Pakistani players face more allegations of match-fixing

In fast-paced revelations, the focus in the Pakistan team match-fixing scandal has now shifted to allegations that Pakistani players fixed the first Test against England in the series just ended.

Also, a latest video released by British tabloid The News of the World is perhaps the most shocking one yet. After the video where bookie Mazhar Majeed was seen putting 10,000 pounds into his jacket which was handed over by the News of the World reporter, in the new video Majeed is now seen taking off the jacket and handing it over to fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who puts it on.

The bookie, arrested on Saturday and released on bail last night, was seen on video claiming that the result of a Test match played in Sydney in January this year between Australia and Pakistan was rigged. This was a sting operation conducted by The News of the World. In the video, Majeed is seen boasting about the fixed result of the Sydney Test and the money he earned from it.

Now, British tabloid The Sun has reported that Pakistani players also allegedly rigged the opening Test against England at Nottingham, which the hosts won by a massive 354 runs, in the series just ended.

The Sun has reported that Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick was told about Pakistani players being involved in match fixing a month ago.

"Ms Dick, head of the Specialist Crime Directorate, was still assessing that information yesterday when a News of the World probe exposed a Pakistani match-fixing ring," the report said.

Meanwhile, another report claimed that the Pakistani players were found with cash exceeding their daily allowances during a Scotland Yard raid on Saturday night.

THE STING:

In the videos released, bookie Majeed talks about how he launders match-fixing money through a football club. "The only reason I bought a football club is to do that," he said. (Who is Mazhar Majeed?)

The video shows him demanding a £10,000 down payment before guaranteeing two no-balls on the second day of the Sydney match during a secret meeting outside a restaurant where he was dining with the team.

The British tabloid has said the bookie also boasted that the betting syndicate made more than 830,000 pounds with one controversial Test this year.

SHOCK AND ANGER

Meanwhile, during the investigation, the Scotland Yard detectives spoke to Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and skipper Salman Butt and took away their mobile phones, Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed confirmed on Sunday.

However, despite the allegations, Saeed has denied that Pakistan cricket was "institutionally corrupt".

"We would like to wait to see what happens in the investigation. Only then we can say anything," Saeed said.

Back home the Pakistan cricket fraternity is stunned by the latest developments and has reacted with shock and anger. Former captains say the accused players and the team management should be called back home immediately and prompt steps be taken to deal with the scandal.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed his disappointment at the allegations and promised that any player found guilty would be severely punished.

If wrongdoing was proven, "all the players involved must forget to play for Pakistan in future," the President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/sports/pakistani-players-face-more-allegations-of-match-fixing-48253?trendingnow

Saina gears up for World Championships

Saina Nehwal has been on a hot streak of late with three consecutive super series titles. But over the next week, she has the chance to scale an even higher summit, win the world championships that start in Paris later on Tuesday.

The Hyderabadi hurricane has unfinished business at the World Championships. Laid low by chicken pox just before last year's World Championship in Hyderabad, Saina Nehwal battled hard but fell in the quarter finals.

But a lot has happened in the last 12 months. Saina is now in top gear and is seeded second in Paris. She starts off against Hsiao Huan Chen against whom she has a 2-0 head to head record.

A hattrick of titles a few months back have rocketed Saina to 2nd in the world rankings, but with that comes added expectations.

Saina's USP has been her ability to thrive under pressure but this time the odds are stacked against her. The Chinese are lurking and Saina will have to go past 3 of them before she can lay her hands on the trophy.

Also within striking dstance is that coveted world number one ranking. There's a lot to play for in Paris and her journey begins on Tuesday.

Source http://ibnlive.in.com/news/saina-gears-up-for-world-championships/129496-5-23.html

Sangakkara wants team to build on thumping win

After reaching the finals of the tri-series with one of Sri Lanka's biggest wins over India, Kumar Sangakkara has said the team must aim at winning consistently, irrespective of the margin of victory. In front of a raucous Sunday crowd, Sri Lanka rolled MS Dhoni's side over for 103, inflicting the largest defeat in India's history in terms of balls remaining.

"It's a good preparation for the final, but that is a new game six days away," Sangakkara said. "The key is to win matches consistently, wins like this (or) close matches, it doesn't matter if we win matches consistently."

The likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas aren't a part of the current squad, but all of them played their part in Sri Lanka's 245-run walloping of India in the finals of the Coca Cola Champions Trophy in 2000, a victory which Sangakkara termed as their best against India. "The best win against India I guess was in Sharjah, very early in my career, we got 299 and India were 54 all out I think," he said. "That was a great win and that was a great side, with this particular side, with some of our greats who have retired, it's great for our confidence that we can still do things like this."

One of the minor surprises during Sri Lanka's chase on Sunday was the promotion of Mahela Jayawardene to the top of the order, pushing the specialist opener, Upul Tharanga, down to No. 3. Jayawardene didn't open the innings for a decade after his debut in one-dayers, but has two hundreds in the five times he has opened, and has also recently taken to opening for Sri Lanka in Twenty20s.

"We've got to understand that players evolve, MJ is the best batsman we have without a doubt, to me he's been ideal for us in the middle order," Sangakkara said. "But Mahela over the last year and a half has shown a liking to open, if his mindset is more free to go up top of the order, then guys like me, other players must back that decision, we've got to move down the order and take responsibility."

Sangakkara said the move was a one-off, and the Jayawardene wasn't yet penciled in for the opener's slot for the final. Sri Lanka have five days to plan their strategy for the final, and the team decided to take Monday off, heading to the beaches of Trincomalee, two-and-half hours away from Dambulla.

Source http://www.cricinfo.com/sl-tri2010/content/current/story/473822.html

Sharapova named world's highest-paid female athlete

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova was named the world's highest-paid female athlete by Forbes magazine.

Sharapova pulled in $24.5 million over the past year, including $1 million earned from prize money and the rest derived from endorsements and appearance fees, Forbes said.

Sharapova, 23, became an overnight tennis sensation at the age of 17 when she won Wimbledon in 2004, and quickly showed her business acumen by signing lucrative contracts with global brands like Canon, Motorola, Tiffany, Land Rover, and Colgate-Palmolive.

But her biggest deal is with Nike, which re-signed the Russian star in January to an eight-year contract worth up to $70 million.

Sharapova also receives royalties from her own line of bags and shoes through Nike subsidiary Cole Haan.

The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, occupy the No. 2 and No. 3 slots in the Forbes' list, respectively. According to the survey, Serena's earnings account for $20.2 million, while Venus earned $15.4 million over the past year.

Sharapova dropped from the 76th to 81st place on this year's Forbes ranking of the richest and most powerful actors, actresses, athletes and musicians.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/Sharapova-named-worlds-highest-paid-female-athlete/articleshow/6363741.cms

IPL GC, BCCI Marketing Committee to meet tomorrow

A decision on the number of matches to be played in the next edition of the Indian Premier League will top the agenda of the T20 League's Governing Council meeting in Mumbai on Friday. Passing of the IPL-III accounts is also in the priority list of the agenda. BCCI marketing committee will also meet tomorrow to decide on the sponsors for Test series, ODIs and T20 Internationals for a peroid from September 1 this year to March 31, 2013.

The BCCI's finance committee is also scheduled to meet on Friday.

While eight teams were in the fray in the first three editions, the highly popular IPL will feature 10 teams from the next edition after addition of Sahara Pune Warriors and Kochi franchise.

Sources say the organisers may go for a shorter edition in terms of the number of matches.

"Playing 94 matches is not possible especially in the months of April-May-June when IPL-IV is to be held. May be we will go for 73-74 matches in all," they said.

According to sources, pruning of the duartion is inevitable with media reports claiming that a key member of the Indian team management has written to the BCCI to cut down the team's schedule to avoid player burnout and injuries.

Board secretary N Srinivasan has denied receving any such letter but IPL, to be held soon after the conclusion of 2011 World Cup, may go for a new format.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/IPL-GC-BCCI-Marketing-Committee-to-meet-tomorrow/Article1-588883.aspx

Former players criticise Randiv for deliberate no ball

Suraj Randiv’s deliberate no-ball to Virender Sehwag, which denied the Indian opener a hundred in their tri-series ODI match last night, came in for sharp criticism by former players who felt the Sri Lankan spinner’s antics were “unsporting and unpardonable“.

While iconic all-rounder and former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev chose to remain mum on the issue, others such as Syed Kirmani and Ajit Wadekar felt Randiv’s actions have set a bad precedent.

“On certain things, I do not want to react. It is not worth talking about. Some players are playing the game in their own ways. To me, it is important that India won the match. Sehwag deserves appreciation for the manner in which he handled the situation in scoring the 99-run knock,” Kapil told PTI.

Former stumper Kirmani said cricket’s reputation as a gentleman’s game is getting tarnished due to acts such as these.

“These days, no team appreciates an opponent’s good knock or good work with the ball. The game is played like a war between the teams. It is not in the spirit of the gentlemanly game,” Kirmani said.

“Sehwag was magnanimous in his comments. To many followers of the game, including myself, it looked like unsporting behaviour by Randiv. I would not have done it. Randiv was bowling well and he is a capable bowler. He had the ability to take Sehwag’s wicket and delay the proceedings instead of bowling a no ball,” he added.

A disgusted Sehwag later criticised Randiv in the post-match press conference but the matter seems to have been settled amicably after Sri Lanka Cricket and Randiv offered apologies for the incident.

But Kirmani felt such unsporting acts should not be forgiven.

“I do not know whether it was a team strategy, if it is, it is an unpardonable act,” he said.

Former all-rounder Madan Lal and ex-captain Ajit Wadekar echoed the sentiment. “It’s not cricket. That’s not fair, not done in cricket. But a no-ball is a no-ball and the umpire had to declare it. It comes first and the ball becomes dead. Poor chap, Sehwag. He deserved a hundred,” said Wadekar.

“I do not like teams to behave like that in matches. To me, it looked like a deliberate attempt. I appreciate Sehwag for the bold manner in which he remained not out to give India the important victory. However, Suraj Randiv’s actions were in bad taste and it could affect the future matches of tri-series,” felt Madan Lal.

“It is definitely unsporting behaviour. I don’t know whether Sangakkara has done it or the bowler did it purposefully. In my opinion they should not have done it,” Madan Lal said.

Former chief selector Chandu Borde, however, felt the Lankans should not be singled out for criticism as all teams have employed such tactics, including India.

“No team wants to allow a batsman to cross the century mark and all the teams in the world have succeeded on number of occasions in denying the batsman of a century. Even we Indians have followed this and never gave a freedom for the batsman to set a mark. It was a brilliant knock by Sehwag, he deserves all accolades,” he said.

“I would not say it as ‘not cricket’ Some people are generous to a fault but others, like the Australians, won’t give you an easy hundred to take. There can be two opinions on this; whether Sri Lanka were unsporting or not.

“I remember (In Delhi in 1958-59 series) against the West Indies I had scored a century (109) in the first innings and was 96 batting in the second with (fast bowler Roy) Gilchrist repeatedly bowling bouncers at me. When two balls remained non-striker Vijay Manjrekar came and told me you have to get to the century. I hooked the next ball, it went for a four but I disturbed my wicket and was hit-wicket,” he recalled.

“In the same match, we didn’t allow Gary Sobers to get to his double hundred when he was on 199. It’s part of the game.

We Indians have also adopted such strategies. Even local cricket in India is played in that manner,” he said.

Former left arm spinner Bapu Nadkarni felt the six hit by Sehwag off the no ball should have counted.

“The decision of the umpires is puzzling to me. A no-ball is bowled and the match is declared as over. Hypothetically speaking if Sehwag plays a shot and a run-out occurs, then what happens? How do you say the match is over and the ball is dead? It was not dead when Sehwag hit a six.

“I am not an expert on the rules but the no-ball is there to be taken advantage of by the batsman and Sehwag did it,” he opined.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article575847.ece

Games problems 'could harm India's Olympic hopes'

India's hopes of one day hosting the Olympic Games will suffer unless it overcomes organisational problems affecting the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Australian Olympic chief John Coates said Thursday.

The October 3-14 event involving 71 nations is already the costliest Commonwealth Games in history, with an infrastructure and organising budget of two billion dollars, which unofficial estimates say will be at least tripled.

An Indian anti-corruption body has also reported that it had found a host of problems in construction work for the Games, including the use of poor-quality materials and dubious contracts.

The soaring costs and highly publicised delays have led to severe criticism of the organisers, and Coates -- a member of the International Olympic Committee executive board -- said the fallout would damage India's reputation for hosting major sports events.

"In the Olympic world we would certainly prefer that venues are all finished one year before, that you're able to have test events," the Australian Olympic Committee president told reporters.

"We did have some similar experiences with Athens (Olympics in 2004) and I'm sure the Games will happen, but certainly I wouldn't like to be involved in something with construction happening so close to the event.

"In many ways you're in the hands of organising committees, you're in the hands of governments, you get to a stage where you have to trust them, you have to back them.

"There's no potential to take the Games away; it had to happen in Athens, it has to happen in Delhi and I'm sure it will," Coates said.

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iIxGIiSONuTXKpZKq4gTdtCs3mIQ