McIlroy and Wozniacki split
London: Rory McIlroy on Wednesday announced he had broken off his engagement to Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki only days after sending out the wedding invitations. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman and two-time major champion said the issuing of the invitations had made him aware that he was not ready for marriage. “There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people,” he explained through a statement issued by his Dublin-based communications consultants. “The problem is mine,” McIlroy said. “The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.” The golden sporting couple announced their short-lived engagement on last New Year’s Eve. Wozniacki, 23, still seeks her first Grand Slam title, her deepest run in a major event being to the 2009 US Open final. (AFP)
Brazil WC will be my last, says Ribery
PARIS: France winger Franck Ribery will play in his last World Cup in Brazil, the Bayern Munich player said on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, who also featured in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, wants to sign off in style by winning the trophy. “First off it will be my last World Cup,” he told French radio station RTL. “Then we have to go (to Brazil) to do something, to try to win the World Cup, quite simply.” Ribery, who has scored 16 goals in 80 games for France, has not announced his international retirement, however, and will hope to figure in the plans for Euro 2016, which France hosts. Ribery broke into the France team just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany and scored his first international goal in a 3-1 second round win over Spain. He played in every match including the final which France lost on penalties to Italy. He featured again at Euro 2008 but suffered an injury early in France’s final group match as they finished bottom. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa also ended in failure with Raymond Domenech’s squad torn apart by internal squabbling as they managed only one point and one goal in the group stage. Following an argument between Domenech and Nicolas Anelka that led to the striker being sent home the squad refused to train and Ribery was later suspended along with Anelka, captain Patrice Evra and Jeremy Toulalan for their part in the revolt. He returned to the side for Euro 2012 qualifying but endured disappointment again at the finals in Poland and Ukraine as France lost 2-0 to eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals. (Reuters)
ICC to investigate McCullum leak
Dubai: Dismayed after the testimony of Brendon McCullum in an anti-corruption case was leaked to the media, the ICC on Wednesday launched an urgent investigation into the matter while insisting that the New Zealand cricketer was not under any suspicion. ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said the leak of McCullum’s testimony was an extremely serious matter. “We are taking all steps available to us to urgently investigate how certain information in the form of statements has come to find its way into the media, so that we can provide reassurances to the stakeholders within the sport so that they can continue to place their trust in the hands of the ACSU and the anti-corruption units of the respective Member Boards in protecting the integrity of the sport,” he said in a statement. “Of course, we recognise that this is a deeply concerning development for the stakeholders in the fight against corruption in the sport of cricket, and we wish to emphasise that Brendon McCullum is not under investigation in this matter,” he asserted. “While we have privately offered our full support to Brendon, we do so now publicly not only to confirm that, by assisting with the ACSU’s enquiries, he has acted quite properly in accordance with his responsibilities as a professional cricketer, but also correct any misperception that he is somehow under suspicion,” he added. Rejecting aspersions being cast on McCullum, Richardson said the stumper-batsman deserves nothing but applause for coming forward and cooperating with the governing body. “He is to be commended for his actions and we deeply regret that aspects of his statement are now in the public domain,” Richardson said. International cricket was rocked by leaks of McCullum’s testimony in which he admitted to being approached by a top player for match-fixing. The ICC was further embarrassed by reports emerging that a top ACSU official allegedly had links with an Indian bookmaker during this year’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. (PTI)
Perera sets up Sri Lanka win over Eng
London: Thisara Perera starred with both bat and ball as Sri Lanka gained revenge for their World Twenty20 defeat by England with a nine-run win here at The Oval. Man-of-the-match Perera made a rapid 49 in World Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka’s 183 for seven and then captured the important wicket of England captain Eoin Morgan under the floodlights in Tuesday’s day/night clash. (AFP)