|
Guyana, USA emerge as Under-19 rugby pool winners
By Isaiah Chappelle
GUYANA and the United States of America (USA) emerged winners of their respective pools in yesterday’s fixtures of the GT&T Tropical Rhythm Under-19 Rugby World Cup qualifying series at the National Park.
The hosts and Trinidad & Tobago played to an exciting 0-0 draw, the score line belying the intensity of the competition, while the USA beat Jamaica 45-3.
Guyana and the USA will next clash on Saturday for a place in the finals of the Under-19 Rugby World Cup to be staged in Belfast, Ireland, next April.
The final day of play will begin with third-placers Barbados and the Cayman Islands meeting at 13:00 h, followed by second-placers Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago facing off at 14:30 h.
Guyana fought hard and the ball was mostly in Trinidad & Tobago’s half, despite being at the receiving end for most of the whistle.
The visitors, awarded a penalty as early as the second minute of play, chose to kick from 18 metres but it was no good.
Three minutes later, full back Satesh Samaroo got the ball from the 22-metre line, raced down the left wing, passed to winger Rayon Seales, but the referee deemed the move a forward pass.
However, Guyana were guilty of getting into the ruck late and T&T gained possession only to lose again. One good break by the locals came just past half hour of play, when outside centre Dane Parks and winger Seon Edwards kicked the ball forward on the run reaching the 22-metre in T&T half, only to have the whistle against them.
In the second half, Guyana did get four penalties within kicking distance, but kicker Samaroo failed to get the ball into the goal.
Parks displayed tremendous grit, playing with an injured leg, limping along. He was not one of the two substitutes.
Close to the final whistle, T&T’s Joshua Pascal was banished to the sin bin, but Guyana did not enjoy the advantage in numbers for long, with captain Randel Keiler being flashed a surprising yellow card, too.
Both Guyana and T&T beat Barbados to tie on five points, but the hosts’ victory was 27-0 and T&T’s 17-0; Guyana claimed the top spot of the pool.
Earlier, the USA downed seven tries, scored two penalty kicks and two conversions, while Jamaica made good one penalty kick amidst protest from the bench of unfair refereeing.
The USA were awarded a penalty within three minutes of play and Nate Ebner made good from 20 metres out. Robert Wolfgramm followed that with a try in the tenth minute, lunging through a small opening after a scrum from five metres out.
Five minutes later, Jamaica were awarded a penalty and Smithan Tapper made good the kick for their three points. But shortly after, USA gained another penalty and Ebner again was accurate.
Zack Test got the second try for the USA, a controversial one. A series of play took the team to about two metres away from the line, Jamaica stole the ball but the player lost possession and surprisingly, the referee blew for a try.
Ebner, however, finished a nice piece of passing to the right from the centre and he downed the ball close to the flag. The USA led 23-3 at halftime.
The second half produced four tries, the first coming about 12 minutes after the resumption, when Hamesh Roberts collected the ball at the left, about five metres away from the try line and raced forward to score. After another five minutes, Shawn Pike completed a build-up consisting of a series of rucks.
A beautiful piece of passing on the run along the right wing was nicely completed with Simon Kinet racing from ten metres out for the try, after 20 minutes.
Jamaica interrupted the run with a penalty but their kick was no good, and after about half hour in the half, they lost two players -- to the sin bin -- who came off spitting foul language.
The USA wrapped up victory with a nice finish. From a ruck close to the line, Lopeti Wolfgramm collected a right pass and raced forward to down the ball. Ebner made good his second conversion.
With that victory, the USA ended with six points to top the pool, Jamaica ended with four, and the Cayman Islands two.
CAC team off to Junior championship
GUYANA’S athletics team departed for the Central America & Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championship to be staged in Trinidad & Tobago from tomorrow to Tuesday next.
Coach Raymond Daw said the ten-man team was large in terms of Guyana’s participation.
He said he was not totally satisfied with the preparation which was affected in a major way by the weather.
“We had to resort to the road and tarmac of the National Park for training.”
Daw, however, said he was confident that top distance runner Alika Morgan, sprinters Rondel Adams and Monica Roberts should medal.
Six athletes left here, Morgan and USA-based sprinter Dax Danns joining the touring party in the host country.
Morgan will compete in the 1500 m and 3 000 m and Danns in the 100 m and 200 m.
Distance runner Dennis Horatio will compete in the 5 000 m and 10 000 m events, sprinter Rondel Adams will run in the 400 m, and middle distance Ryan De Peazer in the 800 m, 1500 m.
Field competitor Shenelley Bowen will throw the Shot Put, Javelin and Discus, sprinter Monica Roberts will compete in the 400 m and middle distance runner Carlissa Atkinson in the 800 m and 1200 m.
Amanda Hermonstine is the manager.
Carew not interested in continuing as Windies selector
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC) - West Indies selector Joe Carew has declared that he is no longer planning to continue in that job.
Trinidad and Tobago's Carew, the convenor of selectors on the last panel, submitted to his local authorities that he is pulling out of contention for the panel.
"Joey Carew has notified the president of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Deryck Murray, that he is withdrawing his nomination for the post of West Indies selector for the upcoming term," the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced in a press release yesterday morning.
The West Indies selection panel's two-year term ended last month -- June 30 -- and a new panel is to be installed at a WICB meeting in Barbados today.
The TTCB had nominated Carew for the next term, but he indicated that after careful consideration he has decided to withdraw.
Carew has been involved with West Indies cricket for the past 25 years, having previously represented the West Indies as a player and served as a selector of both the Trinidad & Tobago and the West Indies teams.
He played 19 Test matches and was vice-captain of the West Indies team at home in 1971-72.
Carew has been West Indies selector during the periods 1977-1979, 1985-1987 and 1998 to this year June.
The selection of the West Indies team has taken the spotlight recently after pronouncements by team captain Brian Lara during the home series against India.
Lara asked for different bowlers during the recent Test series defeat (0-1) at home to India, but was not granted his wish.
Former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts is among three new candidates for the selection panel -- the others are fellow Leeward Islander Derick Parry of Nevis and Dominican Lockhart Sebastien.
They are expected to join the incumbent Gordon Greenidge and Clyde Butts as contenders on a panel to serve for the next two years.
Guyana emerge as biggest Caribbean movers in new system…
T&T new No.1 among major changes in CFU rankings
ZURICH, Switzerland, (CMC) - FIFA World Cup participants Trinidad and Tobago are the new Caribbean Football Union (CFU) number one team amidst major positional changes in the latest ratings released yesterday.
World governing body FIFA has implemented significant revisions in its rankings procedure and while T&T's Soca Warriors have displaced Jamaica at the top, Barbados and Grenada have tumbled out of the CFU's top-10, making room for Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.
FIFA's new system places more weight on certain international matches and one other important change to the calculation of the ranking is that it will no longer take into account the last eight years of results but only the last four.
On their World Cup Finals debut, Trinidad and Tobago lost to England and Paraguay after holding world top-25 Sweden to a draw, and they dropped 17 places down FIFA's world list to No.64.
But Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, who have led the CFU ratings for the past few years, plunged a whopping 32 places down.
The Jamaicans, who lost heavily to England (0-6) and Ghana (1-4) in two World Cup warm-up matches in the past month, are now rated 78th, down from 46th in the last ratings in May.
Cuba retain third in the CFU although they fell 16 places down to 96th.
There is no other Caribbean team in FIFA's top-100.
Guyana emerged from the new system as the biggest Caribbean movers, hiking 31 places up to 131st on the world list, making them No.7 in the CFU.
Antigua and Barbuda also enjoyed a huge ratings boost - moving from 160 - 15 places to 145th and ninth on the CFU's list.
Barbados, who were fifth in May's CFU rakings, slid 33 places down to 152nd in the world and they are now 11th in the CFU, and Grenada, who also lost their regional top-10 spot, are now No.159 in the world - down four places - and 12th in the CFU.
In the CFU's new-look top-10, St Lucia are up from sixth to No.4 after climbing 16 places up to 115th on FIFA's list, and Haiti are now No.5 after slipping 17 places on FIFA's table to 123rd.
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) are No.6 in the CFU with a world rating of 129, and the CFU's top-10 is completed by Guyana at seventh, St Kitts and Nevis at No.8, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname, who retain 10th spot with an eight-place climb up FIFA's list to No.150.
CONCACAF (Confederation for North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) giants USA and Mexico were unable to make the top frame at the World Cup Finals in Germany and suffered significant slips on the world list.
Mexico dropped from fourth to 18th and the USA dipped to 16th, down 11 places.
Third in the CONCACAF rankings behind Mexico and the USA are Honduras at 38th in the world, followed by Costa Rica (45th), Guatemala (53rd), Canada (54th), and Panama (59th), with Trinidad and Tobago being CONCACAF's seventh-ranked team and Jamaica at No.8.
Dethroned world champions Brazil keep their No.1 rating, ahead of new world champions Italy, who climb 11 places up the ratings following their fourth capture of the World Cup.
Argentina are rated third, followed by beaten World Cup finalists France, then England at No.5.
CFU Rankings - May 2006 (world rating in bracket):
1. Trinidad & Tobago (64)
2. Jamaica (78)
3. Cuba (96)
4. St Lucia (115)
5. Haiti (123)
6. St Vincent & the Grenadines (129)
7. Guyana (131)
8. St Kitts & Nevis (136)
9. Antigua & Barbuda (145)
10. Suriname (150)
11. Barbados (152)
12. Grenada (159)
13. Bermuda (160)
14. British Virgin Islands (168)
15. Cayman Islands (175)
16. Netherlands Antilles (176)
17. Dominica (183)
18. Dominican Republic (186)
19. Puerto Rico (190)
20. Bahamas (193)
21. Aruba (196)
21. US Virgin Islands (196)
21. Montserrat (196)
21. Turks & Caicos Islands
Crowe attacks ICC over 'chucking'
NEW Zealand great Martin Crowe has attacked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being too lenient on bowlers with suspect actions.
The ICC introduced a new law two years ago allowing a 15 degree straightening margin into bowlers' actions.
"If by the naked eye a bowler is clearly chucking, he should be chucked out," said Crowe, who was giving the annual Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's.
"To straighten your arm from a bent position is a massive advantage."
Crowe, who scored more than 5 400 runs in 77 Tests, also made a thinly-veiled reference to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, whose career has been plagued by allegations of chucking.
"Having been pinned in the head by chuckers over 15 years, having been bowled first ball in a Test by a certain Sri Lankan bowler, I've had more than enough of this aspect of the game," said Crowe.
"This is cricket's Achilles heel. If the umpire believes he has seen a throw then he should, as part of the laws of cricket, be allowed to no-ball it or at least report it.
"The law was fine 10 years ago. Now it simply gives room for the laws to be bent."
Crowe also criticised the continued inclusion of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the Test rota.
"Test cricket is without question being undermined by continuing to allow Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to play Test cricket," he said.
"Bangladesh have played a staggering 44 Tests, for one win, over just six years - they simply aren't going to make it.
"The game is too ruthless in all respects for the top nations to allow Bangladesh to step up.
"Let's face it, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are being kept on the international stage for political reasons - what hypocrisy from the ICC that argues that politics should not come into the sport."
Crowe, however, has left himself open to charges of double standards because it took New Zealand 26 years and 44 Tests to register their first win. (BBC Sport)
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif ruled out of first Test
… England wait on Hoggard
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Pakistan lost a third paceman on the eve of the first Test against England starting at Lord's today when Mohammad Asif was ruled out with an elbow injury.
Asif, who took 17 wickets on the recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, joins Shoaib Akhtar (ankle injury) and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (groin) on the sidelines after a cortisone injection failed to ease the complaint.
"He hasn't reacted properly to an injection so he will be out," coach Bob Woolmer told reporters.
Woolmer said opening batsmen Shoaib Malik, who also had a cortisone injection for a similar injury, was doubtful for the first match in the four-Test series.
England will wait until the last minute before deciding whether swing bowler Matthew Hoggard is fit after a freak injury last Saturday required six stitches in his bowling hand.
The hosts have already lost half of the pace attack who were instrumental in the Ashes win over Australia last year.
Simon Jones is out for the season with a knee operation and all-rounder Andy Flintoff will miss the first Test because of a heel problem. Their first reserve James Anderson is also out of action with a back injury.
England captain Andrew Strauss told a news conference yesterday the management team would give Hoggard as long as possible to recover from the injury sustained when a team mate trod on his hand during warm-up exercises.
CONFIDENT INZAMAM
"At this stage we are giving him as long as possible to prove his fitness," Strauss said. "He had a useful workout in the nets today."
If Hoggard's run of 32 consecutive Tests comes to an end England will field an attack in which only Steve Harmison, who is himself returning from injury after missing the Sri Lanka series with sore shins, will have more than 15 Test wickets.
Pakistan have moved ahead of England into second place in the world rankings after winning their last three series in a row, including a 2-0 victory over England late last year.
"The one thing about them in the winter was their unpredictability," said Strauss.
"They can turn the match around in one session. We can't afford to relax, we have got to be on top of our game at all times.
Inzamam told a news conference his team had the belief and confidence to beat England.
"The team is coming up," he said. "We will be trying hard. It is hot weather here which is good for us. These boys are very confident, the team is confident.”
I'm sorry but no regrets - Zidane
ZINEDINE Zidane has apologised for his headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in Sunday's World Cup final.
But the French legend does not regret his actions, alleging on television that Materazzi provoked him by insulting both his mother and sister.
"It was inexcusable. I apologise," said the 34-year-old Zidane. "But I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he was right to say all that."
Materazzi responded by denying he said anything about Zidane's mother.
"I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism," said the Italian yesterday.
"I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.
"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.
"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."
Zidane was sent off for head-butting Materazzi in the chest in the second period of extra-time in the final in Berlin.
The Frenchman claimed he had been provoked by the Italian and appeared on French TV station Canal Plus yesterday to explain his actions.
"It was seen by two or three billion people on television and millions and millions of children were watching," he said.
"It was an inexcusable gesture and to them, and the people in education whose job it is to show children what they should and shouldn't do, I want to apologise."
Asked what had caused him to react so violently, he said Materazzi had directed some "very hard words" at him.
"You hear them once and you try to move away. But then you hear them twice, and then a third time," said Zidane.
"I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that."
Zidane, who retired from football after Sunday's final, also called for Materazzi to be punished for his part in the incident.
"We always talk about the reaction, and obviously it must be punished. But if there is no provocation, there is no need to react," said the former Real Madrid and Juventus player.
"Above all it was a very serious provocation. It was an inexcusable gesture but the real culprit is the person who provoked it.
"Do you imagine that in a World Cup final like that with just 10 minutes to go to the end of my career, I am going to do something like that because it gives me pleasure?"
Since the incident, rumours have run rife about what Materazzi said to get such a reaction from the Frenchman.
There were claims the Italian had called Zidane a "terrorist", but in Tuesday's edition of the Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport, Materazzi said: "It was the kind of insult you will hear dozens of times and just slips out on the field.
"I didn't call Zidane a terrorist and certainly didn't mention his mother. I did not bring up Zidane's mother; for me a mother is sacred."
Zidane, who was born and grew up in Marseille, is the son of Algerian immigrants and has suffered taunts about his heritage throughout his football career.
The two players initially clashed in the Italian penalty area before words were exchanged.
Materazzi said: "I held his shirt, for only a few seconds. He turned towards me and scoffed at me, looking at me with super arrogance, up and down.
"He said 'if you really want my shirt, you can have it later'. It's true, I shot back with an insult."
Zidane said he planned to defend himself in the FIFA investigation into his sending-off.
He also confirmed that he would not go back on his decision to quit the game.
"This is a decision I have made and I will not go back on it," he said. "This is definite. I will not play again.” (BBC Sport)
National Twenty20 squad enter final phase of preparation
MEMBERS of the Guyana squad have recommenced their preparation for the current Allen Stanford Twenty/20 regional cricket tournament in Antigua.
The camp is boosted by the presence of a trainer and nutritionist provided by the Stanford group. There will be a lecture on nutrition by Joanne Keaveney at the Ocean View International Hotel today from 13:00 h.
In addition to that, the trainer will take the national team through a fitness drill at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall today and tomorrow from 15:00 h to 18:00 h. They will continue sessions on Saturday from 09:00 h to 11:00 h. The camp is expected to conclude next Monday.
The national squad, under the leadership of Ramnaresh Sarwan, is scheduled to depart on July 19 before they collide with Montserrat on July 21 in their opening campaign.
Pakistan's successful run in England
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Pakistan have not lost a series in England since 1982, a record unmatched by any other Test-playing nation
Following is a brief summary of the four series played in England since Imran's Khan's 1982 side narrowly lost 2-1.
1987
Imran had brought discipline and order to a bunch of disparate individuals who often spent more time feuding with each other than fighting the opposition. After a career-threatening shin injury he had re-established himself as the world's premier all-rounder. An athletic and hostile fast bowler, whose classical batsmanship had flourished under the responsibilities of captaincy.
Both of the first two Tests in a damp, cool summer were drawn with little more than 20 hours play possible over the 10 days. Imran, who had strained a stomach muscle early in the tour, did not bowl in the first Test and did not push himself in the second.
In the third at Headingley, he was back to his irresistible best, taking three for 37 and seven for 40 as Pakistan won by an innings.
Imran took six for 129 in the first innings in another draw at Edgbaston then played a leading role as Pakistan batted England out of the fifth Test at the Oval. Javed Miandad struck 260, Salim Malik 102 and Imran was run-out for 118 in Pakistan's first innings of 708. England captain Mike Gatting, dropped five times, ensured the draw with 150 not out.
Result: Pakistan 1 England 0.
1992
Imran had played a decisive innings as Pakistan defeated England to win the World Cup in Melbourne before pulling out of the ensuing tour with a shoulder injury, ending the career of the greatest cricketer to represent his nation.
His withdrawal mattered little. Imran's apprentices Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had learned from the master and they devastated England with reverse swing at high pace.
The series was acrimonious from start to finish. Pakistan were unhappy with the standard of the umpiring and elements in the British tabloid press accused the Pakistan bowlers of tampering with the ball.
Their accusations were misplaced. Wasim was the finest left-arm pace bowler in history, generating high pace and violent movement in the air and off the seam from a short run with a high action.
Such was his versatility that he could bowl with equal effect over or around the wicket. Waqar, a magnificent sight as he sprinted to the crease, unleashed lethal inswingers with a low-slung action.
After a decade of short-pitched violence from the West Indies' pacemen Pakistan had brought a new dimension to Test cricket.
Miandad proved a shrewd and canny captain and averaged 60.66 with the bat while Malik topped the averages with 81.33.
Result: Pakistan 2 England 0.
1996
This time Wasim was in charge of another team of all the talents who again outplayed the hosts in a three-Test series.
Mushtaq Ahmed, a bouncy leg-spinner topped the bowling averages, and wicketkeeper Moin Khan was the leading batsman with an average of 79.00.
There were runs again from Salim Malik while Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had failed with the bat four years earlier after making such an impression at the World Cup, averaged 64.00.
Result: Pakistan 2 England 0.
2001
England under Nasser Hussain had given the all-conquering Australians something to think about at last by winning series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
With the Australians due later in the summer, the home side made the perfect start in the first Test against Pakistan when Darren Gough and Andy Caddick bowled them to an innings victory at Lord's with potent pace and movement.
But in the second at Old Trafford, England's old insecurities resurfaced after they were set 370 to win in 112 overs following sumptuous innings of 114 and 85 from Inzamam.
At the close of the fourth day the home team needed 285 from 90 overs with all their wickets still in hand. After Pakistan closed down the scoring rate a draw then seemed the likeliest option before the England batting crumbled under the pressure. The Australians took due note and went on to win their series 4-1.
Result: Pakistan 1 England 0.
Dessel claims yellow jersey as Mercado wins stage
By Jean-Paul Couret
PAU, France, (Reuters) - Frenchman Cyril Dessel claimed the yellow jersey yesterday at the end of the first mountain stage of the Tour de France, which was won by Spaniard Juan Miguel Mercado.
After 190.5 km from Cambo-les-Bains to Pau, the two men crossed the line 56 seconds ahead of third-placed Inigo Landaluze and 7:23 in front of the peloton and overnight race leader, Serhiy Honchar.
"I have the yellow jersey and the (climber’s) polka dot jersey, I can be satisfied with my day even if I didn't win the stage", said Dessel, who became the first Frenchman to don yellow since Thomas Voeckler in 2004.
"I didn't want to let Mercado win because a stage win in the Tour is something rare. If I had won the stage it would have been a perfect day."
Dessel of the AG2R team, Mercado, leader of Agritubel, and Spain's Landaluze (Euskaltel) were among a group of 15 riders who broke away around the 40-km mark, just before the first climb of the day, the third-category Col d'Osquich.
The 32-year-old Dessel started the stage in 28th position overall, 3:50 behind Ukrainian Honchar.
The Osquich pass was a warm-up before the riders faced the hors category Col du Soudet and its long ascent on a narrow road with a 10 percent gradient over the last kilometre.
At the back of the race, specialist climber Iban Mayo, who finished sixth overall in the 2003, dropped off the pace.
He was joined by Belgian world champion Tom Boonen, Frenchmen Sandy Casar and Jimmy Casper, winner of the first stage, and prologue victor Thor Hushovd of Norway.
The lead group had to force their way through thousands of spectators, including many Spaniards, lining the slopes of the Soudet.
Dessel outsprinted Mercado at the top and the T-Mobile team led the peloton over the fog-covered summit nine minutes later.
The gap with the peloton increased to 10:50 as the lead group, now eight riders, reached the slopes of the first-category Col de Marie Blanque, regarded as one of the steepest ascents in the area with an 11 percent gradient on its last part.
As the slope became steeper, Dessel and Mercado attacked. Once again, the Frenchman was the stronger at the summit, to earn the best climber's polka-dot jersey.
Best, Mohammed, and Tulloch spearhead Cayman victory
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC) - Set up by half-centuries from Pearson Best and Saheed Mohammed, and five wickets from Kenute Tulloch, the Cayman Islands romped to an easy 57-run victory in their Stanford Twenty20 Cup match against the Bahamas on Tuesday under the lights at the Stanford Cricket Ground.
Barbadian-born Best, who was named Man-of-the-Match hit the top score of 74 and Guyanese-born Mohammed was undefeated on 64, as the Cayman Islands posted a challenging 175 for four from their allocation of 20 overs after being put into bat under the lights.
Jamaica-born Tulloch then bagged five wickets for 21 runs from his allotment of four overs to be the most successful Cayman Islands bowler, as the Bahamas were restricted to 118 for nine in 20 overs.
Llewellyn Armstrong, the Bahamian captain, hit the top score of 40 not out from 48 balls to bring some respectability to his side's reply, after they collapsed to 22 for five after five overs.
Tulloch struck with the fourth ball of the innings, when he had opener Dannavan Morrison adjudged lbw for one.
Tulloch also had a hand in the dismissal of Sri Lankan-born Narendra Ekanayake, who reportedly played alongside Sri Lanka wicketkeeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara at Trinity College in the central Sri Lankan city of Kandy.
Looking to steal a single, Ekanayake failed to get a response from his partner Garcia Blair, and Tulloch fielded his drive to mid-on then hurled the ball to the 'keeper to complete the dismissal.
Tulloch then removed Blair caught at deep fine leg for a duck, Dwight Weakley lbw for 11, and Whitcliff Atkinson bowled for a duck to put the skids on the Bahamians.
Oneil Levy came to the wicket and added 41 for the fifth wicket with Armstrong, who also put on 29 with Mario Ford for the sixth wicket, but there was to be no comeback story for the Bahamians.
Earlier, the Caymans found themselves under the squeeze early, when Garfield Armstrong, the Bahamian captain's brother, removed openers Ainsley Hall caught at mid-on for two and Steve Gordon, the Caymanian captain, caught at square leg for 18.
The Caymans were 29 for two, but Best and Mohammed bided their time well and emerged from a circumspect start to bludgeon their way to a 144-run, second-wicket stand.
There were strokes of all descriptions from the two Caymanian batsmen and no bowler was spared their wrath, with Best striking nine fours and three sixes from 39 balls, and Mohammed nine boundaries from 48 balls.
Best was caught at extra cover with two balls remaining in the Caymanian innings driving lazily at a loose delivery outside the off-stump, and next ball, Franklin Hinds was caught at wide long-on for a first-ball duck to be the final Bahamian success.
Last night, the British Virgin Islands and St Lucia contested the only match under the light.
The Stanford Twenty20 Cup, the brainchild of Antigua-based American billionaire financier and developer, Allen Stanford, features 19 Caribbean countries all vying for a top prize of US$1 million in a single elimination tournament.
CAYMAN ISLANDS (maximum 20 overs)
S. Gordon c Levy b G. Armstrong 18
A. Hall c Bennett b G. Armstrong 2
S. Mohammed not out 64
P. Best c L. Armstrong b Blair 74
F. Hinds c G. Armstrong b Blair 0
K. Irving not out 0
Extras: (lb-6, w-11) 17
Total: (4 wkts, 20 overs) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-29, 3-173, 4-173.
Bowling: Levy 4-0-25-0 (w-1), G. Armstrong 4-0-22-2 (w-6), Weakley 4-0-32-0 (w-2), Ekanayake 4-0-34-0 (w-1), Blair 3-0-39-2 (w-1), Bennett 1-0-17-0.
BAHAMAS (target: 176 runs off 20 overs)
D. Morrison lbw b Tulloch 1
N. Ekanayake run-out (Tulloch) 7
G. Blair c Wright b Tulloch 0
D. Weakley lbw b Tulloch 10
L. Armstrong not out 40
W. Atkinson b Tulloch 0
O. Levy stp. Hall b Mohammed 19
M. Ford c Gordon b Hinds 25
G. Armstrong b Mohammed 1
J. Barry c Wright b Tulloch 2
V. Bennett not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-9, w-2) 12
Total: (9 wkts - 20 overs) 118
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-9, 3-10, 4-22, 5-22, 6-63, 7-92, 8-96, 9-113.
Bowling: Tulloch 4-0-21-5 (w-1), Wright 4-0-22-0 (w-1), Wight 2-0-9-0, Hinds 3-0-15-1, Bazil 3-0-28-0, Mohammed 4-0-13-2.
Loew takes over as Klinsman quits Germnay job
By Noah Barkin
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Juergen Klinsmann, who led Germany to a surprise third-place finish in the World Cup and won over the hearts of the nation, said yesterday he was stepping down and assistant Joachim Loew would take his place.
"I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, who pushed us along to this fantastic success," the 41-year-old Klinsmann told a news conference in Frankfurt as he fought back tears.
"It was the most beautiful World Cup ever. We've created a new image of the Germans around the world."
Klinsmann came under fierce criticism prior to the World Cup, notably for his decisions to commute from his adopted home in California and bring in an American fitness trainer whose modern methods were ridiculed by German soccer traditionalists.
But he silenced the doubters by steering Germany to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual world champions Italy 2-0 after extra time.
Klinsmann, who had no coaching experience when he took the job in August 2004, said he was leaving because he wanted to spend time with his family in California.
He described himself as "burned out" and said he would take a six-month break before thinking about his next move, denying rumours he might be interested in coaching the U.S. team.
"There is neither interest nor contact," he said.
Klinsmann joins Italy coach Marcello Lippi, whose resignation was also announced yesterday.
He leaves with a record of 21 wins, seven draws and six defeats in his two years in charge. As a player, he won 108 caps and scored 47 goals, helping West Germany win the World Cup in 1990 and Germany the European Championship in 1996.
KLINSMANN ALLY
Loew, a former midfielder and Bundesliga coach who worked closely with Klinsmann over the past two years and comes from the same region in Germany's southwest, has agreed a two-year contract to run the team.
The 46-year-old pledged to continue with the philosophy that he and Klinsmann put in place.
"That's the only way we can achieve a lasting place among the very best in the world," Loew said.
Loew, who favours dapper suits typically worn without a tie, has said he gains the most fulfilment from seeing a young player develop into one capable of competing with the very best.
Those skills will serve him well with a team that relies heavily on young players like striker Lukas Podolski, who was voted top young player of the World Cup, and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored twice in the third-place match against Portugal on Saturday.
Loew will lead Germany into a friendly against Sweden on August 16 before their 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign starts in September.
All 23 players in Germany's squad, 93 percent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of Klinsmann's harshest critics had said they wanted him to continue.
The success of the German team during the World Cup whipped the entire nation into a patriotic feel-good frenzy and the man fans fondly called ‘Klinsi’ was the chief symbol of Germany's new mood.
"I hope that no one's heart will be broken by this," Klinsmann said. "Now let's look to the future. We'll have a lot of fun watching this team.”
Italy’s World Cup winning coach resigns
By James Eve
ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has resigned, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced yesterday.
The 58-year-old Lippi led the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title, first since 1982, on Sunday when they beat France on penalties in the final in Berlin.
"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team," he said in a statement on the FIGC's web site.
"I have, therefore, communicated to the FIGC my wish to leave my post at the end of my contract (on July 31)."
Lippi took over from Giovanni Trapattoni in July 2004 after Italy's disappointing exit in the group stages of Euro 2004.
In two years under Lippi's guidance, Italy lost only twice -- a 2-0 defeat on his debut against Iceland and a 1-0 loss to Slovenia, both in 2004.
"I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith they showed in me in these two years of work, crowned with a result that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all the fans," Lippi said.
Italian press agency ANSA quoted him as saying he wanted to continue coaching.
EARLY DECISION
In the past few days Italian media had speculated that Lippi was about to leave his post.
He was said to be tired of hearing his name mentioned in connection with the match-fixing scandal involving four top Serie A clubs including champions Juventus, with whom he won five Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League in two stints as coach between 1994 and 2004.
FIGC vice-president Giancarlo Abete thanked Lippi for his "extraordinary professionalism and for his ability to lead the team in the context of the great difficulties known to all."
He revealed Lippi's decision had been taken some time ago.
"Lippi told me during the group stages that he had not taken on any professional commitments for the future and that he had already decided, whatever the result of the World Cup, to leave as coach of the national team at the end of his contract," Abete said.
Among those who had called for Lippi to stay on was Enzo Bearzot, the coach who led Italy to glory at the 1982 World Cup.
"History should decide whether you've reached the end of a cycle," he was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
The FIGC has not yet named a successor, though media reports suggested there are three front-runners for the job, ex-Italy and AC Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni, former AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni and the current Italy Under-21 coach Claudio Gentile.
Italy have also yet to name their opponents for their next match, a friendly on August 16.
Their 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign starts against Lithuania on September 2, with a repeat of the World Cup final against France on September.
Zidane could lose best player award - Blatter
ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Zinedine Zidane's head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final might cost him the tournament's Golden Ball award, FIFA president Sepp Blatter hinted in an interview published yesterday.
World soccer's ruling body opened a disciplinary investigation on Tuesday into the circumstances surrounding the incident in Sunday's final.
"FIFA's executive committee has the right and duty to intervene when it sees behaviour that is contrary to sports ethics," he was quoted as saying in an interview in Rome's La Repubblica newspaper.
Asked if Zidane risked being stripped of the award for the World Cup's best player, Blatter said: "Before we make any decision we have to await the outcome of the investigation.
"Being presumed innocent until proved otherwise is sacred principle."
But he added: "Seeing him behave this way really, really hurt me."
Playing the last match of a great career, the French midfielder drove his head into Materazzi's chest in the second period of extra time in Berlin after exchanging comments with Materazzi. He was shown a straight red card by the referee.
FIFA's Golden Ball award was decided by media at the World Cup.
Under-20 world qualifiers off and running this week
NEW YORK CITY, New York, (CMC) - The road to next year's FIFA Under-20 World Cup Championship in Canada begins this week for CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) with the Caribbean Zone qualification series.
Top-rated Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti have automatic spots in round two but the first stage of qualification began yesterday evening with the US Virgin Islands hosting the first of five Caribbean first-round groups.
Along with hosts US Virgin Islands, Group A -- in St Croix -- consists of Bermuda, Bahamas and British Virgin Islands.
Group B takes place in the Dominican Republic from July 28 to August 1 with Anguilla, Cayman Islands and Cuba, while Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis join the hosts St Martin in Group C from August 2-6.
St Lucia will stage Group D that includes Barbados, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) from August 20-24, while Aruba, Guyana and Netherlands Antilles travel to Suriname for Group E taking place from August 6-10.
The winners of each of the five groups will join Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Zone's second round that will qualify three teams for the CONCACAF Final Round next year.
Guyana, USA emerge as Under-19 rugby pool winners
By Isaiah Chappelle
GUYANA and the United States of America (USA) emerged winners of their respective pools in yesterday’s fixtures of the GT&T Tropical Rhythm Under-19 Rugby World Cup qualifying series at the National Park.
The hosts and Trinidad & Tobago played to an exciting 0-0 draw, the score line belying the intensity of the competition, while the USA beat Jamaica 45-3.
Guyana and the USA will next clash on Saturday for a place in the finals of the Under-19 Rugby World Cup to be staged in Belfast, Ireland, next April.
The final day of play will begin with third-placers Barbados and the Cayman Islands meeting at 13:00 h, followed by second-placers Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago facing off at 14:30 h.
Guyana fought hard and the ball was mostly in Trinidad & Tobago’s half, despite being at the receiving end for most of the whistle.
The visitors, awarded a penalty as early as the second minute of play, chose to kick from 18 metres but it was no good.
Three minutes later, full back Satesh Samaroo got the ball from the 22-metre line, raced down the left wing, passed to winger Rayon Seales, but the referee deemed the move a forward pass.
However, Guyana were guilty of getting into the ruck late and T&T gained possession only to lose again. One good break by the locals came just past half hour of play, when outside centre Dane Parks and winger Seon Edwards kicked the ball forward on the run reaching the 22-metre in T&T half, only to have the whistle against them.
In the second half, Guyana did get four penalties within kicking distance, but kicker Samaroo failed to get the ball into the goal.
Parks displayed tremendous grit, playing with an injured leg, limping along. He was not one of the two substitutes.
Close to the final whistle, T&T’s Joshua Pascal was banished to the sin bin, but Guyana did not enjoy the advantage in numbers for long, with captain Randel Keiler being flashed a surprising yellow card, too.
Both Guyana and T&T beat Barbados to tie on five points, but the hosts’ victory was 27-0 and T&T’s 17-0; Guyana claimed the top spot of the pool.
Earlier, the USA downed seven tries, scored two penalty kicks and two conversions, while Jamaica made good one penalty kick amidst protest from the bench of unfair refereeing.
The USA were awarded a penalty within three minutes of play and Nate Ebner made good from 20 metres out. Robert Wolfgramm followed that with a try in the tenth minute, lunging through a small opening after a scrum from five metres out.
Five minutes later, Jamaica were awarded a penalty and Smithan Tapper made good the kick for their three points. But shortly after, USA gained another penalty and Ebner again was accurate.
Zack Test got the second try for the USA, a controversial one. A series of play took the team to about two metres away from the line, Jamaica stole the ball but the player lost possession and surprisingly, the referee blew for a try.
Ebner, however, finished a nice piece of passing to the right from the centre and he downed the ball close to the flag. The USA led 23-3 at halftime.
The second half produced four tries, the first coming about 12 minutes after the resumption, when Hamesh Roberts collected the ball at the left, about five metres away from the try line and raced forward to score. After another five minutes, Shawn Pike completed a build-up consisting of a series of rucks.
A beautiful piece of passing on the run along the right wing was nicely completed with Simon Kinet racing from ten metres out for the try, after 20 minutes.
Jamaica interrupted the run with a penalty but their kick was no good, and after about half hour in the half, they lost two players -- to the sin bin -- who came off spitting foul language.
The USA wrapped up victory with a nice finish. From a ruck close to the line, Lopeti Wolfgramm collected a right pass and raced forward to down the ball. Ebner made good his second conversion.
With that victory, the USA ended with six points to top the pool, Jamaica ended with four, and the Cayman Islands two.
CAC team off to Junior championship
GUYANA’S athletics team departed for the Central America & Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championship to be staged in Trinidad & Tobago from tomorrow to Tuesday next.
Coach Raymond Daw said the ten-man team was large in terms of Guyana’s participation.
He said he was not totally satisfied with the preparation which was affected in a major way by the weather.
“We had to resort to the road and tarmac of the National Park for training.”
Daw, however, said he was confident that top distance runner Alika Morgan, sprinters Rondel Adams and Monica Roberts should medal.
Six athletes left here, Morgan and USA-based sprinter Dax Danns joining the touring party in the host country.
Morgan will compete in the 1500 m and 3 000 m and Danns in the 100 m and 200 m.
Distance runner Dennis Horatio will compete in the 5 000 m and 10 000 m events, sprinter Rondel Adams will run in the 400 m, and middle distance Ryan De Peazer in the 800 m, 1500 m.
Field competitor Shenelley Bowen will throw the Shot Put, Javelin and Discus, sprinter Monica Roberts will compete in the 400 m and middle distance runner Carlissa Atkinson in the 800 m and 1200 m.
Amanda Hermonstine is the manager.
Carew not interested in continuing as Windies selector
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC) - West Indies selector Joe Carew has declared that he is no longer planning to continue in that job.
Trinidad and Tobago's Carew, the convenor of selectors on the last panel, submitted to his local authorities that he is pulling out of contention for the panel.
"Joey Carew has notified the president of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Deryck Murray, that he is withdrawing his nomination for the post of West Indies selector for the upcoming term," the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced in a press release yesterday morning.
The West Indies selection panel's two-year term ended last month -- June 30 -- and a new panel is to be installed at a WICB meeting in Barbados today.
The TTCB had nominated Carew for the next term, but he indicated that after careful consideration he has decided to withdraw.
Carew has been involved with West Indies cricket for the past 25 years, having previously represented the West Indies as a player and served as a selector of both the Trinidad & Tobago and the West Indies teams.
He played 19 Test matches and was vice-captain of the West Indies team at home in 1971-72.
Carew has been West Indies selector during the periods 1977-1979, 1985-1987 and 1998 to this year June.
The selection of the West Indies team has taken the spotlight recently after pronouncements by team captain Brian Lara during the home series against India.
Lara asked for different bowlers during the recent Test series defeat (0-1) at home to India, but was not granted his wish.
Former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts is among three new candidates for the selection panel -- the others are fellow Leeward Islander Derick Parry of Nevis and Dominican Lockhart Sebastien.
They are expected to join the incumbent Gordon Greenidge and Clyde Butts as contenders on a panel to serve for the next two years.
Guyana emerge as biggest Caribbean movers in new system…
T&T new No.1 among major changes in CFU rankings
ZURICH, Switzerland, (CMC) - FIFA World Cup participants Trinidad and Tobago are the new Caribbean Football Union (CFU) number one team amidst major positional changes in the latest ratings released yesterday.
World governing body FIFA has implemented significant revisions in its rankings procedure and while T&T's Soca Warriors have displaced Jamaica at the top, Barbados and Grenada have tumbled out of the CFU's top-10, making room for Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.
FIFA's new system places more weight on certain international matches and one other important change to the calculation of the ranking is that it will no longer take into account the last eight years of results but only the last four.
On their World Cup Finals debut, Trinidad and Tobago lost to England and Paraguay after holding world top-25 Sweden to a draw, and they dropped 17 places down FIFA's world list to No.64.
But Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, who have led the CFU ratings for the past few years, plunged a whopping 32 places down.
The Jamaicans, who lost heavily to England (0-6) and Ghana (1-4) in two World Cup warm-up matches in the past month, are now rated 78th, down from 46th in the last ratings in May.
Cuba retain third in the CFU although they fell 16 places down to 96th.
There is no other Caribbean team in FIFA's top-100.
Guyana emerged from the new system as the biggest Caribbean movers, hiking 31 places up to 131st on the world list, making them No.7 in the CFU.
Antigua and Barbuda also enjoyed a huge ratings boost - moving from 160 - 15 places to 145th and ninth on the CFU's list.
Barbados, who were fifth in May's CFU rakings, slid 33 places down to 152nd in the world and they are now 11th in the CFU, and Grenada, who also lost their regional top-10 spot, are now No.159 in the world - down four places - and 12th in the CFU.
In the CFU's new-look top-10, St Lucia are up from sixth to No.4 after climbing 16 places up to 115th on FIFA's list, and Haiti are now No.5 after slipping 17 places on FIFA's table to 123rd.
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) are No.6 in the CFU with a world rating of 129, and the CFU's top-10 is completed by Guyana at seventh, St Kitts and Nevis at No.8, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname, who retain 10th spot with an eight-place climb up FIFA's list to No.150.
CONCACAF (Confederation for North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) giants USA and Mexico were unable to make the top frame at the World Cup Finals in Germany and suffered significant slips on the world list.
Mexico dropped from fourth to 18th and the USA dipped to 16th, down 11 places.
Third in the CONCACAF rankings behind Mexico and the USA are Honduras at 38th in the world, followed by Costa Rica (45th), Guatemala (53rd), Canada (54th), and Panama (59th), with Trinidad and Tobago being CONCACAF's seventh-ranked team and Jamaica at No.8.
Dethroned world champions Brazil keep their No.1 rating, ahead of new world champions Italy, who climb 11 places up the ratings following their fourth capture of the World Cup.
Argentina are rated third, followed by beaten World Cup finalists France, then England at No.5.
CFU Rankings - May 2006 (world rating in bracket):
1. Trinidad & Tobago (64)
2. Jamaica (78)
3. Cuba (96)
4. St Lucia (115)
5. Haiti (123)
6. St Vincent & the Grenadines (129)
7. Guyana (131)
8. St Kitts & Nevis (136)
9. Antigua & Barbuda (145)
10. Suriname (150)
11. Barbados (152)
12. Grenada (159)
13. Bermuda (160)
14. British Virgin Islands (168)
15. Cayman Islands (175)
16. Netherlands Antilles (176)
17. Dominica (183)
18. Dominican Republic (186)
19. Puerto Rico (190)
20. Bahamas (193)
21. Aruba (196)
21. US Virgin Islands (196)
21. Montserrat (196)
21. Turks & Caicos Islands
Crowe attacks ICC over 'chucking'
NEW Zealand great Martin Crowe has attacked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being too lenient on bowlers with suspect actions.
The ICC introduced a new law two years ago allowing a 15 degree straightening margin into bowlers' actions.
"If by the naked eye a bowler is clearly chucking, he should be chucked out," said Crowe, who was giving the annual Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's.
"To straighten your arm from a bent position is a massive advantage."
Crowe, who scored more than 5 400 runs in 77 Tests, also made a thinly-veiled reference to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, whose career has been plagued by allegations of chucking.
"Having been pinned in the head by chuckers over 15 years, having been bowled first ball in a Test by a certain Sri Lankan bowler, I've had more than enough of this aspect of the game," said Crowe.
"This is cricket's Achilles heel. If the umpire believes he has seen a throw then he should, as part of the laws of cricket, be allowed to no-ball it or at least report it.
"The law was fine 10 years ago. Now it simply gives room for the laws to be bent."
Crowe also criticised the continued inclusion of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the Test rota.
"Test cricket is without question being undermined by continuing to allow Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to play Test cricket," he said.
"Bangladesh have played a staggering 44 Tests, for one win, over just six years - they simply aren't going to make it.
"The game is too ruthless in all respects for the top nations to allow Bangladesh to step up.
"Let's face it, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are being kept on the international stage for political reasons - what hypocrisy from the ICC that argues that politics should not come into the sport."
Crowe, however, has left himself open to charges of double standards because it took New Zealand 26 years and 44 Tests to register their first win. (BBC Sport)
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif ruled out of first Test
… England wait on Hoggard
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Pakistan lost a third paceman on the eve of the first Test against England starting at Lord's today when Mohammad Asif was ruled out with an elbow injury.
Asif, who took 17 wickets on the recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, joins Shoaib Akhtar (ankle injury) and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (groin) on the sidelines after a cortisone injection failed to ease the complaint.
"He hasn't reacted properly to an injection so he will be out," coach Bob Woolmer told reporters.
Woolmer said opening batsmen Shoaib Malik, who also had a cortisone injection for a similar injury, was doubtful for the first match in the four-Test series.
England will wait until the last minute before deciding whether swing bowler Matthew Hoggard is fit after a freak injury last Saturday required six stitches in his bowling hand.
The hosts have already lost half of the pace attack who were instrumental in the Ashes win over Australia last year.
Simon Jones is out for the season with a knee operation and all-rounder Andy Flintoff will miss the first Test because of a heel problem. Their first reserve James Anderson is also out of action with a back injury.
England captain Andrew Strauss told a news conference yesterday the management team would give Hoggard as long as possible to recover from the injury sustained when a team mate trod on his hand during warm-up exercises.
CONFIDENT INZAMAM
"At this stage we are giving him as long as possible to prove his fitness," Strauss said. "He had a useful workout in the nets today."
If Hoggard's run of 32 consecutive Tests comes to an end England will field an attack in which only Steve Harmison, who is himself returning from injury after missing the Sri Lanka series with sore shins, will have more than 15 Test wickets.
Pakistan have moved ahead of England into second place in the world rankings after winning their last three series in a row, including a 2-0 victory over England late last year.
"The one thing about them in the winter was their unpredictability," said Strauss.
"They can turn the match around in one session. We can't afford to relax, we have got to be on top of our game at all times.
Inzamam told a news conference his team had the belief and confidence to beat England.
"The team is coming up," he said. "We will be trying hard. It is hot weather here which is good for us. These boys are very confident, the team is confident.”
I'm sorry but no regrets - Zidane
ZINEDINE Zidane has apologised for his headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in Sunday's World Cup final.
But the French legend does not regret his actions, alleging on television that Materazzi provoked him by insulting both his mother and sister.
"It was inexcusable. I apologise," said the 34-year-old Zidane. "But I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he was right to say all that."
Materazzi responded by denying he said anything about Zidane's mother.
"I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism," said the Italian yesterday.
"I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.
"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.
"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."
Zidane was sent off for head-butting Materazzi in the chest in the second period of extra-time in the final in Berlin.
The Frenchman claimed he had been provoked by the Italian and appeared on French TV station Canal Plus yesterday to explain his actions.
"It was seen by two or three billion people on television and millions and millions of children were watching," he said.
"It was an inexcusable gesture and to them, and the people in education whose job it is to show children what they should and shouldn't do, I want to apologise."
Asked what had caused him to react so violently, he said Materazzi had directed some "very hard words" at him.
"You hear them once and you try to move away. But then you hear them twice, and then a third time," said Zidane.
"I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that."
Zidane, who retired from football after Sunday's final, also called for Materazzi to be punished for his part in the incident.
"We always talk about the reaction, and obviously it must be punished. But if there is no provocation, there is no need to react," said the former Real Madrid and Juventus player.
"Above all it was a very serious provocation. It was an inexcusable gesture but the real culprit is the person who provoked it.
"Do you imagine that in a World Cup final like that with just 10 minutes to go to the end of my career, I am going to do something like that because it gives me pleasure?"
Since the incident, rumours have run rife about what Materazzi said to get such a reaction from the Frenchman.
There were claims the Italian had called Zidane a "terrorist", but in Tuesday's edition of the Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport, Materazzi said: "It was the kind of insult you will hear dozens of times and just slips out on the field.
"I didn't call Zidane a terrorist and certainly didn't mention his mother. I did not bring up Zidane's mother; for me a mother is sacred."
Zidane, who was born and grew up in Marseille, is the son of Algerian immigrants and has suffered taunts about his heritage throughout his football career.
The two players initially clashed in the Italian penalty area before words were exchanged.
Materazzi said: "I held his shirt, for only a few seconds. He turned towards me and scoffed at me, looking at me with super arrogance, up and down.
"He said 'if you really want my shirt, you can have it later'. It's true, I shot back with an insult."
Zidane said he planned to defend himself in the FIFA investigation into his sending-off.
He also confirmed that he would not go back on his decision to quit the game.
"This is a decision I have made and I will not go back on it," he said. "This is definite. I will not play again.” (BBC Sport)
National Twenty20 squad enter final phase of preparation
MEMBERS of the Guyana squad have recommenced their preparation for the current Allen Stanford Twenty/20 regional cricket tournament in Antigua.
The camp is boosted by the presence of a trainer and nutritionist provided by the Stanford group. There will be a lecture on nutrition by Joanne Keaveney at the Ocean View International Hotel today from 13:00 h.
In addition to that, the trainer will take the national team through a fitness drill at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall today and tomorrow from 15:00 h to 18:00 h. They will continue sessions on Saturday from 09:00 h to 11:00 h. The camp is expected to conclude next Monday.
The national squad, under the leadership of Ramnaresh Sarwan, is scheduled to depart on July 19 before they collide with Montserrat on July 21 in their opening campaign.
Pakistan's successful run in England
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Pakistan have not lost a series in England since 1982, a record unmatched by any other Test-playing nation
Following is a brief summary of the four series played in England since Imran's Khan's 1982 side narrowly lost 2-1.
1987
Imran had brought discipline and order to a bunch of disparate individuals who often spent more time feuding with each other than fighting the opposition. After a career-threatening shin injury he had re-established himself as the world's premier all-rounder. An athletic and hostile fast bowler, whose classical batsmanship had flourished under the responsibilities of captaincy.
Both of the first two Tests in a damp, cool summer were drawn with little more than 20 hours play possible over the 10 days. Imran, who had strained a stomach muscle early in the tour, did not bowl in the first Test and did not push himself in the second.
In the third at Headingley, he was back to his irresistible best, taking three for 37 and seven for 40 as Pakistan won by an innings.
Imran took six for 129 in the first innings in another draw at Edgbaston then played a leading role as Pakistan batted England out of the fifth Test at the Oval. Javed Miandad struck 260, Salim Malik 102 and Imran was run-out for 118 in Pakistan's first innings of 708. England captain Mike Gatting, dropped five times, ensured the draw with 150 not out.
Result: Pakistan 1 England 0.
1992
Imran had played a decisive innings as Pakistan defeated England to win the World Cup in Melbourne before pulling out of the ensuing tour with a shoulder injury, ending the career of the greatest cricketer to represent his nation.
His withdrawal mattered little. Imran's apprentices Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had learned from the master and they devastated England with reverse swing at high pace.
The series was acrimonious from start to finish. Pakistan were unhappy with the standard of the umpiring and elements in the British tabloid press accused the Pakistan bowlers of tampering with the ball.
Their accusations were misplaced. Wasim was the finest left-arm pace bowler in history, generating high pace and violent movement in the air and off the seam from a short run with a high action.
Such was his versatility that he could bowl with equal effect over or around the wicket. Waqar, a magnificent sight as he sprinted to the crease, unleashed lethal inswingers with a low-slung action.
After a decade of short-pitched violence from the West Indies' pacemen Pakistan had brought a new dimension to Test cricket.
Miandad proved a shrewd and canny captain and averaged 60.66 with the bat while Malik topped the averages with 81.33.
Result: Pakistan 2 England 0.
1996
This time Wasim was in charge of another team of all the talents who again outplayed the hosts in a three-Test series.
Mushtaq Ahmed, a bouncy leg-spinner topped the bowling averages, and wicketkeeper Moin Khan was the leading batsman with an average of 79.00.
There were runs again from Salim Malik while Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had failed with the bat four years earlier after making such an impression at the World Cup, averaged 64.00.
Result: Pakistan 2 England 0.
2001
England under Nasser Hussain had given the all-conquering Australians something to think about at last by winning series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
With the Australians due later in the summer, the home side made the perfect start in the first Test against Pakistan when Darren Gough and Andy Caddick bowled them to an innings victory at Lord's with potent pace and movement.
But in the second at Old Trafford, England's old insecurities resurfaced after they were set 370 to win in 112 overs following sumptuous innings of 114 and 85 from Inzamam.
At the close of the fourth day the home team needed 285 from 90 overs with all their wickets still in hand. After Pakistan closed down the scoring rate a draw then seemed the likeliest option before the England batting crumbled under the pressure. The Australians took due note and went on to win their series 4-1.
Result: Pakistan 1 England 0.
Dessel claims yellow jersey as Mercado wins stage
By Jean-Paul Couret
PAU, France, (Reuters) - Frenchman Cyril Dessel claimed the yellow jersey yesterday at the end of the first mountain stage of the Tour de France, which was won by Spaniard Juan Miguel Mercado.
After 190.5 km from Cambo-les-Bains to Pau, the two men crossed the line 56 seconds ahead of third-placed Inigo Landaluze and 7:23 in front of the peloton and overnight race leader, Serhiy Honchar.
"I have the yellow jersey and the (climber’s) polka dot jersey, I can be satisfied with my day even if I didn't win the stage", said Dessel, who became the first Frenchman to don yellow since Thomas Voeckler in 2004.
"I didn't want to let Mercado win because a stage win in the Tour is something rare. If I had won the stage it would have been a perfect day."
Dessel of the AG2R team, Mercado, leader of Agritubel, and Spain's Landaluze (Euskaltel) were among a group of 15 riders who broke away around the 40-km mark, just before the first climb of the day, the third-category Col d'Osquich.
The 32-year-old Dessel started the stage in 28th position overall, 3:50 behind Ukrainian Honchar.
The Osquich pass was a warm-up before the riders faced the hors category Col du Soudet and its long ascent on a narrow road with a 10 percent gradient over the last kilometre.
At the back of the race, specialist climber Iban Mayo, who finished sixth overall in the 2003, dropped off the pace.
He was joined by Belgian world champion Tom Boonen, Frenchmen Sandy Casar and Jimmy Casper, winner of the first stage, and prologue victor Thor Hushovd of Norway.
The lead group had to force their way through thousands of spectators, including many Spaniards, lining the slopes of the Soudet.
Dessel outsprinted Mercado at the top and the T-Mobile team led the peloton over the fog-covered summit nine minutes later.
The gap with the peloton increased to 10:50 as the lead group, now eight riders, reached the slopes of the first-category Col de Marie Blanque, regarded as one of the steepest ascents in the area with an 11 percent gradient on its last part.
As the slope became steeper, Dessel and Mercado attacked. Once again, the Frenchman was the stronger at the summit, to earn the best climber's polka-dot jersey.
Best, Mohammed, and Tulloch spearhead Cayman victory
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (CMC) - Set up by half-centuries from Pearson Best and Saheed Mohammed, and five wickets from Kenute Tulloch, the Cayman Islands romped to an easy 57-run victory in their Stanford Twenty20 Cup match against the Bahamas on Tuesday under the lights at the Stanford Cricket Ground.
Barbadian-born Best, who was named Man-of-the-Match hit the top score of 74 and Guyanese-born Mohammed was undefeated on 64, as the Cayman Islands posted a challenging 175 for four from their allocation of 20 overs after being put into bat under the lights.
Jamaica-born Tulloch then bagged five wickets for 21 runs from his allotment of four overs to be the most successful Cayman Islands bowler, as the Bahamas were restricted to 118 for nine in 20 overs.
Llewellyn Armstrong, the Bahamian captain, hit the top score of 40 not out from 48 balls to bring some respectability to his side's reply, after they collapsed to 22 for five after five overs.
Tulloch struck with the fourth ball of the innings, when he had opener Dannavan Morrison adjudged lbw for one.
Tulloch also had a hand in the dismissal of Sri Lankan-born Narendra Ekanayake, who reportedly played alongside Sri Lanka wicketkeeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara at Trinity College in the central Sri Lankan city of Kandy.
Looking to steal a single, Ekanayake failed to get a response from his partner Garcia Blair, and Tulloch fielded his drive to mid-on then hurled the ball to the 'keeper to complete the dismissal.
Tulloch then removed Blair caught at deep fine leg for a duck, Dwight Weakley lbw for 11, and Whitcliff Atkinson bowled for a duck to put the skids on the Bahamians.
Oneil Levy came to the wicket and added 41 for the fifth wicket with Armstrong, who also put on 29 with Mario Ford for the sixth wicket, but there was to be no comeback story for the Bahamians.
Earlier, the Caymans found themselves under the squeeze early, when Garfield Armstrong, the Bahamian captain's brother, removed openers Ainsley Hall caught at mid-on for two and Steve Gordon, the Caymanian captain, caught at square leg for 18.
The Caymans were 29 for two, but Best and Mohammed bided their time well and emerged from a circumspect start to bludgeon their way to a 144-run, second-wicket stand.
There were strokes of all descriptions from the two Caymanian batsmen and no bowler was spared their wrath, with Best striking nine fours and three sixes from 39 balls, and Mohammed nine boundaries from 48 balls.
Best was caught at extra cover with two balls remaining in the Caymanian innings driving lazily at a loose delivery outside the off-stump, and next ball, Franklin Hinds was caught at wide long-on for a first-ball duck to be the final Bahamian success.
Last night, the British Virgin Islands and St Lucia contested the only match under the light.
The Stanford Twenty20 Cup, the brainchild of Antigua-based American billionaire financier and developer, Allen Stanford, features 19 Caribbean countries all vying for a top prize of US$1 million in a single elimination tournament.
CAYMAN ISLANDS (maximum 20 overs)
S. Gordon c Levy b G. Armstrong 18
A. Hall c Bennett b G. Armstrong 2
S. Mohammed not out 64
P. Best c L. Armstrong b Blair 74
F. Hinds c G. Armstrong b Blair 0
K. Irving not out 0
Extras: (lb-6, w-11) 17
Total: (4 wkts, 20 overs) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-29, 3-173, 4-173.
Bowling: Levy 4-0-25-0 (w-1), G. Armstrong 4-0-22-2 (w-6), Weakley 4-0-32-0 (w-2), Ekanayake 4-0-34-0 (w-1), Blair 3-0-39-2 (w-1), Bennett 1-0-17-0.
BAHAMAS (target: 176 runs off 20 overs)
D. Morrison lbw b Tulloch 1
N. Ekanayake run-out (Tulloch) 7
G. Blair c Wright b Tulloch 0
D. Weakley lbw b Tulloch 10
L. Armstrong not out 40
W. Atkinson b Tulloch 0
O. Levy stp. Hall b Mohammed 19
M. Ford c Gordon b Hinds 25
G. Armstrong b Mohammed 1
J. Barry c Wright b Tulloch 2
V. Bennett not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-9, w-2) 12
Total: (9 wkts - 20 overs) 118
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-9, 3-10, 4-22, 5-22, 6-63, 7-92, 8-96, 9-113.
Bowling: Tulloch 4-0-21-5 (w-1), Wright 4-0-22-0 (w-1), Wight 2-0-9-0, Hinds 3-0-15-1, Bazil 3-0-28-0, Mohammed 4-0-13-2.
Loew takes over as Klinsman quits Germnay job
By Noah Barkin
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Juergen Klinsmann, who led Germany to a surprise third-place finish in the World Cup and won over the hearts of the nation, said yesterday he was stepping down and assistant Joachim Loew would take his place.
"I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, who pushed us along to this fantastic success," the 41-year-old Klinsmann told a news conference in Frankfurt as he fought back tears.
"It was the most beautiful World Cup ever. We've created a new image of the Germans around the world."
Klinsmann came under fierce criticism prior to the World Cup, notably for his decisions to commute from his adopted home in California and bring in an American fitness trainer whose modern methods were ridiculed by German soccer traditionalists.
But he silenced the doubters by steering Germany to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual world champions Italy 2-0 after extra time.
Klinsmann, who had no coaching experience when he took the job in August 2004, said he was leaving because he wanted to spend time with his family in California.
He described himself as "burned out" and said he would take a six-month break before thinking about his next move, denying rumours he might be interested in coaching the U.S. team.
"There is neither interest nor contact," he said.
Klinsmann joins Italy coach Marcello Lippi, whose resignation was also announced yesterday.
He leaves with a record of 21 wins, seven draws and six defeats in his two years in charge. As a player, he won 108 caps and scored 47 goals, helping West Germany win the World Cup in 1990 and Germany the European Championship in 1996.
KLINSMANN ALLY
Loew, a former midfielder and Bundesliga coach who worked closely with Klinsmann over the past two years and comes from the same region in Germany's southwest, has agreed a two-year contract to run the team.
The 46-year-old pledged to continue with the philosophy that he and Klinsmann put in place.
"That's the only way we can achieve a lasting place among the very best in the world," Loew said.
Loew, who favours dapper suits typically worn without a tie, has said he gains the most fulfilment from seeing a young player develop into one capable of competing with the very best.
Those skills will serve him well with a team that relies heavily on young players like striker Lukas Podolski, who was voted top young player of the World Cup, and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored twice in the third-place match against Portugal on Saturday.
Loew will lead Germany into a friendly against Sweden on August 16 before their 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign starts in September.
All 23 players in Germany's squad, 93 percent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of Klinsmann's harshest critics had said they wanted him to continue.
The success of the German team during the World Cup whipped the entire nation into a patriotic feel-good frenzy and the man fans fondly called ‘Klinsi’ was the chief symbol of Germany's new mood.
"I hope that no one's heart will be broken by this," Klinsmann said. "Now let's look to the future. We'll have a lot of fun watching this team.”
Italy’s World Cup winning coach resigns
By James Eve
ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has resigned, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced yesterday.
The 58-year-old Lippi led the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title, first since 1982, on Sunday when they beat France on penalties in the final in Berlin.
"At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team," he said in a statement on the FIGC's web site.
"I have, therefore, communicated to the FIGC my wish to leave my post at the end of my contract (on July 31)."
Lippi took over from Giovanni Trapattoni in July 2004 after Italy's disappointing exit in the group stages of Euro 2004.
In two years under Lippi's guidance, Italy lost only twice -- a 2-0 defeat on his debut against Iceland and a 1-0 loss to Slovenia, both in 2004.
"I would like to thank the FIGC for the faith they showed in me in these two years of work, crowned with a result that will remain in the history of Italian football and in the hearts of all the fans," Lippi said.
Italian press agency ANSA quoted him as saying he wanted to continue coaching.
EARLY DECISION
In the past few days Italian media had speculated that Lippi was about to leave his post.
He was said to be tired of hearing his name mentioned in connection with the match-fixing scandal involving four top Serie A clubs including champions Juventus, with whom he won five Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League in two stints as coach between 1994 and 2004.
FIGC vice-president Giancarlo Abete thanked Lippi for his "extraordinary professionalism and for his ability to lead the team in the context of the great difficulties known to all."
He revealed Lippi's decision had been taken some time ago.
"Lippi told me during the group stages that he had not taken on any professional commitments for the future and that he had already decided, whatever the result of the World Cup, to leave as coach of the national team at the end of his contract," Abete said.
Among those who had called for Lippi to stay on was Enzo Bearzot, the coach who led Italy to glory at the 1982 World Cup.
"History should decide whether you've reached the end of a cycle," he was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.
The FIGC has not yet named a successor, though media reports suggested there are three front-runners for the job, ex-Italy and AC Milan midfielder Roberto Donadoni, former AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni and the current Italy Under-21 coach Claudio Gentile.
Italy have also yet to name their opponents for their next match, a friendly on August 16.
Their 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign starts against Lithuania on September 2, with a repeat of the World Cup final against France on September.
Zidane could lose best player award - Blatter
ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Zinedine Zidane's head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final might cost him the tournament's Golden Ball award, FIFA president Sepp Blatter hinted in an interview published yesterday.
World soccer's ruling body opened a disciplinary investigation on Tuesday into the circumstances surrounding the incident in Sunday's final.
"FIFA's executive committee has the right and duty to intervene when it sees behaviour that is contrary to sports ethics," he was quoted as saying in an interview in Rome's La Repubblica newspaper.
Asked if Zidane risked being stripped of the award for the World Cup's best player, Blatter said: "Before we make any decision we have to await the outcome of the investigation.
"Being presumed innocent until proved otherwise is sacred principle."
But he added: "Seeing him behave this way really, really hurt me."
Playing the last match of a great career, the French midfielder drove his head into Materazzi's chest in the second period of extra time in Berlin after exchanging comments with Materazzi. He was shown a straight red card by the referee.
FIFA's Golden Ball award was decided by media at the World Cup.
Under-20 world qualifiers off and running this week
NEW YORK CITY, New York, (CMC) - The road to next year's FIFA Under-20 World Cup Championship in Canada begins this week for CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) with the Caribbean Zone qualification series.
Top-rated Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti have automatic spots in round two but the first stage of qualification began yesterday evening with the US Virgin Islands hosting the first of five Caribbean first-round groups.
Along with hosts US Virgin Islands, Group A -- in St Croix -- consists of Bermuda, Bahamas and British Virgin Islands.
Group B takes place in the Dominican Republic from July 28 to August 1 with Anguilla, Cayman Islands and Cuba, while Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis join the hosts St Martin in Group C from August 2-6.
St Lucia will stage Group D that includes Barbados, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) from August 20-24, while Aruba, Guyana and Netherlands Antilles travel to Suriname for Group E taking place from August 6-10.
The winners of each of the five groups will join Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Zone's second round that will qualify three teams for the CONCACAF Final Round next year.
|
