Zaheer Khan: Rehab is slow but positive

Left arm pacer, Zaheer Khan, has said that his recovery from ankle surgery has been slow but positive so far, and that he has not set a timeframe for his return to international cricket.

India's pace spearhead picked up the injury during the recent England tour, which ruled him out of the entire series. The left-arm pacer had bowled only 13.3 over in the first Test at Lord's last month because of a strained hamstring before injuring his ankle. The ankle injury required surgery followed by a 14-16 week period of rehabilitation.

Zaheer Khan addressed the media after receiving India's Arjuna Award from the country's sports minister in New Delhi on Monday. He said ‘I have started with the second phase of my rehab. I will soon be going to the National Cricket Academy. My progress has been slow but positive’. Zaheer also said that the first phase of my rehab programme went off pretty well.

When Zaheer was asked whether he was eyeing India's tour of Australia later this year as a target for his return, Zaheer said he was simply taking it day by day.  To start bowling, he has to get back the full strength in my ankle. Then he might play a few club matches or first-class matches. Zaheer said that he taking one day at a time and not setting any targets or any timeframes to make his return. He also added that it was frustrating to be out of action in the highest level of the game and he will be in action very soon.

Australian Open 2012: Richest Grand Slam Tennis Tournament

Next year's Australian Open 2012 is turning out to be the richest Grand Slam in tennis history, where both the winners of both men's and women's singles to get $2.3 million ($US2.2 million). The organizers announced on Tuesday that a total of $26 million ($25 million) will be paid out in next year’s starting Grand Slam event in January.

The tournament's organizers also announced that Hawk-Eye will be introduced on Margaret Court Arena, meaning the line-calling system will be available on all three showcase courts. It's already in use at Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena. Steve Wood, Tennis Australia CEO said that their mission is to continually improve the Australian Open understanding for both the players and fans and the 2012 event is ready to deliver on every level.

Australian Open 2012 is scheduled to be held from January 16-29. The tournament will also feature women's legends event. The Aussie Open will welcome 3-time champion Martina Hingis back to Melbourne. Martina Hingis will be the main attraction to the new women's legends event, although there was no confirmation of reports that the former women's No. 1 would play mixed doubles with fellow Swiss Roger Federer in preparation for a potential pairing at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in the men's final last year, while Kim Clijsters won the women's championship in 2011.

Afridi: I saw Sachin's shiver against Akhtar

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi added fuel ot his ex-teammate claims that India’s great batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar was uncomfortable against his pace. Conterversial prone Afridi even added that he once witnessed the Indian batsman ‘trembling’ while facing the Rawalpindi express.

‘Boom Boom’ Shaid Afridi retired after revolting against the his own Board and has a history of making controversial remarks. He said that Tendulkar was uneasy against Akhtar, and backed his ex-pacer claims in which he made in his recently-launched autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.

The little master Sachin Tendulkar was scared of Shoaib. Afriid claims that he seen it and he was fielding at square leg, saw his legs were shivering when Shoaib bowling to him. Afridi went on to state that Tendulkar was also uncomfortable against Saeed Ajmal in tense game of India vs. Pakistan in World Cup match.

During the World Cup game, Sachin even looked scared facing Saeed Ajmal, he was given plenty of chances by them and tentative in th crease. It's not a big deal, players do feel the pressure at times and it becomes difficult. Afridi's comments in support of Akhtar come hardly within days of the launch of the autobiography, which created a anger in India with several former players and BCCI officials slamming the speedster for making tall claims in the book.

Shoaib Akhtar had a history of disciplinary violations and had also been banned during his career, had made disparaging comments about Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Earlier this year after the World Cup semi-final loss to India, Afridi had slammed the Indian media for its very negative approach and said the Pakistani media was a hundred times better.

Ashish Nehra: deeply hurt over non-inclusion

Ashish Nehra, left-arm fast bowler has said that he was deeply hurt after being left out India's squad for the first two ODIs against England. Nehra missed out World Cup final with a broken finger, and since he has been out of action. However, he has declared himself fit and resumed training, and said that he has submitted the his- fitness certificate too.

Delhi pacer said that he still don't know where exactly wnet worng in the selection, after being India's highest wicket-taker in ODIs since his comeback in 2009. Also, till the Pakistan match in which he was fractured his finger, didn't have any major injury issues. Since his comeback, Nehra has been MS Dhoni's main weapon to break partnerships in the absence of Zhaeer.

Nehra said that please check the records, which India bowler has bowled maximum number of overs at the death for last two years. Although, he was well-known for his recurring injuries, Nehra enjoyed a fairly consistent run in the team for two years after his comeback. Nehra injured his finger attempting a low catch from Misbah-ul-Haq in the World Cup semi-final.

The World Cup semi-final against Pakistan, in which Nehra bowled 10 overs for 33 runs and 2 wickets. He fractured the bones of his right fingers in five places and subsequently had to have surgery in Australia that required bone grafts and parts of bone were taken from his wrist and grafted onto his fingers.

He skipped the IPL due to the injury, and was not picked for the ODIs against England in September. Now, if he don't have an option, he might have to pick and choose and play Ranji Trophy. If the board allows it, Nehra can go and play in the Big Bash of Australia's domestic Twenty20 or Pro-40 of South Africa's 40-over competition.

ICC in talks with Interpol to fight against corruption

The ICC- International Cricket Council has been involved in talks with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to boost co-operation in fighting corruption in sport. the chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit said that the director general of Interpol made contact with them. So they were expected to explore is a memorandum of understanding, and so they can mutually cooperate and work together to end corrouption in teworld of sport.

Earlier, FIFA, the governing body for football announced that it would vow US$29 million to Interpol each year in upcoming next ten years to deal with corruption in football. However, Flanagan said the ICC didn't have the money to finance investigations. They don't have money to spend, so they can mutually cooperate and work together, but not to the extent that they have any money to pay them to do investigations for us. Unfortunately, investigations themselves fall back to our unit.

Flanagan admitted there was also threat to domestic matches could be affected by corruption, as they   were given the increased scrutiny of international fixtures. At a World Sports Law Report conference, Flanagan called for greater co-operation between sports associations to battle the problem of corruption.

The director  of anti-corrouption unit of ICC, said that he is pretty certain that the bad guys within the sports and the nasty criminals, people outside those sports don't necessarily imprison themselves to one sport. So as they move across the barriers, across different sports, the sport faternity must ensure they cooperate even more closely together.  He quoted that they must share intelligence, share methodology, share experiences.

Most recently, the Pakistan trio - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned for five and ten years after an ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing during the Lord's Test against England last year.

Will Rafael Nadal rise to No.1 spot in ATP Rankings in 2011?

The 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal hopes to return back to No. 1 position in the ATP Rankings this year, after falling down to No. 2 position in July.

The Spainish player Rafael Nadal, who has lost his No. 1 position to Novak Djokovic, after reaching 2011 Wimbledon final at All England Club in July. Nadal has won just one Grand Slam title of French Open at Roland Garros, where he has overwhelmed 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in the final in four set 7–5, 7–6(7–3), 5–7 and 6–1 to lift the title for sixth occasion in his career.

The 25-year-old Nadal has lost six championship finals to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in five masters’ event including two major tournament finals at Wimbledon and US Open. Djokovic, who has played one his best season in his career, has bagged 10 titles this season along with Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Nadal had 6-0 win loss head-to-head record against Djokovic, where Spaniard has failed to beat Serbian in 2011.

The four-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic holds with a 14,720 points and Rafael Nadal had 10,620. Serbian leads with a 4100 points and holds number one position in the ATP Rankings. The World No. 3 ranked Roger Federer stands-up with an 8,380, while Britain star Andy Murray backing with 7,165 at No. 4 position.

Who will have Best Grand Slam Count:Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer?

The trio top players in men’s singles Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, can you guess  who is going to end the career with highest number of Grand Slam’s.

The World Number Three ATP Men Singles FedEx Express has won the Charming Grand Slam title for 16 times, don’t forget that’s not the end of Roger era he has got several more years on the court. The 30 year old maybe playing for another 5 or 6 or might be 7 years or even 8 or 9 years or might be more depending on when the legend will say I am done. However he may add another 5-6 Grand Slam titles to his record or maybe more you just need to wait and watch. Federer has won 67 overall career titles so far. Roger Federer has won 16 Grand Slam titles, breaking the previous all-time men’s record of 14 by Pete Sampras.

Rafael Nadal has been having few ups and downs with his ATP ranking recently from 1st place to second place, but don’t forget he is 10-time Grand Slam Champion and he is not even half way of his career, he’s just at 25 and one most prolific athletes in tennis history and one of the youngest to achieve 10 Grand Slams. Until Federer joined Nadal in 2009 he was the only male player to simultaneously hold Grand Slam titles on clay, grass, and hard courts 2008 US Open, 2009 French Open and 2009 Wimbledon.

The stunning and dashing youngster current World Number 1 Novak Djokovic is looking unbreakable with massive force closing to finish the best year ever in his tennis career. Djokovic holds currently 4 Grand Slams but looking at the best of his career at 24 still a long way looking down the road.

He has got into the rivalry of Rafa-Roger and establishing it as Djokovic-Rafa-Roger rivalry, don’t forget he is the best currently finishing with three Majors and clinching the ATP Number Men’s Singles Raking. All three have got a long history to write, pick your favorite.

Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova withdraws from China Open

The former world no.1 players, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova has been withdrawn form the China Open, which is scheduled from 1st October, 2011.

The Russian star, Maria Sharapova has twisted her ankle while serving in the quarterfinals game against Petra Kvitova 2011 Wimbledon Champion. Sharapova has withdrawn from the next week’s China Open. However, the world No.2 has tweeted that, Good news is that the MRI showed no big damage in the ankle and will do her best to recover in time for Istanbul, the season-ending championships. She tweeted     that it is better recover soon because she can become quite the annoying patient! The tennis beauty stated that she will keep everyone posted with my progress.

While, Serena Williams, who has been out of the tournament last year, due to injury has also decide to be out of the China Open. Serena has made a great come back to tennis and has reached the finals of the 2011 US Open.

Reportedly, the official website of the China Open, Serena should have arrived in Beijing on Friday, however, she didn’t appear in the women’s singles draw, meaning she would be absent for the second consecutive year. It has been a bad season, as most of the seeded players are being out of tennis, due to lot of injuries. The list of players, who been out of the China open in both ATP and WTA are, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Richard Gasquet, Robin Soderling and Venus Williams.

Will Roger Federer bounce back in 2012?

The Swiss Mastero Roger Federer, the greatest player of all time in the tennis history believes to return back strongly in the next season. Federer is hoping big to win other Grand Slam title in the upcoming season and increse his tally to 17 grand slams.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer has faced some brethtaking defeats throughout the season, where he also has failed to win a single major title in 2011. This is first time since 2003 have finished ayear without a grand slam.Federer, who holds number one position for a record 237 consecutive weeks and 285 weeks overall in his career and one of the three players to win Grand Slams on all surfaces on clay, grass and hard courts.

The Swiss start said he can be a tough competitor for the top players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, after turning into 30 in August. Federer is the only player to defeat man-in-form and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic this year at the French Open semi finals in four sets with a 7–6, 6–3, 3–6 and 7–6 score line. Federer always like to play with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam tournament final, where Djokovic has dethroned the pair to win the major titles.

Former World No. 1 Federer also fall down to No. 3 position in the ATP Rankings, after his poor performance in this season. Federer might lose number three spot to Andy Murray in the ATP Rankings, as Britain’s star has been showing outstanding performance appeared at three Grand Slam semi finals and Australian Open final. Federer holds 8,380 points and Murray stands with 7,165 points, where World No. 4 has playing Thailand Open tournament at the moment to improve his position in the ATP Rankings.

All-time Tennis Legends Sampras-Agassi in new rivalry

Two of the greatest tennis players Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have got back onto the court to refresh their rivalry, even though both have been retired for several years now.

Philadelphia Pete Sampras walked in to beat Andre Agassi in the championship match of the Champions Shootout  8-7 (5), to win the third event of the 2011 Champions Series at the Wells Fargo Center.  It was really amazing to the two old time rivals-legends to get back on the court to settle the score.

This was Sampras’s second victory in the 2011 Champions Series with his final-round win over Agassi. Sampras bought 400 points with this victory and moved back atop the official 2011 Tour rankings with 900 points after three events. And Agassi collected 200 points on Saturday night and stood at fourth place with a total of 300 points.

The 2011 Champions Series is an exclusive arena filled with the tennis all time greats Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, Michael Chang and Mats Wilander. Wandering in 12-cities tour of one-night tournaments is being played in major U.S. arenas from starting from September 22nd to October 22nd.