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Pakistan sack cricket official after email leak

AFP, Pakistan

Pakistan on Thursday sacked a high-profile cricket official who said he had been accused of leaking a confidential email to the media which criticised the team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that former fast bowler Salim Altaf, who was overseeing the 2011 World Cup to be hosted in the subcontinent, was fired, but a top official played down the incident.

"Altaf's services were no more required but I would not say he was accused of leakage to the media," Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told AFP.

But Altaf said he was sacked after local media published an email by Pakistan's cricket chief accusing the national team of lacking commitment after they suffered their biggest-ever defeat against arch-rivals India this week.

"I have worked to the best of sincerity and honesty but today PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf called me to his office and accused me of leaking news to the media," Altaf told AFP.

"He gave me the option of resigning or else said that he would sack me," Altaf added.

Altaf, 64, who played 21 Tests for Pakistan in the 1970s as a medium fast bowler, was made director for special projects after serving as chief executive of the PCB until September last year.

Altaf said he would consult an attorney.

"After I left Ashraf's room he came to my office and told me to read the transcript of a taped conversation which had my voice. He accused me of leaking secrets to the media," Altaf said.

"I replied that most of the things in the transcript were public knowledge and nothing is proved in the transcript. I will consult my lawyer and then decide my course of action," said Altaf.

India thrashed Pakistan by 140 runs in the tri-series match held in Dhaka on Tuesday. They posted a formidable 330-8 and then bowled Pakistan out for a paltry 190.

"The performance against India was embarrassing," Ashraf wrote in the email published in the Pakistani media.

"It is not a question of losing a match but our overall performance and the lack of resolve and commitment bothered me the most," it added.

The email, which was addressed to manager Talat Ali and copied to captain Shoaib Malik and Pakistan's Australian coach Geoff Lawson, demanded swift action.

It was unclear how Altaf was alleged to have obtained the email.

"Please discuss these points and give us your considered response within the next 24 hours so that timely action can be taken before the next match against India on the 14th which will be the final," the message said. India take on Bangladesh on Thursday, with Pakistan set to meet their foes again on Saturday.

Ashraf criticised the selection of the team, which did not include a regular spinner.

"The previous game against Bangladesh had clearly highlighted the characteristics of the track in Dhaka, that the spinners were going to play a crucial role," said Ashraf of Pakistan's 70-run win over the hosts on Sunday.

Altaf's sacking is the latest controversy to hit Pakistan's cricket set-up.

Paceman Mohammad Asif was seized at Dubai airport on June 1 on charges of possessing an illegal substance. He is still in the Gulf emirate, where authorities are deciding whether to take any action.

Hockey team's trip to Singapore delayed further

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh national hockey team's trip to Singapore has been delayed further, not for visa problem, but for the delay of Bangladesh Biman flight again.

The Singapore-bound Biman flight, originally scheduled to fly today at 10:30 am, was rescheduled for Thursday night at 12:00 hrs due to some internal problems. But Biman further rescheduled the flight departure at 6 pm today (Friday).

Bangladesh Hockey team, which got visa Thursday morning on schedule, will fly on Biman flight today (Friday) morning to take part in the 3rd Men's AHF Cup Hockey to be held in Singapore on June 14-22 eyeing for the title of the nine-team meet.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Hockey Federation Sajed AA Adel will leave here for Singapore Friday night to reach the destination Saturday morning, the opening day of the meet.

Before leaving for Singapore, Bangladesh team is due to make a courtesy call on Bangladesh Hockey Federation President and Air Force Chief Air Marshall SM Ziaur Rahman at the BAF Shaheed Hall on Thursday night.

Bangladesh finished 7th in both the Asian Games Hockey in Doha in 2006 and also in the Asia Cup Hockey in Chennai in 2007 after six top seeded Asian teams -- India, Pakistan, Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.

Dhaka Bank Limited, who signed a deal with Hockey Federation recently to be the "partner in progress" of Bangladesh Hockey for one year, sponsored the national team's trip to Singapore providing Tk 20 lakh of the estimated cost of Tk 24 lakh.

Bangladesh have been placed in Pool A of the Asia Cup Hockey with hosts Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and Brunei Darussalam while Pool B team comprises Hong Kong, Sri Lankan, Oman and Thailand.

Bangladesh will play Brunei Darussalam on June 14, Chinese Taipei on June 15, Sinapore on June 18 and Uzbekistan on June 18.

Of the nine teams taking part in the meet, four will qualify for the Asia Cup Hockey.

Bangladesh Squad: Mahbub Ullah Shakil,, Mehrab Hossain Kiron, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Isa Mia, Asaduzzaman Chandan, Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Ferdous Goldar, Shahidullah Titu, Musa Mia, Kh. Hasan Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammad Nannu, Maksud Alam Habul, Russell Mahmud Jimmy, Zahidul Islam Rajan, Rimon Kumar Ghosh and Krishna Kumar.

Team Officials: Kamrul Islam Kismat, (manager), Shahidullah Dolon (assist. Manager), Mahbub Harun (coach), Barkat Ullah Chapal (assist. Coach), Mirza Farad Ahmed (judge) and Mahbubul Haq Mitu (umpire).

Scolari named as Chelsea manager

BBC Online

Chelsea have named Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new manager in succession to Avram Grant.

Scolari, who is currently in charge of the Portuguese side at Euro 2008, will take over at Stamford Bridge on 1 July.

"He is one of the world's top coaches with a record of success at country and club level," read a Chelsea statement.

Scolari won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, and has also won nine

domestic trophies in Brazil.

The 59-year-old Brazilian becomes the fourth manager during owner Roman Abramovich's reign following the departures of Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho and Grant.

The latter only lasted eight months, despite guiding Chelsea to second place in the Premier League and to their first Champions League final last season..

AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti, new Manchester City boss Mark Hughes and former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini had been in the running for the job but the appointment ends weeks of speculation after Grant was sacked towards the end of May.

The Chelsea statement continued: "Scolari gets the best out of a talented squad of players and his ambitions and expectations match ours. He was the outstanding choice.

"Out of respect for his current role and to ensure minimum disruption to this work there will be no further comment from Chelsea nor from Felipe about his new role until his employment with us commences.".

Scolari has long been the nemesis of English football as he was in charge of both Brazil and Portugal when they ended England's chances in the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and the World Cup in 2006.

His reputation led him to be considered for the England manager's job in 2006 but he was reportedly put off the role because of fears of media intrusion.

However, with his contract with the Portuguese Football Federation set to expire on 29 June - the date of the Euro 2008 final - he has taken the opportunity to try his hand at management in the Premier League.

The former defender has never managed a European club but has won the Copa Libertadores - South America's equivalent of the Champions League - with Brazilian clubs Gremio and Palmeiras.

He has also won a Brazilian championship (Gremio) in 1996, three Brazilian cups and three South Rio Grande championships.

Ronaldo dreaming of glory for Portugual

AFP, Geneva

Portugual are daring to dream of Euro 2008 glory after their impressive 3-1 win over the Czech Republic, team hero Cristiano Ronaldo said.

The 23-year-old winger showed exactly why Manchester United are fighting to keep him out of Real Madrid's clutches by creating two goals and scoring one against the Czechs on Wednesday.

Having drawn Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech out of position in the eighth minute, Ronaldo created enough space for Barcelona's Deco to flick the ball home and then followed up with a precision strike of his own on 63 minutes.

He capped a man-of-the-match performance by setting up Portuguese substitute Ricardo Quaresmo to score a third goal in extra- time.

With a maximum six points after two wins, Portugal look set to reach the Euro 2008 quarter-finals as Group A winners and Ronaldo believes his side can go one better than four years ago when they lost to Greece in the final.

"Can the Portuguese dream? We can all dream, we are starting to have the belief to dream high, but we must take it a step at a time," said the Portuguese star, whose side face Switzerland on Sunday in their final Group A game.

"The road is long, but we are on track."

Ronaldo said he makes no excuses for his high-risk football which paid off against the Czech Republic in such dramatic style. He said: "I try to always give my best.

"Sometimes people do not understand, but it's the same game I play for Manchester and that is how I will always play.

"I do not know play differently. I only know risk.

"When things go badly I miss balls, but when things go well I score goals or create them.

"In the second-half (against the Czech Republic) things went better me, I managed to make a goal, it was good.

"But the group is not over for us, we still have one more match to play.

"I think there were some 10-15 minutes we had the more strength, we had an excellent opponent and that is why we ended up under pressure, the Portuguese simply played excellent football."

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner heaped praise on the Manchester United star saying he looks set to become the player of the tournament.

He said: "Ronaldo is one of the best players, he is a very dangerous weapon.

"The Portugal team is not just about Ronaldo, they have an excellent passing game, but, yes, Ronaldo might be the best player of Euro 2008."

Pavel scores hattrick: Surjosena SC beat Arambagh Jrs 3-1

UNB, Dhaka

A brilliant hattrick by Pavel Ahmed guided Surjosena Sporting Club to a facile 3-1 goals victory against Arambagh KS Junior in a West Zone match of the Metropolis Pioneer Football League at the Outer Stadium on Thursday.

Pavel made the hattrick scoring the three goals in the first half -- in 13th, 17th and 31st minutes -- for the winners, while Tuhin netted the consolation goal for the losers in the 53rd minute.

In a Central Zone match at Basabo Tarun Sangha Club ground, Samaj Kalayan & Krira Sangsad outplayed Nandipara Komolkoli Sangsad by 3-0 goals in the afternoon.

Riaz struck twice -- in the 41st and 60th minutes, while Pappu netted the other goal in the 50th minute.

In the day's North Zone match at Mohakhali T&T ground, Dhaka Eleven scraped to 1-0 victory over Khelaghar Krira Chakra with Faisal scoring the all-important goal in the 65th minute.

Brazil's Lula will attend Beijing Olympics opening

AFP, Rio De Janeiro

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will attend the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, a top official said Wednesday.

Lula is in step with US President George W. Bush but not other leaders such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who plan to shun the opening in protest over China's March crackdown on dissidents in Tibet.

Minister of Sport and Tourism Orlando Silva said Lula's visit to Beijing was aimed at promoting Rio de Janeiro as a candidate to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

"Spain's head of government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, US President George W. Bush and Spain's King Juan Carlos will be in Beijing. It's important that Lula also be there," Silva said.

Rio de Janeiro was among four cities on the International Olympic Committee' list of venues competing for the right to host the 2016 Summer Games. The other three are Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo.

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London.

Western human rights activists have called on world leaders to stay away from the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony on August 8 to protest China's clampdown on dissent in Tibet and other human rights concerns.

New SCG stand to be named after Trumper

AFP, Sydney

The new "Hill" stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be named after Victor Trumper, an Australian cricketing great of early last century, the SCG Trust said Thursday.

The 70 million dollar (66 million US) grandstand, with 8,700 under cover seats and built over what was once the iconic SCG Hill, will open in December ahead of the Test against South Africa starting on January 3.

Trumper was a peerless Test batsman with strong links to three football codes also played at the famous ground.

SCG Trust chairman Rod Cavalier said Trumper, who played 48 Tests from 1899 to 1912, deserved the honour ahead of other contenders, among them former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh.

"Consider then that Vic played representative games of rugby union and Australian football (Aussie Rules) on our ground and was also instrumental in the establishment of rugby league in Australia," Cavalier said.

Trumper died of kidney failure in 1915 at the age of 37.

The Victor Trumper stand will increase the SCG's capacity to 47,000. Other stands at the ground are named after Australian Test cricket greats, Don Bradman, M.A. Noble and Bill "Tiger" O'Reilly.

Sabrina earns her 2nd gold medal in 22nd National Shooting Championship

UNB, Dhaka

Olympian shooter Sabrina Sultan of Dhaka Rifles Club earned her second gold medal in the 22nd National Shooting Championship clinching the top slot of the Women's 10 meter Air Rifles on the 3rd-day of the five-day meet at the BKSP Shooting Range on Thursday.

Sabrina, who represented Bangladesh in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, won her second gold medal in the ongoing meet scoring 491.4. She won her first gold in .22 Rifles Prone scoring 568 on Wednesday.

Two other celebrated shooters -- Sharmin Akhter of Rajarbagh Rifles Club and Suraiya Akhter of Narayanganj Rifles Club -- finished second and third in the event (10m Air Rifles) scoring 490.2 and 488.4 respectively.

Promising Tripti Dutta of BKSP Shooting Club earned her first gold medal in the ongoing meet clinching top slot in Women's 10 meter Air Rifles (junior Group) scoring 393.

Anwar Hossai of Army Shooting Association bagged gold medal in the Men's .22 Rifles Prone, while Kaniz Chowdhury Sweety of Gulshan Shooting Club won the gold in the women's 25 meter Pistol scoring 543.

Women's 10 meter Air Pistol, women's .22 Rifles Prone and Men's 25 meter Pistol will be held today (Friday).

CA witnesses Bangladesh-India match

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Thursday witnessed the Bangladesh-India Kitply Cup Triangular Cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

He came to the stadium at 4: 45 pm to enjoy the Bangladesh innings and left the stadium after the end of the innings.

Election Commissioner Brigadier Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Major General Sina Ibn Jamali and Chief Advisor's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim were also present.

BCB picks up 25 cricketers for GP-BCB National Cricket Academy for 2008-09

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Cricket Board Thursday selected 25 cricketers for the GP-BCB National Cricket Academy for 2008-09.

The selected players are Zunaed Siddiqui, Imrul Kayes, Mahbubul Karim, Jahurul Islam Shamsur Rahman, Naeem Islam, Farhad Hossain, Nadif Chowdhury, Marshall Ayub, Nasir Hossain, Arafat Salauddin, Suhrawardi Shuvo, Arafat Sunny, Raihanuddin Arafat, Nabil Samad, Sajedul Islam, Delwar Hossain, Talha Zubair, Mahbubul Alam (Robin), Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Dhiman Ghosh, Sahagir Hossain Pavel and Ashiqul Islam Rajib.

Team Management: Operations Manager/Assistant Coach- Khaled Mahmud,

Academy Head Coach- Kuwan Kalpage, Physio/Fitness Trainer-Bayjedul Islam

Computer Analyst-Mohammad Salahuddin.

Names of the captain and vice captain will be announced later. Khaled Mahmud has been appointed Assistant Coach to the Academy Head Coach in addition to his normal responsibilities as Operations Manager.

Murray through after injury scare

BBC Online

Andy Murray survived an injury scare before defeating Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 5-7 6-1 6-4 to reach the last eight of the Artois Championships.

Both players struggled with their footing on a damp day at Queen's Club, and play was briefly suspended at 2-2.

And moments after levelling at one set all, Murray screamed in pain when he fell while quickly changing direction.

But after treatment to his thigh during a medical time-out, the British number one returned to seal a battling win.

"That's the first time I've been on a tennis court and been more worried about getting through the match uninjured," Murray told BBC Sport.

"It was so slippy out there and even when it's only a little bit of rain I'm sliding two metres after every shot, and changing direction is so hard as well, so I was just really glad to come through in the end."

Murray will next face Andy Roddick, who went through when Mardy Fish retired with an ankle injury after losing the first 7-6.

Gulbis, ranked 51 in the world and rising, was always going to be a tough opponent for Murray having reached the French Open quarter-finals.