Lahore—Three former Pakistan captains - Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik - along with fast bowlers Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Akhtar have been excluded from the list of those handed central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Younis, Yousuf, Malik and Rana were not considered after the PCB banned them - two indefinitely and two for a year - last week in the aftermath of the Australia tour. Shoaib has not played for Pakistan in any format since May last year.
Indian Wells—Defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (4) Thursday night to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in his first tournament since returning from a six-week injury layoff.
Nadal used every inch of the court in beating Berdych for the sixth consecutive time. He mixed topspin with power off the forehand side, slipped in drop shots, and painted the corners with smashes.
“I’m playing a big forehand from baseline and going inside the court, being more aggressive,” he said.
Nadal won the final three points of the tiebreaker that ended with Berdych netting a backhand. The Spaniard leaped for joy, trading the snarl he wore through most of the match for a smile.
Peshawar—President NWFP Olympic Association Syed Aqil Shah Friday announced holding of Sarhad Games from April 1-30 in all disciplines of both men and women.
The decision in this connection was taken in a meeting with Syed Aqil Shah, who is also NWFP Minister for Sports, in the chair. Secretaries of all 32 affiliated associations with NWFP Olympic Association attended the meeting.
“I apologies to all of you over postponement of 31st National Games for the second time,” Aqil Shah said during his speech in the meeting. The law and order situation, he said, is similar to else where in the country, he said. A big hurdle of postponement of the Games was due to silent response of Sindh and much hurdler from Balochistan witnessed during the POA meeting held on March 16 at Lahore. He said Punjab OA supported us as they are favour of holding the games on its schedule.
Nyon (Switzerland)—Arsenal will face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2006 final won by the Spanish giants.
Manchester United, beaten by Barcelona in last year’s final, face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan are up against CSKA Moscow and Lyon were pitted against fellow French side Bordeaux in the draw made here Friday.
The first legs are scheduled for March 30/31 with the second legs on April 6/7.
The semi-final draw was also held, with the winner of the United and Bayern tie meeting Lyon or Bordeaux, and Inter or CSKA playing Arsenal or Barca.
Wellington—Michael Clarke has had to display a lot of patience over the past fortnight and he applied an unflappable, measured approach as his century steered Australia into a strong position. Clarke showed no lasting effects from the break-up of his engagement, which forced him home to Sydney last week, as he paced his innings perfectly.
His timing was so good he brought up his hundred in the last over of the day as he swung his side to 316 for 4. Clarke entered with Australia at a sticky 115 for 3 and locked down with Simon Katich, whose responsible 79 was also crucial against a disciplined local attack.
