was banned by the association for alleging that some office-bearers of MCA might be involved in black marketing of tickets of India-Pakistan T20 international played at Ahmedabad on December 28 last year. MCA imposed the ban on June 3 after giving Shetty an opportunity to hear the voice recording of his allegations levelled at the association’s AGM of March 22.
PCB incurs huge loss
Karachi: India’s refusal to play a bilateral series has incurred the Pakistan Cricket Board a loss of atleast $1.6 million. According to the budgetary documents, the PCB has to repay an amount of $1.6 million to the Dubai-based broadcaster, Taj Entertainment Network since there was no bilateral series with India in their last agreement. “India has not agreed to tour Pakistan or even play against us at a neutral venue since the Mumbai attacks and this is costing the PCB big revenues,” a PCB official said. He said the issue was not only repaying Ten Sports but also of the fact that any series against India would generate around $60 to 70 million for the PCB at any given time.
‘Athletes require full time coach’
Ranchi: Champion in the 400m hurdles R Elavarasi on Saturday said that an athlete requires a full time coach and sponsor to match the feats achieved by sprint legend P T Usha. “(OM) Nambiar sir totally devoted on Usha didi’s training, overseeing her food requirements to training facilities. He fully focused on her training,” Elavarasi said after winning a gold medal in the 53rd National Open Athletics Championships here.
Younis wants to be in ODI team too
Karachi: Reiterating that he hasn’t retired from One-day cricket, senior Pakistan batsman Younis Khan today said he wants to play for the country in limited-over matches as well. “I have not retired from one-day internationals and I want to play in this form of the game but the selectors are not giving me this opportunity,” Younis told a news channel after Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs at Harare on Saturday. PNS/Agencies