Andy Roddick leaves the court after losing to Teimuraz Gabashvili on Saturday. Gabashvili won 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. — AFP

It was not through lack of effort though.

Serena survives

Serena Williams survived a second-set wobble in the third round of the French Open on Saturday, but recovered her senses in time to beat Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. The American dropped serve against her teenage opponent on a fresh morning before reeling off the next six games.

Nadal beats Hewitt

Rafa Nadal continued his dominant run with an easy straight sets win over Australian Llyeton Hewitt. Nadal won 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Paes, Bopanna win

Defending champions and third seeds Paes and Lukas Dlouhy of Czech Republic booked a pre-quarterfinal berth with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Yves Allegro and Andreas Beck. However, Bhupathi and Mirnyi lost 4-6, 6-7 (4) to Marc Lopez and Pere Riba. Earlier, Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi scored an easy 6-2, 6-3 win over Fabio Fognini and Michael Russell. — Agencies 

Lahore, May 29
A Pakistan Cricket Board-appointed appeals judge today lifted the one-year ban on former captain Shoaib Malik, saying the all-rounder, accused of being a "negative influence" in the past, is a changed man now. Former High Court judge Irfan Qadir's decision came at the National Cricket Academy where he held his hearing in which Malik was represented by his lawyer. The judge also reduced a fine on Malik from Rs 1 million to Rs 1 million. “The board’s legal advisor has reported to me that after monitoring Malik in the last three months they feel he has improved his behavior and attitude,” Qadir told reporters.

“I have decided to uphold his appeal and lift the ban as the purpose of disciplinary action against players was to make them rethink about their careers,” he said. Malik, who is in Dubai after his marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, hailed the Qadir's decision, saying the ban was a slur on his career. “The purpose of my appealing to the board was to clear this stigma against my name. The ban was a stigma for me and my family,” Malik told ‘Geo News’. The PCB had banned Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved for 12 months and fined them Rs two million each in March for indiscipline on the tour of Australia.

The board also banned former captains Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan for indefinite periods and fined Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal on the recommendations of an inquiry committee report into the tour in March. Leaked video recordings of the hearings revealed that most of the players including captain Shahid Afridi, former coach Intikhab Alam and manager Abdul Raquib blamed Malik for fanning intrigues and creating disharmony in the team. — PTI 

Bulawayo, May 29
Their pride dented by the embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe in the lung-opener, a jolted India will hope to revive their campaign against Sri Lanka in the second match of the cricket tri-series here tomorrow. It was hardly the start Suresh Raina would have hoped for in his debut as captain as India lost by six wickets to the hosts yesterday with 10 balls to spare.

Missing their regular stars, India were given a rude shock by the Zimbabweans who chased down a rather stiff target of 285 with consummate ease. Indian bowlers let down the team but the batting was not too impressive either and had it not been for Rohit Sharma's breezy 114 and Ravindra Jadeja's 61 after a top-order collapse, getting to 285 would have also been a difficult task.

“We need to work on our bowling and fielding department to come back against Sri Lanka,” Raina said after the match. Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay were always going to find it difficult to replicate the flying starts that India are so used to with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top. The middle order looks alright with Raina, Rohit and Jadeja in good nick.

The bowling is, however, a worry as the team found out against Zimbabwe. Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda failed to either take wickets or stem the run flow against lowly side while R Vinay Kumar proved expensive. Raina minced no words in expressing his disappointment after the match.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have also fielded a young team and have rested key players, prominent among them are regular skipper Kumar Sangakkara and the in-form Mahela Jayawardene. Tillakaratne Dilshan is leading the side without having the services of senior players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga. All-rounder Angelo Mathews is Dilshan's deputy on his maiden assignment as captain for an ODI series.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who was ruled out during the World Twenty20 due to a groin injury, is also not there in the side. The new-look team features greenhorns like all-rounder Jeewan Mendis and left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne.

The trio of opener Upul Tharanga, middle-order batsman Chamara Silva and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who were ignored for the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, are the prominent names in the squad. — PTI

New Delhi, May 29
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has expressed its “dismay” at the contents of a letter by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge in which an unwelcome reference had been made against OCA secretary-general Randhir Singh, who is also a member of the IOC. In a letter addressed to Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports M.S.Gill, OCA director-general Husain Al-Musallam drew his attention to a letter written by joint secretary of the Ministry Injeti Srinivas on May 25 to the IOC president with a copy to the OCA president, which had made a “personal attack” on Randhir, the secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association.

“I am extremely dismayed at the contents of Para 6 of the above referred letter”, wrote Al-Musasllam, adding that “Randhir Singh is the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia for the last almost two decades and his knowledge, wisdom and commitment to the Olympic Movement has been exemplary”.

“He has always strived to maintain a fine balance between the various arms of the Olympic Movement and has acted as a bridge between the NOCs of Asia, OCA and international sporting organisations. Therefore, any attack on him personally will not be accepted and entertained by the OCA”, added the OCA DG in a strongly worded communication.

(Para 6 of the Ministry’s letter had stated: “It is unfortunate that the IOC member from India has not even cared to consult us before taking up this matter with you (the Ministry’s order limiting the tenures of the office-bearers of the IOA and the National Sports Federations). He is fully aware of the proceedings before the Delhi High Cout as the IOA is a respondent in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation.

Further, as the secretary-general of the OCA, he is conversant with the sports legislations of Malaysia and Sri Lanka. However, it appears that the IOC has not been apprised by him of the national (in this case Indian) perspective in its entirety, thereby exposing his conflict of interest as well, since he has been holding the post of secretary-general of the IOA for over two decades”).

Commenting on the OCA letter, a source in the Ministry said there was no change in the Government policy to promote the autonomy of sports bodies.

Paris, May 29
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has threatened not to go next month’s World Cup after criticism about his performances for the team from former international Roger Milla. “Is it worth me going to the World Cup ?” Inter Milan’s Eto'o told French TV channel Canal Plus Sport late on Friday. “I still have a few days to think about it but I will see if my participation is important because I don’t need this in my career.”

The heartbeat of the most stylish side for many a year on the international scene, Xavi Hernandez is the conductor that sets the tempo for Spain’s orchestra of attacking talent. Having captained Spain at youth level, the Barcelona star has not missed a major tournament since making his senior debut in November 2000 and is the shining light in a midfield already overflowing with world-class talent.

After being named player of the tournament as Spain triumphed at Euro 2008, Xavi enjoyed a remarkable season at Barca when winning the Treble under Guardiola and shone in the Champions League final win over Manchester United when providing the assist for Lionel Messi’s header.

Strengths: A sublime technician, rarely wastes possession and, with his visionary passing and ability to hold onto the ball in tight situations is the perfect man to dictate play from deep.

Weaknesses: Lack of height and pace, but that would be nitpicking.

Style: The ultimate playmaker.

Quotes: “Xavi is a player who has the Barcelona DNA: someone who has the taste for good football, someone who is humble and someone who has loyalty to this club. From the first moment I saw him play, I knew he would become the brain behind Barcelona for many years to come. He plays very, very well& much better than I ever played even when I was at my best.” Pep Guardiola, September 2008.

Trivia: Only Migueli has played more La Liga games (391) for Barcelona.

BRIEFLY

Two more players report offers from bookies to PCA
London: Match-fixing seems to have spread its root deep into English county cricket with at least two more players and an official reporting approaches by bookmakers to the Professional Cricketers' Association, according to media reports here. “More players have contacted their union to report approaches from bookmakers,” the 'Daily Telegraph' reported. Earlier this week, a seasoned county cricketer had claimed that he was approached by an Indian businessman for fixing a match and had told him to “name his own his price”. — PTI

Dempo team felicitated
Panaji: All the Dempo players and suppprt staff were on Saturday rewarded with Rs 50,000 each for winning the I-League this season. Srinivas Dempo, chairman Dempo Group of companies felicitated the players and the support staff on the occasion of his father late Vasudev Dempo's 75th birth anniversary. Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas said it was amazing that the Dempo won the I-League title for the fourth time in six years. — PTI

Sakibo, Steven, Rafi for Churchill
Panaji: Vasco SC striker Koko Sakibo has agreed to join Churchill Brothers in a move that will see his earnings rise to three fold. His signing will find no place for Felix Chimaokwu. Japanese midfielder Dan Ito is also expected to be replaced by Salgaocar's Iranian defender Siavash Samienia. Churchill's main gain is Mahindra's Steven Dias, Denzil Franco and Mohammed Rafi and Dhanraj Ravanan who all have agreed to sign for them. — PTI

B’desh lose their way
London: Steven Finn captured two wickets in eight deliveries to turn the first test against Bangladesh back in England's favour on Saturday. After steady rain had delayed the start until mid-afternoon and cut the day's play almost in half from 90 to 50 overs, Finn soon made up for lost time. James Anderson followed up with two wickets and at tea Bangladesh slumped to 229 for six. — Reuters