14 Thursday 1st March, 2012 Haddin back in favour for Zambia still basking as Windies tour Australia have recalled wicket- keeper Brad Haddin for the limited- overs series against the West Indies. Haddin has been forced to watch the Commonwealth Bank Series 2013 qualifiers kick off against India and Sri Lanka from the sidelines after he was dropped from the team at the expense of rookie Matthew Wade. BY GERALD IMRAY first round will go into a draw alongside the 16 finalists from this month’s 2012 Although Wade has been tidy JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Barely two African Cup and 15 teams will emerge behind the stumps as well as with the weeks after Zambia won a dramatic final from those ties to join host South Africa bat, the selectors have opted to take over Ivory Coast to wrap up the 2012 next year. African Cup of Nations, countries must Striker and captain Samuel Eto’o will both players to the Caribbean. begin the business of qualifying for next be missing for Cameroon for both legs Spinner Nathan Lyon and year’s tournament in South Africa. against Guinea-Bissau as his eight-month Twenty20 captain George Bailey are The Confederation of African suspension for his part in a player strike also included in the 16-man squad. Football’s decision to change the African late last year comes into effect. Eto’o will Both players are yet to be capped at Cup to odd years means it will be played also sit out two World Cup qualifiers in twice in 12 months, leaving the continent June. one-day level. with a packed calendar this year. But Cameroon’s football authorities National Cameroon and Nigeria, who both appear to have learned from the squad Selector John unrest that forced the country to cancel a failed to make this month’s event in Inverarity said: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and are planned friendly in Algeria in November, both under new coaches as a result, aim announcing that players will be paid “The ODI squad to start erasing those bitter disappoint- their match fees — the source of the dis- is the same as ments in two of 13 first-leg matches on content last year — ahead of the Guinea- the squad for Bissau game. Wednesday in the first round of quali- the fiers for 2013. The four-time African champions will Africa must finalize the 16-team line- also be under French coach Denis Commonwealth up for the next Cup of Nations in less Lavagne for the first time after Javier Bank Series than a year while also fitting in 2014 Clemente paid the price for the finals begin- Indomitable Lions’ shock failure to make World Cup qualifiers. ning next week Cameroon travels to Guinea-Bissau, it to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria is away to Rwanda and Algeria is New Nigeria coach and former inter- with the addi- another high-profile team looking to national Stephen Keshi has focused on tion of three bounce back from 2012 failure when it developing a group of locally based play- players in Brad ers after succeeding Samson Siasia but plays in Gambia. Togo, the 2006 World Haddin, Nathan Cup finalist lost out in qualifying for this will still hope to get the best out of in- Zambian national soccer play- to Nairobi for their first-leg game against Lyon and year’s African Cup to lowly Botswana, form West Bromwich Albion striker the Kenyans — who have promised to ers display the Africa Cup tro- starts against Kenya. Peter Odemwingie — who had a strained make up for narrowly missing out last phy as fans celebrate their George Bailey. Egypt’s first leg against Central relationship with the former coach. year. team’s victory during a parade “This com- Zimbabwe will have an almost entire- African Republic was postponed until Tiny island nations Seychelles and in Lusaka, Zambia, Monday, pletes a well- June after the deadly Port Said stadium ly new lineup under stand-in coach Brad Haddin Sao Tome e Principe — who came Feb. 13, 2012. Zambia beat balanced squad riots, providing CAF with another com- Rahman Gumbo against Burundi after a through a four-team preliminary stage Ivory Coast 8-7 in a penalty and it is antici- plication. host of national team players and head before even the 2012 African Cup kicked coach Norman Mapeza were suspended shoot out to clinch the title. Because of time constraints, Africa’s off — play Congo and Sierra Leone pated that most players will receive amid a match-fixing scandal that contin- 1Thousands of Zambians football body condensed the main qualify- respectively. In other ties it’s Ethiopia vs. good opportunities to show their ues to plague the southern African coun- thronged the streets of the cap- ing competition to two rounds of two- Benin, Republic of Congo vs. Uganda, legged knockout matchups, shedding the try. ital Lusaka to welcome the worth.” Togo’s squad, boosted by the recent Chad vs. Malawi, Tanzania vs. Meanwhile, the fit-again Shane traditional group stage which normally Mozambique, Madagascar vs. Cape Verde team home. (AP decides final qualifiers. return from international exile of and Liberia vs. Namibia. Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Watson and Mike Hussey return to The 14 victorious countries from the Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor, travels the Twenty20 squad with Shaun Marsh, Travis Birt and Aaron Finch missing out. Roshenka, “Shane Watson and Mike Hussey France makes 2 changes for come back into the T20 squad to pro- vide a great deal of experience and Nishangan power to the batting line-up,” said Inverarity. top seeds at for match against Ireland “If we were to select our best T20 MARCOUSSIS, France (AP) — he should have participated more,” helped France win the Grand Slam in team to play next week the top seven Otter Tennis France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has Saint-Andre said. “We want to see him 2010 — start together for the third in order would be Watson, Warner, made two changes to his team to face running with the ball in his hand.” straight match. Scrumhalf Julien Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Bailey, BY REVATA S. SILVA Ireland in the Six Nations on Sunday, Saint-Andre resisted making more Dupuy, who came on for the final few Wade and Christian. Hence, there was with flanker Julien Bonnaire returning changes, even though hooker Dimitri minutes against Scotland, provides simply no room on this occasion for Roshenka Fernando, who played for Sri as the only tactical switch and Clement Szarzewski tackled poorly against backup. Shaun Marsh, Travis Birt and Aaron Lanka in this year’s Fed Cup, and Poitrenaud replacing injured fullback Scotland, and flyhalf Francois Trinh- “Beauxis was very useful in Finch. Though Peter Forrest is in the Nishangan Nadaraja, who represented Sri Maxime Medard. Duc struggled with his tactical kicking Scotland, he got the drop goal and T20 squad, it is not anticipated he will Lanka in the Davis Cup this year, are the France won its opening two matches, at times. helped us out with this kicking game,” be in the team and is there as back- top seed in the Women’s and Men’s Open 30-12 at home to Italy and 23-17 away to “We kept Dimitri because he needs Saint-Andre said. “But I want to stick up. segments respectively at the Otter Aquatic Scotland, but has yet to hit peak form, confidence, even though he missed a few with Morgan and Francois. In terms of “As was stated in January, Brad Club Open Ranking Tennis Tournament and Saint-Andre expects a bigger test tackles at the start and was lacking in one-on-one tackling early in the game Hogg was not considered for this tour. (‘B’ Grade) which began on February 25 at against Ireland at Stade de France. his judgment,” Saint-Andre said. “But and keeping possession, it’s important However, he remains in strong con- the three Club clay courts in Colombo. The No. 8 Louis Picamoles makes way for we have faith in him and we’re sure of to have this continuity.” tention to be a member of our ICC Tournament will continue till March 5. Bonnaire, with Imanol Harinordoquy his ability.” France had been scheduled to play World Twenty20 squad which is likely The Tournament this year comprises 23 shifting over from flanker to No. 8. Ireland on Feb. 11, a week after the Italy to include three spin bowlers. events, including junior girls and boys age Bonnaire’s ability in the lineout, as match, but the match at Stade de “Additionally, Mitchell Starc has group Singles and Doubles, which have Six Nations Rugby well as his mobility and outstanding France was called off moments before not been selected as a member of this attracted 638 entries from 440 players. tackling, could be crucial against World Cup runner-up France has the the start because of freezing weather squad. However, Mitchell will travel The Tournament Directress is Ms. with this group as a further develop- Marie Abdeen and the Tournament Ireland, which has not won at Stade de luxury few teams have with a very conditions, much to the anger of fans. ment opportunity and spend valuable Secretary is Anupa Maththamagoda. The France since 2000. strong bench, and veteran hooker “I hope people haven’t thrown their time around the Australian squad in Otter AC Open Tennis tournament is “Ireland always play quick lineouts,” William Servat — once considered tickets away,” Saint-Andre said. “I hope the West Indies.” organised by the Club’s Tennis Saint-Andre said.