Sports

Moscow, February 03: Former world number one Maria Sharapova, who is still looking to rediscover her best form after shoulder surgery, is excited at the prospect of competing at next year’s London Olympics.

“The Olympics is my biggest goal in tennis and my dream is to represent Russia in London,” Sharapova told reporters.

The US-based Russian missed the 2008 Beijing Games due to a shoulder injury.

Sharapova, 23, is in Moscow for this weekend’s Fed Cup first-round tie against France, making her eligible to compete for Russia in London.

London, February 03: Gary Neville called an end to a glittering career of devoted service to his beloved Manchester United and England by announcing his immediate retirement.

The 35-year-old right back spent 20 years at United, playing over 600 matches for the Old Trafford club and helping them win a raft of trophies including the Champions League and eight Premier League titles.

“I have been a Manchester United fan all my life and fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had,” Neville said in a statement on the club website.

New Delhi, February 03: On Tuesday ,at a promotional event here ,Dhoni said “Pressure is part of Indian cricket”.The India captain was named brand ambassador by Sony Bravia, the on-air broadcast sponsor of ESPN-STAR Sports that will provide live high-definition (HD) feed for the ICC World Cup from February 19 to April 2.

Dubai, February 02: England’s Steve Davis and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena will be the on-field umpires during the inaugural match of the ICC Cricket World Cup between India and Bangladesh to be played in Mirpur on February 19.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today named the umpires and match referees appointed for the warm-up and group stage matches for the February 19 to April 2 event to be jointly held by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

New Delhi, February 02: As Sachin Tendulkar gears up to play probably his last World Cup, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian cricket team is desparate to make it a special one for him by gifting the champion batsman the trophy which has eluded the side for 28 years.

In his two-decade long illustrious career, during which he has featured in five World Cups since 1992, Tendulkar has virtually every batting record under his belt but a world title is the only trophy which is missing from his cupboard.

New Delhi, February 02: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wednesday defended the inclusion of Piyush Chawla in the World Cup squad saying the leg-spinner’s experience of playing consistently in the domestic circuit would help the team in the tournament.

Chawla, 22, was one of the surprise inclusions in the 15-member squad as he had been out of the team for two-and-a-half years. Selectors reasoned that besides two off-spinners Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, Chawla would provide a variation to the spin attack.

Bangalore, February 02: India’s injury woes continued with medium pacer, Praveen Kumar facing fitness problems ahead of the all important World Cup. India will start their campaign against Bangladesh in the tournament opener on February 19th.

According to sources, Kumar is likely to be fit for the World Cup. The right armer had sustained an elbow injury during just-concluded ODI series against South Africa. he returned home from without playing a single game.

sNairobi, February 02: When Eldine Baptiste was appointed Kenya coach in September 2009, he pledged to reverse declining standards and return the country to the top of the ICC Associate pile.

Baptiste had the right credentials after many years playing for the West Indies and coaching South African regional sides, Eastern Province and Kwa Zulu, Natal.

Kenyan cricket has been plagued by internal squabbles between the national governing board and players, which resulted in the country slipping to 13th spot in the ODI rankings, after being at the top for nearly a decade.

Sydney, February 02: England won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the sixth one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Australia already have an unbeatable 4-1 lead in the seven-match series.

Both sides were forced to make changes for the match, with England recalling spinner Michael Yardy to replace injured paceman Ajmal Shazad, who has been sent home with a hamstring strain.

Australia promoted Callum Ferguson for the injured Shaun Marsh, also sidelined with a hamstring problem, while paceman Shaun Tait returns at the expense of Doug Bollinger.

New Delhi, February 02: Former Test opener Aakash Chopra feels India have a great chance of lifting the Cricket World Cup for the second time during the forthcoming mega-event, starting from February 19 to be played in the sub-continent.

“I am an optimist and I believe India have the potential to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011,” said Chopra on the sidelines of a book release `The IPL story: Cricket, Glamour and Big Money` penned by Abhishek Dubey, here today.

The batsman, however, said that the entire team and not just particular individuals will make the difference.

New Delhi, February 02: ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat believes the cricket World Cup will dismiss fears of the demise of the 50-over format of the game and prove that all three formats can co-exist.

“I think the talk of poor interest in 50-over cricket is overstated. I firmly believe that all three forms of the game (Test, ODI and T20I) will co-exist and in fact thrive at the international level,” Lorgat said.

Napier, February 02: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has issued a scathing critique of his side’s top order, describing their performance as “unacceptable” in their latest defeat by Pakistan.

Pakistan lead the six-match series 2-1, with one game washed out, after winning the third encounter by two wickets with an over to spare on Tuesday.

In a series being used to fine-tune for the World Cup, New Zealand have gone downhill since romping to a nine-wicket win in the first game, and the second was washed out.

London, February 02: South Africa bowler Wayne Parnell has agreed to join English county Sussex for the second half of next season.

Parnell will take over from Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan as the county’s overseas player from June, pending approval from Cricket South Africa.

The 21-year-old left-arm seamer has represented South Africa in all three formats of the game and played in England for Kent in 2009.

Parnell, who is in the South Africa squad for the forthcoming World Cup, said: “I’m very excited about the prospect of playing for Sussex.

Melbourne, February 02: Cricket Australia is not too concerned about the boos Michael Clarke got during an one-dayer against England and has backed the embattled skipper to reclaim the fan-base with solid batting performances.

Dismissing the booing fans at the Gabba one-dayer against England as a “small minority”, CA said they would be back to supporting the batsman once he gets back in form, signs of which he showed during his knock of 54 in the match that Australia won by 51 runs on Sunday.

Mumbai, February 01: Weighed down by the pressure of expectations four years ago, the Indian squad crashed out of the World Cup at the preliminary stage itself but current captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is confident his team would handle the burden better in the upcoming mega-event.

“We take pressure as an added responsibility. We will stick to the basics and prepare well. We have the potential to do well in the tournament. For a change we will not be the underdogs,” said Dhoni at a promotional event here.

Sydney, February 01: Cameron White hopes there will be no repeat of the booing which greeted Michael Clarke’s entry to the crease in Brisbane as the Australia stand-in captain continues his battle for form. Clarke responded with 54 at the Gabba, by which time the crowd were showing support and they cheered again when Australia wrapped up the series.

Mumbai, February 01: Weighed down by the pressure of expectations four years ago, the Indian squad crashed out of the World Cup at the preliminary stage itself but current captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is confident his team would handle the burden better in the upcoming mega-event.

“We take pressure as an added responsibility. We will stick to the basics and prepare well. We have the potential to do well in the tournament. For a change, we will not be the underdogs,” said Dhoni at a promotional event here.

New Delhi, February 01: Himself a game changer who pioneered the controversial switch-hit, England batsman Kevin Pietersen feels destructive Indian opener Virender Sehwag and West Indian Chris Gayle are the other two batsmen capable of turning a match on its head.

“There are a few players I admire as game changers today. Virender Sehwag is one of them, he opens the batting and you know as an opposing player that within 10-15 overs of a Test match or 10-15 overs of a one-day international, the man can change the game,” Pietersen said.

Napier, February 01: Misbah-ul-haq overcame the loss of late wickets to keep his cool and guide Pakistan to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in their fourth one-day international match in Napier on Tuesday.

Misbah, who has anchored Pakistan’s batting throughout the tour of New Zealand, proved once again a thorn in the side of Daniel Vettori’s team, scoring 93 not out as Pakistan finished on 264 for eight in 49 overs having chased down the host’s 262 for seven.

New Delhi, February 01: Batting would be India’s strength in the upcoming World Cup but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wretched luck with the toss will also have to turn for the better if India are to break a 28-year-old jinx at the mega-event, feels 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev.

Sydney, February 01: Batsman Callum Ferguson has been rushed into Australia’s squad for their final two one-day internationals against England as cover for the injured Shaun Marsh, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.

Marsh injured his right hamstring in the 51-run victory in Brisbane on Sunday that gave Australia an unassailable 4-1 lead in the best of seven series.

Karachi, February 01: Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas feels that players representing the country in the upcoming World Cup will have to play out of their skins if they are to reach the last four stage of the showpiece event.

“Given the problems and issues Pakistan cricket has faced in the last one year and also the fact that we have lost three of our top players, it is difficult to see Pakistan among the top four in this World Cup,” Zaheer told reporters here Monday.

New Delhi, February 01: If being inspiring is a measure of leadership skills then Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is comparable only to charismatic American President Barack Obama, feels all-rounder Praveen Kumar.

“He is the Obama of cricket,” was Praveen’s reply when asked what makes Dhoni a special captain.

Lauded for being cool and composed in trying match situations, throwing his weight behind players he believes in and for trying the unconventional, Dhoni’s leadership has rarely been criticised since he took over in 2007.

New Delhi, February 01: Sachin Tendulkar has been winning matches for India with his amazing batting exploits for more than two decades, and it’s time his team clinched the World Cup for him.

Tendulkar, who turns 38 in April, makes his sixth and probably the last appearance in the showpiece event with one notable omission from his eye-catching CV — a World Cup.

The ‘Little Genius’ may have amassed a record 17,629 runs in 444 one-dayers with 46 centuries — the highest by any batsman — but will be pleased more if the team win the Cup in front of his home crowd in Mumbai on April 2.

Dhaka, February 01: Bangladesh has ordered electricity companies to show World Cup cricket matches on generator-powered public screens in a bid to prevent protests by irate fans if power cuts disrupt TV broadcasts.

Cricket-mad Bangladesh is a co-host of the World Cup, which starts February 19, and Dhaka is keen to prevent a repeat of the unrest during the 2010 football World Cup when fans rioted after power cuts interrupted viewing.