B4U India

Coleen McLoughlin vows to be in “perfect shape” for her wedding

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:58:00 -0400

With her wedding day coming closer, soccer ace Wayne Rooney’s fiancee Coleen McLoughlin has vowed to be in “perfect shape” for the big day.

The 22-year-old beauty is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that she looks her beautiful best.

However, the Scouser is not following a special diet, because she doesn’t want to lose too much weight.

“I haven’t been doing any dieting – I’ve been trying to eat healthily. I didn’t want to change dramatically. I didn’t want to lose too much weight...I wanted to be just right,” The Daily Star quoted her, as saying.

Coleen will marry England and Manchester United ace Wayne, 22, at a secret location next month. (ANI)

Nereida Gallardo desperate to be Mrs. Cristiano Ronaldo

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:58:00 -0400

Soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo’s model girlfriend has fuelled rumours that the pair is about to get married.

Nereida Gallardo claimed during an Internet chat that she hopes to wed the Manchester United star soon and start a family.

Rumours were abuzz that Ronaldo said that he would propose Gallardo if Man U won the Champions League final.

However, Man U right-winger’s camp has dismissed his girlfriend’s wedding talks, insisting it to be “untrue”.

The 24-year-old Spanish beauty, during Internet chats with other web users had said that they are “madly in love” and “joined at the hip”.

She even sent her snaps with the footie ace to the users- some of whom were total strangers.

“She was boasting they are getting married but haven’t set a date yet,” The Sun quoted a fan, who chatted with Nereida via the MSN Messenger, as saying.

“She kept showing pictures of them together and going on about what a great wedding she is planning. She said she would make a beautiful bride,” she added. (ANI)

England cricketers could feature in IPL 2009

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:57:00 -0400

England cricketers could feature in next year's Indian Premier League, as the event will now not clash with their tour of the West Indies.

A number of players, including star batsman Kevin Pietersen, had expressed their frustration at being held back from playing in the mega-bucks Twenty20 tournament this year, but with England's trip to the Caribbean ending a week before the IPL first game on April 10, 2009, a compromise may yet be found, reports The Sun.

One reason for the early conclusion to the tour could be the World Twenty20 that runs from June 5-21 in England.

With no domestic Twenty20 before that tournament, England's best bet of getting players ready for the newest form of the game could be allowing short-term deals in the IPL.

The tour of West Indies will kick-off with two three-day practice matches, before Test matches in Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad. There will also be a Twenty20 fixture, England's first in the Caribbean, and five one-day internationals. (ANI)

Manchester United threatens to report Real Madrid to FIFA over Ronaldo bid

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:57:00 -0400

Manchester United has threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA after the latter reportedly made another attempt to lure Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.

An Old Trafford statement said: “Manchester United have watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. The facts are: 1) The player is on a long-term contract and 2) The player is not for sale. The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to FIFA if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion.

“These attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations and the club will not tolerate them any longer,” The Sun quoted the statement as saying further. (ANI)

135-year-old cricket club facing ban over 'too noisy’ practice sessions!

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:56:00 -0400

The only noise one can associate with cricket is that of cohesive yells at a six or a wicket. But a cricket club being banned from putting up nets for practice, due to noise considerations is something indigestible for any cricket enthusiast.

East Northamptonshire council has blocked 135-year-old Rushden Town Cricket Club to put up practice nets for 12 players, as they fear that the noise produced from playing might disturb the locals surrounding the club.

The club has already tried to negotiate with the planners for three long months, but to no avail. And now they have been slammed with an order to pay for a 2,000 pounds noise survey before the planning application for new nets can progress.

In fact, the club has even got a green signal from residents in the 50 houses nearest the proposed nets, who have no objection against the club and some of them even signing a petition supporting the club.

"The council wants us to spend in the region of £2,000 conducting a noise survey to prove what noise levels will be generated by 12 people practising their cricket. The £2,000 that we might have to spend on the survey should, in our opinion, be spent on the nets, not on petty bureaucracy. The council notified 50 residents adjoining the club and none had a problem with our proposals." The Telegraph quoted Chris Layram, the club secretary, as saying.

However, the local authority is still adamant about its decision and has argued that the positioning of nets has led to problems at other cricket clubs.

In a letter to the club, Michael Deacon, the head of environmental services at the council, said: "Data need to be provided to us in relation to background levels, maximum noise levels, and the potential impact on surrounding properties. While I appreciate that Rushden Town Cricket Club is concerned about the costs of such a [noise] assessment, this is a necessary part of the planning process."(ANI)

Miandad terms Pakistan version of IPL as detrimental to cricket

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:56:00 -0400

Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad has termed the Pakistan version of Indian Premier League, as detrimental to cricket in his country.

“The involvement of too much money will destroy the game of cricket. IPL lacks quality and a cricketer can never get the confidence he needs as a player. Even the greatest of bowlers cannot do anything about conceding sixes and fours,” said Miandad.

He said that as cricket quality was going down, Pakistan should only look at playing quality opponents to sustain the high standard of the game.

“One reason for this is that talented players are not being groomed properly. Also, we are not playing against high ranking teams and competing with the weaker sides which doesn’t improve your game,” the Dawn quoted him, as saying.

“It is contesting against quality teams like Australia and India that your potential is truly put to the test. But this is not the case at present,” he added.

Inspired by the success of the Board of Control for Cricket in India initiated IPL, is planning to launch their own version of the tournament in their domestic scene.

Australia is also planning to begin an IPL inspired tourney. (ANI)

Manchester United to spend 50 million pounds on transfers in 14 days

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:55:00 -0400

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson has told the football club’s board that he wants to conclude his 50 million pound summer transfer spending within the next fortnight.

Keen to build swiftly on the team’s Premier League and Champions League double triumph, Ferguson wants this summer's business done before he goes on his annual summer holiday to the exclusive resort of Cap Ferrat in the South of France next week.

Top of Fergie's wanted list are Sevilla's Brazilian duo, striker Luis Fabiano and defender Daniel Alves, who are likely to cost United a combined 30-million pounds.

Alves is being seen as Gary Neville's permanent replacement at right back, but Fergie remains keen on Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards, despite his likely 20 million pound price tag, reports The Mirror.

There is likely to be a maximum of four new faces at United this summer, while three departures are inevitable - defenders Mikael Silvestre and Gerard Pique, as well as injury-plagued striker Louis Saha. (ANI)

Bopanna-Aisam face first round draw in French Open Tennis Championships

Wed, 28 May 2008 07:55:00 -0400

After winning four Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger titles together last year, top Indo-Pak tennis pair Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi has been handed a tough first round draw in the French Open Tennis Championships.

Aisam and Bopanna will be facing the top seed world’s no 1 Bryan brothers Mike and Bob of United States.

Confident Aisam said: “Every match at the highest level of tennis in Grand Slams is a tough match. We have been thrown by luck into a highly challenging situation and that is how we are taking it. Both of us shall play our best tennis against the world’s topmost pair.

“It’s not everyday that you get a chance to measure yourself against the best in the world and we are really excited at getting this opportunity,” the Dawn quoted Aisam, as saying.

Aisam is in Paris for the preparation of the French Open Grand Slam Tennis Championship, which just started at the red clay courts of Roland Garros.

Bopanna is ranked 58th in doubles while Aisam, who lost in the quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger event, is ranked 67th in the world. (ANI)