FAST NEWS: SPORTS

Pakistan announce squad for SA series

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LAHORE:
 Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17 member squad for three 
One-day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 matches against South 
Africa. According to reports, Mohammad Hafeez will lead the team in T20 series while Misbah-ul-Haq in the ODI series. Other
 members of the team are Ahmed Shahzad, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shahid 
Afridi, Abdur Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Junaid 
Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rahman, Nasir Jamshed,Asad Shafiq. Schedule of the series: First T20: Nov 20 (Johannesburg). Second T20: Nov 22 (Cape Town) First ODI: Nov 24 (Cape Town) Second ODI: Nov 27 (Port Elizabeth) Third ODI: Nov 30 (Centurion).</div>

Pakistan announce squad for SA series

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17 member squad for three One-day Internationals (ODI) and two Twenty20 matches ...

Sachin leaves with stirring goodbye speech

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MUMBAI (Web Desk) - Sachin Tendulkar played his last day of international cricket.

The full text of it is below.

All my friends. Settle down let me talk, I will get more and more emotional (crowd gets louder and louder as he composes himself).

My life, between 22 yards 
for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that wonderful journey has come
 to an end, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank people 
who have played an important role in my life. Also, for the first time 
in my life I am carrying this list, to remember all the names in case I 
forget someone. I hope you understand. It s getting a little bit 
difficult to talk but I will manage.

The most important person in my life, and I have missed him a lot 
since 1999 when he passed away, my father. Without his guidance, I don t
 think I would have been standing here in front of you. He gave me 
freedom at the age of 11, and told me that I should]chase my dreams, but
 make sure you do not find short cuts.

The path might be difficult, but don t give up, and I have simply 
followed his instructions. Above all, he told me to be a nice human 
being, which I will continue to do and try my best. Every time I have 
done something special [and] showed my bat, it was for my father.

My mother, I don t know how she dealt with such a naughty child like 
me. I was not easy to manage. She must be extremely patient. For a 
mother, the most important thing is that her child remains safe and 
healthy and fit. T

hat was what she was most bothered and worried about. She took care 
of me for the last 24 years that I have played for India, but even 
before that she started praying for me the day I started playing 
cricket. She just prayed and prayed and I think her prayers and 
blessings have given me the strength to go out and perform, so a big 
thank you to my mother for all the sacrifices.

In my school days, for four years, I stayed with my uncle and aunt 
because my school was quite far from my home, and they treated me like 
their son. My aunt, after having had a hard day s play, I would be half 
asleep and she would be feeding me food so I could go again and play 
tomorrow. I can t forget these moments. I am like their son and I am 
glad it has continued to be the same way.

My eldest brother, Nitin, and his family, have always encouraged me. 
My eldest brother doesn t like to talk much, but the one thing he always
 told me is that whatever you do, I know you will always give it 100%, 
and that I have full faith and confidence in you.

His encouragement meant a lot to me. My sister, Savita, and her 
family, was no different. The first cricket bat of my life was presented
 to me by my sister. It was a Kashmir willow bat. But that is where the 
journey began. She is one of those many who still continue to fast when I
 bat, so thank you very much.

Sachin Tendulkar is carried on a lap of honour around the Wankhede, India v West Indies, 2nd Test, Mumbai, 3rd day, November 16, 2013 
 Every time I have showed my bat, it was for my father

Ajit, my brother, now what do I talk about him? I don t know. We have
 lived this dream together. He was the one who sacrificed his career for
 my cricket. He spotted the spark in me.

And it all started from the age of 11 when he took me to Archrekar 
sir, my coach, and from there on my life changed. You will find this 
hard to believe but even last night he called to discuss my dismissal, 
knowing that there was a remote chance of batting again, but just the 
habit we have developed, the rapport we have developed, since my birth, 
has continued and it will continue. Maybe when I m not playing cricket 
we will still be discussing technique.

Various things we agreed upon, my technique, and so many technical 
things which I didn t agree with him, we have had arguments and 
disagreements, but when I look back at all these things in my life, I 
would have been a lesser cricketer.

The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife, 
Anjali. Those were special years and it has continued and will always 
continue that way. I know Anjali, being a doctor; there was a wonderful 
career in front of her. When we decided to have a family, Anjali took 
the initiative to step back and say that  you continue with your cricket
 and I will take the responsibility of the family .

Without that, I don t think I would have been able to play cricket 
freely and without stress. Thanks for bearing with all my fuss and all 
my frustrations, and all sorts of rubbish that I have spoken. Thanks for
 bearing with me and always staying by my side through all the ups and 
downs. You are the best partnership I ve had in my life.

Then, the two precious diamonds of my life, Sara and Arjun. They have
 already grown up. My daughter is 16, my son is 14. Time has flown by. I
 wanted to spend so much time with them on special occasions like their 
birthdays, their annual days, their sports day, going on holidays, 
whatever. I have missed out on all those things.

Thanks for your understanding. Both of you have been so, so special 
to me you cannot imagine. I promise you [that] for 14 and 16 years I 
have not spent enough time with both of you, but the next 16 years or 
even beyond that, everything is for you.

My in-laws, Anand Mehta and Annabelle, both have been so, so 
supportive [and] loving and caring. I have discussed on various things 
in life, generally with them, and have taken their advice. You know, 
it s so important to have a strong family who is always with you and who
 are guiding you. Before you start clapping, the most important thing 
they did was allowing me to marry Anjali, so thank you very much.

In the last 24 years that I have played for India I have made new 
friends, and before that I have had friends from my childhood. They have
 all had a terrific contribution. As and when I have called them to come
 and bowl to me at the nets, they have left their work aside to come and
 help me. Be it joining me on holidays and having discussions with me on
 cricket, or how I was a little stressed and wanting to find a solution 
so I can perform better.

The memories you have left with me will always be with me forever and
 ever, especially "Sachin, Sachin" which will reverberate in my ears 
till I stop breathing 
 
All those moments my friends were with me. Even for when I was injured, I
 would wake up in the morning because I couldn t sleep and thought that 
my career was over because of injuries, that is when my friends have 
woken up at 3 o clock in the morning to drive with me and make me 
believe that my career was not over. Life would be incomplete without 
all those friends. Thanks for being there for me.

My cricket career started when I was 11. The turning point of my 
career was when my brother (Ajit) took me to Achrekar sir. I was 
extremely delighted to see him up in the stands. Normally he sits in 
front of the television and he watches all the games that I play. When I
 was 11/12, those were the days when I used to hop back on his scooter 
and play a couple of practice matches a day.

he first half the innings I would be batting at Shivaji Park, the 
second half, at some other match in Azad Maidan. He would take me all 
over Mumbai to make sure I got match practice.

On a lighter note, in the last 29 years, sir has never ever said 
 well played  to me because he thought I would get complacent and I 
would stop working hard. Maybe he can push his luck and wish me now, 
well done on my career, because there are no more matches, sir, in my 
life. I will be witnessing cricket, and cricket will always stay in my 
heart, but you have had an immense contribution in my life, so thank you
 very much.

My cricket for Mumbai started right here on this ground, the Mumbai 
Cricket Association (MCA), which is so dear to me. I remember landing 
from New Zealand at four o clock in the morning, and turning up for a 
game here at eight o clock just because I wanted to be a part of Mumbai 
cricket, and not that somebody forced me. That was for the love of 
Mumbai cricket, and thank you very much. The president is here so thank 
you very much, along with your team, for taking care of me and looking 
after my cricket.

The dream was obviously to play for India, and that is where my 
association with BCCI started. BCCI was fantastic, right from my debut 
they believed in my ability and selecting me into the squad at the age 
of 16 was a big step, so thanks to all the selectors for having faith in
 me and the BCCI for giving me the freedom to express myself out in the 
middle.

Things would have been different if you had not been behind me, and I
 really appreciate your support. Especially when I was injured, you were
 right with me and making sure that all the treatments were taken care 
of, and that I got fit and fine and playing [right] back for India.

The journey has been special, the last 24 years, I have played with 
many senior cricketers, and even before that there were many senior 
cricketers with whom I watched on television. They inspired me to play 
cricket, and to play in the right way. Thanks to all those senior 
cricketers, and unfortunately I have not been able to play with them, 
but I have high regards for all their achievements and all their 
contributions.

We see it on the mega-screen, Rahul, Laxman, Sourav, and Anil, who is
 not here, and my team-mates right here in front me. You are like my 
family away from home. I have had some wonderful times with you. It is 
going to be difficult to not be part of the dressing room, sharing those
 special moments. All the coaches for their guidance, it has been 
special for me.

I know when MS Dhoni presented me the 200th Test match cap on day one
 morning. I had a brief message for the team. I would like to repeat 
that. I just feel that all of us are so, so fortunate and proud to be 
part of the Indian cricket team and serving the nation.

Knowing all of you guys, I know you will continue to serve the nation
 in the right spirit and right values. I believe we have been the lucky 
ones to be chosen by the Almighty to serve this sport. Each generation 
gets this opportunity to take care of this sport and serve it to the 
best of our ability. I have full faith in you to continue to serve the 
nation in the right spirit and to the best of your ability, to bring all
 the laurels to the country. All the very best.

Sachin Tendulkar walked the team out to the middle, possibly for the 
last time, India v West Indies, 2nd Test, Mumbai, 3rd day, November 16, 
2013 
 The most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife, Anjali.  © BCCI 
Enlarge 
I would be failing in my duties if I did not thank all the doctors, the 
physios, the trainers, who have put this difficult body together to go 
back on the field and be able to play. The amount of injuries that I 
have had in my career, I don t know how you have managed to keep me fit,
 but without your special efforts, it would never have happened. The 
doctors have met me at weird hours. I mean I have called them from 
Mumbai to Chennai, Mumbai to Delhi, I mean wherever. They have just 
taken the next flight and left their work and families to be with me, 
which has allowed me to play. So a big thank you to all three of you for
 keeping me in good shape.

My dear friend, late Mark Mascarenhas, my first manager. We 
unfortunately lost him in a car accident in 2001, but he was such a 
well-wisher of cricket, my cricket, and especially Indian cricket. He 
was so passionate. He understood what it takes to represent a nation and
 gave me all the space to go out and express myself, and never 
pressurized me to do this ad or promotion or whatever the sponsors 
demanded. He took care of that and today I miss him, so thank you Mark 
for all your contribution.

My current management team, WSG, for repeating what Mark has done, 
because when I signed the contract I exactly told them what I want from 
them, and what it requires to represent me. They have done that and 
respected that.

Someone who has worked closely with me for 14 years is my manager, 
Vinod Nayudu. He is more like my family and all the sacrifices, spending
 time away from his family for my work, has been special, so big thank 
you to his family as well for giving up so much time for my work with 
Vinod.

In my school days, when I performed well, the media backed me a lot. 
They continue to do that till this morning. Thank you so much to the 
media for supporting and appreciating my performances. It surely had a 
positive effect on me. Thank you so much to all the photographers as 
well for those wonderfully captured moments that will stay with me for 
the rest of my life, so a big thank you to all the photographers.

I know my speech is getting a bit too long (crowd roars), but this is
 the last thing I want to say. I want to thank all the people here who 
have flown in from various parts of the world, and have supported me 
endlessly, whether I scored a 0 or a 100-plus. Your support was so dear 
to me and meant a lot to me. Whatever you have done for me.

I know I have met so many guys who have fasted for me, prayed for me,
 done so much for me. Without that life wouldn t have been like this for
 me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and also say that 
time has flown by rather quickly, but the memories you have left with me
 will always be with me forever and ever, especially "Sachin, Sachin" 
which will reverberate in my ears till I stop breathing. Thank you very 
much. If I have missed out on saying something, I hope you understand. Goodbye.</div>

Sachin leaves with stirring goodbye speech

MUMBAI ( Web Desk ) - Sachin Tendulkar played his last day of international cricket. The full text of it is below. All my friends....

Tendulkar's work ethic set him apart

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MUMBAI, India (AP) - Cricket fans across the globe revered him. 
Teammates in India s test and World Cup-winning squads were in awe of 
him.

Sachin Tendulkar compiled 
more runs and posted more centuries in international cricket than 
anyone, and was the greatest batsman of his generation. He has been 
compared with the previous incomparable Sir Donald Bradman, the 
Australian batsman who averaged almost 100 per innings in a long career 
punctuated by World War II.

Tendulkar s near celestial status meant that his dismissal for 74 in his last innings at the age of 40 and in his 200th test match silenced a packed and boisterous crowd at Wankhede Stadium.

But only for a few seconds. Really, they just wanted to see more. He 
walked off, with raised bat, to thunderous applause and chants of 
"Sa-chin, Sa-chin."

He did not get a second chance
 to claim a 101st international century, as the test against the West 
Indies was wrapped up on Saturday, with India winning without the need 
to bat a second time.

Tendulkar s last day featured a cameo appearance bowling for a couple
 of overs, and a guard of honor from teammates as he walked from the 
field for the last time.

The insatiable appetite for runs was only part of Tendulkar s aura.

He ll be remembered around the cricket world for the numerous batting records he set during a glittering 24-year international career, but he has also set a high benchmark of work ethics for others to follow.

"He has guided youngsters very well, showed them how to lead life 
after you become successful, and at the same time how you re supposed to
 prepare," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "He s been fantastic and we ve learnt a lot from him."

By the time of his retirement he had played a significant role in developing a dynamic, unified Indian squad.

"The standards he has set have been benchmarks for us," Yuvraj Singh 
said. "Whether he gets a 100 or no runs, he will hit the same number of 
balls (in the nets), remain humble.

"Everybody talks about his records, but the standard he set off the field was incredible - how to carry yourself off the field."

With 15,921 runs in 200 tests and 18,426 in 463 one-dayers, Tendulkar has ended all comparisons with batsmen other than Bradman.

Among his other prominent milestones include becoming the first man 
to score a double-century in limited-overs internationals (200 not out 
vs South Africa at Gwalior in 2010) and the first to reach 100 
international centuries.

Tendulkar was always known for his compact defense, immaculate drives
 and cunning cuts but he later added the uppercut and paddle-sweep to 
his repertoire and reaped plenty of runs from those.

His 51 centuries in tests and 49 in ODIs are also records and winning the 2011 World Cup was the proverbial icing on the cake.

"Winning the World Cup was a lifelong ambition and it was a matter of
 great honor that my teammates wanted to do it for me," Tendulkar said 
after the victory on his home ground of Wankhede Stadium, which was also
 the venue of his 200th and last test.

Memories of an emotional Tendulkar being carried around the ground 
during the victory lap in 2011 will linger long in the minds of Indian 
fans.

The "Little Master" learnt early how to carry the weight of 
expectations as he became the youngest Indian to debut in international 
cricket, playing both tests and limited-overs internationals at the age 
of 16 during a tour of Pakistan in 1989.

Tendulkar had a penchant for performing well against Australia as an 
intense cricket rivalry between the two nations developed over his career.
 Among the standouts: his 114 on a fiery test pitch at Perth in 1991-92 
when he was still in his teens; a 241 not out at Sydney in a rare series
 drawn in Australia in 2003-04; and 155 not out in the Chennai test of 
1997-98.

Consequently, some of his best rivalries also came against Australian
 bowling greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, both of whom have been 
liberal in their praise of Tendulkar after their retirement.

Ever since his retirement from limited-overs cricket, the questions 
about when he d bring his international cricket career to an end have 
abounded. At 40, he decided the two-test series against the West Indies would be his last international games, setting the stage for a festival and general celebration across India.

Tendulkar had his share of injuries, mainly to the back and elbow, 
but he was never a liability to the team and could outplay teammates and
 rivals half his age with his fast running between the wickets and agile
 fielding.

He was also a useful bowler who could either bowl "seam-up" or legspin.

A low period was during 2004-2005 when he once went for 17 innings 
without a single test half-century, but that was the exception rather 
than the rule in a glorious career in which he was often heralded as a 
"God of cricket."

"He has had an absolutely delightful career and changed the outlook 
of parents and how they encourage their children to play the game," Dev 
said about the impact Tendulkar has had on Indian society. "People 
started saying  You don t need to become an engineer or doctor, that you
 could (now) become a cricketer. " </div>

Tendulkar's work ethic set him apart

MUMBAI, India (AP) - Cricket fans across the globe revered him. Teammates in India s test and World Cup-winning squads were in awe of ...

South Africa beat Pakistan to take T20 series 2-0

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DUBAI (AFP) - South Africa sparked another Pakistan batting collapse 
to win the second Twenty20 international by six runs in Dubai on Friday,
 taking the two-match series 2-0.

It was another batting failure for Pakistan, who, chasing 151, were 
cruising along nicely at 101-3 in the 14th over before being restricted 
to 144-9 in their 20 overs.

Paceman Wayne Parnell took 3-25 while leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed
 2-21 and spearhead Dale Steyn finished with 2-20 to rock Pakistan who 
lost seven wickets in the space of 43 runs.

Sohaib Maqsood top-scored with 37 while Shahid Afridi (14) tried valiantly but failed in the end.

Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (21) and Mohammad Hafeez (nought) in 
quick succession but Maqsood carried on in style, hitting two boundaries
 and a six off 26 balls before Pakistan lost three wickets at 112.

Tahir bowled Shoaib Malik (15)and Abdul Razzaq (nought) off 
successive deliveries while Quinton de Kock held a smart catch off 
Parnell to dismiss Maqsood as Pakistan slump from 112-4 to 112-7.

South Africa won the first match by nine wickets on Wednesday.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis hailed his team s comeback.

"It s a great achievement by the team. We played really well under 
pressure and Pakistan were in a position to win but we pulled it back 
remarkably," said Du Plessis.

"We said we wanted to come here and win 2-0 and we did that. As a 
bowling unit we have certainly grown a lot over the last couple of 
months. Credit to them for the time and effort they have put into it. 
There is always room for improvement.

"Nice to be back in South Africa and looking forward to another 
series against Pakistan. We will try to beat them again 2-0," said Du 
Plessis of the coming two T20 and three one-day series in South Africa 
between November 20-30.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez bemoaned his team s inability to see out matches.

"I think this is the sequence of the (one-day) series," said Hafeez of Pakistan s 4-1 loss.

"Not finishing games very well. When we needed to play normal 
cricket, we didn t handle the pressure. Credit goes to South Africa for 
bowling in the right areas. Every time we thought we were there, we 
couldn t finish it."

South Africa rode on Du Plessis s 48-ball 58 not out and a sedate 
41-ball 48 by Hashim Amla, who lifted the innings during their 78-run 
second wicket stand after they won the toss and batted.

De Kock chipped in with a quickfire 19-ball 30, studded with six boundaries to give his team a rapid start.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal pulled things back for Pakistan by dismissing De Kock and Amla.

Amla hit two sixes and three boundaries before he holed out on Ajmal.

Du Plessis held one end intact, hitting three sixes and one boundary 
to lift South Africa to their highest Twenty20 total against Pakistan, 
beating the 142-9 they made at Nottingham in 2009.

South Africa tied the two-Test series 1-1 on the tour.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
 </div>
 </div>

South Africa beat Pakistan to take T20 series 2-0

DUBAI (AFP) - South Africa sparked another Pakistan batting collapse to win the second Twenty20 international by six runs in Dubai o...

Tendulkar dismissed for 74 in his farewell test in Mumbai

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MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for 74 in his farewell in his final match. 
 
The Indian batsman earlier completed his 68th test half-century in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium crowd on Friday. 
 
Playing on his home ground in Mumbai, the match against West Indies
 will be Tendulkar's 200th and last test as the 'Little Master' brings 
the curtain down on a glittering 24-year career at the age of 40. 
 
Resuming
 on his overnight score of 38, the most prolific run-scorer in 
international cricket played a straight drive off paceman Tino Best to 
bring up his fifty on the anniversary of his debut test against Pakistan in 1989. 
 
Chants
 of "Sachin, Sachin" reverberated around the packed stadium, which has a
 capacity of 32,000, as Tendulkar acknowledged the crowd with a raised 
bat after reaching the mark. 
 
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Tendulkar dismissed for 74 in his farewell test in Mumbai

MUMBAI : Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for 74 in his farewell in his final match. The Indian batsman earlier completed his 68th test ...

A billion reasons why Tendulkar lives on

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Athletes come, athletes go. But Sachin Tendulkar will live on. 
 
Not
 on the cricket pitch. That part of his life, and ours, is ending. But 
in a billion-plus hearts and minds. In 24 years since he first wielded 
his bat for India, the "Little Master," a giant of 5-foot-5, has been 
one of the finest ambassadors for the world's second most populous 
nation, their fortunes inextricably linked. 
As India tested nuclear weapons
 in the 1990s, Tendulkar stamped his mark on world cricket with his 
bold, confident strokes. Tormenting bowlers far bigger than him, from 
nations far wealthier and better resourced than his own, on all kinds of
 grounds and in all conditions, Tendulkar seemed to embody the more 
assertive and ambitious country that India was becoming. 
As the Indian economy took off — expanding more than five-fold in the three decades that Tendulkar has been completing his hostile takeover of cricket's record books — he earned fabulous wealth, becoming one of the highest-paid athletes in any sport. 
But
 television made and kept Tendulkar accessible to Indians. So did his 
humble demeanor. In a country of overlapping deities, competing 
religions and vast wealth gaps, where social tensions have frequently 
spilled over in blood, Indians could agree, as their T-shirts said on 
Thursday at his 200th and last test match, that "Sachin is God." 
He
 found such adulation tough to handle at times. In the teeming streets 
of Mumbai, where he was born and got his start in first-class cricket in
 1988, his career came full circle
 this week with the city hosting his swansong match that became "a 
little difficult," as Tendulkar so delicately put it. "There's a huge 
following. Wherever you go, people are around." 
For snippets of 
peace and quiet, Tendulkar went for early morning drives. As much as 
they envied and gnashed teeth over Tendulkar's skills — "I'll be going 
to bed having nightmares of Sachin," said bowling great Shane Warne in 1998 after touring India with Australia — some players acknowledged they wouldn't like to swap their lives for his. 
Tendulkar was just a kid, a 16-year-old with a shock of curly hair, when he made his debut against rival Pakistan in 1989, a tumultuous year when the Berlin Wall fell and China's communists slaughtered innocents around Tiananmen Square in Beijing. 
When
 marveling at Tendulkar's longevity, it's hard to decide which is more 
astounding: that the 40-year-old was still thumping West Indies bowlers 
for four in his last match or that a man so reserved and measured has 
functioned so brilliantly, without sordid scandals often associated with
 money, fame and ego, under the microscope of 1.2 billion people — 350 
million more than when Tendulkar debuted for India — for whom cricket 
isn't just a sport but THE sport. 
His timing was impeccable: not 
just with the bat, but also because his era coincided with and fueled 
the monetization of cricket. His thumping strokes made for gripping 
television, both in the faster, more furious one-day format and in more 
patient five-day tests. He was the first batsman to score a 
double-century in one-day internationals. As with Michael Jordan for NBA
 fans or Diego Maradona in soccer, Tendulkar is one of those rare 
athletes whose otherworldly excellence leaves lasting marks on admirers. 
"I
 will tell this for life: I was here today," said a fan's banner at the 
Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, illustrating the expectations Tendulkar has 
lived with. On Thursday, with fans' chants of "Sachin! Sachin!" turning 
the stadium into a cauldron of noise, he looked oddly calm as he walked 
to the crease, shyly acknowledging the West Indies players who formed 
two lines in a guard of honor. He warmed up by swinging his bat with its
 handle in the colors of the Indian flag: orange, white and green. 
Tendulkar's
 dozens of batting records — among them nearly all the big ones, 
including most runs and centuries in both tests and one-day 
internationals — flowed not only from his physical skills but also his 
steeliness. The only time he put a foot wrong on Thursday, despite what 
must have been almost intolerable pressure to perform and boiling 
emotions, was when he tripped slightly climbing the stadium stairs at 
the end of the day, after a seemingly nerveless 38 not out that means he
 will bat again Friday. 
Of all the millions of words devoted to 
Tendulkar, his former teammate Rahul Dravid said it best: "To bat for my
 life, I would probably choose Sachin." 
For 1.2 billion reasons 
and more, Tendulkar's retirement leaves a void that can never completely
 be filled. There are and always will be other great cricketers. But 
99.9 percent of them will fall short against the benchmark that was 
Tendulkar. 
New stars will come and go. But in 10, 20 or 30 years, cricket fans will still be saying: "You should have seen God." (AFP) 
 
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 </div>

A billion reasons why Tendulkar lives on

Athletes come, athletes go. But Sachin Tendulkar will live on. Not on the cricket pitch. That part of his life, and ours, is ending. Bu...

Cricket: No laughing matter, Steyn tells Hafeez

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DUBAI:
 South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn admitted he regretted laughing 
after getting Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez out for nought 
in his team's nine-wicket win. 
 
"I don't know what I did. It was a bit silly," said Steyn on Thursday after he had helped restrict Pakistan to 98-9 in 20 overs. 
"I
 think I have got him out a couple of times now so you tend to do silly 
things and I kind of regret it afterwards but that is the kind of way I play the game and I accept the same thing from the opposition coming at me." 
Steyn has dismissed Hafeez eight times in seven Tests, three times in eight one-dayers and now once in Twenty20s. 
The second and last T20 of the current series between the two sides takes place in Dubai on Friday. (AFP) 
 
 
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</div>

Cricket: No laughing matter, Steyn tells Hafeez

DUBAI: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn admitted he regretted laughing after getting Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez out for...

South Africa pace bowlers set up big win over Pakistan

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DUBAI:
 South Africa's pace bowlers laid the foundation for a crushing 
nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international at
 Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Dale Steyn 
(three for 15) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe (two for nine) put Pakistan in early
 trouble from which the sub-continent side never recovered as they 
limped to 98 for nine in their 20 overs. Young firebrand Quinton 
de Kock (48 not out) and Faf du Plessis (37 not out) put on 83 in 73 
balls for the second wicket as the Proteas coasted past their victory 
target in 14.3 overs. Magnificent swing bowling from Steyn and 
Tsotsobe had Pakistan reeling at three wickets down with just four runs 
on the board after Mohammad Hafeez had won the toss and elected to bat. Umar
 Akmal (49 from 41 balls) brought a semblance of respectability to the 
score before he was run out near the end of Pakistan's innings, with the
 next highest score Shoaib Malik's 12. Imran Tahir picked up two 
for 17, both his wickets stumped by De Kock, as Pakistan charged at 
everything despite their perilous situation. Having won the 
one-day series 4-1 recently, the South African batsmen have established 
the ascendancy over Pakistan's bowlers in the UAE and it never looked 
like their target that would trouble them. Hashim Amla (13) lost 
his leg-stump to Sohail Tanvir, but a career-best knock from the 
exciting De Kock, who was ably supported by Du Plessis, brought victory 
in quick time. The second Twenty20 international will be played at the same venue on Friday 
 
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South Africa pace bowlers set up big win over Pakistan

DUBAI: South Africa's pace bowlers laid the foundation for a crushing nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Twenty20 interna...

T20: South Africa keeps Pakistan to 98

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DUBAI:
 Dale Steyn bagged three wickets for 15 runs as South Africa restricted 
Pakistan to 98/9 in 20 overs in the first Twenty20 International in 
Dubai on Wednesday. 
 
Umar Akmal top scored for Pakistan with 49 off 41 balls to guide Pakistan to 98. 
 
Shahid
 Afridi (10), Shoaib Malik (12) and Abdul Razzaq (10) were the other 
noticeable contributors. Opener Ahmed Shahzad, skipper Muhammad Hafeez 
and Suhail Tanvir went for duck. 
Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Imran Tahir also took two wickets each 
 
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 </div>

T20: South Africa keeps Pakistan to 98

DUBAI: Dale Steyn bagged three wickets for 15 runs as South Africa restricted Pakistan to 98/9 in 20 overs in the first Twenty20 Internat...

Misbah blames batsmen for ODI drubbing

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 LAHORE: Pakistan’s Test
 and ODI skipper Misbah ul Haq on Wednesday questioned the selection of 
some players in the team despite their persistent failures with the bat.
 “Everybody knows who 
is not performing. But they continue to be selected for the tours,” he 
said while speaking to media persons on his return from UAE. “I have been performing alone and what else I can do. Cricket is a team game,” he explained. The 40-year-old player admitted that team’s batting was not clicking for some time now, adding both seniors and young players failed to contribute. Although Pakistan managed to draw the 2-match Test series, Misbah-led team suffered a 4-1 humiliating defeat from South Africa in UAE 
 
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Misbah blames batsmen for ODI drubbing

LAHORE: Pakistan ’s Test and ODI skipper Misbah ul Haq on Wednesday questioned the selection of some players in the team despite their p...

Pakistan eye Twenty20 top spot in SA series

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Pakistan will look to win the two-match Twenty20 series against South
 Africa starting on Wednesday to go to the top of the rankings in the 
shortest format of the game.
 
Besides improvement in the rankings, both the teams will also seek to
 get tuned up for the fifth edition of the World Twenty20 to be held in 
Bangladesh in March and April next year.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said his team, ranked second behind 
Sri Lanka, are eager to win both games. “Of course it will be a big 
thing if we attain the number one ranking but for us it is more 
important to win

Wednesday’s game and then think for the second,” said Hafeez at the launch of the Twenty20 Cup.

Both matches will be played in Dubai, with the second clash taking place on Friday.

“This series is also important for the fact that we have the World 
Twenty20 in four months so we have discussed it and want to have the 
same group of players so that we have a settled squad for the mega 
event,” said Hafeez.

Pakistan will also look to put behind them the 4-1 thrashing in the 
five-match one-day series which finished on Monday, and Hafeez said it 
will be important to forget that loss.

“We are disappointed at the one-day series loss but we have to put 
that behind us, it’s a new format and some new players have boosted our 
strength so we will definitely get better results,” said the 
33-year-old.

Pakistan are bolstered by the return of all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and
 Shoaib Malik, while South Africa welcome Twenty20 specialists in Henry 
Davids, Aaron Phangiso and David Wiese as well as pace spearhead Dale 
Steyn, who has not played a T20 since December last year.

South African captain Faf du Plessis said his team will start the series with confidence.

“I think it’s nice to go into the series with a momentum and the 
confidence is there although it’s a different format and slightly 
different team but we look forward to it,” said Du Plessis, who also 
sought to underline the importance of gearing up for the World Twenty20.

“We must find the right balance with the World Twenty20 in the 
sub-continent, which will have similar conditions to here,” said Du 
Plessis.

Teams (from): Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed 
Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Abdul 
Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib 
Malik, Abdur Rehman.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Henry Davids, 
Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, 
David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, 
Lonwabo Tsotsobe, David Wiese 
 
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</div>

Pakistan eye Twenty20 top spot in SA series

Pakistan will look to win the two-match Twenty20 series against South Africa starting on Wednesday to go to the top of the rankings in the...

Whatmore to leave as Pakistan coach in February

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LAHORE:
 Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore will leave his job at the end of February, 
the country's cricket board said Tuesday, saying a mutual agreement had 
been reached not to extend his contract. 
 
The
 59-year-old former Australian batsman, who took over in March 2012, has
 faced mounting criticism over Pakistan's dismal run of results in 
recent months, with ex-players regularly calling for him to go. 
 
Pakistan went down by 117 runs to South Africa in Sharjah on Monday, completing a 4-1 defeat in their one-day series. 
 
The
 Proteas have given Pakistan a torrid time in 2013, beating them 3-0 in 
Tests and 3-2 in one-day internationals in South Africa in 
February-March. 
 
Under Whatmore, who led 
Sri Lanka to their World Cup victory in 1996, Pakistan have not won a 
single Test series and the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) interim 
chairman admitted on Friday he was under pressure to sack him. 
 
But the board said Whatmore had decided not to seek an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of February. 
 
"Whatmore
 had informed the PCB that he would not be seeking a renewal of his 
contract due to his personal and family reasons," said a PCB release. 
 
"Under the circumstances, the PCB and Whatmore have mutually agreed to conclude the contract on February 28, 2014." 
 
Whatmore's last assignment will be a series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates in December-January. 
 
Former paceman and coach Waqar Younis and former captain Moin Khan are in the running to replace him. (AFP) 
 
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 </div>

Whatmore to leave as Pakistan coach in February

LAHORE: Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore will leave his job at the end of February, the country's cricket board said Tuesday, saying a mu...

South Africa beat Pakistan by 117 runs in 5th ODI

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SHARJAH (AFP) - AB de Villiers stormed to an unbeaten century to help
 South Africa beat Pakistan convincingly by 117 runs in the fifth and 
final one-day in Sharjah on Monday, winning the five-match series 4-1. 
AB de Villiers scored 115 from 102 balls with ten boundaries and 
three sixes -- his 15th one-day hundred -- to lift South Africa to an 
imperious 268-7 before bowling Pakistan out for 151 in 35.3 overs. 
Sohaib Maqsood top-scored with a solid 53 but otherwise Pakistan 
failed to capitalise a weakened South African bowling attack with 
spearheads Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, and spinner Imran Tahir rested 
for the meaningless match as the series was already decided. 
Pakistan were 8-2 with Ahmed Shehzad (two) and Mohammad Hafeez (six) 
by the fifth over, once again highlighting the top-order failure in the 
series. 
It was Maqsood, who hit 56 on his debut in Abu Dhabi on Friday, who 
gave some consolation to another lackluster batting effort with a 
63-ball half-century before he became one of two victims for Jean-Paul 
Duminy who finished with 2-14. Wayne Parnell finished with 3-36. 
Umar Akmal made 30 while skipper Misbah-ul Haq managed 18. Shahid 
Afridi (nine) and Umar Amin (five) failed once more as South Africa took
 the last six wickets for a mere 41 runs. 
The South African skipper hit a 102-ball 115 studded with ten 
boundaries and three sixes to lift South Africa who won the toss and 
batted on a slow Sharjah stadium pitch. 
De Villiers lifted the tempo in the final overs, hitting Sohail 
Tanvir s final over for 25 runs, reaching his hundred with a four 
towards mid-wicket, which came off 99 balls. He then hit the left-armer 
for six, four and four to help South Africa add 114 in the last ten 
overs. 
At 105 he also completed 6,000 one-day runs, becoming the fifth South
 African batsmen to reach the milestone. Jacques Kallis (11,469), 
Herschelle Gibbs (8094), Graeme Smith (6976) and Gary Kirsten (6798) 
were others to score 6,000 or more one-day runs for South Africa. 
De Villiers was initially slow, reaching his fifty off 70 balls, with
 a big six off Saeed Ajmal towards mid-wicket. He added an invaluable 83
 for the sixth wicket with Ryan McLaren (27) before lashing out in the 
final overs. 
De Villiers had built the innings with an invaluable 62 runs stand 
for the fourth wicket with Faf du Plessis who made an 89-balls 46 with 
the help of two boundaries. 
Quinton de Kock (34) added 50 with Du Plessis after Hashim Amla fell in the first over of the innings for three. 
Ajmal finished with 3-45 while Khan took 2-57. 
South Africa won the first match by one run in Sharjah before 
Pakistan levelled the series with 66-run win in Dubai. South Africa then
 won both the matches in Abu Dhabi by 68 and 28 runs respectively. 
The two teams now play Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on Wednesday and Friday. 
 
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South Africa beat Pakistan by 117 runs in 5th ODI

SHARJAH (AFP) - AB de Villiers stormed to an unbeaten century to help South Africa beat Pakistan convincingly by 117 runs in the fifth and...

Criscito, Parolo called up for Italy friendlies

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MILAN (AFP) - Zenit Saint Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito is 
among the few fresh faces in Italy s squad announced by Cesare Prandelli
 for upcoming friendlies against Germany and Nigeria.

Criscito makes the Azzurri squad for the first time since October 
2012, although months earlier he was excluded, prior to Euro 2012, for 
his alleged role in the  Calcioscommesse  match-fixing affair.

Criscito faced no charges and was later cleared of any wrong-doing. 
His call-up comes in the absence of Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini 
due to injury.

Italy, who qualified for next year s World Cup in Brazil with two 
games two spare, will also be without injured Paris Saint Germain 
midfielder Marco Verratti.

Prandelli has called up Parma s Marco Parolo for only the second 
time, the midfielder having made the squad for a friendly against 
Ukraine in March 2011.

Italy host Germany, who sit one place behind World Cup champions 
Spain at the top of FIFA s rankings, in Milan Friday and then travel to 
London where the Azzurri will meet Nigeria at Fulham s Craven Cottage 
stadium next Monday.

Italy s 28-man squad for upcoming friendlies:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (PSG/FRA)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (AS Roma), 
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna 
(Juventus), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter), 
Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersbourg/RUS)

Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), 
Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele 
Giaccherini (Sunderland/ENG), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo 
Montolivo (AC Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Marco 
Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Andrea Poli (AC Milan)

Strikers: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Alberto
 Gilardino (Genoa), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Pablo Osvaldo 
(Southampton/ENG), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina). 
 
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Criscito, Parolo called up for Italy friendlies

MILAN (AFP) - Zenit Saint Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito is among the few fresh faces in Italy s squad announced by Cesare Prandell...

Defiant Federer upbeat despite year to forget

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LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer insists tennis is in his DNA and that he
 has no intention of quitting after his worst season came to a downbeat 
conclusion with a semi-final defeat against Rafael Nadal at the ATP 
World Tour Finals.

Federer has endured a dismal campaign marred by a series of shock 
defeats and the 17-time Grand Slam champion was unable to finish on a 
high note as world number one Nadal sent him crashing out of the 
season-ending event with a 7-5, 6-3 victory on Sunday.

After reigning over men s tennis for the best part of a decade, the 
32-year-old is undeniably a fading force, prompting some to suggest he 
may consider hanging up his racquet to focus on life as a father of twin
 daughters.

But Federer is adamant that is not an option just yet because his love of the sport remains too strong.

"For me, it s pretty simple: this is what I used to do as a little 
boy. It s something that always is there in your DNA," Federer said.

"Clearly today it s different than when I was 12 years old, but it s just something I enjoy doing.

"The thing is that when you stop, you re still so young that why stop
 so early? Why just walk away from it because I have many other things 
to do in my life than play tennis, but because I can still choose, I 
pick to play.

"As long as I have this choice, I ll keep on playing."

Federer, troubled by a back injury in the first half of the campaign,
 claims his lack of success over the last 11 months is more down to his 
body failing him than a lack of hunger.

"Considering the back issues I ve had, I m pleased that I m pain-free
 for a long period of time now with a lot of tennis," he said.

"That s definitely going to give me confidence physically and mentally.

"Just beating two top-10 players recently (Richard Gasquet and Juan 
Martin del Potro) is a good thing for me after not having beaten any for
 almost seven or eight months."

For Federer, the joy of competing against the best keeps him coming 
back for more, but in 2013 he failed to reach a Grand Slam final for the
 first time since 2002 and won only a solitary title in Halle as his 
ranking slumped to seventh in the world -- his lowest placing for 11 
years.

His decline has been impossible to hide even at the venues where he has traditionally been regarded as virtually unbeatable.

Federer arrived at Wimbledon as defending champion and exited humbled by a defeat against world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Then at the Tour Finals, where he has been the winner six times and a
 finalist for the last three years, Federer suffered a first ever loss 
to Nadal in an indoor tournament and a 22nd career defeat in 32 meetings
 with the Spaniard.

But still the Swiss star sounded a defiant note as he claimed he 
would take encouragement from the way he finished the year with an 
appearance in the Basel final and runs to the last four in Paris and 
London.

"I m more positive now looking ahead than I would have been a few 
months ago where I wasn t quite sure what to expect after the US Open," 
Federer said.

"I think something good is possible for next year. It was a stronger 
finish than I thought it was going to be in Basel, Paris and London.

"I m back confident and excited going into the off-season and starting again next year.

"The rankings are secondary for me. I need to make sure I stay competitive and can hang with the best.

"Clearly the Grand Slams are going to be part of my highlights in 2014 and I m hoping to make sure I play my best there." 
 
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Defiant Federer upbeat despite year to forget

LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer insists tennis is in his DNA and that he has no intention of quitting after his worst season came to a downbe...

Barcelona loses Messi but cruises to win at Betis

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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona lost Lionel Messi to another leg 
injury but still had more than enough firepower to win 4-1 at struggling
 Real Betis and capitalize on a stumble by title rival Atletico Madrid 
on Sunday.

Things looked grim for the defending champions when Messi suffered 
his third leg injury of the season and asked to be substituted in the 
21st minute, as Barcelona came under pressure.

But Cesc Fabregas stepped in by scoring two goals and making another 
in a convincing victory before he was replaced late in the match due to 
pain in his right knee.

"We started without any intensity and they were rolling over us for 
the first 20-25 minutes," Fabregas said. "But then we had a good 20 
minutes before dominating in the second half."

Fabregas, who has started nine of Barca s 13 league matches and 
appeared particularly put out at not being chosen to start Wednesday s 
Champions League win over AC Milan, made it clear he wants to prove his 
worth to coach Gerard Martino.

"I know the starting 11 that my coach has in his head and that I am 
not in it," Fabregas said. "I will work as much as I can to erase any 
doubts."

Barcelona said Messi and Fabregas would undergo tests on Monday to determine the extent of their injuries.

Goalkeeper Victor Valdes made two superb saves to deny Jorge Molina 
before Fabregas set up Neymar for Barcelona s 35th-minute opener.

Pedro Rodriguez made it 2-0 two minutes later with a solo effort that
 left Betis  defense in tatters, and Fabregas finished off the scoring 
for Barcelona in the 63rd and the 79th.

Barcelona s 12th win in 13 rounds kept it undefeated and lifted it 
three points clear of second-place Atletico after it was held to a 1-1 
draw at Villarreal earlier.

Messi, who appeared to be back to his old self after scoring a double
 on Wednesday against AC Milan in the Champions League, hurt a muscle in
 his left thigh while sprinting and was replaced by Andres Iniesta.

"No doubt we will have to talk to Leo so that this third injury 
doesn t worry him and affect him mentally," Barcelona coach Gerardo 
Martino said.

Last-place Betis had already tested Valdes by the time Messi went 
off, but the Spain goalie continued his excellent season by denying 
Molina one-one-one, and moments later leaping to turn away the striker s
 header at the far post.

Having regrouped after losing Messi, Alex Song met Fabregas  run with
 a weighted pass that left him free to cross for the unmarked Neymar, 
who scored his fourth league goal of the season.

Pedro then raced onto a high ball in midfield, knocked it beyond 
Betis  last line of defense, and collected it before looping a shot 
beyond goalkeeper Guillermo Sara.

Betis  Joan Verdu went close and Jose "Nono" Delgado hit the woodwork
 as the hosts tried to react after halftime. But coach Pepe Mel s 
insistence on pushing his defensive line up the pitch proved fatal.

Neymar had threatened twice on the break before Iniesta lobbed the 
ball wide to Martin Montoya, who had three Barcelona players to cross to
 in the area against one Betis defender.

Montoya chose Fabregas to tap in his first goal before the former 
Arsenal midfielder nodded Dani Alves  pass off the turf and the upright 
before it trickled over the goalline. Three minutes later, Fabregas left
 the match.

"We tried to make long passes behind their defense to look for the 
open spaces they were leaving, and I think we took full advantage of 
them," said Pedro.

Molina finally beat Valdes from the penalty spot for Betis  
consolation goal in stoppage time after Dani Alves fouled Javier Matilla
 in the box.

Atletico went ahead just two minutes into the match at El Madrigal 
Stadium when Juanfran Torres broke free on the right flank and swung in a
 cross that defender Mario Perez turned into his own net while trying to
 fend off Jorge "Koke" Resurreccion.

Atletico held Villarreal s passing attack in check until coach Marcelino Garcia sent on striker Jeremy Perbet.

Five minutes later Perbet provided the missing spark when he 
collected the ball from a throw-in, dribbled into the area and provided a
 square pass that Juanfran ended up poking into his own goal while 
jostling with Villarreal s Ikechukwu Uche.

Villarreal remained in fourth place, but seven points behind Real Madrid in third.

Earlier, Sevilla beat Espanyol 3-1 to end a 22-game winless run away 
from home in the league, while Valencia was held to a 2-2 draw by 
Valladolid to remain without a victory in its last three home games.

Sevilla got the much-needed victory thanks to goals from Federico 
Fazio, Vitolo Machin, and Carlos Bacca. Sevilla hadn t won away in the 
league since Sept. 24, 2012.

Espanyol finished with 10 men when Victor Sanchez received his second booking with five minutes to play.

After Valencia s Ever Banega missed a penalty, Javi Guerra headed 
Valladolid in front in the ninth minute before Dorlan Pabon leveled in 
the 29th.

Gilberto "Alcatraz" Garcia, who had set up Guerra s opener, drilled 
in Valladolid s second goal in the 50th, only for Sofiane Feghouli to 
guide home a cross by Sergio Canales in the 76th to share the points. 
 
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Barcelona loses Messi but cruises to win at Betis

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona lost Lionel Messi to another leg injury but still had more than enough firepower to win 4-1 at strugglin...

Nigeria's youngsters promise bright future

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<div class="txt2_um">
ABUJA, Nov 11, 2013 (AFP) - The future looks bright 
for Nigerian football after the country s young stars won the FIFA 
Under-17 World Cup for the fourth time, underlining their strength at 
youth level.
The Eaglets romped to a convincing 3-0 victory over defending 
champions Mexico in Abu Dhabi on Friday, prompting praise from President
 Goodluck Jonathan and sending the football-mad country into raptures.

"They (the team) are the future of Nigerian football," said coach 
Manu Garba, who was assistant coach when the team won the tournament in 
2007.

Stand-out stars included Kelechi Iheanacho, who was named best player
 after scoring six goals, including four against Mexico in the group 
stages.

Iheanacho, an intelligent, skilful player with a magical left foot, 
is said to have already attracted the eye of several of Europe s top 
clubs, among them Arsenal.

Skipper Musa Muhammed is also seen as an exciting prospect, having 
scored three goals from right-back position, while Dele Alampasu was 
named best goalkeeper in the competition.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, who steered the Super Eagles senior team
 to Africa Cup of Nations glory earlier this year, has tipped several 
players in the side to make the grade at the top level.

"I was impressed with (strikers) Isaac Success and (Taiwo) Awoniyi. 
They are young and will soon hit it big in this game," he said. 
"They have the qualities to earn their places in the senior team in the future."

Keshi has a track record of nurturing home-grown talent rather than 
relying on big name foreign-based stars and made a point of selecting as
 many local players as possible during their successful CAF campaign.

True to form, he said he was not going to introduce the young players
 too soon, effectively ruling out the appearance of some of the under-17
 side in his squad for Brazil, should the Super Eagles overcome Ethiopia
 on Saturday.

Nigeria are 2-1 up from the first leg going in to the return fixture in the southern city of Calabar.

Instead, former Togo and Mali boss Keshi said he preferred the youngsters to rise through the ranks.

"I will want the players to take the natural route of maturity, play 
for the Flying Eagles (under-20 team), then maybe the under-23s and then
 we can start looking at them," he explained.

"During that period we may find one or two of them that can make 
impact in the national team and we will not hesitate to invite them."

Several of Nigeria s most famous footballers, such as former Arsenal 
great Nwankwo Kanu, Chelsea s Celestine Babayaro and John Mikel Obi, 
plus Victor Ikpeba, started out as schoolboy stars.

As such, there are increasing calls for the under-17s to be given 
their chance early in senior football at the highest level, rather than 
spend too long in Nigeria s domestic league.

"If you are good enough, you re old enough and so I expect Keshi to 
have a look at some of these youngsters before long," said Pius Ayinor, 
sports editor at Nigerian daily The Punch.

But former international Garba Lawal maintained that Nigeria should 
not get carried away by the under-17 triumph and instead should be 
managed gradually until they are good enough to play at full 
international level.

"Without any doubt they are good players but their development must 
be gradual. We must not rush them because their level is very different 
from being a full international," the former midfielder added. 
 
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Nigeria's youngsters promise bright future

ABUJA, Nov 11, 2013 (AFP) - The future looks bright for Nigerian football after the country s young stars won the FIFA Under-17 World Cu...

World doping conference starts in Johannesburg

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - The World Conference on Doping in Sport starts 
Tuesday in Johannesburg, where it will consider a new anti-doping code 
and is expected to confirm the global doping policing body s next 
president.

World sports leaders will converge at the Sandton Convention Centre 
for the four-day meeting amid frosty relations between the World 
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international sporting bodies.

The conference will discuss the final draft of the third World 
Anti-Doping Code, which tightens punishment for transgressors and 
fine-tunes tests as doping scandals continue.

Less than one percent of doping checks give an abnormal result, 
though tests have jumped from 150,000 a year to 250,000 since WADA s 
creation in 1999.

Notwithstanding the tests, cyclist Lance Armstrong escaped detection 
for years, while former 100-meter sprint stars, Jamaican Asafa Powell 
and America s Tyson Gay, tested positive for banned substances this 
year.

The new code will extend bans for caught-out dopers from two years to
 four, which implies automatic disqualification from the next Olympics.

The rules will also target support staff who conspire with sports 
people to use banned substances, and fine-tune testing according to the 
different sporting codes.

A WADA report in June blamed a lack of will for the relative few 
doping cases that are caught. The problem lay not with modern science, 
which is completely up to the challenge, the report found.

The conference will no doubt also discuss situations in Jamaica, Brazil and Kenya.

Besides Powell four others from the Caribbean island were also caught
 doping this year, and a report is upcoming after a WADA team audited 
the country s national doping agency last month.

In August the agency revoked the accreditation of Rio de Janeiro, 
which will host the 2014 World Cup final and the summer Olympics in 
2016.

WADA declared that the laboratory did not comply with international standards.

Meanwhile Kenyan authorities have been dragging their feet to investigate allegations of doping amongst its athletes.

But WADA s accusatory tone with sporting bodies has come under fire notably from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Sport federations want it to play a more active role in performing 
anti-doping tests, as opposed to merely playing the schoolteacher that 
polices the code.

But WADA complains it is expected to do ever more with a budget of 
only $28 million. The conference will also most likely confirm incoming 
president Craig Reedie s appointment.

The IOC designated him in August to head the global doping agency, 
ahead of other runners the IOC s former medical chief Patrick Schamasch 
from France and American 400-metre hurdles legend Ed Moses.

The 72-year-old Scotsman served on London s 2012 Olympics organising 
committee and has been an IOC vice-president since last year.

Sports organisations will welcome Reedie as one of their own, after 
six years under outgoing president John Fahey, a former Australian 
finance minister.

The office rotates between representatives of governments and international sports federations, who together fund WADA.

If confirmed, Reedie will be WADA s third president after Fahey and 
first leader the straight-talking Dick Pound, who served from 1999 to 
2007. 
 
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World doping conference starts in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - The World Conference on Doping in Sport starts Tuesday in Johannesburg, where it will consider a new anti-doping code...

Zlatan, Neymar nominated for FIFA best goal award

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ZURICH (AP) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar are among 10 candidates for the Puskas Award honoring the best goal of the year.

Ibrahimovic was nominated for his long-range bicycle kick for Sweden 
against England in a friendly last November, which just missed the 2012 
award entry deadline.

Neymar was selected for his right-foot shot for Brazil against Japan 
in the Confederations Cup in June. Neymar, now with Barcelona, won the 
award two years ago for a solo goal for Santos.

Other nominees include Antonio Di Natale, for Udinese in a Serie A 
match against Chievo Verona in April, and Australian forward Lisa De 
Vanna for U.S. side Sky Blue against Boston Breakers in June.

They were among several volleys and bicycle kicks dominating the list
 proposed by FIFA s football committee and France Football magazine.

Other nominees: Peter Ankersen (for Esbjerg vs. Aarhus in the Danish 
league); Panagiotis Kone (Bologna vs. Napoli, Serie A); Daniel Luduena 
(Pachuca vs. Tigres, Mexican league); Nemanja Matic (Benfica vs. Porto, 
Portuguese league); Louisa Necib (Lyon vs. Saint-Etienne, French women s
 league); Juan Manuel Olivera (Nautico vs. Recife, Copa Sudamericana).

Online voting until Dec. 9 will decides a short list of three finalists which advance to a final round of polling. 
The winner will be announced on Jan. 13 at the FIFA Ballon d Or event in Zurich. 
 
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Zlatan, Neymar nominated for FIFA best goal award

ZURICH (AP) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar are among 10 candidates for the Puskas Award honoring the best goal of the year. Ibrahimovic ...

Timeline of Roger Federer's troubled 2013

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LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer's troubled 2013 season came to a 
suitably downbeat conclusion with a semi-final loss against Rafael Nadal
 in the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday. Here AFP Sports looks at the 
low points of the Swiss star's worst campaign for over a decade:

January - Loses in Australian Open semi-final to Andy Murray.

February - Beaten in Rotterdam quarter-finals by Julien Benneteau, 
breaking a run of 28 consecutive last-eight wins against players outside
 the top 10.

May - Thrashed 6-1, 6-3 by Rafael Nadal in Rome Masters final, 
sending him into the French Open without a title in the year for the 
first time since 2000.

June - Crashes out of the French Open quarter-finals in straight sets against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

June - Defeats Mikhail Youzhny to win first and only title of 2013 at
 Halle and 77th career trophy to tie John McEnroe at number three in 
Open Era title-winners list.

June - Hits a new low as the defending champion loses to world number
 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in second round at Wimbledon. It is Federer's 
earliest defeat at Wimbledon since 2002 and his earliest loss at a Grand
 Slam since losing in the French Open first round in 2003. The result 
ends Federer's run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final 
appearances.

July - Appearing in Hamburg for first time since 2008, Federer loses 
to world number 114 Federico Delbonis in quarter-finals. It is just the 
12th time in his career he has lost to an opponent outside the top 100.

September - Fails in his bid to reach his 41st Grand Slam 
quarter-final when Spain's Tommy Robredo sweeps to a surprise straight 
sets win in the US Open fourth round.

October - Announces the end of his coaching partnership with Paul Annacone, who had worked with him since July 2010.

November - Suffers 22nd career defeat to Nadal to end year with a loss in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals. 
 
 
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Timeline of Roger Federer's troubled 2013

LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer's troubled 2013 season came to a suitably downbeat conclusion with a semi-final loss against Rafael Nadal...