TTFF News - Queen's Park after Avery John

Queen’s Park likely to sign Avery

 

December 29, 2006

 

Trinidad and Tobago defender Avery John is set to become this country’s latest defender to join the English professional scene.

 

John, of American Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, has been targeted by Queen’s Park Rangers and according toe club manager John Gregory, will be signed on January 2 just as the transfer window opens.

 

John had been on trial at Leeds United but was unsuccessful. However soon after Queen’s Park took note of him. Over the last couple of weeks, the club’s administration had been in contact with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, requesting information on John and his overall international appearance status to which the TTFF cooperated.

 

Sampsa Timoska, of Finnish club MyPa  is also expected to sign with Queen’s Park and along with John could make his  debut for the club in the FA Cup third-round tie against Carlos Edwards’ Luton Town  on January 6.

 

“We have a couple of people in mind who are ready to come straight in, and they will be registered on January 2. I think they will enhance the squad. There is no point bringing someone in if he is not better than what we have, because we have 35 professionals,” said Gregory who once managed Dwight Yorke at Aston Villa.

 

Meantime, Sunderland, club of Yorke, has expressed interest in the services of Edwards. The former Wrexham player is now being targeted by Celtic, Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Watford and Birmingham City.

 

Sunderland manager Roy Keane added “Carlos Edwards is a player that I admire and he is someone I would like to add to the squad. We do intend to follow up our interest but it would be premature to assume that anything will definitely happen in that direction. We'll have to see what Luton's position is on the matter but he is someone we're interested in, yes."

 

It is also understood that St Johnstone striker Jason Scotland has received interest from and English club but time will tell what the former Defence Force striker decides on. And striker Stern John has been offered a contract extension at Coventry City but is still undecided. John has also been reportedly offered a lucrative deal by Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem.

 

CFU Release - CFU appoints new General Secretary

CFU APPOINTS AFZAL KHAN AS  NEW GENERAL SECRETARY

December 29, 2006

 

The Caribbean Football Union on Thursday announced Trinidadian Afzal Khan as its new General Secretary.

 

Following weeks of assessing several applications from various interested persons to take over the post last held by Kerri-Ann Alleyne, CFU President Jack Warner and his associates, following another week of final interviews, decided that Khan was the best man for the job.

 

Warner welcomed Khan on board, adding that his duties will start at next month’s DIgicel Caribbean Cup Finals in T&T from January 12-24.

 

"I wholeheartedly welcome Afzal on board with the football family. I do honestly believe that, by his appointment, we have lifted the bar somewhat and this can only augur well for Caribbean football. Afzal hits the ground running with the organisation of the Digicel Caribbean Cup and a host of other football events in the Caribbean over the coming months,” Warner told CFU Media. “Welcome aboard, Afzal. "

 

Warner also revealed that the CFU will appoint an events coordinator in the next month. Alleyne had also previously held that position prior to her General Secretary appointment. She has since moved to the CONCACAF Offices, Trump Tower, New York.

 

Khan, a graduate of the Caribbean Institute of Mass Communications of the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, has considerable experience in the fields of Media, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Marketing and Corporate Management.

 

A former Head of News/Sports and Current Affairs at Trinidad and Tobago Television,  Khan went on to serve as General Manager of a radio network, along with his appointment as Publisher of a Newspaper company. Prior to this, he served as a Lecturer in the field of Communications, Public Relations and Advertising at the Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies and the UWI's LCCI programme.  He has also lectured in modules conducted by the Institute of Business of the UWI, and has served as a consultant to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Media Companies and a foreign Media Training and Development Organisation. He also served with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, and the Board of the Caribbean Publishers and Broadcasters Association.

 

From Media, Khan went  on to Corporate management with a local financial company,  serving on a number of Boards, including Education, Health and Security.

 

Khan will begin his tenure as General Secretary with effect from January 2nd 2007.

 

Dominican Republic out Digicel playoffs

 

The CFU wishes to announced that Dominican Republic have pulled out of the three-team playoff for the final spot in the Digicel Cup finals, scheduled to take place in Trinidad next month.

 

As a result, Bermuda and Haiti will now contest a playoffs for the final spot in one of the Groups which includes Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Martinque.

 

Fixtures for playoffs at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

 

January

 

Sunday 7 - Haiti vs Bermuda - 4:00pm

 

Tuesday 9 - Bermuda vs Haiti - 5:00om

 

T&T match with BARBADOS in DOUBT?

According to a report in the Daily Nation newspapers in Barbados with LESS THAN TWO WEEKS before Barbados oppose defending Carib Beer Cup champions

Trinidad and Tobago, the players, selectors, administrators and spectators are at a loss to where

the opening match of the 2007 regional cricket championship will be played.

Chairman of the Barbados cricket selectors, Joel Garner is calling for the four-day match, which starts on January 4, to be played at the North Stars Ground in St Lucy which is known for assisting fast bowlers.

The former West Indies fast bowler made the call shortly after he announced a short-list of 15 players for the four-day match and a squad of 16 for the KFC Cup One-Day match on January 9 against the Trinidadians.

"Ideally, common sense would tell us if we are going to play Trinidad, we should play Trinidad at a place like North Stars. We would ideally like to go to North Stars because the wicket is more or less suited to our kind of cricket, a good bouncy wicket," Garner told reporters on Sunday.

West Indies pace quartet Fidel Edwards, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore and Tino Best have been named in the Barbados team for the four-day match, while Ian Bradshaw has been selected for the limited overs team only.

Kensington Oval was listed as the venue when the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) released the fixtures in October. However, due to ongoing work at the facility, the matches will no longerbe held there.

There is speculation that the Carib Carlton Club ground in Black Rock is likely to host the game as there have been many challenges for Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) in hosting matches at North Stars which is situated in the island's most northerly parish, but Garner said no decision had been made.

"We, the (BCA) board still had to make a decision. I don't think it has been discussed or it has been vented fully," he said.

When asked later about concerns in the spin bowling department, Garner rhetorically asked: "Then, why would you want to take the game to Carlton if the fast bowlers are performing?

"I think that we have to start looking at our cricket in terms of what is best for the cricket. I think that sometimes you have to bite the bullet."

He, however, said the competition for places on the national team was very healthy and while

the selectors were disappointed that they couldn't accommodate everyone, he said it was

a good situation in which to find oneself.

"We are now in a position to say that our teams would be selected based on competition between the players as opposed to you just looking at some mediocre performances and you have to make a judgement call," Garner said.

He added that he spoke to all-rounder Ian Bradshaw and the decision was taken that the left-armer would be used in the four-day team during the season.

"I was disappointed that we had to leave out a few people, but at the end of the day, you can only pick so many and the disappointment was felt with the whole panel, but we like it like this," Garner said.

 

COMMENTARY FOR WEDNESDAY 27TH DECEMBER, 2006

Straight as an Arrow in

Guardian Holdings Gold Cup

By ANDRE E BAPTISTE

– Straight Ahead, brilliantly ridden by local jockey Ricardo Jadoo scored a gate to wire victory in the feature 2006 Guardian Holdings Gold Cup at a sunny Santa Rosa Park on Boxing Day in front of a bumper crowd. Straight Ahead sent off as the fourth choice in the betting at 9/2 bolted into an early six length lead as the horses passed the stands for the first time in the 2000 metres event.  He was tracked in the early stages by outsiders Suave Runner and Ice Timber, with 2005 Horse of the Year, Top of the Class, Crown Point (the 7/5 favourite) and Hello Yankee tracking the speedball.  Jadoo managed to settle Straight Ahead as the runners raced up the backstretch while maintaining a four length advantage.  With 800 metres to race, favourite Crown Point inexplicably dropped out of the running while second favourite Uram made a forward move.  Top of the Class and Hello Yankee also moved forward as Jadoo gave the leader a breather.  At the top of the straight, Top of the Class and then Uram tried to get on terms with the leader but Jadoo had left something in reserve and the three year old gelding gamely repelled the challengers.  Uram was second, Top of the Class third with Hello Yankee fourth.  With his third place finish, Top of the Class crossed the One Million dollar mark for earnings on a local racetrack. Straight Ahead’s win the Gold Cup was the first for his young trainer Kenny De Silva junior and also the first for his owner Antonio Navarro.

 

In the second of the day’s feature, the Guardian Life St. Ann’s Stakes over 1350 metres for West Indian bred fillies, Barbadian star jockey Patrick Husbands had an armchair ride on the favourite September d’ Sixth for Derby winning trainer, Maniram Maharaj who also owns the filly.  The 8/5 joint favourite tracked the early speed of Indrani, Jamaican bred Santa Baby and Foreign Connection before accelerating to the lead at the top of the straight.  The filly drew away from her rivals for a facile seven length victory.  Foreign Connection and Santa Baby fought out the second place finish with the former holding on by a length. Star of Sharon (99/1) stayed on to be fourth.  The other joint favourite, Keep the Faith, was a bitter disappointment trailing in twelfth of the fourteen runners.  In a post race interview, Husbands commented that September d’ Sixth was a very good filly and he was never worried.

 

In the third feature, the Guardian Life St. James’ Stakes, 6/5 favourite Oui That Lucky cut down early pacesetter Luca’s Gold in the shadow of the post for a one length victory.  Luca’s Gold attempted to make all of the running and had opened a six length lead at the top of the straight.  The Ministar colt ran out of steam in the final 100 metres however and was reeled in by Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz on the favourite.  Luca’s Gold held for second, with Some Like It Hot third and My Pa Pa a never dangerous fourth.  Oui That Lucky is trained by John O’Brien for the Olympus Stables.

 

Another feature of the day’s card was Race four, for the imported two year olds and over and in this event, first time starter, Film Director (5/1) ridden by Richard Dos Ramos was an impressive ten length winner over another first time starter, Running Bid.  Film Director started a bit slowly in the 1300 metres event but he scythed through his field to take the lead at the straight and stormed right away from the early leader Running Bid.  Tricky Valay stayed on from the rear to be third with Tasa Habita fourth.  The race was marred by the favourite, Cash It Back (3/5) dislodging its rider soon after the start and giving his supporters no chance.  Film Director, a son of Yes It’s True is owned by the Dachin Racing Stables and trained by Christopher Prime.

 

The other attraction on a very good day’s racing was the conclusion of the jockey championship with Venezuelan Galviz needing three winners to take the title ahead of local jockey Nela Mohammed.  Galviz, who had the better rides on the day, scored twice in the first five races courtesy of Dennyhasaglock (9/2) in Race two and Oui That Lucky in the St. James.  He was however out of luck on his other favoured rides being only fourth on Sky High in the opener and Hello Yankee and being dislodged from Cash It Back.  Although Mohammed was winless on the day, he managed to hold on to secure his first Jockeys’ Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Other winners on the day’s card were Fame and Glory (6/1) in the opener for Optional Claimers over 1750 metres, 35/1 shot Better For Gold in the three year old maidens event over 1350 metres, Jamaican bred Latonia (14/1) in Race Six, a Restricted Handicap event over 1350 metres, Bandikoot (12/1) in the Conditional Handicap D event over 1200 metres and Really Quiet (22/1) in the day’s curtain event for Optional Claimers over 1750 metres.

 

The top trainer on the day was John O’Brien who scored three winners with Oui That Lucky, Fame and Glory and Latonia.  Galviz was the top rider with two winners but would have been very disappointed with the results.  In the end of year titles, John O’Brien had already sewn up the Champion Trainer for both wins and money earned. Ronald Maharaj was Champion Owner.

 

AEB::

 

The NAAA DEBATE rages on

Even as the year draws to an end, there is another Sporting debate that rages on in Trinidad and Tobago.

This time it involves the Athletic Association and their nominee for the Sports Award 2006.

 

The question is whether or not the Commonwealth Bronze Medal won by Marc Burn in the 100 metres is equal or better than the Gold Medal won by Renny Quow in the World Junior Championship over 400 metres.

 

And whether or not the Bronze Medal won by Cleopatra Borel- Brown in the Commonwealth Games Shot Put Competition is equal to or better than the Gold Medal won by Rhonda Watkins in the World Junior Championship long jump.

 

It appears that several member of the NAAA ( National Amateur Athletics Association) are inclined to give the edge to the Commonwealth Games Medals, because they are saying that these are Senior Championship as compared to a Junior event. And while this may be logical to most.

 I would have to disagree with that, because I believe a Gold Medal is a Gold Medal and these were World Championships, where every single country was represented.

 

But all of this is good and healthy for the Sport of Athletics, it shows that there is Competition for the top position which means that the Sport is heading in the right direction, so let us wait and see what transpires in the knowledge that Athletics is now in good hands.

 

Let us also hope that the decision when it is made, is fair, honest and objective.

 

This is Andre Errol Baptiste saying “Have no fear the Fearless One is here.”

 

BRIAN LARA SAYS HE STILL HAS HOPE

I Still Have Great Hope For The World Cup - Lara

KARACHI, Pakistan - West Indies captain Brian Lara commented on the One Day series against Pakistan and the overall tour to the sub continent after the final One Day International in Karachi. Following are excerpts from his comments.

His assessment of the One Day Series:

We did not end on a very good note. We were missing key players and it was important that whichever 11 we put out on the middle that we gave of our best and  try to win the series. I think the guys did give of their best, it was tough and you have to take into consideration that we have been on the road for a pretty long time. Psychologically I think this is not going to affect us in our future One Day games especially over the next four to five months with the World Cup coming up. Of course we have to meet Pakistan in the opening game  and they would definitely feel buoyed because they have beaten us. I’m pretty pleased with where we are, we’ve seen the likes of young Lendl Simmons coming out and performing, he got a good score in the second game and I think we’re taking good shape. We are missing a couple of key players, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo but all in all I’m quietly confident that we can move away from here and still have great hope for the World Cup.

His overall take of the trip to Pakistan:

It was slightly disappointing. There were key moments in the series in the Tests and One Dayers. We played really well in Multan after a poor performance in Lahore and should have gone on to win that Test match if we took a couple more catches and you know from then on we could only draw the series and we came to Karachi and lost. I thought that in the Test series we found ourselves, like we’ve done in the past, in winning positions and couldn’t close the opposition off and in losing positions and couldn’t really hang on for a draw and that is something that has been around and has been branded on the West Indies team for the last few years. Unfortunately it happened again but I’m still seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and I think in the Test arena we’ve got England next in May and it’s something that we should look forward to. On a whole we’ve enjoyed Pakistan, it came on the back of a couple of One Day tournaments so it was always going to be tough but the guys have played three and a half months of tough cricket and we’ve just got to go away from here, get some rest and get ready for the new year.

On how the team has progressed over the three and a half month tour to the sub-continent:

If you look at the first couple months in Malaysia and the ICC Champions Trophy you can tell that we went out there, we won games against very good teams, we got to the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy to defend our trophy we won two years ago. Again we faltered over the last hurdle like we did against Australia like we did in Malaysia but the fact that we got there (to the final) is enough for us to work with. I think in the One Day game we are going to enter the World Cup a very confident unit. We’ve got some work to do, some little areas to work on and I’m sure we’re going to do that in the next couple of months to ensure that we are fully ready for the World Cup. 

 

 

 

Samuels showed what he's capable of - Lara

'Samuels showed what he's capable of' - Lara

 

Brian Lara has reiterated that he's unlikely to play any one-dayers after the World Cup and hoped he could make a sizeable contribution in the matches leading up to the event. Lara also hailed Marlon Samuels, who rediscovered his sizzling touch with a fine century, and urged his side to carry on their good form and level the series at Karachi.

 

Samuels, who smashed his first half-century after a drought spanning close to three-and-a-half years, came in for special mention. "I 'm very happy and proud, not just satisfied," Lara said. "He has been having a tough time with the bat this year and to come out with such a magnificent century shows a lot of class and hopefully he can carry it on from here. What we need now is consistency, we've got very, very important cricket over the next six months in the one-day arena and we'll be asking him to come up trumps on a few occasions.

 

"It shows his potential, for him more than anybody else or the team. I think it shows what he's capable of. What he needs to do now is to put it together more often than not and now we've seen it and we're going to be asking him to produce and not necessarily that he has to produce a top performance like that but in the one-day internationals, you need everyone contributing and I think this is going to do his confidence a whole heap of good."

 

Lara wasn't required to do much with the bat today, after Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had dominated the bulk of the run-chase, but admitted that his form had been sketchy. "I don't mind going out with 30 to 40 runs to score each and every single game," said Lara who's failed to cross 15 the last seven times he's walked out to bat. "I'm 37 years old and I know I have to make a contribution and I'm looking forward to the next few games. I'm not sure if I am going to be playing any one-day cricket after the World Cup so I think it's coming up to a very important period for West Indies cricket and I would be looking to make my contribution."

 

The seven-wicket win at Multan was West Indies' first win on this tour and Lara was more than relieved after the game. "I think it has been long in coming," he said. "We should have won that game in Lahore with the Duckworth/Lewis (method) giving Pakistan 191 to get in 35 overs. It was definitely in our favour, especially with how the pitch was playing, but coming here today I thought the guys showed a lot of character being 2-0 down.

 

"It's been a very long tour and I thought the effort today was exceptional, we played without a couple of our main strike bowlers in Jerome Taylor [rested] and Corey Collymore [flu virus] but you saw [Daren] Powell with his best bowling figures in one-day internationals coming in and bowling really well and also Dave Mohammed in his first game bowled well. All in all I'm quite happy and proud of the performance and we must take it into Karachi to level the series.

 

 

 

:: www.cricinfo.com

FW: RE: PAKISTAN MAKE CHANGES AHEAD OF FOURTH ONEDAYER AGAINST WEST INDIES

Pakistan v West Indies, 4th ODI, Multan

Afridi recalled to squad

Faisal Iqbal was last seen in action during the controversial Oval Test in August © Getty Images

A spate of absences for Pakistan's fourth ODI in Multan has resulted in a recall for Shahid Afridi. Pakistan will be without Mohammad Yousuf, who will stay in Lahore to be with his wife, and Younis Khan, whose brother recently passed away. The third component of their impressive middle order, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, is also a doubt for the game after injuring his hand during the third ODI at Lahore.

Afridi was dropped after the Champions Trophy, the first time in two years for anything other than an injury or suspension. But he has struck a rich vein of form in domestic cricket for Habib Bank and lies third in the bowling averages after five games with 22 wickets at an average of under ten. And despite starting poorly with the bat, he has just hit a 91-ball hundred in the ongoing game against WAPDA, whose attack includes Mushtaq Ahmed and Shabbir Ahmed. He scored a fifty in a low-scoring first-innings total and also picked up three wickets.

Faisal Iqbal, the middle-order batsman, has also been called up as cover for Inzamam who injured the little finger of his left hand when he dived at cover to stop a full-blooded aerial drive from Marlon Samuels during the third match at Lahore and received three stitches.

"Inzamam is recovering from his injury and as a precaution we have included Iqbal in the 15-man squad in case we need him in batting," Wasim Bari, Pakistan's chief selector, told reporters.

Iqbal, 24, has played 17 Tests and ODIs for Pakistan, with a hundred in each form of the game. Though he last played a Test against England this summer - he hit an unbeaten 58 in Pakistan's only innings of the controversial Oval Test - he has not featured in ODI colours since October 2003.

Bari added that Younis Khan, Pakistan's vice-captain, would miss another match but might feature in the fifth match to be played on December 16 at Karachi. The potential absence of the trio means Pakistan will have to announce a new captain for the fourth ODI as well. Younis is the official vice-captain and Yousuf has taken over on the odd occasion, but with none available, it is thought Abdul Razzaq might be chosen. A final decision is expected tomorrow.

Pakistan lead the five-match series 2-0 after the first match was washed out due to rain at Rawalpindi.

 

:: WWW.CRICINFO.COM

 

PAKISTAN MAKE CHANGES AHEAD OF FOURTH ONEDAYER AGAINST WEST INDIES

Pakistan v West Indies, 4th ODI, Multan

Afridi recalled to squad

A spate of absences for Pakistan's fourth ODI in Multan has resulted in a recall for Shahid Afridi. Pakistan will be without Mohammad Yousuf, who will stay in Lahore to be with his wife, and Younis Khan, whose brother recently passed away. The third component of their impressive middle order, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, is also a doubt for the game after injuring his hand during the third ODI at Lahore.

Afridi was dropped after the Champions Trophy, the first time in two years for anything other than an injury or suspension. But he has struck a rich vein of form in domestic cricket for Habib Bank and lies third in the bowling averages after five games with 22 wickets at an average of under ten. And despite starting poorly with the bat, he has just hit a 91-ball hundred in the ongoing game against WAPDA, whose attack includes Mushtaq Ahmed and Shabbir Ahmed. He scored a fifty in a low-scoring first-innings total and also picked up three wickets.

Faisal Iqbal, the middle-order batsman, has also been called up as cover for Inzamam who injured the little finger of his left hand when he dived at cover to stop a full-blooded aerial drive from Marlon Samuels during the third match at Lahore and received three stitches.

"Inzamam is recovering from his injury and as a precaution we have included Iqbal in the 15-man squad in case we need him in batting," Wasim Bari, Pakistan's chief selector, told reporters.

Iqbal, 24, has played 17 Tests and ODIs for Pakistan, with a hundred in each form of the game. Though he last played a Test against England this summer - he hit an unbeaten 58 in Pakistan's only innings of the controversial Oval Test - he has not featured in ODI colours since October 2003.

Bari added that Younis Khan, Pakistan's vice-captain, would miss another match but might feature in the fifth match to be played on December 16 at Karachi. The potential absence of the trio means Pakistan will have to announce a new captain for the fourth ODI as well. Younis is the official vice-captain and Yousuf has taken over on the odd occasion, but with none available, it is thought Abdul Razzaq might be chosen. A final decision is expected tomorrow.

Pakistan lead the five-match series 2-0 after the first match was washed out due to rain at Rawalpindi.

:: WWW.CRICINFO.COM

 

Thought for Today - Expect Not

Good Morning
-----------------------------------

Expect Not
How fast can life become? How much can we do in the corporeal amount of
Time we have. There is only 24 hours in the day, but we're trying to fit 26
Hours into it. If we could watch a movie of our average day we'd probably be
amazed at all the things we try to do. And then there is the exact
opposite.
Some of us spend our lives watching others doing and achieving, and from
these images we build such high expectations of our own life, and then
sit around feeling utterly powerless in our attempts to meet these
expectations.
That powerlessness becomes hopelessness and hopelessness becomes
depression.
If we can just see this process and release these expectations. If we
can at least be detached from any expectations, we will get back some of our
inner power and self motivation. It helps to stop watching others and their
lifestyles, especially in the media, and then comparing yourself to
them. It helps to eliminate all but one 'I wish' from your mind. There is
only one valid and useful 'I wish' and it is simply "I wish to be me". For
that is all you can ever be. It is all you can ever have. It is all that you
are. And when you know it, you will be free of all expectation and desire,
and able to enter the most relaxed state of being, at will.

New Zealand Vs West Indies

New Zealand Vs West Indies
Played at : Shalimar Ground Islamabad
Toss : West Indies Date: 7th Dec 2006
Result : West Indies win by 2 Wickets
New Zealand Innings :(25 Overs) Runs Balls 4's 6's Mins
H D Hitchcock Run Out (Andrews) 09 26 - - 44
Enele Fa Apusa Run Out (Ramaish) 19 17 - - 18
auma Lesolo Run Out (Andrews) 12 42 - - 60
Faifua Michael Run Out (Andrews) 28 44 1 - 44
James Dunn Not Out 13 25 - - 40
Daniel Teo B. (Andrews) 02 10 - - 12
Benjamin Fellows Not Out 03 10 - - 07
Donna Mc Caskill DNB
Micheal Marsh
Andrew Mcdonald
Benjamin Fellows
Extras B.2 LB. W.21 NB. 24 PR. 47
Total 123-5 In 25 Overs 123 174 1 - 110
Fall of wickets: 1/22 2/47 3/88 4/106 5/114
West Indies
Bowling O M R Wkts NB W
Anthony Cummings 5 0 29 0 0 4
D- Deboya Shim 3 0 18 0 6 4
T. Gardner 5 1 13 0 0 0
Ganish Singh 5 0 24 0 0 10
Ulric Andrews 4 0 28 1 8 3
A.R.Ragoonanon 3 0 9 0 4 0


West Indies Innings :(25 Overs) Runs Balls 4's 6's Mins
D.B Shim Not Out 81 46 4 - 61
Oliver Kerr Not Out 26 43 - - 61
Ricardo Manning DNB
A.R Ragoonanon
Urlic Andrews
D.R Mclean
T Gardner
D AnthonySimpson
Ganish Singh
Orreu Richards
Trevor Broomes
Extras B. LB. W.8 NB. 9 PR. 17
Total 124-0 In 13.2 Overs
Fall of wickets:
New Zealand
Bowling O M R Wkt NB W
Benjamin Fellows 3 0 25 0 1 1
Donna Mc Caskill 3 0 29 0 6 0
James Dunn 3 0 25 0 0 3
Auma Lesolo 3 0 23 0 0 1
Michael Marsh 1.2 0 22 0 2 3

Shevchenko is not an 'untouchable', says Mourinho

Shevchenko is not an 'untouchable', says Mourinho
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the club has nine 'untouchable' players but striker Andriy Shevchenko is not one of them.

In a wide-ranging interview carried in several British newspapers, the Portuguese added that he would walk out on the English league champions if Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich ever ordered him to select any player.

Ukrainian Shevchenko, who moved from AC Milan during the close season for $74 million, has scored just three Premier League goals and opened his Champions League account this week in the home win over Levski Sofia.

"I play the best players at the time," Mourinho said.

"(Claude) Makelele, (Michael) Essien and Frank Lampard are untouchable because of the way they play, not because I love them.

"Michael Ballack is untouchable because the way he plays. John Terry is untouchable. Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole and (Didier) Drogba - they are untouchable.

"Sheva is not untouchable because of the way he is playing," added the manager. The ninth 'untouchable" was injured goal-keeper Petr Cech.

Mourninho said that 30-year-old Shevchenko needed to be given time to adapt.

"The way football is played in Italy and England is completely different," he said.

Need for patience
"We have in Thierry Henry the best example of that. I know he's the best goalscorer in the last few years in this country, an amazing player, but he scored one goal in 12 Premiership matches when he first changed Juventus for Arsenal.

"We need to give Sheva time. I give him time. The good thing is that he is not happy with the way he is performing. If he was happy, we would have a problem."

Asked whether there was ever any pressure from Abramovich to play Shevchenko or anyone else, he replied: "Are you being serious?

"He would never do this. If he does this, it's because he doesn't trust the manager. If he doesn't trust the manager, he has enough money to sack me, to give me my compensation, send me home and bring another one in."

In other comments, Mourinho praised Arsenal's Arsene Wenger as a "fantastic manager, one of the best" despite being far from friends with the Frenchman.

"I have 200 per cent respect for the work he's done over the years," he added.

Mourinho also suggested that English football should follow the example of France and Spain where major clubs had reserve teams playing in the lower divisions.

"I would love to see it," he said of the idea of a Chelsea 'B' team.

"I can tell you for sure that if it happened, players like (Lassana) Diarra, (John Obi) Mikel, (Salomon) Kalou, when they are not selected that weekend for the first team, they have competition to play in a different level.

"Like in Spain, they would not be allowed promotion," he added.

-Reuters

JONES MISSING SWIMMING RECORD

World record eludes Jones
Three days after swimming the second-fastest women's 100 metres breaststroke in history, Leisel Jones went agonisingly close to a new world mark over the 200m distance at the Australian Swimming Championships in Brisbane tonight.

Jones swam a time of 2:21.60 to win the national title, 1.06 seconds slower than the 2:20.54 she swam in February, but still the second-fastest time ever recorded.

Just as Jessicah Schipper threatened the 200m butterfly world record for three laps on Thursday, Jones was well in front of world record pace for all but 25 metres, fading in the final few strokes.

"Two-hundredths hurt so much, but I'm pretty happy with that time," she said. "I actually did have a quick look at the time at the 100 metre mark to see how I was going and I thought it was a bit harder than I wanted.

"I tried to hold on for the last 50 metres but it didn't exactly work."

Jones said she had plenty of room for improvement and was confident she could be the first woman to go under 2:20.

"I go into training every day and work harder and harder and there are some things I can improve, " she said.

In the women's 100m freestyle, Libby Lenton beat arch-rival Jodie Henry in a battle of two former world record holders.

Lenton swam 53.77 to edge out Henry (53.93) and immediately signalled her intention to regain the world record she lost to German Britta Steffen in August.

In other results, Hayden Stoeckel won the men's 200m backstroke and Brenton Rickard made it a breaststroke treble when he added the 200m to the 100 and 50m titles he took earlier in the week.

Rickard swam 2:11.45, ahead of Jim Piper (2:13.05) and Robert McDonald (2:15.22).

-AFP

LARA , WE CAN STILL WIN ONE DAY SERIES

West Indies captain Brian Lara says his Team can still win the one day series with Pakistan despite losing the second onedayer on Wednesday (After the ist one dayer was rained out) and he has one of the better ODI bowling attacks in the world.

Speaking with the media after his team lost to Pakistan in the second One Day International in Faisalabad, Lara laid the blame for defeat the batting and called on his charges to pull together to get it right for the final three games.

On the overall loss:

I think we do have something to take away. I really do truly believe that our bowling attack is one of the better ones in the world. What is important as far as the batters, every time we were defeated in the recent past it has been our batting so we'’re going to work on that as much as possible.

On whether specific batsmen are to be blamed:

Nobody is to blame, it's the first game, the fact of the matter is that we've got eleven guys out there and we didn't pull our weight (in the batting department) and we didn't give the bowlers the necessary runs needed to defend and we have to look at that.

We have three games left and as I said there are a lot of positives to take out of it (this loss). The bowlers in this situation with 151 runs bowled admirably and we've got to commend them for that. Now the batters know what the equation is -- put runs on the board and we're going to defend it.

On how disappointed he is with the loss:

I'm disappointed in the batting performance. I'm very happy with the way the guys went out there and fought in the second half of the game but we left a lot of runs out there. In the early part of the game we realized it wasn't a 250-275 pitch but we didn't show that commitment to get 225 which was definitely defendable on such a track.

On why Shivnarine Chanderpaul did not play:

He's got a slight injury to his left knee (sustained during the third Test match in Karachi) and it's really precautionary because we've got three games left (in this series) and we've been on the road for three months and we are going to ensure that we have the guys fully fit so hopefully he'll (Chanderpaul) be ready for the next match.

On whether his run out was the turning point of the game:

Every wicket that we lost was very crucial. In the first two overs we were two wickets down with few on the board so that in itself set us back a lot so it’s not just my run out but we lost wickets periodically throughout the game and we never had the opportunity to kick on at any point in time.

On whether he was confident that the West Indies can level the series:

I'm very sure of our ability to do so. You saw what we did today, 151 runs in a one day game, no team should come that close and we know now, the equation is right there in front of us. We need to get runs on the board and if we bowl first I’m almost sure that the bowlers are going to do a fantastic job but we still need to finish it off with the bat so we are going to be working and talking about that area (the batting).

 

WWW.WINDIESCRICKET.COM

PAKISTAN SCRAPE PAST WEST INDIES

Pakistan edge to narrow victory

One-day international, Faisalabad: Pakistan 154-8 beat West Indies 151 by two wickets

 

 

 

Abdur Rehman enjoyed a successful debut in one-day internationals as Pakistan beat West Indies by two wickets in a low-scoring match in Faisalabad.

Slow left-armer Rehman, 26, took 2-20 in his 10 overs as an under-strength West Indies were bowled out for 151.

Just 16 balls were remaining when Pakistan hit the winning runs, with Inzamam-ul-Haq guiding the team home.

The skipper hit an unbeaten 42 despite the pressure caused by Corey Collymore (3-19) and Jerome Taylor (3-39)

Pakistan won the toss at the Iqbal Stadium after the first match in the series, in Rawalpindi, had been washed out.

Star batsman Mohammad Yousuf missed the game to be with his pregnant wife in Lahore, but West Indies had more extensive problems in the build-up.

With Ramnaresh Sarwan (broken foot) and Dwayne Bravo (personal reasons) out of the series, Shiv Chanderpaul (knee) then succumbed to a late injury, leaving Lendl Simmons to make his debut.

The 21-year-old nephew of former player Phil Simmons opened the batting but lasted just two balls when nicking a catch to Kamran Akmal off Gul.

By then, Chris Gayle had fallen to the fourth ball of the match, bowled by Naved - and from 2-2 it was always going to be difficult for West Indies to recover their composure.

They did make a partial recovery through the effforts of Runako Morton, who hit 43 off 66 balls batting at seven.

But Rehman, Umar Gul (2-19) and Naved-ul-Hasan (2-32) combined economy with penetration and West Indies were bowled out with a ball remaining of their 50-over allotment.

When Mohammad Hafeez nicked a Taylor outswinger behind on the first ball of Pakistan's chase, there was some pressure on the hosts.

The Pakistani batsmen kept chipping away at their target but when Abdul Razzaq fell for 17 to leave the hosts 118-6 in the 41st over, the match was far from over.

However Inzamam maintained his cool and Pakistan crept past the finishing line.

 

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

 

 

 

 

STEPHEN AND ROBERT AMES BATTLE THE WORLD IN GOLF

Today is the opening day of the World Golf Championship Barbados World Cup today.

The day's event started at 8:18 a.m. with the German team of Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem, and the Jamaican pair of Peter Horrobin and Delroy Cambridge being the first out.

Trinidad and Tobago will be represented by Stephen Ames, the world No.36 ranked player, and his younger brother Robert.

"I think overall we're both looking for the experience," Stephen said. "Robert is definitely looking for some more experience getting some exposure playing against some of the great players.

"I think overall the opportunity of competing will be tough. We have some wonderful players that are here... I think on the whole if you finish anywhere within the Top 15 we'll be pleased."

Barbadians James Johnson and Roger Beale will make their debut at 10:30 a.m. alongside defending champions Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge of Wales.

. The absence of several of the world's top ranked players has been a topic for discussion. World No.1 Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk turned down the chance to represent the United States while Els and Retief Goosen opted not to play for South Africa.

This means Stewart Cink and J.J. Henry will fly the Stars and Stripes of the United States and Rory Sabbatini and Richard Sterne will team up for the Proteas.

" Cink chose Henry as his World Cup teammate largely because of their success together at this year's Ryder Cup, where they were among the lone American bright spots in another easy win by Europe.

Luke Donald, the high-flying England player, said something was taken away from the event when the leading players from the United States did not accept the invitation.

"Nothing against Stewart Cink or J.J. Henry. They are very strong players," said Donald, who will be partnered by David Howell. "But to have to go that far down on the list, it weakens the overall feel of the tournament just a little bit because they could potentially field a much stronger team."

Padraig Harrington, the Ryder Cup legend, said he understood the situation facing the Americans, but noted he was delighted to be representing Ireland. He will tee off at 9:42 a.m. alongside Paul McGinley.

"I would defend the Americans," Harrington told reporters after practice yesterday. "The Europeans, we're all playing in season now but it's out of season for the United States, so this date is particularly penal for them.

"This tournament needs a better date, and possibly every four years," added the Irishman, who celebrated his ninth wedding anniversary yesterday on the island where he had his honeymoon.

The tournament will be played in four-ball (best ball) competition today and Saturday, then foursomes (alternate shot) tomorrow and Sunday. The winners will take home US$1.4 million.

:: nationnews.com

 

STEPHEN AMES AND BROTHER ROBERT AMES

PICTURE OF STEPHEN AMES AND BROTHER ROBERT AMES - warming up for WORLD TEAM GOLF Championships in Barbados which begins TODAY

JAIL TERM FOR CRICKETER

Jail term for road rage cricketer

 

 

A former Indian cricketer and member of parliament has been sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter.

Navjot Sidhu, a flamboyant batsman and now an opposition MP, was convicted of beating up his victim in a parking dispute in 1988. The man later died.

Sidhu's sentence was suspended until 31 January to give him time to appeal in the Supreme Court.

His job as a cricket commentator on Indian TV channels has made him famous for his wisecracks, known as Sidhuisms.

Fine

Sidhu, 43, was found guilty on Friday over the attack in the city of Patiala in northern Punjab state 17 years ago.

The high court in Punjab took up the case after appeals by family of the victim, Gurnam Singh, and the state government following Sidhu's acquittal by a lower court in 1999.

Passing sentence on Wednesday, the judge also ordered the former cricketer to pay a fine of 100,000 rupees (about $2,230).

Sidhu played in 51 Test matches for India between 1983 and 1999, scoring an average 42.13.

He embarked on a political career in 2004, joining the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He resigned from his parliamentary seat after hearing the guilty verdict last week.

Sidhu is the second high-profile MP to be sentenced for killing someone in as many days.

On Tuesday, former cabinet minister Shibu Soren received a life term for murdering his aide.

 

 

 

 

ICC CRITICISED PAKISTAN BOARD

Sonn critical of Pakistan board's 'inconsistency'

Percy Sonn, the ICC president, has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board over inconsistency in handling the judgement involving Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, the fast bowlers who were acquitted by the Anti-Doping appeals committee.

"The judgment highlights inconsistencies in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) anti-doping processes and regulations," said Sonn. "Cricket has taken significant strides forward in addressing the important issue of drug use in our sport. However, this judgement emphasises that much more work needs to be done to educate players and to synchronise our members' efforts to attain a totally drug-free sport."

Sonn hoped that the other member countries would avoid similar discrepancies. "It is vital that cricket takes heed of the judgment and that the lessons it provides are disseminated amongst all our members. Of primary importance is that all those members revisit their own regulations and align them both with the ICC's Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code."

He was also keen that players around the world are not caught unawares in the future. "The issue of player education is also of vital importance and the ICC will, with WADA's continued assistance, do its utmost to make it easier for our members to provide this service to their players and officials. The key fact is that it is vital for all our members to maintain a zero tolerance on the use of drugs in our sport.

"That is the idea behind the ICC's drug-testing regime at all our events since 2002 and our adoption of the WADA Code in July of this year. I would now urge all our Members to ensure appropriate action is taken so cricket can show just how committed it is to being known as a drug-free sport."



:: WWW.WINDIESCRICKET.COM

WINDIES LOOK AHEAD TO SECOND ODI AFTER WASHOUT (West Indies in Pakistan)

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - West Indies captain Brian Lara said his side was already looking ahead to the second One-Day International, after the opening match of the five-match series was rained out Tuesday.

 

Torrential rain, which has drenched the region in recent days, saturated the outfield and playing area at the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground leaving the venue unfit for play.

 

"The weather wasn't great but we have to move on. The focus is now on the second match as the series moves on," Lara said.

 

Umpires Daryl Harper and Aleem Dar carried out an early inspection of the ground on Tuesday morning before making the final decision.

 

"The umpires asked the curator if he could hand them over the ground in three hours time but he said this would not be possible despite the rains having stopped," Naushad Ali, a Pakistan cricket Board spokesman, said.

 

West Indies' preparation for the game was also affected by the rainy weather which caused their final net session on Monday to be cancelled.

 

The visitors are seeking to win the ODI series and finish the tour on a high after losing the preceding Test series 2-0.

 

:: WINDIESCRICKET.COM

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Dear WEBMASTER

 

 

Please be advised , that –

 

ON THURSDAY AT 7PM, AT THE MANNY RAMJOHN STADIUM IN MARABELLA

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S UNDER 20 TEAM BATTLE JAMAICA IN A MUST WIN MATCH .

 

WE LOST THE FIRST GAME ON SUNDAY IN JAMAICA BY 2-0 AND WE NEED TO WIN THIS BEST OF TWO MATCHES BY A 3 – O OR BETTER MARGIN TO PROGRESS TO THE FINAL ROUND OF THE JUNIOR UNDER 20 WORLD CUP FINALS .

US$13 MILLION MORE FOR BARBADOS' WORLD CUP

US$13 MILLION MORE FOR BARBADOS' WORLD CUP

 

 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The Barbados government has made another investment of $26 million (US$13 million) in the island's preparations for the 2007 International Cricket Council World Cup.

 

On Tuesday, deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the money would be used to beautify the environs of Kensington Oval, venue for the event's final, as well as boosting security, health and transport services.

 

"One of the largest spending requirements was BDS$6.4 million (US$3.2 million) to cover Barbados' security commitments under a BDS$41.6 million (US$20.8 million) arrangement with CARICOM member countries hosting the games," she told Parliament Tuesday.

 

The beautification project at the ground will cost BDS$2.2 million, while BDS$1.2 million will help create vending facilities, bathrooms and a service access road.

 

The ground is being re-developed at a cost of US$67.5 million and will be completed by the end of January.

 

As part of the security plan, Mottley said BDS$1.2 million was required to purchase "helicopter airtime" and equipment for the Special Services Unit, with another BDS$1.1 million needed for the purchase of a surveillance system to be used at the various ports of entry.

 

"The rest of the funds will be allocated toward other special project including the transportation master plan, health facilities and other areas which will be required under the host nation agreement," Mottley said.

 

:: WWW.WINDIESCRICKET.COM