Shoaib Malik hopes cricket can ease Indo-Pak tension

LAHORE: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik on Tuesday called for India's tour of his country to go ahead, saying "cricket diplomacy" would ease tensions between the rival neighbours.

The captain made his remarks amid reports that India will cancel its upcoming Pakistani tour after accusations that the terrorists that killed 188 people in Mumbai came from Pakistan.

"If we play cricket matches then the people of both the countries will have a chance to divert their attention and the situation will definitely improve. Cricket diplomacy has helped in the past as well in the same manner," Malik told reporters.

India is due to play a side game, three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on in the January-February tour of Pakistan next year.

Before the attacks, India's Board of Control for Cricket was awaiting security clearance from its government to go on the tour. As tensions grow between the two countries after the Mumbai attacks, reports have emerged in the Indian media that the matches will be cancelled.

Malik said cricket was the sub-continent's biggest passion and listed past examples of how the sport has brought India and Pakistan closer.

Pakistan's military ruler General Ziaul Haq used cricket as a tool of diplomacy by visiting India in the middle of the Pakistan cricket team's 1987 tour there. Pakistan also toured India in 1999 despite death threats from Indian Sikh extremists. Malik said he hoped England's team would return to India to play Test matches, which were abandoned after the Mumbai attacks.

"If England agrees to tour India for Tests, it would be a very good decision because cricket must go on," Malik said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has said it will wait for a security report before sending its team back for the two-match series.

Malik said his team must play some matches soon.

"We badly need cricket because we have not played a single Test this year and are anxiously waiting for the India series," said Malik.

Australia's refusal to tour Pakistan earlier this year due to fears over possible militant attacks left Pakistan without a Test during the whole of last year. If India refuses to tour, Pakistan's next Test will be in Sri Lanka in July 2009. - AFP

WC 2011 to stay on sub-continent: Salim Altaf

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board Chief operating officer Salim Altaf has refuted suggestions that the 2011 World Cup could be switched away from the subcontinent following the Mumbai terror attacks. Reports suggested that the ICC were also preparing a standby venue for the 2011 World Cup, but the PCB have now come out to dismiss those claims.

"The reports are only speculative and the world cup will remain on the sub-continent," Saleem said. "The ICC has given us a deadline to complete certain tasks. As far as the joint World Cup Organising Committee is concerned we are on schedule with those tasks.

"We have not received any intimation from the ICC regarding a change of venue and as far as we are concerned there is no change in venue," added Salim. He further said that he would raise the issue in the ICC meeting next week in Cape Town, South Africa. 

The one-day tournament is scheduled to be co-hosted by Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but security concerns are thought to have been raised by Cricket Australia following the unrest in the region.

Earlier this year the Australians pulled out of a tour to Pakistan over safety fears, while the Champions Trophy - due to be held in Pakistan next September - has been postponed for 13 months with the International Cricket Council ready to move the tournament should security remain an issue. - PPI

Ronaldo hailed as United’s best ever

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo has been hailed by Sir Bobby Charlton as the best player in Manchester United’s history after the brilliant Portuguese winger captured the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo is the first United star to win the coveted award since the late George Best in 1968 and Charlton, who himself was voted European player of the year in 1966, believes that Ronaldo can justifiably claim to be even better than his late former team-mate.

“It was paradise watching George play, just as it is now with Ronaldo,” Charlton told the Daily Mirror. “The difference is that Ronaldo is stronger and faster.”

Ronaldo was the overwhelming choice of the panel of journalists which allocates the Ballon d’Or, largely on the strength of the 42 goals he scored last season to lead United to a Premier League and Champions League double.

One of the panel, the Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter, said he had had no hesitation in awarding top marks to a player who “enriched so many games, scored so many goals and made so many children fall in love with football,” despite reservations about the player’s propensity for diving and dissent.

“Ronaldo is special,” Winter wrote.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo’s boss at Manchester United, believes too much is made of the supposed flaws in his star player’s character and insufficient allowance made for the often brutal treatment he receives at the hands of opponents.

“We’re all delighted that Cristiano is going to be honoured,” the Scot said. “He deserves it. For any winger to score 42 goals in a season is remarkable, but to do it in the Premier League is even more phenomenal.”

Elsewhere, admiration for the 23-year-old’s achievements on the pitch was tempered by criticism of what is seen as a conceited and petulant nature.

That was reflected in a commentary by leading English sports writer James Lawton in the Independent newspaper.

Refuting suggestions that Ronaldo belonged in the same company as greats such as Pele or Johan Cruyff, Lawton described the Portuguese international as “a magnificently equipped footballer starved at times of even a modicum of grace.” - AFP

FIH postpones appointments of committees

Karachi: International Hockey Federation (FIH) has postponed the appointments of various committees until the next board meeting in February.

The newly elected President of FIH Leandro Negre announced that the existing committees therefore continue to operate as usual until then.

During the FIH Executive Board meeting in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday, Executive Board announced venues and dates of various FIH world level scheduled events.

The Executive Board has awarded the following tournaments. The BDO Men's Champions Challenge I 2009 is allocated to Quilmes, Argentina from 6-13 December 2009. While, BDO Women's Champions Challenge I 2009 is allocated to Cape Town, South Africa from 1-8 November 2009. The Men's Champions Challenge II 2009/2010 is allocated to Dublin, Ireland from 5-11 July 2009. The Women's Champions Challenge II 2009/2010 is allocated to Kazan, Russia from 21-27 June 2009.

The Men's World Cup Qualifier (3 tournaments) 2009/2010 are allocated to Auckland, New Zealand from 7-15 November 2009 and to Lille (France) from 24 October- 1 November 2009. The allocation of the third one is subject to receiving bid details from Malaysia.

The Women's World Cup Qualifier (3 tournaments) 2009/2010 are allocated to Santiago, Chile from 20-28 February 2010 and to Seville, Spain from 06-14 February 2010. The third one will be announced at a later stage.

The ABN AMRO Men's Champions Trophy 2010 is allocated to Mnchengladbach, Germany at dates to be confirmed subject to receiving a formal bid from Germany.

The Indoor World Cup 2011 Men and Women is allocated to Poznan, Poland from 08-13 February 2011. - PPI

3rd National Women Judo C’ship on 26th

PESHAWAR:  The 3rd edition of the Anti-Narcotic National Women Judo Championship will be commencing from December 26 at Jinnah  Sports Complex.

This was stated by the Secretary of the Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) Masood Ahmad in a meeting of the organising committee.

He said that the President of the Federation Col. Rana Shujat Ali has already announced cash incentives for the women players along with the medals who would show better result in the National event in order to encourage them.

The final and prize distribution ceremony of the Championship will be held on December 28 at 3.00 p.m. He said that almost 70 players from top eight teams of the country will be taking part in the Championship.

The Championship will be fought in the following categories like 40kg, 44kg, 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg, 70kg and open weight category.

Female judo players from Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Wapda, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Police and teams from all the four provinces.

After the Championship a national camp would be set up for those who perform well and later on, the final squad would be named for the international event.

He said soon after the Championship an Inter-Department Tournament will be organised in January in which players will also be short-listed for the said camp.

Masood Ahmad said that Dr. Salamat Ali Jaffar has been nominated as the Organising Secretary for the Championship who would look after the players. - APP

Lahore Board win Pakistan Boards Basketball title

PESHAWAR: Lahore Board grabbed the title of the All-Pakistan Inter-Board Basketball Championship after defeating Abbottabad board in the final played at City Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Secretary Abbottabad Board Zar Wali Khan was the chief guest on this occasion. Before the start of the match the players were introduced to him.

The players of Lahore Board were outstanding against host Abbottabad  board in the final and did not give much chance to them to strike back. Abbottabad Board through out the Championship gave tremendous performances against other teams but in the final its players did not click and thus lost the grand final.

Lahore Board was leading the first quarter by 22-13 and kept its lead in the second, third and fourth quarters. The score of the second, third and fourth quarters were 39-31, 64-46 and 83-67.

For Lahore board Umer Ayub (24), Saqib (14) Hasan Ahmad (14), Ali Raza (7) were the prominent contributors in individual capacity while for Bannu board Bilal (26), javed and Iqbal Khan (10) points each and Hassan scored 8 points.

In the match for the third position Bannu Board defeated Peshawar board by 65-55 points to grab the third position. The score was of the first, second, third and fourth quarters were 14-7, 39-28, 53-43 and 65-55 in favour of Bannu board. For Bannu Board Ali (22), Imran (18), Abdul Nasir (9) were the high points contributors while for Peshawar Shoaib Khan (21), Atta Ullah Jan (16). All 11 board teams took part in the Championship organised by the Abbottabad Boards.

At the end, the chief guest Zar Wali Khan and Controller of Examination Jandad Khan gave away the trophies and shield to the players and officials. Director Sports Abbottabad Board Sardar Shakeel and large number of spectators were also present. – APP