Players should be punished who made fixing:M.S.Dhoni

Players should be punished who made fixing:M.S.Dhoni

Speaking excusively to NDTV, Dhoni said that punishment should be given to players

found guilty of fixing and taking harsh decisions was the need of the hour.

He further said that these match-fixing allegations were bringing disrepute to the

game of cricket and soon people will start blaming the entire cricketing fraternity.

"At times there are low scoring games and people start thinking it may be a fixed

game."

"When you work so hard, go to the gym, the net sessions and the amount of pressure

that you take and then you after that you achieve something remarkable and people

come up with those kind of words. Then it can be really disheartening," the skipper

added.

Dhoni further said that all those who are associated with fixing allegations should

be kept as far away from cricket as possible

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Maria Sharapova latest pics at U.S.OPEN

Maria Sharapova latest pics at U.S.OPEN

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Rafael Nadal push through to the third round.

Rafael Nadal push through to the third round.

Rafael Nadal was only marginally better than Denis Istomin on Friday night, but he was always better when it mattered most in a 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory that made him the last man to push through to the third round.

"That is pretty strange because I wasn't serving really very well, really until two days before the competition," Nadal said. "I changed a little bit the grip, about five or six inches up. I felt like when I didn't have free points and I needed that. So I tried to play a little bit more aggressive."
"I am not really thinking about winning this tournament because there are five matches to go," he said.

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Roger Federer latest pics at U.S.OPEN

Roger Federer latest pics at U.S.OPEN

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Sachin Tendulkar has been conferred Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain.

Sachin Tendulkar has been conferred Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain.

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India loses 0-1with Tailand in friendly tie match

India loses 0-1with Tailand in friendly tie match

India's return to international football was far from encouraging as it lost to Thailand by a solitary goal in a friendly tie at the Yamaha Stadium on Saturday.

Thailand, who failed to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha, rode on experienced striker Sarayoot Chikamdee's 73rd-minute strike to emerge winners.

Fresh from their two-month training stint in Portugal, it was India's first international assignment since last year's Nehru Cup but for Bob Houghton and his boys, things didn't really pan out the way they had hoped for.

In the absence of regular skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, suffering from recurring Thyroid-related illness, Climax Lawrence led the team in a match that was also Mohammad Rafi's maideninternational appearance.

The former Mahindra United striker could have given India lead but his 68th-minute attempt was taken care of by the Thai custodian.

While Thailand had possession for a major part of the first half, there were sporadic attempts by the Indians as well.

Sunil Chhetri, back from his Major League Soccer stint at Kansas City Wizards, had a chance off Steven Dias's free kick at the stroke of breather but could not cash in.

Before that, in the 22nd minute, Surkumar Singh's powerful rightfooter was blocked by Thai goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool.

Coached by former England and Manchester United legend Brian Robson, the hosts started on an aggressive note with their strikers showing a lot of enterprise. But India's defenders were equal to task, never allowing them to take a stranglehold.

India play the return match at the Ambedkar Stadium on September 8, before taking on Namibia a week later.

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Sharapova shows exit to capra dream run

Sharapova shows exit to capra dream run

Beatrice Capra could hardly have expected more from her WTA Tour main draw debut.

The 18-year-old American advanced to the third round of the 2010 US Open, defeating a top-20 player in the process, and had the opportunity to play 2006 champion Maria Sharapova in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But her dream run came to an end Saturday as Sharapova overwhelmed the young Capra 6-0, 6-0 to advance to the fourth round against top seed Caroline Wozniacki.

"On a day like today, I just wanted to make sure I was consistent and did the right thing, and maybe didn't go for the lines as much and just played smart tennis," Sharapova said.

"I had some, not a lot, but I played two tournaments [in the Olympus US Open Series], and did quite well; could have done better," she said. "[Now] here we are. I think the more matches you play, the better you feel, [against] the different types of opponents.

"[Wozniacki] can run all day and get a lot of balls back and make you hit tons of balls," she added. "She changes the pace really well, and gets her opponents off balance. She does many things well. That's why she's at the top of the game."

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Sri Lankan player under ICC investigation

Sri Lankan player under ICC investigation

The ICC's anti-corruption unit has been monitoring the unusual activities of a

leading Sri Lankan player.

Sri Lankan players passed on their concerns to the captain, who followed ICC

protocol by contacting the anti-corruption unit. The player has since been

investigated by Sri Lankan police, although no charges have been laid, British daily

The Guardian reported today.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket has kept the entire matter away from the public spotlight

by concealing the entire police investigation surrounding the player.

The player concerned has been under the ICC's scanner since the Twenty20 World Cup

in England in 2009.

The officials from the ICC's anti-corruption unit are said to be dismayed at the

lack of progress.

"The (anti-corruption unit's) working is not that of a policing agency or a

newspaper. They have no power to arrest or seize, or carry out a sting operation.

"Getting international players to question the honesty of one of their own

team-mates is a considerable challenge, but it is essential if the ICC is to root

out corruption," Haroon Lorgat, the ICC's chief executive, said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Cricket Board said they did not received any official report

regarding any player so far.

"Nothing has been reported to us so far, there is nothing for me to comment on this.

Nothing has been reported officially but there are media reports about various

allegations. So, the official report has to come from ICC," SLC secretary Nishantha

Ranatunga said.

The News of the World, which published its expose into cricket corruption a week ago

after a sting operation against the Pakistan players' agent, Mazhar Majeed, provides

further evidence on Sunday to support its allegations.

The newspaper claimed that the Pakistan players face 23 ICC charges between them and

that the Metropolitan Police have recovered between 10,000-15,000 pounds of bills

marked by the News of the World from Butt's room.

It also states Butt was warned five times that he must report any irregular

dealings.

Yasir Hameed, who was recalled for the final Test at the Lord's ? the Test that was

the subject of the British tabloid sting ? was quoted as saying: "They were doing it

[fixing] in almost every match. God knows what they were up to."

Hameed, however, denied that he had made the allegations and said he was "deeply

disturbed" by them.

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Roger Federer strong his path in U.S.open

Roger Federer strong his path in U.S.open

Roger Federer continued his serene progress to remain on course for a showdown with the man who ended his Grand Slam streak.

Federer overcame strong winds to beat France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes and is yet to drop a set in three matches at Flushing Meadows.

The five-time champion is looking to reach his seventh straight final in New York and regain the title after losing to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro 12 months ago.

But he looks set to face Sweden's Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals, the player he lost to at the same stage of the French Open this year to end his streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-final appearances.

Speaking about his win over Mathieu, Federer said: "I thought the first set was the key. He has some serious talent. We came through the juniors together and he used to toy around with me.

"I got a bit lucky in the first set, he had the first break point at 4-3 and after that I was able to break him back and maybe break his will a bit."

Federer announced before the championships began that he has hired Paul Annacone as his coach full time after a successful trial period and added: "He's a good guy and we have known each other a long time since he was working with Pete (Sampras) and Tim (Henman).

"We had a good test after Wimbledon, he's making me play a little more aggressive and it's good to hear from someone new. I haven't lost many matches on the hard-court season."

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