Gay overwhelms Carter to win in Zagreb ZAGREB: American star sprinter Tyson Gay put Jamaican rival Nesta Carter in his place on Wednesday when he easily beat him in the 100 metres race at the Zagreb Grand Prix meeting. The 28-year-old American got a poor start but still timed a meet record 9.92 seconds while Carter — who on Sunday had equalled Gay’s fastest time of the year of 9.78sec - was second well back in 10.07sec. American Michael Rodgers was third in 10.14 sec. “I made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the race,” Gay told Croatian national television. “It was very cold but the cold weather did not affect my result. “I thank Nesta for inspiring me for the victory. I’m in good shape, relaxed and enjoying running,” he added.
Veena Malik hands proof against Asif over to ICC LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Asif’s ex-girlfriend, actress-model Veena Malik, has handed over the “proof” of his alleged links with Indian bookies to an official of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Hasan Raza, who is a top official of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit for South Asia, met Malik at her residence last evening after she alleged that Asif was involved in match-fixing and she had “ample” proof of this. “I handed over Asif’s voice recordings with the bookie and some other related information to the ICC official,” Veena told a TV news channel. “From head to toe, Pakistani players and officials are involved in match-fixing. I had gone with Asif to Bangkok before Pakistan’s tour of Australia. Asif told me he was offered $40,000 by an Indian bookie to under-perform in Australia but he demanded $200,000. “The Pakistan Cricket Board had evidence of this but no action was taken against him,” she said. Asif, his fellow pacer Mohammad Amir and Test captain Salman Butt are at the centre of an alleged ‘spot-fixing’ scandal exposed by British tabloid News of the World. The tabloid reported it had paid 150,000 pounds to a fixer for three no-balls bowled by Asif and Amir during a Test match against England.
Ponting still has time on his hand: Taylor MELBOURNE: While pressure is building on Ricky Ponting with every innings his willow fails to talk, the Australian captain has received support from his predecessor, Mark Taylor. Taylor, who went through a similar phase in his career when lack of runs almost cost him his place from the 1997 Ashes XI, put his weight behind the struggling Ponting. “Ricky’s so-called lean period is nowhere near as bad as mine. He’s not in anywhere near the form slump that I was in. He’s on easy street at the moment. Ricky’s still going okay. “He’s probably not the player he was five years ago but he’s still a very fine batsman. As Steve Waugh showed five or six years ago, he (Ponting) is the sort of player who can make a hundred when it’s really needed. “I would not be ruling Ricky Ponting out at this stage,” said Taylor, adding, however, a run-less Test series in India would surely make matters worse for Ponting. The right-handed batsman has managed a solitary century in his last 18 Test innings and scored runs at an average of nearly 40. “It’s very tough, there’s no doubt. You’re doing this sort of thing every day (fronting the media); you’re answering questions every day. “When you’re not the captain you can distance yourself, to a certain extent, away from the media. As captain you are dealing with the media all the time and you have to answer the (form) question all the time. That will be the hard thing for Ricky.”
Malaysian teen Jeffri is youngest F1 test driver LONDON: Malaysian Nabil Jeffri became Formula One’s youngest test driver at the age of 16 on Wednesday, after being driven to the track by his proud father. Jaffri, still too young to take a driving test in Britain or drive on the public roads, conducted a day of straight line aerodynamic testing for F1 newcomers Lotus on an airfield runway in Duxford, eastern England. The Malaysian-owned team’s regular race driver Heikki Kovalainen and Malaysian reserve Fairuz Fauzy were also present to advise the teenager.
Buffon omitted from Juve Europa list ROME: Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been left out of Juventus’s 25-man Europa League squad. Buffon is currently recovering following surgery on his back after suffering a herniated disc during the World Cup in South Africa. Juve named three goalkeepers in their list: Marco Storari, Alex Manninger and youngster Marco Costantino. Other players to miss out on the list are new signings Fabio Quagliarella and Alberto Aquilani having already played for Napoli and Liverpool respectively in the competition.
Hughes back for India tour, Haddin still recovering MELBOURNE: Opening batsman Phillip Hughes has returned from a dislocated shoulder while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin remains unavailable for Australia after selectors confirmed their Test squad for two matches in India next month. Hughes dislocated his shoulder while boxing in a training session and had surgery in May. Haddin has had an elbow tendon injury and been out of action since the World Twenty20. Tim Paine, who replaced Haddin for Australia’s matches against Pakistan in England, has been retained in the side. Fast bowlers Peter George and Josh Hazelwood were both included for the series, with first Test in Mohali on October 1-5, while the second Test in Bangalore is from October 9-13. Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shane Watson.
Agassi nominated for International Tennis Hall of Fame NEW YORK: Andre Agassi headlined a list of nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame following a sparkling career highlighted by eight Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. Agassi, who shocked the sporting world late last year when he admitted using the highly addictive drug crystal meth and lying to tennis officials to escape a ban, was the only name in the recent player category, the Hall said on Wednesday. During his singles career, Agassi went 870-274 with 60 titles, including four victories at the Australian Open, two at the US Open, and one at the French Open and Wimbledon. Agassi, who also captured a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, is married to Steffi Graf, a retired tennis player and 2004 Hall of Fame inductee, with whom he has two children.
Klusener turns down Bangladesh coaching role CAPE TOWN: Lance Klusener, the former South Africa allrounder, has finally turned down the offer to take over as Bangladesh’s bowling coach, ending a prolonged period of speculation over his possible appointment. Klusener, who was in discussions to replace Sri Lanka’s Champaka Ramanayake, was reportedly unable to convince his wife about a permanent move to Bangladesh. BCB had tried to be flexible with Klusener’s demands to return home between series. “We are ready to fulfill all his demands,” BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus said. “He wanted some additional facilities and we agreed. We were also ready to allow him to go on a long leave between the twin home series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe and the World Cup.”
PSB issues letter to PVF questions team inclusion By our correspondent KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a letter to the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) on Thursday asking them why their discipline should be included in the Asian Games pencilled in for November 12-27 in China. The PSB put volleyball under review when the authorities of baseball and shooting came hard on the discipline during a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, saying, that the respective twin sports disciplines have more chances to win medals than volleyball and therefore they have the right to carve a niche in the list of disciplines for the Asian Games.
