Sports

The Ashes series under way has so far provided a fascinating see-saw battle between the over-a-century old cricketing rivals. It was difficult to predict the final outcome before the series. It has become even harder to name the winner midway through the Test matches.
The obvious and much cited reason is that Australia's replacement players have proved unable to fill the shoes of their illustrious predecessors. Their performances lack consistency and are more often than not much

Every once in a while a player grabs the ink-pot and the paper being used by those in charge of the Heavens and writes his own script. Mitchell Johnson moved not just his lips to intimidate the English batsmen at Perth but, more importantly, the ball. The Western Australian desert winds themselves might have been surprised by the dance that the ball leaving Johnson's hands did in the air.
Similarly, Mike Hussey reminded everyone of the qualities that earned him the name of Mr

LAHORE - Lahore Gymkhana Club beat Pioneer Club by one wicket on the last ball of a friendly match here at the Bagh-I-Jinnah ground on Saturday. Pioneer scored 160 all out in 35 overs.
Opener Nadeem Butt made 70, Kh Abid 30, Gul Khan 30 while Hamza Ali took three wickets for 32 runs and Khawaja Maqsood had five wickets for 38 runs. In reply Lahore Gymknana achieved the target in 34.5 overs for the loss of nine wickets. Asim scored 41, Hamza 31 while Ali Raza took 3 for 40 and

LAHORE: Pakistan's suspended Test captain Salman Butt could face a seven-year ban and teammates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer could get two-year bans if charges are proven against them in the next month's hearing of the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal in Doha. Reports from ICC sources say that case against Butt was strong and he could likely be banned and slapped heavy financial penalty. Reports of his ban has come at a time when Aitzaz Ahsan, a leading lawyers, withdrew from the

KARACHI: The newly-appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Subhan Ahmed, has said that inclusion of former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal among the 30 probables for World Cup depends upon the submission of some documents. "The PCB has asked them to submit the documents about their assets and bank accounts by Dec 30 to be considered in the list of probables for the World Cup 2011," he said at the National Stadium here on

LAHORE: Discarded Test fast bowler Muhammad Sami been handed a ban for one match and fine of Rs 10,000 for excessive appealing during a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in Karachi. This is the second time Sami was slapped with fine and ban in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament. The penalty has been enforced for excessive appealing.
Sami, who was earlier handed a penalty of match fees of two ties by the Karachi City Cricket Association for a brawl with teammate Atif Maqbool

WELLINGTON: New Zealand face Pakistan in a Twenty20 international at Auckland's Eden Park on Sunday to launch the series. Pakistan boasts the better form going into the series -- which features three Twenty20 matches, two Tests and six one-dayers -- after drawing two Tests and narrowly losing a one-day series 2-3 against South Africa. New Zealand, meanwhile, are aiming to rebuild under new coach John Wright after losing their last 11 one-day matches -- including series whitewashes

LAHORE: Pakistan's prolific middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf has signed a contract with Mohammedan Sporting Club to play in Bangladesh's Premier Division Cricket League. The club will be defending its title and is now looking towards Yousuf for help after their overseas player from Sri Lanka Farveez Mahroof returned home after sustaining injured.
The 36-year old right-hander has so far played 90 Tests and 288 ODIs for Pakistan and he would be part of the playing XI in their

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has said Jonathan Woodgate could go out on loan in a bid to boost the defender's recovery from a longstanding groin injury. But he was adamant Luka Modric would not be going anywhere despite reports Premier League champions Chelsea were interested in the Croatia playmaker.
Former Real Madrid centre-back Woodgate returned to training this week after more than a year out of action. Redknapp reckons the 30-year-old could return to

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan blind cricket team on Friday white-washed the Nepali blind cricket team by winning last of the three one-day matches by nine wickets here at Shalimar cricket ground. A hat-trick by all rounder Yasir Andleeb and a sparkling half century by captain Arsaln were the highlights of the match. Set a target of 198 by Nepali cricket team which batted first, the target was overhauled by the hosts in only 15.1 overs.Pakistan captain remained not out with 79 runs and Munawwar

KARACHI: A three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee recommended that the Board seek more information from Haider because it is unclear why the wicketkeeper quit the team and left the United Arab Emirates for London. The committee has been told that wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who had sought asylum in London last month, has a complex personality and "weak nerves."
The committee interviewed Pakistan team members and support staff, and were told that Haider "is a

LAHORE: The combined team of Master Paints and Monnoo Foods qualified for the final of the Treet Cup Tournament here at the Lahore Polo Cub on Friday. Security 2000 qualified for the subsidiary final after winning their two-chukker match Master Paints and Monnoo Foods beat Guard Group/Diamond Paints and Adisseo.
Security 2000 defeated Oratier Technologies and Garrison Polo Club to ensure a berth in the subsidiary final against Zafa. Master Paints-Monnoo Foods team outplayed

LAHORE: On the fifth day of the Chief Minister's Cup first phase, various teams displayed their potential for the final competition at Tehsil level. The players from Thesil Gujranwala, Shakar Garh, Zafarwal, Narowal, Kamoke, Nowshehra, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Malikwal, Thalia, DG Khan, Sheikhupura, Bahawalpur City, Bahawalpur Saddar, Chiniot, Tallian, Faisalabad and Sargodha performed to their best.
In Tehsil Shakargarh, the final boys football competition was held at

MELBOURNE: England still have the upper hand going into the final two Tests of an enthralling Ashes series, needing only one more victory to retain the coveted urn against Australia.
Australia go into Sunday's fourth Melbourne Test fuelled by the momentum from their emphatic 267-run victory in Perth, which levelled the series at 1-1. But they cannot afford a slip-up in the last two matches.
"We always talk about the last two Tests in a series being where things are won and

ROME: Leonardo on Friday crossed the great San Siro divide, the former AC Milan coach being named as the successor to Rafael Benitez as boss of Inter Milan.
The appointment makes him a unique commodity as the first person to have coached both Milan giants. Long on personality, short on managerial experience, Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo was appointed AC Milan manager in May 2009, as successor to Chelsea-bound Carlo Ancelotti still lacking the required managerial badges.