Global Sport

Kafelnikov pulls outMELBOURNE: Russian tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov will miss the upcoming Australian Open for the second year in a row af...

Kafelnikov pulls out

MELBOURNE: Russian tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov will miss the upcoming Australian Open for the second year in a row after withdrawing because of a knee injury. The world No 5 gave a hint of the problem when he pulled out as top seed at this week8217;s Qatar ATP tour event.

He injured his knee while practicing for the Open, the first major tournament of 1998. Kafelnikov also suffered slight facial burns when firework exploded near him during a new year8217;s celebration with friends in Frankfurt, tennis officials said.

B8217;desh team

DHAKA: Bangladesh named their 14-member squad for the first-ever Independence Day Cup Tournament starting in Dhaka at the weekend.

Team: Akram Khan captain, Aminul Islam vice-captain, Javed Omar Belim, Shahriar Hossain, Sanwar Hossain, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, Khadela Masud Pilot, Mohammad Rafique, Hasanuzzaman, Hasibul Hossain, Saifuddin Ahmed, Habibul Bashar Sumon, Zakir Hossain and Shariful Haq Plabon.

McGrath to miss

SYDNEY: Australia8217;s key fast bowler Glenn McGrath will miss the next four one-day cricket matches because of a feared abdominal muscle tear and may not recover in time for the third cricket Test against South Africa.

US claim gold

PERTH: Schoolgirl Erica Rose powered the United States to two gold medals on the opening day of the World Swimming Championships today. Rose, 15, was an easy victor in the women8217;s 5-km open water swimming event on a benign Indian Ocean course.

Gag off referees

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SINGAPORE: Referees will be allowed to answer back at critics of their decisions in this year8217;s World Cup, a top official said. Farouk Bouzo, chairman of the international governing body8217;s referees committee, said: quot;There is a lot more pressure on referees in most countries. The time has come for them to be allowed to explain their actions.quot;