KARACHI: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) secretary Irfan Asghar said on Saturday that Aamir Atlas Khan’s victory against World No 1 Gregory gaultier is an honour for Pakistan squash and it would help boost the morale of other Pakistani players. “It is great to see one of our players beating World No 1 Gregory Gaultier. Aamir is a talented player and of course this win would boost his morale. Moreover, it would also give confidence to other Pakistani players,” Irfan told PPI. He said that Aamir’s win would also help international squash’s return to Pakistan. “It would send the message to the world that Pakistan squash not only has an historic but also has a contemporary place in the international arena.”
FIFA bans Iraq from international football
PARIS: World football’s governing body FIFA on Friday announced its decision to suspend the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) until further notice “because of government interference”. “In accordance with FIFA statutes, the clubs and representative teams of Iraq are no longer permitted to take part in international matches, whether friendly or competitive,” read a statement on the FIFA website. “Furthermore, the IFA is deprived of its right to vote at any congresses held by international bodies and is no longer entitled to receive financial assistance.” In spite of FIFA’s decision, Iraq’s women’s under-16 team will be allowed to compete in a youth tournament organised by the Norwegian football federation that is due to take place in Jordan from November 22-29.
More injury woes for Reds in 2-2 draw
LONDON: Daniel Agger and Ryan Babel added to Liverpool’s injury woes on Saturday in a lively 2-2 English Premier League draw with big-spending Manchester City at Anfield. Instead, City chalked up a sixth consecutive draw, one short of the Premier League record, while Liverpool had to rely on an equaliser from substitute Yossi Benayoun to salvage a point and stay seventh. Benitez was forced into making two unscripted substitutions within the first 18 minutes of a scrappy first half. Agger collapsed with a gashed forehead in the fifth minute. Benitez told Sky Sports Television that the Danish defender, who was carried off on a stretcher with concussion, had five stitches to the wound. Babel followed him off with an ankle injury and was replaced by Benayoun.
Lions to meet Panthers in veterans final
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Lahore Lions will take on Islamabad Panthers in the final of second National Twenty20 Veterans Cricket Cup in Lahore on Sunday (today). On Saturday, the league phase was wrapped up with Karachi Kings suffering a stunning 33-run defeat at the hands of Islamabad Panthers at Race Course Park while Lahore Lions cut Punjab Tigers to size with a 88-run win at Lahore Country Club in Muridke. It was the third successive win for Lahore and they are now favourites to clinch the final.
KGS clinch tennis title
KARACHI: Karachi Grammar School retained the title of the STA Inter School Tennis Championship when they beat CAS School Karachi 2-0 here at the CDGK Sports Complex. It was a team event and in the opening singles Mustafa Zaidi easily beat Minhas Sabir of CAS School 6-0, 6-0. In the second singles Omer Shahid of Karachi Grammar School beat Arslan Allawala of CAS school 6-1, 6-0. The Inter School championship was organised with the help of Pakistan School Sports Association. CDGK Community Development department provided the venue free of charge.
Sajjad shines in World Snooker
HYDERABAD, India: Mohammad Sajjad of Pakistan moved into the next stage of the World Snooker Championship after defeating Chih-Hua Huang of Chinese Taipei here on Saturday. In the first round of knock-out stage of the event, Sajjad outclassed Chih-Hua Huang 4-0 to qualify for the second round. He won 61-51, 49-14, 95-10 and 65-24. This was sixth consecutive success of Sajjad and he will now meet Peter Williams of Wales in the second round.
Arshad falls in Rhode Island
KARACHI: Pakistani squash player Arshad Iqbal Burki bowed out of Rhode Island Open — the $10,000 PSA World Tour squash event at St George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island (USA) after losing to second seeded Amr Swelim. Ranked 98th on the world circuit, Arshad failed to give any resistance to the Cairo -born Amr Swelim who won the match 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 in only 29 minutes.
Player of the week
Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in Tests (12,877) and One-day International (17,178) cricket. The 36-year-old, Mumbai born player is also regarded as the greatest player ever. Recently he completed his twenty years in the gentleman’s game and celebrated it with his 43 century in Test cricket. The right-handed batsman is also the only player to have completed 30,000 runs in international cricket
IAAF creates intense schedule
MONACO: The IAAF has changed the world championships program to create a more concentrated schedule. The governing body of athletics said on Friday it wants marquee evening sessions to include at least six gold medal finals taking place within three hours. The IAAF’s ruling council agreed to help achieve this goal by reserving one day during the nine-day championships for road races outside the stadium. It also said that the opening day, which inevitably includes qualification rounds, should feature prestige events like the men’s 100 metres and women’s 400. Athletes in the men’s and women’s 100 and sprint hurdles will run their semifinals and final in the same evening session. The changes take effect at the 2011 worlds in Daegu, South Korea.