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Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of 'cajoling and pressurising' Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to become involved in spot-fixing.
The England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary panel found the Pakistani guilty on two charges, one of inducing and encouraging Westfield not to perform on his merits during a Pro 40 match for Essex against Durham in 2009, and one of bringing the game into disrepute.
Westfield pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving a reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute.
The former Essex duo are expected to be sanctioned by the ECB later on Friday.
Guilty: Former Essex cricketers Danish Kaneria (left) and Mervyn Westfield (right)
Westfield was jailed for four months earlier this year after pleading guilty to spot-fixing at the Old Bailey in January.
A statement from the ECB read: 'The ECB disciplinary panel today announced that Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of two charges under the ECB's regulations following a contested hearing which commenced in London on Monday, June 18.
'Mervyn Westfield was also charged with one offence under the ECB's regulations to which he pleaded guilty.
'The panel will now consider the appropriate sanction against both players and a decision is expected to be announced later today.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London 2012: Equestrian official resigns over eventing access - The Guardian
A storm has erupted over the London 2012 Olympic equestrian events which has led to one of Britain's leading officials resigning from the committee overseeing the competition.
Hugh Thomas, the event director of Badminton, has branded as "disgraceful" London 2012's refusal to admit the public to the eventing horse inspections – traditionally a popular event. Thomas says he personally ensured at previous Games that the inspections were open to the public and has asked to be replaced on the committee that will monitor the eventing at London, and to have his accreditation cancelled.
The London organising committee (Locog) has accepted his resignation as a technical official and says a number of factors prevented the inspections being public.
Thomas, who was worked on previous Olympics as a course designer and senior official of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), sent an email to London 2012's equestrian manager Tim Hadaway protesting about the decision. The inspections for the eventing at London are due to take place on 27 July, a few hours before the opening ceremony.
Thomas says in his email: "I was horrified to hear from you … that Locog does not intend to admit any of the public to the eventing horse inspections. I truly think this is a disgraceful decision and it particularly upsets me since I, when course designer, technical delegate and then chairman of the FEI Eventing Committee, personally ensured at previous Games, despite the initial wishes of the organisers, that the great tradition within eventing that the inspections are open and transparent should be upheld.
"The public nature of the proceedings is the guarantee of integrity and for enthusiasts a fascinating and integral part of the competition. If this decision is irreversible, I do not wish to be even slightly involved as an official with an organisation that treats the public and indeed the traditions of our sport in this way, so please replace me as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee and cancel my accreditation."
London organisers say the timing of the inspections meant to have the public attend would over-stretch resources. A Locog spokeswoman said: "Locog regrets the decision of Hugh Thomas to resign as a technical official for the equestrian events in Greenwich Park but we have accepted his resignation. Operationally there were a number of factors which meant that we were not able to ticket the horse inspection event.
"The horse inspection happens on the day of London's Olympic opening ceremony and the final day of the torch relay so there is a lot of Olympic activity in the capital and a big demand on police resources and public transport. An operational decision was taken not to open this to the public for these reasons."
The spokeswoman added that hosting the equestrian events in an inner city venue presented "different challenges" but would bring huge benefits to the sport expose it to a "new urban audience".
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
London bus strike causes major disruption - The Independent
Anders Breivik: Violence is not a common symptom of mental illness
Today marks the last scheduled day in the trial of Anders Behring Breivik, who, on the 22nd July 201...
Source: www.independent.co.uk
London 2012 Olympics: extra tickets put on sale - Daily Telegraph
From 11am on Friday tickets will be available to buy for gymnastics, tennis, basketball, road cycling, volleyball, beach volleyball, taekwondo and archery from http://www.tickets.london2012.com/.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
London 2012: Formula One a possibility at the Olympic Stadium - The Guardian
A Formula One race could be staged in and around the Olympic Stadium after it was reported a bid for the future use of the venue included such plans for the showpiece arena of the London 2012 Games.
The Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has long harboured hopes of staging a race in London and he has confirmed the prospective bidders have run their ideas past him.
Intelligent Transport Solutions Ltd, based at Wanstead in east London, is among five bidders who have put forward plans for the future use of the stadium to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC).
"This is a firm that happened to be bidding for use of the stadium, not to own it," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph. "They came up with a scheme whereby Formula One would race around the stadium, inside it, outside it. They wanted to make sure I would be interested."
The LLDC has also received bids from the football clubs West Ham and Leyton Orient, as well as the University of East London, whose bid includes a cricket academy for Essex CCC, and the University College of Football Business, who are an affiliate of Bucks New University.
West Ham had originally been selected as tenants before a legal challenge from Tottenham led to the process being started a second time.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Essex fire crews announce strike dates - essexcountystandard.co.uk
Essex fire crews announce strike dates
11:47am Friday 22nd June 2012 in Countywide news
Fire crews in Essex have announced five days of strike action in a dispute over cuts.
Industrial action will take place on June 28, July 7, July 18, August 18 and October 18, according to the Fire Brigades Union.
The union said that Essex will have lost one in five frontline firefighters since 2008 if the current round of planned cuts go ahead.
It claims that response times to house fires are now taking longer and specialist rescue equipment is not as readily available.
A statement from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) said more than 100 Essex firefighters have declared their availability during times of severe staff shortages.
Assistant chief fire officer Dave Bill said: “Clearly the best result for all sides and for the Essex community is for no strike action to take place and for the union to accept the offer of mediation.
“We remain confident that the FBU will attend talks with ACAS on Monday.
“However, the service has a responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities and that is a responsibility we take seriously and one we are not prepared to leave to chance with the threat of strike action looming.”
Alan Chinn-Shaw, Essex FBU chair, said: “This is about cuts to frontline firefighters and changes imposed on firefighters.
“We’ve had enough and the cuts are now directly impacting on public and firefighter safety.
“The issues are about cuts and imposed and unjustified changes and these need to be addressed. The fire authority must either address the concerns or there will be strike action.”
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Source: www.essexcountystandard.co.uk
London financial stocks shrug off downgrades - Financial Times
Last updated: June 22, 2012 12:07 pm
Source: www.ft.com
Danish Kaneria guilty of corrupting Mervyn Westfield in spot-fixing - BBC News
Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of two charges of corruption by encouraging former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to spot-fix.
Paceman Westfield was sentenced to four months in prison in February.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Kaneria, 31, denied the England and Wales Cricket Board's claim that he was a recruiter of spot-fixers.
Who are Kaneria and Westfield?
Kaneria was only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan when he made his Test debut in 2000 and went on to become the country's most successful Test spin bowler. He played for Essex between 2004 and 2010.
Westfield made his first-class debut for Essex in 2005 against Derbyshire at Chelmsford but left the county in 2010. He has played seven-first class games.
But the ECB said his evidence was "plainly lies" and had "no reasonable doubt" he influenced Westfield.
The charges relate to a CB40 match between Essex and Durham at the Riverside in 2009, when Westfield received £6,000 in exchange for conceding 12 runs in his first over.
Westfield, who has since been released from prison, pleaded guilty to the charge of accepting money to underperform.
Punishments for both players are to be announced on Friday afternoon.
The ECB disciplinary panel concluded that Kaneria:
- acted as a recruiter of spot-fixers
- approached a number of what he saw as potential targets at Essex
- cajoled and pressurised Westfield into becoming involved, knowing he was young and vulnerable
- was present when Westfield received his payment for underperforming.
During Westfield's trial Judge Anthony Morris said the scam had been orchestrated by Kaneria, who spent six seasons at Essex between 2004 and 2010.
But Kaneria, who played 61 Tests and 18 one-day internationals between 2000 and 2010, was never charged by the police on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
Both players were charged by the ECB in April for "alleged breaches of the ECB's anti-corruption directives".
ECB chairman Giles Clark told BBC Radio 5 live: "If somebody is found guilty of this sort of thing in a match in England that is a very sad day for cricket.
"All of us involved in this game, be it here or in other parts of the word, need to have a long, hard look at the judgment and make sure we don't have this kind of thing happening again.
"In anything where this type of things goes on, where young men are abused and are foolish, we need to do something to stop it. I want to get something out to those who are abusing them as well - we'll get you too."
The guilty verdict against Kaneria comes the day after Pakistan captain and former team-mate Salman Butt was released from a UK jail, having served seven months of a 30-month sentence for spot-fixing.
Captain Butt, 27, was jailed with seamers Mohammad Asif, 29, and Mohammad Amir, 19, for conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls against England in the 2010 Lord's Test.
All three were also given five-year playing bans, which they are appealing against.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lauren's looking lovely as the TOWIE gang party - The Sun
The 25-year-old looked lovely as she headed to favourite club The Sugar Hut in Brentwood, Essex, last night for a Surf Party.
Lauren went for a sophisticated look for the evening out wearing a white fitted knee-length frock, which showed off her trim waist.
The salon owner has spent months attempting to slim down after dubbing snaps of herself on a holiday in Miami in March "horrific".
She has been on the Cambridge Diet and put herself through gruelling workouts at bootcamps in Spain.
Lauren was joined at last night's party by a host of her ITV2 reality show castmates.
Jessica Wright, 26, who released her first music video this week to new track Dance All Night, arrived looking every inch the budding pop star in a tiny blue mini-dress with a plunging neckline.
Newly-engaged Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone also joined in the fun, arriving hand in hand.
Lucy, 20, looked stunning in a pink lace and ostrich feather outfit, while Mario looked more like a waiter than a party-goer dressed all in black.
Chloe Sims, 30, pulled herself into a figure-hugging full-length black lace number, which showed off her every curve.
While her cousin Frankie Essex, 24, added a splash of colour to the night in a purple dress with black accessories.
Her brother Joey, 21, was also at the bash, dressed in a buttoned-up shirt, jeans and shades.
Lauren Pope, 28, squeezed herself into yet another pair of black leather trousers, which she matched with a cute white top.
While show newcomer Danni Park-Dempsey, 23, showed off her enviable assets in a strapless animal-print floor-length gown.
Bobby Cole Norris, who was spotted clutching pal Lauren G's hand, sported a blazer over his T-shirt and casual rolled up jeans.
Even Nanny Pat, 72, and Jess' mum Carol Wright, 51, attended the party. Carol looked glamorous in a floor-length black and silver gown, while Nanny Pat opted for a colourful orange frock.
TOWIE pals Tom Pearce, James "Arg" Argent, Charlie King and "Little Chris" Drake were also at the bash.
Tom P tweeted: "waiting for car to pick me up and take me to the surf party! #suitedandbooted."
Later Lauren G, Joey and Bobby carried on the party by heading to Anaya nightclub in central London.
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
London 2012 Olympics: playing table tennis against Team GB - Daily Telegraph
Since 2010, it has been building up momentum with annual events. Celebrities and political heavyweights, from Boris Johnson to John Prescott, have leant their support, and the Olympics will be the climax. More than 700 tables have been placed around the country; the first thing our Olympic guests will see on arrival at Heathrow will be groups of Englishmen pinging and ponging for all they’re worth. As the Mayor of London said at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when he discovered that London would host the 2012 Olympics: “Ping pong is coming home.”
The brains behind Ping! England is Colette Hiller, who also set up Sing London, which in 2009 installed “street pianos” throughout the city. She is convinced that table tennis has the power to bring a smile to the face of the nation. “These public tables are small interventions into everyday life,” she says. “They make us feel more human in this digitalised city.”
The project is refreshingly non-commercial. “We’re not selling anything, or pushing a message,” says Hiller. “People look so pleased and surprised that these tables are just there to make them happy.”
As it turned out, Parker was a defensive player, which is unusual in the world of professional table tennis. Instead of smashing my serve, she returned it with the most extraordinary amount of spin, and my subsequent shot ricocheted into the net. So did the one after that. And the one after that. This was a level of play that bordered on the numinous; she was a finely tuned machine, and I was the equivalent of an egg whisk. I hadn’t even scored a point. Time for more dirty tricks.
“Of course,” I said, “ping pong isn’t really a sport, is it?” Her face clouded over, and immediately I delivered a fast serve. That would be the only point I scored in the match.
I tried to be dignified in defeat. Then Paul Drinkhall, the men’s No 1, demonstrated some jaw-dropping trick shots. He hit the ball behind his back, through his legs, and from an unfeasible distance from the table, wowing the bystanders. Finally he gave me some very useful tips for improving my game (see below).
Paul and Joanna both left home at the age of 12 to live near the Nottingham Table Tennis Academy, where they went to school during the day, and learnt table tennis in the evenings and at weekends. That was where they met – they have been an item for the past six years – and their entire worlds are wrapped up with the sport. They don’t drink, rarely go out, and carefully control their diets.
“The beauty of table tennis is its accessibility,” says Paul. “You don’t need much money, or any expensive kit. Kids can bring the game back to its roots and knock a ball around on the dinner table. Old people can play, too, even from a chair. It’s a serious Olympic sport, but open to everyone at the same time. It’s a people’s game.”
Indeed, part of the Ping! England campaign involves “random acts of ping pong”. During summer, there will be “ping pong picnics”; “pint a point” sessions, where free drinks are offered if you can win a point against a professional; and glow-in-the-dark table tennis tables in nightclubs. There will also be a lecture in the Science Museum about the science of spin, a table tennis rap evening at the Camden Roundhouse (“rap to the rhythm of the bat”), and a film about an over-eighties table tennis team, called Ping Pong: Never Too Old For Gold.
Details can be found at pingengland.co.uk. There is no doubt about it. Table tennis’s moment has arrived.
TOP TIPS FROM TEAM GB
- Posture a lot of people are very rigid, and stand too close to the table. You should be an arm’s length from the table, with knees slightly bent and springy
- Practise your spin You can do this on any household table. Practise spinning the ball so it comes back to you, or so that it bounces to the left or right
- Improve your serve This is a good way to get lots of cheap points. Get 50-100 balls, and just experiment. Try copying YouTube videos
- Work on your consistency Practise the simple shots until they are solid. Only then move onto the difficult techniques
- Stay positive The game has such a small margin for error that you will definitely make mistakes. If you get annoyed, you’ll make more
- Develop your forehand topspin Often, this shot makes the difference. It is very hard to stop and can be played from around the table
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
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