The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Dubai

The International Cricket Council will stage 2008's postponed Champions Trophy in either September or October next year, ICC President David Morgan said today.

India, cricket's financial powerhouse, has objected to rescheduling the tournament in October because it already has a one-day series with Australia scheduled for that month.

"There are a few issues yet to be resolved but we are committed to having the tournament in Pakistan next year," Morgan said at a press conference following a two-day meeting of cricket's governing body in Dubai.

"We have a contractual obligation to the sponsors and our broadcasting partners to reschedule a postponed ICC event within 13 months," he added.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will be consulting with several countries' cricket boards next week, Morgan said.

Pakistan was scheduled to host the Champions Trophy this September but the ICC postponed it until October the following year after several teams refused to participate due to security concerns. South Africa officially pulled out of the tournament.

Morgan said today that the ICC did not seek an alternative host to Pakistan during the council's meeting in Dubai this week.

Davydenko cleared in tennis betting probe

AP, London

Russian tennis player Nikolay Davydenko was cleared by the ATP after a year-long betting investigation.

The ATP says it found no evidence of wrongdoing by Davydenko or Argentine player Martin Vassallo Arguello at their match in Poland in August 2007. The ATP says the case is now closed.

The probe centered on suspicious betting patterns during the match. Davydenko, then ranked No. 5, pulled out against his lowly ranked opponent in the third set citing a foot injury.

An online betting agency voided all wagers, citing an inordinate amount of money put on the match. Many bets came in for Arguello, even after he lost the first set.