Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

McManus criticises Offaly officials

GAELIC GAMES: Former Offaly senior footballer Ciarán McManus has criticised Offaly GAA officials over the procedures they used which led to Gerry Cooney being installed as the Faithful County's new manager.

McManus confirmed his retirement at the weekend and he believes the appointment process was not handled correctly.

“There were great Offaly men looking for the job as well as a good Dublin man,” he said.

“It is just disappointing that the lads didn’t get the chance early on and I am very disappointed for Stephen (Darby) and Tom (Coffey) in particular.

“I know them well and both would have done a great job equally. That just added to it, but it was part of it (my decision to retire).

“They new management obviously want to look at fresh players and maybe there is a spot there now for a young lad to get in there.”

Pakistan draw final Test to win series

CRICKET: Pakistan highlighted their talent on the pitch to draw the third and final Test against Sri Lanka and win the series 1-0 yesterday just days after three former team-mates were jailed for spot-fixing.

Having been set a target of 255 runs for victory on the rain-hit fifth day, Pakistan opted for safety and were led largely by Taufeeq Umar’s watchful 39 from 121 balls to finish on 87 for four from 57 overs.

Pakistan, who won the second match of the series by nine wickets after the drawn first Test, were playing “home” Tests in the United Arab Emirates due to security concerns in their own country.

After the first session was washed out yesterday, a Sri Lanka win to force a series draw became even more unlikely.

The two countries will now contest a five-match one-day series starting on Friday in Dubai before a one-off Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi on November 25th.

Squash targets 2020 Games

SQUASH: The new campaign for squash to become part of the Olympics was unveiled yesterday supported by a series of changes to make the sport more television-friendly. Squash officials want to be included in the 2020 Games and say they had adapted the sport "to suit modern times". World Squash Federation president N Ramachandran said: "There were issues for the IOC. The first was TV viewers could not see the ball but that has been overcome with new high definition cameras even if the ball is hit very hard. The second concerned arguments between referee and players – we now have a system with three referees and arguments have practically vanished. Finally there was the scoring system which has also been changed, and players can now take points even on opponents' serve."

Gleghorne to make debut for Britain next month

HOCKEY: Former Ireland international Mark Gleghorne will make his debut for Britain at the Champions Trophy in New Zealand next month.

The 26-year-old East Grinstead forward, who has not played international hockey since 2008 and has recently recovered from injury, has now joined compatriot Iain Lewers in earning a call-up after switching allegiance. Also returning from injury are Reading’s Simon Mantell, who missed England’s European bronze medal in the summer, and East Grinstead’s Mark Pearn, who returned home early from that tournament for minor knee surgery. Scotland’s 2004 Olympian Niall Stott is included, as are Beeston goalkeeper George Pinner – making his first Champions Trophy appearance – Wimbledon’s Beijing Olympic captain Ben Hawes and Old Loughtonians’ Harry Martin.

“We are currently in an extended training phase and the Champions Trophy will help indicate how our preparation for next summer is going,” said coach Jason Lee.

“Selection has been particularly difficult due to the current strength and depth of the squad. Mark Gleghorne has been included since recovering from long term injury and has been training well.”

The Champions Trophy runs from December 3rd-11th in Auckland and features eight of the world’s best sides. Britain have been drawn alongside world champions Australia, Spain and Pakistan.

Saracens sign rugby league star

RUGBY: Saracens yesterday confirmed the signing of England rugby league international Joel Tomkins, but will have to wait at least three years before having the chance to get their hands on his younger brother.

The Aviva Premiership champions, who have paid €290,000 to secure the release of Joel from the four years left on his Wigan contract, were also linked with the 22-year-old Sam, whose capture would be an even bigger prize.

However, Wigan yesterday softened the blow of losing Joel by handing Sam a new five-year contract and making him the highest-paid player in rugby league.

The England fullback had, like his older brother, signed a new five-year deal at the start of the 2011 season and yesterday extended that by another 12 months to the end of 2016, with a cast-iron commitment to see out a minimum of three years.

Irish boxers set for World Series

BOXING:Nine Irish boxers will compete in the 2011/12 World Series of Boxing season which gloves off in the Americas, Asia and Europe on Friday.

John Joe Nevin’s Paris United, who claimed the inaugural WSB Team Championships last season, open their title defence versus David Oliver Joyce’s Istanbulls in Paris on Friday night.

“We have a strong team again this year. There is a lot of youth and experience in the squad and I think we’ll be one of the sides to beat again this season,” said two-time World senior medallist Nevin. Dublin super-heavyweight Seán Turner and Donegal middleweight Jason Quigley have both signed for the Los Angeles Matadors who meet Astana of Kazakhstan on Sunday. Ken Egan’s and Con Sheehan’s Leipzig Leopards face Tyrone McCullagh’s Mexico City on Saturday and Willie McLaughlin’s Milano Thunder are away to Patrick Gallagher’s Mumbai Fighters.

Seventeen wickets fall on second day

CRICKET: Seventeen wickets fell during a riveting second days play but neither West Indies nor India could claim the upper hand in the see-saw first Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium yesterday. Pragyan Ojha (6-72), who claimed the first and the last wickets of the day, and his spin team-mate Ravichandran Ashwin (3-81) mowed down the West Indies bottom half for 48 runs in 17.2 overs to restrict their first innings to 304. In reply, openers Virender Sehwag (55) and Gautam Gambhir (41) batted as if they were in a limited-overs game, adding 89 runs in 12.3 overs before the Indian line-up, with the glorious exception of Rahul Dravid (54), folded for 209.

West Indies came out to bat for the second time with a 95-run first-innings lead but lost both their openers to finish the second day at 21-2.