Latest News:RAW: HBK says farewell to the WWE Universe

Wrestlemania has come and gone and ***SPOLIER ALERT*** John Cena is the new WWE Champion and Shawn Michaels has walked off into the sunset after losing to The Undertaker. It’s fitting that the Rob Corddry and Clark Duke, the stars of the new movie, Hot Tub Time Machine, are hosting, because I’m sure most people would go back in time to change last night’s results.

(On a side note, I don’t care what Nick says, that movie looks awesome. Anything paying homage [ripping off] back to the future is okay in my book.)

Former WWE champion Batista walks to the ring to start off the show in Phoenix. The Animal is not happy as the crowd shouts him down. Batista pulls out the old “I’m cashing in my rematch” and “Cena can’t beat me” lines.

The champ finally arrives. Batista can’t seem to accepts the fact that he tapped out to Cena, even though that Wrestlemania moment will live forever. Tonight, Batista can regain that title on Shawn Michael’s final RAW. Cena wants the rematch, tonight, so Batista needs to step up. The Animal knows everyone wants to see the rematch, so he says not tonight, and takes a cheap shot at Cena. The Champ quickly dispatches Batista from the ring, only to get jumped by Mr. Money in the Bank, Jack Swagger. He beats Cena with the briefcase, and then calls for the ref. He’s cashing in the Money in the Bank! Cena recovers and almost locks in the STF when the ref hits the ring. Swaggers jumps from the ring, and waves off the match. The ref asks him if he wanted to cash it in, and Swagger declined. The match was never made official.

We take a look back at the career of the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels.

The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase leads a group of WWE Legends to the ring. They are followed by Roddy Piper and more Legends. The King joins the party, and I see were this is going. I smell a back in time match here. Tonight’s guest hosts from Hot Tub Time Machine walk out on stage. Clark Duke first announces a main event featuring Batista and Jack Swagger will take on John Cena and a partner of his choosing. Rob then says there will also be a hot tub match. He and Clark will take on the WWE Divas. (These are my kind of hosts.)

Match #1 – Christian vs. Ted DiBiase – WWE Legends Lumberjack Match

WE come back from commercial with the match in progress. Dibiase is the first to get tossed from the ring and the Legends help him back in. Ted hits a clothesline, and gets a near fall. DiBiase then counters a bulldog from Christian, tossing him from the top turnbuckle. Christian goes up top again, and Dibiase yanks him to the mat. Christian hits a flying elbow, and then looks for the Killswitch. DiBiase blocks it, and then both men spill out to the floor. The Legends throw the two back in the ring, and then start fighting at ringside. Christian hits a distracted DiBiase with the Killswitch and covers for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Christian

After the match, the Million Dollar Man confronts his son after the match. Ted wants nothing to do with him and heads up the ramp.

More footage from the WWE archive featuring HBK.

Clark and Rob look ready for their hot tub match. The Bellas, Rosa Mendes, and Tiffany are in the tub all ready. The rules are whoever stays in the tub the longest with the guys wins. The lights going down, and the champagne starts flowing. (Seriously, these guys have the right idea. If I ever hosted, this is the first match I’m booking, but it would be a one on one match with Gail Kim.)

Triple H walks out on stage saying tonight is the end of an era. He didn’t think this is how it would end. Hunter shares some memories and gets a little choked up. Hunter wants to say something he has never said before, but Sheamus smacks him with pipe before HHH can say anything.

Match #2 – Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, Eve, Mickie James and Beth Phoenix vs. Maryse, Alicia Fox, Michelle McCool, Layla, and Vicki Guerrero – Wrestlemania Rematch

(Really? REALLY!?!)

Maryse poses, but the bell had rung, so Eve rolls her up and gets the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, Eve, Mickie James and Beth Phoenix

After the match, there is a short scrum until the faces clear the ring.

Shawn Michaels puts the ladder match on the map against Razor Ramon in Madison Square Garden at Wrestlemania 10. Next up, Shawn Michaels versus Bret Hart in the Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania 12.

Bret Hart addresses the crowd after beating Vince McMahon last night. Hart congratulates HBK on his career and wishes him the very best going forward. Hart says he has found the closure he was looking for by beating the heck out of Vince. Hart thanks his fans. The Tag Team champions join Hart in the ring, but I don’t think they are going to congratulate him.

Miz can’t believe Bret is proud of beating Vince in a glorified handicap match. Miz calls Hart a thief, for stealing Miz’s spotlight. Miz says he is one and oh at Wrestlemania, and 17 wins away from tying the Undertaker. He calls Hart and his family overrated. Miz tells Hart to leave, and Bret says make me. Big Show steps up, when the Hart Dynasty joins Bret in the ring. ShoMiz takes off, but Hart calls them out. He wants them to take on the Hart Dynasty. Miz is game, but Show thinks otherwise. Miz talks Show into the match, and they head back to the ring.

Match #3 – ShoMiz vs. The Hart Dynasty

We join the match in progress. Miz is hit with a vertical suplex, and then tossed to the outside. Show tags in, slamming Tyson Kidd to the mat. He pushes Kidd into the corner, and tags in Miz. The US champion covers for two. Kidd fights back with punches, until Miz drives him into the corner. Show makes a blind tag, and then chops Kidd across the chest. Show locks in a sleeper, but Miz tags himself in. Kidd is kicked in the gut, and Miz follows with a chin lock. David Hart Smith gets the hot tag, and takes Miz to the mat. Hart and Kidd double team Miz, and Kidd locks in the Sharp Shooter. Show pulls his partner out of the hold and the ring. Show asks Miz if he has had enough, and the two head up the ramp. The ref makes the ten count, so the Hart Dynasty wins by count out.

Winner via count out: The Hart Dynasty

The HBK memory train rolls on with the formation of DX and all their runs.

Back in the hot tub, the boys are enjoying themselves; the Divas, not so much. Tiffany and Rosa have had enough and bail. Another star of the movie, Craig Robison drops in via satellite. Someone switched his ticket at the airport, but he can still host. He declares the Bellas the winners, and then announces a new opponent, Mark Henry. Rob and Clark try bail, but Henry won’t let them. Rob gets bit, and turn out Hornswoggle was snorkeling in the tub.

Match #4 – Jack Swagger and Batista vs. John Cena and an opponent of his choice

Cena gets on the mic and calls for everyone attention. Cena partner for tonight is an old friend of Batista, and it is Randy Orton! (I didn’t see that coming.)

Swagger and Cena start things off with the champ hitting a suplex. Orton gets the tag, stomping away at Swagger. Orton drops a knee, and looks to finish off Swagger. The All-American American rolls out of the ring, and we go to commercial.

After the break, Swagger has Cena in a waist lock. The champ breaks the hold, only to get a back suplex. Swagger splashes Cena off the middle turnbuckle. Batista tags in, whipping Cena across the ring and follows with a spinebuster. Cena counters the Batista Bomb with a back drop. Orton calls for the tag, and gets it. Orton unloads on Swagger with a scoop slam and then a back breaker. Batista breaks the pinfall and then spears Cena. Orton hits Batista with a RKO and then hands Swagger one as well. Orton covers and gets the three count.

Winner via pinfall: Randy Orton and John Cena

After the match, Orton and Cena size each other up. The champ leaves Orton to pose in the ring.

Shawn Michaels walks to the ring for what could be the last time on RAW. The arena goes dark and the bells tolls, signifying the arrival of the man that ended HBK’s career. The Undertaker stands atop the ramp and tips his hat to Shawn Michaels before leaving. (It’s getting a little dusty here at the Plummer house.) Michaels doesn’t know what he is going to say as the crowd chants for him to stay. Shawn says not being on TV is going to be a little hard to get used too. HBK thanks the fans for all the years of support, and it’s getting a little dusty in the WWE ring right now. Shawn thanks Hunter for being his friend when no one else would; he also thanks the production crew, the announcers, and Jim Ross. The crowd wants one more match. HBK knows how people feel about career ending matches, but he doesn’t want to go back on his word to the people or the Undertaker. This is it folks. Michaels will do everything in his power to make sure that last night was his last match. Shawn also thanks Bret Hart, because he drove him crazy back in the 90’s. He thanks Bret for forgiving him for the mistakes that he made. And then there’s Vincent Kennedy McMahon; HBK says there is no way he can work for anyone else after working under Vince. He thanks Vince for keeping him on course when his life was spinning out of control. Michaels thanks the fans, again, and the fans reciprocate. He then thanks his family and tells his kids that, “Daddy is coming home.” The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels has left the building.

Latest News:Women hockey team to appear in Asian Games qualifiers

LAHORE – The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Women wing has decided to start the women hockey academy in Lahore while the Pakistan hockey team will take part in the qualifying round of the Asian Games to be held in Bangkok.
PHF women wing secretary Tanzeela Aamer Cheema told at a news conference here at the National Hockey Stadium that trials for the academy would be completed by April 3 and 50 players from different age groups would be selected.
She told that the Pakistan women hockey team would participate in the Asian Games qualifying round which would be held in Bangkok from May 22 to 29.
The camp of the women team will begin from April 15 after the trials will be completed by April 10.


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Latest News:Next month, the Indo-Pak match: Sania to wed Shoaib

Two months after she called off her engagement, tennis star Sania Mirza is all set to tie the knot with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik.



Confirming the news on his Twitter account late Monday night, Malik wrote: “The news of me marrying Sania is true. Inshallah, will get married in April.”



While the Mirzas refused to confirm or deny the development, the Malik family spoke about the possible wedding date.



“Yes, the news is confirmed. Shoaib will be marrying Sania, most likely some time in the first week of April,” Imran Zafar, Malik’s brother-in-law, told The Indian Express from Lahore. “Ceremonies will be held both in India and Pakistan. There will be a reception in Lahore in the second or third week of April,” he said.



Sania and Malik met in Dubai recently and this was followed by the two families giving them the approval to get married.



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In an interview, Malik had said that he intended to get married this year. “You will soon get some good news but it depends on my family.”



Sania and Malik are likely to settle down in Dubai — Malik holds a UAE passport. This move probably factors in Sania’s tennis career as well.



Malik, incidentally, was involved in a legal battle with another Hyderabad girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, in 2008. She had alleged that Malik married her over phone in 2002 and demanded a legal divorce.



Sania had been engaged to childhood friend Sohrab for seven months before calling it off, citing “incompatibility”.



Malik has been banned for one year by the PCB for poor performance and indiscipline during Pakistan’s recent tour of Australia. He has appealed the ban.

Sania and Malik met in Dubai recently and this was followed by the two families giving them the approval to get married.

Latest News:Sania Mirza engaged to Shoaib Malik

Islamabad (PTI): Breaking News! According to PTI reports, India's No. 1 tennis start Sania Mirza got engaged to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik. PTI quoted a Pakistan TV Channel, Geo TV.



The Geo TV reported that Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik got engated and might tie the knot in April 2010. Shoaib was earlier linked to another Hyderabad girl, Ayesha Siddiqui.



According to the TV channel, Shoaib Malik's mother met Sania's parents in Hyderabad to finalise the marriage. "The 'Walima' or reception is expected to be held in Lahore on April 16 or 17", said Geo TV.



Sania Mirza and her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza got engaged in July last year. But their engagement was cancelled later. There is no official confirmation from either Sania Mirza or her parents about the "engagement" with Shoaib Malik.



It is not known whether the report is baseless, rumor, speculation or true. Further details are awaited.

Latest News:Yousuf announces retirement from international cricket

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and world record holder batsman Mohammad Yousuf on Monday announced he was to quit international cricket in protest against an indefinite ban.

Yousuf was banned earlier this month in a crackdown on players by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following a disastrous tour of Australia. Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-days and a Twenty20 match.

The dismal performance resulted in bans and fines on seven leading players -- Younus was captain for most of the games.

"I received a letter from the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) that my staying in the team is harmful for the team, so I announce my retirement from international cricket," he said in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi.

"I thank the fans around the world, all the senior players and family members for supporting me throughout my 12-year career," said an emotional Yousuf, 35, dressed in a religious white cap and traditional dress.

"I always played for my country and if my playing is harmful for the team then I don't want to play," he told the news conference, fielding a barrage of questions at the Karachi Press Club.

Yousuf played 88 Tests, nine as captain and scored 7,431 runs at an average of 53.07, including 24 centuries. He also scored 9,624 runs in 282 one-day internationals.

Yousuf was third behind Javed Miandad (8,832 in 124) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829 in 119) in all time run-getters for Pakistan in Tests and second behind Inzamam (11,701 in 375 matches) in one-day cricket.

But his greatest achievement was 1,788 Test runs in 2006 with nine hundreds -- the world record for most runs scored and hundreds in a calendar year, beating Viv Richards' 1976 record of 1,710 for the West Indies.

He also won International Cricket Council (ICC) Test player of the year in 2007.

Asked during Monday's news conference if he could rescind his decision, Yousuf said: "at the moment my playing in the team is harmful so I am quitting".

"If I get time, I would love to play first class cricket and private leagues," he later added.

Latest News:Katich ton helps Aussies take 300-run lead over Kiwis

HAMILTON: AUSTRALIA is in a commanding position at the end of the third day of the second Test with a lead of 300 over New Zealand and six wickets in hand.

Simon Katich’s patient 10th Test century righted the ship after some early wobbles and contributions from Michael Hussey (67) and Shane Watson (65) also helped.

Marcus North 42 not out and Michael Clarke 42 not out took the score to 333-4 at stumps.
Katich’s 106 comes as some relief as the opener has made a habit of stumbling before the milestone this summer with scores of 92, 90, 99, 98, 79 and an 88 in the first innings here.
He made a solitary even 100 against Pakistan at Hobart.

Katich has had a golden run since returning to Test cricket in May 2008, scoring 2534 runs in 27 Tests at an average 56 _ the second best by an opener in the history of Australian cricket.

He has past 1000 runs in the last two calendar years and was voted the Australian Test Batsman of 2009-10 last month.

Both Hussey and Katich are celebrating their 50th Test and shared a 150 run partnership to mark the occasion.

Hussey was eventually dismissed, caught Brendon McCullum bowled Brent Arnel (2-43) for 67. Katich went soon after.

The pair began playing against each other in Western Australia as nine year olds and have been friends since.

Shane Watson started the day brightly, scoring another half century, but had a rush of blood, pulling Tim Southee to BJ Watling at the mid on boundary when he was 65.

Dan Vettori then set a clever 6-3 field to tie down Ricky Ponting at the start of his innings.
The captain hit a top edge six off Southee (2-75) before being snapped up at short leg by Watling and was out for six.

Latest News:Nadal beat Nalbandian to reach fourth-round

MIAMI: Rafael Nadal joined Roger Federer as a seeded survivor at the upset-plagued Miami Masters as the Spaniard defeated David Nalbandian 6-7 (8/10), 6-2, 6-2 Sunday for a fourth-round berth.

Top seed Federer and number four Nadal are all that are left of the top four seeds after exits by number two Novak Djokovic and number three Andy Murray in the second round.

American sixth seed Andy Roddick kept the home crowd happy with his 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine, while resurgent Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero eliminated John Isner of the United States 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Nadal's next opponent will be 15th seeded compatriot David Ferrer, who tamed the huge serve of Ivo Karlovic - only ten aces for the Croatian - 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

Fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-7 (9/11), 6-3 to set up a match with Brazil's Tomaz Bellicci, who ended the run of Djokivic's conqueror Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal, who won his last title last May in Rome, is not fussed about his lack of recent trophy success. Instead, he's looking for small improvements as he gets back in the groove in the wake of the knee injury suffered at the Australian Open.

In women's WTA play, second seeded US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki battled through illness to defeat Maria Kirilenko 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Victoria Azarenka, the defending champion, continued her quest for a second title with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Lucie Safarova.

Indian Wells winner Jelena Jankovic, seeded seventh, moved past Russian Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Ninth-seeded French Open semi-finalist Samantha Stosur of Australia produced a second consecutive comeback from a set down as she defeated Virginie Razzanoof France 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Russian 11th seed Vera Zvonareva eliminated Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 and another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, beat Errani's Italian compatriot Francesca Schiavone 7-5, 6-3.

US Open winner Kim Clijsters, seeded 14th, re-established normal service in a hammering of Israeli Shahar Peer 6-0, 6-1. The Belgian won nine games in a row and needed just 50 minutes.

Latest News:Sven-Goran Eriksson named new Ivory Coast coach

ABIDJAN: Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was on Sunday named as coach of the Ivory Coast for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson is the new coach of Ivory Coast. He will lead the team at the World Cup where his objective is to ensure an honourable participation," said a statement released by the country's football federation (FIF).

The 62-year-old Swede, who guided England to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, takes over from Vahid Halilhodzic who was sacked after Ivory Coast were knocked out by Algeria in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations in January.

Ivory Coast, who boast Chelsea striker Didier Drogba amongst their stars, are in Group G at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals along with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.

Four years ago in Germany, they bowed out at the group stage when they finished third behind Netherlands and Argentina, but ahead of Serbia and Montenegro.

After negotiations took place last week, Eriksson told the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper: "It would be great to be on a bench at another World Cup.

Latest News:Sania to wed Shoaib, confirms father of tennis star

LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza are going to tie the knot in April, Sania's father Imran Mirza confirmed to media.

As per reports, the two sports stars have been in an affair for the last six months, which had led to Sania's earlier engagement to break.

Sources said that the mother of Shoaib Malik went to Indian city of Hyderabad Deccan where she met with the family of Sania Mirza and finalized Shoaib and Sania's marriage.

This may be recalled that earlier engagements of both Malik and Mirza had come to an end.

Malik was engaged with Ayesha Siddiqui also from Hyderabad Deccan on June 3, 2002 while Sania on the other side was engaged with childhood friend Sohrab Khan which ended in January 2010.

The wedding ceremony of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza will take place in India while the valima reception will be hosted by Malik on April 16 or 17 in Lahore.

"I desire to get married soon. You will soon get some good news but it depends on my family. I fully expect to get married this year," Shoaib had said in a recent interaction with the media.

Asked if it would be an arranged marriage, he said, "No can say what will happen, but it will take place with the concurrence of my family."

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Latest News:Federer opens with comfortable win as Murray crashes at Miami

MIAMI: Roger Federer preserved dignity among the elite at the Miami Masters Saturday, earning a comfortable opening victory after world number three Andy Murray crashed out to unheralded Mardy Fish.

World number one and top seed Federer quietly dominated Nicolas Lapentti, vanquishing the Ecuadoran 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes.

But it was another story for Murray, who fell 6-4, 6-4 to the 101st-ranked Fish.

Federer is the sole survivor of the top three as Murray's early exit followed that of second-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic on Friday.

Federer lined up a third-round clash with Frenchman Florent Serra, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Spain's Albert Montanes.

Federer is beginning a bid for a third Miami title after winning here in 2005 and 2006.

Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling, the French Open runner-up, progressed to the third round with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 win over Australian Peter Luczak.

Croatian number seven Marin Cilic accounted for Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-1.

Spain's 10th seed Fernando Verdasco saw off Israel's Dudi Sela 6-1, 6-2 while 13th-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny eased past Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-0, 6-1.

In the women's WTA event, top seed and 2006 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-2, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.

Three-time champion Venus Williams improved her own record at the Miami event with a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

The American, who lifted the title at Crandon Park in 1998, 1999 and 2001, claimed her 12th consecutive match win after back-to-back titles in Dubai and Acapulco this season.

The third-seeded Williams fired six aces in her 70-minute win, but also produced seven double-faults.

Poland's sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska ended the comeback hopes of former number one Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 7-5 as the Serb struggles to regroup under new Swiss coach Heinz Gunthardt.

Latest News:Pak team named for Women T20 World Cup

LAHORE: The 14-member Pakistan team was announced for the ICC Women Twenty20 World Cup, to be held in West Indies.

Sana Meer will lead the team while Nain Abidi will be her deputy in the tournament.

The players of the team are: Sana Meer (captain), Nain Abidi (vice-captain), Batool Fatima (wk), Sajida Shah, Bisma Maroof, Arman Khan, Urooj Mumtaz Khan, Nida Rashid, Asmavia Iqbal, Qanita Jaleel, Sania Iqbal Khan, Saadia Yousuf, Javeria Wadood and Rabia Shah.

Ayesha Ashar has been appointed manager of the team while Mansoor Rana will be the coach, Yasir Malik co-trainer and Huma Fatima physio-therapist.

Latest News:Pak cricket team training camp begins tomorrow

LAHORE: The training camp of the Pakistan cricket team in preparation of the Twenty20 World Cup will begin tomorrow in Lahore.

The players included in the squad reported at the camp.

Pakistan team with its new coach and new captain will begin its preparations for the T20 World Cup.

The five reserve players will also take part in the camp along with the selected 15 players of the team while eight more players from the 30 probables have also been invited for practice at the camp.

According to the PCB spokesman, first a detailed meeting of the players and the management will be held before the camp begins in the morning and the practice schedule will be finalized.

Later, the players will do net practice from 3-00 pm to 6-00 pm.

Coach Waqar Younis will address at the news conference during the camp.

Latest News:Dejected Yousuf opts to retire: announcement today

KARACHI: Pakistan's world record holder batsman Mohammad Yousuf Saturday said he had decided to retire next week in protest over an indefinite ban imposed on him by country's cricket board. The 35-year-old Yousuf, who holds the world record for most runs in a calendar year with 1,788 made in 2006, was banned by an inquiry committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) two weeks ago.

"Yes, I have decided to retire as Pakistan player and my decision is not an emotional one," Yousuf told AFP. "It's of no use playing after such an insult which is unacceptable and I will announce my decision on Monday." Yousuf led Pakistan on their twin tours of New Zealand and Australia between November and February after regular captain Younus Khan withdrew over a lack of form.

Last week Yousuf vowed to appeal. "Yes, I may still appeal, but a final decision will be taken on Monday," said Yousuf who was also deprived of his annual central contract by the PCB last week, putting further question marks over his career. Yousuf said his commitment in playing for the country had not been rewarded by the cricket authorities. "I am deeply hurt because I have always played with commitment for my country and fans know this, but not those people who run cricket, this is a big tragedy." "My 12-year career is impeccable and I have never let down anyone."

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Latest News:Pele presses for senior players in WC squad

SAO PAULO: Ronaldinho's experience could have a calming effect on Brazil's youthful World Cup side if coach Dunga recalled the 30-year-old to the squad, Pele said.

Three-times World Cup winner Pele said in an interview that he would pick Ronaldinho, who turned 30 on Sunday and has played at two finals, helping Brazil win their fifth title in 2002.

The 69-year-old also said Lionel Messi needed a well-organised Argentina side in which to exhibit his brilliant Barcelona form, while England and Spain would be dangerous opponents at the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.

Pele praised Dunga's record but was concerned about a possible lack of World Cup experience among the players expected to be picked for the squad.

"I think Brazil are on the right track but we have to be careful because the majority of the players have never played at a World Cup before, so there will be a lot of pressure and we must see how those players handle it," Pele said.

"If Ronaldinho keeps playing as he is now ... I believe he would be a good component because he could help when the younger players feel the pressure."

Ronaldinho, who last played for Brazil last April, has been in good form for AC Milan this year but despite speculation about a return to the national team he appears out of Dunga's plans.

Brazil and fellow favourites Spain could expect tough opposition from the likes of Argentina, despite their poor qualifying campaign.

"Even (top) teams that are not in form like Argentina, who practically qualified in last place, we've got to respect them because they're a country accustomed to playing the World Cup," he said.

"Another country that had not been doing well but who in this World Cup will be a difficult country to beat is England, who can take a very strong team (to South Africa).

"They can reach the last four."

Pele identified Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Robinho of Brazil as players with the potential to light up the World Cup.

Messi, however, might be unable to reproduce the fantastic form he is showing at Spanish club Barcelona.

"He's a great player, he's playing marvellously at Barcelona but when he goes to the national team he doesn't play as well," said Pele.

"That is possibly because the national team doesn't have the same group as Barcelona.

"Then there's Cristiano Ronaldo, who's also a marvelous player, and Robinho, who has already improved quite a bit," he added.

Robinho, who has returned to Santos on loan from Manchester City, had a crowd-pleasing style while Brazil would also need Kaka to be in top form.

"For the public, Robinho has a happier style that appeals to the fans," he said. "Now, for the national team, it's very important that Kaka is in good shape."

Latest News:Chelsea beat Portsmouth by 5-0 in Premier League

LONDON: David James howler helped Chelsea to a 5-0 victory at bottom-club Portsmouth as the Blues moved a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester United.

David James misses his kick for Drogba to score James was left red faced in the 32nd minute when he raced out of his area to clear a harmless ball forward but missed it completely, albeit after an unfortunate bobble, to allow Didier Drogba the simplest of finishes.

Florent Malouda struck twice after half-time before Drogba got his second and Frank Lampard competed the rout in injury-time as the Blues bounced back from their 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on Sunday in emphatic style.

Portsmouth remain 14 points adrift of safety and their relegation could be confirmed on Saturday week when they travel to Blackburn.

Manchester City stayed two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham after their unbeaten home league record this season was ended 2-0 by Everton. Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta scored the goals either side of half time.

Champions League-chasing Aston Villa were held at home by a club in the bottom-half for the second consecutive game as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Sunderland.

The Black Cats had gone ahead when Fraizer Campbell finished well following Keiran Richardson's defence-splitting through-ball. John Carew equalised eight minutes later when he tapped in from close range from an Ashley Young cross.

David Dunn bagged a brace as Blackburn Rovers extended their unbeaten run at home to seven games with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City.

Dunn fired the home side ahead after eight minutes before a 56th-minute James McFadden free-kick levelled matters. the Englishman had the final say 11 minutes later as he headed in a corner to snatch the win.

Latest News: Bresnan misses maiden Test century

DHAKA: Tim Bresnan hit an impressive 91 as England extended their first-innings lead to 77 runs on the fourth day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

England added 56 to their overnight total of 440-8 before being bowled out for 496 in reply to Bangladesh's total of 419.

The hosts were 28-1 in their second innings at lunch, with Tamim Iqbal unbeaten on 20 and Junaid Siddique on four not out.

Bangladeshi opener Imrul Kayes (four) was bowled by paceman Stuart Broad, the ball hitting the thigh pad before deflecting on to the leg-stump.

Bresnan, batting in only his second Test innings, defied the Bangladeshi attack for more than an hour in the morning session before missing out on his maiden Test hundred.

He was stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak after hitting six fours in a 261-ball knock, beaten in the flight after stepping out to play a shot. He added 17 to his overnight score of 74.

Bresnan played a vital role in boosting the England innings, adding 143 for the sixth wicket with Ian Bell (138) on Monday and 47 for the ninth with debutant James Tredwell (37).

Tredwell also frustrated the hosts, hitting six fours in a 63-ball knock before being stumped off Razzak.

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan was the most impressive bowler with 4-124 off 66 tight overs, while Razzak finished with 3-132.

England lead the series 1-0 following their 181-run win in the opening Test in Chittagong.

Latest News:Pakistan Day T20: Pak A beat U-19 by 33 runs

LAHORE: An exhibition Twenty20 cricket match was played between the teams of Pakistan A and Pakistan Under-19 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday to mark the Pakistan Day celebrations.

Imran Farhat smashed a brilliant century to help Pakistan A winning the interesting match by 33 runs.

Winning the toss, Pakistan A captain Mohammad Hafeez elected to bat and together with Imran Farhat provided a magnificent start of 159 runs.

Imran made 103 from just 56 balls with 14 fours and three sixes while Hafeez scored 59 as their team compiled 194 for four in the allotted 20 overs.

Raza Hasan claimed two wickets for Pakistan Under-19.

Chasing 195, played a fine innings of 88 runs whereas for Pakistan A, Mohammad Sami captured three and Abdul Rehman took two wickets.

Latest News:Tendulkar rules out playing Twenty20 WC

NEW DELHI: Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday ruled out playing in Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, saying he sticks to his stance of not playing Twenty20 Internationals anymore.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar asked Tendulkar, who is in sensational form, to change his stance and play in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Tendulkar, however, dismissed the possibility. "I

Latest News:England need 209 to win Bangladesh Test

DHAKA: England were set a target of 209 to win the second and final Test after bowling Bangladesh out for 285 in their second innings after lunch on the fifth day.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan marked his 23rd birthday with a battling 96 before he was last man out, stumped off spinner James Tredwell four runs short of a century.

The left-hander cracked 11 fours in his fifth half-century.

England have a minimum of 54 overs to reach the target and sweep the series after winning the first Test in Chittagong by 181 runs.

Bangladesh added 103 to their overnight total of 172-6 in the absorbing morning session, with Shakib doing the bulk of scoring.

Debutant off-spinner Tredwell took three wickets and paceman Steven Finn one.

Tredwell, sharing the second new ball with paceman Stuart Broad, struck in his first over when he had nightwatchman Shafiul Islam caught by Jonathan Trott at deep mid-wicket.

Shafiul, who scored a half-century in the first innings, made 28 in a 63-run stand for the seventh wicket with his captain.

Tredwell got another wicket when he had Naeem Islam caught by Kevin Pietersen at deep mid-on to reduce the hosts to 258-8.

Latest News:Tendulkar to skip World T20 again

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday rejected a growing clamour in India to play in next month's World Twenty20 despite enjoying prime batting form in recent months.

"I will not be playing the ICC World Twenty20," Tendulkar told an Indian news channel.

"I have not played Twenty20 Internationals from 2007 onwards and I don't think it should become an issue now."

Tendulkar, who recently became the first man to score a double-century in one-day cricket, has played just one Twenty20 international in his 21-year, record-breaking career.

The Mumbai star, who turns 37 next month, opted out of the first two T20 world championships in 2007 and 2009, saying the younger members of the side were more suited for the shortest format of the game.

But former players want him to take part in the third edition, starting in the Caribbean on April 30, following a string of high scores in both Test and one-day cricket.

In the past 12 months, Tendulkar has averaged 71.50 in nine Tests with five centuries, and 65.28 in 17 one-dayers with three hundreds.

In the ongoing Indian Premier League domestic Twenty20 tournament, he has hit 176 runs in four games with a strike-rate of 155.75 off 100 balls.

"I hope the selectors can persuade Tendulkar to go to the West Indies," said former India batsman and commentator Navjot Sidhu during a discussion on the subject on television.

"He loves playing for the country and the Indian team needs him more than ever before. He is batting like the champion he is."

Another former player Mohinder Amarnath admitted Tendulkar would make a huge difference to India's chances, but wanted the decision to be left entirely to him.

"Sachin knows best what to do," said Amarnath. "He has played for so long that we must all respect his decision."

The selectors will meet on Friday to pick the 15-man squad for the tournament which India won in 2007 but failed to qualify for the semi-finals two years later.

Tendulkar was excluded from the provisional list of 30 announced last month, but tournament rules permit a player not in the list to be included in the final 15.

India are drawn alongside South Africa and surprise qualifiers Afghanistan in one of the four preliminary league groups, with two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Eights round.

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Latest News:49th National Amateur Golf Championship kicks off today

LAHORE: The 49th National Amateur Golf Championship is starting at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club here today.

“Only national players of the country will take part in the event as no foreign entry has been received,” Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) general secretary Taimur Hasan told reporters at a news conference.

“The invitation was extended to India, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal as they had been participating in this competition. But they did not confirm their participation,” Taimur added. He said though players of those countries were willing to play in Pakistan but their respective governments did not allow them.

He said men having handicap of 9 and below and women with handicap limit of 24 were eligible to feature in the tournament. “While men will play on all four days, the women’s competition has been confined to three days from March 19 to 21. Inter-provincial contest over 54 holes from March 18 to 20 will also be played with teams from all four provinces pitched against each other.”

Latest News:Tiger Woods returning for April Masters

WASHINGTON: Tiger Woods will return to competitive golf next month to play in the Augusta Masters, he said in a statement on his website Tuesday.

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," he said on his website.

The world's number one golfer put his game on hold in the wake of a major sex scandal which erupted at the end of last year.

"I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment," Woods added. "Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."

The Masters starts on April 8.

Latest News:Tauqir backs Shahid Afridi to lead Pakistan

LAHORE: Former Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Lt. General (r) Tauqir Zia has said that the Senate Sports Committee should not have made the issue of match-fixing public if it was not to name the players involved.

Former skipper Aamir Suhail said Senators did not clarify the situation so he won’t comment.

Speaking to reporters following his announcement to contest election of Lahore City Cricket Association, Zia said that the decision was taken to take the Lahore Cricket to right direction.

He backed star all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the best available choice to lead the national team.

While Suhail said that four to five names were under consideration for the job, but whoever becomes captain should be powerful

Latest News:National Games postponed again

KARACHI: As expected, the 31st National Games, which were scheduled to be held in Peshawar from March 25 to 31, were postponed on Tuesday due to security reasons.

However, the mega domestic event has been rescheduled for December 25 to 31 this year in order to utilise the inputs which have already been made by the organising committee for the conduction of the extravaganza.

This is the second time that the mega national affair was postponed. Before that it was postponed in November last year.

The vital decision was taken unanimously in the Pakistan Olympic Association’s Executive Committee meeting in Lahore on Tuesday which was presided over by the president General Syed Arif Hassan.

“The meeting was specifically called to asses whether in such a volatile security environment the Games should be held or not. And it was unanimously decided that the event should be postponed till December and now efforts would be made to ensure the holding of the spectacle from December 25 to 31,” the secretary of the POA Abdul Khaliq Khan told media after the meeting which lasted for an hour.

“The basic reason behind the fresh dates in December is to utilise the input which has already been made by the organising committee of the event by preparing different materials including medals etc,” the POA secretary said.

In the meeting, the preparatory efforts of the NWFP Sports Minister Syed Aaqil Shah were greatly appreciated by all the members.

The security assessment team under Khwaja Farooq Saeed which was sent to the Frontier capital to asses the security environment and arrangements had submitted its report to the POA in which the security environment in Peshawar for the Games was depicted as unsuitable for the event besides the reluctance shown by different stakeholders, more specifically, the armed forces.

The NWFP Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah termed the decision as unfortunate.

Latest News:Murray moves on, Wozniacki reaches quarters

INDIAN WELLS: Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray booked his fourth-round berth at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday with a straight-sets victory over unfamiliar foe Michael Russell.

World number four Murray beat the American - ranked 68th in the world - 6-3, 7-5.

But Russell, who has never reached an ATP Tour final, didn't go quietly, breaking the Briton in the ninth game of the second set as Murray served for the match, putting the set back on serve after Murray's early break.

"I would have liked to have won, closed it out there 3 and 3, but I did well to stay composed at the end," said Murray, who brought it to a close when he broke Russell in the final game.

"The thing that was good about that match is, a lot of long, tough games. My serve, when I was down, I played well. I saved a lot of break points and played well on a lot of 30-all points," said Murray, who added he was expecting a tough match, despite the difference in ranking.

"In these tournaments, all of the guys are really good players," he said. "When he's had to play up a level he's had some great matches with some of the best players."

Making things trickier, Murray said, was the fact that they hadn't played before.

"It was always going to be difficult because you don't know their patterns of play and the things they like to do on the court," he said.

"For someone with his game style, he played very, very close up to the baseline, which I wasn't expecting. I had to do a lot of defending because of that."

World number one Roger Federer, playing his first tournament since beating Murray in the Australian Open final for a 16th Grand Slam crown, was also slated for third-round action on Tuesday.

Sixth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling advanced, downing Spain's Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to book a meeting with France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga defeated Spain's Albert Montanes 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

On the women's side, second-seeded Carolina Wozniacki and fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva reached the quarter-finals as defending champion Vera Zvonareva bowed out.

Wozniacki beat Russian veteran Nadia Petrova 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 to line up a meeting with China's Australian Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie - a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1) winner over Australian Alicia Molik.

Dementieva made quick work of France's Aravane Rezai, 6-3, 6-3, and next faces Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over France's Marion Bartoli.

Zvonareva, the last of the six former champions remaining in the women's draw, fell to eighth-seeded australian Samantha Stosur 6-2, 7-5.

Latest News:Federer upset by Baghdatis at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Marcos Baghdatis upset top-ranked Roger Federer 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (4) Tuesday night in the third round of the BNP Parabas Open, beating the Swiss for the first time in seven meetings.

A joyous Baghdatis bent down and kissed the court, having closed out the taut contest in which Federer blew three match points.

Federer hadn't lost when holding a match point since 2006 in Rome.

Federer lost for just the second time in 13 matches this year in his first tournament since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

Federer held his third match point on Baghdatis' serve in the 12th game, but he netted a backhand for deuce. Baghdatis went up and then forced the tiebreaker when Federer mis-hit a backhand return that sailed high in the air beyond the baseline.

Federer played some loose points in the tiebreak, committing seven errors that included netting a forehand volley to set up Baghdatis' first match point, which he won when Federer's backhand return sailed long.

Baghdatis beat the No. 1-ranked player for the first time in his career.

Federer's loss leaves the tournament without its top seeds, with Svetlana Kuznetsova already knocked out on the women's side.

Andy Roddick defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round along with Andy Murray, while second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the women's quarterfinals.

Roddick, a semifinalist here last year, improved his record to 17-3 this season, all on hardcourts. He had an easier time with de Bakker than their first meeting, a three-set win at the Australian Open in January.

Roddick served 10 aces and saved the only service break he faced in the first set of a match played in nearly 90-degree heat.

"The points he was winning he was either having to play a pretty high risk shot, maybe go for a winner, or he was having to go deep into rallies," Roddick said. "So if you do that over the course of a match, you normally like your chances."

The seventh-seeded American will next play No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, who advanced when Simon Greul withdrew because of illness.

"Jurgen is always tough. He's capable of playing a couple different ways," Roddick said. "He was capable of coming forward, attacking, really being the aggressor, which is always a little bit uncomfortable. It's important to hang on to your service games."

No. 4 Murray served seven aces and was broken just once in defeating American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5. At 31, Russell was the oldest player remaining in the men's field.

James Blake joined Russell as another sidelined American, losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Nicolas Almagro of Spain. Roddick and John Isner are the lone U.S. men left, with Isner facing a tough match against No. 3 Rafael Nadal on Wednesday.

In fourth-round women's play, No. 4 Elena Dementieva beat No. 19 Aravane Rezai of France 6-3 6-3, sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic routed No. 17 Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-2, and No. 8 Samantha Stosur defeated defending champion Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 7-5.

Wozniacki advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory over 16th-seeded Nadia Petrova, whose career record against top-five players dropped to 11-42 with the loss.

"It was a match where it just went up and down quite a bit, and I didn't really know what to expect," she said. "It was not really a great rhythm there. I didn't feel the ball as well."

The Dane will play Zheng Jie of China, who defeated Alicia Molik, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1).

Wozniacki is the highest seeded woman left, with Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin among the big names already gone.

No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the quarters for the third consecutive year. Radwanska and Stosur are the only remaining female players who have yet to drop a set.

Other men's winners included No. 8 Robin Soderling, No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tommy Robredo.

Latest News:Wozniacki advances in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Caroline Wozniacki booked a quarter-final berth at the BNP Paribas Open Tuesday as defending champion Vera Zvonareva joined the list of former champions bowing out.

Wozniacki, the charismatic Danish teenager who is seeded second, survived a see-saw battle with Russian veteran Nadia Petrova to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

Wozniacki turned up the heat in the third set, surrendering just three points on her own serve as she set up a challenging quarter-final clash with Australian Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie of China - a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1) winner over Australian Alicia Molik.

"It was a match where it just went up and down quite a bit," Wozniacki said. "It was not really a great rhythm there. I didn't feel the ball very well."

Wozniacki, who shot to prominence with her run to the US Open final last year, is the highest seed remaining after the second-round exit of top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Third-seeded Victoria Azarenka was another early casualty, along with former champions Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, Daniela Hantuchova and Ana Ivanovic.

Zvonareva, the last of six former winners left in the draw, was toppled by eighth-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2, 7-5.

Stosur, 25, stretched her winning streak against the Russian to four matches as she continued to improve on her previous best Indian Wells showing. She had never before made it past the third round.

Stosur, who reached her first quarter-final of the year, next meets Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, who beat Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia and fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland lined up a quarter-final clash with no-nonsense victories over a pair of French opponents.

Dementieva beat Aravane Rezai, 6-3, 6-3 while Radwanska downed Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-2.

Sixth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who struggled mightily in a third-round victory over Sara Errani, turned in a strong performance in a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Israel's Shahar Peer.

"I think today I played real well," Jankovic said. "I played really aggressively.

"I had a tough match last night, so I didn't know how I was going to hold up physically. And Shahar Peer is a really dangerous opponent. She can play really, really well, and she's a fighter."

In the quarters, Jankovic will play Alisa Kleybanova, who beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4

Both Jankovic and Wozniacki said it wouldn't pay to assume the spate of upsets would make their paths easier.

"Doesn't matter," Jankovic said. "You still have to beat those players who are on the other side of the net. Doesn't matter who it is. It's never easy."

Latest News:PCB sets cutoff for banned cricketers' appeal

KARACHI: Pakistan cricket authorities said on Wednesday seven players banned or fined for indiscipline during a disastrous tour of Australia have 30 days to appeal.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week banned former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan indefinitely, while suspending another former captain, Shoaib Malik, and fast bowler Rana Naved-ul Hasan for one year.

It handed heavy fines to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, his brother Umar and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi.

A six-member committee headed by PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari was set up to investigate Pakistan's dismal performance on the December-February tour, where Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 match.

Bari said: "We have sent all the seven players letters in which we have mentioned the reasons for their punishments and the players can now appeal under the PCB constitution," Bari told AFP. They can file appeals within 30 days, he said.

"We held a thorough inquiry and took into consideration all the facts and background and made decisions to solve the problems in Pakistan cricket," said Bari, who is also a former captain.

PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said three judges have been named to hear the appeals.

"The PCB governing board has appointed two retired Supreme court judges -- Muneer Sheikh and Jamshed Ali Shah -- and a former high court judge, Irfan Qadir, who will deal with appeals," Rizvi told AFP.

None of the players has spoken publicly about their punishment or indicated they will appeal.

Afridi is a strong contender to lead Pakistan in the next month's World Twenty20 in the West Indies, while the Akmals were included in the 18-man squad announced last week.

Pakistan, due to defend the Twenty20 title they won in England last year, are due to announce a captain next week.

Latest News: Djokovic out, Nadal advances in Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS: Croatian veteran Ivan Ljubicic ousted a weary Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000.

While third-seeded defending champion Rafael Nadal on Wednesday booked his quarter-final berth with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over big-serving American John Isner, Djokovic couldn't keep pace with the blistering serves and clean groundstrokes of Ljubicic, a former world number three now ranked 26th in the world.

Ljubicic said he was delighted to end a five-match skid against Djokovic, calling some of those defeats "brutal".

"I'm really happy to be able to beat him finally," said Ljubicic, whose only prior win against Djokovic was their first meeting in Zagreb in 2006.

His most recent defeats to the Serb had come in the first round of last year's US Open, and in the quarter-finals at Dubai last month.

"I served well. My serve helped me, especially in difficult moments... in the second set I was serving even better than the first," said Ljubicic, who gave himself both of his match points in the final game with two of his 13 aces.

Djokovic saved the first, but on the second Ljubicic came up with another big serve that the Serbian could only sail back across the baseline.

"But also two weeks ago in Dubai I was serving unbelievably," Ljubicic said. "You can't beat Novak only with a serve, but it does help you a lot if you can get a lot of free points off that shot."

Djokovic said he knew what to expect.

"I don't think any match we play is different," he said. "It's more or less based on the service and returns. As much as I get in the rallies, I think I have more chances to win the point. It wasn't the case today.

"My execution was very bad and he played well when he needed to and he served well when he needed to," said Djokovic, who won his second straight Dubai Open title in February then won both of his matches to help Serbia beat the United States in the first round of the Davis Cup in Belgrade.

Djokovic has looked far from sharp since arriving in the California desert, having to save three match points to subdue Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round.

"This is a tournament where I definitely didn't feel comfortable on the court," said Djokovic, the 2008 champion. "It's just because I had a very tiring couple of weeks coming from Davis Cup, which was emotionally very exhausting for me."

The tournament has now lost its top two men's seeds, after world number one Roger Federer was stunned by Marco Baghdatis in the third round on Tuesday.

That left Nadal as the highest-ranked player to make it into the quarters as he withstood a barrage of 22 aces from the 24-year-old American Isner.

World number four Andy Murray was slated to play later Wednesday, taking on Spain's Nicolas Almagro for a quarter-final place.

Baghdatis tried to avoid the letdown a day after his first career triumph over Federer as he tackled Spain's Tommy Robredo, and sixth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling took on ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Meanwhile women's fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland booked a semi-final berth with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva.

Radwanska has reached her second semi-final of the season without dropping a set, and denied Dementieva a shot at a third title of 2010 - after triumphs in Sydney and the Paris Indoors.

Radwanska awaits the winner of the night quarter-final between second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and China's Zheng Jie.

Latest News:Sharapova, Safina, Davydenko out of Miami

MIAMI: Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will miss the Sony Ericsson Open, as will women's world number two Dinara Safina and 2008 men's champion Nikolay Davydenko, organizers said Wednesday.

The Miami tournament is the second of prestigious back-to-back hardcourt tournaments in the United States, coming immediately after this week's event at Indian Wells, California.

Sharapova, who won the WTA title in Memphis in February, had been slated to play in Miami for the first time since 2007.

But an MRI exam on the sore right elbow that hindered her as she made a third-round exit in Indian Wells showed a bone bruise that is likely to sideline the Russian for three to six weeks.

Safina, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, remains sidelined by the back injury that forced her out of the Australian Open.

Davydenko is out with a broken left wrist. He had played one match at Indian Wells and then pulled out after an MRI revealed the wrist he injured in Rotterdam last month was, in fact, fractured.

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Latest News: Bangladesh wobble in England Test

CHITTAGONG: Graeme Swann and debutant Steven Finn shared two early wickets as England tightened the screws on Bangladesh in the opening Test on Monday.

The hosts, chasing an improbable 513-run target, lost openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes before reaching 45-2 in their second innings at lunch on the penultimate day.

Bangladesh's highest fourth-innings total is 413, against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2008.

Tamim, top-scorer in the first innings with 86, contributed only 14 this time before being bowled in off-spinner Swann's second over.

Kayes fell in the last over of the morning session, caught by wicket-keeper Matt Prior off paceman Finn after making 23 with four boundaries.

England batted for 50 minutes in the morning, adding 78 runs to their overnight total of 131-5 before declaring their second innings closed at 209-7.

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan bagged both the wickets, removing Prior (seven) and Swann (32) to finish with 4-62.

Swann hit three fours in his brisk 25-ball knock, while middle-order batsman Ian Bell cracked one six and four boundaries in a 55-ball 39 not out. They put on 65 for the eighth wicket.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 296 in their first innings in reply to England's mammoth 599-6 declared.

Latest News:Murray’s victories continue in Indian Wells

CALIFORNIA: Andy Murray, who fell to Federer in the Australian Open final, booked his third-round berth with a "scrappy" 6-4, 6-4 victory over Italian Andreas Seppi.

The fourth-seeded Briton, who was runner-up here last year, got off to an erratic start but found a groove with his serve in the second set to triumph in an hour and 26 minutes.

Other men's seeds to advance Sunday included sixth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Evgeny Korolev of Kazakhstan, and seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick.

Roddick dispatched Taiwanese qualifier Lu Yen-Hsun 6-4, 6-4.

In women's third-round action Australian Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie of China outlasted 2006 titlist and 10th seed Maria Sharapova 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a gritty battle lasting two hours and 43 minutes.

Other seeded women advanced on cue, including second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki who beat Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-0, 6-3.

Fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva also advanced, downing Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-2, and fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland cruised into the round of 16 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Argentina's Gisela Dulko.

Latest News: Sports minister meets hockey team tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Federal minister for sports Ejaz Jakhrani will meet the Pakistan hockey team here tomorrow and discuss their resignations.

The federal government wants to know the reasons of the team’s shameful defeat in the World cup and the resignations of the players.

President Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia will also present on the occasion.

Confirming the news of this meeting in Islamabad, national team’s goalkeeper Salman Akbar told Geo News that all the players of the team are meeting with the federal sports minister tomorrow evening in Islamabad

Latest News:Senate committee backs ban on top cricketers

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Sport on Monday described the Pakistan Cricket Board’s ban on seven players as a right move revealing that some of the cricketers were involved in match-fixing during the winless tour of Australia.

The three-member sub-committee of the Senate Committee on Sports made the revelation after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board officials, including its chairman Ejaz Butt, at Gaddafi Stadium here.

Later, addressing a joint news conference, Committee Chairman Abdul Ghafar Qureshi, members Haroon Akhtar and Tahir Mashhadi said that the committee had the evidence that more than one player were involved in match-fixing but declined to name them.

They not only fully backed the ban and fine imposed on top cricketers but also lauded the cricket board for making this bold decision.

The senators refused to name these players, saying it was inappropriate for them to do so but added that the PCB could name them.

Muhammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi were not involved in match-fixing, they said.

Latest News:Bajwa slammed for running one-man show in PHF

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Rana Farooq Saeed Khan said Monday that Secretary Asif Bajwa was running a one-man show in Pakistan Hockey Federation.

In the wake of team’s abysmal performance in FIH World Cup, Bajwa should have voluntarily tendered his resignation, he said.

Khan hoped that the government would hold an inquiry into the team’s awful showing in the 12-nation tournament.

Hasan Sardar and Rana Shafiq have set a good precedent by stepping down as selectors after Pakistan finished last in the tournament, he said.

Khan said that PHF President and Secretary should not be selected from one province. If President is from Punjab, the Secretary should be from Sindh, he opined.

Latest News:Jankovic wins Indian Wells marathon against Errani

INDIAN WELLS: Jelena Jankovic battled past Italian Sara Errani 2-6 7-6 6-4 in an error-strewn marathon to reach the fourth round of the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Monday.

The Serbian sixth seed piled up 57 unforced errors, compared to Errani's 42, to clinch victory in two hours, 48 minutes when the Italian made a hash of an overhead smash after a protracted rally.

Errani had been bidding to beat a top-10 player for the first time in 12 attempts and she broke the world number nine three times to sweep through the opening set in just 31 minutes.

Jankovic squandered a 3-1 lead in the second, along with five set points in the tiebreak, but levelled the match with a crunching forehand winner down the line.

The final set was also an up-and-down affair with Errani being broken three times and Jankovic twice but the Serb made her greater experience count.

After trailing 2-4, she won the next four games to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells for the third time in four years.

Earlier, Australian Samantha Stosur crushed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-3 6-0 and Russian Vera Zvonareva brushed past Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova 6-2 6-3.

Cricket Video:Twenty20 World Cup Final India vs Pakistan Highlights

Latest News:Pakistan bans Yousuf and Younus for life amid fallout from failed tour

FEUDING former Pakistan captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan have been banned from representing their country for life because of their bickering during and after the disastrous tour of Australia, lowlighted by the loss of the unlosable Test at the SCG.

The Pakistan Cricket Board yesterday reacted with venom to the miserable, winless tour of Australia. Yousuf and Younus were both told their services were no longer required in all three formats of the game, ending their international careers. Younus joined the beleaguered touring squad only for the one-day series but engaged in a slanging match with Yousuf, who had been skipper for the Tests and ODIs, immediately upon their return home.

One-year bans were slapped on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as punishment for undisclosed disciplinary problems. It is understood they clashed heatedly with Yousuf on several occasions. Malik has been consistently accused of orchestrating factionalism within the team since he was stripped of the captaincy last year.

Ball-biting Shahid Afridi and the argumentative Akmal brothers were between PKR2 million-3 million ($25,000-$37,000) lighter in the pocket and placed on six-month probation for their contributions to the rabble. Afridi bit the ball while captaining Pakistan in the last one-day match of the series in Perth. He bizarrely claimed after stumps that he was merely trying to smell the ball. The PCB yesterday called his behaviour shameful and an act that had brought cricket and his country into disrepute.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt demanded the investigation by a six-man committee into the circumstances surrounding Pakistan losing three Tests, five one-dayers and one Twenty20 clash while in Australia. The SCG defeat came from a position of near-invincibility at stumps on day four. Bizarre field placements, dropped catches and incomprehensibly risky batting gifted Australia a victory that stunned spectators as much as bookmakers.

Kamran and Umar Akmal were fined heavily for their rebellious behaviour leading up to the final Test in Hobart. Kamran insisted he would be picked despite a PCB release stating he would be dropped after his terrible wicketkeeping in the Sydney Test. Umar allegedly feigned an injury and threatened not to play in protest at his brother's omission.

The recommendations released last night included:

- Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, due to their infighting that brought down the team - their attitude had a trickle-down effect that was a bad influence on the team - should not be part of national team in any format.

- For the shameful act of Shahid Khan Afridi, which has brought the game and country into disrepute, he be fined 3 million rupees and monitored on probation for six months.

- Kamran Akmal fined 3 million rupees and monitored on probation for six months.

- Umar Akmal fined 2 million rupees and six months' probation.

- Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik fined 2 million rupees and banned from the national team in any format for one year.

The PCB said the recommendations had been accepted ''in totality'' and ''will go a long way to arrest the continuing decline in Pakistan cricket and improve the state of cricket in Pakistan. It is a landmark exercise which is an outcome of labour and hard work of the members of the committee''.

Latest News:Bangladesh omit Ashraful for England test series

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh have omitted veteran batsman and former captain Mohammad Ashraful from the 14-man squad named for the two-test series against England starting in Chittagong on Friday.

Ashraful has failed to register a half-century in his last 13 international innings and skipped the one-day series against the tourists, instead opting to try and regain his form in domestic first-class matches.

However, a string of low scores followed by knocks of one and 30 for Bangladesh A in this week's warm-up game against England appear to have cost him his place.

Left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr returns to a side that also includes batsman Roqibul Hassan, who was overlooked in the one-day series but forced his way back into the reckoning with an unbeaten century and a fifty in the same warm-up game.

England won the one-day series 3-0.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah, Roqibul Hassan, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque Jr, Shahadat Hossain.

Latest News:Abdul Qadir lauds PCB decisions

LAHORE: Former leg spinner and former PCB Chief Selector Abdul Qadir, appreciating the recent decisions by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and termed them as brave, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Talking to media, he said the Board should stick to their decisions, as the decisions made in past by earlier Boards were not put into action.

It should be mentioned the PCB imposed bans and fines on various players including Younis Khan, Muhammed Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Omar Akmal and Shahid Afridi.

Abdul Qadir said, ‘We should tell the world that we can make good decisions, as sacrifices make a good nation.’

Latest News:Inzi slams life ban on Younis, Yousuf

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq strongly opposed the life ban slapped on Muhammed Yousuf and Younis Khan, recently announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Geo News reported Wednesday.

Talking to Geo News, he said, ‘I am absolutely against these decisions, as the people who made the decisions were the Board’s employees.’

Inzamam said no member of the Inquiery Committee was impartial except Wasim Akram, adding allthe members of six-strong body were employed by the PCB.

This very fact triggers reservations on the recommendations of the inquiry committee, he added informing that Wasim Akram did not attend the Body’s meeting.

He said the life ban on the two players is out and out unfair and unjustified.

Latest News:Rivals on edge for World Cup semi-finals

NEW DELHI: Injury-stricken England hope to build on their amazing resurgence in field hockey when they take on defending champions Germany in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday.

Hot favourites Australia take on a shaky Netherlands in the other semi-final the same night, looking to reach their third successive Cup final after a power-packed display in preliminary matches.

England proved their spectacular European Cup win last year ahead of the sport's powerhouses Germany, the Netherlands and Spain was not a flash in the pan as they finished second in group B behind Australia.

Jason Lee's men won four of their five matches, including a stunning 3-2 win over Australia, despite losing striker Matt Daly before the tournament and penalty corner specialist Richard Mantell later due to injuries.

"It's a revival we have worked hard for," said Lee as England prepared for their first World Cup semi-final since 1986. "But this is the real thing and we can't afford to slip-up."

Their rivals Germany, seeking an unprecedented hat-trick of titles to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal, will hope to avenge the 5-3 defeat at England's hands in the European final.

The Germans, with just three players who helped win the last World Cup at home in Monchengladbach, are the only unbeaten team in the current tournament with three wins and two draws.

"There have been a few hits and misses, but it is creditable for this young team to make the semi-finals," said German coach Markus Weise.

Australia, coached by the legendary Ric Charlesworth, overcame the shock defeat to England in their first match to win their next four, including a World Cup record score of 12-0 against South Africa.

The Kookaburras charge has been led by penalty corner ace Luke Doerner, whose six goals so far puts him on top of the leading scorers' list alongside Dutchman Taeke Taekema.

Jamie Dwyer, the International Hockey Federation's player of the year for 2009, and fellow-striker Glenn Turner have shown their mettle up front with five goals apiece.

Australia came into the tournament by winning the elite six-nation Champions Trophy at home in Melbourne in December by beating Germany in the final 5-3 after trailing 1-3 at half-time.

"I am not looking too far ahead," said Charlesworth, who played in Australia's only World Cup winning squad in 1986. "The Dutch are never easy to beat, but I am glad the boys are shaping up well."

Australia, who have scored more goals - 23 - in the league than any other team, defeated the Dutch 4-1 the last time the two sides met in a World Cup semi-final in Malaysia in 2002.

The Netherlands, who won the last of their three World Cup titles in 1998, almost missed the semi-finals after losing their last league match to South Korea 2-1 on Tuesday.

If the Asian champions had netted one more goal, they would have levelled the Dutch on goal difference and advanced to the knock-out rounds by virtue of winning their league encounter.

But Taekema's penalty corner expertise and the guile of brilliant midfielder Teun de Nooijer give the Dutch hope against one of the most formidable sides in the game.