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Fifa outraged over World Cup ticket sale on internetPARIS: Fifa said yesterday if would investigate reports that tickets for the World Cup f...

Fifa outraged over World Cup ticket sale on internet

PARIS: Fifa said yesterday if would investigate reports that tickets for the World Cup finals were being illegally sold at inflated prices on the internet. "We are taking these reports very seriously," said Fifa general-secretary Sepp Blatter in a statement faxed to Reuters in Paris. The London daily newspaper The Independent said earlier in the day that the French organising committee (CFO) was looking at sales made on the internet by a US company, offering tickets far above their face value.

AIFF reschedules NFL matches

NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) today released the draw for the tenth and eleventh round of matches in the Philips National Football League today.

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The AIFF has been rescheduling a number of matches due to various reasons and several changes have occurred after the original fixtures were released here on December 5.

Following is the draw: Jan 31: Mahindras vs KBL FC Kochin at Mumbai; Feb 7: Churchill Brothers vs Air-India at Goa; Feb 8: JCT vs Indian Bank at Delhi; Feb 8: Salgaocar vs Dempo at Goa; Feb 8: Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal at Calcutta; Feb 11: Indian Bank vs Mahindras at Chennai; Feb 11: Dempo vs Churchill Brothers at Goa; Feb 11: JCT vs Air-India at Delhi; Feb 12: East Bengal vs Salgaocar at Calcutta; Feb 12: FC Kochin vs Mohun Bagan at Kochi

Warne rested for tie against SA

PERTH: Australian one-day captain Steve Waugh returns tomorrow for his country’s clash with South Africa in a Carlton and United Series limited-overs clash at the WACA ground here. But there is a good chance champion leg-spinner Shane Warne will be rested from the sell-out game expected to attract 29,000 fans.

Waugh was declared fit this morning after completing a rigorous last-minute test under the watchful eyes of chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and physiotherapist Errol Alcott.

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Australia and South Africa have both already booked their places in the showdown.

Teams (from): Australia — Steve Waugh (captain), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Adam Gilchrist, Ian Harvey, Stuart Law, Darren Lehmann, Jimmy Maher, Tom Moody, Ricky Ponting, Paul Reiffel and Paul Wilson.

South Africa — Hansie Cronje (captain), Daryll Cullinan, Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Gary Kirsten, Brian Mcmillan, Shaun Pollock, Dave Richardson, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox.

Punjab thrive on dropped catches

NAGPUR: Two dropped catches, some misfielding and it was almost over for Haryana. Gaganinder Singh (batting 50), who was dropped twice when Punjab were struggling to keep their wickets intact, saw his team only 26 runs away from Haryana’s first innings total of 239 with five wickets in hand.

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Punjab, aiming to take the vital first innings lead, which could fetch them the title, were 213 for the loss of five wickets on the second day of their three-day (u-16) Vijay Merchant Trophy final against Haryana at the VCA stadium, here, today.

Captain Yuvraj Singh’s responsible 53 (95m, 64b, 10×4) and his 91-run fourth wicket stand with Gaganinder Singh put Punjab in a respectable position. Earlier, resuming at their overnight total of 185 for eight, Haryana added 54 runs before being bowled out.

Brief Scores: Haryana 239 (Bhavanesh Sharma 30, Ishan Ganda 50, Sunil Chaudhary 39; Sandeep Sawal 4-80) vs Punjab 213-5 (S P Singh 38, Gaganinder Singh batting 50, Yuvraj Singh 53, Hari Kishan 36; Ishan Ganda 2-46)

Sail edge out Tatas for title

BHILAI: Steel Authority of India Limited (Sail) defeated Tata Sports Club by 11 runs in the final of the Sail Trophy Cricket Tournament, here, today.

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Put into bat first, Sail piled up 255 for nine in their allotted 50 overs riding on a sparkling unbeaten 106 by Ashu Dani and his 98-run stand with Mithun Minhas (50). Ajit Agarkar (4-23) was the most successful bowler for the Tatas while Shriram Kannan claimed three wickets. In reply, Tatas were all out for 244 in 47.4 overs with Agarkar top-scoring with 65 while Lalchand Rajput (33), Kunal Hazare (32) and Yogesh Kaudhare (31) were the other notable contributors.

Agarkar, who scalped 14 wickets in the tournament was adjudged the best player.

Mumbai, Punjab girls enter semis

WARANGAL: Punjab trounced Pune 70-19 in their last league match to top Pool A with nine points and make the semi-final grade in the All-India Inter-University (women) Kabaddi Championships at Kakatiya University grounds here on Saturday.

In the semi-finals to be played on Sunday morning they will take on Pool B’ runners Rohtak. In the other semi-final, Pool B’ winners Mumbai will clash with Shivaji University who downed last year’s runners Guru nanak Dev 47-41.

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Results: Shivaji bt GNDU 47-41; Punjab bt Pune 70-19; Himachal Pradesh bt LNDT 79-54; Mumbai bt Rohtak 54-18.

Chinai emerge inter-collegiate champs

MUMBAI: Chinai College won the inter-college title, defeating St Andrew’s Bandra 2-1 at the Khalsa College grounds.

Chinai took the lead early through a field goal by Subodh Kankoni. The hero of Chinai win was Sunil Periera who, after a couple of attempts, was successful in scoring a goal through a reverse flick that sealed the victory for Chinai. Bradely D’Silva scored the consolation goal for Andrews.

In the third position play-off, Khalsa College trounced RKT College, Ulhas Nagar 8-0. Aditya Menon, Rajiv Choudhry and Shaju Nair scored two goals each while Unroy Remidous and K D’Mello scored one each. Chinai will represent the city in the All-India inter-college tournament to be held in Delhi in February.