Karachi, July 10
The BCCI today dismissed Pakistani media reports claiming that BCCI was obtaining details about the beach party attended by Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma on the night before the Asia Cup final which they eventually lost to Sri Lanka. BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla told PTI there was nothing to probe into the matter.

“We are not probing anything about the party. There is nothing to probe since the team management did not lodge any complaint about any player,” Shukla said. Earlier, according to a report in the daily Jang, the BCCI was inquiring the matter as the trio apparently spent the night at Karachi’s famous French beach with a couple of their local friends who had thrown a party for them.

The report, quoting sources, said Yuvraj, Rohit and Raina had gone to the beach with their friends immediately after attending the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) awards ceremony at the Mohatta Palace the night before the final.

“Their friends had arranged a big party for them at the beach which is a hot-spot for those belonging to the upper crest of society. And the three players returned to their hotel early morning from the beach,” the report said.

“After a few hours the Indian team went into battle against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final,” it added. Incidentally, all three failed to score runs in the final. Yuvraj was bowled for a second ball duck by Ajantha Mendis, while Raina (16) and Rohit (3) too fell to the Sri Lankan spinner who took six for 13 to guide Sri Lanka to a thumping 100-run win. The report went onto say the three players had a blast in the party and as a result, they couldn’t get proper rest for the final. — PTI

Colombo, July 10
Sri Lanka Cricket resolved its protracted contract dispute with players on Thursday after an emergency executive board meeting. A deal was thrashed out between chairman Arjuna Ranatunga's interim committee and the Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association (SLCA), ending four months of negotiations. "Everything was resolved peacefully in a cordial atmosphere," SLCA's chief negotiator Graeme Labrooy told reporters.

"The new pay slabs for the players were approved by Sri Lanka Cricket and there was good response from both sides. The players will sign their contracts next week."

The new player contracts include a freeze in annual retainers for senior players but substantial increases for junior members of the national squad and ‘A’ team. Test match fees were also increased, bringing Sri Lanka's match fees in line with their Asian neighbours.

Kolkata, July 10
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today said he would continue to pursue the shorter version of cricket despite being excluded from the list of 30 probables announced by the BCCI for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan.

"I am still enjoying the game and my focus is on the three Test series in Sri Lanka,” the former India Team captain said while being asked whether he was thinking of quitting ODIs after being ignored by the Indian cricket board for the Champions Trophy in September. "You have to accept what comes," Ganguly said.

Replying to a barrage of questions after being presented trophies by Castrol's Asian Cricketer of the year and the Best batsman in Asia for 2007, the "Kolkata Prince" said the awards would motivate him to continue with his willow.

"My focus is on Sri Lanka Test series and we have to take on Ajanta Mendis," he said.

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni's layoff from the coming Test series and the ongoing debate on the decision as it would set a precedent, Ganguly said it was his personal matter and it completely depended on a player whether one should need a break for rest.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly today threatened to stop playing for Bengal if some Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) members continue to create problems for his family members.

Ganguly denied any fall-out with former CAB and BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is fighting for the CAB presidentship this time. — Agencies

London, July 10
England batsman Kevin Pietersen celebrated his first Test against his native South Africa on Thursday with an imperious 104 not out on the opening day of the first test at Lord’s. Pietersen survived a blow on the side of the helmet from Dale Steyn early in his innings to bat with increasing authority on a sun-dappled afternoon.

He was ably supported by Ian Bell, under pressure to retain his Test place, who contributed an unbeaten 75 in an England total of 309 for three at the close. The pair came together with England wobbling slightly at 117 for three after an opening partnership of 114 between Andrew Strauss (44) and Alastair Cook (60).

Bell was initially the more fluent of the pair but it was Pietersen who seized the moment after tea. Pietersen profited from some friendly slow-arm bowling from Paul Harris, striking a four and a six off successive balls. He crashed Steyn through the off for four then reached his half-century from 73 balls with a sweep for two off Harris followed by another boundary. Bell lingered for 43 minutes in the 40s before reaching his 19th test half-century and Pietersen was also restricted by accurate fast-medium bowling from Jacques Kallis. 

Scoreboard

England first innings

Strauss lbw b Morkel 44

Cook c de Villiers b Morkel 60

Vaughan b Steyn 2

Pietersen not out 104

Bell not out 75

Extras: (b-10 lb-2 w-1 nb-11) 24

Total: (for 3 wkts, 90 overs) 309

Fall of wickets: 1-114, 2-117, 3-117.

Bowling: Steyn 21-4-68-1, Ntini 18-2-58-0, Morkel 21-3-66-2, Kallis 15-3-49-0, Harris 15-4-56-0. — Reuters

Monterrey, July 10
Young swimming sensation Virdhawal Khade, who has qualified for the Beijing Olympics, made a splash on the first two days of the 2nd FINA World Youth Championships here, creating new National records in the 100m and 200m Freestyle events.

On day one, the 17-year-old from Kolhapur clocked a time of 50.64sec while swimming the first leg of the 4x100m Freestyle relay. The earlier National Record of 50.66sec, which was also held by Virdhawal, was set at the Malaysia Open in May.

The relay team consisting of Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Nagaranthal, Ashwin Menon and Aaron D’souza eventually finished at the 17th spot. On the second day, Khade went on to become the first-ever Indian swimmer to reach the finals of the World Youth Swimming Championships.

Khade, clad in a Speedo FS Pro Hi Neck Bodyskin, finished sixth with a time of 1:50.35sec. His time was faster than the previous World Youth record time of 1:51.97sec.

He shaved 1.3 sec off his previous National Record time of 1:51.65sec which was also set at the Malaysia Open. The race was extremely close - the difference between Khade and the silver medal winner was less than a second. Three of the five swimmers that swam faster than him were a year older than him.

New Delhi, July 10
India's hockey consultant Ric Charlesworth today resigned from his high profile post throwing the national sport back into another crisis. “He has resigned from his post,” a top Sports Authority of India (SAI) official confirmed.

“However, his resignation has been kept on hold. A decision would be taken only after meeting the FIH officials as they have deputed him as the technical director to assist Indian Hockey administrators,” he added.

Ad-hoc selection panel chairman Aslam Sher Khan said Charlesworth, who was expected to be in Hyderabad during the Junior Asia Cup that kicks off tomorrow, left for his country Australia saying that he will return only when the ambiguity over his role is cleared by the hockey authorities.

“We wanted to take his services but he said he will work with us only after getting a clear picture about his contract and role. We had three meetings with him but we cannot assure him anything because his contract is not with us,” he added.

The former Olympian clarified that the ad-hoc committee has no power to decide on Charlesworth's role as the Australian's contract is with Sports Authority of India (SAI), the dissolved Indian Hockey Federation and the Indian Women's Hockey Federation.

According to Sher Khan, one of the reasons for Charlesworth's reluctance to work with Indian hockey is his "horrible" experience with the dissolved IHF.

"He (Charlesworth) had a horrible last six months with the (now dissolved) IHF. The issues regarding his dues and other contractual matters are still lingering," he said. — PTI

Hyderabad, July 10
The original trophy for Junior Asia Cup Hockey would be handed over to the organising committee today, ad-hoc committee convener Mohd Aslam Sher said today.

"We have got a message. We are getting the old trophy today," he told PTI here.

Selection committee chairman Aslam Sher Khan had said yesterday that K.P.S. Gill, head of the disbanded Indian Hockey Federation, was reluctant to hand over the trophy and that they were planning to get a new trophy for the sixth Men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournment.

"As far as I am concerned, there was nothing. We realised it when the tournament director from the Asian Hockey Federation told us that the trophy is lying with IHF.”

Asked about reports that the ad-hoc committee was getting a new trophy, Aslam Khan said, "The organisers in Hyderabad told me that for every tournament, there will be a new trophy." — PTI

Patiala, July 10
Asia’s premier sports institute - the Netaji Subash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) - has landed itself in a soup with the union government’s Chief Vigilance Commission ordering an inquiry into the alleged financial irregularities taking place in the institute.

Sources reveal that on orders of the chief vigilance commissioner, an inquiry has been launched by the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) assistant director (vigilance) Rajeev Sareen who visited the institute for a couple of days to ascertain the facts. He also took into his possession records pertaining to various departments of the institute.

Various financial irregularities had surfaced recently in the institute forcing vigilance sleuths to take cognisance.

NIS executive director L.S. Ranawat could not be reached for comments as he was away from the institute. The next in charge, R.C. Trivedi, deputy director (finance), could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

An eerie silence prevailed at the institute with no officer willing to come out with details of the visit of the assistant director (vigilance) to the institute.

An official, preferring anonymity, revealed that the records pertaining to the stay of various top officials 
in the institute’s guest house were taken into custody by the assistant director (vigilance).

He also took into consideration whether boarding and lodging charges were deducted from the officials staying in the guest house for the past two years.

Records of various coaches staying in the hostels for the past two years were also asked for by him.

The records of the departments of works, administration, accounts and the guest house were also called for by the assistant director (vigilance).

BRIEFLY

Sports pensions doubled
New Delhi:The government has effected a 100 per cent hike in the pension of "meritorious sportspersons" who had won medals in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and various other international competitions. The General Committee, the apex body for managing the Sports Fund for pension, held a meeting under the chairmanship of union minister for youth affairs and sports Dr M.S. Gill here on Thursday. The decision was taken to give a quantum jump for the pension of sportspersons by doubling the amount in every category. The new rates will be effective from July 1. Thus, medal winners in Olympic Games will get a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 as against the old rate of Rs 5000, gold medallists at the World Cup/World Championship in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines will get Rs 8000 (old rate Rs 4000), silver medallists Rs 7000 (Rs 3500), gold medallists of the Asian and Commonwealth Games Rs 7000 (Rs 3500), silver and bronze medallists Rs 6000 (Rs 3000), gold medallists in Para-Olympics Rs 5000 (Rs 2500), silver medallists Rs 4000 (Rs 2000) and bronze medallists Rs 3000 (Rs 1500). — TNS

Bopanna drowns Fish
New Port: India’s Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna stunned top seed Mardy Fish as he pulled off a thrilling victory over the American 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 in the second round of Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here. In a keenly contested match, the Indian lived up to his reputation with some fearsome serves firing 14 aces as he brought about one of the biggest upset of the tournament beating the world number 41 in the $385,000 event on Wednesday. Bopanna booked a quarterfinal clash with another Indian in the fray Prakash Amritraj who beat America’s Jesse Levine 7-5, 6-3 in his second round match. — UNI

Indians out of ITF events
NEW DELHI: India tennis players had a very disappointing day in the field as all the four players presenting their challenge, crashed out of the $15,000 ITF events in Syria and Turkey. Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan, Rahil Makharai and Vignesh Peranamallur-Chandrasekhar lost their second round matches in Syria event while national grass-court champion Vishnu Vardhan tasted defeat in the Turkey event. Fourth seed Alexander Somogyi of Slovakia pipped Ranjeet 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and Russian sixth seed Dmitri Sitak defeated Vignesh 6-2, 6-2 while Rahil lost 2-6, 7-5, 3-6 to Nigerian Sunday Emmanuel. Vardhan put up a brave fight before losing 6-7 (2), 5-7 against Tihomir Grozdanov of Bulgaria. — PTI

Real Madrid in India?
KOLKATA: Upbeat at the Sports Minister M.S. Gill’s idea of bringing European football giants Real Madrid to Kolkata, Mohun Bagan said they were looking forward to the occasion. “I’m very excited to hear this that Gill proposed to bring Real Madrid to Kolkata... The city being the heart of Indian football will look forward to play another memorable match,” Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said. Mohun Bagan had earlier hosted Bundesliga club Bayern Munich in Oliver Kahn’s swansong match in May 27. Gill on Thursday disclosed that he met the Real Madrid boss during the Wimbledon final in London last week and explored on the idea of bringing the star-studded team to Kolkata. — PTI

Sutil 5th fastest
Hockenheim: Adrian Sutil made the most of the improved weather to clock the fifth quickest time on day two of the three-day pre-German Grand Prix test at the Hockenheim ring here. Continuing from where he had left it on a rain-marred day one, Sutil went on to complete 97 laps and his best, 1min 15.945, was once again just one second from Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap. Sutil worked through a programme of suspension, set-up and tyre comparison work and despite a late morning glitch, Force India finished the day according to its scheduled plan. “It was a good day, and we were able to test several items,” Sutil said, quite satisfied with the way his day progressed. — PTI

Monty waiting for IPL offer
London: His Indian origin and cult status would certainly add sheen to the Indian Premier League but England's left-arm spinner Monty Panesar rues he does not have any offer on the table from any of the IPL franchises. In his column for 'Daily Mail', Panesar admits the amount of money floating around is mind-boggling but says, almost lamenting, he is yet to be approached to be part of the IPL razzmatazz. "Everyone is talking about all the money flying around cricket at the moment, but I haven't heard from any of the Indian Premier League teams. I certainly haven't got any offers on the table," said the spinner. "You can't help but think about these things from time to time but I guess, for me, it's not meant to be," Panesar said. — PTI