Brett Lee undergoes surgery, to return home

Sydney: Australian speedster Brett Lee on Monday underwent surgery for appendicitis in Cape Town and he is likely to return home in next couple of days-midway from the Twenty20 and ODI series in South Africa.

Lee's replacement may join the squad just in time for the three-match one-day series as the 13-man squad for the two Twenty20 games in has already been selected.

Lee's tour of Twenty20s and one-dayers ended after he complained of abdominal pain on arrival in Cape Town Sunday and had to be operated on Monday.

He will be out of cricket for six to eight weeks.

"Brett complained of some abdominal pain after arriving in Cape Town on Sunday," Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a Cricket Australia statement.

"After consulting specialists and having the relevant investigations, he has been diagnosed with appendicitis."

"He will obviously be ruled out of the Twenty20 and ODI series in South Africa and is likely to return to cricket in six to eight weeks."

Yuvraj Singh hits out, says he was made a 'scapegoat'

Mumbai: Cricketer Yuvraj Singh feels that he was a “scapegoat” when rumours of him having an affair with actor Preity Zinta broke out in 2008.

The rumours gained ground when pictures of Preity hugging Yuvraj post almost all of the 20-20 cricket matches hit the headlines in 2009. Preity later came on record to clarify that the rumours were baseless.

It’s come to light that the episode did affect Yuvraj when he shot back rather sullenly to Preity calling him a “big flirt” on her own chat show, Up Close & Personal with PZ.

The transcripts of the chat show show Preity saying: “But you are a big flirt and that’s why you get linked up with everyone!” Yuvraj answered back, “You were dating someone at that time and I was made the scapegoat in the whole thing. All this only because I was single. You were also linked to Bret Lee earlier, weren’t you?”

Interestingly, Yuvraj also indicates that he is not willing to marry just about anybody as he has seen his parents go through a divorce.

“I want someone who has an open mind to understand the background I come from. I don’t want anyone to marry me for the fact that I play for India or due to my popularity. She needs to be understanding given the fact that I would be traveling most of the time due to my game. So someone who comes from a similar background would be ideal. Also the fact that I have seen my parents go through a divorce made me learn that I shouldn’t marry too early in life and only settle with someone when I feel it’s the absolute right time,” says Yuvraj.

The cricketer has been linked to Bollywood actors like Deepika Padukone, Kim Sharma, Amisha Patel, Twinkle Bajpai, Anchal Kumar and Raima Sen in the past.

Afridi takes a U-turn, says didn’t question Sachin’s greatness

New Delhi: Just a day after claiming that he saw Sachin Tendulkar's legs trembling while facing Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's former captain Shahid Afridi has now stated that he did not intend to question the Indian batting icon's greatness and was only talking about one incident.

"I am not denying what I have said. I have seen that Tendulkar was not at all comfortable against Shoaib in Kolkata Test in 1999. It was Shoaib's first tour of India and he bowled out Sachin without giving him a chance to open his account. He also claimed (Rahul) Dravid's wicket in both the innings," Afridi said from Karachi.

"Shoaib was in full form on that tour and had tremendous speed. He terrorised almost all the batsmen in the world at that time. I have seen Sachin trembling as I was fielding at square leg. I am still saying that.

"But this was only one incident. He never spared Shoaib after that. We all have seen what happened in 2003 World Cup," he added.

Afridi went on to state that the Indian batsman does not need his certificate.

"Sachin is one of the best batsmen and the whole world knows this. He does not need mine or anybody else's certificate. His records speak for him," Afridi said.

The controversy-prone former captain on Saturday backed his Akhtar's claim that Tendulkar was uncomfortable against his pace, saying that he had once witnessed the Indian batsman "trembling" while facing the pacer.

Afridi, who retired after revolting against his own board and has a history of making controversial remarks, said Tendulkar was uneasy against Akhtar, a claim which the pacer made in his recently-launched autobiography 'Controversially Yours'.

Afridi said his remarks should not be construed as demeaning to Tendulkar.

"I am not raising any question on Sachin's greatness. Everyone knows that how many sixes Sachin has smashed on Shoaib's bowling after that. But sometimes it happens. I got out on a duck against a weak opponent like Zimbabwe in Peshawar when I was at the peak of my career," he said.

"Any batsman can go through this on a good wicket and opposite a good bowler. That was Shoaib's day and Sachin was nervous that day. Media should not read much into it as it can happen to Don Bradman as well," added the all-rounder.

Afridi huge fan of Sachin 

Afridi said he is a huge fan of Tendulkar both on and off the field.

"I am a huge fan of Sachin. He is not only a great cricketer but a humble human being as well. I have only one photograph on the wall of my drawing room and that is of Sachin. It has Sachin's autograph on it, do I need to say more," said Afridi.

When asked if he will talk to Tendulkar to clarify his position on this issue, he said that there is no need for it.

"The whole matter is blown out of proportion by Indian media. Sachin is a great cricketer and he will understand what I am saying. I have not said anything wrong," he said.

"Media should play a positive role to reduce tension between the two neighbours. When we went to play the World Cup in India earlier this year, we saw all the negative reporting against Pakistani team. Indians love and respect us but not their media," he said.

On the possibility of his comeback to international cricket, he said that he wants to play for another two-three years.

"Inshah Allah, I will be back in national team. I think I can play for 2-3 years. I am not going to beg for it but I know that I will represent Pakistan again," said Afridi.

Lata surprised by Shoaib's remarks on Sachin

Mumbai: Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar is surprised at the comments of Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar on ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

In his just-released book "Controversially Yours", Akhtar has claimed that batting maestro Tendulkar was afraid of facing his deliveries and that he and Rahul Dravid lack the "art of finishing the game".

"Did he really say that Sachin was scared to face his bowling? Look, no one can take away from Sachin what he has achieved. Anyone who speaks ill of someone as great as Sachin is making more a comment on himself than on anyone else," said Lata, who turned 82 Wednesday.

Sachin may be your God, not mine, says an unapologetic Shoaib Akhtar

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, refusing to apologize for his controversial remarks on Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, said on Wednesday, "Why should I apologize for speaking the truth?" 

Akhtar seemed to be unashamed of the controversial remark in his book --"Controversially Yours” released in New Delhi on Saturday— on cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Despite a mass disapproval of people, in his book, Akhtar claimed that they do not have the ability to finish matches and to be match winners.

A defiant Akhtar said, "He may be your God but he’s not mine,” Akhtar said of Sachin Tendulkar.”

He also added saying, "If your God gets hit on the head there’s nothing to feel bad about. It’s a game of cricket and things happen,”.

"Every player has a bad day and bad times. If he was scared or didn’t perform in one series and I said it — why do you have such a fragile ego?"

Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi 'a cheater'?

Akhtar is also said to have called Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi “a cheater”. King Khan termed Akhtar’s comment as a publicity stunt. “I have heard that he has said something about me. I think whatever he has said is a ploy to sell his book. We should not be falling into the trap,” said Shah Rukh during a recent media interaction.

Akhtar, who has admitted to the charges of ball tampering previously, is controversy’s favourite child. In 2003 he and then captain Waqar Younis were involved in a verbal spat for which both were suspended. In the same year, during a series against Sri Lanka, Akhtar was banned for tampering with the ball — only the second player in the history of cricket. In 2006, Akhtar and teammate Mohammed Asif tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance called nandrolone.

Tiger of Indian cricket Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi passes away

New Delhi: India's cricket legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, known for his swashbuckling style on and off the cricket field, died Thursday after battling a lung infection for about a month. He was 70.

The former Indian captain, who was admitted to the Sir Gangaram Hospital, is survived by his wife, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, and three children - daughters Soha and Saba and son Saif.

His son Saif, a popular actor, and his partner Kareena Kapoor were by his side when he breathed his last.

He played 46 Test matches for India between 1961 and 1975.

On Thursday morning, doctors had warned that Pataudi's condition was deteriorating and he was critical.

"His condition has deteriorated since Wednesday and he is unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximum treatment. He continues to remain in the ICU (intensive care unit)," Neeraj Jain, senior consultant and chairman of pulmonolgy (chest medicine) at Gangaram Hospital in central Delhi, had said.

Pataudi had been admitted to the hospital in August with acute lung infection.

"This disease... had been static since the last three months. It worsened very acutely over the last four weeks," Jain said.

"The possibility of lung transplant was discussed very early as soon as his condition worsened. But he was not a suitable candidate for it," he added.

A dashing cricketer, Pataudi hit the arclights when he married the young Sharmila Tagore in 1969.

The connection to Indian cinema endured through the decades when his son Saif also became a Bollywood actor and so did his daughter Soha.

In his later years, Pataudi was a familiar figure in Delhi circles.

Tiger Pataudi: From royal prince to India's youngest captain

New Delhi: Indian cricket suffered a big setback on Thursday as former skipper Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi passed away following severe lung infection. From a Nawab of royal entitlement to a dashing captain of Indian team, Pataudi’s journey of life has been a roller-coaster ride.

Born in 1941, Pataudi, was the ninth and the last Nawab of Bhopal when India abolished royal entitlements. He lost his father at a young age of 11.

Pataudi suffered another setback 10 years later, when he lost the vision of his right eye after a car crash in England. But a steely resolve saw him making his international debut a few month later against the formidable Ted Dexter's England in Delhi, in December, 1961.

Once asked by a journalist, how he played with one eye, Pataudi said: "In I fact see two balls. I hit the one on the inside."

Like his father, Pataudi couldn't get a century on debut but achieved his maiden ton, a classy 103, in his third Test against England to set-up a 128-run win in Chennai. He never looked in discomfort playing with one eye, and swotted the fast bowlers with ease. The innings earned him a berth for the Caribbean tour.

The presence of Polly Umrigar, Nari Contractor and Vijay Manjrekar made it difficult for Pataudi to find a place in the final eleven in the West Indies and he had to miss the first two Tests, in which India suffered humiliating defeats.

But a nasty injury to Contractor, who had to undergo a brain operation after being hit by a Charlie Griffith bouncer, changed Pataudi's fortunes. There was bickering in the team and none of the seniors were willing to take up the responsibility of leading the side.

They found a leader in Pataudi, who on March 23, 1962, at the age of 21 years and 79 days, became the youngest cricketer to captain any country in a Test match.

The next 13 years were known as the Pataudi era during which he went on to re-write India's cricketing history by captaining the side to its first ever overseas series win, when they defeated New Zealand 3-1 in 1967-68, at a time when a draw was considered as a win.

Under him, India played some good cricket and got the confidence of beating big teams overseas. The spin quartet of Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, S. Venkatraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna also flourished under his captaincy.

For Pataudi, limited eyesight was never a handicap, but flighted spin and tear-away pace occasionally troubled him. But the good looking Pataudi always made cricket look good. Pataudi was also a great fielder and set benchmarks for his fellow players.

Pataudi's highest, 203 not out, was against against one of the finest fast bowling attacks of Colin Cowdrey's England at the Ferozeshah Kotla here in his 10th Test match in 1964. The same year he was conferred the Arjuna Award. He emulated his father in 1968 when he was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year, his father having received the honour in 1932.

Pataudi also emulated his father in 1968 when he got a hundred in his first Test against Australia. He was compared to Robert Loius Stevenson's fictional character Long John Silver after he braved a hamstring injury to make gritty 75 and 85 at Melbourne in 1967-68.

Pataudi retired from international cricket in 1975 after playing 46 Test matches and scored 2,793 runs at an average of 34.91. He got his six hundreds in his first 22 Tests but couldn't add one in the next 24. He led the country in 40 of his 46 Tests and guided the team to nine wins and was easily the greatest captain ever.

During his stint as captain, Pataudi married actress Sharmila Tagore in 1969.

After quitting the game in 1975, Pataudi made headlines in 2005 after he was arrested for poaching an endangered Blackbuck.

Pataudi is survived by Sharmila Ragore, son Saif Ali Khan and daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan.

Bobby Darling dated cricketer Munaf Patel?

Being recently caught in a compromising position in a gay party, the self-proclaimed celeb, Bobby Darling is again making it to the headlines. Where her gender has always kept her in the limelight, she lashed out at the recent report of attending a gay party. She also clarified that it was a normal party and that she is a girl who romances straight men, and her last fling was cricketer Munaf Patel.

According to a daily, Bobby said, “I am not gay. I am a girl and have always considered myself to be one. In fact, all my relationships have been with men. My last relationship was with cricketer Munaf Patel. The organiser of this party is a friend of mine. He is married and has a wife and two kids. I will not mention his name because he has not come out with his sexuality yet.”

Rumour mills are abuzz with talks that suggest that the two met at a party and even indulged in a one night stand. With all this, we still want to hear what Munaf has to say about all this.

Former cricketer Azharuddin's son, Ayazuddin, passes away

Hyderabad: After being on ventilator and life support for the last five days,  son of former cricketer and Moradabad MP Mohammad Azharuddin, Ayazuddin has died in Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad.

Ayazuddin was grievously injured in a road mishap.

The nineteen-year-old Ayazuddin had sustained critical injuries after a sports bike, which he and his cousin Ajmal-ur-Rahman (16) were riding, skidded off the road at Puppalguda on the Outer Ring Road here last Sunday. Ajmal had died the same day.

Ayazuddin was being continuously monitored by a multi-speciality team round-the-clock. His vital parameters were being maintained with the help of a life support system.