Yuvraj punishes Sri Lanka with hundred

Colombo: Explosive half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag put India in a commanding position in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Electing to bat, India lost the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar early to another poor umpiring decision, before Gautam Gambhir was run out after a straight hit from Virender Sehwag ricocheted off Dilhara Fernando's hand onto the stumps.

Sehwag and Yuvraj, however, were in a brutal mood as the duo carted the Sri Lankan bowlers all around the park. India decided to take the batting powerplay in the initial overs and it turned out to be a good decision.

India retained the same eleven from the second ODI as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the third one-dayer in Colombo on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, who trail the five-match series 0-2, must win to keep the series alive. Captain Mahela Jayawardene made one change to his side, bringing in Dilhara Fernando in place of Thilan Thushara.

Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/yuvraj-punishes-sri-lanka-with-hundred/37943-13.html

Not Greg Chappell, 'others' behind my sacking: Ganguly

Kolkata: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels that Greg Chappell could have been "poisoned" against him and believes the former Australian coach played a very limited role in his ouster from the national team in 2005.

"It is a possibility that others poisoned him against me. There were others in the board and the selection committee who influenced him. I don't think Greg's role in that episode was more than 15 per cent," said Ganguly, whose spat with the Aussie cricketing legend made international headlines for long in 2005.

The left-hander conceded that he was very dejected for one and half months. "I was very upset. When one finds that he is wronged, obviously he gets more angry."

Asked why he never spoke out on the episode all these years, the cricketer said, "My bat and ball did all the talking."

"Greg lost his job as coach, while I staged a comeback under Rahul Dravid and fulfilled a personal goal - playing 100 Tests."

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/not-greg-chappell-others-behind-my-sacking-ganguly/37934-13.html

Clarke gets clear ECB run for second term

London: Businessman Jonathan Marland withdrew on Monday from the election to become chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), giving incumbent Giles Clarke a free run for a second term in office.

In the two weeks since announcing his candidacy Marland, 52, became frustrated by the failure of several of the 18 first-class counties, who with MCC make up the electorate, to meet with him.

Now the member of the British House of Lords, who was the treasurer of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party from 2003 to 2007, has decided to pull out as he believes he has no chance of gaining the 10 votes out of 19 he would have needed for victory.

"It is now clear to me that I will on this occasion be unable to obtain a majority of the votes required and, faced with the continued refusal of several counties even to meet with me, it is with disappointment that I am announcing my withdrawal from the election for the chairmanship of the ECB," Marland said.

Former Somerset chairman Clarke, who became the head of English cricket's governing body in September 2007, had always been keen to serve a second two-year term in office when his current spell expires on March 31.

He now seems assured of being voted in again in next week's ballot.Nevertheless there was, and still remains, a degree of unhappiness within English cricket at the way the ECB was being run under Clarke's leadership.

This intensified following the sacking last month of England coach Peter Moores after a clash with Kevin Pietersen which cost the star batsman his post as England captain.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/clarke-gets-clear-ecb-run-for-second-term/37938-13.html

Jeev nominated for 'Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year'

NEW DELHI: Jeev Milkha Singh's stellar show last season earned him a nomination for the 'Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year' Award to be given a way on February 21 in Perth.

Jeev rose to a career-high 35th in the international rankings after bagging four titles last year and becoming the first player in Asian Tour's history to surpass the $1 million mark in a single season.

The others in contention for the 'Asian Golfer of the Year' award are Thais Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee and Chinese-Taipei's Lin Wen-tang, Jhonnie Walker said in a statement.

Marksaeng secured three victories on the Japan Tour, including the prestigious the Dunlop Phoenix tournament, and secured an invite to the US Masters.

Jaidee had two end-of-season victories which saw him equal Thaworn Wiratchant's record of 10 Asian Tour victories.

Wen-tang, on the other hand, enjoyed his finest year as a professional, winning two titles and finishing second on the Order of Merit.

Past Asian Golfer of the Year awardees include Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998, Korea's KJ Choi (2002 and 2007).

For the 'Asian Rising Star of the Year' award, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, the 17-year-old who has been invited to Augusta Masters after becoming the youngest golfer to reach the top-100 in international rankings, faces competition from three others.

Koreans Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon and Malaysia's Ben Leong are the other contenders for the award.

The winners of the awards would be voted by a panel of judges from The European, Asian and Australasian Tours and Johnnie Walker.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jeev_nominated_for_Johnnie_Walker_award/articleshow/4069757.cms

Troubles galore in Delhi soccer

NEW DELHI: From allowing unregistered players to permitting alleged Tibetan footballers turning out for a club, Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has al ready been hit hard by controversies.

The association got another blow to their already battered image, when a couple of clubs, which also included Tarun Sangha and Indian Nationals, protested against fielding an assistant referee Kamal Rakshit in a Super League match which pitted Sangha against Ahbab on Sunday. The match ended goalless.

Rakshit, the clubs claimed, is a goalkeeper coach with Hindustan Club and he shouldn't have got any postings in Super League. His presence on the lines possibly denied Sangha a goal and a win against Ahbab.

"While the referee allowed the goal, Rakshit disallowed it though it wasn't even called for an off-side," explained Tarun Sangha coach Anadi Barua.

Interestingly, referees' board secretary Joginder Singh was unavailable for comment because he is in Udaipur to 'officiate' in an event. It wasn't clear why he left his duty and officiating elsewhere when DSA has persuaded All India Football Federation (AIFF) not to assign any Delhi referees for I-League till the local league is over.

Meanwhile, the association was unable to decide on the fate of seven Tibetan footballers who allegedly turned out for Royal Rangers on Friday. The club claimed the players hold valid Indian passports but they haven't replied to DSA's showcause notice yet.

ND Heroes beat Rangers
Defending champions ND Heroes defeated Royal Rangers 1-0 in Super League while last year's runners-up Indian Nationals were held to a goalless draw by Simla Youngs.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Troubles_galore_in_Delhi_soccer/articleshow/4067218.cms

Chelsea appeal against Lampard red card

LONDON: Chelsea have appealed against the red card shown to midfielder Frank Lampard in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool, England's Football Association said on Monday.

England international Lampard faces a three-match ban after being sent off on the hour mark by referee Mike Riley for a tackle on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso with the score at 0-0.

The FA confirmed on its website (www.thefa.com) that a regulatory commission would hear the appeal on Tuesday.

"I only ask that the referee and the men from the FA look at the video," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com).

Chelsea's Portuguese defender Jose Bosingwa may also face an FA inquiry, despite apologising on Monday for stamping on Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun in the dying minutes of Sunday's defeat, an act which went unpunished by Riley.

"I apologise for what I did and it was never my intention to hurt him. I know it was wrong and I apologise," Bosingwa told the club website.

"Bosingwa was not correct. He made a mistake and maybe he has punishment (to come)," Scolari added.

"But if Bosingwa has a punishment ... maybe they change Lampard's red card and maybe he plays the next games."

Sunday's defeat left Chelsea in third place, three points behind Liverpool and five behind leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/eplarticleshow/4066694.cms

Sania Mirza focused on recovery

BANGALORE: For Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza it's treatment after the triumph. Forced out of India's Fed Cup campaign in Perth with a torn abdominal muscle, the 22-year-old will focus on recovery and rehabilitation this week.

Sania, who along with Mahesh Bhupathi won the Australian Open mixed doubles crown in Melbourne on Sunday, returned home to a huge media reception.

"I have a program charted out for me. Also I've spoken and worked with Shyamal Vallabhjee (fitness trainer). There are a few things I need to do. First of all, I need to rest it for a couple of days. I also plan to go to Delhi to meet Jatin Chaudhari," she said.

Vallabhjee, who has been helping Sania with her fitness , said the Indian ace will be back at her best in a couple of weeks. "She's torn a muscle and she has been in some pain. We've chalked out a program for her and she should be on her way soon."

There was, however, little time for celebration for Sania, following her maiden Grand Slam triumph. "I've not had time for anything. After the final we had to rush to the airport and then our phones were going crazy," the Hyderabadi said. "When we reached Bombay, we had a small celebratory lunch at a friend's house."

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sania_Mirza_focused_on_recovery/articleshow/4067227.cms