LONDON: Jose Mourinho said he was returning to Chelsea with the passion of a supporter after being appointed manager of the Premier League heavyweights for the second time on Monday.

The 50-year-old Portuguese, who led the club to unprecedented success between 2004 and 2007, succeeds interim coach Rafael Benitez and has signed a four-year contract.

His Stamford Bridge comeback was one of the worst-kept secrets in European football, with weeks of media speculation culminating in his admission on Spanish television late on Sunday that he had agreed to move back to west London.

In an interview with Chelsea TV, the club's in-house television channel, Mourinho said his time at the club had left a deep impression that endured throughout his subsequent tenures at Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

“It is exactly the same message, but now I can say I am one of you (supporters) and that makes a little bit of a difference,” he said.

“I never hide that in my career in football I had two great passions -- Inter and Chelsea, and Chelsea is more important for me.

“It was very hard to play against Chelsea. I did it twice, which was not so bad. Now I promise exactly the same things I promised in 2004, but with the difference we have (now), which is I am one of you.”

Announcing the news of Mourinho's reappointment, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay heralded his “success, drive and ambition”, and said he was the “outstanding candidate”.

Mourinho arrives from Madrid, where an initially fruitful three-year spell ended in acrimony following an unsuccessful league title defence, a semi-final exit in the Champions League, and the alienation of senior players including goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Prior to joining Madrid, he enjoyed a stunning two-season stint at Inter that culminated in an unprecedented sweep of Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League trophies in 2010.

He is one of only four coaches to have won the European Cup with two different clubs, having first tasted glory in the competition with Porto in 2004.

His subsequent spell as Chelsea manager saw the club emerge as the dominant force in English football.

Backed by the investment of billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich, Mourinho won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, as well as two League Cups and the 2007 FA Cup.

He left in September 2007 after his relationship with Abramovich broke down, but the pair reconciled and he returns with the objective of turning Chelsea into title challengers once again.

“He's a great manager,” said midfielder Frank Lampard, a survivor of Mourinho's first spell at Stamford Bridge.

“He took my game on a million miles, and my personality in terms of football on a million miles. A lot of the reasons I moved on in the game are because of him."

Popularly referred to as 'the Special One', in reference to a brash remark from his very first Chelsea press conference, Mourinho is an outspoken figure who has became renowned for his clashes with officials and opposition coaches.

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino said Mourinho's return would help fill the void created by the shock retirement of long-serving Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

“We've lost one great manager in Fergie, but we've got another one coming back into the Premiership,” he told Sky Sports News.

Ron Harris, Chelsea's record appearance-maker, said: “I feel the supporters will be more than happy, so it's a pat on the back for Roman Abramovich for bringing him back to Chelsea Football Club.”

Mourinho succeeds Benitez, who led Chelsea to Europa League glory and a top-four finish this season after replacing sacked Champions League-winning coach Roberto Di Matteo last November. Benitez has already agreed to join Napoli next season.

Mourinho has brought coaches Rui Faria, Silvino Louro and Jose Morais with him from Madrid and will be officially presented to the media next Monday.

After a pre-season tour of Asia in July, Mourinho's first chance of major silverware will arrive when Chelsea tackle Bayern Munich, coached by his former Barcelona sparring partner Pep Guardiola, in the European Super Cup final in Prague on August 30.

LONDON: Shane Warne believes “heroic” and “courageous” Pakistani-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed can become an unlikely Ashes hero for Australia in England later this year.

Former refugee Ahmed, 31, will be eligible if minor changes to Australia's citizenship legislation pass through parliament in the next few weeks, having fled his native Pakistan in 2010.

Australia currently have only one spinner in their 16-man squad in Nathan Lyon but there are many who believe Ahmed could be of more use to Michael Clarke's men when they try to regain the Ashes from England in a series starting in July.

“I think for him the whole story of his is a very courageous one,” Australia great Warne told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday.

“He's come to Australia for a better life. What he has done is an interesting story,” added legendary leg-spinner Warne, who took 708 Test wickets.

“I wish him all the best and I really hope all the documentation goes through because I think he could be a real surprise element for Australia.

“He's got that surprise element and he doesn't get flustered about anything. I think he could be very good for Australia.

Ahmed has only played three first-class matches for Victoria, Warne's home state, since arriving in Australia but has taken 16 wickets in that time.

“He's got a mature head on his shoulders,” said an admiring Warne.

“He's been through hell basically; he's been through a tough time,” he said.

“He has been a net bowler for the Victorian team and just bowled and bowled in the nets. He's an excellent bowler.

“On debut he got five-for. He can really bowl. His story is courageous and heroic actually.”

And Warne believes Ahmed could be the missing piece of the jigsaw when it comes to Australia's chances of regaining the Ashes urn.

“The quick bowling will be good but the spin is lacking. Any time you can get a good leg-spinner in it's good,” said Warne, speaking on the 20th anniversary of his 'ball of the century' with which he dismissed Mike Gatting in an Ashes Test at Manchester's Old Trafford and so made his reputation as an international bowler.

“I think if anyone under-estimates Australia in the Ashes they do at their own peril because I think they have the side there that could surprise England.”

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Its not the time of triumph that matters rather its the time of trial that matters.

BARCELONA: Brilliant Brazil striker Neymar flew into Barcelona and signed a five-year contract amid great fanfare on Monday before announcing his priority was to help his idol Lionel Messi remain the world's best player.

The 21-year-old, who is just under five years younger than Messi, will line up with the Argentine in a fearsome Barca attack next season after the Spanish champions beat arch-rivals Real Madrid in the race to lure him from Santos.

After passing medical tests and penning a deal that ties him to Barca until June 2018, Neymar told the almost 60,000 fans who had turned up to welcome him at the Nou Camp stadium that playing for the club was a dream come true.

“Barca is more than a club and a great team and I want to contribute to Messi staying the best for many years,” he said.

At a later news conference, he told reporters jamming the press room he had struggled to fight back the tears when he had walked out on to the pitch.

“It is a great day for me and my family,” he said.

“Having the chance to play with so many important players whom I have admired since I was a child is something I have to thank god for.

“I have never been concerned about winning the Ballon d'Or or being the best player in the world.

“The best player is already here and that's Messi. And now I can see him from close up and help him.”

Neymar was accompanied by Barca vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and Bartomeu revealed that Barca had paid 57 million euros ($74 million) to sign Neymar.

His contract included a buyout clause worth 190 million euros, he added.

Quizzed about the complex ownership structure of rights to the player, Bartomeu said there was a confidentiality agreement in place that prevented him revealing how much Barca paid to each of the four parties who held a stake to secure the rights.

Local media reported the four were Neymar's previous club Santos, investment firms DIS and Terceira Estrela Investimentos and an unidentified sports consultant.

Barca had not wanted to pay more than 40 million euros in total but the price had been forced up by the interest of Real and other clubs, Bartomeu said.

“He is one of the world's best talents of his generation and he could be a reference point,” Zubizarreta told reporters.

“We will enjoy some magical nights with him and his team mates,” added the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper.

“They will be delighted to share a dressing room with Neymar.”

Barca are hoping the addition of the Brazilian will help them maintain their edge over Real in La Liga next season and propel them to a third European crown in six years.

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Its not the time of triumph that matters rather its the time of trial that matters.

West Indies hold nerve to beat Pakistan

LONDON: West Indies just did enough to see off Pakistan as they opened their Champions Trophy campaign with a thrilling two-wicket Group B win at The Oval on Friday.

When man-of-the-match Kemar Roach took the first three wickets to fall, Pakistan were 15 for three.

In the end they were all out for 170 with only captain Misbah-ul-Haq, whose 96 not out was his highest score in 118 one-day internationals, and Nasir Jamshed (50) making it to double figures.

But the West Indies suffered a collapse of their own before tailender Roach hit the winning boundary with more than nine overs remaining.

On the ground where they won the 2004 Champions Trophy, West Indies slumped to 15 for two after giant left-arm quick Mohammad Irfan removed Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo.

Chris Gayle typically drove Irfan, world cricket's tallest player, for six, only to be bowled for 39 trying to slog off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.

The match was in the balance at 81 for four after Ramnaresh Sarwan was caught behind off a rising delivery from left-arm quick Wahab Riaz.

Kieron Pollard, known as a big-hitter, took 18 balls to get off the mark as the West Indies crawled towards victory in front of a crowd of more than 20,000.

But when Pollard was caught behind off Riaz for a 58-ball 30, his side were still 34 runs short of victory.

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo, who took 36 balls without a boundary in labouring to 19, was unable to see his side to victory, falling lbw to Ajmal.

Sunil Narine soothed West Indies' nerves with two fours.

But when he was caught behind off Irfan, West Indies were still six runs adrift before Roach slammed the clinching boundary off Junaid Khan.

Earlier, after Roach's initial burst, off-spinner Narine took three wickets for three runs in 10 balls.

Misbah survived two close calls off successive balls on nought that, had they gone against him, would have left Pakistan 19 for four.

But the 39-year-old went on to surpass his previous ODI best of 93 not out against New Zealand at Napier in 2011.

Dwayne Bravo won the toss and six balls later took a brilliant diving second slip catch to dismiss Imran Farhat off Roach.

Hafeez was clean bowled middle stump by Roach and when Asad Shafiq fell for nought, after an uppercut went straight to third man, the paceman had taken three for five in 14 balls.

Misbah, on nought, survived a West Indies reviewed appeal for lbw from Roach.

Next ball Roach thought he had Misbah caught behind with umpire Steve Davis giving him out.

But square leg umpire Nigel Llong told Misbah to wait while the catch was checked on replay and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin was ruled not to have had full control of the ball before fumbling it.

Jamshed, soon after reaching fifty, holed out off Narin, who then had Shoaib Malik (nought) chipping to Bravo at short mid-wicket and Akmal caught behind by Ramdin.

Misbah, on 67 when last man Irfan came in, drove Rampaul for a straight six and went into the nineties with a similar shot off Narine.

But he was denied a maiden century when Irfan mistimed a slower ball from Rampaul to Bravo at short mid-on. Misbah faced 127 balls including three sixes and five fours.

Pakistan and West Indies are in the same group as India and South Africa, with only the top two sides going through to the semi-finals.

India beat the Proteas by 26 runs in the tournament opener in Cardiff on Thursday.

Pakistan next play South Africa at Edgbaston on June 10 with the West Indies facing India at The Oval on June 11.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-10...s-by-2-wickets

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Champions Trophy: Pakistan 'totally lost' after South Africa defeat

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq admitted his side's batsmen were “totally lost” after mis-firing again on the way to a 67-run defeat by South Africa.

Having lost their Champions Trophy opener to West Indies on the back of 170 all out, they were dismissed for 167 by the Proteas and are almost certainly facing an early exit from Group B.

Having bowled impressively to keep their opponents to 234 for 9, they seemingly mis-judged their chase completely, letting the run-rate spiral out of control before losing a flurry of wickets attempting to rectify the situation.

Misbah top-scored with 55, but even he was guilty of too much conservatism, only upping the scoring rate when it appeared to be too late. But he pulled no punches in a candid post-match assessment.

"The positive was the bowling, really we bowled very well, and the fielding is really improving, but as a batting unit you can say it's totally lost," Misbah said.

"It's the application of the batsmen. They are not applying themselves. It has been a really disappointing two games because the team could not score more than 170 on what looks like an Asian pitch. It is not working. The responsibility is with the players."

Pakistan enjoyed the raucous support of a one-sided 24,000 crowd at Edgbaston, but as they surrendered late in the day there was a smattering of boos to be heard. But Misbah was phlegmatic in the face of such criticism.

"Supporters are like that. This is how things are," he said. “When you perform well everybody appreciates you; when you do this sort of performance they have the right [to boo]."

Hashim Amla showed the kind of application Misbah craved in his side, top-scoring for South Africa with 81 and taking home the man-of-the-match award as a result.

He conceded that the Proteas came into the game under a cloud having been lost their opener against West Indies and suffered injuries to key men Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but was heartened by the response.

"After that first defeat, in this kind of competition you are pretty much under pressure to win the next two," Amla said. "Fortunately we managed to get on the board today.

"That's the way the game goes, it's a fickle game. We didn't have Dale and Morne and any bowling attack without those guys would miss them. We know Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith are not here too but it's water under the bridge for us. We have new guys in the team and a new energy. A victory like this boosts everybody."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/c...t-8653000.html

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Champions Trophy: A humiliating end to a woeful campaign

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s woeful campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy came to an end yesterday with a humiliating eight-wicket defeat against India summing up the team’s pathetic run in the event.
The highly-anticipated encounter in front of 22,000 boisterous flag-waving supporters from both sides who packed the Edgbaston stands, was interrupted several times by bad weather over Birmingham.
In a match that was initially reduced to 40-overs-a-side, Pakistan were shot out for 165 in 39.4 overs after India captain MS Dhoni elected to field in overcast conditions.
India were set a Duckworth-Lewis target of 168 in 40 overs, which was later revised to 157 off 36 overs, before another rain delay reduced it to 102 in 22.
India, who were 63 for one in 11.3 at that stage, scored the remaining runs with 17 balls to spare to end their Group B engagements with an all-win record.
Shikhar Dhawan, century-maker against both the West Indies and South Africa, hit a fluent 48 after sharing an opening stand of 58 with Rohit Sharma.
After both openers were dismissed, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik saw India home in a match that held only academic interest for the tournament.
Pakistan, who had already been knocked out of the semi-final race after losing their previous two games against the West Indies and South Africa, will return home with three successive defeats.
Dhoni’s men await the second-placed team from Group A – to be determined after the last round of league matches today and tomorrow – in the semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday.
South Africa, runners-up to India in Group B, will play the champion side from Group A in the first semi-final at Oval, London, on Wednesday.
Pakistan batsmen fail again
Earlier, India put on a dazzling display in the field as Pakistan were shot out for less than 200 and failed to last their allotted quota of overs for the third successive time in the tournament. Four bowlers claimed two wickets each and the last two batsmen were run out.
Asad Shafiq top-scored with 41 and Umar Amin made 27 not out, but there was no respite for Pakistan’s batting woes.
Opener Nasir Jamshed, whose previous five innings against India included three centuries and a half-century, managed only two when he was snapped up in the slips off Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
Pakistan plodded to seven for one in the first five overs, before a boundary by Mohammad Hafeez off Umesh Yadav, produced a flurry of fours from either end.
Pakistan moved to 50 for one in 12 overs when a 15-minute interruption due to light rain caused them further trouble.
Hafeez, who hit five boundaries in his 27, fell on the first ball after resumption, edging Kumar to a diving Dhoni behind the stumps.
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq helped Shafiq put on 54 runs for the fourth wicket on either side of a second rain stoppage, before he was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 22.
Shafiq was dismissed with the help of a television review after umpire Richard Kettleborough initially rejected a catch down the leg-side by Dhoni off Ishant Sharma.
Misbah said the batting performance was again a disappointment. “It was a disappointing performance again with the bat,” said Misbah. “The weather also played a role and it was difficult to get in and out so many times. I think the bowling did okay for us and the way they are establishing themselves is really a plus for Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2013.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Najam Sethi appointed interim PCB chairman

Senior analyst and former caretaker chief minister of Punjab Najam Sethi was appointed as the interim chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday, reported Express News.
Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court had ordered the government to appoint an interim head of the PCB after Zaka Ashraf was suspended from the post over a legal challenge to his election.
Ashraf was ordered to halt work last month amid a row over his election, which was criticised in some quarters as unfairly influenced by President Asif Ali Zardari, the board’s patron.
Ashraf, 60, became the first-ever elected chairman of the PCB last month under a new constitution demanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reduce political interference.
But for the vote Zardari nominated Ashraf – whom he had appointed as chairman in 2011 under the old system deemed unacceptable by the ICC – and only one other candidate, former Lahore Stock Exchange chairman Aftab Ahmad.
Ashraf’s nomination was widely criticised by former players and officials because it was seen as politically motivated, with the cricket head coming from the same party as the president, and former Pakistan Army cricket coach Ahmed Nadeem Sadal challenged it in the courts.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/567262/n...-pcb-chairman/

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

India defeat England to lift Champions Trophy

BIRMINGHAM: India held their nerve to beat England by five runs in a tense finish to a rain-disrupted Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston on Sunday. In a match reduced to 20 overs a side, a fifth-wicket partnership of 64 between Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara put England in sight of a victory target of 130 and their first major 50-over trophy. But the pair fell to successive deliveries by Ishant Sharma and England’s lower order crumbled as the hosts finished on 124 for eight.

Miserly bowling by Bopara and James Tredwell helped England restrict India to 129 for seven after the start of play had been delayed by nearly six hours due to persistent rain. Virat Kohli top-scored with 43 and Shikhar Dhawan, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, made a breezy 31 but India were never able to dominate a disciplined England attack. Rohit Sharma was bowled by Stuart Broad for nine and Dhawan mis-timed a drive in Bopara’s first over and was caught by Tredwell at mid-off.

Dinesh Karthik skied a catch off Tredwell and Bopara struck twice in his third over, getting Suresh Raina caught by Alastair Cook at mid-on and dangerman MS Dhoni well taken by Tredwell on the third man boundary. Bopara completed excellent figures of three for 20 but Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja took 30 runs off the next three overs and Kohli, badly dropped by Jonathan Trott, launched Broad for a massive six over square leg. Kohli skied James Anderson to long off but Jadeja finished unbeaten on 33 after clouting Tim Bresnan for another six in the final over of the innings.

England lost wickets steadily at the start of their reply. Cook fell for two, edging a catch to first slip off Umesh Yadav, Trott made a fluent 20 off 17 balls before being stumped by Dhoni off Ravichandran Ashwin and Joe Root pulled the same bowler straight to long leg. Ian Bell’s laborious innings of 13 ended when he was controversially given out by the third umpire, stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja.

England were in deep trouble at 46 for four, bamboozled by the prodigious turn of Ashwin, Jadeja and Raina. Morgan and Bopara brought up their 50 partnership off 47 balls and at 110 for four with three overs left the hosts were scenting victory. But Morgan, on 33, spooned Sharma to mid-wicket and Bopara pulled his next ball straight to backward square leg. Jos Buttler was bowled by Jadeja’s first ball and Bresnan was run out in a mix-up with Broad. England needed 15 for victory from the final over and six off the last ball. Tredwell missed with a wild heave at Ashwin and the Indian players were left to celebrate a famous victory. reuters

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...4-6-2013_pg2_1

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

Pakistan crushed West Indies by 126 runs in the first one-day international at Providence Stadium on Sunday.
West Indies, chasing 225 to win, were bowled out for 98 with nine overs remaining. The second match of the five-game series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday.
Returning to the team after being omitted from the Champions Trophy in England in June, the mercurial Afridi smashed a top score of 76 off 55 deliveries while Misbah redefined the role of the cautious captain, occupying 121 balls for his watchful innings of 42.
The pair put on 120 for the sixth wicket, a new record in one-day internationals for the ground and the best for Pakistan against the West Indies.

http://e.thenews.com.pk/7-15-2013/page4.asp#;

Bravo brothers, Narine help Windies level series against Pakistan

PROVIDENCE: Darren and Dwayne Bravo provided the foundation for success as West Indies beat Pakistan by 37 runs on Tuesday to win the second one-day international in Guyana and tie the five-match series.

Darren Bravo proved the mainstay of a much improved batting performance for the home team with a top score of 54 with elder sibling Dwayne contributing a vital 43 not out to take West Indies to 232 for eight wickets from the opening 50 overs.

Pakistan were then tied down by an efficient bowling performance, ending well short of the target at the Providence Stadium.

Sunil Narine, who had not taken a wicket in West Indies' three previous one-day internationals, returned figures of 4-26 as Pakistan were bowled out for 195 in 47.5 overs.

Darren Bravo and wicketkeeper Johnson Charles put together a patient 79-run second wicket stand to steady the innings after talisman Chris Gayle has been caught behind in the first over, seeing off a threatened repeat of the 98 all out West Indies scored in the first ODI on Sunday.

Dwayne Bravo, captaining West Indies, partnered with the heavy hitting Kieron Pollard for a 70-run sixth wicket stand to pick up the scoring rate as Pakistan threatened to restrict the West Indies.

The tally over 200 was always going to be difficult for Pakistan to chase down as the early bounce on the wicket disappeared and it got markedly slower as the day wore on.

Pakistan, who did not hit a scoring shot off their first five overs, needed one of their big hitters to come off but saw wickets tumble regularly without any of their batsman able to settle at the crease.

Opener Nasir Jamshed offered four chances in his innings before departing on 54 and a 50 for Umar Akmal came too late to provoke a dramatic finish.

Shahid Afridi, the swashbuckling hero of Sunday's win, made just five runs and with his wicket the fate of the tourists was sealed.

The remaining three ODIs will be played at Gros Islet in St Lucia on Friday, Sunday and Wednesday next week.

Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal†, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Asad Ali, Mohammad Irfan

West Indies: CH Gayle, J Charles†, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, LMP Simmons, DJ Bravo*, KA Pollard, DJG Sammy, KAJ Roach, SP Narine, JO Holder
http://dawn.com/news/1029463/bravo-b...ainst-pakistan

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)