Messis And Drug Money? No Way, Says Barcelona.......!

Barcelona boss Sandro Rosell on Thursday sharply criticised an "attack" by media seeking to link star striker Lionel Messi's family with an alleged Colombian drug money laundering operation.

"The Interior Ministry and the Guardia Civil have totally and explicitly disassociated Leo Messi's entourage from any open judicial investigation," Rosell told a news conference.

"Even so, the attack on the player's entourage has not stopped," the club president said.

Messi's agents have hotly denied a Spanish newspaper allegation that his father is suspected of being involved in an operation to launder Colombian drug money through charity football matches.

Spain's police and the Interior Ministry say a Colombian promoter is suspected of laundering drug money through concerts and sporting events in Spain, South America and the United States.

But they say there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Messi, his family or other players who featured in charity football matches organised by the Colombian promoter at the centre of the affair.

Pakistan Ready To Tour India For Cricket Revival.......!

Pakistan's interim cricket chief Najam Sethi on Wednesday reiterated his stance to revive ties with arch-rivals India, saying his team was ready to go across the border.

India stalled all bilateral ties with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which New Deli blamed on militants based in Pakistan.

Pakistan toured India for a short limited overs series at the turn of this year (December-January) but that could not revive the ties, regarded as better than the Ashes played between Australia and England.

Being the financial hub and one of the most sought-after teams, India have a busy cricket schedule – a fact which do not allow them to play a long series with arch-rivals.

Sethi said Pakistan were more than willing to tour India.

“If they are not coming to Pakistan, we are willing to tour them,” Sethi told reporters on the sidelines of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka one-day international here.

“India owe us two home series as per the Future Tour Programme and India-Pakistan series is the most sought after, millions of people are waiting for it.”

Sethi, who took over in July this year, hoped things will shape up after general elections in India in May next year.

“I think the Indian board is waiting for elections in their country and our prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) is hoping that if his Indian counterpart (Manmohan Singh) tours Pakistan then the matter of cricket will also be raised,” hoped Sethi.

India last toured Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup and their last bilateral visit to Pakistan was in 2006.

Sethi said Pakistan will adopt a wait-and-see policy on touring Bangladesh where political situation is more tense since last week's execution of Islamic hardliner Abdul Quader Molla.

Sri Lanka, whose team is due to travel to Bangladesh on January 24 for two Tests, two Twenty20s and three one-days, have announced a security appraisal before the tour.

Bangladesh are due to host Asia Cup from February 24-March 7 and then World Twenty20 from March 16-April 6 next year – both under clouds.

“It will not be our decision,” said Sethi. “Asian Cricket Council will decide on the Asia Cup and International Cricket Council will take a decision on the World Twenty20, so we will wait and see on that.”

Pakistan Bracing For 'Tough' ODI Series Against Sri Lanka In UAE........!

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq is bracing for a "tough" limited over series against Sri Lanka who performed with steely determination to retain their top ranking in the Twenty20 format.

"They showed in the T20 matches, how good they are. We have to be really on our toes and play really good cricket to beat them. It's going to be a tough series," said Misbah ahead of the five-match one-day series which begins at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday December 18.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi steered Pakistan to a three-wicket win in the opening T20 match before Sri Lanka fired by a sparkling half century from Kusal Perera bounced back to win the second by 24 runs in Dubai.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq, whose side lie sixth in the one-day rankings, two places lower than Sri Lanka, hopes they can build on their confidence-building success, saying his players thrive under pressure.

"We have good confidence before another tough series and we hope to carry the momentum we gained in South Africa," said Misbah who led Pakistan to their first-ever ODI series win against the Proteas just weeks after a 4-1 drubbing against the same opposition in the UAE.

However, he warned against complacency.

"It matters how you perform on the day. I think Sri Lanka really came back in the second Twenty20 after losing the first game. They looked an improved side. This is what you are going to associate with the Sri Lanka team. That they really are fighters and can come back strongly. We need to repeat the good performances. We need to really show some good skills to beat them," said Misbah who takes over as captain from Mohammed Hafeez for the ODI and Test series when asked whether they should have done better considering the amount of international cricket they had played as compared to Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have been on the road since November hosting a bilateral series against South Africa in the UAE before travelling for a short limited over series in South Africa while Sri Lanka had a tour by New Zealand curtailed by rain.

Sri Lanka captain Mathews said they were raring to go despite not having played much international cricket.

"Even though New Zealand series was half washed out, I thought we got some decent cricket. We had our domestic tournament. We had good match practice. The boys showed it in the Twenty20 series. We are in a positive frame to do well in the one-day series as well," said Sri Lanka's Test ODI and Test skipper who takes over Dinesh Chandimal.

"We know they (Pakistan) are a very dangerous team when it comes to the shorter format. They have one of the best bowling line ups in the world. A good mix of spin and fast bowlers. Our batters need to be on guard to try and counter attack and be positive. We had an exciting Twenty20 series and we look forward to the one-day series as well," said the the dusky all-rounder who was amazed with the support they received from the Sri Lankan community in Dubai.

"I was surprised to see so many Sri Lankans coming and watching the game. We felt like playing at home as there were so many Sri Lankans. Generally playing in Dubai against Pakistan, not many Sri Lankans come and watch. We are really extremely glad to see them turn up," said Mathews who was also pleased to play in cooler conditions than when they last came to the UAE.

Sri Lanka will miss the services of veterans Mahela Jayawardene and Rangana Herath but Mathews was confident their replacements would step up to the plate.

"It's kind of a bad news we received. We send our love to his family," said Mathews on left-arm spinner Herath's decision to skip the one-day series after the demise of his mother earlier this week.

"We feel for him and hopefully he will be with the Test team. Whoever will replace them will do the job but Rangana Herath and Mahela are two very important people in our unit," he stressed.

Mathews ruled out the possibility of tinkering with the team for the one-day series.

"We are looking forward to win the series. We need to take our best XI out to the middle from the very first game. So we can't be complacent and we can't be trying out so many things with players," said Mathews who was pleased with the form of all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna.

"Prasanna is a guy who can hit the ball out of the park any time. And he is a very gutsy player. He is a very good all-rounder for us and we hope to see him doing well," he said.

Mathews also praised the work ethic of pace ace Lasith Malinga who has returned after a break.

"Lasith has been our premier bowler for the last so many years. He knows his job and he knows what he has to do when the team needs him. He is very professional with his training and workload. I'm pretty sure he will deliver the goods for the team," said Mathews.

Misbah on the other hand was pleased with the performance of youngsters.

"This is how we got Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali who performed really well in South Africa. I think Sharjeel Khan is another example. This is the way to get good players in the line up. You can really enhance your pool of players and we should continue wherever you need someone, to replace from the domestic circuit. Give him exposure and check him at this level," he said when asked whether it was a good idea to expose players like 19-year-old Usman Khan who made his debut in the T20 matches.

Asked what they could learn from the South Africa one-day series which they lost 4-1 in UAE and the one they won in South Africa, he said: "You need to do basics right all the time. Especially in batting we need to build very good partnerships. Top order batsmen need to carry on once they get starts. That's what we proved in South Africa. (Ahmed) Shehzad was getting runs here and he got a hundred (in South Africa) that really helped Pakistan. That's what we were missing (in UAE)."

Pakistan will be without lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan after the bowler fractured his hip bone during the Twenty20 series against South Africa last month and was ruled out of the series.

The Twenty20 series between the sides finished all square at 1-1.

The remaining ODIs will be played in Dubai (December 20), Sharjah (December 22) and Abu Dhabi (December 25 and 27).

Afridi In Line To Replace Hafeez As Pakistan Captain For World Twenty20........!

Pakistan's dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi has pulled out of a South African domestic Twenty 20 tournament, the Ram Slam Challenge, to spend time with his family.

Afridi had signed up to represent the Knights during a recent tour to South Africa in the competition to be held in January and February.

However, he has decided to take a break from the game before the Twenty20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in Bangladesh between March 16 and April 6.

"I have decided not to play in the South African league because I want to spend more time with my family," he said. "We have the Asia Cup and World T20 coming up early next year and before that I want to take a break from the game."

Afridi starred in Pakistan's opening T20 win against Sri Lanka in the UAE, becoming the first player to make 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets in the Twenty20 format.

In a related development, Afridi is also being seen as a possible candidate to take over as Pakistan Twenty20 captain from under-fire Mohammad Hafeez. 

Acting Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi confirmed that there was pressure on Hafeez to retain his place in the T20 side and the selectors would take a call on the same, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Sethi reiterated at a press conference on Sunday that the fate of Hafeez's captaincy for the ICC World Twenty20 was solely in the hands of the national selectors while adding that he was aware that "people" were not happy with the allrounder performances.

“I am not an expert on the cricketing matters and it up to the selectors to decide about his (Mohammad Hafeez) fate as captain,” Sethi told reporters.

“People are not happy with Hafeez's captaincy. But I cannot make a change without the selector's advice. Pakistan needs to groom captains for a long-term basis by looking at players' leadership qualities,” Sethi added.

“What happens next I don't know.”

Hafeez role as captain has come under the scanner after a string of poor performances, highlighted by the allrounder own form with the bat. 

Sethi said Misbah-ul-Haq's captaincy leadership had also come under threat but the 39-year-old had silence all his critics with first his bat and then by winning an ODI series in South Africa, making Pakistan the only Asian side to have done so. 

“After good results against South Africa in South Africa, he (Misbah) restored confidence in him,” Sethi said.

The Ashes: Australia Beat England To Win Test And Regain The Urn After Four Years...........!

England were all out for 353 on the final day at the WACA Ground to hand the home side an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

It capped a remarkable turnaround for Australia, who went into the series just months after a 3-0 Ashes loss in England.

"I don`t really know what to say. We`ve got them back, I couldn`t be happier," Clarke said of the Ashes, which England had held for the past three series.

"Credit to the team for how they played: they were outstanding."

Despite a determined rearguard action -- led by rookie English batsman Ben Stokes, whose maiden Test century frayed Australian nerves -- the home team ran through the English tail after lunch to claim a famous victory.

The Australians had won the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide and secured the urn when rejuvenated paceman Mitchell Johnson claimed his 23rd wicket of the series to remove Jimmy Anderson and end the England second innings.

Although the Ashes have been regained, Clarke said Australia were targeting a 5-0 win in the series as they seek to climb from fifth in the world Test cricket rankings.

"We want to get back that number one ranking," he said.

England captain Alastair Cook praised the character of Stokes and admitted the English were starting to dream of the impossible, but added that the result reflected the series.

"Just when we got a partnership going, we haven`t managed to turn it into big one," he said.

"We have been outskilled in all aspects, and it is hard to say that. They have been ruthless. It hurts."

Set a record 504 to win, England went to lunch on the final day at 332-6, needing 172 more runs with four wickets in hand and Stokes still at the crease. 

However, Australia turned the screws when spinner Nathan Lyon (3-70) picked up the wicket of Stokes for 120 in the third over after the break.

Stokes, who scored the first English century of the series in just his second Test, attempted to sweep a ball outside off stump and got a thin bottom edge, with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin continuing his outstanding series by hanging on to a diving catch.

It was the end of a superb knock by Stokes, who showed up his more senior teammates by staying at the crease for 257 minutes and facing 195 balls, hitting 18 fours and one six.

His departure also ended a 40-run partnership with Tim Bresnan.

Lyon then picked up Graeme Swann for four, caught at short leg, as Australia closed in on victory.

Bresnan (12) was the next to go, brilliantly caught by a diving Chris Rogers at mid-off from the bowling of England`s chief nemesis Johnson as celebrations by local fans went into full swing.

The match was over when Johnson (4-78) claimed his final scalp of the innings, with Anderson caught at short leg by George Bailey.

England had resumed on 251-5, but Stokes defied the Australian attack for the entire morning session, losing only Matt Prior (26) along the way.

Stokes, 22, was temporarily denied a century when he drove Johnson straight and the ball deflected off the bowler`s hand into umpire Marais Erasmus, costing him the two runs he needed to reach the milestone.

But he got a top edge to fine leg for a boundary from the next ball to notch his first Test century.

Not for the first time in the series, it was Johnson who delivered a dagger to English hearts by removing Prior in his third over with the second new ball, ending a 76-run partnership with Stokes.

Rohan Bopanna Confident of Good Start To Season With Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi........!

Happy to be reunited with doubles partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna on Tuesday exuded confidence of doing "extremely well" in the upcoming season, starting in January next year.

"It is great for me to get reunited with Qureshi and I am really looking forward to continue (the partnership). It is (also) a very positive sign and we can do extremely well (in next season, beginning January)," he told reporters here on the sidelines of "Unshaven is Unbathed" movement launched by Gillette.

The Indo-Pak pair, who took the world by storm by reaching the US Open final in 2010, will be coming together for the new season, commencing with ATP Tour in Chennai.

Bopanna parted ways with Qureshi in 2011 to partner compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, keeping an eye on 2012 London Olympics. The Pakistani united with Jean-Julien Rojer.

A haywire and not-too-impressive last season for both Bopanna and Qureshi prompted them to announce their reunification for the next season.

Even though Bopanna reached a career-high individual doubles ranking of world number three, playing with a string of partners, the Bangalore-lad failed to qualify for London's Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Bopanna changed five doubles partners in 2013. Early on in the same season, he split with Bhupathi and partnered Rajeev Ram, Marcelo Melo, Colin Fleming and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Nadal and Williams Raise The Bar Sky High...........!

A year in which a British man won Wimbledon, Roger Federer`s star began to fade and doping reared its ugly head was defined by the dominance of two players - Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams.

Between them they won half of the grand slam singles titles on offer, triumphed at 21 tournaments in total, collected more than 150 match wins and $25 million in prizemoney.

Not bad considering both have battled back from potentially career-ending injuries.

Written off by some when his knee problems returned with a vengeance in June 2012, Nadal launched a comeback in Chile in February that was nothing short of extraordinary.

Playing like a man on a mission Nadal won 10 titles, including the French Open and U.S. Open, and reclaimed the world No.1 ranking for the first time in more than two years.

The Mallorcan was expected to dominate again on clay, which he did, culminating in an eighth Roland Garros title when he beat countryman David Ferrer. But he reached new heights on the hard courts that had proved his Achilles heel.

After beating arch-rival Novak Djokovic on his way to the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Nadal claimed the Cincinnati crown before taking New York by storm, winning the U.S. Open for the second time with victory over Djokovic.

The only blip in a season of 75 match wins and 14 finals from 17 tournaments was at a wildly unpredictable Wimbledon where he lost in round one to Belgium`s Steve Darcis.

WIPEOUT WEDNESDAY

Nadal`s defeat came in a first week that included Wipeout Wednesday, when seven-times champion Federer was spanked by 116th-ranked Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky and a host of top names pulled up lame, some blaming dangerous court conditions.

Through the carnage Murray rode like a knight in shining armour to finally deliver the men`s title for success-starved British fans after 77 years of waiting.

The Scot, reduced to tears by Federer the previous year after losing in the final, coped with the suffocating weight of expectation to beat Djokovic in straight sets on a sun-kissed Centre Court.

Djokovic did not do much wrong in 2013, beginning the year with a third consecutive Australian Open title and ending it on a 24-match winning streak including victory over Nadal in the ATP World Tour Finals.

It was the perfect response to Nadal snatching back the world No.1 ranking in October and keeping it into 2014.

"We make each other better players. We make each other work harder on our games, especially when we play against each other. It`s always a huge challenge," Djokovic said of a rivalry that looks set to continue into 2014 and beyond.

With Murray having undergone back surgery and a fading Federer down at world No.6 having managed a solitary title, cracks are appearing in the so-called "Big Four" and Juan Martin del Potro and Tomas Berdych will be sensing some grand slam opportunities next year.

As for the next generation, Poland`s Jerzy Janowicz, who scared Murray in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Bulgarian Grigor Dmitrov and Canada`s Milos Raonic will hope to make a move.

DIFFERENT PLANET

The women`s game is sadly lacking the same edge as Serena Williams appears to be playing tennis from a different planet.

Despite being the wrong side of 30 the American finished the year zooming away from her rivals and, providing she stays fit, it is hard to see who can halt her march towards Steffi Graf`s record 22 grand slam titles over the next couple of years.

She took 11 titles, won 78 matches and suffered only four defeats, claiming a record $12 million in prize money.

Winning the French Open and U.S. Open took her grand slam singles haul to 17, just one behind fellow Americans Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

The bad news for the chasers such as Belarussian Victoria Azarenka, who took advantage of Serena`s early Australian Open exit to retain her title, China`s Li Na and Russian Maria Sharapova is that Serena still wants to improve.

"I have some areas where I can do a lot better for next year and I look forward to it," said the oldest women`s world No.1.

"There`s definitely a lot of things I can add to my game, a multitude of things. Overall I`ll remember the wins, but I also want to learn from my mistakes so I don`t repeat them."

Williams lost in the Wimbledon fourth round to Sabine Lisicki who went on to reach the final where she froze against unorthodox Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli. Weeks after winning her first grand slam title Bartoli retired from the sport.

In team tennis the Czech Republic retained the Davis Cup, beating Serbia in Belgrade while Italy won the women`s Fed Cup.

With the International Tennis Federation tightening its anti-doping controls after concerns from the likes of Federer and Murray, two high-profile players fell foul of the system.

Croatia`s Marin Cilic served half of a nine-month ban for testing positive for a banned stimulant while Serbia`s Viktor Troicki is serving a 12-month ban for failing to give a blood sample at the Monte Carlo Masters.

When Djokovic won the Tour Finals in London he raised the newly-named Brad Drewett Trophy above his head - a fitting tribute to ATP president Brad Drewett who died this year.

AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso Placed Under Inquiry For Match-Fixing...........!

Former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso was placed under investigation for match-fixing on Tuesday while four more people were arrested in an early morning police sweep in Italy.

Cremona prosecutor Roberto Di Martino, who has been leading the Last Bet operation for three years, confirmed to The Associated Press that Gattuso and retired Milan and Lazio player Cristian Brocchi were allegedly part of a ring that fixed Serie A and other Italian matches at the end of the 2010-11 season.

The four people arrested were Salvatore Spadaro, Francesco Bazzani, Cosimo Rinci and Fabio Quadri; each of whom allegedly helped connect fixers to players, Di Martino said.

Gattuso and Brocchi face charges of criminal conspiracy and sports fraud, according to the ANSA news agency.

"Gattuso and Brocchi were connected to the case by the use of phone taps," said Di Martino, who could not confirm the exact charges.

Gattuso, who was on the Italy squad that won the 2006 World Cup, was fired as Palermo manager in September. Brocchi is currently coaching in AC Milan's youth program.

Police said in a statement that the arrests were carried out in Milan, Bologna, Rimini and Messina.

The investigation has resulted in more than 50 people being arrested in Italy since mid-2011, with matches under investigation by prosecutors in Cremona, Bari and Naples.

It has resulted in lengthy bans for former Lazio captains Giuseppe Signori and Stefano Mauri, as well as former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni. Several clubs have also had points deducted.

Prosecutors have detailed an extensive match-fixing ring stretching as far as Singapore and South America that was allegedly in operation for more than 10 years.

The arrests of 14 people in Singapore in September was hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against corruption in football, with the global network's suspected mastermind among those taken into custody.

Fast & Furious Actor Paul Walker Dies In California Car Crash..........!

US actor Paul Walker, who starred in the Fast & Furious series of action films, has been killed in a car crash in California.

Walker, 40, was a passenger in a Porsche sports car driven by a friend - who also died - when it crashed north of Los Angeles.

Walker was said to be attending a charity event at the time.

He starred in all but one of the films in the Fast & Furious franchise, the sixth of which opened in May.

Walker also starred in the suspense drama Hours, a movie that is set for release this month.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department said the crash happened in the community of Valencia.

It said deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision. Two people found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

Images showed the burned-out wreckage of a red Porsche by the side of the road.

"It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organisation. 

Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace”Vin Diesel Fast & Furious co-star

"He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. We... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.''