KARACHI, Jan 29: Ahead of Indian cricket team’s historic tour to Pakistan in March, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today called for new bids for the sponsorship of the series after ending a contract with Pepsico.............more

South Africa stick to
winning one-day formula

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 29: South Africa have kept their victorious squad intact for the remaining three one-day internationals against West Indies...............more

Rain spoils
Zimbabwe hopes

MELBOURNE, Jan 29: Rain thwarted Zimbabwe’s hopes of registering their first victory in the triangular one-day series after they had restricted Australia to 263 for nine at the Melbourne cricket ground here today..........more

Agassi’s Australian
Open winning streak
ended by Safin

MELBOURNE, Jan 29: Former world number one Marat Safin of Russia ended Andre Agassi’s five-year winning streak at the Australian Open here....more

GULMARG, Jan 29: A brace by Tsering Mutup today helped Jammu and Kashmir Reds to a nail-biting victory over Jammu and Kashmir Blues in the league round of the ice hockey event at the fourth National Winter Games here............more

SCC wins by 72 runs

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 29: Saraswati Cricket Club (SCC) today reached the quarterfinals of Ist Shaheed Bilal Ahmed Memorial Cricket Tournament beating Aghar.............more

Sehwag and Tendulkar
fit to resume duty

PERTH, Jan 29: India’s star opening pair Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were recovering fast from their injuries......more

Azhar allowed to serve
notices on Muthiah,
Madhavan

HYDERABAD, Jan 29: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has permitted former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin to serve notices on former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).....more

Australia U-19 team to play at Cuttack on February 4......

Sania, Natallia enter QFs ......

Ganguly-Sandipan in joint lead......

PCB ends sponsorship contract with Pepsi

KARACHI, Jan 29: Ahead of Indian cricket team’s historic tour to Pakistan in March, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today called for new bids for the sponsorship of the series after ending a contract with Pepsico.

The board also cleared the controversy over television rights and said the rights will remain with Dubai based Ten Sports Channel.

Announcing the new deal reached with Pepsi, PCB chairman Shahryar M Khan told PTI in an exclusive interview here that the softdrinks major have agreed to forego its stakes over the series sponsorship for 3.75 lakh dollars.

"The television rights issue is absolutely clear cut. We have a contract with ten sports for five years and we have decided to do with it after a review as the PCB was not in a position to alter the contract," he said.

The decision has been taken after a special panel consisting of a marketing secialist and a prominent lawyer reviewed the contract with ten sports, owned by Dubai based cricket promoter Bhakthiyar Khan, and opined that the contract cannot be violated.

Both the TV rights and sponsorship deal were signed last last year when Gen (Retd) Tauqir Zia headed the PCB. Shahryar, a former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan who was manager of the Pakistan cricket team that toured India in 1998, was appointed as new chairman by Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf few months ago.

On the sponsorship issue, Khan said several top Indian companies along with companies from Singapore, Dubai and England have approached the board.

Considering the stakes, the PCB managed to settle the claims of Pepsi by paying 3.75 lakh dollars. The money would be spent by Pepsi for the development of cricket in Pakistan, a PCB press release later said.

In view of the new deal with Pepsi the tenders for the sponsorship of the Indian tour were called afresh by the PCB on January 22 and it would be opened in public on February 7. The companies have time till February 1 to file their tenders.

Khan said so far over 23 companies including several top Indian companies have shown interest. "Let us see who grabs it. We will know it on February 7."

He said several television companies from India and other parts of the world approached the PCB for exclusive TV rights offering double the money agreed by Ten Sports.

"But it was not possible," he said. The other reason that prompted PCB to go with the contract was that only ten sports came forward last year when several cricket nations, including India, Australia and West Indies refused to tour Pakistan and some matches were even held in third country venues.

"The companies that were offering hefty sums now for the Indian tour came nowhere near pcb last year. As far as TV rights are concerned we have contract with ten sports and we will abide by that contract. That is the end of the story."

He said the PCB wanted to accommodate Indian tv companies like Doordarshan but could not do so in view of contractual obligations. "If it wants, Doordarshan could work out a deal with Ten Sports," he said. (PTI)

South Africa stick to winning one-day formula

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 29: South Africa have kept their victorious squad intact for the remaining three one-day internationals against West Indies.

Graeme Smith’s team won the first game in the five-match series by 209 runs in Cape Town on Sunday, and the second by 16 runs in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

"The team have performed superbly so far in the series and we don’t see any need to make changes," selection convenor Omar Henry said in a United Cricket Board media release.

"We are also mindful of retaining some continuity as this is, in effect, the start of a series of 11 one-day internationals on the trot if you take into account the New Zealand tour."

South Africa leave for New Zealand on February 7 to play six one-dayers and three Tests. The third one-day international between South Africa and the West Indies will be played in Durban tomorrow.

South African squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Albie Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Morne Van Wyk. (AGENCIES)

Rain spoils Zimbabwe hopes

MELBOURNE, Jan 29: Rain thwarted Zimbabwe’s hopes of registering their first victory in the triangular one-day series after they had restricted Australia to 263 for nine at the Melbourne cricket ground here today.

Only a run-a-ball half century by one-day specialist Michael Bevan helped the world champions reach a competitive total after they had been reduced to 155 for five at one stage of the innings.

Rains, that had caused a 45-minute interruption earlier during the Australian innings, visited again during the lunch break and never stopped thereafter.

The match was called off by the umpires when there was no let up in downpour after two hours’ wait.

The teams shared three points each from the no result.

The Africans now have six points and are left with one match against India on Tuesday at Perth in the round-robin.

Australia now have 31 points and, with India (23), have already made it to the best-of-three finals.

Earlier, Zimbabwe once again came up with a tidy bowling performance after captain Heath Streak won the toss and put Australia in to bat in overcast conditions.

Streak’s men produced an inspiring cricket when they effected three run outs that took the wind out of the Australians’ sails.

Streak himself picked two for 47 but Andy Blignaut was brilliant on the field, running out the dangerous Bevan and Ian Harvey besides taking a catch in the deep in the final over to dismiss Brett Lee.

It was then Bevan’s workman like 56 including just three fours that gave the world champions a fighting total that had looked impossible after the top order had produced a listless performance.

Damien Martyn broke his run of poor scores with a quickfire 42 that came from 40 balls with eight fours before he was snared by a streak delivery that nipped back and struck him in front of the stumps.

After Matthew Hayden (23) edged Hondo on to his stumps and Michael Clarke (11) misread an incoming delivery from blessing Mahwire, Ricky Ponting and Ian Harvey added 42 runs for the fourth wicket that took Australia past the 100-mark. But Harvey (23) was beaten by Blignaut’s quick silver fielding when he was sent back by Ponting in the 27th over.

Ponting (35) did not last long and was guilty of a loose sweep shot against left-arm spinner Raymond Price that top edged to Mahwire at square leg.

The recovery work was left to Bevan once again but he had a fiery partner in Brad Haddin who went on the offensive from the outset.

Haddin’s 32 came from 46 balls and consisted of two fours and as many sixes before he dragged a Streak slower one on to his stumps.

The sixth wicket stand between Haddin and Bevan was worth 58 and was perhaps the turning point of the Aussie innings.

Streak then effected a smart run out to send back brad Hogg (0) before Bevan failed to make home to become Blignaut’s second run out victim.

Andy Bichel (23) then picked some quick singles besides making a few typical one-day shots. He clubbed Sean Ervine over mid-on off the last ball of the innings for a super slog. (PTI)

Agassi’s Australian Open winning streak ended by Safin

MELBOURNE, Jan 29: Former world number one Marat Safin of Russia ended Andre Agassi’s five-year winning streak at the Australian Open here today with a pulsating semi-final upset of the reigning champion.

Safin, whose world ranking plunged to 86 last year after an injury-plagued season, advanced to Sunday’s final after overcoming a brave Agassi fightback to win 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 1-6, 6-3 at the Rod Laver arena.

The 24-year-old’s thunderous serve and inspired groundstrokes proved too hot for four-time champion Agassi, 33, who had not lost a match at the Australian Open since his 1999 fourth round exit.

"I don’t have the words to describe what I’m feeling right now," said an elated safin. "To be on the same court as Andre Agassi and to win in five sets after he came back from 2-0 down, it’s great."

Safin, once touted as the greatest player of his generation after a victory over Pete Sampras in the 2000 US Open final and a 2002 Sustralian Open finalist, sent down 33 aces and 79 winners to overwhelm Agassi in 3hr 42min.

Fourth seed Agassi was the fifth American opponent to fall victim at these championships to Safin, who had thrust himself into title contention with a five-set quarter-final victory over world number one Andy Roddick.

The victory was made all the more remarkable by the fact that Safin had come into the match weary from more than 15 hours of play, while Agassi was relatively fresh from just over seven hours on court.

Safin will now play either Switzerland’s Roger Federer or Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in what will be his third appearance in a Grand Slam final. Federer and Ferrero face each other on Friday.

Safin’s remarkable victory overshadowed the women’s singles semi-finals, which as expected saw world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters set up a third all-Belgium Grand Slam final in seven months.

Henin-Hardenne, who beat Clijsters in both the French and US Open finals last season, trounced Colombia’s 32nd seed Fabiola Zuluaga 6-2, 6-2.

Second seed Clijsters, who played after passing a fitness test on her injured ankle, enjoyed a straight-sets win over 22nd seed patty Schnyder of Switzerland.

Watched by fiance and Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt, Clijsters showed no sign of her ankle problem during a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) win in 1hr 14min.

Afterwards Clijsters said reaching the final in Melbourne, where fans have unashamedly embraced her as "Aussie kim", meant more to her than other Grand Slam final appearances.

"I’ve come to so many Davis Cup matches here and to be on the court myself now and to have all the support of the crowd is incredible," said the 20-year-old.

"It was a great effort to get to the final in Paris and the US Open but coming here and getting to the final definitely means a lot more to me."

Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters are now contemplating their eighth meeting in a tournament final, the latest instalment of a rivalry which stretches back to their junior days in Belgium during the early 1990s.

Henin-Hardenne, meanwhile, said she couldn’t wait for yet another shoot-out with Clijsters.

"It’s going to be another great moment in my career," said the 21-year-old. "And people are going to make a lot of noise again as it’s an all-Belgian final, which I can understand because it’s huge for a little country."

Henin-Hardenne, who dominated Zuluaga on the strength of her forehand and one-handed backhand, said she had struggled early in the tournament to live up to the expectations of being the top seed.

"It’s been a very difficult tournament for me because it was new being here as the first seed," she said.

"That wasn’t easy every day, especially at the beginning of the tournament, but I changed the situation since the quarter-finals (against Lindsay Davenport) and I’m feeling better."

Both beaten semi-finalists Zuluaga and Schnyder savoured their first appearances in the last four of a Grand Slam tournament.

"The first three games I was really nervous, but then I was just having fun," said Zuluaga.

Schnyder said she was delighted with her performances in Melbourne, which have come despite turmoil in her private life over the past few years.

"It’s the greatest tournament I’ve played. For me it’s just amazing to be in the semis," said Schnyder. (AFP)

J&K Reds beat Blues in Ice Hockey

GULMARG, Jan 29: A brace by Tsering Mutup today helped Jammu and Kashmir Reds to a nail-biting victory over Jammu and Kashmir Blues in the league round of the ice hockey event at the fourth National Winter Games here.

In the other match of the day, Army defeated Ex-Servicemen by a solitary goal.

In an exciting match, the Reds and the Blues underlined their authority by engaging fast paced attacks and counter-attacks, bringing out fine saves from the goalkeepers on the either side of the naturally formed ice rinks.

The Reds opened their account in the first minute, taking the lead through a well-conceived one-two move between Norboo Khullu and Mutup with the former neatly putting the puck in the goal-net. The senior team from ND Kashmir doubled their lead in the 14th minute with Khullu returning Mutup’s favour by putting him through in a one-to-one situation with the Blues’ goalkeeper.

After the first breather 15 minutes later, the Blues upped the ante and made constant forays into the Reds’ half. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 19th minute with Ivgl Hakim reducing the margin through a wonderfully executed back-flick. The Blues persisted with their attacking game and equalised in the 24th minute when Tsering Dorjay netted the puck after a melee in front the Reds’ goal.

The two teams were tied at the second breather but the Red turned the heat on the Blues as the final set began. Mutup scored his second and third for his team in the 31st minute. The goal proved enough as all efforts of the Blues to salvage a point were thwarted by the Reds.

Captain of the Army ice hockey team Punchok Chosgail ensured victory for his team as he took advantage of a defensive error by the Ex-Servicemen.

Chosgail scored the solitary goal of the match in the 25th minute. The two teams concentrated on defending their goals than take the attack to the opponents making the game dull.

In the other matches, Jammu and Kashmir Blue thrashed Himachal Pradesh by four goals last night.

The Blues, playing under lights last night, scored through Tsering Dorjay, Abdul Hakim, Nawang Tsering and Qadir Ali while the team from Himachal failed to open its scoring account.

In another match played last night, Ex-Servicemen beat Indo-Tibetan Border Police by single goal.

In the heats of 1000 metre speed skating event, four players from the hosts team booked their place in the final to be held later tonight.

In the first heat, Mohammad Aijaz (J&K) secured first position while Angad Banga from Himachal took the second qualifying place for the final. Tsering Dorjay and Gombo Tashi of Jammu and Kashmir clinched both qualifying places in the second heat while T Gyalson of Army and Nawang Tsobdan (J-K) secured first and second places respectively in the third heat in the event. (PTI)