14 Thursday 11th November, 2010

In this photo taken on Oct. 29, 2010 and GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - Senior Chinese singular goal of “winning glory for the coun- released by China’s sports officials don’t envisage much change to try.” Xinhua News Agency, the status quo at the Asian Games amid initial China has traditionally focused on sports shows the aerial view of moves to overhaul the state-run sports system that awarded multiple medals and which the cycling venue of the that has propelled the country to the top. authorities thought their athletes could quickly 16th Asian Games at the Xiao Tian (she-ow tee-yan), vice president dominate - such as diving and gymnastics. University Town in of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Meanwhile, sports such as basketball, vol- declined to give a specific medals goal leyball and football have lagged behind foreign Guangzhou, south for Guangzhou 2010 but said the dele- competition which has benefited from quicker China’s Guangdong gation of nearly 1,000 athletes is development because of commercialisation, Province. (AP targeting more medals than it Xiao said. Photo/Xinhua, Liu Dawei) won at Doha four years ago. “Before, we had an all-state system that China was a long way worked very well, but now professional sports clear in 2006, collecting 316 and market economy are linked. These two sys- medals, including 166 gold. tems have different operational mechanisms,” South Korea placed second he said. with 58 gold. “The development of the three ‘big ball’ That continued a run sports (basketball, volleyball, football) as well as of table-topping finishes golf, tennis and sailing are areas where we need for Chinese teams that to reform and explore,” he told reporters. began at the 9th Asian Yao Ming’s All-Star status in the NBA has Games at New Delhi in focussed international attention on Chinese 1982. China only basketball, while players such as Li Na have rejoined the conti- drawn attention to China’s potential in women’s nental games in 1974 tennis. at Tehran, where it With growing possibilities for lucrative finished third. sponsorship and endorsement contracts, some Xiao said high-profile Chinese athletes have started changes are needed employing private or international coaches and to the country’s managers rather than rely on the Chinese sys- Soviet-style sports tem. system that devel- And there’s scope for that to expand to other CChhiinnaa eexxppeeccttss oped rapidly in the Olympic and non-Olympic sports as nongovern- 1980s, in which ment funding flows in. young children In the meantime, there’s few who doubt selected for their ath- China’s ability to dominate the competition in letic potential and Guangzhou. Its Asian Games delegation is specific physical young, with an average age of 24, but will be led to top Asian traits are funnelled by 34 Olympic champions from sports such as to top Asian into sports schools. gymnastics, diving and table tennis. The emphasis has “Ever since the Beijing Olympics we have been training those added a lot of new athletes to the team,” Xiao young athletes for said. “A lot of old athletes are going out and a lot years in the pro- of new blood coming in. It’s a test to the young GGaammeess mmeeddaallss gramme with the athletes.”

Pakistan wicketkeeper feel safe if they are approached in coming for- appears to have left the door open for a return ward and telling us what they know, and that Maradona helps in to international . they get our support if they do that.” Haider, 24, fled from Dubai to London on He told ’s Uncapped wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal, 25, Monday and announced he had retired, claim- has been drafted in as Haider’s replacement for worthy cause ing he had received death threats after refusing Geo News channel on the Test series against South Africa due to start to fix two matches. on Friday in the United Arab Emirates. He is Initial reports suggested he would seek Tuesday that he had set to become the third Akmal brother to keep political asylum in the UK, but he has since wicket for Pakistan in international cricket. played them down. “no issues” with play- , 28, has played 53 Tests and He told Pakistan’s Geo News channel on 123 one-day internationals but has since lost his Tuesday that he had “no issues” with playing ing again for Pakistan. place to Haider. again for Pakistan. “I have no intentions Youngest brother , 20, has “I have no intentions of applying for politi- played 12 Tests and 24 ODIs and is a specialist cal asylum at this stage and, if the Pakistan of applying for politi- batsman, but had to take over behind the government is ready to give me assurance of stumps against Pakistan on Monday after security for me and my family, I am ready to cal asylum at this Haider’s unexpected departure. return to Pakistan,” Haider told Geo News. The PCB has also announced that batsman “I have no issues playing for Pakistan again stage and, if the Mohammad Hafeez will replace leg-spinner provided the wants me Danish Kaneria in the Test squad. to play.” Pakistan government Haider played his solitary Test match The wicketkeeper hit the winning runs in is ready to give me against England at Edgbaston in the summer, last Friday’s fourth one-day international win where he was out first ball but scored 88 over South Africa in Dubai but then left assurance of security runs in the second innings. Pakistan’s team hotel and flew to London. He broke his finger and missed the rest “It is best to retire from international crick- for me and my family, of the series, which was marred by spot-fix- et since my family and I are constantly getting ing allegations. threats,” he said on his arrival. I am ready to return to Haider has played four ODIs and three Haider claimed he had been approached by Pakistan,” Haider told Twenty20 internationals since making his a person who asked him to fix the fourth and debut in 2007. fifth one-day games against South Africa, who Geo News. (BBC) went on to win Monday’s deciding game to earn a 3-2 victory in the series. But he fled before the final game rather than “sell out the dignity and respect of my motherland”. He is currently staying at an unknown address in Britain, and is holding a visitor’s visa which will expire after one month. Haider, who has played only one Test and four one-day games, told Geo News: “I was told to co-operate or I would face lots of problems. “This person approached me while I had gone out of the hotel for dinner. He told me ‘Co- operate with us and you can make a lot of money.’ Haider mulls “He said ‘If you don’t co-operate you will no longer be part of the team and we can make life very difficult for you.’ “ Haider felt quitting the international game was the only solution, adding: “It is best for me U-turn over to step down because I can’t play in these cir- cumstances. But I would like to continue to play domestic cricket.” The wicketkeeper said he had decided to travel to London because he felt safe there. Pakistan In this Nov. 9, 2010 photo released by China’s Pakistan’s ambassador to the UK, Wajid Xinhua News Agency, Argentine soccer legend Shamsul Hasan, stated that Haider had not approached its embassy in London for any Diego Maradona shows his tipping skill at a chari- assistance. ty activity in Hefei, capital of east China’s Anhui “I don’t know what is his case, but I know Province. Maradona arrived at the stadium 55 min- that you only get political asylum in the UK if retirement utes later than scheduled and failed to honour his you are being prosecuted by your government. promise to play in a match. Maradona arrived at If he comes to us we will guide and assist him said he thought Haider had “made a huge mis- Hefei Tuesday on his charity tour to raise money in every way possible,” Hasan commented. take” by deserting the team in this manner. The BBC’s correspondent in Islamabad, M for a project of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation, “He should have gone to the team manage- Ilyas Khan, said the episode has left most crick- aimed at helping poor people who suffer from can- ment and told them what he has been telling et observers in Pakistan puzzled with some peo- the world through the media. Had they not cer. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Guo Chen) ple sympathising with Haider and others ques- taken any action, then he might have resorted tioning his motives as he is yet to divulge to this,” Asif told BBC Radio 5 live. where the threats have come from. “He would have been better off staying Senior superintendent of police Rana Faisal either in Dubai or going back to Pakistan Spurs held by Sunderland; told local media in Pakistan that police protec- and then seeking protection from the gov- tion has been provided for Haider’s family in ernment. Stoke beat Birmingham . “Dubai is a very safe environment. The The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on ICC headquarters are there. LONDON (AP) - Tottenham’s winless streak in the Monday Haider had not informed them that he “Just before the start of the series, the Premier League was extended to four matches Tuesday was leaving the team hotel nor provided a rea- ICC anti-corruption unit had told them ‘if after Asamoah Gyan clinched a 1-1 draw for Sunderland. son for his sudden decision. you are approached by anyone or if you Team manager Intikhab Alam confirmed have anything to say, go to the team The Ghana striker exploited a mix-up in the Spurs Haider had taken his passport from him, saying defence in the 67th minute to net his third goal in two management. If not, then come to us’. he wanted it to obtain a new SIM card for his He has not done either.” matches for Sunderland, wiping out Tottenham’s lead mobile phone. Angus Porter, chief executive of the less than three minutes after Rafael van der Vaart had In a statement on Tuesday, the International Professional Cricketers’ Association in put his side ahead. Cricket Council said it was maintaining regu- the UK, said Haider’s claims - if true - “Once we scored, I couldn’t see us not winning - lar communication with the PCB. represented a worrying development they’d not really had a shot,” Spurs manager Harry ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: in cricket’s battle against gambling “Clearly this is in the first instance a team mat- Redknapp said. “We suddenly get the mix-up and it all driven match-fixing. ter for Pakistan cricket, but the ICC is willing changes.” “If players are indeed being to provide assistance to the PCB and the player. threatened, then I think that esca- Stoke also looked like being forced to settle with a “We understand his plight if reports are lates the problem to a new draw in the night’s other match after throwing away a indeed true, but we can only help if he is will- level,” Porter told BBC 5 live. Zulqarnain Haider two-goal lead against Birmingham. But Dean ing to engage with us.” “It’s our responsibility as Whitehead produced an 85th-minute goal to clinch a 3-2 Former Pakistan and Kent captain Asif the administrators of the game victory for Stoke. Iqbal, who played in England for over a decade, to make sure that players do