PCB Will Seek Dubai Permit For Asif
Pakistan Cricket Board will make a fresh appeal to Dubai authorities requesting them to revoke the travelling restrictions imposed on fast bowler Mohammad Asif. The board confirmed that it would soon make an attempt to get Asif’s name cleared by the Dubai authorities as Pakistan had several series lined up in the UAE. “Asif is an important member of the team,” Wasim Bari, PCB’s chief operating officer, said. “We have some series lined up in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in coming months. We will play England in two Twenty20 Internationals in Dubai.” He said the board had also tried to get clearance for Asif to play in the UAE last year for the New Zealand series, but failed in its attempt. “We will make another attempt and try to request the authorities in Dubai to remove the conditions that bar Asif from travelling there.” Asif made his limited-overs comeback during the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy. A Test return soon followed when Pakistan toured New Zealand for a three-Test series.
I Can Cry Like Roger: Murray
Britain's long wait continues. The added burden of 74 years of expectation was too much for Andy Murray and he failed to produce his best when it mattered most. The Scotsman was brave but Federer was just too good, winning the Australian Open final 6-3 6-4 7-6. It was not so much a match as a tennis lesson but Federer said it was players like Murray that brought out the best in him. "I'm being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up," Federer said. "They've made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, or maybe forever." At the presentation ceremony, Murray broke down in tears, just as Federer had done when he won the 2006 final and again last year when he lost to Nadal. "I can cry like Roger. It's just a shame I can't play like him," Murray said. Murray's time may still come. He is just 22 and has already played in two grand slam finals, at the U.S. Open two years ago and now Australia. At the same age, Federer had only made one grand slam final.
Akmals Face Disciplinary Action
Pakistan vice-captain Kamran Akmal and his brother Umar will face disciplinary action for allegedly violating their central contracts during the controversy that prevailed before the Hobart Test against Australia. The PCB is unimpressed over Kamran repeatedly insisting that he was playing in Hobart Test in spite of the team hierarchy flying in reserve wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad to replace him. Similarly, Umar is in the firing line for declaring himself unfit for the Test and announced he would not play, which some Pakistani players believe he faked in protest over his brother’s sacking. “We have started a preliminary inquiry and already plan to take action against the two (Kamran and Umar Akmal) for their irresponsible statements when they return from Australia,” Ijaz Butt said. The development is another kick in the gut for the tourists, who are already reeling from the PCB’s decision to remove Mohammad Yousuf as captain after the tour.
South Asian Games: Greenshirts Rout Nepal
Pakistan displayed their prowess in hockey when they scored an effortless 19-0 victory over Nepal in the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) hockey at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium. Pakistan swooped on the Nepalese from the very beginning and took the lead in the first four minutes after the push-off. Pakistan, consisting of under-21 players, easily took control of the game against their lowly opponents with their free-flowing moves. Scorers: Wasif Siddique (2, 33, 51, 52, 61, 67 minutes), Abdul Qayyum (4, 12, 40, 58, 62 minutes), Mohsin Bilal (7 minutes), Zubair Ahmed (20 minutes), Zeeshan Ali (22, 31 minutes), Sabtain Raza (39, 48 minutes), Abdul Khaliq (47 minutes), Naghman Ahmed (64 minutes).
“I Dye My Hair,” Admits Schumacher
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher admitted that he had turned to dye to cover up his grey hair and that he was now in perfect shape for Formula One. The German star, who stunned the Formula One world in December by signing a three-year contract to drive for Mercedes GP, said “I started to dye parts of my hair in, I think, 2005.” Schumacher also revealed he had had his eyes tested recently but insisted: “I do not need glasses.” The former Ferrari legend also said that he had already burned off 5kg of weight that he had put on since 2006. Now at the ideal racing weight of 74kg, Schumacher said his fitness regime revolved around swimming and playing football.
“I jog very little because I have had back and knee problems since the age of 14. But what is strange is that I can play three hours of football without any problems but I cannot jog for 45 minutes,” he said. “I now swim a lot. Half an hour of breaststroke per day makes an incredible difference.”
Football: Man Utd Loss A Massive Blow
Arsenal's 3-1 home defeat by Manchester United was a massive blow to their Premier League title hopes. "It is difficult to accept but easy to explain," Wenger said.
"We delivered a completely off-the-mark performance and that's why we were well beaten. We gave them too much room, we were naive and that's why we have to stick together and produce a much better performance.”
"It was a massive blow and a massive disappointment but we have to recover from that. That it is part of top-level football. We need something special now, I'm conscious of that."
