Olympics 2012: London to spend whatever it takes

SYDNEY: Organisers of the London 2012 Games will spend "whatever it takes" on security for the global event, British Olympic Association chairman Lord Colin Moynihan said Monday.

Meeting here with Australian Olympic officials, Moynihan said the security budget would be far greater that initial estimates, but "that is a price you absolutely have to pay" to ensure a safe and successful Games."

The safety of the athletes and everybody is paramount. Whatever it takes must be spent in order to secure their safety," Moynihan told reporters.

"That is critical," he said.

Aussie cricket team heads to Hyderabad

JAIPUR, India: The Australian cricket team heads to Hyderabad where they will officially begin their tour of India - a week after touching down on the subcontinent.

After seven days as guests of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, the tourists will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

They will train lightly in Hyderabad ahead of a four-day fixture against a strong board president's XI including Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer and Piyush Chawla.

Roddick wins China Open beating Sela

BEIJING: Andy Roddick claimed his third ATP title of the season, beating unseeded Dudi Sela of Israel 6-4, 6-7 (6) 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the China Open.

No. 2 Roddick struggled all the way against Sela, who reached the final by beating top-seeded seed David Ferrer, fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo and Rainer Schuettler of Germany.

It was the first ATP final of Sela's career.Sela is only No. 92 in the ATP rankings and is the first Israeli to reach an ATP final since Harel Levy in 2000. He failed to become the first Israeli winner since Amos Mansdorf in 1993.

BCCI names Manohar new president

MUMBAI: Shashank Manohar was named as new president of the Indian cricket board while former Test opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth was elected as the chief selector.

The new list of office bearers was unveiled at the annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here.

Manohar took over from Sharad Pawar who completed his three-year term as BCCI chief and is also the president-elect of the International Cricket Council.

Jones wins WBA cruiserweight title

HAMBURG: Guillermo Jones of Panama stopped Firat Arslan of Germany in the 10th round to win the WBA cruiserweight title. Jones dominated the fight and hurt Arslan with a series of bruising blows to the head, causing the fight to be stopped with 27 seconds left in the 10th.

The 36-year-old Panamanian, who was the No. 1 ranked challenger, improved to 36-2-3. Arslan, who turned 38 during the fight as it went past midnight, dropped to 29-1-4.

He won the title in November 2007 against Virgil Hill and was making his second defense.

The German was bleeding heavily from the bottom lip and the nose from the third round.

BCCI names Manohar new president

MUMBAI: Shashank Manohar was named as new president of the Indian cricket board while former Test opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth was elected as the chief selector.

The new list of office bearers was unveiled at the annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here.

Manohar took over from Sharad Pawar who completed his three-year term as BCCI chief and is also the president-elect of the International Cricket Council.

Pakistan seeks to improve cricket board's constitution

LAHORE: Former test captains Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas and present skipper Shoaib Malik will be part of a 15-member committee set up to scrutinize the constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), officials said.

Former test players have been asked to submit any recommendations for improving the country's cricket set-up and constitution to the sports ministry."

The committee will look at ways to make the cricket board's constitution more democratic as in its present form it doesn't encourage accountability," law minister Farooq Naek said.

Sports minister endorse Twenty20 squad

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge has ratified a 15-man squad for the Canada Cup Four Nation 20/20.

The squad is the same as announced earlier this month and does not include wicketkeeper batsman Indika de Saram, who had complained about his exclusion despite good performances in local competitions.

The squad selected for the tournament does not include a specialist wicketkeeper. Tillakaratne Dilshan will stand in for Kumar Sangakkara, who had undergone a finger surgery in Australia.

Pakistan asks for top security for cricket match

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan requested top security for a national cricket tournament next week following a string of deadly attacks by Islamist militants.

The 13-team Twenty20 tournament begins in Lahore on October 4 at two venues.Col. Mohammad Zufiqar of the Pakistan Cricket Board told media persons his group sought "foolproof security" for all teams, and he has been assured security will be of "international standard."

Last week, a truck bombing at the upscale Marriott hotel in Islamabad killed 53 people and injured 260 others.

PCB seeks interest for next stretch of TV Rights

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) Letter for Audio-visual Rights of International Cricket in Pakistan for the period 2009-2013.

In essence the Rights on offer constitute television rights for international cricketing events to be held in Pakistan which are controlled by the PCB, said a spokesman here on Friday.

The ITT has been offered to leading broadcasters and agencies worldwide. Interested parties may acquire the ITT from the “Marketing & Commercial Division” of PCB at Gaddafi Stadium, over the next couple of weeks, while submission of bids is scheduled around the second week of November 2008.

India will not tour Pakistan, says ex-PCB boss

ISLAMABAD: A former head of the Pakistan Cricket Board says he expects India to pull out of next year's tour due to security concerns."I don't think India will come because the (security) conditions are not good for international cricket (in Pakistan)," Tauqir Zia said Friday on a local news channel."It will be a big setback for Pakistan cricket, but they should be prepared for this."India is scheduled to tour Pakistan from Jan. 4 for three tests and five one-day internationals.Zia also said he doubts that Pakistan will host the already postponed Champions Trophy limited-overs tournament next year."What (is there) to talk about the Champions Trophy? I doubt even India will come," he said.

2010 World Cup leopard mascot unveiled

JOHANNESBURG: A cuddly leopard with a green afro leaped through a beaded curtain Monday and into World Cup history. The leopard, named Zakumi, was unveiled as the mascot of the 2010 World Cup, which will take place in South Africa.

At Zakumi's introduction at a state TV studio, a performer in a Zakumi costume kicked around a football with Mark Fish, who helped lead South Africa to the African Cup of Nations title in 1996.

Zakumi was given a biography and name evoking South Africa's history and hopes. The character was "born" June 16, 1994, tournament organizers said.

The year is when apartheid ended and the date is celebrated as Youth Day to mark the Soweto uprising of 1976, remembered as the day when young South Africans struck a blow against white rule.

India to tour Pakistan next year

KARACHI: India will play a Test and a one-day international in Rawalpindi on their tour of Pakistan early next year despite the latest bombing in adjoining Islamabad, official said Tuesday.

The blast on Saturday evening devastated the five-star Marriott hotel and killed at least 60 people, including at least four foreigners.

"India will play a Test and a one-day international in Rawalpindi because the itinerary was approved by India before the Islamabad blast," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

"We hope normalcy returns by the time India tours us."

The tour begins with a three-day side match at Hyderabad starting January 6, while Karachi will host the first Test from January 13 to 17.The teams will play the second Test in Rawalpindi from January 21 to 25 and the third in Lahore from January 29 to February 2.

The one-day series will start from February 6 in Faisalabad. The remaining matches will be played in Lahore (February 8), Rawalpindi (February 11), Multan (February 14) and Karachi (February 17). Karachi will host the only Twenty20 match on February 19.

Court defers Shoaib decision

LAHORE: Lahore's high court has deferred making a decision on whether Shoaib Akhtar has to pay a fine of Rs 7 million (approx US$105,000) to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The hearing has now been set for October 3 and uncertainty remains over whether he will be able to play in the opening round of Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 tournament.

The PCB had sought a ruling from the court on whether Shoaib was eligible to play domestic and international cricket without paying the fine.

Aisam to play in world event in Thailand

LAHORE: Pakistan's top most tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq is set to achieve another land mark in his tennis career by appearing in Thailand Open ATP World Tennis Championship after qualifying for the grand event carrying a prize money of US$ 576,000.

In order to qualify for the singles main draw of this prestigious tournament Aisam had to pass through the rigour of two tough rounds of the qualifying.

In the final round of the qualifying Aisam prevailed over the strong sixth seed Luka Gregorc of Slovenia showing better physical fitness, stamina and stronger serve & volley game in a match which lasted for two hours and fifty minutes.

Tendulkar fit for Australia tests, says official

NEW DELHI: Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar will be available for India's upcoming Test series against Australia despite racing against time to be fit, an official said on Monday. Tendulkar, 35, opted out of a five-day trial match starting in Vadodara on Wednesday after being advised to take a week's rest to recover from an elbow injury sustained during the recent Sri Lanka tour.

The news sent shockwaves across India, but cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah denied media reports that Tendulkar could miss the four-Test series against the world champions starting on October 9.

Asif lawyer upset over doping hearing delay

KARACHI: The lawyer for suspended Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has asked for his appeal against a positive doping test to be set for the earliest possible date.

Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during a domestic Twenty20 competition in India and was immediately suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board when the positive test was announced in July.

He denied taking any banned substances.His 'B' sample also tested positive.

Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim said last month when the results for the 'B' sample were announced they would appeal, though admitted on Saturday he was frustrated in the delay in getting a hearing.

French Muller extends lead in WTCC

IMOLA, Italy: Yvan Muller extended his World Touring Car Championship lead with a victory in the opening race at Imola this afternoon.

The Frenchman passed pole-sitting teammate Rickard Rydell on the run into the first corner and Rydell was able to protect him from any challengers, leaving Muller to take the win by a margin of just over 0.4s.James Thompson gave the N.

Technology squad their first podium of the season with a hard-fought third place in his Honda Accord, although the Briton was involved in a clash with Chevrolet's Alain Menu that prompted an investigation by the stewards.

Aussies hope game can return to Pakistan

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia said Sunday it hoped the security situation in Pakistan would calm down so that international cricket could again be played there, following a massive bomb blast in Islamabad.

At least 51 people were killed and 200 others were injured in the truck bombing Saturday night at the Pakistani capital's Marriott Hotel, where rescuers were combing through the debris for possible survivors."

Our reaction is that it's terribly sad and tragic news," CA public affairs manager Peter Young told local press."

We enjoy playing against them and we have tours coming up there next year of course," he said.

"Everyone is praying quite fervently that the domestic situation there settles down so people can live their life in peace and hopefully we can start playing cricket there again."

PSF not to produce world champ even by 2025: Jansher

KARACHI: Former squash world champion Jansher Khan has said that the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) will not be able to produce a world champion even till 2025.

Talking to reporters here at Karachi Press Club, Jansher said he challenge that PSF will not be able to produce a world champion even by 2025 under its present ad-hoc policy.”

PSF Senior Vice President AVM Asim Sulaiman on Friday had unfolded a Squash Development Programme 2011 in which he claimed to produce a world champion by the year 2011.

Jansher, a record eight-time World Open champion said it is very sad to see that how squash is suffering.

He stressed that current lot of players are unlikely to break even into top ten.