Sports News Live: Asia Cup: Super Kohli powers an Indian win against...

Sports News Live: Asia Cup: Super Kohli powers an Indian win against...: Mirpur: What he did at Hobart against the Lankans was ridiculously awe-inspiring and what he did here at the Shere Bangla National Stad...

Asia Cup: Super Kohli powers an Indian win against Pakistan

Mirpur: What he did at Hobart against the Lankans was ridiculously awe-inspiring and what he did here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur against arch rivals Pakistan is nothing less than breathtakingly grand. He powered India to their highest run chase since the epic Natwest Series final against England way back in 2002. He became the joint highest scorer in a successful Indian chase. His 183 off 148 balls is the sixth highest individual score by an Indian in ODIs and he is just 23 years old who already has 11 centuries to his name. Chasing a mammoth target of 330 to stay alive in the tournament, Virat Kohli’s magnificent 183 off 148 ably supported by Rohit Sharma’s 68 (83b) and Sachin Tendulkar’s 52 (48b) propelled India to an improbable 6 wickets victory after Pakistan had posted 329 courtesy a double century partnership between Mohammed Hafeez 105 (113b) and Nasir Jamshed 112 (104b) and a quick fire 52 off 34 balls from Younis Khan later in the innings. Aggressive, brash, arrogant have been the monikers for Kohli’s personality, but it is the innings like this one and one at Hobart that would make the above adjuncts a part of his batting ability, skill and talent. Coming at No.3 he has the best avg. for any player while batting second for his team in ODIs; even better than a certain Hanise Cronje. Even today his aggression was evident as he pulled belligerently one Aizaz Cheema short one to deep extra cover. It took him just fraction of a second to rock back and swirl around as he executed the pull with disdain. He showed his brashness in the last ball of the 37th over, the second over of the batting powerplay; Umar Gul had bowled a superb over conceding just four of the fist 5 balls, and an evidently perturbed Kohli winded up on a pitched up delivery and smacked it over the bowler’s head for four. The arrogance of Kohli came in the 4th over as he shuffled across and whipped a good delivery towards deep square leg. It was not more than push but the deep fielder had no chance of cutting that off. Coming in at No.3 in the very first over after he had a tough time in the pitch colliding hard with Raina and then banging his head on the ground after a catch, Kohli was like a man possessed and even match up to the Matser himself, Sachin Tendulkar, stroke to stroke. And mind you, Sachin was playing at his best, not the form he had two days earlier against Bangladesh, but it was vintage Tendulkar on show with the trademark cover drive with spick and span timing and those astonishing backfoot pushes that only he could execute. Needing a run rate of over 6 to overhaul the target, the duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli milked runs with precision, amassing 133 runs between them in just 115 balls with a run rate of 6.93. And this was no ordinary bowling attack – it was the spin trio of World best ODI bowler Saeed Ajmal, the dangerous Shahid Afridi and the wily Mohammed Hafeez. Ajmal tested the duo to their hilt but with their class, even Ajmal had his work cut out. Even after Sachin’s departure Kohli seldom left his aggressive approach and he showed great maturity and restrain when Rohit Sharma had a tough time early on. Shouldering the responsibility of guiding the chase and not allowing Rohit Sharma to feel the pressure of run rate, Kohli marched as a true deputy to captain cool, MS Dhoni. His knock of 183 had the undertone of class and maturity written all over it and more importantly he was able to find that thin line of balance between aggression and level headedness. Later, when Rohit Sharma broke the shackles, the future of Indian cricket took center stage diminishing everyone in their path. Even Virat Kohli’s supreme batting prowess looked just good in front of Rohit lazy elegance. Rohit plays well in patches and that is what he did. Whenever pressure mounted on the duo, Rohit produce his spark of brilliance and bailed out the team. Their partnership of 172 in just 158 balls is evidence of the fact that ODI cricket still is the most intriguing format of cricket. One powerful shot to the fence was always followed by a quick single and delicate late cut or a precision square cut to the boundary line was always sandwiched between a couple of quick doubles. Bu the time the designated ‘finishers’ of team India walked out to the middle, only the formalities were left to be done with. Earlier in the day, Pakistan set India a mammoth total of 329 to chase down in a crucial do or die Asia Cup encounter courtesy a tremendous double century partnership by the openers Mohammed Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112). Younis Khan (52) provided the thrust needed in the later part of the innings as Indian bowlers put up a lacklustre show second time in a row. Openers Mohammed Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed started off on a positive note with some cracking shots to the fence with timing written all over it. The Indian bowlers were guilty of bowling short and wide first up. Dhoni then introduced his part timers as early as in the 11th over but the openers went about their business taking no risk at all in the process. Only in the first 10 overs did Pakistan had the run rate below 6. In the rest 40 overs, the openers and then the middle order were able to maintain a run rate of over 6. Nasir Jamshed (112) known for his big hitting prowess changed his game a bit and played more responsibly as he posted a breezy yet solid maiden century ably supported by the seasoned campaigner Mohammed Hafeez (105). Hafeez, on the other hand played a chanceless innings studded with some classy shots all around the park. His timing especially was immaculate and he was able to find the gaps in the field at regular intervals. Both the players were in the middle for more than 40 overs stitching together a record opening partnership of 224 against India but they perished in quick succession as they tried to up the ante in the death overs. Ashok Dinda, who got the wickets of Hafeez and then Azam was the pick of the bowlers as he bowled with some intend early on, though, he was also taken to the cleaners in the slog overs. All the bowlers put up a mediocre show but Praveen Kumar in particular had a torrid time in the middle conceding 77 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Now, India would be keenly following the final group match of the Asia Cup between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with a hope of seeing Islanders win in process taking the hosts out of the tournament.

Olympic Park 2012 London

The London 2012 Games are the catalyst for transforming 2.5sq km of land in east London. What was once industrial, contaminated land has been rapidly transformed over the past three years. The Olympic Park will create a green backdrop for the Games and a new green space after 2012 for people and wildlife living in and around the area to enjoy. The southern part of the Park will focus on retaining the festival atmosphere of the Games, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafes and bars. The northern area will use the latest green techniques to manage flood and rain water, while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare species, from kingfishers to otters. Around 2,000 semi-mature British-grown trees have been hand-picked to form the roots of the Park’s green spaces, which will be enjoyed by spectators and become a home for wildlife. There will also be a further 2,000 trees planted on the Olympic and Paralympic Village site. The trees have been carefully selected to ensure they are ‘future proof’ against climate change. They are mostly native species, such as ash, alder, willow, birch, hazel, cherry, poplar, London plane and lime. More than 300,000 wetland plants will also be planted in the Park. It will be the UK’s largest ever urban river and wetland planting. It will help create a colourful riverside setting for the London 2012 Games. Stretching for half a mile between the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium will be an area of gardens that will celebrate centuries of British passion for gardens and plants. They will trace the journey of the UK’s plant collectors around the world through more than 250 species of plants, trees, meadows and herbs. It will also be a highly accessible Park. The gradients of the paths will be accessible to everyone and views will be maintained of the new venues and landmarks in the surrounding area. ‘Henman Hills’ will be created so visitors to the Park during the Games will be able to watch live action on large screens.

International Inspiration in the swim in Bangladesh

Michelle, London 2012 International Inspiration Communications Officer, Recently I was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to the beautiful country of Bangladesh to visit one of International Inspiration’s most exciting projects, Swim Safe. Bangladesh is a very flood-prone country and it was evident to me even from my short time there that Bangladeshi life revolves around water – from the submerged rice fields to soaking and stripping jute, a reed used to make baskets, rugs and bags (Bangladesh is the largest exporter of this very versatile material) from the banks of rivers and streams. Despite this, many children lack even basic water-safety awareness and every year in Bangladesh around 17,000 children die from drowning. Michelle, London 2012 International Inspiration Communications Officer, The Swim Safe programme recruits and trains Community Swimming Instructors (CSI) to teach children aged four-10 years survival swimming skills. As well as learning to swim and tread water, children learn how to rescue somebody who is drowning and identify life-threatening water hazards like fast-flowing rivers. We visited two ponds in the rural Narsingdi region. While it’s only about 30 miles outside of the bustling capital city of Dhaka, it took us about five hours to reach by road – the traffic in Bangladesh was certainly an experience!

The ponds are made safe using specially designed bamboo structures that cost approximately $100 to make. I was told they were so inexpensive because, as is the case with a lot of things in Bangladesh, they use local materials and labour to construct them. When we visited one of the classes taking place, many people from the community had come to watch the children learn and there was plenty of clapping and encouragement as well. Nargis, a local woman I met in Narsingdi, told me she jumped at the chance to enrol her eight-year-old daughter Anika – who nearly drowned as a younger child – in the Swim Safe programme when it arrived in her village: ‘When Anika was much younger, she fell in the water and was about to die. They took her to the hospital and it’s God’s mercy that she survived, so I did not miss the chance when I was asked if I wanted her to have swimming lessons. ‘She always tells me how much she enjoys swimming and says she can swim faster than anyone else in her class. Now I feel confident that she will not drown – I don’t need to worry about whether she is playing near water.’ Swim Safe’s future One of the main reasons that International Inspiration is so successful is that it works closely with local in-country partners; in Bangladesh it works with the International Drowning Research Centre (IDRC). We had the opportunity to chat to Dr Aminur Rahman, Director of IDRC Bangladesh about the Swim Safe programme, its successes so far and his hopes for its future – you can watch what he said (and enjoy the beautiful Bangladeshi landscape in the background) in this short International Inspiration Swim Safe video Excitingly, Swim Safe isn’t the only project currently underway in Bangladesh and there is plenty more work going on around the country. Girls’ empowerment programmes and youth sport leadership programmes are giving young people confidence and recognition within their communities, while at the same time challenging traditional ideas about gender inclusion. Bangladesh is a beautiful country, bursting with colour and life. International Inspiration’s Swim Safe programme is working to make sure the stunning backdrop of rivers, streams and ponds, that run through the country, can be enjoyed and not feared by its children and communities and remain a source of life and not death.

Joorabchian stands by Tevez Advisor defends City striker in the wake of his reported refusal to play

Carlos Tevez's commitment to any side he turns out for cannot be questioned, according to his advisor Kia Joorabchian.

The Manchester City striker has caused a storm with his recent actions, with his reported refusal to take to the field in a UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich seeing him vilified. Having remained rooted to the bench at the Allianz Arena, Tevez has been hit with a two-week suspension by City as they carry out an internal investigation. The Argentina international, who is currently back in his homeland, has always maintained that he did nothing wrong. In a post-match interview he was said to have told Sky Sports reporters that he 'did not feel right to play', while a statement released in the aftermath of the game claimed there had been a 'misunderstanding'. The full consequences of his actions are yet to be determined, but Joorabchian claims Tevez has not acted out of line after claiming the translation of the questions put to the player in the post-match interview were not accurate. Eager He believes his client is a model professional who never gives anything less than 100 per cent when out on the field and should not be judged until the full facts have come out. "One thing you can't criticise him for is his commitment when he's on the pitch," Joorabchian told the Leaders in Football conference in London. "You can never criticise him for not wanting to play. "There have been several times at Manchester City, throughout his two-year career, that he has taken injections where he has played with swollen ankles, where he has played in situations where even doctors have told him not to play. "My opinion is that Carlos, throughout his career, has been one that fights to play. If there is any issue it is because he is so eager to play. Vision "You have to remember that Carlos joined Manchester City when he had an offer from Real Madrid and Manchester United on the table. Man United gave him an offer, Real Madrid gave him an offer and Manchester City gave him an offer. "He was one of the first players to join Manchester City's new vision. Carlos was brought in to help start that vision, so he feels differently towards the club. He has an intense feeling. "At the end of his first season, when they didn't qualify for the Champions League, he took that as a very personal issue. In his second season his performances were outstanding." Joorabchian believes many people have judged Tevez without knowing the whole story and has called on those that have been quick to condemn him to hold fire until the club have carried out their investigation. He said: "The main issue is, what happened on the bench in Munich is one of a lot of confusion. Although I don't think it's correct for any player to say they don't want to play, I think the events in Munich have been judged prior to the real outcome coming out. We didn't see what really happened on the bench. We saw the TV footage. "We see Nigel de Jong going on and Carlos still warming up and a God-awful row between Roberto Mancini and Edin Dzeko. You see this row carrying on and Carlos sits down. Carlos then stands up, there's more shouting and he sits back down. "The next thing we hear is what Roberto says." Joorabchian also refused to speculate on Tevez's future, saying: "I cannot predict what Carlos wants to do. "He has been clearly judged and condemned before the case has been fully looked into. I think the club and Carlos are in a very difficult position."

Shearer rules out England But Three Lions legend would like to manage in the future

Alan Shearer does not think he has the necessary experience to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss, but he hopes to take the job in the future. The former Three Lions captain has made little secret of his desire to return to management after a short and unsuccessful attempt to save his beloved Newcastle from relegation in 2009. Shearer, along with Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson, has since been linked with the England job, which is set to become vacant when Capello leaves after Euro 2012. But Shearer, who was close to becoming Cardiff boss in the summer and has yet to start his Uefa Pro coaching licence, does not think he is ready for the role. Man-management He said in The Sun: "There are far more experienced candidates than me. "When you see what guys like Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson have done and the experience they have, to put me in the bracket with those guys is not right." Shearer added: "I would love to do it one day, but now would be tough. "I think if you were to ask an experienced Englishman like the guys that I've mentioned I'm sure they would snap your hands off. "Harry would be great because of his man-management. That's hugely important at football clubs but more so with England because you're only getting players for a week, or five weeks at a tournament."

Carlos Tevez behaviour unforgivable, says Francis Lee

Manchester City legend Francis Lee says the behaviour of suspended striker Carlos Tevez is "unforgivable." Tevez allegedly refused to play against Bayern Munich last Tuesday, with the club suspending the Argentine for two weeks pending an investigation. "It was unforgivable," Lee told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek. "I don't know what was going on in his mind. "When you refuse to go on the pitch , there's no way back, it's as cut and dried as that." City manager Roberto Mancini said at the time that he felt Tevez could never play for the club again after claiming the 27-year-old had ignored his orders by failing to come on as a substitute in the Champions League group match. Lee, however, insists that the club needs to take a decisive stance with the player, stating: "If there is an example to be made of people, I think we'll take it. "The club could be doing a lot of football clubs a favour by putting a player in his place. You can't mess this club around because it's so vastly wealthy. "They need to show whoever they sign in the future, whatever their contracts are, that they're not going to be pushed around by temperamental stars."

Ferguson rules out Manchester United move for Campbell

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he will not be signing former England defender Sol Campbell. The 35-year-old centre-half revealed he would be keen on an Old Trafford move having been released from his Notts County contract last week. Ferguson said: "Campbell was a great player. But he is not a player we are thinking about bringing to United." However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has not ruled out a move for Campbell, saying: "You never say never." Campbell, who left the Gunners for Portsmouth in 2006, has been training at Arsenal's training ground in Hertfordshire since leaving County. Wenger added: "I love Sol Campbell and the fact he came back here and wanted to practise with us shows he loves the club as well. "At the moment, we have four centre-backs and we will always have four. "If one would go, then I would consider it, but at the moment we are four, so I have no need to sign anybody else. "Sol can still do a job in the Premier League, especially now he is fit. He has worked very hard." Campbell, capped 73 times by his country, is a free agent and available in the January transfer window having been released from his five-year contract with the League Two side last week. Earlier in the week, the former Tottenham star told ESPN he would "love to play for Manchester United", but without any official contact, added he was "not counting any chickens and just waiting to see what happens". United had 15 players missing - including eight defenders - for Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League win at Wolfsburg and Campbell could have been viewed as an attractive option. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were part of a makeshift three-man defence in Germany and Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic are the only regular defenders who are fit. However, the injury crisis shows some sign of receding with the news that Jonny Evans (calf) could be back in 10 days, while John O'Shea (thigh) may return after Christmas. Ferguson added: "We are having a hard time with centre-backs at this moment in time but I am sure by January most of them will be back." It has been suggested the club are experiencing financial difficulties with Ferguson's lack of transfer activity following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m in the summer. However, the Scottish boss said: "It has been said I do not have the money, but the money is there if I wanted to use it. "I didn't see any value in the summer and I don't see any value at the moment either. I am happy with the players I already have at the club." Campbell only settled his contract dispute with Notts County last Wednesday after the club initially refused to release his registration. He linked up with director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson at Meadow Lane in August but departed less than a month into the deal having played just one game after reportedly becoming disillusioned with the club's rate of progression.

Manchester City suspend Carlos Tevez for up to two weeks

"Manchester City can confirm that striker Carlos Tevez has been suspended until further notice for a maximum period of two weeks. The player's suspension is pending a full review into his alleged conduct during Tuesday evening's 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. The player will not be considered for selection or take part in training whilst the review is under way." City manager Roberto Mancini had wanted to introduce Tevez to the action in the second half at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday but the Argentina international appeared unwilling to go on. "He refused to come on the pitch," said Mancini. "What I said to Carlos is between me, him and the team [but] I am really disappointed because it is Carlos. "If I have my way, he will be out. He's finished with me.

Fantasy Football Factor: Preseason Fantasy First Take

Fantasy Football Factor: Preseason Fantasy First Take

Mike Modano makes retirement official

DALLAS -- As Mike Modano took one last look at his written remarks before going on stage for his retirement news conference Friday afternoon at the Ritz-Carlton, he knew he was going to have trouble holding back tears.Modano sat on stage by himself as Stars play-by-play announcer Ralph Strangis read off a litany of impressive numbers. Then a video played, including footage from Modano's early years and an interview following his selection by the Minnesota North Stars as the top overall pick in the 1988 draft as a teenager -- an interview that included a lot of "you knows" that made Modano chuckle. But there he was, sweater swaying as he skated around players as if they were standing still. So many goals, so many assists, so many memorable moments.The video showed him holding the Stanley Cup aloft, talking with former coach Ken Hitchcock and, of course, wiping tears away after his final home game in April 2010. Back when Modano was that teenager still getting used to doing interviews, the idea of a news conference like the one he held Friday was completely foreign. At that time, Modano figured retirement would never come. Veteran players told Modano to enjoy the ride more. "They told me it would be over soon," Modano said. "I said, 'You're 35 and old and out of the game soon so why would I listen to you?' They were right." Then came all of the thank-yous. Modano, now 41, struggled to even get the words out. He thanked players, coaches, front-office folks and fans in Minnesota, Dallas and Detroit.

As he did so, many members of the current Stars were sitting in the front row, and many of his former teammates, too. His mom, Karen, and dad, Mike Sr., watched as well. Then, when Modano started to thank them, Karen couldn't stay in her seat any longer. "I had to go up there," Karen said.She went on stage and gave Modano a hug as he thanked her for all of the early-morning rides to the rink when he was a kid living in Livonia, Mich. "Go sit down," said Modano, showing a hint of that teenager who couldn't wait to leave home and play hockey in Canada as a 16-year-old. Modano's dad came up, too. They embraced. It left those in attendance weepy-eyed, too. "Thanks for your love and support," Modano said to his parents. "Thanks for the sacrifices you made to give me a life in hockey." Modano showed appreciation for the Stars fans, who supported him through a 21-season career. He finished the news conference by following his parents off stage. "I couldn't draw up a better ending than being here in Dallas where home is," Modano said.He retires as the NHL's all-time leading scorer among American-born players in goals (561) and points (1,374). He played last season with the Detroit Red Wings, but Friday, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas so he could retire a Star. He posed for pictures. He also received plenty of hugs and well-wishes from teammates. "I'm thankful for all of this, but I'm sad it's over," Modano said. "I think you think you can play forever. It's obvious that physically things don't match up anymore."

Malinga seals Mumbai win over Chennai....

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings in the Champions Twenty20 League thanks to a match-winning innings by Lasith Malinga.

The Sri Lankan fast bowler proved more than useful with the bat as he scored 37 from 18 balls at the death to see off the defending champions by three wickets. Chennai batted first and raced to an impressive 157-4 from their 20 overs, aided by 81 from opening batsman Michael Hussey. But it was not enough, as Malinga and Harbhajan Singh fought back with an unbeaten last-wicket stand of 53 to squeeze past the target with one ball remaining. Hussey put Chennai in control after they won the toss and decided to bat, hitting three sixes and eight fours in his confident innings before his wicket fell with the score on 144. Suresh Raina went for 18 from 17 balls, stumped off the bowling of Kieron Pollard, before new batsman Subramaniam Badrinath survived a run-out attempt when he had scored three, after replays showed he grounded his bat just in time. Chennai kept the scoreboard racing at more than seven runs an over, and even when Badrinath fell to the bowling of Abu Nechim, MS Dhoni came to the crease and scored a quickfire 22 not out from 13 balls. Stalled Mumbai started the chase with Davy Jacobs and Aiden Blizzard but lost quick wickets which stopped them from building early momentum. Jacobs was stumped by Dhoni off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin for 19 before Blizzard fell two overs later, clean bowled by Raina for 28. Mumbai lost Ambati Rayudu and Tirumalasetti Suman for just nine runs, bringing all-rounder Pollard to the crease to join Andrew Symonds with the score at 59-4. The partnership did not last long, as Symonds fell to the bowling of Dwayne Bravo for three to leave Mumbai's tail tantalisingly close for the Chennai attack. Big-hitting Pollard looked to rescue the innings but he fell for 22 from 19 balls. However, two consecutive sixes by Malinga left Mumbai wanting 25 from the final two overs, and along with Harbhajan, who reached 19 from 20 balls, he guided Mumbai to the win with one ball to spare

Michael Owen open to England recall

Ferguson believes striker could do a job for Capello...

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has accepted he is not part of Fabio Capello's England plans but insists he will never turn his back on his country The former Liverpool striker quickly fell out of favour when Capello took over as national team boss in 2008, with injuries also undermining his chances of a recall. But 31-year-old Owen - who has 89 caps and 40 goals - still shows his class when opportunities arise and scored in United's midweek Carling Cup win at Leeds. And he admits he would seize his chance should Capello change his mind. Owen told The Observer: "I was in every squad for over a decade and all of a sudden it stopped one day. "I would never turn my back on it, but obviously there's a scar there that still hurts a bit. But I don't get upset now when I'm not in the squad, like I used to. "If I got a call-up I'd be there within five minutes. "Fabio Capello picked his first squad and I was on the bench. I thought: 'This might be a sign that he doesn't fancy me.' The next time I wasn't in the squad, and that's just been that." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Owen would bring something different to the national team in terms of natural goalscoring ability. Gift "If you need a goal out of nothing there's no one better in the game. England don't have anyone like that," said Ferguson in the Daily Star Sunday. "He's got it, there's no doubt about that. Let's be honest, Michael has that little gift that he can appear in the box from nowhere. "He hasn't got that blinding pace of a younger person but then you always lose pace. Michael hasn't got that natural balance which Ryan Giggs has got either. But his positional sense is brilliant. "So is his awareness around the box. He makes runs at the right time, getting across defenders at the right time. He turns really well, too. He's just got that gift." Owen has had limited opportunities to impress at United this season but came on to play alongside Dimitar Berbatov in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke after Javier Hernandez limped off injured, with Wayne Rooney missing the match because of a hamstring problem. Ferguson added: "It's not easy keeping Michael happy in terms of games. But I'm very happy with him. "He's just the same as Berbatov, a bit unlucky at the moment because what do you do when you have got players like Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck? "Although I must say Owen is getting to the point when you say to yourself, 'I really need to think about him more.. curtesy..sky sports..

Graeme Swann enjoyed the perfect start to his England captaincy career as his young side thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets at the Oval.

Ravi Bopara claimed 4-10 - the best ever Twenty20 bowling figures by an Englishman - as the hosts bowled out their opponents for 125 on a pleasant September evening in the capital. Johnson Charles (36) and Dwayne Smith (33) did well for the West Indies at the top of the order but then only Danza Hyatt - who made 28 - managed to reach double figures after the openers had departed. Their total was soon put into perspective as Alex Hales (62 not out) and Craig Kieswetter (58no) shared a record unbroken partnership to carry England to a comprehensive victory with 28 balls to spare.

The Secret Footballer: No shame in being naked before the chairman

.

There was a time when the media were guaranteed a soundbite from a football club owner even when a club was on a downward spiral. Those days, however, are long gone. We have no idea what Roman Abramovich thinks of Fernando Torres, are completely in the dark when it comes to Malcolm Glazer's long-term plans for Manchester United and, much to the Arsenal supporters' frustration, know nothing about what Stan Kroenke makes of Arsenal's worst start to a season in more than half a century. The reality, of course, is that club ownership is a very different affair from what it was 20 years ago. Since the Premier League began, the local millionaire businessman has been relieved of the responsibility of keeping his hobby afloat by some of the richest individuals and private equity firms on the planet and, in most cases, not because of a shared passion for the club. The new money pouring in has transformed the football landscape in this country; there are new stadiums, state-of-the-art training grounds and a fair share of the world's finest players because of the huge wages on offer (the rest of us have done all right out of it as well). Yet the relentless swagger of progress has left behind plenty of casualties; higher ticket prices, a depleted national team and insolvent clubs to name but three. Delve deeper and somewhere beneath the ashes of a sheepskin coat and an old Rolls Royce are the remains of a forgotten chairman with local ties who knew the importance of communicating with supporters and was willing to speak his mind. In recent years, the protests at Old Trafford and Liverpool have highlighted the importance of club ownership among supporters. At Stamford Bridge, Abramovich's takeover of Chelsea is often derided as nothing more than a rich man's "plaything", yet it is undeniable that the Russian's billions have delivered huge success. The only question is, what happens if he gets bored with it? A chairman whose club I played for years ago loved showing off "his" club to friends. We'd be in the changing room before a big game and there'd be famous people wandering around, drink in hand, talking to you about whatever they wanted. It annoyed many of the lads that were trying to go through their pre-match routine and so a team-mate suggested to me that we should always try to greet any friend of the chairman completely naked, as if they'd caught us in the middle of getting changed. And that's exactly what we did. Together we have shaken hands with some of the most famous people wearing nothing more than a smile. My friend, being more confident than me, would take their hand and keep shaking it, tightening his grip and talking to them until the embarrassment became excruciating and the victims' host would have to come to the rescue. For some reason though, he kept bringing them in. If in doubt, show them your "plaything", I guess. We knew we could get away with our behaviour by dressing it up as an occupational hazard. It was harmless fun and, generally, nobody would dream of directly insulting the chairman, no matter how much they wanted to. What is true for a player at any club is that if the chairman or owner takes the time to chat, you must listen as if what he is about to say is the most important thing anybody will ever say to you. And when he is finished acknowledge him with: "Thank you, Mr Chairman." If, like me, you find the wealth of these people fascinating, you'll be disappointed to hear that on the many occasions that I, and others, have tried to enter into a conversation with them about money or materialistic pleasures or even social debate, it is like the bulletproof glass coming down at the bank as the place is held up by armed robbers. Their answers become distant, sheepish and curt. I have never asked anything as crude as: "How much money do you have?" And I never would. But I have always found it a pity that for everything these men have done in their lives, the most personal conversation I have had with any one of them was about a great restaurant our chairman was recommending to me. He finished the conversation abruptly when I asked what he had ordered; I had only inquired to show I wasn't a complete idiot when it came to knowing the difference between foie gras and a filet mignon. Today, fans tend to get even less from the man at the top. The Premier League has evolved and noticeable divisions within it are clearer than ever. In line with these changes are the revised ambitions of thousands of supporters who share an acceptance that not every club is able to compete in terms of wages, transfer fees and trophies. The least those fans are entitled to expect of their owner, though, is that they will respect the club and its traditions and run it responsibly so there will always be a team to support. Players, on the other hand, wouldn't care if the only time they came into contact with the owner was while signing a new deal. Just prior to my first "big" game as a professional, our chairman marched in to the changing room prior to kick‑off to bark out his battle cry. This being something of a first, our manager took exception and, lifting the chairman up by the scruff of the neck, pausing only to ask our goalkeeper if he'd kindly open the door, threw him out into the corridor. He turned back to us with a straight face and said: "Fucking tight arse." I'm not sure if that's an affectionate term only used between managers and chairmen but there is nothing to make you try harder than when someone subliminally lets you know that your replacement is being sought. If Kroenke chose to break his silence, he would probably tell you that too curtesy..gurdian..

Team gelled well in Zimbabwe - Waqar

Pakistan had gelled well as a unit on their successful tour of Zimbabwe, outgoing coach Waqar Younis has said. Pakistan had played one Test, three ODIs and two Twenty20s during the recently concluded tour, with a 100% win record. "I think there is no need to say much as results speak for themselves," Waqar told AFP after the team returned to Pakistan. "We won all the matches on the tour and the players gelled well to give this good performance." He was pleased with his stint as coach, he said. "I am happy and a satisfied man and have learnt a lot during this tenure." Waqar had announced before the tour of Zimbabwe that he would be stepping down for personal reasons after 18 months as coach. He will now head to Australia, where his family resides, to undergo treatment on his liver. Waqar took over as coach of the national side in March 2010, in the aftermath of a dismal tour of Australia on which Pakistan failed to win a game. He replaced Intikhab Alam and his stint coincided with a turbulent phase for Pakistan cricket. The spot-fixing controversy erupted during the 2010 tour of England and the wicketkeeper, Zulqarnain Haider, fled to London while Pakistan was involved in a series against South Africa in the UAE later in the year. On the field though, Pakistan enjoyed a successful tour of New Zealand under Waqar, prior to the 2011 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. They also beat West Indies 3-2 in an ODI series in the Caribbean, but the tour was marred by his differences with then limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi over discipline. Current captain Misbah-ul-Haq said he was "on the same frequency" as Waqar whenever the two worked together. "He [Waqar] did very well and during his stints we, as a team, progressed well," Misbah said. "I hope that the experience gained during the [Zimbabwe] tour will serve us well during the upcoming series against Sri Lanka." Pakistan play three Tests, five ODIs and a lone Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in the UAE between October 18 and November 25.

Sri Lanka have dropped Thilan Samaraweera from their squad for the Test series against Pakistan.

Samaraweera, a 68-Test veteran, was omitted for the final match of the recent series with Australia after scoring just 86 runs in four innings earlier in the series.

"Thilan will not come into the reckoning in our long-term plans," said chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis.

"We intend giving youngsters an opportunity while the seniors are around. He might be considered on a short-term basis."

The selectors are persisting with young batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, who opened the batting against Australia in the final Test in Colombo.

Sri Lanka play Pakistan in a three Test matches, starting on October 18 in the United Arab Emirates.

The 16-man squad includes uncapped batsman Dinesh Chandimal, wicketkeeper-batsman Kaushal Silva and seam bowler Nuwan Pradeep.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Prasanna Jayawardene (wkt), Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Kaushal Silva

Steven Gerrard is targeting a return to Premier League action against Wolves this weekend after returning to action in the Carling Cup.

The Liverpool skipper played out the final 15 minutes of Liverpool's 2-1 win at Brighton on Wednesday night, his first appearance in six months following a groin injury.

Gerrard is remaining level-headed as Kenny Dalglish prepares to ease him back into regular first-team football, with the 31-year-old hoping to make the bench for the visit of Mick McCarthy's Wolves to Anfield this weekend.

"It's nice to come through the first test and now I'll train tomorrow and hopefully I'll be selected in the first 18 against Wolves and get some game time," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"If we were two or three up at half-time, I might have got a few more minutes but it wasn't about me, it was about progressing to the next round of the cup and getting that Tottenham performance out of our systems.

"I think we've done that tonight."

Leeds 0 - 3 Man Utd

Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs celebrate Goalscorers Owen and Giggs (right) rolled back the years at Elland Road

Michael Owen marked his first action of the season with a brace as Manchester United sauntered into the Carling Cup fourth round at the expense of Leeds.

The visitors, despite sporting 11 changes to the side that beat Chelsea at the weekend, were excellent.

Owen opened the scoring with a scuffed shot after good work by Dimitar Berbatov before lashing in a second.

Ryan Giggs made it 3-0 with a fine run and shot before half-time and that was enough to secure their progress.

It continues Manchester United's remarkable start to the season, the result at Elland Road making it seven victories and a draw from their eight matches so far this campaign, including the Community Shield.

And the nature of the win was all the more impressive given Sir Alex Ferguson reshuffled his entire team - not that the changes affected their rhythm at all.

A makeshift defence marshalled by Michael Carrick and young debutant Ezekiel Fryers was assured, a midfield flanked by Federico Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf full of running and an attack led by Owen and Berbatov a constant threat.

The outcome might have been different had Leeds converted a fine chance early on, when Berbatov cleared off the line twice in quick succession - first from Tom Lees's header from a corner and then from Ross McCormack's follow-up.

But as it was that was the closest Leeds came to causing an upset.

Owen was their tormentor-in-chief, scuffing a left-foot shot home to open the scoring from Park Ji-sung's pass after Berbatov's sublime through-ball and then drilling a beauty into the top corner from just inside the area to make it 2-0.
DID YOU KNOW?
Continue reading the main story

Michael Owen has now scored 18 goals in 19 League Cup starts for Liverpool, Newcastle and Man Utd.

Regarded by some as a nuisance, the Carling Cup must rank as one of Owen's favourite competitions - that brace representing his fifth and sixth goals in six Carling Cup games under Ferguson.

Leeds continued to battle gamely - with Adam Clayton particularly impressive in midfield for the hosts.

The boys in red always looked likely to cause problems, however, and Giggs continued the "valuable veterans" theme before half-time with an excellent goal, surging in from the left, nutmegging Robert Snodgrass and firing a rising finish past home keeper Andy Lonergan.

As a result the second half was far less competitive than the first, with Manchester United happy to sit on their lead and Leeds less keen to mix it up with Friday's league encounter against Brighton surely weighing heavily on their minds.

Owen remained a threat, chipping narrowly wide just before the hour mark and then having a goalbound shot from substitute Danny Welbeck's cross deflected wide.

However, the latter stages of the match were more memorable for the debuts given to Paul Pogba and Larnell Cole, and the centre-half pairing that finished the match for the visitors - Carrick paired with Berbatov after Fryers' exit through injury left them with 10 men for the final 10 minutes.

there ar some interesting video,pic & blog...