Sports

DUBAI: Prolific Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has closed in on Kumar Sangakkara at the top of the ICC test rankings and can overtake the Sri Lankan captain with a good showing in the remaining two tests against South Africa. Second placed Tendulkar hit his 50th test century in Centurion and while it was not enough to avert India's embarrassing innings and 25-run defeat against South Africa, the batsman moved to within two rating points of Sangakkara in the latest ICC rankings

COURCHEVEL: Marlies Schild of Austria produced a storming second leg run to win the women's World Cup slalom race here on Tuesday. In second place after the first run, 00.11 seconds behind Tanja Poutiainen, Schild went for broke and her gamble paid off as she finished 00.78 seconds overall ahead of the veteran Finn. It was the 29-year-old's second World Cup win of the season following her slalom victory at Levy, Finland in November.
It was also the 25th World Cup win of her

CAPE TOWN: South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis escaped unhurt after being involved in a car crash on Tuesday. Kallis's car collided with the gate of a house in Wynberg, a suburb of Cape Town, in the early hours of Tuesday but the 35-year-old player was not injured and will be able to play in South Africa's Boxing Day test against India in Durban.
"Jacques did have a very minor accident which left his car and somebody's gate post damaged. But he is absolutely fine," Kallis's

LAHORE: The Lahore region women cricket representatives announced Tuesday that trials to select the Lahore team for participation in the Lahore Region Inter-district Cricket Tournament will be held today. According to coach of the Lahore region women wing Irfanullah, the trials will be held today at 9 am and talented players of schools, clubs and institutions would be allowed to take part in the trials.

LAHORE: Lahore Ravi grabbed a 56-run win over Peshawar on day three of the four-day Division II Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. Lahore Ravi were in complete control by the close of day. When the game resumed on Tuesday, Peshawar batsmen could add 118 runs to their overnight score of 14. Sajjad Ahmed (35) was the only player to get some runs. Lahore's Abdul Ghaffar and Asif Ashfaq were too good for Peshawar batsmen.
They shared five and four

NEW DELHI: West Indian off-spinner Shane Shillingford has been suspended from bowling in international cricket for his illegal action, the sport's world governing body said on Tuesday.
His action was found to be illegal following an independent analysis performed by Bruce Elliott, a member of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) panel of Human Movement Specialists.
"A comprehensive analysis revealed that his elbow extension was 17 degrees, which is above the 15 degrees

LAHORE: Former Pakistan skipper and legendary batsman, Hanif Mohammad, celebrated his 76th birthday on Tuesday. The 'Little Master' was delighted on this occasion and stated that although there were not enough facilities available at his time, the players were eager to play for the pride of their country.
Hanif was one of the cricketers who laid the foundation of cricket in Pakistan. He joined the Pakistan team as a wicket keeper in the 1952 tour of India and impressed everyone

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board has filed an appeal with the Federal Board of Revenue seeking an exemption in income tax when the amendment in the second schedule of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 comes into force. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt took up the matter with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani during a reception in honour of the Pakistan women cricket team that clinched the gold medal in the Asian Games.
Now it has been learnt the PCB has formally asked the FBR to consider

MELBOURNE: Australia called up uncapped batsman Usman Khawaja Tuesday as cover for captain Ricky Ponting, who is nursing a broken finger ahead of the crunch Melbourne Ashes Test.
Selectors said they were showing an "abundance of caution" in adding Khawaja to the squad, adding they were confident Ponting will play in the clash against England starting Sunday. "While the NSP (National Selectors Panel) are confident Ricky Ponting will be available for the Boxing Day Test, through an

KUALA LUMPUR: Teen Korean golf star Noh Seung-Yul says he hopes to become the second Asian to win a Major, following in the footsteps of compatriot Yang Yong-Eun who sprang a shock upset over Tiger Woods in the 2009 PGA Championship.
Noh became Asia's youngest ever Order of Merit champion at the age of 19 years and 204 days in 2010 after driving his way to one victory and four other top-10s during a sparkling season which also saw him post two impressive performances at the

LAHORE: Newage Cables and Rijas shared opening day honours in the TREET Polo Cup that saddled into action here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Tuesday. Newage Cables defeated Dollar East 9-6 whereas Rijas downed Zafa 6-4 to show their authority in the game.
Newage Cables' Shah Qublai Alam, Hamza Mawaz Khan and Taimur Mawaz Khan left the Dollar East short of options after their goal spree though the losing side was dominant when the game started. Sufi brothers, Haris and Aamir,

LAHORE: The Pakistan Squash Federation on Tuesday appointed Jansher Khan as national coach.
The announcement came after Jansher met President PSF Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman at Air Headquarters. Senior Vice President Air Vice Marshal Syed Razi Nawab was also present. According to an official of the PSF, the performance of the players and all issued pertaining to the game were discussed in the meeting.
Jansher has been appointed adviser to the President PSF as well

MELBOURNE: England opener Alastair Cook Tuesday played down a growing row over Australia's move to change pitches for the vital Melbourne Ashes Test, saying they were simply exploiting "home advantage". Cook shrugged "you'd expect everyone to do it" after news that the Melbourne Cricket Ground was preparing a green pitch that will favour Australia's pace attack and offer little turn for England spinner Graeme Swann. "That is the beauty of home conditions, isn't it?" Cook told

KARACHI: Pakistan's suspended former captain Salman Butt said Tuesday he asked an anti-corruption tribunal to put off a hearing next month so he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London. The 26-year-old, along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, was provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan's Lord's Test against England in August.
The trio face an ICC tribunal in Doha from January

KARACHI - Former Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Butt said on Tuesday that he asked an anti-corruption tribunal to put off a hearing next month so he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London.
Along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, the 26-year-old cricketer was provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing during Lord's Test against England in August.
The trio faces an ICC tribunal in Doha from

LAHORE: Veteran Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has been given a lifeline to prove his fitness and make the cut for his country's World Cup squad after the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to submit its 30-man provisional squad till 5th January. The PCB had asked the ICC to extend the submission deadline for the provisional squad while it sought information from Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria who are being investigated for

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued stern directives to the national team and team management to refrain from making comments on the scandalous issue of match-fixing.
It has been learnt the PCB clearly directed team manager Intikhab ALam, coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi not to talk on the issue and if there was a question posed before them they should avoid commenting on the subject. Pakistan has been at the centre of attention in the cricketing world