Now, Lankans satisfied with security set-up

The Sri Lankan team management on Sunday sought to play down apprehensions over security expressed by team manager Brendon Kuruppu to security expert Lawrence Fernando back home in Sri Lanka.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Kuruppu stated they were satisfied with the security provided to them, but Kuruppu stopped short of denying that he had sent an e-mail to Fernando expressing his fears.

When asked specifically if he had written to the Police Commissioner in Mumbai or to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the former Lankan skipper replied, “No, I have not contacted the Police Commissioner or the Cricket Board over security lapses or any such thing. We have been provided with security and we are satisfied with it.”

As the Hindustan Times had reported on Sunday, Kuruppu had written neither to the Police Commissioner nor to the BCCI but to Sri Lanka Cricket’s security co-ordinator Fernando, who followed protocol and wrote to Vinay Kargaonkar, Additional Commissioner, Protection & Security, underscoring Kuruppu’s complaints and passing on his observations regarding security arrangements in Mumbai last week.

When Sangakkara was asked about the security provided to the team he chose his words carefully, only saying: “We have been safe up till now, so probably the security is very good.

“What we understand is that there is nothing like 100 percent security. The Indian authorities are extremely competent and they are very experienced at providing security to teams. From what we have seen at the hotel, they are working hard to keep us safe.”

Wenger plans to remain with football till the day he dies

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger plans to remain in football for the rest of his life.

The Arsenal boss, who turns 60 on Thursday, says that he cannot imagine retiring from the game he is obsessed with.

“If I have health, I want to work as long as I live but adapt to my potential. It doesn”t always need to be physical work, it can be more intellectual. You cannot be 75 on the pitch – although Trapattoni has done well and he is 70”.

“I am in a job where you always look in front of you. Unfortunately, the older you get, the less distance there is in front of you but football is exciting because when you have a team like I have now,”

Bookies menace is rife in India

Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) is investigating a report made by the Australian team that one of its players was approached by a suspected bookmaker at their London hotel after the Lord’’s Test, the problem of illegal bookies approaching cricketers is rife in India.

””This is a massive problem that has its tentacles at all the high levels of the game”” .

Therefore, the targeting of one of the best-paid international cricketers in the world to influence the most prestigious series in the game only shows the growing audacity of illegal bookmakers, whose criminal operations include murder, death threats and entrapment.

However, according to a report in the sydney Morning Herald,  any scrutiny is unlikely to discourage illegal bookmakers, who will continue to feed off cricket so long as there is such disparity in pay among the game’’s international elite.

Australian players earn up to 10 times more than peers from other Test-playing nations. If the Ashes can be targeted, what chance the new Twenty20 leagues?

Already there is widespread innuendo, all unsubstantiated, that matches in the Indian Cricket League were fixed.

Some Australian players also have concerns that bookmakers influenced a high-profile international star during the first Indian Premier League season.

””People also need to understand that this is not about match-fixing directly influencing a result, it’’s about spread betting. It could be about bowling a wide with the fourth ball of the 16th over, losing a wicket at a certain time in the match. We”re talking hundreds of millions of dollars here. This is heavy stuff, like the mafia.”

Officials are remaining tight lipped about
the Australian player episode, which is said to have taken place in the lobby of the Royal Kensington Garden Hotel.

””We did everything to the letter of the law,”” Australian captain Ricky Ponting said.

England captain Andrew Strauss said there had been no approaches made to his team.

Lampard gives his boots to female fan

Ace footballer Frank Lampard presented one of his female fans with his boots as she flashed her smile and a shapely figure.

The Chelsea midfielder was swept off the feet as his fan whipped off her shirt to reveal her yellow bra after his team won the Community Shield at Wembley.

The 31-year-old was so impressed that he gave her a kiss and handed over his white boots, which carried the name of his daughters Luna and Isla.

England footballer has urged his teammates to win the 2010 World Cup as a tribute to Sir Bobby Robson, the former national coach who died at the age of 76 on July 31 after a long battle with cancer.

He admitted that the death of Robson has hurt the Three Lions squad, and said that it made them even more determined to succeed in the tournament, which would be held in South Africa next year.

Denise Lewis has ‘Perfect Athletic Body’

Olympic champ Denise Lewis has the ‘Perfect Athletic Body’, according to a new poll.

The British athlete, who won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, topped the Maximuscle poll.

However, Lewis insists: “I’m just a normal person that worked hard, and I hope people can take inspiration from that.”

Soccer ace David Beckham, 34, and Zara Phillips, 28, had the best bums in the poll.

Historical Welcome for Cristiano Ronaldo

The Famous striker Cristiano Ronaldo welcomed by 85,000 Real madrid fans yesterday night. It’s a great pleasure of welcome and all the fans of Real Madrid knows the value of Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the largest gathering in the history of spanish foot ball. Cristiano Ronaldo who scored considerable goals in all spanish and champion league matches signed a contract of 6 years for Real Madrid foodball club.

Florentino Perez who is the president of Real Madrid football club has paid 94 million euro which is the record in the history of football. Cristiano Ronaldo stated that , it a pleasure of him to play for Real Madrid club and he also said that it’s his childhood dream to play for Real Madrid club. He went though all medical fitness check up. Ronaldo is going to wear No:9 T-Shirt. Hope , the upcoming spanish league will be good one for Real Madrid.