B4U India

Pak cricketer Mohammad Yousuf denies T20 cricket is difficult for him

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:10:00 -0400

Denying the general impression that he considered T20 format of cricket difficult, Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf said that he did not consider Twenty20 cricket any difficult, and that the impression about him was not correct.

He said this on the occasion of practice match between his team Lahore Lions and Lahore Eagles in connection with the National Twenty20 Cup at the LCCA Ground, reported The News

Mohammad Yousuf said that there would be a great contest in the National Twenty20 Cricket Tournament, beginning from October 4, and that the players had begun full preparation for this event.

He said that his team “Lahore Lions” consists of talented and in-form players.

The veteran batsman said that Twenty20 cricket also requires experienced and talented batsmen and this impression is not correct that he does not have any ability to play Twenty20 cricket. (ANI)

Tendulkar rules out security worries ahead of Tests

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:08:00 -0400

Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar today played down security concerns for the Test series against Australia, saying cricketers will never be targeted in India.

"I don''t think it bothers us. We are confident nothing bad will happen," Tendulkar told reporters at a training camp ahead of the first Test starting here on October 9.

New Delhi is the venue of the third Test from October 29 and security has been increased around the Australian team, who play a four-day practice match in southern Hyderabad from Thursday.

Tendulkar declined to comment on Australia''s security fears but insisted Indian players had nothing to worry about.

"This is our homeland. In our homeland I don''t think anyone can harm us," said Tendulkar.

"We should be free to move wherever and whenever we want."

Tendulkar already holds three world records -- maximum number of runs in one-day internationals (16,361) and most centuries in Tests (39) and one-dayers (42).

The batting star was recently declared fit for the Australia Tests after missing the one-day series in Sri Lanka last month due to an elbow injury. (ANI)

Out of favour Pattinson says he is okay with not playing for England again

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:08:00 -0400

Out of favour England fast bowler Darren Pattinson has revealed that he had disagreed with the England selectors'' decision to play him in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley, and given the acrimony that followed his July call-up, the Victorian-born pace man said he would be content to never again play for England.

"I probably didn''t agree with the selection, as it was," Pattinson said.

"I don''t think I''d be picking someone to play the one Test when they haven''t really played that many first-class games and weren''t in the squad. It was a left-field selection. If I was in [the selectors''] situation, I wouldn''t have picked me to play for England when there were guys like Steve Harmison - who I know has had his problems - waiting in the wings and ready to go,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Pattison, as saying.

“It''s really an astonishing story, when you think about it. If I never played another international, I''d be OK with that. As far as the England players were concerned, they were nice and very welcoming. I guess [Michael] Vaughan was coming to the end of his captaincy at the time, so there might have been a few issues there. I didn''t get all the stuff he said, but I take it was mostly to do with the selection," he added.

Born in Lincolnshire, but raised in Victoria, Pattinson had played just 11 first-class games for Victoria and Nottinghamshire when called into the England Test team.

The decision to name an ageing and relatively untried pace man for a one-off Test appearance drew howls of indignation from the British press, and prompted Vaughan to describe his selection as "confused".

Three months on, Pattinson can''t quite comprehend the events that transpired around the time of the second Test, which culminated in a 10-wicket victory for South Africa.

Nor can he understand why much of the criticism levelled against his selection took on such a personal tone when, in reality, he merely answered England''s call.

"It probably hurt my family more than me," he said. "I was just trying to take wickets and get on with it but - and you know what the British press can be like - it was tough for my wife. To be honest, it didn''t bother me all that much … but it got to her a bit. I hadn''t predicted any of it. I was just coming over to play county cricket as another way of earning a bit of extra cash. I was more than happy to get the opportunity to play international cricket … but with all the stuff that came with it, it''s hard to say just how I view the whole experience right now. I''m sure I''ll look back in a few years and be happy I played a Test, but there are a few mixed feelings at the moment."

Pattinson flew out of England on Sunday, and will resume training with his club, Dandenong, and the Victorian state squad this week. The right-armer finished with 49 wickets at 25.61 for Nottingham, who went within an ace of claiming the coveted county title last weekend.

Pattinson would appear to be a prime candidate to assume the role of double agent for Australia ahead of next year''s Ashes series. But with a county contract to protect, the Victorian pace man insisted he had no intention of turning informant against his one-time England teammates.

"I have lived in Australia pretty much all my life, and [playing for England] wasn''t anything I''d really thought too much about," Pattinson said.

"But I''ve got to come back to Nottingham, so I think being seen to do that would get me in a bit of trouble. I''ve had some great experiences in England this season, and I think it will make me a better bowler." (ANI)

Vaughan not to play for South Australia

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:06:00 -0400

South Australia will not be offering former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan a chance to play for them this winter.

Vaughan, 34 next month, is desperate for runs to force his way into the reckoning for next summer''s Ashes series.

But despite talk of the Redbacks offering him a deal, their high performance manager Jamie Cox has strongly denied a move will be made.

"This is categorically not the case. The Redbacks have had no conversations with Mr. Vaughan regarding his recruitment to the side. He has never been considered as a candidate for the Redbacks this season and he will not be playing for South Australia,” The Sun quoted Cox, as saying. (ANI)

Love struck Gazza to shift base to Portugal

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:02:00 -0400

Keen to start a new life with his blonde sweetheart, former England football star Paul Gascoigne is quitting England for Portugal.

A Daily Star report said that Gazza has told his close friends that he plans to move to the Algarve so his relationship with ex-pat photographer Sally Mulholland can flourish.

Gazza, 41, reckons the move will allow him to escape the spotlight of publicity in which he constantly lives in England.

He will also be able to bury the nightmare memories of the past few months in which he has been sectioned, locked up in a police cell, cautioned for criminal damage and holed up in rehab.

Last week rumours swept the country that the former England star, who has been battling booze addiction and depression, had been found dead.

Gazza has told pals there is nothing to keep him in England. He has severed most of his ties with his family who refuse to tolerate his boozing, and fallen out again with ex-wife Sheryl, 43, after a series of bust-ups.

His relationship with best pal Jimmy “Five Bellies’’ Gardner has deteriorated too.

The move also shows how deeply he has fallen for divorced mum-of-three Sally, 44 – a dead ringer for Sheryl.

The couple have only known each other a fortnight since meeting in an Algarve bar.

She flew to Britain to see him last week and they were spotted kissing in a trendy Newcastle restaurant.

“He is totally besotted with her and just wants to spend as much time with her as possible. Without her he reckons he has nothing really to do – and that’s when he turns to drink,’’ a friend of his said.

Gazza told mum Carol, 64, of his feelings for Sally in a two-hour phone conversation.

“He was happy and he was sober. I couldn’t ask for more after all he’s been through,’’ Carol was quoted, as saying. (ANI)

Hamilton to play remote-control cars with kid brother

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:01:00 -0400

Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton has said that he will spend the next few days playing on remote-control cars with his kid brother.

The Brit, who is close to fulfilling his boyhood dream after opening up a seven-point lead over Formula One rival Felipe Massa with just three races left, is thinking about spending some time relaxing with his 15-year-old brother, Nic, who has cerebral palsy.

“My brother and I will have a bit of fun with some remote- control cars. I haven’t got too much stuff packed into the weekend, which is great, “ The Sun quoted Hamilton, as saying.

"It will be great to get home, get my clothes clean and get back to the norm. I’ll have a couple of days at home in Geneva training and then I’ve got a sponsors’ event and will have a day at McLaren. I leave for Japan next Monday. And I’m more up for this than ever,” he added.

Hamilton had to settle for third place in Formula One’s spectacular first night race in Singapore on Sunday.

But his title bid received a boost as Ferrari driver Massa finished out of the points. (ANI)

Shoaib Akhtar awaiting visa for Toronto four-nation tournament

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:59:00 -0400

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has been selected for the four-nation tournament to be played in Toronto next month, will have to wait for his visa as the PCB has still not been able to get the necessary clearance for him.

Shoaib’s name was sent in a shortlist of players for the four-nation tournament starting from October 10, but the PCB was unable to obtain a visa for him, reported the Daily Times.

“He was in England playing for Surrey and we didn’t have his passport. So, he has to wait. We will now send his name in the second list most probably,” the paper quoted a PCB official as saying.

Shoaib will also know by next week from the Lahore High Court whether he can play in Pakistan and for Pakistan without paying a fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by a PCB appellate tribunal, added the paper.

The tribunal had reduced his five-year ban to 18 months, but enforced the fine, which the fast bowler has not paid till now. The PCB has sought clear directives from the Lahore High Court if the pacer can play without clearing the fine first.

The PCB had initially said Shoaib would not be eligible to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan if he did not pay the fine. The pacer has been named in the Islamabad team for the Twenty20 tournament. (ANI)

Becks to star in kids’ books to popularize soccer

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:44:00 -0400

Soccer ace David Beckham is set to star in a series of kids’ books.

The novels are to be set at David Beckham Football Academies in London and Los Angeles.

Beckham, who has three kids, is too excited about being featured in the book.

“David is pleased the Academy has inspired a series books that will bring children to reading through football,” The Sun quoted Beckham’s spokesman, as saying.

The first instalment of the books is expected to be out in June 2009.

They will be about a group of youngsters training at the Academy. (ANI)