SYDNEY: Australia could abandon tradition and stage an Ashes Test at the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium instead of the Sydney Cricket Ground. New South Wales state cricket administrators are in negotiations with the Sydney Cricket Ground, venue of 97 Tests dating back to 1882, over its contract beyond 2010, Australian media reported on Thursday. The fifth Ashes Test against England would start in the first week of January, 2011. Cricket NSW chief David Gilbert said he was considering its options and hadn’t ruled out moving the Test, although it would appear unlikely. The same speculation arose when the state cricket board and the SCG negotiated the current contract five years ago. Australia has an excellent record at the SCG, where it has only lost three Tests since 1980, including the last match in the 2003 Ashes series after it had already won the first four Tests.
Oram makes hasty retreat home for expectant wife
WELLINGTON: New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram left his teammates in Dubai in a hurry on Thursday after being told his wife was expecting the couple’s child early. The New Zealanders were in Dubai for a limited over series against Pakistan that was moved to a neutral venue for security reasons. They had already won the one-day series and were preparing for the first of two Twenty20 internationals when Oram got the call to come home quickly, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement on Thursday. The Black Caps will also be without pace bowler Kyle Mills for Thursday’s opening Twenty20 after he was ruled out with a shoulder injury. Mills was hopeful of playing in Friday’s second match while James Franklin was close to playing again after missing the one-day series with a back complaint.
Wet outfield wipes out day two of SL tour opener
MUMBAI: Sri Lanka’s tour opener against an Indian Board President’s XI was abandoned without a ball being bowled for a second successive day on Thursday due to wet ground conditions. Sri Lanka are second behind South Africa in the official Test rankings and will be aiming to win a series on Indian soil for the first time. The visitors, who have failed to record a victory in any of the 14 matches they have played in India since their first Test visit in 1982, are due to play three Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 Internationals. The opening Test starts in Ahmedabad on Nov 16.
Briatore seeks 1m in damages
LONDON: Disgraced former Renault team head Flavio Briatore is seeking one million euros in compensation from Formula One’s governing body over the crash-gate scandal, a report said on Thursday. Briatore is appealing his life ban from the sport in a Paris court later this month, and will claim the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council did not follow proper rules and procedures in making its decision. He wants the ban overturned and a minimum of one million euros for damages to his reputation, The Guardian newspaper said, citing documents in the case.
Simon confirmed for Brisbane event
MELBOURNE: French world number 12 Gilles Simon has been confirmed as a starter in the ATP/WTA Brisbane International event in January, organisers said on Thursday. Simon, 24, will join compatriot Gael Monfils, former world number one Andy Roddick and American James Blake in the men’s draw. The Brisbane International will take place at the Queensland Tennis Centre from January 3 to 10.
Bahrain fly to NZ for World Cup playoff
SYDNEY: Bahrain’s national team headed to New Zealand on Thursday for their 2010 World Cup playoff after wrapping up low-key preparations in Australia. Bahrain are bidding to qualify for their first World Cup finals after coming agonisingly close four years ago, losing a two-leg playoff against Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on aggregate. Bahrain reached the playoffs again after finishing third in their Asian qualifying group and then edging out Saudi Arabia over two legs to finish as the fifth best team in Asia. They remain favourites to beat Oceania champions New Zealand despite failing to capitalise on home advantage in last month’s opening leg in Manama, which ended in a scoreless draw.
Ahsan bowls team to victory
KARACHI: Ahsan Khan displayed a deadly bowling show and helped Metropolitan Cricket Club record a formidable 93-run win over Qasmi Cricket Club in North Nazimabad Cricket Series here on Thursday at the KCCA Stadium. At the KCCA stadium — Metropolitan CC 228 allout in 40 overs (Sheraz Ali 74, Abdullah Asad 53; Muhammad Afzal captured a 5-wicket haul). Qasmi CC 135 allout 24 overs (Muhammad Afzal 58; Ahsan Khan 6-32).
Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka 11-0
KARACHI: Pakistan Junior U18 Hockey team bulldozed Sri Lanka 11-0 in the opening match of the 2nd Boys U18 Asia Cup in Yangon, Myanmar on Thursday. According to the information made available here, Pakistan was leading at the half time by five goals to nil. Muhammad Mushtaq and Muhammad Tauseeq scored two goals each on penalty corners. Khurram Shahzad and Muhammad Rizwan also scored two field goals each. Captain Kashif Shah scored a goal on penalty stroke, while Muhammad Javed and Muhammad Umair scored one goal each. Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in their second match of the tournament on 15th November.
Afzal’s ton in vain as DIB enter final
KARACHI: Mir Afzal Baig knocked an explosive 59-ball ton but his efforts went in vain as his team — Aga Khan University Staff conceded a five-wicket defeat from Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), who qualified for the final of the 8th AKU Sports Centre Cricket Tournament here on Wednesday at the AKU Ground. AKU Staff scored 181-5 in stipulated 22 overs. Afzal (100). Ammar Zaidi captured a three-wicket haul for DIB. In reply DIB achieved the target on the last ball of their innings. Asif Siddiqui 48 and Ammar Zaidi 41no batted well for the victors.
Spurs striker wants to leave
MOSCOW: Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko said he wants to leave the north London club because spending most of the first half of the season on the bench has cost him his place in the Russian national team. Asked if he was definately planning to leave in the next transfer window in January, the striker said: “Yes, because it’s impossible for me to stay in the present situation.” Russia coach Guus Hiddink has included Pavlyuchenko in his 24-man squad for the World Cup playoff against Slovenia but the Dutchman indicated the 27-year-old was no longer his first-choice option for the first leg in Moscow on Saturday.
Kenyan eyes age record at 2012
TOKYO: Beijing silver medallist Catherine Ndereba of Kenya has vowed to become the oldest Olympic marathon winner at the 2012 London Games. The 37-year-old, who also won silver in Athens in 2004, is bidding for a 10th career marathon victory in Yokohama on Sunday. Romania’s Olympic champion Constantina Dita, who set the record for being the oldest marathon gold medallist at 38 in China last year, is also scheduled to run. “Winning in London is my biggest target,” double world champion Ndereba told Thursday’s Japanese media.
Bosingwa out for three months
LONDON: Chelsea’s Portuguese defender Jose Bosingwa will be out for about three months after he underwent surgery on his left knee this week, a statement issued by the Premier League leaders on Wednesday said. The 27-year-old has been out since mid-October with the problem and is not expected back until the New Year. But there was better news for the Blues, five points clear of Arsenal and champions Manchester United at the top of the table, in the announcement that their England left-back Ashley Cole does not need surgery for a shin injury.
Milan to reopen ticket sales
MILAN: AC Milan will reopen season ticket sales following their recent pickup in form after disappointing attendances at the start of the campaign, with fans especially put off by the sale of Kaka to Real Madrid. “What upsets me a lot is having lost 16,000 season ticket holders compared to last season,” chief executive Adriano Galliani told reporters on Wednesday. “We will launch a special season ticket starting from the first game of the second half of the season.” Milan have surged up to third in Serie A having languished in midtable for the first few weeks of the season.
Lee makes winning return
HONG KONG: Malaysia’s world number one Lee Chong Wei has made a winning return to badminton at the Hong Kong Open after recovering from a knee injury. The 27-year-old Olympic silver medallist enjoyed a straight forward 21-9, 21-12 victory over local Ng Wei in the first round of the $250,000 Super Series event. “I rested for almost two months and this is the first tournament ... now the injury is better,” Lee said after Wednesday’s match.
Silva called up to Brazil squad
SAO PAULO: Coach Dunga called up AC Milan defender Thiago Silva Wednesday for Brazil’s friendlies with England and Oman over the next week after Benfica’s Luisao underwent surgery for appendicitis. Milan accepted the request for Silva after the deadline for releasing players “in light of the existing good relations” with the Brazilian Football Confederation, according to a statement on the Italian club’s website.