London2012: Pakistan hope to record first win today against Argentina

By Hamad Hussain

  

LONDON (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: Pakistan hockey team will face Argentina in their second Group A match of London Olympics 2012 today at Riverbank Arena and after impressive show against Spain in the first match on Monday, they are hoping to register their first win in the tournament.

London2012: Great Britain top group in women’s hockey

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: Great Britain’s women hockey players gifted the injured captain Kate Walsh an emphatic performance on Tuesday as they defeated South Korea by 5-3 by scoring two goals in the last 14 minutes.

The victory has helped Great Britain to top the group with two victories in as many matches after Belgium held Beijing2008 silver medalists China to a goalless draw.

London2012: Chinese athletes keep reign at medals table

By Ashley Williams         

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: The London Olympics 2012 still seeing China dominance as they are leading the medal table with 13 gold medals on day 4 with United State still chasing China after Beijing Olympics 2008.

London2012: Bulgaria, US, Brazil record wins in volleyball

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: Bulgaria joined gold medal favorites Brazil and United States on victory trail Tuesday as they stunned Poland by 3-1 at the Earl’s Court Arena in the London2012 Men’s Volleyball tournament.

Cricket Canada Announces National Cricket League

Press Release

OTTAWA (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: Cricket Canada is pleased to announce the inaugural National Cricket League (NCL) to take place at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, ON from August 2-11th, 2012. The five team, ten day event will consist of a multi-format 50 over and T20 competition featuring Canada's top 65 High Performance & Elite cricketers.

London2012: Ye Shiwen unfazed by doping row

By Chung Ho Jiang

BEIJING (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: China’s latest Olympic sensation Ye Shiwen has found inspiration amid all the doping allegations and rumors surrounding her at the London2012 as she clinched her second gold medal of the Games with 200 meters medley triumph on Tuesday.

London2012: Israr, Inam exit as all hopes on hockey stars

By Afshan Younis

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: Pakistan athletes continued bowing out at the London 2012 Olympic Games on Tuesday with shooter Khurram Inam and swimmer Israr Hussain failed to make an impression at the biggest sports stage in the world.

Now Pakistan’s Olympics medal hopes are associated with the national hockey team which drew their first match against Spain 1-1 on Monday, while Rabia Ishaq and Liaqat Ali are the other two athletes remaining in the hunt but not a lot is expected from them.

Danish Atlas asks PSF for permanent job

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: Pakistan’s youngest squash sensation, Danish Atlas, on Tuesday, urged the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to provide permanent jobs to the young squash players.

Danish Atlas made the appeal during a ceremony held to hand cash prizes to the country’s junior squash team which won silver medal at the Men’s World Junior Squash Championship.

Lahore court frees accused in Olympics visa scam

By Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: Amid a huge uproar in the British media, a Pakistani court released four employees of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and Lahore Passport Office on Tuesday after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) found no evidence against them.

The four people, who were accused of their alleged involvement in the infamous London 2012 Olympics Visa Scam, were released by a magisterial court in Lahore after the FIA probe found them innocent.

Pakistan U19 beat Australia by 7wkts, go 2-0 up

By Nadene Smith

Sami Aslam

GOLD COAST, Australia (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: Superb bowling effort helped the Pakistan U19 to clinch the three-match series against Australia as they won the second Youth One-Day International by seven wickets with 92 balls to spare at Kerrydale Oval on Tuesday.

Batting first, Australia U19 were restricted to only 139 runs all out from 43.1 overs with Cameron Bancroft (47 from 111 – 2 fours) and Travis Head (43 from 41 – 3 fours, 2 sixes) being the top scorers.

Ye Shiwen - drug cheat or all-time great?

By Adrian Meredith

VICTORIA, Australia (TheSportsNext) July 31, 2012: Ye Shiwen, the 16 year old female Chinese swimmer who just won gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the 400 metre Individual Medley in Swimming, is being widely accused of being a drug cheat, with suspicions initially raised by the USA swimming coach.

So is she a drug cheat?

London2012: China continue its dominance in London Olympics 2012 with 9 Golds

By Ashley Williams         

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: People’s Republic of China continued its dominance in Olympics world of sports as they maintained their top position on Day 3 with Nine Gold medals while United State of America chasing China with Five gold medals.

London2012: List of Broken World, Olympic Records

Compiled by Jawad Hussain

Ye Shiwen

KARACHI (TheSportsNext Exclusive) July 31, 2012: The London2012 Olympic Games are in full swing in England and we have witnessed some of the breath-taking sports action already and as many as 15 records have been broken in the first three days of the global mega-event.

As many as seven world records and eight Olympic records have been broken by the London2012 athletes in sports like swimming, archery, rowing, shooting, and weightlifting.

New York City is next stop for NHL labor talks

By Raleigh McPherson

NEW YORK (TheSportsEncounter) July 31, 2012: The National Hockey League franchise owners and the NHL Players Association will meet yet again this week in New York City to further their NHL Labor Talks.

The existing NHL labor agreement is expiring on September 15, 2012 and most of the NHL fans are still in a fix about the future of the NHL 2013 season as many of them fear a 2004-like situation when the NHL organizers had to lose the whole season due to differences on the labor deal.

ECB awards Mushtaq Ahmed 30-month contract extension

By Babar Malik

ISLAMABAD (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recognized former Pakistani leg-spin bowler Mushtaq Ahmed’s efforts with the English cricket team by offering him a 30-month contract extension here Monday.

While Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) consistently ignored Mushtaq Ahmed for a possible role with the Pakistan cricket team but the ECB had no such issues as they imposed trust in the former leg-spinner.

London2012: Pakistan settle for draw against Spain in first outing

By Hamad Hussain

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: Pakistan hockey team displayed a promising performance at Riverbank Arena in their first hockey match of Group A in the London Olympics 2012 against European giant Spain as both teams settled for 1-1 draw in the excellent hockey match. 

Azhar Ali targets top Test ranking

By Farhan Nisar

LAHORE (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: Pakistan’s young top-order batsman Azhar Ali said Monday that his main focus was to become number one batsman in Test cricket.

Talking to this scribe at the National Cricket Academy here, Azhar Ali said that he started playing cricket with the resolve to become a reliable and match-winning batsman in the national cricket team.

London2012 cauldron returns to life again

By Magdalena Stanislav

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: The London2012 cauldron which was extinguished for relocation to another place of the stadium on Sunday, returned to life as the organizer relit at 7am local time (0600 GMT) here Monday.

It was reported on Sunday that the Olympic cauldron, which traditionally stays buring during the course of the Games, was seen unlit at around 11.14pm local time (2214 GMT).

Pakistan women soccer players to train from August 3

Press Release

ISLAMABAD (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: Pakistan women football player will start training from August 3, 2012 for the forthcoming SAFF Women Football Championship to be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The 39 incumbents of Pakistan women football players are starting their national training camp for SAFF Women Football Championship at Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) House, Lahore from 3rd August to 4th September, 2012.

Casey Stoner clinches US Grand Prix 2012

By Luther Jefferson

LAGUNA SECA, California (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: Casey Stoner, the current MotoGP World Champion from Australia, kept his title hopes alive on Sunday when he outpaced championship leader Jorge Lorenzo to clinch the US Grand Prix 2012 title.

London2012: Ryan Giggs gives Great Britain win over UAE

By Magdalena Stanislav

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: Great Britain gave their London2012 soccer qualification chances a great boost on Sunday when they outplayed United Arab Emirates by three goals to nil at the packed Wembley Stadium here.

There were no empty stands at the Wembley Stadium as the soccer-loving British youth filled it with enthusiasm where Ryan Giggs, who represents Manchester United in the English Premier League, scored the first goal at the London2012 and with it achieved another historic level in his international soccer career.

London2012: Dana Vollmer hits world record with 100m fly gold

By Ashley Williams 

Dana Vollmer of United States

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: American female swimmer Dana Vollmer created history on Sunday when she won the women’s 100 meters butterfly gold medal with an impressive world record at the London2012.

Dana Vollmer completed the 100 meters butterfly heat in a record 55.98 seconds to leave her Chinese opponent Lu Ying sweating in the waters at Aquatics Center in London.

London2012: Pakistan to face Spain in Hockey today

By Hamad Hussain

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 30, 2012: The three times gold medalist Pakistan hockey team will start their 2012 gold medal hunt in London Olympics 2012 with their first match against European giant Spain today at Riverbank Arena, London.  

London2012: China maintain lead on points table at Day 3 with 6 Golds

By Ashley Williams

Guo Wenjun

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 29, 2012: Chinese athletes maintaining their supremacy in the world of sports as they are leading the points table with Six Gold Medals at the end of day 3 of London Olympics.

Chinese athletes won two more gold medals on Sunday July 29 to take their gold medals tally to six. Zi He and Minxia Wu won gold medal in Springboard Final with final score of 346.2 while Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant of USA were ended up as the runners-up with final score of 321.9.

London2012: Rebecca Adlington into 400m final

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 29, 2012: The Great Britain’s biggest gold medal hope, Rebecca Adlington witnessed a mixed first day at the London2012 on Sunday when she only managed to qualify into the final of the women’s 400 meters freestyle at the Aquatics Center.

Rebecca Adlington found huge support at the Aquatics Center which cheered for her as soon as she completed her heat in 4:05.75, the fastest time in her heat. However, they were made to bite their nails later on after swimmers competing in the other two heats started posting better times and in the end Rebecca Adlington only managed to qualify into the finals as the eighth and slowest qualifier.

London2012: Olympic debut for Zara Phillips

By Ashley Williams 

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 29, 2012: Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Zara Phillips finally made her Olympic debut on Sunday when she represented Great Britain in the equestrian competition of the London 2012.

Zara Phillips not only had an overwhelming support of her countrymen but her family, including Grandfather Prince Philip and Mother the Royal Princess, were also there to cheer for the royal athlete at the London 2012.

Sri Lanka Cricket bans noisy vuvuzelas

Press Release

COLOMBO (TheSportsNext) July 29, 2012: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on Sunday, announced a ban on the noisy portable hooters and horns brought to the stadium by spectators with an immediate effect.

The SLC said in a press release issued Sunday, “Sri Lanka Cricket arrived at this decision to generally safeguard spectator comfort inside spectator areas of the stadium”.

London2012: Javier Guedes into last-32 in Judo 60kg

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: Javier Guedes of Venezuela defeated A Lamusi of China to storm into last-32 stage of the London2012 Men’s Judo 60kg category here Saturday.

Javier Guedes gave his opponent no chance whatsoever to make an impact and strangulated him completely with score of 0111-0000 at ExCeL.

London2012: Michael Phelps finishes last in 400IM qualifiers

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: The Olympic gold medalist, Michael Phelps of the United States, got off to a bad start on Saturday when he finished last in the eight qualifiers of the 400M individual medley preliminaries in the London2012 first day action.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino outpaced everyone with final time of 4:10.01, South African Chad le Clos finished second with 4:12.24, while Ryan Lochte of the United States advanced as third fastest with time of 4:12.35.

London2012: Aussie women rowers top qualifiers in heat 2

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: Australian women rowing team stole the limelight on opening day of the London2012 women’s rowing competition as they finished top qualifier in the heat 2 on Saturday.

The Australian women rowing team’s final time was 7:01.60 at Eton Dorney in London.

London2012: Tomoko beats Oiana in women’s Judo

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: Japanese women judo players started the London2012 action on a winning note with Tomoko Fukumi getting the better of her Spanish opponent Oiana Blanco in the first match of the London Olympics Women’s Judo 48kg category.

Tomoko Fukumi used her skills to a great effect as the won the last 32 match in the 48kg category in style on Saturday.

London2012: Japan beat Indian Archers after tough contest

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: The London 2012 swung into action with Archery teams of Japan and India locking horns early on Saturday where the Japanese archers won the first blood at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

After a spirited encounter, Japanese archers outdid Indian archers by 214-214 points.

Inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League set for huge start

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO: The inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) is all set to commence from August 11, 2012 where top international and Sri Lankan players will showcase their Twenty20 skills.

While the national cricket team is busy taking on India in the five-match One Day International series, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials are finalizing arrangements to make the SLPL2012 a huge success.

Indians, Aussies are the best paid cricketers: Forbes

By Abhishek Manroa

NEW DELHI (TheSportsNext) July 28, 2012: Indian and Australian players are the best paid cricketers in the latest list published by the Forbes Magazine.

The top five spots in the Forbes Magazine’s list of best-paid cricketers are occupied by Indian cricketers including Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir  (third highest-paid, 7.3 million US dollars) and Virat Kohli (fourth, 7.1 million US dollars).

PCB Ramadan ban irks senior cricketers

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 27, 2012: A number of Pakistani national cricketers were irked by a decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which stopped them from taking part in the Ramadan cricket tournaments, sources said.

The PCB authorities have decided against allowing the probables for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 to participate in the Ramadan cricket festivities so as to avoid losing any of them due to an injury but cricketers are not finding it easy to feel happy about it as they wanted these tournaments to regain their shape and form ahead of a hectic schedule.

Ex-ICC Chief urges PCB to stop following BCCI

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: Former chief of the International Cricket Council (ICC) from Pakistan, Ehsan Mani, on Thursday, urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to refrain from getting overshadowed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The Indian cricket board has recently invited Pakistan cricket team for a limited overs series in their country this December and Ehsan Mani, who is renowned for his stance on tough issues, is of the view that the PCB should have hosted this series because it was not India's turn.

Netherlands beat Bangladesh by 1wkt in T20 thriller

By Meg Anderson

THE HAGUE: Bangladesh ended their tour to Europe on a losing note on Thursday when Netherlands squared the Twenty20 International series with a spirited last-ball victory at Sportpark Westvliet.

Chasing 129 runs to win the second Twenty20 International match against Bangladesh, Netherlands rode on a brilliant half-century by Michael Swart (61 from 49 – 4 fours, 2 sixes) before tail-ender Ahsan Malik hit boundary off the last ball to complete a spirited victory in front of the home crowd which went berserk with the winning shot.

Pakistan to drag The Sun into court of law

By Babar Malik

ISLAMABAD (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: The Government of Pakistan said Thursday that it will bring The Sun newspaper into court of law for false allegations in the Olympics visa scandal.

The country’s interior minister, Rehman Malik, claimed that Pakistan was victim of a foreign plot aimed to defaming the country in international community.

ICC denies issuing selection clearance to PCB

Monitoring Desk

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Thursday, denied issuing clearance to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selecting any player.

Colin Gibson, Head of Media and Communications at the ICC, told local media here, "Selection of players for the Pakistan national cricket team is the sole and exclusive responsibility of the PCB. The ICC has not issued any form of 'clearance' to the PCB for the selection of any of its players and, like all others who are not suspended for any reason from participating. Mr. Akmal remains eligible for selection for the Pakistan national cricket team should Pakistan to select him".

London2012: Pakistan pin hopes on hockey team

By Hamad Hussain

KARACHI: With the London2012 action just a few hours away, Pakistan’s sports fans are associating high hopes of a medal by the national hockey team but the road looks bumpy for the former Olympic gold medalists with European teams raising the bar high.

Indian hockey team is also looking to exhibit an impressive show as both Pakistan and its bitter neighbours are facing an uphill task at the London2012. Indian hockey team has won eight medals while Pakistan claimed three victories at the Olympics.

Jacques Kallis unlikely to surpass Sachin Test tons

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis' elevation up the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Tests has been well admired by his school head-master, Keith Richardson.

Speaking exclusively from Cape Town, the Wynberg Boys' High School head-master said, "Jacques Kallis is without doubt the most successful cricketer that this country has produced – not only in runs and centuries, but if you add in his wickets and catches, then he has a phenomenal record. His work rate is astounding".

FLT20 2012: Yorkshire, Hampshire complete SF line-up

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: Yorkshire and Hampshire joined Somerset and Sussex to complete the semi-finals line-up in the Friends Life Twenty20 2012 by winning their respective quarterfinal matches on Wednesday.

Yorkshire defeated Worcestershire by 29 runs while Hampshire clinched the last-ball thriller against Nottinghamshire and recorded a four wickets triumph.

Tamim leads Bangladesh to 8wkt win over Netherlands

By Meg Anderson

THE HAGUE (TheSportsNext) July 26, 2012: A brilliant match-winning half century by opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and a captain’s knock by Mushfiqur Rahim helped Bangladesh to beat Netherlands by eight wickets in their first Twenty20 International match at the Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague on Wednesday.

Bangladesh’s final match of their European tour will be played on July 26, 2012 against Netherlands at the same venue.

London2012: 9 athletes suspended for doping

By Alexia Krause

MONACO (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Wednesday suspended nine track and field athletes from participation in the London 2012 for their positive dope tests.

Three out of these nine athletes were caught in retests of samples taken during the last year’s world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Lahore court revokes suspension order of LRCA secretary

By AM Khan

LAHORE (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: The Lahore Civil Court revoke the order of the Executive Committee of Lahore Region Cricket Association (LRCA) for suspending its secretary Mian Javed Ali for violation of the association’s constitution.

According to available reports, Civil Judge Zameer Hussain Rammay gave the stay order on Wednesday after hearing the petition of Mian Javed through its lawyer Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah Advocate.

Pakistan disabled cricketers to play Afghanistan

Press Release 

KARACHI (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: Honorary Secretary of Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA), Amiruddin Ansari has announced PDCA Domestic Cricket Schedule 2012-13.

As per the program, one day and T20 series would be played against Afghanistan National Disabled Cricket Team.

Second series of three One-dayers and two T20s will be played against England National Disabled team in February 2014 in Dubai.

Bangladesh chase 145-run target against Netherlands

By Meg Anderson

THE HAGUE (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: A gutsy half century by opening batsman Michael Swart helped Netherlands give 145-run target to Bangladesh who are playing their last game on their European tour at the Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague here Wednesday.

After winning the toss, Dutch captain Peter Borren decided to bat first against the spin-thick Bangladesh bowling attack.

Pakistani, Aussie players have tools to fight UAE heat

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: Australian players will do "everything possible" to keep themselves cool during the forthcoming home series against Pakistan in the summer heat of the UAE.

"I have liaised with Mr. Alex Kountouris, the Australian team physiotherapist, who confirms the standard processes we use to manage hydration when we regularly play cricket in hot weather, including here in Australia, will be used in the UAE.

Somerset, Sussex into Friends Life T20 Semis

By Ashley Williams

LONDON (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: Somerset and Sussex won their respective quarter-final matches of the 2012 Friends Life T20 tournament with comfortable margins on Tuesday.

In the first quarter-final, Somerset, which ended as runners-up in the 2011 Friends Life T20, defeated Essex by 27 runs at Taunton while Sussex ended Gloucestershire’s campaign with a 39-run victory in the second quarter-final played at Hove.

Scotland humble Bangladesh by 34 runs in T20I

By Meg Anderson

THE HAGUE (TheSportsNext) July 25, 2012: Bangladesh failed to keep their winning momentum on Tuesday when minnows Scotland recorded an emphatic 34-run victory over the tourists in the only Twenty20 International played at Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague.

With this defeat, the high-flying Bangladesh are now back to ninth number in the Reliance ICC Twenty20 Rankings and Pakistan have retained their fourth position.