Maradona expresses admiration for Castro

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is an admirer of long- time Cuban leader Fidel Castro, he said in an interview published in official Cuban media. 'Tell Fidel that I love him,' Maradona told Cuban website Cubadebate.cu while on a visit to Venezuela. Maradona said he would travel to Cuba within the next 30 days to meet Castro, who handed over power to his younger brother Raul in 2006. Fidel Castro is to turn 84 Aug 13. Maradona has in the past spent time in Cuba to be treated for drug addiction. Comments | Share | Print | Rate Maradona expresses admiration for Castro 2010-07-25 13:40:00

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I will miss bowling to Sachin: Muralitharan

Barely a few days into retirement and there is something in Test cricket that Sri Lankan off- spinner Muttiah Muraliatharan is already missing - bowling to Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar. Muralitharan brought down the curtains on his glittering 18-year- old career after guiding Sri Lanka to a thumping 10-wicket triumph over India at Galle. "I am going to miss the dressing room environment. The challenges of five-day cricket and first and foremost bowling to great players like Sachin Tendulkar. I will miss this," the wily off-spinner said in an interview from Colombo. Muralitharan, however, neither regrets his decision nor does he think that it was a premature one. "I don't think that it was a premature decision. I was thinking about it since long and I thought it was the perfect time," said the eye-popping legend. Muralitharan retired from Test cricket after reaching his 800 wickets. He got the 800th wicket with his final ball in Test cricket. The affable bowler said he was not confident of reaching the milestone. "Many people, including my wife, suggested that I should play the whole series against India but I wanted to play only the Galle Test. Frankly speaking I was not at all confident of getting eight wickets need to touch 800. "I was not even thinking about that. Winning was more important for me and I was concentrating on that. Although I felt on the top of the world when I got Pragyan Ojha's wicket," he said "All my teammates hugged me. Everyone was very happy. That was an invaluable moment for me and I can never forget that." Muralitharan does not agree that his record is for keeps and no bowler would be able to break it. "This is cricket. You can not guarantee anything. Someone may cross the 800 Test wickets mark tomorrow. Even when I started playing I never thought of making a world record one day," said the bowler, who has taken 515 ODI wickets. Talking about his future plans, Muralitharan wishes to play Twenty20 Cricket for the next couple of years but no he has plans to enter politics like former captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Sanath Jayasuriya. "I want to play Twenty20 cricket for the next two or three years. I would love to remain a part of Chennai Super Kings provided the IPL franchise wants me. "Next year's ODI world cup is also on my radar but it's upto the selectors and coach whether they want me or not. As far as politics is concerned, it's not my cup of tea," said Muralitharan. When asked if he would like to groom Indian spinners, Muralitharan said Anil Kumble will be a better option for that. "I think Anil will be a better option for that. He understands Indian Cricket and was an excellent captain," he said. Muralitharan said he felt overwhelmed by the love and respect showered on him by great players like Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram and Sourav Ganguly. "I feel privileged that such players are saying good things about me. I have made many friends all around the world and I am proud of that.

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World School Championship – Oh the intensity!

There is something very special about children playing chess. Especially when it's many hundreds of them, from scores of different countries. This truly edifying event is taking place in the central Anatolian city of Kayseri (Turkey) and we are lucky to have a dedicated and ambitious photographer at the venue. Enjoy the latest extraordinary

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Dortmund 2010: Ponomariov keeps lead going into final round

The game between tournament leader Ponomariov and second-place Mamedyarov was clearly critical for the final standings, and the Azerbaijan was ready to try it all as he unleashed an absolutely astonishing 5.g4 in a QGD. Kramnik on the other hand played a speculative attack against Naiditsch that went south, while Le Quang and Leko played a long nervy draw.

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Dortmund 2010: Ponomariov keeps lead going into final round

The game between tournament leader Ponomariov and second-place Mamedyarov was clearly critical for the final standings, and the Azerbaijan was ready to try it all as he unleashed an absolutely astonishing 5.g4 in a QGD. Kramnik on the other hand played a speculative attack against Naiditsch that went south, while Le Quang and Leko played a long nervy draw.

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Caruana leads in Young Grandmaster Biel

25.07.2010 – Going into the seventh round tThe Young Grandmaster Tournament in Biel, Switzerland, is not the most exciting event in the world. Italian GM Fabiano Caruana, 17 years old, is in the lead with plus two, behind him five GMs with plus one. In round six most games lasted less than 25 moves, in five rounds 70% of the games were drawn.

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CRICKET'S MURALITHARAN SCALD NEW HEIGHTS

Prodigious spin propelled by an abnormally strong wrist and an iron resolve forged in bitter acrimony over his unique action took Muttiah Muralitharan to unprecedented heights in world cricket. The Sri Lankan, 38, took his 800th test wicket with his final ball in 133 tests on Thursday.

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Chowrasia, Kapur make cut despite ordinary Rd2 in Sweden

Stockholm: Indian golfers SSP Chowrasia and Shiv Kapur turned in over-par cards of 73 and 75 respectively but still managed to make the cut for weekend action after the second round of the Nordea Scandinavian Masters golf tournament here. While Chowrasia was tied 38th with a total of even-par 144, Kapur was a couple of strokes behind his compatriot at tied 66th. It was a topsy-turvy day for Chowrasia, who sunk in five birdies but ended up negating them with six bogeys. One-under at the turn after sandwiching a bogey in between his two birdies, Chowrasia played out a roller-coaster back nine. There were birdies on the 11th and 15th but bogeys on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17th denied him an under-par card. Kapur was even more off-colour as he managed just two birdies against five bogeys. Off the blocks with a birdie on the first, Kapur let it slip thereafter and bogeys on the fourth, seventh and eighth had him two-over at the turn. Things didn't improve much in the back nine either as he ended up conceding two strokes against just one birdie, on the 15th. Top of the table, Korean K J Choi (67) grabbed the lead with a total of nine-under 135. Swede Richard S Johnson (66) occupied the second spot a shot behind Choi.

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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is set to miss next month

London: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is set to miss next month's Community Shield clash with Manchester United and their Premier League opener after undergoing groin surgery which will rule him out for three weeks. The Ivory Coast international, who was troubled by the groin problem during Chelsea's Premier League and FA Cup double-winning campaign last season, successfully had "minimal invasive surgery" on Friday, the club said on their website on Saturday. The 32-year-old is expected to return to full training in three weeks meaning he will miss the Aug. 8 Wembley clash with United and possibly the beginning of their league title defence at home to West Bromwich Albion on Aug. 14.

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Pakistan finally reverse 13- match losing streak against Australia

Pakistan pace trio made the difference, says Butt Hockey India not to avail Kaushik's services in future McLaren aim to overtake Ferrari as top F1 brand Contador expected to seal third Tour victory PCB may not recall Yousuf if team wins at Leeds Arrest warrants against IPL team owners Priety, Ness Akmal needs to get over his T20 hangover: Waqar Malinga rested, Mendis likely to replace Muralitharan

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