■ Ponting bags captain prize
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was named cricketer of the year at the third International Cricket Council annual awards on Friday. The 31-year-old Tasmanian, who was short-listed in four categories for his performances between Aug. 1 last year and Aug. 8 this year was also declared the test player of the year. Australian team mate Michael Hussey won the one-day international player of the year award as the world champions dominated the winners list at a gala function.
■ Soccer
Drogba extends deal
Didier Drogba signed a four-year contract extension on Friday with Chelsea, committing him to the club until 2010. The Ivory Coast striker, who scored his 10th goal of the season in Tuesday's 2-2 draw at FC Barcelona in the Champions League, joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004. Drogba's start to the season has been his best since moving to England. He has five goals in the Premier League and five in the Champions League.
■ Rugby Union
RFU rejects racism claim
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has rejected allegations made by All Black center Aaron Mauger that New Zealand players were racially abused by England supporters during last year's Test at Twickenham. The statement, from the English governing body's chief executive Francis Baron. He was responding to comments made on Friday by Mauger that non-white players had been abused during the visitors' 23-19 victory. But Baron insisted: "No allegations of any abuse were made after that game and it is puzzling why they have now been made a year later."
■ Bosnia
National coach sacked
The Bosnian football association said on Friday it has sacked national coach Blaz Sliskovic due to poor results. "The board has decided to dismiss Blaz Sliskovic," the FA said in a statement, adding that it also sacked coaches of Bosnia's junior and other squads. Bosnia is unlikely to qualify for the 2008 European Championships after collecting just four points in as many matches. Sliskovic had announced his resignation in September following a defeat in one of the qualifiers, but later changed his mind.
■ Cricket
Arson suspect makes bail
Former Test player Mark Vermeulen was granted bail of US$2,000 after he appeared in court on Friday charged with arson attacks on the Zimbabwe cricket association's boardroom and training academy. Vermeulen was also ordered by magistrates in Harare to surrender his passport, report on a daily basis to police and stay away from any cricket facility in the country ahead of his trial on Nov. 14. The 27-year-old, who is facing two counts of arson.
■ Olympics
IOC head meets Raul Castro
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) met with Raul Castro to discuss global challenges facing sports, state-run media reported on Friday. Castro is Cuba's acting president while his older brother Fidel recovers from intestinal surgery. Jacques Rogge, in Cuba to attend the Sport for All Congress, had requested a meeting with the elder Castro. In the Thursday meeting, Raul Castro told Rogge that Cuba is committed to the fight against doping and informed him of plans to "continue developing sports, education and health" on the island, the Communist Party daily newspaper Granma said.
■ Boxing
Holt decks Hlatshwayo
Kendall Holt of the US knocked down South African Isaac Hlatshwayo three times in the last four rounds and registered a unanimous 12-round decision to win the North American Boxing Organization junior-welterweight title on Friday. Holt cemented his status as a potential world champion with the win over the South African. "I told everybody this fight could be easy or could be hard, depending on me," Holt said. "I trained, I sacrificed and it was easy like I said it was going to be. I can't be overlooked. Take me seriously." By winning the title, Holt (21-1) will soon be ranked in the top five by the World Boxing Organization. That could eventually lead to a shot at the WBO's junior welterweight title.
■ Football
Sans spleen, Sims to sit out
Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms, who had his spleen removed after a game on September 24, won't play for the remainder of the National Football League season, the Buccaneers said on Friday. The Bucs placed Simms on injured reserve, ending his season, and activated quarterback Luke McCown from the physically unable-to-perform list. Simms underwent a splenectomy hours after a 26-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Simms had taken several hard hits in the game. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski has taken over as the starter for the Bucs, who are in last place in the NFC South. Simms, 26, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
■ Basketball
Rose signs with Phoenix
Jalen Rose agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns on Friday, four days after the New York Knicks waived the swingman by paying him a US$14.5 million buyout. Rose said on his official Web site that after he was cut loose by the Knicks, several teams had expressed interest, including the NBA champion Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. "Being waived by the New York Knicks has created an opportunity for me to find a team to play on that will hopefully get me back into the playoffs with a realistic opportunity to win an NBA championship," Rose wrote.
■ Soccer
Tragedy strikes Puyol
Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol was due to miss yesterday's encounter at Deportivo La Coruna after his father died in an accident at work on Friday, the club reported on its Web site. Josep Puyol, 56, was driving an excavator near the town of Lleida when it reportedly overturned, according to fire brigade authorities. Barca revealed his son had flown straight back from La Coruna to be with relatives. Titleholders Barca, their Champions League ambitions in the balance after Tuesday's draw with Chelsea in the Nou Camp, are currently one point clear of Seville at the top of La Liga.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was