Tuesday 1st March 2011 15 England’s Steve Davies announces he is gay LONDON (AP) - - they just said it wasn’t England wicketkeeper an issue,” Davies said. Steve Davies has “Matt (Prior) came and become the country’s gave me a hug. He first professional crick- couldn’t believe I had et player to publicly kept it to myself for this announce he is gay. long. He said I should “It is something I have told him. That was have lived for a long special.” time with and I am real- Prior is also a wick- Waqar Younis believes that even a ly comfortable about etkeeper and beat half-fit 35-year-old fast bowler could things with now,” Davies to a spot in the still be a nightmare for other teams. Davies said. “I have got squad for the World The paceman - dubbed the nothing to hide and I Cup, which is currently “Rawalpindi Express” - did not disap- am ready to tell people.” taking place in India, point his coach last weekend in Pakistan’s The 24-year-old nervy 11-run win over co-host Sri Lanka, tak- Sri Lanka and COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Fast ing two wickets for 42 runs off his 10 overs. Surrey player made the Bangladesh. bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Monday He got rid off Mahela Jayawardene with a announcement late “His private life is that Pakistan’s recent spot-fixing affair delivery that swung back into the right-han- Sunday in video inter- his own concern and had been a painful one, but had made its der and knocked back the middle stump as views on the websites of has absolutely no bear- players determined to do well at the Sri Lanka slumped to 96-4 from a solid 76-0 The Sun and Daily ing on his ability to World Cup. while chasing 278. Telegraph newspapers, excel at the very highest “We are a hurt side and we want to “I’ve always played half-fit throughout saying he told England level in international hurt other teams - in a good sense I my career,” Akhtar said. “I am happy that I coach Andy Flower last sport,” Flower said on got the wicket (of Jayawardene) at a time mean,” Akhtar said. year before going on the the England and Wales An ICC tribunal banned former cap- when it was needed.” Ashes tour to Australia, Cricket Board website. tain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Eight years ago Akhtar clocked 100mph Mohammad Amir for five years earlier (161 kph) during a World Cup match against in which he played in “I have no doubt that he this month for bowling prearranged no- England in South Africa, the fastest delivery the limited-overs match- will continue to work balls during the Lord’s test against in international cricket. However, now at the es. hard to regain a place England last August. age of 35, he has not only shortened his run- “It was a tough thing in the England squad.” Butt and Asif were also given suspend- up but has also no urge to always bowl at an for me to do, to tell him Davies said he told ed sentences of five and two years respec- express pace. face to face, but I had to his family and close tively. “I clocked 159 (kph) against Sri Lanka on do it,” Davies said. “He friends he was gay at Akhtar believes he could have formed a Saturday,” he said with a smile. “But I have supported me 100 per- the age out 19. He was left this race (of bowling fast) a long time ago lethal pace combination at the World Cup cent, him and (captain) inspired to go public with Amir and Asif, but conceded “it’s part and now I am focussed on taking wickets. Andrew Strauss. It was after Wales rugby cen- of history”. However, he said Pakistan Pakistan defeated Kenya by 205 runs in its could still point to fast bowlers like Umar first Group A match, in which Akhtar bowled the right thing to do as I ter Gareth Thomas Gul, Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz. five overs to get into the rhythm. felt I couldn’t live like made the same “The way Gul and Razzaq are bowl- Akhtar said Pakistan should have won by this any more. announcement in ing, the way Wahab is bowling, we still “at least 80 runs” against Sri Lanka after “I didn’t enjoy going December 2009. can do a much better job than anyone knocking over the top order, but he still felt a on tour too much Davies said that can think,” he said. number of critics had been silenced. because of the secret.” before Thomas “came Akhtar has struggled throughout his “We should be more composed, but we Meeting up with the out there was no one to 14-year career with problems with his lost (an) edge ... when Sri Lanka chased,” he squad in November for look up to.” said. But he added: “Those who were writing knee joints and hands, having played in the first time since the “It just showed me it 162 one-day internationals since making us off and rating Sri Lanka as favorites, they announcement was can be done,” Davies his debut in 1997 against the West Indies are not able to talk now.” in his hometown, Rawalpindi. As for his side’s prospects at the World nerve-racking, Davies said. “He was brave Shoaib Akhtar He was not 100 per cent fit before Cup, he said: “We are dark horses and that’s said. enough to stand up and being picked for the World Cup, but coach fine.” “Everyone was great say who he was.” Canada’s Kumar becomes youngest WCup player at 16 NAGPUR, India (AP) - fell without scoring in the Zimbabwe beat weak Canada opener Nitish Kumar second over and Kumar last- became the youngest player ed only 10 balls before he was to play at cricket’s World caught and bowled by spin- Cup, but had little to cele- ner Ray Price for one run. brate other than the mile- The oldest player at this Canada by 175 runs stone. year’s tournament, Davison The batsman, who took to used to play club cricket with BY STUART CONDIE with the batting that’s failing, not the field for his team’s Group Kumar’s father and first saw so much the bowlers taking wickets. A match against Zimbabwe his teammate bat at just 6 NAGPUR, India (AP) - Zimbabwe A good attack and blowing us over, I at just 16 years, 283 days, years old. bowled out Canada for 123 on wouldn’t mind it so much, but it’s our own mistakes going over and watched his opponents rack But Canada’s hope that Monday to comfortably win their over again. up 298-9 off their 50 overs at Kumar would strengthen the World Cup Group A match by 175 “It definitely was not a 120 wick- Nagpur’s VCA Stadium. batting after a 210-run open- runs and land a dispiriting blow on et.” He then opened the bat- ing loss to Sri Lanka was its lowly opponent. With his side defending a healthy Zimbabwe’s attack was weakened ting alongside John Davison thwarted, leaving Kumar by a side injury to Chris Mpofu that but the 40-year-old veteran only with his record. 298-9, Zimbabwe spinner Ray Price opened the bowling and took three forced the pace bowler off the field wickets in the first six overs to for treatment in the dressing room. reduce the ICC Associate nation to But Taibu stumped Jimmy Hansra 7-3. off the bowling of Prosper Utseya Bresnan, England That was too weak a position and Greg Lamb bowled Ruvindu even on a good wicket at Nagpur’s Gunasekera for 24. VCA Stadium and Zimbabwe Rizwan Cheema and Tyson sanctioned after secured victory with 7.5 overs Gordon fell to leave Canada on 78-7 remaining. Price finished with 3-16, and although Zubin Surkari top- with fellow spinner Graeme Cremer scored with 26 and helped put on 21 India match taking 3-31. and 25 for the eighth and ninth Zimbabwe takes on out-of-form wickets, Lamb had him stumped as NEW DELHI (AP) - The ICC The ICC says Monday New Zealand next with a quarterfi- Cremer cleaned up the rest of the says that Tim Bresnan has that Bresnan accepted the nal berth now a possibility. tail. been reprimanded for equip- decision and there will be no “We’ve shown on the batting side Canada has four more group ment abuse and the England hearing. we now have a bit of confidence matches left, against Pakistan, team has been fined on a sep- The England team, mean- going into that game,” captain Elton Kenya, defending champion arate charge of maintaining while, was fined for its slow Chigumbura said. “Some guys put Australia and New Zealand. “We’re going to need to find a a slow over rate during its over rate in the game at some runs on their bat so hopefully way to get through those four World Cup tie with India. Bangalore, where India we just carry on from that and work games,” Bagai said. “We’re not The ICC took action reached 338 all out after win- on those weaknesses we have shown in today’s game.” going to lie down and take it.” against Bresnan because ning the toss and batting Zimbabwe too had struggled With Canada never having “after he was clean bowled first.