SINGAPORE (Reuters) – ICC cricketer of the year Kumar Sangakkara has backed the Indian cricket board to resolve the crisis surrounding the Deccan Chargers after the terminated Twenty20 franchise found new owners on Friday.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) last month terminated the franchise for various defaults including failure to pay players on time, but the owners refused to accept the decision and issued a legal challenge, which the BCCI threw out.

SINGAPORE, Oct 14 (Reuters) – ICC cricketer of the year Kumar Sangakkara has backed the Indian cricket board to resolve the crisis surrounding the Deccan Chargers after the terminated Twenty20 franchise found new owners on Friday.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) last month terminated the franchise for various defaults including failure to pay players on time, but the owners refused to accept the decision and issued a legal challenge, which the BCCI threw out.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Anyone involved in spot-fixing should be banned for life, former Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan told Reuters on Saturday, days after six umpires were provisionally suspended for allegedly agreeing to fix matches.

India TV showed footage on Monday of what the news channel said was officials from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka negotiating deals with under-cover reporters to affect the outcome of matches. (ICC LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION. READ here)

SINGAPORE, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Anyone involved in spot-fixing should be banned for life, former Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan told Reuters on Saturday, days after six umpires were provisionally suspended for allegedly agreeing to fix matches.

Hindi-language India TV showed footage on Monday of what the news channel said was officials from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka negotiating deals with under-cover reporters to affect the outcome of matches.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Fascinated by the notion of turning the world’s most gifted long distance runners into kings of the saddle, Nicolas Leong packed up his life in Singapore and moved to Kenya’s Rift Valley.

It mattered little to him that he knew nothing about the world of professional cycling, and barely more about the East African nation he was moving to.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Japan’s tennis number one Kei Nishikori will play in the Shanghai Masters next month despite his country’s political row with China that prevented friend Kasumi Ishikawa from playing in a table tennis event this week.

Relations between the two countries have reached their lowest in decades after a row over disputed islands that has triggered anti-Japan protests in China but world number 17 Nishikori told Reuters he had no qualms about heading there.

SINGAPORE, Sept 20 (Reuters) – Japan’s tennis number one Kei Nishikori will play in the Shanghai Masters next month despite his country’s political row with China that prevented friend Kasumi Ishikawa from playing in a table tennis event this week.

Relations between the two countries have reached their lowest in decades after a row over disputed islands that has triggered anti-Japan protests in China but world number 17 Nishikori told Reuters he had no qualms about heading there.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Formula One title chaser Kimi Raikkonen says he is happy at Lotus – for now – even as speculation swirls around possible vacancies at the 2007 world champion’s previous teams Ferrari and McLaren.

The taciturn 32-year-old’s consistent displays in his comeback season after two years in rallying have lifted him to third in the standings with seven races remaining.

SINGAPORE, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Formula One title chaser Kimi Raikkonen says he is happy at Lotus – for now – even as speculation swirls around possible vacancies at the 2007 world champion’s previous teams Ferrari and McLaren.

The taciturn 32-year-old’s consistent displays in his comeback season after two years in rallying have lifted him to third in the standings with seven races remaining.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Australia aim to avoid more Asian away day woes when they travel to Amman to take on Jordan in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, looking for a win that would kickstart their bid to reach a third consecutive finals.

The Socceroos stuttered to an opening draw in the sweltering heat of Oman before improving to claim another point last time out against Japan, who have moved into pole position in the race to become the first Asian team to qualify.