Wigan's Zaki seals a 2-1 win over Manchester City

WIGAN: Wigan striker Amr Zaki showed Manchester City that money can't buy success as the Egyptian sealed a 2-1 win over the Premier League's big spenders on Sunday. City's takeover by the billionaire-backed Abu Dhabi United Group has made Mark Hughes's team arguably the world's richest club, but unfashionable Wigan and cut-price talisman Zaki cut them down to size at the JJB Stadium. Zaki, a loan signing from El Zamalek, outshone Robinho and company as he hit the winner from the penalty spot after City defender Vincent Kompany had cancelled out Antonio Valencia's stunning opener.

Hughes could feel slightly hard done by as Wilson Palacios was fortunate to win the decisive spot-kick, but City struggled to cope with Wigan's high-tempo pressing game. Despite the arrival of British record signing Robinho on transfer deadline day, City are still light years away from fulfilling their new owners' wish to win the Premier League. Hughes is certain to be presented with more high-profile arrivals when the transfer window re-opens in January, but it will take time to build a team capable of breaking into the English's game elite. Hughes recalled Robinho after resting the Brazilian for Wednesday's shock League Cup defeat at Brighton. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Javier Garrido, Micah Richards and Joe Hart were also restored to Hughes's starting line-up.

But those changes did little to reinvigorate City. It was Steve Bruce's side who started brighter and their first sight of goal came from a short corner as Zaki's shot flashed over the crossbar.

The hosts kept up the pressure and City fell behind in the 16th minute. Olivier Kapo's free kick was hacked away to Valencia 30 yards from goal and the Ecuador winger took a touch before driving a superb swerving shot past Hart. Robinho had a glorious chance to equalise moments later when he ran onto Stephen Ireland's clever pass, but the former Real Madrid star shot wide. City didn't have to wait long to draw level. In the 22nd minute, Palacios made a hash of clearing Elano's free-kick and Kompany was perfectly placed to volley home from close-range. When Palacios just beat Garrido to a through ball and made an exaggerated tumble under the Spanish defender's challenge, referee Steve Bennett had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

City felt hard done by and Robinho and Kompany were both booked for dissent as they protested. Zaki rubbed salt into City's wounds as he sent Hart the wrong way from the spot to restore Wigan's lead and notch his sixth goal in eight appearances Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland misjudged a Wright-Phillips cross just before half-time and had to back-pedal before tipping over. Titus Bramble went close with a header which whistled wide from Valencia's cross five minutes after the interval. Elano came closer to an equaliser in the 61st minute with a long-range attempt which beat the dive of Chris Kirkland but flew past the post.

Wigan had a chance in the 67th minute when Hart flapped at a long throw-in but City scrambled the ball for a corner. Ched Evans, on as a substitute, nearly squeezed in an equaliser in the 77th minute when he got in front of Bramble, only for the Wigan defender to recover and clear as City's last chance faded away.

The long awaited win

Spain's Fernando Alonso snapped a year-long win drought to take the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, winning a drama-filled first ever night race as a comical error cost Felipe Massa dearly.

It was the Renault driver's first victory since the Italian Grand Prix last year and capped a remarkable weekend that saw him top two of the free practice sessions but start 15th on the grid after a mechanical problem in qualifying.He claimed his 20th career triumph by 2.95 seconds over Germany's Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Britain's world championship leader Lewis Hamilton in third.

Toyota driver Timo Glock was fourth with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel following up his win in Italy this month with fifth. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld took sixth. (AP Photo)

Fitting farewell awaits Mashud

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) operations committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain called the career of Khaled Mashud 'a remarkable achievement'.Mashud met Ashraf yesterday morning at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium headquarters in Mirpur and informed BCB of his retirement in a letter that was accepted by the board."His dedication will become symbolic for future generations.

His achievements were outstanding," said the former national captain.Ashraf quashed reports that Mashud was not in any negotiations with BCB for a possible last game for the Tigers."He met me and clearly told me that he wanted no favours from us. As a captain he would have demanded the best team for Bangladesh and he still does," said Ashraf.Ashraf also informed that efforts are underway to give him a fitting farewell.

"We are thinking of giving him an appropriate farewell, most probably during the upcoming New Zealand series," said Ashraf.The board will also hold a press conference for Mashud at the Mirpur venue today.

Shakib's twin targets

The Tigers are charged up to put aside their miserable experience in the last series in Australia as they get ready to play the coming home series against New Zealand and Shakib Al Hasan does not know where the inspiration is coming from.

Daniel Vettori's side will arrive in the capital tomorrow to play two Tests and three one-day internationals against Bangladesh in Dhaka and Chittagong. "Our performance was really bad in the last series in Australia but I believe it would be a different story against New Zealand. The players are charged up to play good cricket but I don't know why," said the soft-spoken left-handed all-rounder during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The young middle-order batsman-cum spinner, who has already established himself as a vital player in the team, however, was not ready to say anything in straight line when asked whether the departure of some national players inspired them to show better performance. "Actually a lot of things have happened in the last few days," he added with a smile. More than the 'better performance', Shakib was also very much optimistic about one win in the series. "We can even win a match in the series," he hoped. Shakib, who has a rare 30-plus average as a batsman and 50 ODI wickets in 51 appearances, however, stated a pre-condition: "We must bat up to our potential to put behind a series of bad performances.""The main problem of our batting lies in our mindset.

If our top order batsmen can bat with responsibility, anything can happen as we are going to play in our own condition. We are training hard and I believe we get the results soon." Shakib showed his character on debut against Zimbabwe in July 2006 with an unbeaten knock of 30 and never looked back, cementing his place in the side.It has been often told that his presence in the team makes a difference, which was evident during his absence in the three-nation series at home and in the Asia Cup in Pakistan. "I don't think about these things." Shakib hardly thinks what he has done so far rather his main goal remains to be the best in anything. And that was the reason Shakib, who passed the HSC examinations this year, has a desire of becoming a student of Dhaka University. "You know it's my dream to be a student of Dhaka University because in my opinion it's still the best institution in the country for higher education.

"But it gets difficult as I have hardly any chance to attend the admission tests in November because of international commitment," said Shakib adding, "only the authority can help me fulfill the dreams.""But I will definitely complete graduation because education is very important even in cricket."

Pilot goes, in pain though

Khaled Mashud had a few regrets after he announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday.The long-serving wicketkeeper, who played 44 Tests and 126 one-day matches, informed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his intentions through a letter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium headquarters in Mirpur."I have considered this long and hard and only came to a decision after the 24-man (preliminary) squad was announced last week," said the former national captain."I decided to retire after I had a talk with my father and mother, and although it is a very sad day for me, I will remain part of this country's cricket," added the man popularly known by his nickname Pilot.Mashud regretted the communication gap between him and the selectors and said that having such distance is never healthy."I am a senior player and I think there should be an understanding with the selection committee.

They could have talked with me," said Mashud."I was never in their [selectors] plans and when I saw their pick for the New Zealand series, I kind of had the idea that I would not be in their plans in the near future."I do have a few regrets and one of them is definitely this lack of communication from the selectors. Ian Healy once told me that the Australian board informed him a month in hand that he would not be around.

"I think if that practice was undertaken by our board, it would be a little painless for senior cricketers like me," said Mashud, the man who rescued Bangladesh from numerous batting debacles during his time.He captained Bangladesh in 12 Tests and 30 ODIs between 2001 and 2004 and although he regards it an honour to lead the national cricket team, his favourite memory dates back to April 13, 1997."Whoever I am is because of that ICC Trophy final (in Kuala Lumpur).

There would be no Khaled Mashud or Mohammad Ashraful if we didn't win that match."It was the turning point and we united Bangladesh with that win," said the man who took the last-ball leg-bye with Hasibul Hossain.Mashud however denied reports that he initiated talks with the board of a possible final appearance for the Tigers."I read in a few papers that I asked the board for a game. I cannot do that since I am a professional cricketer," clarified Mashud."I know that only the best performers play for the country and I would never tell the board to bring me in just for a farewell match. I did not play cricket for so long to beg for a match," said Mashud."People in the street ask me when I will be back for Bangladesh and I had no answer for them.

In such a difficult time for our cricket, I thought it would have been quite a challenge to play again.Mashud's trouble started when he was left out of the World Cup squad in 2007 and only played a single Test match since then."It was a hard time for me since then and I tried my best to make a comeback. They told me that my batting was failing me, so I concentrated on that."Then they told me that I didn't keep regularly in the National Cricket League. Is it a crime to not keep for 3-4 matches in an entire season?" asked Mashud.For all his regrets, Mashud had been an integral part of the national setup for almost thirteen years and understands that he has a lot to give to the next generation."I have toured continuously for so many years and I have a lot of experience to pass on to the youngsters.

I have talked with the BCB and I would like to contribute to the development of the youngsters," informed Mashud, who also heads a sports academy in his hometown Rajshahi.Mashud will be a hard act to follow, especially his glovework which remained exemplary throughout his 12-year career and his doggedness with the bat in moments of crisis.His retirement would mark the end of another generation of cricketers, after Khaled Mahmud, Habibul Bashar and Mohammad Rafique had left the scene.
Five of his bestLong considered a backs-to-the-wall specialist, Khaled Mashud's first significant contribution for Bangladesh was an innings that consisted two sixes. As the years went on, his contributions became crucial for Bangladesh's survival in those early days of top-order wobbles. Here's a look at some of his best performances.15* v Kenya in ICC Trophy final, Kuala Lumpur, 1997Perhaps the most important and much-celebrated six in the history of Bangladesh cricket came in this seven-ball knock. He smashed Martin Suji straight over his head, sparking mass hysteria in the country where people followed the game from Kuala Lumpur through radio commentary.51 v England in Dhaka, 2003As it happened in those early years of Test cricket, the Tigers were up against it against an international=class bowling attack at the Big Bowl. With the team reduced to 72 for five. He added 60 with Mushfiqur Rahman and 34 with Mohammad Rafique and made sure Bangladesh went close to 200. The three-hour knock typified his time as captain.103* v West Indies in Gros Islet, 2004It was about time for Mashud to reach a maiden Test ton after Mohammad Rafique had struck one in the first innings. Bangladesh took a first-innings lead for the first time but fell into trouble in the second dig, before Mashud took over, guided the tail and took Bangladesh to safety and a well-earned draw.71* v Australia in Canterbury, 2005Possibly his best one-day innings, that too against the high pace of Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Mike Kasprowicz. Bangladesh had again lost the top-order before he joined hands with newbie Shahriar Nafees. They added 94 before Mashud cut loose and took Bangladesh to 250.5 dismissals v Kenya in Nairobi, 2006This remains the best wicketkeeping performance in a one-day match by any Bangladeshi till date. That it took him eleven years before he gave a signature feat was a surprise. He removed Maurice Ouma, Jimmy Kamande, Hitesh Modi, Collins Obuya and Hiren Varaiya that included two stumpings.

Hamilton and Massa renew battle in Singapore

SINGAPORE: World championship leader Lewis Hamilton goes into Formula One's historic night race at the Singapore Grand Prix knowing he needs to keep his nerve with Felipe Massa breathing down his neck. Sunday's start will be a new experience for every driver on a street circuit under powerful spotlights and with monsoonal rain a real possibility, making qualifying vitally important.

They must also adjust to an 8:00 pm (1200 GMT) race start and qualifying on Saturday at 10:00 pm. After losing his appeal on Tuesday to have his win at the Belgian Grand Prix reinstated, the 23-year-old Briton only has a slender one point advantage over his Brazilian rival. Hamilton knows he can't afford any mistakes as he looks to shore up his lead with just four Grand Prix left. "He (Massa) is the guy I have to beat. He has a good car and is a good driver," said Hamilton, who only managed seventh place at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza two weeks ago while Massa finished in sixth. "Singapore is a night time circuit, which none of us have experienced before, but we'll be OK. "I have to make every sacrifice in the last four races.

I honestly feel confident in my ability to win the championship." Hamilton admitted to making an error in his choice of tyres for qualifying in Italy and his McLaren team will be keen not to make the same mistake here on what is expected to be a fast circuit where overtaking will be possible. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says much hinges on the outcome of the race, which he insisted be held at night to satisfy European television audiences. "Whoever wins this, whether it's Hamilton or Massa, will probably be the champion," he told The Straits Times . "This is a very important race for the championship." Massa has vowed to fight to the bitter end, and is ready for a wet race as rain lashed Singapore Wednesday.

"This year, we have seen a lot of rain in the races," said the Ferrari driver. "But we are keeping our feet on the ground and we are working day by day. All I must do is to keep keep trying and make sure I'm in front of Hamilton." Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen knows he needs a miracle if he wants to retain his title, and now faces the prospect of having to support teammate Massa in his bid for the championship. The Ferrari star sits fourth in the standings after failing to get a podium place at Monza, and is 21 points behind Hamilton. "It's been a long time without a win for me and the list of races without points is growing," he said. "I crossed the line at Monza without gaining any points. Five times and no points in the standings are really a lot: you don't have to be an Einstein to understand that this is not the right way to fight for a title.

"It's not over yet, but now it will take a miracle, like the one that makes lightning strike twice." Raikkonen has not claimed a victory since the Spanish Grand Prix in April and was overshadowed at Monza by 21-year-old German boy wonder Sebastian Vettel who made F1 history by becoming the the youngest driver to win a race. Vettel, racing for Toro Rosso, stunned the field in Italy by taking a car with no winning pedigree to dominate the race and cross the finish line first. It earned him comparisons with Michael Schumacher and how he fares in Singapore will be keenly analysed. BMW Sauber have two drivers still in contention for the world title with Poland's Robert Kubica 14 points adrift of Hamilton and German's Nick Heidfeld 25 points behind. The Pole said that he favours streets circuits and was raring to go.

"Racing on new tracks is always interesting -- I enjoy it very much and I am very excited," he said. "Beyond that, I am extremely happy to race on another street circuit as I am a big fan of street circuits. From a driver's perspective I think it does not make a big difference whether we race in the daylight or at night."

Kapil Dev joins Territorial Army

NEW DELHI: On Wednesday Kapil Dev was commissioned into the Territorial Army (TA), the part-time citizen's force which functions as a 'vital adjunct' to the regular Army, as an honorary lieutenant colonel. "I am proud to wear an Army uniform and at this age to serve the country in this uniform is a proud moment for me," Kapil Dev said soon after he was formally commissioned into the Punjab Regiment of the citizen's army.

The honours were done by Army chief General Deepak Kapoor himself at the Defence Ministry headquarters, South Block, and Kapil accepted the commissioning as perfectly as a professional army officer would. "I was very happy and delighted to play cricket. Now I am equally happy and more proud to wear my country's Army uniform. I hope and am sure I can serve them to the best of my abilities," Kapil said. The legendary cricketer has inspired thousands of youth in the country to pick up a bat and a ball.

Today, as a Lt. Col in the army, Kapil hopes to inspire them to don the Olive Green and to protect the country. "If Kapil has the vigour to join and serve the Army now, then I am sure there will be several youngsters who will be inspired by him to join the Army. He is TA's Brand Ambassador and we will use his services to get more youngsters to serve in Olive Green," TA Additional Director General Major General KVS Lalorra said. Dev, 50, has been inducted into 150 TA (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment. But for this moment, Kapil had to prepare for six months before he could pick up his rank. "It was about a year ago that he decided to join the TA after a lot of discussions and knowing about the service.

And he has been practising to be an Army officer for the last six months now," Kapil's wife Romi Dev said. Even after he arrived at the decision, it took another six months before he could formally be commissioned into TA. "I thank the President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Ministry, Delhi Government and the Police for this honour," Kapil said. Talking about the importance he attached to the Army uniform, the cricketer-turn-colonel said: "I served the country in a different manner earlier.

I already have the passion to serve the country. May be that was the first innings and this is the second innings. I would like to serve as best as I can." Asked whether he would wield a Kalashnikov rifle against the nation's enemies, instead of his potent cricket ball that he used so well against batsmen, Kapil said: "How far will I go, only my commander's directive and direction will dictate. I will try my best to serve my country in whichever and whatever manner I can."

Middle-order woes continue

If Ricky Ponting had witnessed the Irani Trophy Day One action between Rest of India and Delhi at Reliance Stadium on TV, he could have managed that typical wry smile which he sports most of the time.

Sachin Tendulkar was not there alright, but India's middle-order woes seem to be haunting them even at domestic meet and that's good news for the visiting Aussies.

The Wall of India for years, Rahul Dravid, who opened the innings with Wasim Jaffer, missed what could have been his 100th first class 50 when Ishant Sharma trapped him plumb in front for 47.A strong contender for a middle order berth, S Badrinath, senior pro VVS Laxman and crowd favourite MS Dhoni too didn't last long.

When Rest lost their fifth wicket they had managed to score just 172 runs in 63 overs, and that too after most of them had got a start. (PTI Photo)

Academy's do-or-die game today

Sports Reporter

The series deciding one-day match between GP-BCB National Cricket Academy and Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI take place at the NCC ground in Colombo today.

The three-match series locked 1-1 as the home side bounced back in the second match with a four-wicket victory on Tuesday. In the first match the visitors pulled off exciting one-wicket victory.

Ash gives his version

A plethora of microphones and mobile phones are held in front of Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful (C) after BCB allowed him to speak to the media yesterday after practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Photo:

At last Mohammad Ashraful spoke to the media after Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) gag order ended yesterday.

The Bangladesh captain was presented in front of journalists but it was evident that the cricket board did not want any goof-ups as they posted the media manager and the team operations manager during the informal press meet, Ashraful's first since he arrived in the country from England on Monday.However, there would be no complaint from the board as Ashraful expressed his side of the story quite efficiently.Ashraful confirmed speculations that talk of a player revolt was being planned during the recent Australia tour.

"Our coach [Jamie Siddons] told me that some of the players could be signing for ICL [Indian Cricket League]. When I asked the players, they all denied it straightaway," informed Ashraful after Wednesday's practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur."If I had any idea that so many players were actually joining then I definitely would have told the cricket board," said the 24-year-old Ashraful.But he confirmed that a three-year deal did come his way and that it was worth around Tk 15 crore."The first ICL offer came to me through an agent and it was a three-year deal. I informed our chief selector [Rafiqul Alam], [Gazi Ashraf Hossain] Lipu bhai and my coach [Wahidul Gani] about it," confided Ashraful."When I asked Lipu bhai what will happen if I take up the contract, he told me that I wouldn't be able to play for Bangladesh."He also told me that if I play well, we might have a chance to play in the Indian Premier League [IPL] next year.

After hearing all these from him, I immediately rejected the offer and don't know what happened next," said Ashraful.So the million-dollar question is: Were you the mastermind behind all these?"That is totally wrong. I have never met that agent and only talked to him over the phone. He is well known to many Bangladeshi players as he has arranged sponsors for a number of local players and helped them in getting club contracts in the UK. I believe he contacted them directly."Some people are calling me the mastermind. They should remember that the biggest offer came to me. Fifteen crore taka over a three-year period is not a matter of joke. But my involvement with the ICL ended the moment I refused that offer," said Ashraful.When he was pressed further in this regard, he defended himself and challenged the player in question, Dhiman Ghosh, who alleged the skipper of encouraging him (Dhiman) to sign in ICL as he's not the first-choice wicketkeeper.

"I would have preferred if he [Dhiman] had said that in front of me," demanded Ashraful."Even if some people held any grudges against me, they never mentioned it. Professional players should understand that if you are out of the side that means you are not performing. There is no way in the world that you will be left out when you have performance behind you."I read somewhere that [Shahriar] Nafees and Aftab [Ahmed] had remarked that I wanted them out of the way as they could have been future captains; that I stopped their path. If they knew they were captaincy material then why an earth would they want to leave?" said the ace batsman.Ashraful also reiterated that he would not be going to the rebel Indian league even if he were to be left out of the national team."Even if I lose the captaincy or get dropped, I would not consider ICL because I want to play Tests and ODIs.

Nothing is more important to me than representing the country."If I'm dropped for bad form, I know that I can bounce back even if it takes two years because I have age on my side," opined Ashraful.He added that he only heard of the whole ICL fiasco when he was in England, where he went on a vacation (after returning from Australia) and did a couple of charity fund-raisers for Sidr victims.He viewed that it is the ICL-bound players who were the bigger losers, as they had to give up their chance to play for Bangladesh."The players joining the ICL have lost more because they can't play international or first-class cricket and there will be others to fill in the gap."We lost fourteen out of roughly 160 first-class players.

It is true that we will miss their experience to a certain extent because they had played top level cricket for a number of years but the newer guys will gain experience the same way," added Ashraful

Hamilton says World Championship not on his mind

SINGAPORE: Lewis Hamilton insists he's not thinking about being crowned Formula One world champion just yet, with four races left and six drivers still mathematically in the hunt. The 23-year-old Briton arrives in Singapore this week with a one-point lead over Felipe Massa - pending the outcome of his appeal hearing into the Belgium Grand Prix - as the championship drives into its decisive, final phase.

"I don't think about the title or the other drivers, I just think about doing the best job I can each time I get into the car," the McLaren driver said in sport's official website. "Clearly a number of drivers can still win the title and so I have to make sure that I do my best. "I don't bank on anything other than myself and my team. I am focused on my challenge and my racing." Realistically, the race for the championship is between Hamilton (78 points) and Massa (77), although Robert Kubica (64), Kimi Raikkonen (57), Nick Heidfeld (53), and Heikki Kovalainen (51) are still contenders. Much will depend on whether Hamilton can get his victory at Spa-Francorchamps reinstated after race stewards controversially docked him 25 seconds, demoting him to third. The Briton was found guilty of gaining an advantage by cutting a chicane as he duelled with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the closing stages of this month's race. The decision, which awarded Massa victory in Belgium, cost Hamilton four world championship points. Should his appeal succeed and he is named the Belgian GP winner with Massa put back to second, then he will extend his advantage to seven points.

The points will be a much-needed boost after a poor performance at the last Grand Prix in Italy, where he made an error in his choice of tyres for qualifying which saw him finish way down the grid. He ended up seventh in the race, with Massa sixth. However, Hamilton - who had a sensational rookie season last year, when he finished second in the championship behind Massa's Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen - said he had put it behind him. "Of course it wasn't the result I was looking for going into the weekend, but part of the charm of Formula One is that it is unpredictable," he said. "As I said after the race, I was more relieved than anything to come away with some points. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the race."

Asked if it would affect his preparations for Singapore, the sport's first-ever night race, he replied: "The Monza result doesn't mean anything for the next race. "Each race is different, but I prepare the same for them all. I am looking forward to the (Singapore) race and I'm sure it will be an exciting weekend."

2010 World Cup mascot unveiled

The official mascot of the 2010 World Cup was unveiled in Johannesburg - a green-haired leopard named Zakumi - FIFA announced at a television gala broadcast nationwide. Zakumi - the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup," Valcke said on Monday. Andries Odendaal from Cape Town came up with the design - the animal's green hair is designed to will provide 'camouflage' on a football pitch.

For FIFA, Zakumi will help to "turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa into one huge, joyful and unforgettable party and show the thousands of international guests the warmth and spirit of the African continent." According to former South African star Lucas Radebe, "he wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on African soil.

"He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa." FIFA first introduced mascots in 1966 with World Cup Willie - a Union Jack-clad English Lion. Others included the orange-shaped Naranjito in Spain in 1982, the 'ciao' stick-figure in Italian colours in 1990 and Footix, a French cockerel, in 1998. But the Goleo lion for the 2006 event in Germany was not a commercial success and the company that made it declared itself bankrupt amid lower than expected demand for the product.

ZA stands for South Africa while kumi means ten in assorted African languages - has been exclusively designed in the host country which will stage the continent's first ever World Cup in 21 month's time. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained the choice. "Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We are certain we will have a lot of fun with him in the lead-up to and during the

Battle among 22 individuals

A gem of a knock or a magical spell over the next five days would do what truckloads of runs and bagful of wickets over a season's trundling can not and hence the Irani Cup match between Ranji champion Delhi and Rest of India starting on Wednesday would be more of a battle among 22 individuals rather than two outfits.

On paper, Ranji champions Delhi, under the talismanic Virender Sehwag, would lock horn with Rest of India, an intriguing assortment of ageing stalwarts and India hopefuls who have a statesmanlike captain in Anil Kumble.In reality, it's a gilt-edged opportunity for all to impress men who matter and grab berths in the Test team, which would take on Ricky Ponting's Australia in another fortnight.

Sachin Tendulkar's late withdrawal owing to an elbow injury has indeed taken some sheen out of the tie but with so much at stake, Kumble and Sehwag would be spared the job of motivating teammates. For most of the Rest of India players, the next five days would be a make-or-mar situation, as far as their Test career is concerned. (AFP Photo)

'Other boards should let ICL players play' - Atapattu

Sri Lankan cricket
'Other boards should let ICL players play' - Atapattu
Ajay S Shankar

Marvan Atapattu: "This decision has come from a guy [Arjuna Ranatunga] who has led Sri Lankan cricket from the front, first as a player and now as an administrator" © Cricinfo

Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to lift the domestic ban on five of its ICL cricketers is a "strong message" to other national boards, according to Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lankan captain. Atapattu, who plays for the ICL's Delhi Giants, said the decision will lead to a situation where Sri Lankan cricketers can play for their country and choose between the unauthorised cricket league and the IPL.

"It's a very strong message to other boards that have imposed similar bans," Atapattu told Cricinfo. "It's a message that the game is not ruled by any single body, and nobody should try to rule the game.
I hope that other boards, including India, also let all their ICL players play in all forms of cricket. The players in India have taken a brave stand by joining ICL; they are very young and talented. Why not give them a chance now?"

Atapattu, 37, who also represents ICL's World XI, was among the five who are now free to play domestic cricket again after the one-year-old ban was lifted by an interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), headed by Arjuna Ranatunga. The others who benefited from the decision, taken last week, were Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Avishka Gunawardene and Saman Jayantha.

Atapattu described the removal of the ban as "a positive step" that will level the field between ICL and IPL at least for Sri Lankan cricketers. "I don't think there should have been a ban in the first place but we are very happy that the Sri Lankan board has taken such a positive step," Atapattu said. "We are hopeful this will soon lead to a situation where our cricketers can play for their country and choose between the ICL and IPL. Right now, the situation is grossly unfair where some of our players play in IPL while the others sit at home and watch it on TV. It's not fair that only players who play in the IPL can play for Sri Lanka. The ICL is a similar tournament, with a similar format, and only the name is different. So why is there this discrimination?"

Admitting he was "relieved" that the ban was lifted, Atapattu said the decision has prompted him to think about a comeback, possibly even to international cricket. "But for that, the first move has to come from the cricket board," he said. "The previous administration wasn't quite sure about me and the end wasn't too good. This time, if they approach me, I will definitely think about it [an international comeback]. I just don't want to jump the gun."
Sri Lanka's ICL cricketers, he said, had Ranatunga to back them and that made the difference. "This decision has come from a guy who has led Sri Lankan cricket from the front, first as a player and now as an administrator. He has once more shown the aggression that he showed as a World Cup-winning captain [in 1996], and we are thankful to him for that.

"Right now, I am just relieved that the ban has been lifted, and I haven't given much thought to what I will do next. I have played all my life for Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), and I am still fit and can play in all formats of the game. Let's see what lies ahead."

Hayden ready for Harbhajan threat

Australia in India 2008-09
Hayden ready for Harbhajan threat
Cricinfo staff

Matthew Hayden: "Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment. He's a big threat to our side, no doubt about that" © Getty Images

Australia fly out to India for a four-Test series on Sunday, and opening batsman Matthew Hayden is geared up for the challenge of tackling the hosts, and especially the threat posed by Harbhajan Singh.

India have been one of Hayden's more favoured opponents - he leads the run-charts against them among the current touring party. Hayden's record in India is equally impressive, and he expected bowlers to vie for his wicket.

"Having played over there, and played well over there, I think I'm going to be the obvious target," Hayden told the Courier Mail. During the 2001 visit, Hayden scored 549 in three Tests, and has since been a regular member of Australia's Test team.

In the same series, Harbhajan took 32 wickets in a gripping contest that India won 2-1. Hayden, one of four members in the squad with Test experience in India, said he would need to step up to the threat. "Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment," he said. "He's a big threat to our side, no doubt about that. He's skilful and has got some weapons in conditions that will really favour him. My job will be to combat that so, for me, it's a battle I'm really looking forward to."

Relations between the two players were strained during India's recent tour of Australia. Hayden called Harbhajan "an obnoxious little weed" on a radio show in the aftermath of Andrew Symonds alleging the offspinner had racially abused him - charges that were not proved.

Hayden said the "whole dynamic" of the Australian Test side had changed in recent years, with Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist retiring. "To be part of the No.1 cricket side in the world is always a big challenge because we are the benchmark. I expect no mercy from the Indians but that's why I'll enjoy this series. I'll be right in the thick of it. I think this series is tailormade for guys like me."

US win doubles to reduce deficit

A thrilling doubles win by Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish kept the United States' hopes alive in their Davis Cup semi-final against Spain on Saturday.

The holders, who trailed 2-0 after the opening day, still need to win both of Sunday's singles to reach the final.
But Spain would have completed a whitewash were it not for a battling display in Madrid by Bryan and Fish.
They eventually saw off Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 4-6 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4 after a topsy-turvy match.
Fish was only playing in the doubles because of a shoulder injury to Bryan's usual partner, his brother Bob.
But after a hesitant start that saw Lopez and Verdasco take the opening set, he proved to be a strong partner.

The US duo seemed to have the match under control after winning the next two sets and going a break up at the start of the fourth but Spain rallied again to take the match to a decider.
Despite their eventual defeat, Spain remain heavy favourites to progress.

The reverse singles see world number one Rafael Nadal play Andy Roddick, who he beat in the 2004 final, and David Ferrer face Sam Querrey.

Nadal survived an early scare against Davis Cup debutant Querrey before winning in four sets in Friday's opener.
The French Open and Wimbledon champion initially struggled to contain Querrey's powerful serve and forehand and had to recover from the initial shock of being put on the back foot by an opponent just out of his teens.
The 20-year-old took the first set on a tie-break but Nadal fought back to win 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-3 6-4.
Never in my life have so many service points been scored against me on clay
Rafael Nadal
The world number one said after the match: "Never in my life have so many service points been scored against me on clay.

"It was very difficult for me to return balls and control points. It was very tough today."
In Friday's second match world number five Ferrer rallied to beat world number eight Roddick 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 1-6 6-4 8-6.

Ferrer was two sets to one down but made a crucial break in the fourth set to draw level before edging a close final set.
In the other semi-final, last year's losing finalists Russia also needed an epic doubles win to keep their tie with Argentina alive.

Igor Andreev and Juan Martin Del Potro eventually overcame David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas 6-2 6-1 6-7 (9-11) 3-6 8-6 in Buenos Aires to reduce Argentina's lead to 2-1.

On Friday, Nalbandian had swept Andreev aside to claim a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-4 win but Del Potro's victory over Nikolay Davydenko was even more one-sided, the 19-year-old dropping only seven games against the world number six on his way to a 6-1 6-4 6-2 win.

Nalbandian faces Davydenko and Del Potro takes on Andreev in Sunday's reverse singles.
Elsewhere in the Davis Cup, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka teamed up for the first time since winning Olympic gold in Beijing to clinch Switzerland's place in the elite World Group.
They beat Belgium's Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-3 on Saturday, giving the Swiss an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Individually they had got off to a perfect start on Friday, as world number nine Wawrinka eventually beat 58th-ranked Steve Darcis 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-3 2-6 6-4 in the first singles match.

US Open champion Federer then saw off world number 95 Kristof Vliegen 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-2.

Tigers' camp for NZ series tomorrow

Cricket

Sports Reporter
The national selectors are likely to announce the preliminary squad today as the camp for the home series against New Zealand starts tomorrow.

The Rafiqul Alam-led selection panel had to change their plans after the mass resignations of national cricketers, who had signed for Indian Cricket League (ICL) to receive ten-year ban by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)."It's obvious we had to keep away from our initial planning after the latest happenings.

We will take the final decision after talking with our national team physio (Darryl Lifson) and coach (Jamie Siddons), who is expected to arrive in the early morning of Sunday," said Rafiqul yesterday. "We are considering all options. After the departure of few players, we need to recover and that's why seniors and juniors are all under our consideration. And who knows, this team could even be better than the previous one," he hoped. Tigers captain Mohammad Ashraful is also expected to return home from England early this morning.New Zealand will arrive in the capital on September 30, earlier than their original schedule, to acclimatise to sub-continental conditions.

The first one-day international will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on October 9, followed by the second one-day of the three-match series at the same venue on October 11.The teams will then travel to Chittagong to play the last one-dayer on October 14 and the first Test which will start from October 17. The second and final Test starts October 25 at Mirpur.

Ctg Abahani dump Reds

Football
Citycell B League
CU Correspondent, Chittagong
Muktijoddha goalkeeper Nizam Majumder (R) makes a diving save during their B. League match against Chittagong Abahani at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. Photo:



Chittagong Abahani extended Muktijoddha's woes in the Citycell B. League when the hosts defea-ted the Dhaka heavyweights 1-0 in yesterday's match here at the MA Aziz Stadium.Sakhawat Hossain Rony's 77th minute strike ensured the second successive loss for struggling giants Muktijoddha, who had won 4-0 at home and drew 1-1 away against the same opposition last year.

The Reds got off to a poor start in this year's competition after going 3-1 down to Khulna Abahani at home in the first week.The Chittagong Sky-Blues, who held mighty Dhaka Mohammedan to a 1-1 draw in the opening round, reached top of the table with four points.

Youngster Mithun Chowdhury, who took centrestage in their match against Mohammedan, once again appeared as the key playmaker for the winners, setting Rony after dodging past rival defenders inside the Muktijoddha penalty area. Rony made no mistake to cleverly send the ball home.

The home side dominated throughout the first half and got some openings to go ahead but Nizam Majumder was in fine form under the Reds bar.In the 10th minute, Mithun took a shot outside from the area but Nizam palmed away the effort for a corner.Ismail then beat Nizam in the 25th minute from 35 yards but the ball came off the post. In a rare first half attack, Sentu provided Milon a great opportunity in the 42nd minute but the unmarked Muktijoddha striker's weak shot gave no trouble to Abahani's Nepalese custodian Kiran.
The second half, however, belonged to the visitors, who had certain plans. But Asgar Ali Nasir's boys failed to materialise the superior ball possession into goals.

Nepalese striker Santosh came close with a pass from Jahangir but he shot the 58th minute chance over Nizam's crosspiece.Two minutes later, Kanchan picked up Murad but his feeble effort was comfortably gripped by Kiran.Abahani coach Mohammad Kashem expressed his satisfaction and said his boys played well."Our target is to finish among the top eight this year as we are now much stronger than the previous season," Kashem said."Mithun and Nepalese defender Lok Bandhu played superb today but Santosh could not perform up to our expectation," he observed.

Muktijoddha manager Abdus Sattar admitted the miserable condition of their team and said financial crisis is responsible for the last year's third-placed side's dismal show."At least five of our players are nursing injuries and we cannot recruit players from the abroad due to financial problems," Sattar said."We are weaker than the previous league and we are just going through the motion this year," he added.

TEAMS
Chittagong Abahani: Kiran, Monir (Jahangir), Nazir, Mamun, Lok Bandhu, Mintu, Ismail (Rashedul), Sakhawat, Santosh and Mithun.
Muktijoddha: Nizam, Rajib, Bipul, Biplab, Bappi (Murad), Biddyut, Tajul, Sentu (Asif and Asharful), Kanchan, Milon and Amin Rana. Referee: Shahidul Islam Lalu.

Money took them to Indian rebel cricket

Cricketers and cricket officials observed that money lured some Bangladeshi players to risk their careers on international and domestic circuits for the banned Indian Cricket League (ICL).

They were speaking at a roundtable titled 'Bangladesh Cricket: Steps Forward' organised by The Daily Star at its office yesterday."They have made many excuses but the cricketers should have had the courage to admit that money was the primary thing that tempted them," told former national captain and ex-chief selector Faruque Ahmed.Faruque was referring to the 13 cricketers who joined the ICL under the banner of Dhaka Worriers last week."Some of them have even said they had problems with the board or the coach. But they should have raised these issues earlier.

"There was also talks of players joining the ICL last year when the rebel league began. But it did not materialise. I think the BCB [Bangladesh cricket Board] officials, who had hints of that also this time, did not take it seriously. They should have handled the situation better," added Faruque.Ex-national skipper and currently BCB's chairman of cricket operations Gazi Ashraf Hossain, in reply, admitted that they knew 'something was going to happen'."But we kept in touch with the players and it never came to my mind that they would be joining ICL sacrificing their national careers," Ashraf said.

"For example, I was in constant touch with our former national captain Habibul Bashar. We were thinking about giving him a chance in the coming home series. So I had talks with him every other day on how he was training and preparing."You are supposed to trust everyone you work with. But I admit that I never realised what he was really thinking of. Moreover, we were very close in the negotiation of pumping more of our players to play in the Indian Premier League. But we might have been a bit late with that effort," said Ashraf adding that almost similar things happened in case of the others joining the ICL.

The focuses of the roundtable, however, were on infrastructure and planning, management, umpires, pitches and grounds, leadership, attitude and domestic cricket. The lively five-hour discussion was also attended by former BCB general secretary Mahbubul Anam, former national captains Roquibul Hassan, Aminul Islam, Naimur Rahman, chief selector Rafiqul Alam, current BCB officials Shafiqur Rahman, Shakil Kasem, Salim Shahed, coach Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury, international umpire Nadir Shah, CCDM secretary Mostafa Kabir and young organiser Syed Ali Asaf.

The Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam rounded off the discussion with a vote of thanks to everyone and invited the audience to use the newspaper as a platform for the betterment of country's sports and cricket in particular since it is a now a national obsession.

Brothers survive in a draw

Football
Citycell B League
Brothers survive in a draw
Sports Reporter
Michael Oniya, the Nigerian striker who scored Brothers Union's equaliser against Chittagong Mohammedan in yesterday's B. League, skips a sliding tackle by the port city side's centre-back Shawkat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Photo:

A topsy-turvy first round of the Citycell B. League ended yesterday with Brothers Union, another Dhaka giants, failing to make most of their home match when they drew 1-1 with Chittagong Mohammedan.Defending champions Abahani and last year's third Muktijoddha ended up losers, runners-up Mohammedan managed to salvage one point as four of the last year's top five -- Sheikh Russel being the only exception -- got off to poor starts in the eventful opening round.Three teams are level on three points but Khulna Abahani lead the table by virtue of better goal difference over Sheikh Russel and Rahmatganj.

Brothers, however, not only dropped points but also lost their impressive fullback Atiqur Rahman Mishu who was sent off seven minutes from time a rather lacklustre fifth game of the league at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.Booked early into the first half, the leftback who was in attacking mood throughout the game, dived inside the rival penalty area under pressure from two Mohammedan defenders. He claimed for a penalty but referee Tayeb Hasan, who was very close to the scene, immediately showed the Brothers back a second yellow card to ensure the marching order.

The decision was not only protested by the Oranges but also Mishu, who left the ground after many minutes and broke the rules by sitting at the side bench till the final whistle as the fourth official failed to make the player leave.Earlier, Chittagong Mohammedan rushed early blood before their Guinean forward Raphael Sagno opened the scoring in the 34th minute.

Nigerian striker Michael Oniya's spectacular goal cancelled the lead within ten minutes to give Wasim Iqbal's side one point.Visiting skipper Kaiser, who limped out of the ground shortly before the break, created the first chance in the 19th minute when his powerful drive came out off Brothers keeper Shakil's grip.A lurking Raphael was a simple touch away from scoring on rebound but Brothers captain Shuvra made a timely clearance.Raphael, however, did not have to wait long to score on his B. League debut when the tall striker coolly side-footed in a waist-high ball after overlapping defender Pradip Barua chipped a long cross above the rival backline.Camara, the other Guinean in the port city side who had a memorable performance in the inaugural B.

League last season, then set up Ridon with a chance in the 42nd minute but the latter finished wide from the top of the box.The Gopibagh outfit, with three average foreign recruits -- two from Nigeria and one from Ghana -- in the side, depended mostly on the flanks and Arup was inspirational with his darting runs. His crosses put tremendous pressure on the rival goal and Mishu picked up one only to see his low shot parried by Mamun Khan's legwork under the bar.The resulting corner produced Brothers' equaliser after Shakil's across-the-pitch picked up Arup at the right side of the box.

The fullback attempted a diving header which went low to Oniya, waiting with his back towards the goal, who stunningly back-heeled the ball into the roof of the net.The only real chance of the second half fell to Raphael after Camara and Liberian Anthony Doe combined to set a chance in the 64th minute but Raphael's powerful volley was shielded by Nigerian defender Divine."We came here to win here but I am not unhappy after the draw against a strong side," said Chittagong Mohammedan manager Mohammed Yusuf."We were under pressure because our coach Nazrul Islam could not make the trip due to illness. But the players have done their job," he added."It was a bad decision," said Brothers coach Wasim who was unhappy about Mishu's red card.

"I had players like Masud Rana, Matiur Munna and goalkeeper Zia injured though Munna played with a bandage on his head. That's why I had to pick up three foreigners," he said when asked why he ignored players like Abdullah Parvez, Tapu and Zahid in the starting lineup.Red card: Mishu (Brothers)Yellow cards: Ariful (Brothers) and Pradip, Lincoln, Camara, Sharif (Chittagong Mohammedan)

TEAMS

BROTHERS: MN Shakil, Ariful, Ashraful, Shuvra, Arup, Divine, Mishu, Matiur Munna (Manju), Shakil (Parvez), Henry (Zahid) and Oniya.

CTG MOHAMMEDAN: Mamun, Sharif, Dhiman, Shawkat, Pradip, Lincoln (Sanwar), Daulat, Kaiser (Doe), Camara, Raphael (Chowmrin) and Ridon.

BCCI distances itself

Cricket
BCCI distances itself
New Delhi
Indian Cricket League chairman Kapil Dev (C) talks to rebel Bangladeshi cricketers (L-R) Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Dhiman Ghosh and Habibul Bashar during a press conference to announce the launch of ICL's Season 2 and induction of the tournament's ninth team Dhaka Warriors in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

As the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) announced the signing of 13 leading cricketers from Bangladesh at a glitzy function here on Tuesday, the Indian cricket board sought to distance itself from the development saying it was an internal matter of the neighbouring country."It does not concern with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is an internal matter of Bangladesh Cricket Board," said BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla late on Tuesday night.

"It's for them to study the situation and to act accordingly", he added.Earlier in the evening, former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar, Alok Kapali, Shariar Nafees and Dhiman Ghosh were paraded by ICL as members of its Dhaka Warriors team in the Twenty20 league in the presence of former India captain Kapil Dev.

The ICL also announced names Forhad Reza, Monjurul Islam, Mahbubul Karim, Golam Mabud, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain and Tapash Baisya.Asked what impact their defection to ICL will have on cricket back home, Bashar, for one, said it would leave a vacuum no doubt for sometime but there were enough talent to fill the void.Bashar, who spoke on behalf of the three other Bangladeshi cricketers who were present, however appeared to send contradictory signals. While he said they joined ICL after applying for retirement from Bangladesh cricket, he also said 'we are still ready to play for Bangladesh if the cricket board allows us'.Bashar refuted the charge that they were "anti-national" by playing for ICL.

"We are ready to serve the country whenever we are called to join the national side", he said.Nafees, Kapali and Dhiman said they did not join the ICL out of any sense of hurt by not being invited by Indian Cricket Board-sponsored and ICC-approved Indian Premiere League (IPL). "We are professionals and we want to play and earn our livelihood," said Nafees.Dhiman said both IPL and ICL tournaments are big hits in Bangladesh and 'we just want to delight the fans back home and make them proud by our performance'.Kapil expressed the hope that Bangladesh cricket would remain fine without the players who joined ICL but added 'if it affect their cricket don't blame us for that'.

The former India captain said ICL has no problem of these Bangladeshi cricketers return home and play for their country as it was ICC and BCCI which 'boycotted' ICL.Kapil pointed out that last year ICL put together 'Lahore Badshah' team comprising rebel Pakistani cricketers and this year it is the 'Dhaka Warriors'.

Bashar shocked by ban

Cricket
Bashar shocked by ban
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Major General Sina Ibn Jamali (3rd from L) briefs the press about the board's decision on the rebel players while (L-R) Shafiqur Rahman, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, Ahmed Sajjadul Alam, MA Momen and Shakil Kasem look on at the board's headquarters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Photo:

After the last three days' chaos, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finally cleared their position against the rebel cricketers as the game's governing body in the country came up with a ten-year ban for them.BCB president Maj Gen Sina Ibn Jamali, appearing in front of the press for the first time after seven cricketers tendered their resignation letter to jolt the country's cricket, to declare the board's stance after a two-hour emergency meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium's offices in Mirpur yesterday.

"It is really unexpected. The ten-year suspension is too harsh. I can't believe it," said a 'shell-shocked' former national skipper Habibul Bashar in his instant reaction over phone."Hopefully we (the rebel cricketers) will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to decide our next course of action. We may try to meet with the board officials to explain everything," said Bashar.Bashar along with three other "Dhaka Warriors" colleagues Shahriar Nafees, Alok Kapali and Dhiman Ghosh returned home yesterday after attending the official launch in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The most successful Bangladesh skipper said that it would be painful for him to be branded as a banned cricketer."I think the people in this country will not misunderstand us because we didn't commit any crime, rather we just want to play cricket," said Bashar."It would be an unbearable pain for me to be cast as a banned cricketer after playing for my country for so many years," added the country's highest Test run-getter."I don't understand why people call us rebel cricketers.

There were reasons for me to take such a decision. "I didn't consider only money because I know how big it is to represent the national team," he said.The board has taken the decision after the rebel cricketers didn't respond to their appeal to meet them on Tuesday."We were not available at that time but now we can meet them. We are also available for national selection in any time and ICL authority also assured us that they will release us for any kind of national duty," he said adding that they got exceptional respect from the ICL authority.BCB however hardly had any intention to think more with the cricketers who already signed with the ICL rather they were trying to take the initiative to make sure that there will be no such damages in the future.

The board yesterday met with some former national captains and cricketers to take their opinions regarding the issue." I said that what has happened, has happened. Now we should think about with the future. We have to have a complete action to prevent someone to take part in this kind of tournament," said former skipper Roquibul Hasan."You can't stop someone to go if he has been offered huge money. There is now ICL and you never know another big-spending tournament might take place anywhere in the world. So we have to look at our whole system," he said.On the other hand, another former national skipper Aminul Islam believed that there is no difference between ten years ban and a life ban for a cricketer.

"BCB has the right to take such a decision against their employees. But still I am optimistic that they (the players) can understand their mistakes and beg mercy to the board. And definitely board will consider their appeal," said Aminul.

Argentina v Paraguay 2010 World Cup Qualifier (High Quality)

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FIFA boss expects successful World Cup in South Africa

PRETORIA (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Sunday he had no doubt that South Africa would host a successful World Cup, adding there was no 2010 plan B.

"The plan B is South Africa and the plan C is South Africa," Blatter told a media briefing after meeting President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria.
"We are informed and monitoring all the work and we have no doubt that when it comes to stadia, when it comes to the logistical organisation, that everything will be done."
Blatter is heading a four-day FIFA delegation to South Africa to inspect venues and meet political leaders, including former president Nelson Mandela.
The cup would give South Africa, which has a high levels of violent crime, as a legacy of being identified as a safe country, he said.
"Most of the criticism now is that it is not secure (...) but you go to big cities anywhere in the world (...) tell me where you have 100 security? It does not exist."
Both Blatter and Mbeki said a change of government in next year's elections would not affect the cup preparations.
"I'm saying quite firmly that we are on course with regard to meeting our obligations," Mbeki said.
"It doesn't matter what happens here with regard to whatever the political challenges, this country will meet its commitments to FIFA to (...) ensure that we have a very successful 2010 FIFA soccer world cup. That will happen."
Mbeki was responding to a question about a court judgment last week in which it was implied that his government had meddled in corruption charges brought against Jacob Zuma, tipped as South Africa's next president and whom Blatter will meet on his trip.

The court ruling led to widespread debate over Mbeki's future in weekend media.
Blatter said he had a special dedication and love for Africa, where football was "more than just kicking a ball."
A World Cup in South Africa would show that Africans were able to host the FIFA event, he said. "It is justice to South Africa for what Africa has given to the world of football."

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