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WICB slowing down negotiating process - Ramnarine
POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad, (CMC) - West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine is accusing the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of slowing down the process of trying to conclude an agreement over long-standing issues.
Speaking yesterday in an interview with CMC Cricket Plus on the fourth day of the Carib Beer Series final between Barbados and Trinidad and Guaracara Park, Ramnarine said a recent letter from WICB president Ken Gordon appeared not to rubber-stamp an agreement that been earlier reached with other WICB executives.
"One of the constraints that we have is that you would hear around February 6, the chief executive of the WICB basically saying we reached agreement on the collective labour agreement, the code of conduct and the memorandum of understanding," Ramnarine said.
"I recently received a letter from the president of the board basically saying those agreements were drafts. Our position is that we signed off on the agreement. There wasn't a signature, but it was agreed across the table."
The two parties met last Thursday in an effort to try and resolve issues that have plagued West Indies cricket over the past two years.
"What (has) frustrated the whole process in dealing with the WICB is every time we negotiate with them and you reach an agreement across the table, the next meeting everything changes," Ramnarine said.
Recently, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, the new chairman of the WICB's cricket committee, called on WIPA to try and reach an agreement over retainer contracts by mid-April.
Ramnarine said, however, WIPA would not rush to signing a contract for the sake of signing.
"The gist of it and the question we have to ask ourselves is if we sign the retainer contracts, are the players going to be better off," Ramnarine said.
"We are not going to be pressured by anybody in signing a retainer contract because we are the only team that does not have a retainer contract. We will sign the retainer contract once we believe that it is a fair and reasonable contract and it is in the best interest of the player.
"We are not going to be put under pressure by anybody. I don't have any pressure from my members. They are well aware of what is taking place and very supportive.”
Kelly stars with bat and ball to put Trinis in charge
POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad, (CMC) - All-rounder Richard Kelly starred with bat and ball to put Trinidad and Tobago in the driver's seat to clinch the Carib Beer Challenge final against Barbados on the fourth day at Guaracara Park yesterday.
The 22-year-old Kelly hit 93 to rally Trinidad and Tobago's second innings from a worrying 99 for five to 266 all out and then grabbed two wickets as Barbados, set a victory target of 337, closed the penultimate day on 110 for four.
Kelly, resuming on 28 with Trinidad and Tobago starting the day with a lead of 207, restrained his natural aggression for the better part of five hours to move within sight of a maiden first-class century before he was last out just before the scheduled tea break.
The left-hander, whose previous highest first-class score was 83, struck 11 fours and a six off 197 balls before falling to a low catch by Dwayne Smith at extra-cover off left-arm pacer Pedro Collins, who was one of four Barbados bowlers with two wickets.
Kelly, who benefited from a sharp return chance to off-spinner Ryan Austin when he was on 71, featured in an important sixth wicket partnership of 77 with Rayad Emrit and also got good support from Dave Mohammed, Mervyn Dillon and Amit Jaggernauth as the last three wickets produced 89 runs.
Emrit, a first-innings century-maker who resumed on 15, fell for 28 to a good catch by wicketkeeper Patrick Browne off Collins and Barbados gained another wicket by removing Dwayne Bravo for a duck when the West Indies all-rounder, batting at No.8 because of groin injury on the third day, was caught at gully off Dwayne Smith.
Browne, who enjoyed a good match behind the stumps, dropped a difficult chance that let off Mohammed when he was one and it proved costly for Barbados as Kelly and Mohammed took Trinidad and Tobago past the 200-run mark and into a position of comfort.
Mohammed, who batted for an hour and a half, eventually fell for 14 to a catch by Browne off Ian Bradshaw and after Mervyn Dillon hung around for half-hour, he was caught by the keeper off Corey Collymore to give Browne his fourth catch of the innings.
Left with 41 overs to bat an extended final session, Barbados made an encouraging start with Dale Richards and Wayne Blackman posting 86 for the first wicket before both fell in quick succession to Kelly.
Richards, the third highest run-scorer in the competition, stroked 58 that included seven fours off 65 balls before was lbw to a full-length ball, and three runs later, Blackman was yorked for 25.
Off-spinner Jaggernauth pressed home Trinidad and Tobago's advantage by cheaply dismissing Floyd Reifer and Dwayne Smith.
The left-handed Reifer fell to a smart catch by Lendl Simmons at silly point while Smith gifted his wicket by giving a catch to deep mid-off.
Barbados captain Ryan Hinds and debutant Kirk Edwards batted through the last 35 minutes to prevent any further wickets and will resume the fifth day with another 227 runs required for victory.
Edwards, who made the top score of 64 in the first innings, had a reprieve when he was mis-stumped by Denesh Ramdin off Jaggernauth.
Kelly has so far taken two for 21 off seven overs, while Jaggernauth has two for 29 in 15 overs.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 1st innings 340
Barbados 1st innings 270
Trinidad & Tobago 2nd innings (o/n 137-5)
L. Simmons run-out 14
D. Ganga lbw b Bradshaw 26
D. Ramdin lbw b Collymore 8
J. Mohammed run-out 6
B. Lara c wkp. Browne b Smith 20
R. Kelly c Smith b Collins 93
R. Emrit c wkp. Browne b Collins 28
D. Bravo c Hinds b Smith 0
D. Mohammed c wkp. Browne b Bradshaw 14
M. Dillon c wkp. Browne b Collymore 9
A. Jaggernauth not out 13
Extras: (b-5, lb-8, nb-22) 35
Total: (all out, 83.1 overs) 266
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-52, 3-69, 4-77, 5-99, 6-176, 7-177, 8-214, 9-240.
Bowling: Collins 19.1-2-61-2 (nb-5), Bradshaw 21-3-60-2 (nb-9), Collymore 15-3-57-2 (nb-6), Smith 15-3-38-2 (nb-2), Hinds 4-1-8-0, Austin 9-5-29-0.
BARBADOS 2nd innings
D. Richards lbw b Kelly 58
W. Blackman b Kelly 25
F. Reifer c Simmons b Jaggernauth 6
R. Hinds not out 14
D. Smith c Lara b Jaggernauth 1
K. Edwards not out 1
Extras: (b-5) 5
Total: (4 wkts, 41 overs) 110
Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-89, 3-97, 4-99.
Bowling: Dillon 4-0-18-0, Emrit 5-0-17-0, Mohammed 10-6-20-0, Jaggernauth 15-5-29-2, Kelly 7-2-21-2.
Position: Barbados need another 227 runs to win with six wickets in hand.
Inter-Guiana Games swimming to be staged at Castellani Pool
THE swimming championships of the Inter-Guiana Games will be staged at the Castellani Pool, this weekend.
In a release, the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) said the National Sports Commission (NSC) requested the national swimming governing body to stage the swimming aspects of the Games.
The swim days are Saturday and Sunday with the first event fixed for the first day at 14:00 h, while the second day’s events will start at 11:00 h.
On Saturday, the first race is the 200 metres Individual Medley (IM), followed by the 100 m Backstroke and 100 m Butterfly, after which medals will be presented to the top placers.
The afternoon continues with the 50 m Freestyle and 4x50 m Medley Relay.
Each event is for both boys and girls, tallying ten races for the day. The girls events will be staged before the boys’.
On Sunday, the first event is the 50 m Butterfly, followed by the presentation of medals. The races will continue with the 200 m Freestyle and 50 m Breaststroke, then a break.
Medals will be presented after the 100 m Freestyle, and races will continue with 100 m Breaststroke, 50 m Backstroke and 4x50 m Freestyle Relay, followed by the final presentation of medals.
Again events are for both boys and girls, tallying 14 races for that day.
Swimmers must be born 1987 or after (19 years old and under) and each country (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana) may enter up to ten swimmers - five male and five female swimmers.
The admission fee for spectators will be $200 for adults and $100 for children under 12 years of age. A fund-raising barbecue is fixed for Sunday.
Minister Xavier to assist GLTA as season opens
THE tennis season opened yesterday with the annual Le Meridien Pegasus Open tournament at the hotel’s court, with the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) announcing that the Minister of Sport would be assisting the sport.
GLTA president Gus Lee said the tournament attracted very young players to very old ones.
“It’s an indication of the need for people to get into the tournament to test their skills.”
He thanked the hotel for funding the event, pointing out that it was the only tournament that usually got sponsorship for the annual staging.
Pegasus General Manager Pascal Mongeau said the hotel was proud to be involved in the promotion once more.
“It’s about having fun to do what we like. There’s room for improvement but that is being worked on.”
GLTA secretary Grace McCalman disclosed that the hotel had offered its facilities over the years, promising this year to assist with one or two tournaments.
“We are struggling for facilities.”
She announced that the GLTA met Minister of Sport Anthony Xavier, last week Thursday. The party consisted of McCalman, committee member Maxie Fox and coach Debbie Bunbury.
Fox said they tried to impress upon the minister the importance of having courts.
“The minister was very responsive and we should be able to see the result of the interaction very soon.”
Tournament coordinator Phillip Squires said that it was good to have many young players involved and predicted that at the end of the tournament, there should be more children playing the game.
The little ones will be in action on weekends, starting at 08:00 h on Saturday and Sunday.
Competitors in the Men’s Open Singles were the first to take the court after the opening ceremony. Thiago Reis was down to meet Ade Doobay and Edson Junior was to meet Jason Linton.
Demerara, Essequibo clash in GTM One-dayer at Bourda
AFTER defeating Berbice in the recently concluded GTM three-day Inter-county tournament to recapture the title, the Demerara players will begin their quest for the one-day version of the competition against the less favourite Essequibo, today at the world-famous GCC ground, Bourda ground from 09:30 h.
As expected seventeen-year-old and national middle-order batsman Steven Jacobs has returned to the squad, following his absence in the final three-day round due to regional commitments with the national team in Barbados.
Jacobs, who has so far featured in two first-class matches for Guyana, will no doubt be taking up the pivotal number three position, which was solidly taken by Everest left-hander Chris Patandin, who hit an accomplished half-century.
When the two teams met in the 2005 competition at the Bourda ground, Leon Johnson’s side earned a thrilling two-wicket victory in a pulsating encounter.
Both teams possess players who featured in last year’s competition, played on the same pitch which is known for batting and there are players who have donned the national colours for Guyana Under-19 side in 2005 as well.
The Demerara batting will revolve around Jacobs who will be assisted by club colleague Shemroy Barrington, who registered two consecutive centuries in the three-day version.. Jacobs made a superb century against Essequibo in the three-day match.
Lusignan and national Under-19 batsman Krishna Deosaran, who skippered the side against Berbice, will be looking to put a good score on the board after missing out in the preceding three-day tournament.
Deosaran bowled well in the longer version of the game and he is likely to share the new ball with the lively Benedict Prince while national Under-19 off-spinner Clive Andries will take up the responsibility in the slow bowling department along with leg-spinner Danney Narayan.
Wasim Haslim, the flamboyant Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) opening batsman who got a decent half-century at Everest and his club mate Gavin Singh who was equally impressive striking 43 will look to reproduce that sort of form in the one-dayers while opener Rajendra Chandrika, who made a solid 149 against Essequibo and Troy Gonsalves will be looking to perform to the best of their ability once again.
Essequibo on the hand will have to play more positive cricket if they wish to create history. However, with some of their players doing well over the years at this level, a stiff challenge is anticipated.
David Wallace, the skipper Norman Fredericks and Mahendra Boodram will have to score heavily to give their team a good score while former national Under-15 batsman Norwayne Fredericks is making his first appearance this season.
The little left-hander was sidelined with an injury, sustained in a minor accident during last month.
National youth fast bowler Ryan Hercules will spearhead the bowling attack and expects valuable support from medium pacers Wallace, Mukesh Singh and Kevin Gordon.
Essequibo team reads: - Norman Fredericks (captain), David Wallace (vice-captain), Mahendra Boodram, Mukesh Singh, Abdool Salim (wkp.), Kevin Gordon, Ryan Hercules, Horatio Paul, Norwaye Fredericks, Samuel De Camp, Jason Heyliger, Tavin Budram, Anthony Osbourne and Oyono Sampson.
The manager is Elroy Stephney and Vibert Johnson is the coach.
Demerara squad reads: - Steven Jacobs (captain), Krishna Deosaran (vice-captain), Shemroy Barrington, Rajendra Chandrika, Troy Gonsalves, Chris Patandin, Wasim Haslim, Gavin Singh, Joseph Perry (wkp.), Clive Andries, Danney Narayan, Chivdanand Shivram, Benedict Prince, Delroy Jacobs (wkp.), Kelon Merchant and Rayad Hamid.
The coach is Rabindranauth Seeram with Nazimul Drepaul as manager.
Kiwis staring defeat at 98-7 after Ntini, Steyn blitz
By Telford Vice
CENTURION, South Africa, (Reuters) - New Zealand, set 249 to win, were in desperate trouble at 98 for seven after being ripped apart by South African pace duo Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini on the fourth day of the first Test.
Steyn, playing in his fourth Test, took three for 35 on a day shortened by bad light and drizzle. He offered steady support to paceman Makhaya Ntini, who took four for 41 yesterday for nine wickets in the match.
Opener Hamish Marshall stood firm on 24 not out when play ended nine balls after tea. Daniel Vettori was 18 not out.
"We only need three more wickets and it only takes three balls, and the way the deck is playing it could be the first three balls tomorrow morning," Steyn told a news conference.
"(However) it could go to tomorrow afternoon, they showed in the first innings that they can bat all the way to number 10."
South Africa resumed their second innings on 280 for nine and were dismissed for 299 in the eighth over of the day.
Ntini struck twice in three balls in the third over of New Zealand's second innings when he had Peter Fulton caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for four and Kyle Mills taken at first slip by Boeta Dippenaar.
Mills was presumably promoted from number 10 to shield New Zealand's middle order from the new ball on a pitch of inconsistent bounce.
"We looked up at the dressing room stairs and there was Kyle Mills," Steyn said. "He was coming in to be a new-ball watchman, or something like that."
VISITORS SLUMP
The visitors slumped to 17 for three in the eighth over when Stephen Fleming, who scored six, edged a delivery from Steyn to Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Two overs later Steyn had Scott Styris caught behind for two. Eight balls after that, the Black Caps were 26 for five when Nathan Astle prodded a delivery from Ntini to AB de Villiers at third slip to be dismissed for two.
In the third over before lunch Jacob Oram, who scored 133 in the first innings 327, became the first New Zealander not to fall to a catch in the arc behind the wicket when Ntini uprooted his off-stump with a ball that kept low.
New Zealand went to lunch on 34 for six, and bad light delayed the start of the second session by 85 minutes.
Marshall and Brendon McCullum took their seventh-wicket stand to 45, the biggest of the innings, before McCullum edged a ball from Steyn to Dippenaar at first slip.
McCullum faced 38 balls and hit two fours and two sixes in his aggressive 33.
"We were confident this morning, we thought we could chase down anything under 250," Vettori told a news conference.
"I'm not saying we're completely out of the game, but being 28 for six doesn't help our cause.”
SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 276 (B. Dippenaar 52; K. Mills 4-43, J. Franklin
4-75)
New Zealand 1st innings 327 (J. Oram 133, D. Vettori 81; M. Ntini 5-94)
South Africa 2nd innings 299 (A. de Villiers 97, J. Kallis 62)
NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings (target 249 runs)
H. Marshall not out 24
P. Fulton c Boucher b Ntini 4
K. Mills c Dippenaar b Ntini 0
S. Fleming c Kallis b Steyn 6
S. Styris c Boucher b Steyn 2
N. Astle c AB de Villiers b Ntini 2
J. Oram b Ntini 2
B. McCullum c Dippenaar b Steyn 33
D. Vettori not out 18
Extras: (lb-2, nb-5) 7
Total: (for 7 wickets, 30 overs) 98
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-17, 4-23, 5-26, 6-28, 7-73.
Bowling: M. Ntini 11-2-41-4, D. Steyn 14-4-35-3 (nb-1), S. Pollock 5-1-20-0 (nb-4).
Younis hands Pakistan six-wicket victory over India
ABU DHABI, (Reuters) - A fluent unbeaten 71 from Younis Khan handed Pakistan a six-wicket victory over India yesterday in the first of two one-day charity matches in the Middle East.
Pakistan romped to victory with nine balls to spare after they had earlier dismissed India for 197 with the final delivery of their innings.
Kamran Akmal smashed a four to the fine leg fence to hit the winning runs off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. Pakistan ended on 201 for four.
Tuesday's victory would have gone some way towards easing Pakistan's 4-1 defeat in a one-day series by their rivals earlier this year.
Younis hit four fours and a six during his impressive 96-ball innings. He shared an 86-run stand for the third wicket with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who chipped in with 40.
Just three days after completing a 5-1 series rout of England at home, the Indians were handed a reality check after they struggled to come to grips with the conditions at the Zayed Stadium.
Pakistan produced a disciplined bowling performance, with Shoaib Malik responsible for most of the damage. The all-rounder took three for 40.
Although Venugopal Rao top-scored with an unbeaten 61 and Suresh Raina added 40, the rest of the team failed to get going and India suffered four run-outs.
RUN-OUTS
Captain Rahul Dravid was the first to get run-out for 20 while attempting to complete a second run and Irfan Pathan, who came in at number three, suffered the same fate for 26 after being beaten by a direct throw from Naved-ul Hasan.
With India regularly losing wickets, Rao and Raina shared a stand of 64 for the fifth wicket to prevent their side from sliding to even a lower total.
The partnership was broken when Raina was caught by Iftikhar Anjum off Shahid Afridi. He hit three fours in his 67-ball knock. Rao also hit three fours.
The innings ended in confusion with Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth run-out off the final two balls.
The match, the first to be played in the United Arab Emirates in six years, also marked the opening of international cricket's newest venue, the $2.5 million Zayed stadium which can accommodate 16 000 spectators.
The series is expected to raise $10 million for earthquake relief and also marks the beginning of a new plan by the two teams to play regularly in neutral venues.
INDIA innings
R. Uthappa c Yousuf b Naved-ul-Hasan 12
R. Dravid run-out 20
I. Pathan run-out 26
Y. Singh c Akmal b Anjum 7
S. Raina c Anjum b Afridi 40
V. Rao not out 61
M. Dhoni b Malik 3
A. Agarkar c Anjum b Malik 12
R. Powar c Anjum b Malik 5
H. Singh run-out 3
S. Sreesanth run-out 0
Extras: (lb-3, w-5) 8
Total: (all out, 50 overs) 197
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-47, 3-65, 4-72, 5-136, 6-149, 7-171, 8-180, 9-196.
Bowling: M. Asif 8-1-24-0, Naved-ul-Hasan 9-0-51-1 (w-1), I. Anjum 7-1-24-1, A. Razzaq 6-1-13-0, S. Afridi 10-0-42-1 (w-1), S. Malik 10-0-40-3 (w-3).
PAKISTAN innings
S. Malik c Dravid b Sreesanth 12
I. Farhat b Agarkar 30
Y. Khan not out 71
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Rao b Powar 40
M. Yousuf c Dhoni b Agarkar 1
K. Akmal not out 24
Extras: (lb-15, nb-1, w-7) 23
Total: (for 4 wickets, 48.3 overs) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-60, 3-146, 4-149.
Bowling: I. Pathan 9-1-46-0 (w-4), S. Sreesanth 9.3-2-34-1 (nb-1, w-1), A. Agarkar 10-0-33-2 (w-2), R. Powar 10-1-27-1, H. Singh 10-1-46-0.
Giuly strike gives Barca 1-0 win over AC Milan
By Simon Evans
MILAN, Italy (Reuters) - Barcelona took a step towards the Champions League final when a Ludovic Giuly goal earned them a 1-0 win over AC Milan at the San Siro stadium in their semi-final, first-leg match yesterday.
Frenchman Giuly's strike in the 57th minute -- with a sharp finish after he raced on to a superb pass from Brazilian Ronaldinho -- snapped a 13-match unbeaten home run for Milan in Europe.
Milan had three times gone close to an opener with Alberto Gilardino hitting the post, while Andriy Shevchenko had a header parried before Gilardino wasted another chance in the 51st minute.
Barca could have come away with an even better result, Ronaldinho hitting the post at the end of a swift counter-attack. Milan wasted another chance when substitute Massimo Ambrosini screwed a shot wide in the 81st minute.
"It was a good win against a great team," Ronaldinho told Canal Plus TV in Spain.
"We played a very good first half and then made use of the extra space in the second. But this tie is far from over and there are still 90 very tough minutes to come."
Milan have been clinical in their finishing throughout the competition this season but they missed the sharpness in front of goal of their striker Filippo Inzaghi, who was sidelined due to a virus.
The result gives the Catalan club a great chance for the second-leg on April 26 as they seek to add to their solitary European Cup success.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti left captain Paolo Maldini and Brazilian Cafu on the bench with Dutchman Jaap Stam and Brazilian Serginho operating in the full-back roles.
The Italian side, playing in their third Champions League semi-final in four years, dominated the early exchanges in front of a passionate 76 000 capacity crowd.
Gilardino, who replaced Inzaghi in attack, struck the post from a tight angle in the 14th minute after turning sharply as he received a long throw from Serginho.
A minute later Clarence Seedorf burst down the left and whipped in a bouncing cross which Shevchenko headed powerfully goalwards but Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes made a good diving save.
FIRED POORLY
Milan went close again six minutes after the restart when Shevchenko flicked the ball to Kaka inside the area and the Brazilian, who could have shot himself, fed Gilardino but the Italy forward fired wide.
Six minutes later Barcelona had the lead. Ronaldinho split the Milan defence open and Giuly, anticipating the delivery and losing his marker Kakha Kaladze with a sharp diagonal run, beat Dida with a precise left-foot finish.
It was almost 2-0 shortly after when Barca hit the post, Giuly broke on the counter-attack feeding Ronaldinho whose nonchalant shot from the edge of the area struck Dida's right-hand post.
With the Spanish side dominating midfield, Dida was forced into action in the 66th minute to keep out a smart shot from Andres Iniesta as Ancelotti's side looked in danger of letting the game slip out of control.
The Milan coach responded by bringing on Maldini for an out-of-sorts Andrea Pirlo, pushing Serginho forward into midfield and then introduced Massimo Ambrosini for Gennaro Gattuso.
It was Ambrosini who wasted Milan's next opportunity, missing the target having got behind the Barcelona defence.
If the Italian side are to keep alive their hopes of a seventh European Cup win then they will need to rediscover their killer instinct at the Nou Camp but chances may be harder to find against Frank Rijkaard's impressive side.
Mocha Champs whip Timehri Panthers 3-0
GOALS from Sherwin Hope, Sidell Headley and Sceyon Hope propelled Mocha Champs under floodlights to a 3-0 whipping over Timehri Panthers on Sunday night in the East Bank leg play-off of the President’s Cup competition.
The game, the opener of a double header at the Timehri Red Ground was followed up by another intense battle with Soesdyke Falcons edging out Grove Hi Tec 6-5 on penalty kicks. The teams were tied one-all at the end of regulation.
Meanwhile, the East Bank Football Union (EBFU) Ramesh Trophy Stall 2006 Under-17 League for East Bank teams kicked off on the same day at the said ground.
In the opening match Panthers and Mocha Champs played to a one-all draw. Oliver Denny netted for the home side while Michael Charles scored for the visitors.
Game two saw Kuru Kuru Lions defeat Grove 1-0. The lone goal came off the boot of Renel Reece.
The competition is set to continue on Sunday at Splashmin’s Fun Park and Resort with two games.
Referees' wages doubled for 2006 World Cup
FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) - Referees at the 2006 World Cup have won a 100 percent pay rise and will earn $40 000 each.
The refereeing bill at the month-long tournament will top $4 million, FIFA said yesterday.
Twenty-three referees have been chosen to run the 64 games in Germany from June 9 to July 9.
Each referee will be backed by two assistants. They will also get $40 000 as will each member of the seven ‘reserve’ refereeing trios, even if they are not called into action.
"The fee per referee has doubled from South Korea and Japan four years ago when it was $20 000 each," FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi told a news conference yesterday.
"For the first time we're also giving something to the referees and assistants who don't make it. They've worked hard and come a long way, even if in the end they weren't successful."
FIFA originally had 46 referees and the 16 who did not make the cut will get $20 000 each, as will 23 unsuccessful assistants.
All that comes up to $4.38 million.
Spurs crush Utah Jazz 115-82 to seal home court advantage
NEW YORK, NY (Reuters) - San Antonio crushed the Utah Jazz 115-82 on Monday to clinch the Southwest division title and seal home court advantage through the Western conference playoffs.
Manu Ginobili bagged 18 points and Tim Duncan and Brent Barry each added 16 in the win, which equalled the franchise record for victories in a season (62) and improved the Spurs’ home record to 34-7 this season.
Shooting a sizzling 56 percent, the defending NBA champions took command early and never let up, taking a 97-61 lead early in the final quarter.
Deron Williams had 18 points in the loss for the Jazz while Mehmet Okur hit for 17. Matt Harpring with 15 points was the only other member of the Jazz to reach double digits.
In Orlando, Kirk Hinrich poured in 26 points, including eight in overtime, as the Chicago Bulls edged the Magic 116-112 and extended their winning streak to five.
While the Bulls have secured a playoff spot, the post-season pairings will not be decided until after the final games of the regular season.
The Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards are all jockeying for position in the tightly packed Eastern conference.
LATE-SEASON RAMPAGE
Andres Nocioni contributed 24 points to the Chicago total while Luol Deng helped out with 22 and 11 rebounds as the Bulls extended their late-season rampage with their ninth win in 10 games.
Hedo Turkoglu equalled a career-high 32 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Magic, who saw their eight-game win streak come to an end.
In Boston, Larry Hughes had 21 points and five steals as Cleveland beat the Celtics 93-88 with all-star LeBron James again watching front the stands.
With fourth place in the Eastern conference standings secured, the Cavaliers did not want to take any chances on James re-injuring a sprained right ankle with the playoffs set to begin at the weekend.
The Cavaliers will have a chance to collect their 50th win when they close out the regular season at home today against the Atlanta Hawks.
James could also sit out that contest but will be ready for the first game of the post-season.
Don't complain about tough schedule - Gavaskar
SUNIL Gavaskar, the former Indian captain, has said he is shocked that players are complaining about the packed schedule while adding that the hard grind came with the honour of representing one's country.
"I can't see the problem; these players are turning out for their countries. It's an honour to represent your country," Gavaskar said on a television programme. "I would be willing to sweat 365 days in a year for India. Those who can't stand the heat should stay out."
Tim May, the president of the Federation of International Cricketers Association, said that there was a possibility of a player strike if the ICC did not amend the tight playing schedule.
"We're frustrated, we're concerned and we're disappointed the ICC and the member countries aren't abiding by principles that are supposed to be abided by in the scheduling of tours," May told Australia's The Sun-Herald. "It's a revenue-raising frenzy. It's pushing the players into a position where they're just going to say, 'No, it's too much, we're walking away from this, we're not going to play in these games'.
"Guys start going through the motions. Their bodies are extremely fatigued. They just can't keep doing it. Some players are already making a stand. Shane Warne only plays one form of the game. Brian Lara is becoming very selective in the tours he goes on and the forms he plays. Shahid Afridi isn't playing Tests because he says the amount Pakistan are playing is ridiculous.
He's taken a brave step and, quite frankly, it's a step countless players are contemplating. If that's good for the game, I'm in the wrong business. (Cricinfo)
England stars given enforced rest
NONE of England's contracted players will play for their counties in April, with the exception of opener Marcus Trescothick and paceman Simon Jones.
Coach Duncan Fletcher wants to ensure his senior players are properly rested before the start of the Test series against Sri Lanka on May 11.
Trescothick is involved in Somerset's opening Championship game following his early return from India.
Jones is set to play for Glamorgan against Cardiff UCCE today.
"If I want to get back into England side I've got to get some wickets and prove my fitness and hopefully that's what I'm going to do this week and next week," said Jones, who is recovering from knee surgery.
"It's an exciting time for me, it's been a long and frustrating winter and I'm just looking forward to getting back on the field."
The prognosis for Michael Vaughan, Steve Harmison and Ashley Giles is not so clear as they continue their rehabilitation from knee, shin and hip injuries.
And none of them will play any county cricket until they have been assessed by ECB medical officer Dr Peter Gregory.
Fletcher has not placed any restrictions on the playing commitments of youngsters Monty Panesar and Alastair Cook and spinner Shaun Udal, who all played in the Test series in India but do not have central contracts.
And Owais Shah, Kabir Ali, Gareth Batty, Vikram Solanki and Sajid Mahmood will all be available for their county sides from next Sunday onwards. (BBC Sport)
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