Sports bar

Modi has to face the music: Pawar

New Delhi: Suspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi will have to face the music if he is found guilty of corruption,according to ICC president Sharad Pawar. Pawar on Sunday made it clear that there was no question of “protecting” his one-time protege. Pawar said the recent corruption scandal has tarnished the image of IPL and Modi was paying the price for his controversial style of functioning which had not gone down well with the BCCI’s top brass.

New era begins: Waqar

Karachi: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes that his team’s first Test win over Australia in 15 years is the beginning of a new era for the game in the troubled country. Waqar said that the hard-earned victory in Headingley showed the “new culture” which has been introduced in the Pakistan dressing room has started to bear fruit. “All the players have been told clearly that no one is allowed any personal agenda in the dressing room. Every player has to play for the team and for the country and we don’t expect anything less from anyone,” Waqar said.

‘Farhat deserves place in squad’

Karachi: National selector Muhammad Illyas has hit out at critics who allege conflict of interest whenever his son-in-law Imran Farhat was picked for Pakistan,saying the youngster deserved a place in the squad. Farhat,married to Illyas’ daughter,hit a match-winning 67 as opener in Pakistan’s second innings in their three-wicket win over Australia in the second Test at Leeds.

Yo-Yo unlikely to join team

Karachi: Chances of former captains Mohd Yousuf and Younis Khan joining the side for Pakistans Test series against England have faded with the team management keen to persist with youngsters after the victory over Australia in the second Test. Sources said the win at Leeds had made stronger the stand of the team management not to tinker with a winning squad,although there was pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt to recall the two senior players.

McGrath engaged to Sara

Melbourne: Two years after the death of his first wife Jane,former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath is all set to walk down the aisle once again after getting engaged to his Italian girlfriend of seven months Sara Leonardi. Jane died following a long battle with breast cancer and two years after the tragedy,McGrath got engaged to Leonardi,a 28-year-old interior designer by profession,last week. After Jane passed away,I never thought that I could love another woman. I was adamant about that. But I am in love with Sara,totally and completely and absolutely,” McGrath told the Herald Sun newspaper.

Ref Maria creates history

Maria Rebello from Goa on Sunday created history by becoming the first Indian woman to officiate a men’s football match at senior level as referee. Maria officiated the Santosh Trophy Cluster V match between Delhi and Madhya Pradesh at Howrah Stadium in Kolkata. After the match she took a test for the Asian Football Confederation’s panel that was conducted by an AFC representative from Singapore. Subject to qualification,Maria will become the first Indian woman referee in the AFC elite panel.

Delhi,Chhattisgarh in last 16

Delhi and Chhattisgarh emerged cluster toppers to set up a pre-quarterfinal clash in the 64th Santosh Trophy. Delhi thrashed Madhya Pradesh 3-1. David Ngaispe,Bhuvan Joshi and Vikash Rawat scored for Delhi while Javed Maniar scored for MP. Chhattisgarh beat Haryana 5-1 with goals from Wasim Raja,Daniela Pappu (2),Kulwant Singh and Yugal Kishore Purti. Raghav Khurana scored one for Haryana.

Kiwi captain fears attack

New Zealand netball captain Casey Williams has told her family and friends not to travel to India for the Commonwealth Games as she fears terrorist bombings during the event. Williams,though,has committed to lead the teams title defence. My family were going to India but Ive told them to stay at home. I do think about the security side and I dont think Delhis the kind of place where you meet up in the middle of town for coffee, he said.

Bopanna-Vliegen in title clash

Rohan Bopanna is one step away from winning his second ATP doubles title of the season after making the final of the Atlanta Tennis Championships with partner Kristof Vliegen. The Indo-Belgian pair won 7-5 7-5 over Stephen Huss of Australia and Brazils Andre Sa in the semi-finals of the $531,000 hard court event and will next take on Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram.

Atwal loses PGA card

Arjun Atwal lost his PGA Tour card after failing to make the final round due to the made-cut-but-did-not-finish rule,while Jeev Milkha Singh slipped three rungs to tied 56th with a one-under 69 in the third round of the Canadian Open golf tournament. Atwal slotted four birdies for a card of one-over 71 to sign off with a total of 210.

Negi holds Anish Giri

Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi played his third draw,signing peace with Anish Giri of Holland in the sixth round at the 43rd Biel Chess Festival. Fabiano Caruana of Italy remained in sole lead after thwarting the challenge of Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam with four points out of a possible six.

Sania stumbles in final

After mauling lower-ranked opponents all through the week,Sania Mirza lost the title clash of the Wrexham ITF event 2-6 4-6 to local favourite Heather Watson. In doubles,Sania and her Finnish partner Emma Laine lost 6-2 3-6 11-13 to unseeded local pair of Tara Moore and Francesca Stephenson.

ONGC win Murugappa Cup

ONGC stunned a star-studded Indian Oil 2-1 to emerge champions in the 86th Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here. Penalty-corner specialist Diwakar Ram (13th minute) and Bikash Toppo (61st) scored for ONGC while IOC struck through Prabhjot Singh (56th) in the final. ONGC dominated the proceedings with Harpal Singh spearheading the defence before IOC s drew parity.

Former IHF president dies

Former president of IHF IM Mahajan passed away following a brief illness. Mahajan,86,who had also served as the President of the Delhi and District Hockey Association (DDHA) and Hockey Delhi,breathed his last on Saturday. Mahajan was also the manager of the Indian team on several occasions including the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.