In Brief

Yasin Merchant met with a 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Thailand’s Praprut, a clear favourite for the trophy.

Rupesh Shah decimated National champion Devendra Joshi. Praprut, Sakchai, Geet Sethi, Alok Kumar, Siddharth Rao, Rishab Thukral and Rafat Habib have entered into the last eight.

No World Cup matches in N Korea

SEOUL: A top official of the international football federation (Fifa) today ruled out communist North Korea hosting matches for the 2002 World Cup finals. Antonio Matarrese, vice-president of Fifa, told reporters the 2002 finals were to be co-hosted by South Korea and Japan as scheduled, with no help from the hermit North.

South Korea has been trying to get North Korea to respond to a proposal that the North host some 2002 matches. But North Korea has not yet given anyreply.

Akram Khan recalled to Bangla team

DHAKA: Former captain of Bangladesh, Akram Khan, has been recalled to the national squad for the three One-day matches against the visiting West Indies A team, starting tomorrow.

Khan, who was stripped off captaincy and also excluded from the side for last months’ ICC Trophy in Kathmandu after a disappointing tour of England, Scotland and Ireland, was included in the 16-member squad announced by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Warne selected for first-class comeback

MELBOURNE: Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne will make his first-class comeback on Sunday after being selected to play for Victoria state in a One-day match. Warne has not played first-class cricket since undergoing shoulder surgery in May but is hoping to play at least part of the upcoming Ashes series with England.

Australian selector Allan Border said yesterday that the selectors were closely monitoring Warne’s fitness but did not want him to risk further injury by bringinghim back too early.

Britain to give up on 2006 World Cup

LONDON: Britain’s Labour government has given up hope of bringing the 2006 World Cup to England, barring an unexpected glitch in the bid put forward by rival South Africa, the Financial Times reported today. Prime Minister Tony Blair has withdrawn his active support for England’s efforts to host the competition, because Sepp Blatter, head of Fifa, has thrown his weight behind South Africa, the FT said.