Mumbai, December 5
Ending the suspense over the team and ensuring that at least eight sides will be part of IPL-IV next year, the BCCI today allowed the squabbling Kochi franchise to participate in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League.

The IPL Governing Council, which had given a third deadline to Kochi last week after the consortium's investors reached a last-minute agreement over their shareholding pattern, today approved their ownership structure and took it in its fold.

“At their meeting today, the IPL Governing Council confirmed that the Kochi franchise had satisfactorily responded to the notice issued to them by the BCCI, and decided that the franchise Kochi Cricket Private Ltd would play in the IPL from 2011 onwards," BCCI secretary and president-elect N Srinivasan said in a release.

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the Board’s legal team was satisfied with the ownership structure of Kochi franchise.

“Today, the Governing Council decided to approve Kochi as the eighth franchise of IPL and it will play in IPL-IV. This decision was taken after examining the shareholding pattern Kochi submitted and the response (to the notices) they had given to the BCCI. It was legally examined. The GC found it appropriate,” Shukla told reporters in Delhi.

The Governing Council's decision comes on the backdrop of the legal developments involving the BCCI and expelled IPL franchisees -- Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals.

Relieved by BCCI’s decision, Satyajit Gaikwad, CEO of Rendezvous Sports World Pvt Ltd that represents the promoter group, said the franchise will now get down to business to build the side for the Twenty20 event.

“Differences (in the franchise) are now things of the past. Earlier we were consortium partners. Now we are a family of IPL Kochi Private Limited," Gaikwad said.

"We will have a Board meeting as soon as possible, may be tonight or tomorrow to decide the future course of action and team building. We are very sure that we will rise up to the expectations of cricket fraternity of Kerala and India,” he said.

New Delhi, December 5
When it rolls for you, there is very little that will change your fortune. Rikard Karlberg was on the verge of losing it all several times on the Delhi Golf Club course today, but every time he came back with the conviction and form of one destined to win. Win he did, lifting the Hero Honda Indian Open trophy and a cheque of US$ 198,125 but not before he got his share of scares.

A free drop on the 18th after he had veered left, then blasted the ball practically into the clubhouse, gave him a rather difficult chip to hold par, or even drop one stroke if need be. But the chip worked like a dream, bouncing exactly before rolling in, giving him a two-under 70 card for the final day, and a 11-under aggregate, enough to ward off the resurgent Baek Seuk-hyun, who ended two strokes astray.

Then, take the 14th for example. Karlberg hammered the ball straight into the notorious DGC rough and for quite a while it looked like he'd not make it back. But he found a way out - playing the ball out into the adjoining fairway and then playing a superb chip, high over the tree onto the green. He lost only one stroke here, while it looked like he was gone for all money.

"That chip was unbelievable," the Swede said after the day's play. "If I tried it again another 100 times, I'm not sure I'd get that again. I was planning to sink it, but the way it worked out was great."

It was the tee that had worried him the most. "I was most nervous when teeing off on the 18th. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. I hit it left and then attempted a soft nine-iron. But with the adrenaline flowing, it really flew far."

This is his second Asian Tour event win at the DGC, having won the SAIL Open in March this year. "Playing here gave be an advantage," he said. "You have to play straight here and believe in your clubs. My association with the DGC has been great. The first win here gave me the first turnover in my career and this is another one."

One felt a little sorry for Manav Jaini. He had come in this morning with definite plans to give it his all and it worked sensationally in the first nine holes as he birdied four of the first five and then added another on the eighth. However, once he dropped a shot on the 10th, things went haywire as he had to really struggle to keep afloat. But two more bogeys, on the 16th and 17th, effectively ended his challenge.

Baek was among the top runners right from Day One and he was very much in the running right till the end. His outward nine however didn't help as he bogeyed twice and then dropped two more on the 12th and 16th. Though he had an eagle on the 14th and another birdie on the last hole, it wasn't enough to keep him in the running for a play-off, which looked very possible right till the end.

Mukesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Arjun Atwal did well to share fifth place with Marcus Both of Australia and Siddikur of Bangladesh, but in the end, it was always Karlberg's day.

Adelaide, December 5
Kevin Pietersen became the fifth Englishman to score a double century in Australia as England's lead ballooned to 306 runs on the third day of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval today. The number four showman relished his return to the ground where he last hammered a big century to continue England's relentless accumulation of runs to plunder the home attack.

When rain washed out play after tea England were 551 for four with Pietersen on a majestic 213 and Ian Bell providing solid support on 41. Skipper Andrew Strauss has a decision to make whether to bat on or declare and send Australia back in with two days left to get a crucial result with the weather threatening to intervene.

Pietersen joined teammates Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood, Walter Hammond (3) and Reg Foster as English double-centurions in Australia. Pietersen dominated the third day as he helped himself to his second Test double-century and was within reach of his highest Test score of 226 against the West Indies in May 2007.

In doing so Pietersen broke through for his first Test century in 28 innings since his 102 against the West Indies at the Port-of-Spain in March last year. Pietersen was in virtuoso form, clubbing 31 fours and jumping down the wicket to launch a six off the hapless spinner Xavier Doherty in his chanceless knock.

Four years ago Pietersen scored 158 and Collingwood 206 in a record stand in England's first innings 551 for six declared — the tourists were coincidentally on the same total on Sunday. — AFP

London, December 5
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that billionaire Roman Abramovich should "open his wallet" and help pay for the 2018 World Cup being hosted by his country. The Chelsea's owner is expected to take a leading role and invest heavily as Russia hosts the football World Cup. Abramovich was a prominent member of Moscow's delegation to Zurich, where Fifa last week awarded Russia the right to host the competition.

Abramovich is expected to give millions of dollars as Russia embarks on a 2.4 billion pound plan to build 13 new stadiums and renovate three existing ones, The Guardian reports. A further seven billion pound is needed to improve tourism infrastructure, in particular to build affordable hotels for fans, it added.

Putin said after Russia's win that Abramovich could ease government spending on construction for the World Cup by investing privately. "I don't rule out that Mr Abramovich may take part in one of these projects. Let him open his wallet a little. It's no big deal - he won't feel the pinch. He has plenty of money," Putin said in televised comments.

John Mann, a spokesman for Abramovich's holding company, Millhouse Capital, confirmed the businessman was willing to contribute "in partnership with the state". Several other Russian investors are expected to finance construction for the World Cup. Lukoil, the country's largest oil company, is building a stadium for Spartak Moscow, BTB bank for Lokomotiv, and the Gazprom energy giant for Zenit in St Petersburg, the paper said. — ANI

Barcelona, December 5
Barcelona shook off an improvised four-hour bus and train trip to beat Osasuna 3-0 to stay atop the Spanish league, while Real Madrid stayed two points back by downing 10-man Valencia 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Madrid to give him 16 for the season, one ahead of Lionel Messi, who also notched a brace for Barcelona.

Lionel Messi deftly threaded a pass that led Pedro Rodriguez through the Osasuna defense in the 26th and Rodriguez gave Osasuna goalie Ricardo Lopez no chance with a sharp strike for the opener.

Messi sprinted past the Osasuna defenders and beat Ricardo with a low shot for the second in the 65th and added the third from the penalty spot in the 84th.

The match began 45 minutes late after Barcelona was forced to use ground transport to reach Pamplona because of the sickout by Spain's air traffic controllers which had grounded all flights in the country since Friday afternoon. "It was difficult for us to get into the game because it has been a long day, but we earned three points in a difficult stadium," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said.

Ronaldo broke the deadlock against Valencia in the 73rd with a left-footed strike off a counterattack eight minutes after Valencia midfielder David Abelda was sent off. Ronaldo scored his second after galloping from the center line and firing from inside the area.

Madrid captain Iker Casillas saved a strike by Juanma Mata near the 10-minute mark in Valencia's best chance of the first half. Valencia withstood the relentless Madrid attack thanks to the inspired play from goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Guaita held off Sami Khedira when the Germany midfielder found himself alone on goal in the 35th. — AP

BRIEFLY

Woods has victory in sight
Thousand Oaks: Tiger Woods capped a third-round 68 with a birdie as he homed in on his first victory in more than a year at the World Challenge golf tournament. Woods' four-under effort gave him a 17-under total of 199 and maintained his four-shot lead over US Open champion Graeme McDowell. After a bogey at the par-five second, Woods rebounded with three birdies in a row from the par-five fifth. — AFP

Humpy beats Melissa Greeff
Hatay: Top rated Koneru Humpy started off with an easy victory in the women's world championship opener but second highest Indian D Harika was held to a draw by compatriot Kruttika Nadig in the first game of the opening round here. The Women's world championship opened to expected results as most of the top ranked players cruised home to take a one point lead in the two-game mini-match. The exception was Pia Cramling of Sweden who was held to a draw by local favourite Yildiz Betul Cemre. — PTI

Butt hires top lawyer
Karachi: The legal team that will represent Pakistan's suspended former Test captain Salman Butt in the spot-fixing case continues to grow with one of the country's most prominent lawyers Aitzaz Ahsan now joining his defence. Ahsan, who is one of the most sought after lawyers in Pakistan, will represent Butt in the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct Commission hearing scheduled in Doha from January 6 to 11. — PTI

Uncertainly over Miandad
Karachi: It is not yet clear whether former Test captain Javed Miandad will be available for the national training camp, starting in Lahore from Wednesday, for the New Zealand tour. The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked Miandad to work as a batting and fielding consultant with the team in the camp and also go to New Zealand but at the same time it has put forth some clear conditions for the batting great. -- PTI

Tyson vows to be 'dedicated'
London: Former boxer Mike Tyson, who is expecting his eighth child with current wife Lakiha Spicer, has vowed to be a "committed and dedicated" dad. Tyson had two children with his second wife Monica Turner, but their four-year-old daughter Exodus died in a freak accident last year. He also has five other kids from previous relationships. He now hopes his new baby will have a more stable upbringing than his previous children as he is in a happy relationship and finally free of a long-running drug addiction. — ANI

FIFA is 'galacticos of corruption'
London: A former FIFA official has accused the international football's governing body of being "the galacticos of corruption". Mel Brennan, a delegate for North America at the 2002 World Cup, also described the voting for the 2018 World Cup as "not credible". "The mistake people make with FIFA - the galacticos of corruption - is dealing with them as if they are rational. It's about the energy around political players and managing those," the Sun quoted Brennan, as saying. — ANI

Cheryl, Ashley reunion?
London: Cheryl Cole has apparently started talking to ex-husband Ashley on a daily basis, sparking rumours they could be heading for a reunion. The Geordie beauty is planning to spend Christmas with dancer Derek Hough and her mum Joan at her home in Herts. The pair then plans to fly to Egypt for a romantic getaway in January. — ANI