IPL not moving from India: Modi

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League commissioner Lalith Modi on Friday rubbished reports that the Twenty20 extravaganza will move out of the country and insisted that the IPL matches would be held only in India.However, he said, the schedule of a few matches would be revised due to elections in India and a fresh schedule would soon be released.Talking with media in Mumbai, Lalith Modi said that 14 cities of India have been selected as the IPL venues and the final schedule would be released next week after reviewing the security arrangements.He said that the IPL matches would not be played on dates of ballot-counting in India.The IPL commissioner will hold a meeting at the BCCI headquarters later in the day, after six of the eight host states voiced concerns that they could not guarantee security during the matches. The revised schedule carries the same inaugural (April 10) and closing dates (May 24). Dates of five games have, however, been changed, to ensure that host cities are not allotted matches two days before and after polling days. The home ministry had earlier said it would decide on the fate of the tournament only after the states responded on whether they would be able to conduct the matches without asking for central forces. The terror attack on the Sri Lankan team on Tuesday in Lahore has also compounded the problems for the IPL organisers, who now expect pullouts by many of the foreign players. Federation of International Cricketers Association chief executive Tim May has already sought a wider role in assessing the security for players during the IPL.

Mendis undergoes two operations, hospitalized for one week

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan spinner, wounded in Lahore attack, also underwent two operations and doctors said he would remain hospitalized for further one week.Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports Ministry medical unit, told media about the latest condition of the wounded Sri Lankan players. He said that that Tharanga Paranavitana, who had a bullet removed from his chest, is expected to be discharged later Friday.The left-handed batsman should be able to resume light training within about six weeks, Mendis said.Spin bowler Ajantha Mendis also remains hospitalised, after two operations on Wednesday to remove shrapnel from his head and lower back."He is out of danger but he should be out of action for about six weeks," a doctor said.Thilan Samaraweera, who scored successive Test double centuries in Pakistan, was the worst affected. He underwent a near three-hour operation Wednesday to remove a bullet from his left thigh muscle.Samaraweera will remain hospitalised for the rest of the week and is only expected to resume physical training in two months.Vice captain and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara was discharged on Thursday after doctors removed shrapnel from his shoulder

No intention of retirement: Pole vaulter champ Yelena

BEIJING: Russian pole vaulter world champion Yelena Isinbayeva said that she has no intention of taking retirement from the game and she can play for further five years. Yelena Isinbayeva reached Beijing for the first time after setting two new world records here at the Olympics 2008.Belonged to Russia, Yelena Isinbayeva formally signed a deal with a sports wear company of China. Though details of this deal has not revealed but it is being assumed that she will get $1.5 million annually.She signed a five-year deal with Lee Nanag sports wear company. Talking on this occasion, 26-year-old Isinbayeva said about her future plan that she does not intend to retire at themoment and she would consider it only after taking part in the World Championship

Aussies 303-4 against Africa on first day in second Test

DURBAN: Opening batsmen Phillip Hughes (115) and Simon Katich (108) hit centuries on Friday to guide Australia to a dominant position against South Africa on the first day of the second cricket Test.The Australians finished the day on 303-4, with the not-out batsmen Michael Hussey (37) and Marcus North (17) forging a 37-run partnership for the fifth wicket.South Africa had made some inroads into the Australian batting by taking two wickets in each of the final two sessions of the day, but the touring side hold the edge on the day's play.Hughes was the more aggressive of the openers, batting 190 minutes and smashing 19 fours and two sixes before being first man out. Far from worrying about reaching his maiden test century, the 20-year-old Hughes went from 89 to 105 in one over from Paul Harris. He leapt from 93 to 105 by hitting successive leg-side sixes off the spin bowler.Hughes was out when the first-wicket partnership was worth 184. He tried an extravagant cut shot but was well-held by Neil McKenzie in the gully off Jacques Kallis.Kallis had dropped Hughes on 114 off the bowling of Morne Morkel, who also later lost out on a referred decision when South Africa suggested Katich had touched a delivery to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher when he was on 63. TV umpire Steve Bucknor upheld standing umpire Billy Bowden's not-out decision.Katich, Hughes' captain at New South Wales, played a more patient innings, reaching 108 in 296 minutes, hitting 16 fours.He was the third man out, with the total on 259, to be followed seven runs later by Michael Clarke (three). But Australia recovered through the efforts of Hussey and North."That's the way I like to play my cricket," Hughes said. "It was nice to be batting with Simon when I got the century. I've spent a fair bit of time batting with him (in state cricket in Australia).""We are definitely in a great position after the first day. We need to take it forward Saturday," Hughes added.Earlier, Australia captain Ricky Ponting (nine) failed to get hold of an attempted lofted drive over mid-off, off Harris, and McKenzie grabbed the catch, one ball after Ponting had only just cleared him with the same shot.South Africa's bowlers were guilty of some loose deliveries in the first session, with Morkel the chief culprit. He went for eight in his first over - the 10th of the innings - and then conceded 21 including four byes, which flew over the keeper's head in his second.

Karachi Blues win polo match

KARACHI: In a token polo match played here on Friday, Karachi Blues crushed Karachi Reds by 7-2 goals at Malir Garrison Polo ground.The match was reduced to four rounds in which, Karachi Blues took lead by 1-2 in first round while remaining three rounds saw Blues’ lead by 7-2.Brigadier Asfandyar Khan made the major contribution by scoring four goals from Blues while Ibrahim Patodi, Umar Saeed and Khushi Muhammad made one goal each.After the end of the match, Brigadier Asfandyar Khan told media the arrangement of polo token match was aimed at promoting the game in Karachi.

PM Football Cup: Pak team leaving for Nepal today

LAHORE: Pakistan Football team is leaving today (Saturday) for Nepal to participate in Prime Minister Football Cup.Pakistan national soccer team, comprising of 20 players, had a physical training session at Hockey Club of Pakistan under new coach George Carton. Pakistan will take on Bangladesh’s Dhaka-based Arambagh Krira Sangha club in their opening of Prime Minister Cup Invitational Football tournament match on March 8 at Dasharath Stadium Kathmanduon. All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) had announced draws for the six-team, which features Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal Red, Nepal Blue, along with a club team from Thailand and Bangladesh.

All 3 Pak players out of Kuala Lumpur Open Squash

KUALA LUMPUR: All three players from Pakistan have been ousted from the Kuala Lumpur Open Squash Championship, going on in Malaysia.The three Pakistanis – Farhan Mahboob, Aamer Atlas khan and Yasir Butt – had succeeded in reaching the quarter-finals of the $50,000 Kuala Lumpur Open Squash Championship but they failed to qualify for the semi-finals.World No 20 and 6th seed Farhan Mahboob was defeated by England top seed Peter Barker.Pakistan No 1 and world number 15 Aamer Atlas Khan was beaten 2-3 by second seed Ongbeng Hi in a sensational contest while Yasir Butt was outclassed by Bojra Golan of Spain in straight games