Top Stories: Karachi, Dec. 19 : In a bid to safeguard his chair, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt has written a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari explaining his absence from a meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports. ANI Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:40:04 -0500Karachi, Dec 19 (IANS) Under fire, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has told President Asif Ali Zardari he could not attend a parliamentary panel meeting on the participation of Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a pre-arranged appointment 'of a highkly sensitive nature'. IANS Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:00:02 -0500New Delhi, Dec 19 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that India opener Virender Sehwag would be the captain for the next two one-day internationals (ODIs) in the absence of the regular skipper Mahender Singh Dhoni. ANI Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:30:08 -0500(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, and fellow team members Victor Valdes, second from left, Pedro, third from left, and Sergio Busquets, second from right, react after winning t... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:57:50 -0500(AP Photo/Joe Raymond)New Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly addresses the crowd at halftime of the NCAA college basketball game between Notre Dame and UCLA, on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, in South Be... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:57:46 -0500Scott Rolen have agreed to restructure the third baseman's contract to give the club more payroll flexibility for next season, ESPN.com has learned. ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:51:04 -0500Stephon Heyer was unable to practice this week due to a knee injury and was listed as questionable on Saturday. First-year lineman Will Robinson, promoted from the practice squad last week, will make ... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:51:02 -0500Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer, right, hugs Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt before a women's NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)... Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:50:25 -0500New Orleans Saints are already very thankful for all their hard-earned gifts in the 2009 season — a rare 13-0 start, only their second NFC South division title, a home playoff game and just thei... USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:50:00 -0500Members of Barcelona's soccer team throw coach Pep Guardiola in the air after defeating Estudiantes in their FIFA Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:49:58 -0500When Villanova suffered its first loss on Sunday at Temple, Wildcats coach Jay Wright didn't sound devastated, merely resigned. The dream of a perfect season had not been lost because Wright had never... Sports Illustrated Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:48:11 -0500(CNN) -- Lionel Messi scored an extra-time winner as Barcelona came from behind to beat Estudiantes 2-1 in the Club World Cup final on Saturday to confirm the Spanish and European champions as the top... CNN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:47:49 -0500Sports presenter Chris Hollins has won BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, beating actor Ricky Whittle in a public vote in the final.The BBC presenter had performed four dances with professional partner ... BBC Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:44:42 -0500Yokohama cricket ground dispute Rumour has it that it is the intention of Kanagawa Governor Sufu to remove the Cricket Ground of Yokohama and turn the place into a scenic garden, while he also propose... Japan Times Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:37:05 -0500Sabine TournamentSabine 12 18 17 6 -- 53Central Heights 7 5 5 8 -- 25SABINE -- Noah Jackson, 14, Lie Quan Byrd, 17; Colton Kirk, 6; Josh Montana, 10; Zack Royce, 2.CENTRAL HEIGHTS -- Clifton, 10; Edwa... Tyler Morning Telegraph Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:30:39 -0500Due to foul trouble, Gorman slowed the game down with a four-corners offense in the second half. Though the Maidens (9-9) closed to within a couple scores, Obach took over late and sealed the win. Tyler Morning Telegraph Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:30:37 -0500Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been given the full support of his club after being informed HM Customs and Revenue want to take action against him next month.Redknapp has always denied any wrongdoi... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:37:27 -0500Arsenal moved back into third place at the top of the Barclays Premier League thanks to a fine 3-0 win over relegation-haunted Hull at the Emirates Stadium. Just before the interval, players from both... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:37:26 -0500(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)Kansas guard Sherron Collins (4) shoots over Michigan guard Zack Novak (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, in Lawrence, Kan. The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:35:25 -0500Shrink The Breakers have kept their Australian basketball league playoff hopes alive with a 77-68 win over the bottom of the table Tigers in Melbourne. The Breakers outscored the Tigers 26-16 in the ... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:41 -0500Shrink It's a dubious record. The Black Caps have used 30 opening partnerships in their 145 innings this decade. It's not the worst record - Pakistan have used 42 in 150 innings over the same period... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:40 -0500Shane Watson became the fourth player to be charged for poor behaviour during the third test between Australia and the West Indies. Photo / Getty Images... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:37 -0500PRETORIA - South Africa grabbed the key wicket of England captain Andrew Strauss late on the fourth day of the first test after setting them a challenging victory target of 364 runs overnight (NZT). ... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:36 -0500The grin on Bryan Williams' face is virtually a permanent fixture but it was a little wider on Friday morning. The former All Black great has always had his fingers in a lot of pies - these days he's... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:34 -0500It was inevitable someone would be upset by the restructuring of the Air New Zealand Cup and Wanganui believe the NZRU have treated them badly. Rugby bosses have been widely lauded for agreeing a new... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:31 -0500Sherron Collins scored 19 to help No. 1 Kansas hold on for a grinding 75-64 win over Michigan on Saturday.Kansas (10-0) wasn't always crisp in winning its 48th straight home game, using a big first-ha... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:28:21 -0500LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) ? Marcus Morris had a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Sherron Collins (FSY) scored 19 to help No. 1 Kansas hold on for a grinding 75-64 win over Michigan on Saturda... USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:27:23 -0500EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) ? Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe scored 14 points apiece to lead No. 12 Michigan State to an 80-58 victory over IPFW on Saturday. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:27:22 -0500Michael Phelps competes in the 200-meter butterfly event at the Duel in the Pool. Phelps didn't win that event, but he did help anchor the U.S. team to victory in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:27:21 -0500(CNN) -- Big-spending Manchester City have made a surprise move to sack manager Mark Hughes and appoint former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini in his place. CNN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:25:07 -0500London - Champions Manchester United suffered a 3-0 thrashing at Fulham on Saturday to remain three points adrift of Chelsea in the Premier League title race. Goals by Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora an... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:58 -0500Manchester United still have problems in defence as they attempt to close the three-point gap at the top of the Premier League with a victory at Fulham on Saturday. Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Gary... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:55 -0500A last-minute substitute referee almost turned the tide as Mamelodi Sundowns continued their surge towards log leaders SuperSport United in the Premier League championship race with a 2-1 victory over... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:51 -0500"We have to give ourselves a good chance because SuperSport still have to play some of the top teams." You get a sense Sundowns will have to rely mainly on Mphela if they are to overhaul SuperSport... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:44 -0500By Kevin McCallum and Stuart Hess At SuperSport Park England second innings 11/1 (first innings 356) South Africa second innings 301/7 d (9/1 overnight, first innings 418) England chasing ... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:40 -0500Spain's Pablo Martin closed on a second straight European Tour title after retaining his lead in the South African Open third round on Saturday. Martin, who won the opening event of the 2010 Europe... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:36 -0500Washington - Tiger Woods suffered one of the greatest falls from grace in the annals of sport in 2009, his sex scandal rendering a year of historic golf achievements starkly irrelevant by contrast. ... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:33 -0500London - American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin predicted on Friday that Tiger Woods would be as strong a player as ever when he came back from his marital turmoil and break from golf. Woods is on ... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:29 -0500London - Wales rugby union legend Gareth Thomas publicly announced Saturday he is gay, saying that living a double life had driven him to suicidal despair. The Cardiff Blues full-back, 35, told the... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:26 -0500Manchester, England - Manchester City has announced it will make a statement on Saturday evening amid speculation that the club is about to fire manager Mark Hughes despite a 4-3 victory over Sunderla... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:24 -0500London - Liverpool's miserable season hit a new low as Javier Mascherano was sent off in a 2-0 defeat at bottom of the table Portsmouth on Saturday. Rafa Benitez's side, who are already out of the ... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:20 -0500Centurion - A century by Hashim Amla put South Africa in a strong position on the fourth day of the first Test against England at SuperSport Park on Saturday. South Africa made 301/7 declared in th... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:18 -0500.brabys a { font-size: 8pt; } /* sport newsletter box */ #sports_nl { background: url(/images/sports_nl_bg.png) no-repeat; height: 82px; margin: 10px 0 10px 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 250p... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:15 -0500By Kevin McCallum and Stuart Hess At SuperSport Park South Africa second innings 182/5 (9/1 overnight, first innings 418) England 356 South Africa lead by 244 runs at tea Hashim Aml... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:13 -0500The Dolphins recorded and extraordinary victory of six runs over the Diamond Eagles in a SuperSport Series cricket match at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Saturday. The home side needed 151 runs ... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:10 -0500New Delhi - Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell says he is disappointed that two major venues for the 2010 games have missed construction deadlines. All venues being built for t... Independent Online Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:59:05 -0500High-profile expressions of faith by athletes have become routine in pro sports since Lusk's October 1977 run. A new book by religion writer Tom Krattenmaker explores how it happened, and asks whether... Boston.com Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:51:13 -0500CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— A Massachusetts high school football player accused of head-butting an opponent during a game continues to defend himself against an assault charge. Boston.com Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:51:10 -0500Connections of the unplaced Take A Stroll have been hit hard over the running and riding of the four-year-old at Navan.The local stewards handed out a 60-day ban to the horse, while trainer Christy Ro... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:12:52 -0500Noel Meade landed a quickfire double at Navan thanks to Hollo Ladies and Thegreatjohnbrowne in the opening races.Hollo Ladies was backed into 7-4 favourite for the Santa Claus Maiden Hurdle and ran ou... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:12:50 -0500Leinster kept pace with chief rivals London Irish at the top of Pool Six as they warmed up a chilly RDS with a seven-try 39-7 dismissal of the Scarlets.The reigning Heineken Cup champions made it a bl... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:12:49 -0500New Clare hurling manager Ger O'Loughlin is looking forward to restoring normality to the county following weeks of upheaval.He said: "It's a great honour. I'm looking forward to the challenge. Hopefu... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:12:48 -0500Former Munster Council chairman Noel Walsh is confident the GAA will consider future requests from other sports for the use of Croke Park after the completion of the Aviva Stadium redevelopment.Walsh,... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:12:47 -0500Ravens . As of Saturday afternoon, though, with two feet of snow expected in Baltimore, when they actually will arrive in Maryland was anybody's guess.The Bears' flight was canceled Friday night, and ... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:03:17 -0500Chris Henry 's No. 15 jersey during Sunday's game versus San Diego, a source close to the situation said.Ochocinco wants to wear Henry's jersey to honor his former teammate, who passed away Thursday, ... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:03:16 -0500Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said after Friday's loss to Houston that the Mavericks will be filing an official protest with the league office because of at least three contentious calls during Da... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:03:14 -0500Wisconsin with what the school is calling "a lower extremity that required surgery." Fox didn't play in the regular-season finale at South Florida due to an illness, but he still will finish his care... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:03:13 -0500Michael Phelps competes in the 200-meter butterfly event at the Duel in the Pool. Phelps didn't win that event, but he did help anchor the U.S. team to victory in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:02:14 -0500Fulham, who beat United at Craven Cottage last season and qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League in midweek, consolidated ninth place in the table and are just three points behind Manchester C... CNN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:59:57 -0500Soccer seemed to defy financial gravity in 2009. While much of the world buckled into recession, FIFA, the sport’s governing body, declared that each of the 32 nations that qualified for the... International Herald Tribune Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:54:15 -0500Mel Allen used to say. In the space of one autumn, the franchise has actually lost three signature Yankees, including Henrich, who died Dec. 1. ?The Yankees do not thrive merely on superstars, th... International Herald Tribune Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:54:13 -0500Dr. Charles Czeisler is known in the N.B.A. as the Sleep Doctor. He advises players to sleep 8.2 to 8.4 hours a night, which requires nine hours in bed. International Herald Tribune Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:54:11 -0500Super Bowl , is the ultimate reward. These prizes are not mutually exclusive, but no player in this decade has managed to earn both in one season. International Herald Tribune Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:54:09 -0500C AMBRIDGE — A Massachusetts high school football player accused of head-butting an opponent during a game continues to defend himself against an assault charge. Arlington Catholic High School ... Boston Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:46:58 -0500Tottenham kept up the pressure on the leaders with their second win in a week - a 2-0 victory over Blackburn thanks to a brace from Peter Crouch.The England striker made the breakthrough in first-half... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:48:40 -0500John Carew came off the substitute's bench to keep Aston Villa's Champions League push on target with a second-half winner to give them a 1-0 victory over battling Stoke at Villa Park. The Norway inte... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:48:39 -0500(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)FILE - Joe McKnight smiles in his University of Southern California hat during the ceremony where he signs a letter of intent to attend Southern California, in River Ridge... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:46:37 -0500World Cup ski jumping event to lead the overall standings.Schlierenzauer scored his second individual win of the season and 26th career World Cup victory with leaps of 137 and 130 meters Saturday. The... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:46:36 -0500James Anderson refused to admit an unlikely victory is beyond England after a frustrating day in the field against South Africa at Centurion.Hashim Amla's seventh Test hundred ensured England's last n... Cricket365 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:45:02 -0500Angelo Mathews set to return home after straining his right quadricep muscle during the second ODI in Nagpur on Friday. The Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Brian Thomas has confirmed to Cricinfo that... Cricinfo Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:45:00 -0500West Ham are in trouble and so are most of the Spurs team after an illicit Christmas party. Jason Burt and Sam Wallace report on two very different festive seasons facing two famous London football cl... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:39:38 -0500No. 10 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Texas My sense is that a college basketball game in Dallas Cowboys Stadium will make for great television but lousy basketball. I like the Longhorns in this one becau... Sports Illustrated Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:36:20 -0500(CNN) -- Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has revealed that he believes seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement and join the new Mercedes team. CNN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:36:04 -0500New Orleans Saints have adopted an approach to the season that has served them well: take one game at a time, focus on the moment.But the approach has become severely tested as the Saints’ unbea... International Herald Tribune Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:30:36 -0500Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez suffered a disastrous trip to Portsmouth after Javier Mascherano was dismissed during a miserable 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park.Pompey's victory, with the goals coming from ... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:34:15 -0500The National Association of Home Builders says its housing market index slipped in December, reflecting concern that job losses will continue to stifle demand for new homes despite the extension of a ... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:32:06 -0500(AP Photo/Armando Trovati)Bode Miller, of the US, reacts after competing in an alpine ski, Men's World Cup downhill race, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:32:04 -0500Australia's Shane Watson has been fined 15% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in Saturday's fourth day of the third Test with the West Indies in Perth.The all-rounder pleaded guil... Cricket365 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:30:37 -0500Wales great Gareth Thomas has publicly announced he's gay. Thomas, who retired from international rugby two years ago but still plays for Cardiff Blues, told the Daily Mail he doesn't want to be know... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:35 -0500Shrink New Zealand rugby will have improved financial muscle to retain players as the finishing touches are put to what is thought to be one of the biggest rugby broadcast deals in the world. The ol... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:34 -0500Lou Vincent is giving cricket in New Zealand one last chance. The 31-year-old has been living mainly in Britain since moving on from the failed Indian Cricket League. He can potentially qualify to pla... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:32 -0500Jeff Crowe is happy to consider a future move back into New Zealand Cricket (NZC) management, but perhaps not any time soon. The International Cricket Council match referee and former New Zealand cap... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:15 -0500Auckland Rugby will look to reinstate development coaches in a move described as "back to the future". All Blacks coach Graham Henry recently lamented the demise of Auckland's six development coaches... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:13 -0500Mark Paston watched all 14 episodes of Prison Break Season 3 inside two days. He's hoping he might receive a few more DVDs for Christmas. Invalided with a broken leg and told to rest for at least six... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:11 -0500Auckland City have always been regarded as the richest NZFC club in the country and their coffers will swell by almost $1 million from their slice of the money they won at last week's Club World Cup. ... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:09 -0500INTERNAZIONALE VS CHELSEA The attention will be on the dugout but the tie will be won and lost by the players. The worry for Chelsea is that with so much attention on Inter's controversial coach, Jos... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:07 -0500Rugby provinces will receive a cheque for $35,000 as soon as one of their players is selected for the All Blacks squad for the Tri Nations next year. The initiative is just one measure of the new col... New Zealand Herald Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:25:06 -0500Alabama after charges for driving while intoxicated were dropped in exchange for a plea agreement, the Austin American-Statesman reported.Monroe pleaded guilty to a charge of obstruction of a passagew... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:24:56 -0500UConn , a source close to the negotiations told ESPN.com Saturday. Financial details will be released later by the school, but the source said Calhoun did get a raise from his current $1.6 million sa... ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:24:55 -0500Mike Lowell will fly to Texas on Saturday after a meeting late this week with a hand specialist in Arizona, according to a major league executive familiar with Lowell's situation. ESPN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:24:54 -0500Osborne-Paradis covered the 2.14-mile run in 2 minutes, 1.27 seconds, giving Canada's injury-hit squad a morale boost with his second victory of the season. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:23:52 -0500The tourists go into the final day still needing 51 runs to win as No. 10 Kemar Roach and No. 11 Gavin Tonge survived until stumps on Saturday having added a stubborn 29 runs for the last wicket, with... CNN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:21:38 -0500Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has warned Harry Redknapp no amount of cash for Maynor Figueroa can compare to his priceless role in the club's future.If speculation is to be believed, Redknapp is ready t... Independent.ie Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:09:48 -0500(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)FILE - Joe McKnight smiles in his University of Southern California hat during the ceremony where he signs a letter of intent to attend Southern California, in River Ridge... The Examiner Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:07:48 -0500He has bowled South Africa into dominant positions against both Australia and England in the past 12 months, yet people continue to raise questions about Paul Harris.Maybe it's because Geoffrey Boycot... Cricket365 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:06:16 -0500NEW DELHI: Bowing to strong opposition from the Organising Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday dropped its controversial proposal of constituting a monitoring panel to oversee ... Times of India Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:01:19 -0500Osborne-Paradis covered the 2.14-mile run in 2 minutes, 1.27 seconds, giving Canada's injury-hit squad a morale boost with his second victory of the season. USA Today Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:59:40 -0500VAL GARDENA, Italy (Reuters) - Canada's Manuel Osborne-Paradis caused a minor surprise when he triumphed in the men's World Cup Saslong Classic downhill on Saturday. Reuters Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:46:12 -0500David Beckham is set to return to Old Trafford after Manchester United were drawn with AC Milan on Friday for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Mail & Guardian Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:46:54 -0500 | 
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