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South Africa drops Ntini, Nel from one-day squad

AP, Johannesburg

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur surprisingly dropped fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel from the one-day squad to play Kenya and Bangladesh later this month.

Arthur said Ntini, a regular player with the Proteas, said he had been left out with an eye to the future, the South African Press Association reported.

"We are starting to prepare for the World Cup in the subcontinent in 2011, and we need to start preparing young bowlers for that," Arthur said Tuesday. "We can't afford to take rookies to the World Cup."

Arthur said Ntini, who would play in the Test matches against Bangladesh, also needed to be "fresh and fit" for the Test team in Australia.

He also said Nel may be up for a position in the squad to travel to Australia.

"We have named a 13-man squad for the two Tests against Bangladesh, but we will be taking a 14-man squad to Australia," Arthur said. "We might decide to take another fast bowler, or else we will take an all-rounder."

South Africa is due to play two one-day internationals against Kenya and a Twenty20 international, three ODIs and two tests against Bangladesh.

South Africa included uncapped all-rounders Ryan McLaren and Rory Kleinveldt, chosen for the Twenty20 game, in the limited overs squads.

South Africa squad to play two Tests against Bangladesh: Graeme Smith (captain), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, A.B. de Villiers, J.P. Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki. South Africa squad to play two one-day internationals against Kenya and three against Bangladesh: Graeme Smith (captain), Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki.

Ganguly to retire after Australia Tests

Cricinfo

Sourav Ganguly has announced he will retire after the upcoming Test series against Australia.

"This will be my last series," said Ganguly at the end of a routine press conference in Bangalore. "Before coming here I spoke to my team-mates and hopefully I will go out with a winning knock."

Ganguly, 36, has scored 6,888 runs in 109 Tests, with 15 hundreds. In 311 ODIs, he scored 11,363 runs at 41.02. He captained India in 147 ODIs.

Ganguly played Tests 49 as captain, the most by an Indian. The 21 matches won during his tenure is also an Indian record, and he had a win percentage of over 40. He is the only one with such a high percentage among players who have captained India in more than a solitary Test. Starting with a hundred on debut, Ganguly's Test average has never dipped below 40.

Kris Srikkanth, head of India's new selection panel, felt Ganguly made the right decision. "I think Sourav Ganguly has been an excellent player," he said. "He has brought so many laurels as captain and player. "He had a good chat with me and [fellow selector] Narendra Hirwani. He wants a peaceful series without any troubles on his mind.

I hope he goes out with couple of hundreds. Ganguly was one of the best captains the world has ever produced and I think he deserves it."

India's selectors picked Ganguly in a 15-man squad for the first two Tests against Australia despite intense speculation on his future leading up to the selection meeting in Mumbai last week.

Ganguly had reportedly considered quitting cricket after being overlooked for the Irani Cup match between the Rest of India and Delhi but India's new selection panel valued his experience over youngsters like Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. Ganguly is one of only three players to complete the treble of 10,000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches in ODIs, Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar being the others.

Along with Tendulkar, he formed a prolific partnership at the top of the order, with 6,609 runs at an average of nearly 50 per stand in 136 innings.

Since his recall in December 2006 and till the end of the home series against South Africa earlier this year, Ganguly scored 1,571 runs at 50.67, including a maiden double-century. However, he managed only 96 runs in six innings during India's 2-1 series defeat in Sri Lanka this summer.

Ex-players divided on neutral venues

AP, Islamabad

Pakistan's cricketing fraternity is divided over suggestions its national team should play test matches at neutral venues in the wake of increasing suicide bombings in the country.

Leading cricket nations have expressed security concerns over sending teams to Pakistan, which eventually forced the International Cricket Council to postpone September's Champions Trophy limited-overs tournament for a year. Hundreds of people have died in the recent spate of suicide bombings, including 53 at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad last month, prompting suggestions within and outside Pakistan that tests against major teams should be shifted to neutral venues. "Passion will not be there if we opt to play at neutral venues," former test captain Ramiz Raja told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "The conditions will be alien for both teams - especially for us as we will lose the home advantage."

Pakistan is the only top-tier cricket nation not to have played a single test this year, and it is unlikely to host one until January against India.

US lose again in Futsal World Cup

AP, Brasilia

The United States lost to Portugal 8-1 Monday, completing the Futsal World Cup with four straight losses and a last-place finish in its group.

Russia, behind nine goals from Pula, routed the Solomon Islands 31-2, the biggest victory margin since FIFA began organizing the competition in 1989.

The Solomon Islands, Oceania's lone participant in the 20-team tournament, lost 21-0 to Brazil last week and has been outscored 69-4 in its four defeats. Russia is second in Group A with six points, three fewer than Brazil. The Russians will secure a second-round berth if they win their last first-round match Wednesday against Japan, a 4-1 winner over Cuba. The top two teams in each of the four groups make the second round.

Bangladesh contingent meet BOA secretary general

UNB, Dhaka

The 11-member Bangladesh contingent for the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games, led by Chef de Mission & deputy secretary general of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Anisur Rahman Dipu, met with BOA secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed at the BOA office yesterday.

The Bangladesh contingent will leave for Pune on Thursday to take part in the eight-day meet to be held October 12-18 in the Indian town of Pune. Bangladesh will compete in four disciplines - swimming, weightlifting, shooting and boxing.

During the meting, the BOA secretary general urged the athletes to give their best to earn pride for the nation.

BOA Director & CEO Col. (retd) M Wali Ullah was present.

Women's soccer league on Fox network

AP, New York

The new Women's Professional Soccer league that launches next year will have a live Sunday night broadcast each week on the Fox Soccer Channel.

The deal announced Monday runs through the 2011 season and includes a 2012 option for both sides.

"In addition to live and exclusive match telecasts, Fox Soccer Channel will give WPS added exposure through our multi-platform offerings, including original studio shows," FSC executive vice president David Sternberg said.

FSC also has U.S. broadcast rights to the English Premier League and Italy's Serie A, and it shares Major League Soccer rights.

Practice match between New Zealand and BCB XI called off

UNB, Dhaka

The lone practice match between visiting New Zealand team and Rajin Saleh-led BCB XI has been called off due to rain and wet outfield at the Osmani Stadium at Fatullah in Narayanganj Tuesday.

Although there was no match possible on the day, the New Zealand side had a two hour long practice at Fatullah Stadium, which includes running, stretching and batting practice.

On a month-long tour, New Zealand will play the first ODI against Bangladesh on Oct 9, the second on Oct 11, both at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

The two teams will then travel to Chittagong to play the 3rd ODI on Oct 14 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSSRAS).

The first test between the two teams will also be held at the port city on Oct 17-21. They will then return to Dhaka for the 2nd test match billed for Oct 25-29 at the SBNS.

Ferrero beats Karlovic in Vienna

AP, Vienna

Juan Carlos Ferrero, once ranked No. 1 but now No. 44, beat fourth-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-4, 7-6 (4) Monday in the opening round of the BA Tennis Trophy.

Ferrero played from the baseline and held serve throughout. He conceded just four points on his serve in the second set. The 14th-ranked Karlovic hit 17 aces but was broken early in the opening set-the only break of the match.

Ferrero won the first set after the umpire overruled a line call on a forehand from Karlovic. The Spaniard closed out the victory on his first match point in the tiebreaker when Karlovic netted a return.

In other matches, fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain defeated Victor Crivoi of Romania 6-4, 6-4; Feliciano Lopez of Spain topped Agustin Calleri of Argentina 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4); and Carlos Moya of Spain downed Michael Berrer of Germany 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6).

Mauresmo advances at Kremlin Cup

AP, Moscow

Amelie Mauresmo rallied to beat Alize Cornet 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 Monday in the first round of the Kremlin Cup.

The former top-ranked Frenchwoman will play second-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia in the next round of the dual WTA and ATP tournament. Safina won her fourth title this season in Tokyo on Sept. 21 and is at a career-high No. 3 in the world rankings.

"I will be definitely the underdog for the next match," Mauresmo said.

In the men's draw, second-seeded Igor Andreev advanced when Taiwan's Yen-hsun Lu retired with a right ankle injury after losing the first set 6-2.