Moment of truth for Pak as World Cup qualifiers begin

KARACHI: The moment of truth for Pakistan hockey arrives in Lille, France, on Saturday when the seventh-ranked team faces the 26th-ranked Italy at the Metropole Club in the first encounter of the World Cup qualifiers. The national hockey team is featuring in the six-nation tournament as a consequence of losing the Asia Cup final by 0-1 to Korea in May. The qualifiers, beginning Saturday, will conclude on Nov 8 and Pakistan have to beat all the other participating teams in order to play in the 2010 World Cup to be played in New Delhi, India, from Feb 28 to March 13. They play their second match against 23rd-ranked Russia (Nov 1), third against 17th-ranked France (Nov 3), fourth against 14th-ranked Japan (Nov 5) and fifth against 22nd-ranked...

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Pakistan begin WC qualifier campaign in style

KARACHI: Penalty-corner specialist fullback Sohail Abbas lived up to expectations as Pakistan thrashed Italy 5-0 in their first match of the hockey World Cup qualifiers, played at the Metropole Club in Lille, France on Saturday. According to the information received here, the match saw as many as three goals being scored on penalty-corners with Sohail converting two in the 31st and 47th minutes. The third was scored by fullback Mohammad Imran in the 43rd minute. The first half score was 1-0 in favour of the favourites with four goals coming in the second half. The last two goals were both successful field attempts by forwards Mohammad Zubair and Haseem Khan in the 52nd and and 68th minutes, respectively. Pakistan play their second...

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All Set For ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Champions Trophy 2009 held to begin from the 22 September to 5 October at Wanderers Stadium and Centurion Park in Johannesberg in South Africa. Two teams from two group of four will form the semi finals with the final played on 5 October. Last year tournament was supposed to be happen in Pakistan but was postponed until October 2009 due to security concerns after the attack on Sri Lankan teams. Group A consists of Australia, India, Pakistan and West Indies Group B consists of England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen stars of England team will not play for ICC Champions. Australia defeated England in the recent 50 over series and England became the first team to lose a series by 7-0. After the beginning...

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Davide Grassi Injury Knocks Aberdeen

Davide Grassi has been discarded for three months from Aberdeen after experiencing a triple cheekbone fracture. This accident happened when Co-Operative Insurance Cup defeated Dundee, his head clashed with defender David Cowan. As a substitute to Sone Aluko on the left of midfield, Grassi was signed for this match. Sone Aluko will not play match for another month as he is in Nigeria squad for the Under-20 World Cup held in Egypt. This tournament will last for until the 16 October. Davide Grassi had signed a one-year contract with Aberdeen in the month of August. This injury happened just five minutes into the loss of 3-2 to the first division si...

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Salomon Kalau Signs A New Deal With Chelsea

Salomon Kalau Chelsea striker signed a new three-year contract with the Stamford Bridge club, which should keep him in west London until 2012. Carlo Ancelotti Blues Manager told at an official website that Salomon an important player for the club and he is pleased that Salomon has signed a new contract. Ivory Coast star £8m signing from Feyenoord in 2006 was set to become a free agent next summer. Chelsea was currently appealing against a transfer ban imposed by Fifa, which prevents them from registering new players until January 2011. Later punishment was cancelled after the club was found guilty of suggesting Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007. Kalou follows Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole and John Terry in vowing his future...

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Confident Pakistan leaves to face New Zealand

LAHORE: Pakistan's 16-man cricket squad left for Dubai early Friday with coach Intikhab Alam confident his team can beat New Zealand in the limited-over series. Pakistan will play three one-day internationals on November 3, 6, 9 in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 internationals on November 12 and 13 in Dubai, in a series relocated to the United Arab Emirates over security fears. 'Confidence is high and if we play to our potential we can win the series,' Alam told reporters at Lahore airport. 'We have been doing well in one-day cricket and I hope the good work will continue.' Younus Khan leads the one-day squad, while all-rounder Shahid Afridi will take over for the Twenty20 internationals. Also leaving the squad after the one-day matches...

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