WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014 SPORTS

Razzaq out of T-20 squad SA president defends team FA charge Anelka over salute : All-rounder Abdur Razzaq was the only notable omission when CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has rallied to the defence LONDON: The English Football Association charged Nicolas Anelka yesterday for mak- Pakistan named their 30-man preliminary squad on Monday for the of the national football team after the country’s sports minister called them ing a “quenelle” salute after scoring for West Bromwich Albion against West Ham World Cup in Bangladesh. “useless” and a “bunch of losers”. United in the Premier League last month. The gesture is widely regarded as being anti- Bafana Bafana were booted out in the first round of the 2014 African The 34-year-old, who has played 265 ODIs and 32 T20 internationals, was dis- Semitic and the FA charged the former France international under Rule E3 for ‘making mayed by his exclusion. “It is disappointing but I am not giving up on my career Nations Championship (CHAN) after they lost 3-1 to Nigeria in Cape Town, a fourth tournament failure in 12 months for beleaguered coach Gordon an abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper gesture.’ In a statement as I still feel I can play for another two years and I am feeling fit as ever,” he told on their website (www.thefa.com), the FA added: “It is further alleged that this is an Reuters. Razzaq featured in Pakistan’s T20 series against South Africa last month Igesund. That led to a furious outburst from sports minister Fikile Mbalula at a press conference on Monday, calling on the country to “forget this genera- aggravated breach, as defined in FA Rule E3, in that it included a reference to ethnic ori- but had to return home early due to fitness problems. tion of players” and build a new team. gin and/or race and/or religion or belief.” Anelka, 34, who has denied he The selectors kept faith with pace bowlers and However, Zuma, who has clashed with Mbalula in the past after the latter used it in any derogatory way, has until 1800 GMT tomorrow to Muhammad Irfan despite the duo also suffering from recent openly backed deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe in the African National respond to the charge which carries a minimum five-game ban. fitness issues. Wicketkeeper , who has not Congress’s leadership race in 2012, disagreed with his minister. Whether the FA find him guilty or not, the gesture has already had played for the national side since last June, has also been “We’re well aware that some people are criticising the way the national repercussions. West Brom’s shirt sponsor Zoopla, a property market recalled. The World Cup will take place from March 16 to team played against Nigeria. Some want the team disbanded. It has search engine co-owned by Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman, April 6. Preliminary list: Muhammad Hafeez, Ahmad Shahzad, improved greatly and needs our support,” Zuma said on local radio station announced on Monday they would not be renewing their three Sharjeel Khan, , Nasir Jamshaid, Khurram SAFM later that day. million pounds ($4.93 million) shirt sponsorship at the end of Manzoor, , Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wick- “The current coach knows what he’s doing. He’s great at his job. The fact the season because of Anelka’s actions. etkeeper), Haris Sohail, , Yasir Shah, Hammad that the team lost, that doesn’t mean anything as other teams lost as well.” “Zoopla has been reviewing its position over the past Azam, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), , Zohaib The CHAN tournament is a competition for quasi-national teams, made few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, Ahmed, , Muhammad Irfan, Umar Gul, Junaid up of home-based players only, which South Africa is hosting. during the match against West Ham over the Christmas Khan, Bilawal Bhatti, Anwar Ali, Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil, The issue of the performance of the national team in what is a low-level period and has decided to focus its attention on Muhammad Talha, , Zulfiqar Babar, Raza Hasan, Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition has taken a political other marketing activities after this season,” Abdul Rehman, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper). —Reuters slant in an election year in South Africa. —Reuters the company said in a statement. —Reuters Leafs see off Coyotes

GLENDALE: Jonathan Bernier stopped 39 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs had another big scor- ing night to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 Monday for their first five-game winning streak in seven years. Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to six games for Toronto, which last won five straight from Jan. 27-Feb., 2007. Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri each had a goal and an assist, and Carl Gunnarsson scored his first goal in nearly a year. The Maple Leafs have 20 goals during their winning streak. The Coyotes sent a flurry of shots at Bernier after falling behind 3-0 and matched a team record by scoring a power-play goal in eight straight games when Mike Ribeiro scored early in the third period. Antoine Vermette also scored a short-handed goal for Phoenix, which KNOXVILLE: Notre Dame guard Kayla McBride (21) drives against Tennessee guard had numerous near-misses. Andraya Carter (14) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game. — AP SHARKS 3, FLAMES 2 Notre Dame Joe Pavelski scored two goals to move into a tie for the second most in the NHL this season and lift San Jose over Calgary. Pavelski scored on a deflection in the first defeat Tennessee period and on the power play in the second to give him five goals in his past two games and 18 UNIONDALE: New York Islanders’ Kyle Okposo (21) shoots the puck past Philadelphia Flyers KNOXVILLE: Notre Dame coach Muffet opened 23-0. Tennessee, on the other in the past 20 to tie Anaheim’s Corey Perry with goalie Ray Emery (29) to score the final goal in a shootout of an NHL hockey game. — AP McGraw wanted to see how her undefeat- hand, had dropped three of its last seven 27 on the season. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin ed team would respond to a test. She got games and was struggling to find its foot- has 35. BLUES 4, RED WINGS 1 Anders Nilsson turned aside Vincent just the answer she wanted. ing. Tommy Wingels also scored and Antti Niemi Magnus Paarjarvi, Barret Jackman, Kevin Lecavalier and Sean Couturier in the tiebreaker Kayla McBride scored 22 points to lead Yet it was Tennessee that looked like the made 21 saves for the Sharks, who returned Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester scored as St. to help the Islanders avoid a four-game, season- five players in double figures Monday as team on a roll in the early going. “I thought home from a perfect three-game road trip with a Louis beat Detroit to snap a two-game skid. series sweep versus the Flyers. Tavares also the second-ranked Fighting Irish erased an at halftime we were lucky to be down five,” win over struggling Calgary to open a pre- Alex Steen added two assists and Jaroslav scored a power-play goal in regulation for the early 12-point deficit in an 86-70 victory McGraw said. Olympic stretch of eight games out of 10 at Halak made 22 saves for the Blues. Gustav Islanders. over No. 11 Tennessee. Before Monday, Tennessee grabbed a 42-30 lead by home. Nyquist scored for Detroit. Jimmy Howard Notre Dame (17-0) hadn’t trailed by more beating the hot-shooting Irish at their own Jiri Hudler and Kevin Westgarth scored for the stopped 22 shots before being replaced by Petr PREDATORS 4, STARS 1 than seven points all season. game. Tennessee shot 55.9 percent (19 of Flames, who have lost four straight games and Mrazek midway through the second period Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead “We’re veterans,” McGraw said. “I 34) overall and went 5 of 6 from 3-point 11 of 13. Karri Ramo made 24 saves. because of a lower-body injury. Mrazek made 13 Nashville over Dallas. Nick Spaling, Shea Weber, thought we’re going to learn a good lesson, range in the first half against a Notre Dame saves. and Mike Fisher also scored for Nashville, which win or lose. It’s going to help us down the team that hadn’t allowed any opponent to PANTHERS 5, PENGUINS 1 has won three of four. Cody Eakin scored for road, prepare us for the ACC, (playing in) a make more than 44.9 percent of its shots all Drew Shore scored twice for the first multi- ISLANDERS 4, FLYERS 3 Dallas, which has lost of nine of 10. great crowd, a hostile environment. We season. goal game of his career as Florida ended Kyle Okposo scored the game-leveling goal hadn’t really seen anything quite this big Notre Dame committed three turnovers Pittsburgh’s club-record 13-game home winning from a power play late in regulation and then BRUINS 3, KINGS 2 this year. I thought it was just a great in the first 90 seconds of the game and had streak. netted the winner in the shootout to lift New Brad Marchand continued his recent hot scor- opportunity for us to see where we are.” to adjust to playing without Loyd, who Jonathan Huberdeau, Dmitry Kulikov and York to a rare win over Philadelphia. ing stretch with a pair of goals, lifting Boston Since losing the first 20 games in this picked up two fouls in the first 5 ½ minutes Shawn Matthias also scored for the Panthers, The Islanders used a dominant third period to over Los Angeles. Marchand, who also had two series, Notre Dame has beaten Tennessee of the game and sat out the rest of the first who beat Pittsburgh for the second time in three erase a 3-1 deficit and force overtime. Brock in Boston’s shootout loss in Chicago on Sunday, four straight times by an average margin of half. Loyd entered the night averaging a meetings this season. Nelson made it a one-goal game at 8:16, and has scored six in his past four games. Torey Krug 17 points. Notre Dame continued its recent team-high 17.3 points per game. But the Scott Clemmensen stopped 35 shots in his Okposo tied it with 2:58 left in regulation on a had the other goal for the Bruins, who won at mastery of Tennessee by outscoring the Irish never panicked. “We’ve been through first start in three weeks, ending Florida’s two- lunging push with his stick after the puck struck home for the 11th time in 13 games. Boston’s Lady Vols 45-24 in the second half. so much — three (straight) Final Fours,” said game losing streak. Matt Niskanen scored the his skate. The goal was confirmed by video backup goaltender Chad Johnson made 21 After getting off to a sizzling start, McBride, who had seven assists to go along only goal for the Penguins, who lost at home for replay. saves. Willie Mitchell and Jeff Carter scored for Tennessee shot 8 of 32 and committed 12 with her 22 points. “We’ve been in these the first time since Nov. 13. Marc-Andre Fleury Frans Nielsen and John Tavares also scored in the Kings and Jonathan Quick stopped 20 shots. turnovers in the second half. Tennessee (14- types of environments with NCAA tourna- made 23 saves, losing for only the fourth time in the four-round shootout against Ray Emery, who Los Angeles has lost two straight, but collected 4) has led at halftime in each of its last ment games. We just had to calm every- his past 37 starts at Consol Energy Center. made 40 saves through overtime. points in six of eight (4-2-2). — AP three losses. body down and execute our game plan.” “It feels like this team is very sensitive,” Sure enough, Notre Dame regained the Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. “We momentum once Tennessee cooled off. want it so much that it’s almost detrimental After making 19 of its first 28 shots, Jamaican bobsledders hit to us. We want it so badly. I would love to Tennessee missed 17 of its next 18 see how we’d play when everybody’s click- attempts to allow Notre Dame to claw back ing on all cylinders. It would really be a lot into the game. Tennessee missed its last six of fun, but that’s up to me, to put them in shots of the first half and started the sec- Sundance before Olympics positions and to get them ready for the ond half by shooting 1 of 12. Notre Dame next game.” pulled ahead 49-48 when Taya Reimer PARK CITY: This year’s Sundance Film Festival focused.” “We just want to go up there and do with them,” he said, Michaela Mabrey and Natalie Achonwa capped a 14-2 run that started late in the has featured two former presidential candidates, our best,” said the team’s other brakeman, The Jamaican delegation has to be in Sochi each scored 15 points for Notre Dame, first half by converting a three-point play rap stars, male strippers and rescue dogs. So Marvin Dixon, who will hold the flag for Jamaica on Feb. 4. They say they’re not concerned with which hit 10 of 20 3-pointers. Madison with 15:27 remaining. After Tennessee why not the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team? during the opening and closing ceremonies. security despite bombings in Russia last month Cable had 12 points and Jewell Loyd added briefly regained the lead, Notre Dame sank The group appeared at the festival on They don’t see themselves as a novelty act in that left several dead.They also expressed toler- 11. Mabrey and Cable helped Notre Dame’s a trio of 3-pointers on a 9-0 spurt that gave Monday to promote their trip to Sochi for the the Olympics, but real competitors. “I’m one of ance for gay athletes, who will compete in Sochi bench outscore Tennessee’s reserves 36-16. the Irish a 58-51 advantage. Winter Olympics and seek some much-needed the best brakemen in the world right now,” despite last year’s implementation of a law ban- Meighan Simmons scored 23 points and Simmons sank a 3-pointer that cut Notre cash. When the team was approved entry this Dixon said matter-of-factly. ning homosexual “propaganda” among minors. shot 10 of 14 for Tennessee (14-4). Isabelle Dame’s advantage to 60-56 with 10:09 month, Jamaican officials said they didn’t have Blackwood said they would be comparable to Russia’s crackdown on gays had led some to call Harrison had 13 points and 16 rebounds. remaining, but the Irish scored the next 13 the money to travel to Russia to compete. Coach other nations excelling in the bobsled competi- for a boycott of the Games there. “For me, you is Ariel Massengale had 14 points, all in the points to put the game away. Wayne Thomas said some funding has flowed in, tion if they had better equipment. “That’s what you, I am me. You be yourself, I’ll be myself,” first nine minutes. “We’re going to be all right,” Massengale but the team is still in need. we want, equipment — and we are up there Dixon said. — AP Notre Dame entered the night leading said. “We’ve just got to find out what it’s “What we really need now is money to buy the nation in field-goal percentage (.517), going to take for this team to play 40 min- the equipment, specifically the runners,” Thomas 3-point percentage (.436) and assists per utes of basketball. In the first half, we seri- said of the skates attached to the bobsled. “The game (22.4) while racing to the second- ously played the best basketball we’ve runners that we are using are very close to illegal fastest start in school history, behind the played all season. We’ve got to be able to right now.” 2000-01 national championship team that sustain that for 40 minutes.” —AP When asked what the deadline was for the cash, he joked, “Yesterday.” So the team decided to head to Sundance to raise awareness, hoping Ireland’s Earls extends that some celebrities with deep pockets might want to contribute. “We’re here to let people know that we are here and still in need of fund- Munster deal ing,” Thomas said, adding jokingly, “And also to LONDON: Munster’s became the tion throughout his rugby career for both see some stars.” latest Ireland international to avoid the lure Munster and Ireland.” “Only lady stars,” said pilot Winston Watt, as of foreign club rugby by signing a new con- Earls’s decision follows the IRFU’s success the team broke into laughter. For some at tract with Munster yesterday. The 26-year- in persuading fellow internationals such as Sundance, seeing the Jamaican bobsled team old back, who has scored 12 tries in 39 tests Paul O’Connell and Sean O’Brien to contin- was like catching a glimpse of the movie stars since his Ireland debut in 2008, has signed a ue their careers in Ireland, although Test fly- who have packed Park City for the festival. The new central contract with the Irish Rugby half did join Paris-based team attracted attention and happily posed for Football Union that will see him stay at Racing Metro at the start of this season. eager picture-seekers in between bites at the Munster until at least 2016. And it is understood that Ireland back- pop-up MorningStar Veggie Burger Bar, which A versatile performer, who can play on row Jamie Heaslip, whose contract is up at has been providing free veggie burgers and oth- the wing or in the centres, Earls is reported the end of the current campaign, remains a er food for moviegoers. It was just one of their to have rejected offers from clubs in both target for one of France’s leading Top 14 pit stops on Main Street as they tried to draw England and France to remain loyal to clubs. attention to their need for funding. Munster. “I’m delighted to sign a new IRFU However, Ireland have largely been suc- They’ll get an even bigger spotlight when contract and to continue representing my cessful in ensuring their best players con- they travel to Sochi next month. The Caribbean province,” Earls said. tinue to remain with home clubs. It is a sit- island nation’s entry to the Winter Olympics in “This Munster team has shown it has uation in marked contrast to that in Wales 1988 caused a huge media stir and inspired the what it takes to compete with the best in where, without an established central con- movie “Cool Runnings.” This year’s team says that Europe and I look forward to playing my tract system, the likes of Mike Phillips, members of the 1988 team have offered advice. role in bringing further success to both and have all The athletes have been training since last Munster and Ireland.” IRFU chief executive opted for club careers in France, with more summer and have been in Wyoming for practice Philip Browne added: “Keith is a proven fin- Welsh players set to follow in their foot- in icy conditions. “Despite being from a tropical isher and has shown guile and determina- steps. — AFP country, we don’t think of lots of obstacles,” said Wayne Blackwood, a brakeman. “We stay Jamaican bobsleigh team