Indian F1 Grand Prix fears eased, Jaypee ready to pay tax bill: Report

London, Sep 15: Fears that next month's inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit could be scrapped due to tax issues have reportedly been eased by the race's organizers, the Jaypee Sports International (JPSI). Speculation that India's tax authorities were unwilling to grant F1 teams a tax exemption on their equipment, on the basis they do not consider the October 30 race to be of national importance, had thrown the race into uncertainty.
However, the JPSI have now said that they are ready to step in and pick up any tax costs the teams incur, Sky Sports reports.
"JPSI has full support from the government, the sports ministry and the customs department for the F1 event scheduled for October this year. We have an in-principle approval from the customs department for creating a customs bonded area for F1 equipment that will be temporarily imported to India," JPSI chief executive Sameer Gaur said in a statement.
"If required, as per the law of the land, JPSI will pay customs duties and taxes etc for the temporary import of equipment. The estimated value of this equipment is about 150 crore rupees and the final duty payable on this will be approximately eight crore rupees," he added.

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Liverpool orders probe into player’s ‘9/11 not a terror attack’ tweet

London, Sept 14 : Liverpool Football Club has ordered investigations into striker Nathan Eccleston comment's on Twitter that suggested the September 11 attacks were not the work of terrorists. Twenty-year-old Eccleston, who has almost 40,000 followers, made the comment on Twitter on the 10th anniversary of the attacks in the United States.
"I aint going to say attack don''t let the media make u believe that was terrorist that did it," he wrote.
He also made a reference to O. T. I. S., which can mean `Only the Illuminati Succeed.'
The tweet followed another posting in which he called the attack an `accident,' the Daily Mail reports.
"R. I. P all 9/11 victims my thoughts are with their family''s and all those that was affected by this tragic accident!" Eccleston wrote.
Eccleston later removed the Tweet, the report said.
The Club has now launched an investigation into his Twitter activity.
According to the paper, senior club officials have informed Nathan Eccleston that they are undertaking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding these postings.

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Indian cricketers skip practice, opt for go-karting in Cardiff

(Wales), Sep. 15 : Indian cricketers on Wednesday skipped a practice session ahead of their fifth and final one-day international against England, and instead, attended a go-karting competition here. Sources revealed that the team was booked for the individual Grand Prix rally at the arena, costing them approximately 1000 pounds.
Talking to mediapersons, Chris Lipscomb, the manager of the go-karting arena, said the team spent approximately three hours at the venue and was given training before karting.
He said they were given a full safety brief and trained on how best to drive the karts.
The players took part in a 75-minute endurance race.
India is in the middle of what could be it''s worst tour to England. It was white washed in the Test series (four games to nil) and has already lost the one-day series by two games to nil with one match tied and a fourth rained out.
The team has also been hit by the absence of it''s ace players, out due to injury. They include Sachin Tendulkar (toe), Virender Sehwag (shoulder), Gautam Gambhir (head concussion), Zaheer Khan (hamstring) and Harbhajan Singh (abdominal injury).

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Watson to continue opening Oz batting despite demanding all-rounder role: Clarke

Colombo, Sep 15: Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that Shane Watson will stay at the top of the batting order despite the all-rounder being used more as a bowler. Watson has been used extensively as a fourth fast bowling option in the ongoing three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
"It (moving him down the order) is something I'll continue to think about. I see Watto's bowling as very important for the team so in time, if it's best for the team, he might move down the order," Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as saying.
"But the priority is whatever's best for the team and right now I think that's Shane opening the batting. In time, we might reassess the situation," he added.
Earlier, Watson had said that he was prepared to shift down the batting order if his increased bowling demands put a strain on his ability to compile big scores as an opening batsman.
"I really do enjoy opening the batting, taking on the quicks with the new ball, but it does depend on what my role is, if I'm going to bowl a lot more," Watson had said.
"I feel my body is really coping and handling the overs a lot better as well. At the moment I'm definitely opening the batting, but if my role changes a little bit I'm happy to bat anywhere to make sure we've got the best people in the right positions," he had added.

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Swann aims to be ‘more grown up and mature’ for England Twenty20 captaincy

London, Sep 15: England off-spinner Graeme Swann has admitted that he must grow up and stop acting the joker after being named as the captain for the two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies. Swann has been appointed despite his claim that he is too immature and too much of a comedian to take on the responsibility of leadership.
"It's a Twenty20 series with a lot of young lads so I'll have to change the way I am from the Test side. I'm very much the joker in the Test team, I'm there for a stupid quip at the end of the session," the Sun quoted Swann, as saying.
"With this Twenty20 side, I'll naturally have to be more grown up and mature about things. But I don't intend to be deadly serious and change too much. I believe a fairly high-spirited approach has made me the cricketer I am," he added.
The 32-year-old will lead the national team for the first time in the two Twenty20s, which are scheduled for September 23 and 25 at The Oval.
He was named captain as regular captain Stuart Broad and vice-captain Eoin Morgan were unavailable due to shoulder injuries.

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Mike Tindall ‘kisses and gropes’ buxom blonde at dwarf-throwing contest

London, Sept 15 : England rugby captain Mike Tindall, who recently got married to royal Zara Phillips, was spotted kissing and groping a blonde beauty in a nightspot while watching a dwarf-throwing contest with pals. Tindall, 30, was even seen pressing his face to her cleavage on a boozy night off during the World Cup in New Zealand.
A source said that Tindall was so overwhelmed by the girl's oomph factor that instead of rejecting her offerings, he started reciprocating.
"One particularly beautiful blonde went straight for Mike. But rather than reject her advances, unfortunately he was extremely responsive," the Sun quoted the source as saying.
"They were flirting with each other and getting very touchy-feely. Then they went into the doorway, where the girl gestured Mike towards her chest.
"She pulled his head towards her breasts and she rubbed the back of his head as she did so.
"The girl was absolutely stunning and all over him. He clearly thought it was a case of `What happens on tour, stays on tour'.
"But it's not the behaviour you would expect of a man who is not only England captain but also now a member of the Royal Family. He has only been married for a few weeks," the source added.

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Khawaja dumped from Oz squad for Colombo Test against Lanka, Marsh retained

Colombo, Sep 15: Left-handed Australian batsman Usman Khawaja will make way for Ricky Ponting for the third Test against Sri Lanka, which will begin at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club tomorrow. Ponting will return to the team after missing the second Test to attend the birth of his second child.
It also means that Shaun Marsh, who was Ponting's replacement, will keep his place in the team, the Herald Sun reports.
Marsh became the 19th Australian to score a Test century on debut during the Test played at Kandy's Pallekele Stadium.
The 28-year-old scored 141 of 315 balls, which included 18 fours, and also became the first Australian to make a ton on debut since Marcus North made 117 against South Africa in 2009
Meanwhile, fast bowler Ryan Harris has been ruled out due to a hamstring strain. Peter Siddle will replace him.
Harris had been the bowler of the series, with 11 wickets at an average of 15.
Australian team: Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (captain), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland and Nathan Lyon.

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Los Angeles to host 2015 Special Olympics

Los Angeles, Sep 15 : Los Angeles will host the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. The board expects that in less than four years, Los Angeles would welcome more than 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 countries and regions to compete in 21 Olympic-type sports, and gather more than a half-million spectators.
"Bringing our World Games to a city as powerful and prominent on the world stage as Los Angeles will allow our Special Olympics athletes to showcase their talents and demonstrate to the world the best in sports," Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, said in a statement as he awarded the event to Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
Shriver said Los Angeles won the bid for its fantastic facilities and its deep understanding of the mission of Special Olympics.
"So, we couldn't say no. They had it all. They have everything we wanted to do the future of our movement, which is centered on the idea that we can teach true sport, the power of unity, we think this is the best place in the world to teach that lesson," Shriver was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Patrick McClenahan, president and chief executive officer of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Organising Committee, told Xinhua that Los Angeles is able to create a world stage for these athletes to perform on, to show their skills, courage and spirit of joy.
"When that happens, people see that, and their perceptions are changed. And it becomes of appreciation, for what they can do, that start to change the way about people with disabilities start to including them and accepting them more," he said.
China's Shanghai hosted the Special Olympics in 2007. The most recent one was held in Athens, Greece, in July this year. South Korea will host the 2013 Special Olympics.

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Giggs breaks Raul’s record of scoring goals in 16 successive Champions League seasons

London, Sep 15: Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs' goal in Wednesday's Champions League match against Benfica has made him the first player to hit goals in 16 successive seasons in the European competition.
With the 27th Champions League goal, Giggs overtook Spanish star Raul, the Guardian reports.
At the age of 37 years and 289 days, he is already the oldest goalscorer in the competition.
His first and second had arrived 17 years ago to the day, in a 4-2 victory over Gothenburg.

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FIFA chief brands early-exit suggestion as ‘ridiculous and pure nonsense’

London, Sep 15: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied reports that he plans to hand over power to UEFA chief Michel Platini before the end of his four-year tenure as the head of world football's governing body.
Blatter was elected unopposed for a fourth term in June after allegations of bribery and corruption led to the suspension of his opponent, former Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.
"The suggestion that I intend to stop my four-year mandate before its end is simply ridiculous," the Sun quoted Blatter, as saying on Twitter.
"The suggestion of a reported deal between me and Michel Platini for the presidency is pure nonsense," he added.
Platini is widely seen as a possible successor when Blatter's term ends in 2015.

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Watson urges Cricket Australia to fix medical and rehabilitation structure

Colombo, Sep 15: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that Cricket Australia (CA) must sign a diverse contingent of specialist doctors and sports scientists to keep the national players away from breaking down.
Watson has also pledged to take a pay cut to fix the board's medical and rehabilitation structure.
"I think now would be a very good time for Australian cricket to build a team of specialist doctors and physios, even some from other sports who've had experience with AFL players, for example," Watson writes in his new book Watto to be released next month.
"That's what you need ... people with a different vision of the traditional view of our sport. I, for one, would take a wage cut if it meant more money was spent getting the best people in the right places."
"You need specialists and you need to spread the knowledge around the states, making sure you've got the right people in place in every team set-up. That's going to cost money but weigh that against the cost of having so many Australian bowlers injured at any given time," he added.
According to Fox Sports, the vice-captain's comments come at a crucial time for Australia, with fast bowler Ryan Harris in doubt for tomorrow's third Test against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury.

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Shame that India sat out ICC awards: Lorgat

LONDON: Battered by humiliating defeats on the England tour, the Indian team created a fresh controversy by skipping the ICC Annual Awards function, inviting sharp criticism from the the governing body which said such a shameful conduct was not expected from a champion team.
Indian team claimed the invite for the function came late but the ICC insisted the BCCI and the visitors had been informed well in advance.
“It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend the Awards function last night. I know for a fact that my team had invited them some months back. We probably have confirmation of their likely attendance and in fact the very date was scheduled around their availability in London. Well, they haven’t and England team has attended,” ICC chief executive
Haroon Lorgat said.
“I know for a fact that they were invited. We sent those invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps that’s the question which should be asked to the BCCI,” Lorgat added.
He said the huge gathering at the ceremony was disappointed to not find Indian players. “In fact, I feel more saddened by the number of people, in fact everybody was in attendance last night, who were quite disappointed that India was not there, that makes me feel more sad,” Lorgat added.
Lorgat said such conduct and behaviour from a team like Indian was not expected.
“It’s a great shame and disappointing that not long ago they were the number one Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such a great style. And there were many fans and people looking forward to their attendance. It’s a shame that they did not attend,” he said.
The Indians were interestingly staying at a hotel close to the venue of the function held on Monday.
Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav expressed his helplessness, stating he was informed only at 12 noon by an ICC communication officer by which time “the players were already away, some shopping, some sight-seeing as this was their final day of stay in London.”
The ICC sources said they have evidence by mail which confirms that the BCCI was aware of the function and had also agreed that the Indian team would attend it. “If it wasn’t so, the Indian team ought to have left for Cardiff (the venue of the final one-dayer) today itself and not stayed back in London on Monday,” said an ICC spokesman.—Agencies

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Swann set to lead England Twenty20 side

LONDON: Off-spinner Graeme Swann will captain his country for the first time when he leads the England Twenty20 side in two matches against West Indies this month in the absence of injured skipper Stuart Broad and vice-captain Eoin Morgan.
Swann will be the fifth man to skipper his country this English summer, and sixth this year, when he takes charge of the side for the matches at the Oval on September 23 and 25.
“Graeme Swann is a highly respected member of the England side and his experience and leadership qualities will be invaluable when he leads a young England team next week, a role he is very much looking forward to,” national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement on Wednesday.
England added four players to the side who defeated India by six wickets last month, including Yorkshire wicketkeeper Jonathan Bairstow and Hampshire left-arm orthodox spinner Danny Briggs, who have yet to play international cricket.
The other two are strike bowler James Anderson and Durham leg-spinner Scott Borthwick, who made his one-day debut against Ireland last month.
England:
Graeme Swann (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Ravi Bopara, Scott Borthwick, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Craig Kieswetter, Samit Patel, Ben Stokes.

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Sangakkara hopes to celebrate 100th Test with victory

COLOMBO: A hugely proud Kumar Sangakkara hopes Sri Lanka will celebrate his 100th Test appearance with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final match here from Friday.
“It’s a great honour to have represented my country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches,” Sangakkara told reporters ahead of his landmark match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.
“It’s not often that a player gets that opportunity and I’m very, very proud and also very privileged to be given the opportunity to represent my country and my people for so long.
“But the most important thing is to contribute as much as I can to the side winning games. It’s nice to participate, but you want to say to your team-mates and others that we are winners.
“That is what everyone wants, go out there and win matches. It’s what the whole team is chasing at the moment, to try to win and be the best.”
Sangakkara, who turns 34 next month, will be the fifth Sri Lankan to play a century of Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan (132 matches), Mahela Jayawardene (121), Chaminda Vaas (111) and Sanath Jayasuriya (110).
The elegant left-hander has provided substance and stature to Sri Lanka’s batting along with good friend Jayawardene since his debut against South Africa in Galle in 2000.
His 8,572 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 55.66 with 25 hundreds are second in his country’s all-time list, behind Jayawardene’s 9,801 runs from 121 matches.
Sangakkara said his goal was to compile 10,000 Test runs and score 30 centuries before he hung up his boots, but retirement is still far from his mind.
He could not have asked for a better venue than his favourite hunting ground at the SSC to mark his 100th Test and lead the team’s bid to draw the three-match series 1-1.
In the 18 Tests he had played at the SSC, Sangakkara has scored 1,864 runs at an awe-inspiring average of 74.56 with seven three-figure knocks, including three double centuries.
It was at the same venue that Sangakkara and Jayawardene recorded the highest partnership ever in Test cricket: 624 for the third wicket in 2006 against a South African attack that included Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.
Sangakkara made 287, while Jayawardene smashed 374 before being bowled by Andre Nel, agonizingly close to West Indian Brian Lara’s world record of 400 not out.
Sangakkara has scored centuries in each of his last three Tests at the SSC, including knocks of 219 and 42 not out against India last year.
But Sri Lanka have not won a Test since the retirement of world bowling record holder Muralitharan last year, losing three of the 10 played since then, but Sangakkara asked fans to be patient.
He also said the younger players in the team should be given an extended run to prove their worth at the highest level.
“They’ve got to be comfortable in the fact they are here because they are good enough and also they are going to be given a nice, long-lasting run to prove what they can do,” he said.
Sangakkara, who gave up the captaincy after the World Cup in April to concentrate on his batting, said his successor Tillekeratne Dilshan was working hard to improve the team’s fortunes. But he felt a lot still depended on how the senior players performed.
“The results will come but the senior guys have to keep putting their hands up and keep performing, which will allow the newcomers to perform even better”, he said.

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Ponting’s return causes selection quandary

COLOMBO: The return of Ricky Ponting following the birth of his daughter and Ryan Harris’s hamstring injury have caused a selection dilemma for Australia as they aim to heap more misery on hosts Sri Lanka in the third and final test.
After winning the first test at Galle by 125 runs, Australia looked poised to wrap up the series with victory in Pallakele but were stopped in their tracks by rain and bad light.
Michael Clarke’s men watched on in frustration as their hard work amounted to nothing and now feel they have unfinished business at the Singhalese Sports Club starting on Friday.
Pace spearhead Harris had been in destructive form, claiming 11 wickets in the series at an impressive average of 14.54, but will almost certainly miss the final match after limping off injured in Pallakele. Scans revealed he was suffering from a minor hamstring strain.
“There’s always been concerns about Rhino’s fitness because unfortunately he’s dealt with a few injuries throughout his career,” said Clarke.
“He’s a very strong bloke and he’ll do anything to get on the park. He’s a wonderful player to have in your team, not just the way he bowls, he’s got plenty of talent with the bat.
“He’s as good as any fast bowler in the world in the field. And he brings a lot to the team as a guy. He’s one of those guys you want in your team. He’s having a big impact in this series.”
Harris’s absence would be a serious blow for Australia. Should he be ruled out either Peter Siddle, who has not played in the series, or James Pattinson, who has impressed with his pace and swing, are likely to replace him.
BATTING HEADACHE
The Australians also have a batting headache to sort out with the return of former captain Ponting, who missed the second test to return home for the birth of his second child.
His replacement, Shaun Marsh, made an instant mark by scoring a century on his test debut.
Hence Australian selectors now have to decide how to make the best use of the batting talent at their disposal.
While Ponting has a proven track record, scoring 39 test tons over his 16-year career, he has recently been going through a lean spell and has not scored a century in five-day cricket for 20 months.
Since Marsh has flourished in the flat Sri Lankan conditions, leaving him out does not seem like a sensible option so the axe is likely to fall on opener Phil Hughes whose highest score in the series is 36.
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said that his team still had a chance of drawing the series if the weather stays fine.
Scattered showers have fallen in Colombo over the past few days and weather forecasts suggest there could be frequent interruptions to the test.
“We didn’t bat well in the first innings and that’s why we’re behind in this series,” said Dilshan referring to his team’s failure to score more than 175 runs in the opening innings of each test.
“We told all the players to believe in themselves and in their own game. If we were in a negative frame of mind, with three failed innings, we’re not going to do any better. We just have to give them the confidence,” Dilshan added.
“It’s really disappointing that we cannot win the test series but we still have a chance to draw it. As players, we must grab that opportunity in both hands and if we can do that, it’s really good.”
The test will also mark former captain Kumar Sangakkara’s 100th test appearance.  “It’s a great achievement. It’s not easy to play 100 matches, especially test cricket.
If we can win the test, I think that’s going to be a good gift for Sanga,” said Dilshan.

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Gayle signs with South African franchise

DURBAN: Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle has signed to play for South African franchise the Dolphins in the South African domestic Twenty20 (T20) competition, the Durban-based team announced on Thursday.
Gayle, 31, has been involved in a protracted dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board and has not turned out for the team since he played in a World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan in Dhaka on March 23.
The left-handed Gayle, who will join the Dolphins next February, is regarded as one of the most devastating batsmen in world cricket and has scored 6,373 runs in his 91 test matches, while he has accumulated 8,087 runs in 228 ODIs.
In the 20 T20 internationals he has played, Gayle has bludgeoned 617 runs at a strike-rate of 144.49 and he is one of only five men to have scored a T20 international century.

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PCB chief unhappy with ICC’s one-day team

The Chairman of the Pakistani Cricket Board Ijaz Butt (R), arrives at Lord's cricket ground, in London September 29, 2010. Butt was in London to meet England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Giles Clarke regarding Butt's claims that England threw a game, local media reported.
LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has yet again hit headlines for the wrong reasons after he expressed his displeasure over the ICC ODI team of the year in which only one Pakistani player Umar Gul found a place.
According to reports filtering in from the ceremony, Ijaz was so upset with the composition of ICC ODI team of the year announced during Annual Awards function in London on Monday, that he directly pointed fingers at former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd, the chairman of the jury that finalised the side.
“The PCB chief waited for the media to talk of Lloyd to discuss the announcement of the ICC ODI team and as soon as the conference started, he raised his hand and said he wanted to ask a question as well,” the reports said.
Addressing Lloyd directly, Ijaz said that he was disappointed to see only one Pakistani cricketer finding a place in the team whereas other players from the nation had also done well in ODIs and should have been considered.
“Lloyd explained that number of deserving performers were not in the team because the jury while selecting the team had to focus on the balance of the side and could not afford to have a plethora of slow or pace bowlers,” the report said.
Sources said Ijaz was visibly upset with the omission of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, whom he felt had done enough to win spots in the ICC ODI team of the year, which otherwise included four Indians and three Sri Lankans.
The jury overlooked Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali for the Emerging Player of the Year award and handed the honour to West Indian leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.

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Four associate members to fight for spot in 2015 World Cup: ICC

"A new 50-over League be introduced which will serve as the qualifying program for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015."LODNON: International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a new system of qualifying for the 2015 50-over World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The tournament has been reorganized after the ICCs earlier decision of making it a 10 Test-playing nation event was criticized by associate and affiliate teams, according to reports. The new system, which will include four associate members, was decided after a Chief Executives Committee meeting in London.
The CEC adopted an ICC Development Committee proposal that a new 50-over League be introduced which will serve as the qualifying program for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the ICC said in a statement.
The top two teams in eight team 50-over League will qualify automatically for ICC Cricket World Cup and the remainder of teams will be joined by teams finishing third and fourth in Pepsi World Cricket League Division 2 (top two teams will compete in new League) to decide the remaining two qualifiers. The event will take place at a venue and on a date still to be decided, it added.

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Harris unlikely to start against Sri Lanka in final Test

COLOMBO: Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris looks unlikely to start in the upcoming third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka after scans revealed a hamstring strain.
Harris had complained of a stiff right hamstring on the last day of the drawn second Test in Pallekele on Monday and underwent scans when the team drove to Colombo on Tuesday afternoon.
Australia, leading 1-0 in the three-match series, are unlikely to risk Harris in the final Test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Friday, although the bowler himself is keen to play.
“I want to play as much as I can but I know I am a risk,” Harris, nicknamed ‘Rhino’ for his burly physique, told reporters after the team’s training session on Wednesday, which he missed.
He said he will leave the decision to captain Michael Clarke and the team management, adding: “If Michael is happy to take me in with a slight risk, I will give it 100 percent in what is a pretty big game. If not, I will sit out and do as I am told.”
The hamstring strain is the latest setback for injury-prone Harris, who has been battling a chronic knee problem since his debut last year.
“It’s disappointing because I have done a fair bit of work to be strong again and something minor like this has upset it,” he said.
The 31-year-old has been Australia’s most successful bowler in the series with 11 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first Test in Galle that fashioned Australia’s 125-run victory.
Harris took six wickets in the second Test, but heavy rain in Pallekele frustrated Australia’s bid to record a series-clinching victory.
If Harris is declared unfit to play, Australia have two other seamers, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, to choose from. Neither has played in the series so far.

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We just saw the ugly side of cricket: Dhoni

“We just saw the ugly side of cricket. Whichever team has the upper hand, doesn't want to play. Whichever team is not on winning side, will stick around and even play football. That's what people do and that's what both sides did.”
LONDON: Embattled Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has termed England’s fourth ODI and subsequent series win as the “ugly side of cricket” where the side with the “upperhand didn’t want to play.”
Sunday’s tie, courtesy of the D/L method, gave England the five-match series after the first game was washed out and the hosts won the next two.
India had set England a formidable target of 281 before rain interruptions forced a tie with the hosts at the Duckworth-Lewis par score of 270 for eight.
“We just saw the ugly side of cricket. Whichever team has the upper hand, doesn’t want to play. Whichever team is not on winning side, will stick around and even play football. That’s what people do and that’s what both sides did,” Dhoni said after the match.
“If you have a day game, you need different guidelines and principles to follow. If you put it under lights, it doesn’t look nice,” he said.
Dhoni said some of the Indian players were confused about the result.
“Some of the guys were confused. Some thought we had won it. Most of us thought it was a passing shower and we would be able to get back on the field,” said Dhoni.
“Once inside the dressing room, we saw the final sheet of paper. After looking at it, it was apparent it was a tie and none of the side had won the game,” he added.
Expressing his frustration with the interruptions, which robbed his side of a win in the series, Dhoni said, “This is not the first time. We were close to winning the first game also. But as I said, you can’t control the weather.”

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Indian fast bowlers not eating right: Holding

LONDON: Fast-bowling legend Michael Holding has claimed that the Indian team will continue its present form in test cricket until it unearths a few good fast bowlers.
“Champion teams have always had good fast bowlers. You can’t win Test matches or remain on top without real pacers. If you look at history, you will find that the top teams of different era had top fast bowlers,” the West great Holding told TOI during the India-England fourth one-dayer at Lord’s.
Holding pinpointed the problem as a lack of ‘appetite’ to bowl fast, referring to not only the diet of the Indian bowlers but also the passion which is required to be a genuine tearaway.
“The Indian team did well in Test matches in the recent past because they had a quality bowler in Zaheer Khan. He is missing and so the team is struggling. You have to generate some pace to make it count. Otherwise you can’t dominate world cricket like the way the West Indies and the Australian teams did in the past,” he added.
He said consistency was a major issue for the Indian fast bowlers.
“When they join the team, they come with a lot of reputation. But by the time they have played two to three years of international cricket, they lose the appetite to bowl fast. Munaf Patel is the prime example. When he burst on the scene, he was a tearaway fast bowler but after a few years, he lost his pace and is currently know for his good line and length.
“When I saw Ishant Sharma in Australia in his debut series, I was very excited with the way he bowled there. But after two years, he is not the same bowler. He has lost a bit of pace. I was surprised but I have understood what is happening with the Indian bowlers. They are unable to take care of their diet and that affects their body in the long run,” Holding said.
“There is nothing wrong with their technique. If you don’t take care of what you are eating, then you are bound to lose your strength.”
Holding, however, asserted: “If Pakistan can produce fast bowlers, why can’t India?”
He also took a swipe at the IPL and the BCCI by saying, “Injuries to some of the key players were a big blow to the Indian team. But how come they never miss the IPL with injuries?”

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, London, United Kingdom

BCCI not bothered by Lorgat’s comments

Lorgat said that many people who had turned up to see the World champions were left disappointed.

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to clarify its position after the ICC blamed the board for the Indian team’s absence from the ICC Awards.
“Lorgat can say whatever he wants to. We don’t want to comment on it,” CAO of the BCCI, Ratnakar Shetty told Times of India.
BCCI secretary and president-elect N Srinivasan too took the no comments route. “The board has nothing to say on this,” he stressed.
According to the Indian team manager, Shivlal Yadav, he had been informed too late about the event and by then the players already had other plans.
“By then, the players had already left. Some had gone shopping while some others sight-seeing as this was their final day in London,” he said.
However, ICC chief Haroon Lorgat dismissed this claim and said that the Indian team had been invited months before.
“It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend. I know for a fact that my team had invited it a few months earlier. We probably have confirmation of their attendance. In fact, the date was scheduled around their availability in London,” Lorgat said.
“We sent the invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps the question should be asked to the BCCI,” he added.
Lorgat said that many people who had turned up to see the World champions were left disappointed and the Indian team’s behaviour was quite unexpected.
“It’s a great shame. It’s very disappointing that not long ago they were the No. 1 Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such style. And many fans and people had come specifically to seem them.
“The Spirit of Cricket Award went to MS Dhoni for the wonderful leadership he showed by recalling Ian Bell. It was a deserving award and quite a shame that he was not there to accept it,” Lorgat added.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Haroon Lorgat, India, New Delhi

PCB is wrong 90 per cent of the time: Miandad

LAHORE: Lamenting the lack of required power to work right from his day one in office as director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), former captain Javed Miandad on Wednesday slammed the decisions taken by the game’s authorities, claiming 90 per cent of those were erroneous.
“While closely watching the functioning of the PCB I am disappointed and feel that 90 per cent decisions [taken by the board] are wrong, and are spoiling the sport in the country. I am not part of the PCB planning only because I require power and freedom to work, since I have given 35 years to Pakistan cricket and earned a good name,” Miandad said while talking to Dawn on Wednesday.
“People around the world regard my services as a cricketer but the PCB doesn’t want to give me authority to improve [Pakistan] cricket,” the 54-year-old Miandad remarked.
“I have already brought this matter into the notice of PCB patron, President Asif Ali Zardari. Soon I will meet him again to apprise him of the poor condition of cricket in Pakistan. I will request him to either take necessary steps [to improve cricketing matters] or allow me to leave the DG post,” stated Miandad, who has been criticised for not leaving the position despite receiving the cold shoulder from the PCB right from day one.
The primary cause of friction between PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Miandad from day one has been that the former is not ready to give latter the appropriate power to work, while the latter is not keen to operate without the authority he demands.
“The PCB did not even follow the instructions of President Zardari which he had given to the board last time on my suggestions,” lamented Miandad who featured in 124 Tests and 233 One-day Internationals for Pakistan.
Though Miandad avoided pinpointing wrong decisions of the PCB, sources said, he was not happy after the board didn’t take his advice on the appointment of new coach for the Pakistan team following Waqar Younis’s announcement to quit as national head coach after the ongoing Zimbabwe tour.
While former Test cricketers Zaheer Abbas and Ramiz Raja (both not employed by the PCB), are part of the coach-searching committee, Miandad has not been given any role in this regard.
Miandad, who has had three stints as national coach in the past, also didn’t feel delighted after the PCB decided to give former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir the responsibility to control club cricket. Miandad, sources said, held the view that holding club cricket was the prime duty of regional and district bodies.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Javed Miandad, Lahore, Pakistan

Qureshi-Bopanna slip in rankings after US Open loss

Rohan Bopanna (L) of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (R) of Pakistan at the 2011 US Open.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s ace tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi has dropped five places in the ATP rankings after his semi-final loss at the 2011 US Open.
Qureshi is now ranked 15th in the doubles individual rankings while Indian partner Rohan Bopanna is at no. 14. Together, the Indo-Pak Express is ranked at no. 7 in the new ATP rankings.
Mike and Bob Bryan of the US continue their dominance of men’s doubles tennis and lead the rankings.

Continue Reading... Tags: Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Karachi, Pakistan, Rohan Bopanna, Tennis

Italian climber Bonatti dies at 81

In this photo taken Aug. 1955, Italian climber Walter Bonatti, right, is seen on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Walter Bonatti, an Italian climber who won belated recognition for his contribution for the first ascent to the summit of the world's second-highest peak, has died. He was 81.

 

ROME: Walter Bonatti, an Italian climber who won belated recognition for his contribution for the first ascent to the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest peak, has died at age 81.
His editor Baldini Castoldi Dalai said Bonatti, who was also a journalist, died suddenly from an undisclosed illness.
Bonatti was involved in numerous famous climbs in the 1950s and 60s, but the controversy with fellow climbers Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli over the ascent up Pakistan’s K-2 in 1954 went on for years.
It wasn’t until 2008 that the Italian Alpine Club confirmed Bonatti’s version, declaring that Bonatti and his fellow support climber Amir Mahdi had a decisive and essential role in the success of the 1954 expedition. Bonatti is survived by his widow, Rossana Podesta.

Continue Reading... Tags: Mountaineering, Rome, Walter Bonatti

Pakistan’s ACT performance will put pressure on seniors: Junaid

KARACHI: Pakistan’s national hockey team manager Khawaja Junaid said on Tuesday that he was not ruling out the comeback of senior players into the national team provided they proved their form and fitness in the camp.
“Good performance from the younger players in the recent Asian Champions Trophy has created more competition and seniors will have to prove their form and fitness to make a comeback into the team,” he said in an interview on Wednesday upon his return from Ordos, China.
Selection committee headed by ex-Olympian Hanif Khan rested veteran players like goalkeeper Salman Akbar, penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas and forward Rehan Butt for the ACT and yet Pakistan managed to reach the final of the high-profile event which was decided on penalty-shootout.
“I will present my viewpoint and feedback to the selection committee and the PHF and it is upto them to decide the future of the seniors,” Junaid commented.
“But one thing is clear that now the seniors will have to fight for their places in the team because the youngsters have shown their potential in the event. It now creates more competition among the players for the London Olympics squad,” he stressed.
Coach Junaid described the loss in the final “as sheer bad luck” and said the boys put up a great show. Commenting on the wasted penalty-corners in the regulation time, he admitted that it was unfortunate that the Pakistanis could not get the best out of the corners which came their way.
Junaid said while Shakeel Abbasi and Haseem Khan were outstanding among the forwards, teenagers Ali Shan, and Umer Bhutta showed the spark upfront.
Responding to a question about former Pakistan captain and centre-half Waseem Ahmed, he said he had a good tournament plus young guns Muhammad Rizwan, Kashif Shah and Tausiq also proved their worth. He dispelled the impressions that Pakistan midfield and defence was weak.
The coach expressed hope that Pakistan will be able to develop a pool of players before the next year’s Olympic Games and added that the team’s next assignment in Australia, where they will appear in a 3-nation event in October, will further help the young guns to establish themseveles.

Continue Reading... Tags: Hockey, Karachi, Pakistan

David stamps authority on Australian Open

CANBERRA: Malaysian squash queen Nicol David wasted little time in stamping her authority on the Australian Open in Canberra when she blitzed Australia's Samantha Davies in straight games on Tuesday.

David raced to an easy 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 first round win over her unheralded opponent to set up a clash with 17-year-old Emily Whitlock of England, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3 winner over 15th seeded New Zea lander Kylie Lindsay.

World number one David has never played in an Australian Open before but she is the overwhelming favourite to claim the title this year.

David had a rare loss at last week's Singapore Open to England's Laura Massaro but said she had already put that out of her mind.

Massaro is not playing in Canberra, but her countrywoman Jenny Duncalf was just as impressive as David as she cruised to an 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 win over Australian qualifier Vanessa Pickerd.

The remainder of the top women's seeds all progressed with dominant displays.

Third seed Rachael Grinham beat Lucie Fialova of the Czech Republic 11-6, 11-5, 11-2, Ireland's Madeline Perry (4) downed Malaysia's Siti Munirah Jusoh 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 and Kasey Brown (5) was too good for New Zealand's Amanda Cranston 11-2, 11-7, 11-3.

Ashour downed Malaysian qualifier Ivan Yuen 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, and Gaultier and Barker both overcame Australian challengers.

Barker was too steady for Aaron Frankcomb, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 while Gaultier was in blistering form as he downed world number 14 Cameron Pilley 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.

Continue Reading... Tags: Canberra, Nical David, Squash

Gamba Osaka stretch J-League lead

TOKYO: The forward duo of Korean Lee Keun-Ho and Brazilian Rafinha gave Gamba Osaka a 2-0 win over Omiya Ardija on Saturday as they stretched their lead in the J-League to three points.

Rafinha pounced on a back pass from Shin Kanazawa and fired a shot, which was saved by goalkeeper Takashi Kitano, but Lee quickly hit the rebound into the empty Omiya net in the 43rd minute.

A long ball from Japan international midfielder Yasuhito Endo was picked up on the right by Korean midfielder Kim Seung-Yong who hit it into the area to allow Rafinha to score the second goal in the 77th minute.

Gamba Osaka now have 53 points, ahead of Yokohama Marinos and Kashiwa Reysol on 50 points, defending champions Nagoya Grampus on 49 points, and Kashima Antlers on 39 points.

Ariajasuru Hasegawa scored the only goal in Yokohama's victory over bottom placers Avispa Fukuoka, while Kashiwa came back from a goal down to beat Nagoya 2-1.

Seven-time champions Kashima also came back from two goals down thanks to late scores from Daiki Iwamasa and Yuzo Tashiro which earned them a 2-2 draw against Albirex Niigata.

In other games, Cerezo Osaka scored five goals in a second-half onslaught, including a hat-trick from Ryuji Bando, to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 5-4, while Jubilo Iwata won a Shizuoka derby against Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1.

Continue Reading... Tags: Football, Japan, Tokyo

Pakistan thrash Maldives 4-0 in AFC U-16 opener

KARACHI: Pakistan teenagers got off to a great start in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Football Championship qualifying rounds as they thrashed Maldives 4-0 in the opening match at Ali Al Sabah Stadium, Kuwait City under lights on Tuesday.

Pakistan boys maintained their fine run after winning the SAFF U-16 Championship victory as they torn apart Maldives defence.

According to report received from Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Pakistan took the lead after 13 minutes when Muhammad Bilal scored off a well-placed pass from star striker Mansoor Khan. Bilal's shot hit the post and went in as Pakistan went 1-0 up.

Three minutes later, Mansoor got his name on the scoresheet when his well-placed shot just inside the box found the net as Maldives defence were in complete disarray.

At half-time, Pakistan looked comfortable 2-0. In 63rd minute, a Mansoor Khan cross found the head of Bilal, who flicked it on for impressive winger Sher Ali who finished with aplomb as Pakistan went 3-0 up and took the game well beyond the reach of Maldives. Midfielder Raza Ali then made it 4-0 when his 20 yard shot flew past the goalkeeper three minutes later as Pakistan ended the game with a dominating performance over their fellow SAFF rivals.

In other games of the group, Yemen was held 1-1 by UAE, Kuwait came from behind to draw Afghanistan 1-1 earlier in the day to avoid a humiliating loss. The results mean that Pakistan is currently on top in Group B with three points. Pakistan now faces hosts Kuwait in next game on Thursday.

Continue Reading... Tags: Football, Karachi, Pakistan

New Zealand to host Champions Trophy

NEW DELHI: New Zealand on Tuesday was named host of the men's Champions Trophy, a week after the field hockey tournament was moved out of India due to a tussle over who runs the sport in the country.

New Zealand, ranked seventh in the world, will now replace ninth-ranked India in the December 3 to 11 event to be held in Auckland, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in a statement.

"It is always tough to move an event out of any country, but I have to say that the silver lining is the bid from New Zealand," said FIH president Leandro Negre.

"New Zealand will put on a first-rate Champions Trophy and has been extremely flexible and professional given the tough circumstances and tight timeline."

India will also lose its place in the eight-nation competition -- the second biggest in hockey after the World Cup.

India have, however, been invited to participate as a top-seeded team in the Champions Challenge tournament -- contested by teams not playing in the Champions Trophy -- to be held in South Africa in November, the FIH said.

Hockey New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole said they were confident of successfully staging the Champions Trophy.

"We have been overwhelmed how quickly our key partners have come together to offer support to ensure this is a truly fantastic event," the FIH statement quoted Poole as saying.

In July, the FIH voiced concerns over a settlement between two rival bodies, Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which agreed to form a joint executive board to run the game.

The FIH said last week there could be only one governing body for the sport in any country.

Continue Reading... Tags: Hockey, India, New Delhi

Cook and Trott win main ICC awards

LONDON: England batsmen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott were named respectively Test player of the year and player of the year at a ceremony hosted by the sport's governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.

Cook, the 26-year-old opener who was appointed one day captain after the World Cup this year - shone during the year peaking with a masterly 294 in the third Test victory over India in August, though, that fell outside the time frame for the award.

It was his third Test century in six matches and 19th in all and is now just three shy of England's all-time record Test century total.

It represents quite a turnaround in the genial Cook's fortunes as a year ago he was close to being dropped before reviving his career with a hundred against Pakistan at The Oval.

It proved to be the springboard for a triumphant tour of Australia where he scored 766 runs, including three centuries, as England won the Ashes 3-1.

During the performance period, he played 12 Tests and in 18 innings, he compiled 1,302 runs at an average of 51.74, including six centuries and four half-centuries.

His highest score of 235 not out against Australia at Brisbane helped his team towards series victory as it won the Ashes away from home for the first time since the 1986-87 season.

The independent voting academy of 25 cricket experts put Cook first, ahead of an impressive group of players that had been short-listed, including England team-mates Trott and James Anderson, as well as Jacques Kallis of South Africa, who previously won this award in 2005.

The ICC later named Trott as their cricketer of the year.

Trott, who alongside Cook was a bedrock of England's victory in Australia last winter with 445 runs, took the award ahead of fellow short-list nominees Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla.

Continue Reading... Tags: Alastair Cook, Cricket, ICC Awards, Jonathan Trott, London, United Kingdom

HARARE: Pakistan won the one day international series against Zimbabwe with a 3-0 whitewash by taking the closing match with 28 runs to spare at Harare Sports Club here Wednesday.

Pakistan, having been put into bat by the hosts captain Brendan Taylor, set a target of 270-5 with Zimbabwe making 242-9 in reply.

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq said afterwards that Pakistan's policy of sending out a young and relatively inexperienced team had paid off and he was delighted with their overall performances.

He said: "This is all a good sign for the future of Pakistan cricket and from that viewpoint alone it was worth coming."

Pakistan, who had scrambled to a five run win in the opening match and took the second by 10 wickets, were always the dominant side.

Zimbabwe put up a strong showing, their failing being continually behind the required run rate.

Pakistan got off to a spirited start through Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat, who sped to 32 runs in the first three overs. The innings settled after that, especially when Harfeez fell for 23 and Farhat for 37.

The run rate settled on about five an over, even though Asad Shafiq, one of three young players introduced scored 51 and the old campaigner Younis Khan made 81. It was Shafiq's fifth half century and Khan's 44th. Khan was out to a wonderful caught and bowled by Kyle Jarvis just when he had his sights on a seventh ODI century.

Shoaib Malik once again disappointed with 14 and the finishing touches were aggressively applied to the Pakistan innings by Misbah ul Haq, 29, and Adnan Akmal with 24.

Their target, stated before the match by Misbah ul Haq to be 270 to 280 was therefore satisfactory, and seemed on the recent form of Zimbabwe to be well beyond the home team's reach.

However Zimbabwe made a serious effort to get there. But even though Justice Chibhabha with 62 and Vusi Sibanda on 59 made a strong early showing, it didn't have the pace of run gathering necessary for a launch towards the end.

With Taylor failing by scoring only six, those who followed made an effort to catch up with a rising run rate necessary but were never really in the chase, and at the end Zimbabwe needed eight, ten and eventually 14 an over for the win.

Aziz Cheema was the best of the Pakistan bowlers with 4-43 and he was named man of the match. He has been the newcomer with the most success even though he is somewhat of a latecomer at 32 years of age.

Man of the series was Younis Khan, who went about his business with polished calm and took the catch of the match on the boundary in dismissing Tatenda Taibu, who had just previously hit six, one of six scored on the day.

The Pakistan tour continues here with two Twenty-20 entertainments at Harare on Friday and Sunday.

Continue Reading... Tags: Cricket, Harare, Pakistan, Zimbabwe

Cornered Maken announces Rs.1.5 lakh for each Indian hockey team player

 New Delhi, Sep 14 : With controversy surrounding the prize money given to the Indian hockey team for winning the Asian Champions Trophy gained momentum, a cornered Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Wednesday clarified that players of the winning side will automatically get a cash reward of Rs. 1.5 lakh each.
"Today, I have called all of you to clarify a small thing that I think has unnecessarily snowballed into a big controversy. There is a government scheme of the Sports Ministry, which provides for cash awards to various medal winners in international events. And this is a scheme, which is there in existence even before I took over as Sports Minister. And, a number of times in Parliament, I have made a mention of this scheme," Maken told media persons here.
Maken said the government has distributed 48.14 crore rupees in cash awards to different players who have won gold, silver or bronze in international events through this scheme
"And in the past three years, through this scheme, we have distributed 48.14 crore rupees cash awards to different players who have won gold, silver or bronze in international events. And this 48.14 crore rupees does not include cricket," he added.
Maken said that there are four different categories under this scheme on the basis of which the cash awards are given to different players
"In this scheme, we have four different categories on the basis of which the cash awards are given to different players. The first is Asian and Commonwealth Games, then the Olympic Games, World Championship and the fourth one is Asian and Commonwealth Championship. Our hockey team, which has made all of us proud after winning the Asian Championship, falls under the fourth category," said Maken.
Maken said the Indian hockey team has already won Rs. 1.5 lakh each under this scheme.
"And for all these categories, we have different sets of awards. Like for the Olympic Games, an individual winning a gold medal gets Rs. 50 lakh, and a team winning a gold medal gets Rs. 25 lakh for each player. Similarly for Asian and Commonwealth Games, an individual winning a gold medal gets Rs. 20 lakh, and anyone in the team gets Rs. 10 lakh. Similarly for the World Championship, the individual gold medallist gets Rs. 10 lakh and team individuals get Rs. 5 lakh when the team wins," said Maken.
"Similarly in this case, we already have in place a scheme by way of which in Asian and Commonwealth Championship, which our present hockey team has most recently won. We already have a scheme for which an individual winning a gold medal gets Rs. 3 lakh and a team if it wins any individual of the team gets Rs. 1.5 lakh each. So, through this scheme automatically, our team, which has won the Asian Championship, got Rs. 1.5 lakh each per player," he added.
The Government of Punjab had earlier in the day announced a cash award of Rs. 25 lakh for members of the victorious Indian hockey team.
The Indian hockey team had earlier rejected Hockey India''s cash reward, saying the paltry amount of Rs. 25,000 each was not proper recognition of their achievement.
The players were offered the reward during a felicitation ceremony at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium last evening, but they outrightly rejected it. The team felt insulted on being offered the meagre cash reward.
India defeated Pakistan 4-2 in the Asian Champions Trophy finals on Sunday in Ordos, China.

Continue Reading... Tags: Ajay Maken, Hockey, India, New Delhi

Federer arrives in Australia for Davis Cup tie

Canberra, Sep 14  The winner of a record 16 grand slam singles titles, Federer arrived down under following his emotional five-set loss to Novak Djokovic in a US Open semi-final Sunday.
He now only has two days to adjust to the grass courts at Royal Sydney Golf Club in Australia, before the World Group playoff tie.
Federer looked relaxed in a practice session at the tie's venue, the 30-year-old training in both singles and doubles against practice partners in a possible preview of his participation over the weekend.
"Well, usually we never have that much time to get used to the grass anyway, so that is kind of how we have to do it every year for the grass season, anyway, so I am kind of used to it," Federer told ABC Sports Wednesday. "The grass (here) is pretty good. It wasn't center court now, so I don't know how that plays, but we will see how it goes tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Australian tennis star and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt said the limited preparation time will not hold up Federer.
"For a freak like Roger, it doesn't matter," Hewitt said. "I haven't seen a lot that Roger hasn't been able to do, so he is as close to Superman as it comes."
Federer is expected to play two singles rubbers and could also team up with Swiss No. 2 ranked singles player Stanislas Wawrinka for Saturday's doubles. However, Wawrinka Tuesday revealed he was still getting over a leg injury he suffered at the US Open.
Swiss captain Severin Luthi backed his star player to handle the short preparation time.
"He is a great champion, we know that, and for sure it is always better if you have more days but I am sure that he can handle this," Luthi said.
He was also confident Wawrinka would be fit for the tie despite a niggling leg injury the world No. 19 brought over from America.
"They are used to playing with small injuries, for sure it is not a big thing, so I am not concerned about that," Luthi said.  Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer arrived in Australia and had
his first practice Wednesday for the Davis Cup starting Friday.

Continue Reading... Tags: Canberra, Federer, Tennis