Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

Nadal loses to Almagro in Barcelona

BARCELONA: World number one Rafael Nadal suffered his first defeat in Barcelona since 2003 on Friday when compatriot Nicolas Almagro ended his 41-match winning run in the Spanish city.

Top seed Nadal, the eight-time champion, lost 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to Almagro in a quarter-final lasting 13 minutes short of three hours.

Nadal, who lost in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals to David Ferrer last week, had last been beaten in Barcelona when he was just 15 years old.

Despite the defeat, 27-year-old Nadal refused to panic with the defence of his French Open crown starting in just a month´s time.

He said losing a tennis match was nothing in comparison to the death of former Barcelona football coach Tito Vilanova who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 45 on Friday.

"To lose is not a drama. What has happened to Tito Vilanova is. We are left with his example and I send my support to his family," said Nadal. He added: "I was better in parts of the match, but sport is like that. It was my turn to lose and I congratulate Nico."

Nadal will next defend his Madrid and Rome Masters claycourt titles -- two of the 10 tournaments he won in 2013 after a seven-month injury lay-off.He could lose his world number one ranking with Novak Djokovic set to pounce."I lacked a bit of intensity at points in the match," added Nadal.

"That is tennis and now I have to suffer for a bit, but keep fighting and think about Madrid." (AFP)

Abhishek Loses Temper, Threatens Cameraman

It was a surprise to hear that Abhishek Bachchan lost his temper and roughed up a cameraman on sets of Happy New Year. The cameraman had been taking a few candid shots for a fun video but this allegedly did not go down well with Abhishek. He reportedly threatened him and also threw chairs on the sets and his director Farah Khan thought it was quite violent. Last year, there was a similar incident with Ranbir who snatched a camera from a cameraman. We wonder how his wife Aishwarya who is the epitome of diplomacy will react.