Butragueno: Football did not reward Madrid

Real Madrid's director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno believes that his side were unlucky during their thrilling 2-2 stalemate against Barcelona.

Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first-leg Copa del Rey tie, the Catalan giants appeared to have settled the contest thanks to goals from Pedro Rodriguez and Dani Alves.

Madrid though, epitomized their battling qualities and clawed themselves back into the game thanks to efforts from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, although their valiant effort proved in vain as they crashed out of the competition 4-3 on aggregate.

Speaking after the encounter, former Madrid striker Butragueno praised Jose Mourinho's charges for their determination and mental resolve.

"The team has shown great strength and have fought to the end. We should have won the match and the tie, but football did not want to reward Madrid," he remarked.

"The difference has been in the Ozil shot and that of Alves. One goes in, and another hits the post."

The former Madrid striker also reassured that Mourinho's future at the club is not in jeopardy and insisted that the Portuguese would remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We are very happy with Mourinho, our desire is to continue with this for two more seasons, which is what is signed. To our knowledge, Mourinho is very happy here," he added.

United hopeful over Jones' injury

PHIL JONES could provide Manchester United with a huge boost by shaking off an ankle injury in time for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Liverpool.

It did not look good for the England star when he hobbled out of the opening stages of United's 2-1 win at Arsenal on Sunday.

After the match, Alex Ferguson believed Jones would be sidelined for a few weeks, but assistant boss Mike Phelan has admitted the ex-Blackburn man could feature at Anfield.

Phelan said: "Phil's character is very good.

"He is disappointed that, over the last few weeks, he seems to have limped around the football field quite a bit.

"But he usually manages to recover, so we're optimistic he can do the same again."

Dilshan quits as Sri Lanka captain

The opener took the decision following this month's Test and limited-overs series defeats to South Africa.

Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement that Dilshan has informed the selection committee of his decision.

A new captain is yet to be chosen, but star batsman Mahela Jayawardene is understood to be taking charge for the upcoming one-day internationals against Australia.

Cook backs 100-up Strauss for ton

ALASTAIR COOK makes history alongside Andrew Strauss tomorrow, convinced his captain is on the brink of another ton.

Cook and Strauss will become the first England pair — and only the fourth from all countries — to open the innings together 100 times in Test cricket.

Yet Strauss reaches the landmark in desperate need of runs after registering just one Test century in 30 months.

But, as England aim to bounce back against Pakistan following their 10-wicket First Test thrashing in Dubai, Cook said: "I haven't seen Straussy hit the ball better for a long time.

"He is moving as well as ever and striking the ball superbly. He's looked really good on this tour so I'm not sure why he hasn't made a hundred since Brisbane in 2010."

ENGLAND (likely): Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Morgan, Prior (wkt), Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson.

PAKISTAN (likely): Hafeez, T Umar, A Ali, Y Khan, Misbah (c), Shafiq, A Akmal (wkt), Rehman, U Gul, Ajmal, Cheema.

Akram takes a dig at British press

Wasim Akram is amazed at the double-standards of the British press, who have been on the offensive over Saeed Ajmal's bowling action.

Ajmal took a 10-wicket haul in the Pakistan's impressive 10-wicket win over world number one Test team England in the Dubai Test.

"Instead of praising him (Saeed Ajmal) for he is someone special, instead of admitting their team didn't do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are after him," said Akram who's commentating on the final Test between India and Australia.

"It's not funny anymore, it's boring, stale and old."

Former England players raised a question-mark about Ajmal's bowling action after the stunning defeat and the British media hasn't stopped carping on it since then.

"Whenever they lose, they talk negative. It's the English batsmen who played bad shots, sweeping across the line to off-spinner. It's no rocket science that you can't play across the line. But probably they don't know. It's the job of umpires and ICC, not British media.

"The permissible limit is 15 degrees and he's been tested and tried for bowling well below it. He's been around for 7-8 years. Why suddenly pick on him?" said an agitated Akram.

"I have been reading for the last 3-4 days in British media. We all know what goes through media usually goes through players. Ajmal doesn't turn the ball. He's just quicker. On a placid track, where there was no swing, no spin, no reverse swing, just lust green outfield, he got them playing across the line."

Akram sees a trend through all this noise. He believes England has a habit of picking holes through opposition whenever their team doesn't do well.

"The noise now is because it has happened against the mighty England, the number one Test team of the world. On the tour of 1992, we got them out in every game. Then they accused us of ball-tampering. Then I got a seven in the very next game. We then played county cricket and taught every bowler for 10 years how to reverse swing the ball.

"Instead of saying their team didn't do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are targeting a special talent.Why it always happens against a sub-continent team."

Akram doesn't feel it would affect Pakistan in the remaining two Tests and might just backfire on the England team.

"I don't think it would affect them. Indeed, it would create a positive impact on them. It would motivate them.Instead of being on the back-foot, it would help their cause."

Pakistan has shown an upward graph in recent times and has done particularly well under the leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq, winning seven of their last 13 Tests.

"Misbah is doing a great job as a skipper. Pakistan's confidence is sky high. It's a good sign," Akram said.

Ponting, Clarke on run spree

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke hammered hundreds to put Australia in a commanding position against India on the first day of the fourth and final Test in Adelaide.

Captain Clarke (140 not out) and his predecessor Ricky Ponting (137 not out) came together with the score at 84 for three, shortly before lunch, and went on to share a record-breaking unbeaten 252-run stand for the fourth-wicket to guide Australia to 335 for three at the close of play in scorching conditions.

It was the duo's second double-hundred stand of the series after their 288-run union during the second Test in Sydney when Clarke notched a memorable triple century

Ponting - who became the third man in history after Indian pair Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to accumulate 13,000 Test runs - powered to his 41st Test century after coming in with his side in a spot of bother at 31 for two after 10 overs.

The crowd rose to its feet when Ponting worked Zaheer Khan behind square for a couple but the faithful were quickly subdued when the signal for leg-byes was realised, the ball clearly deflecting off the batsman's thigh pad.

The very next ball Ponting received a standing ovation and raised his arms triumphantly after he pushed Zaheer between point and gully for two to bring up his second hundred of the series, this dig far more fluent than his determined, gutsy knock at the SCG.

With the ton - which arrived off 164 balls and included 11 boundaries - Ponting drew level with South African Jacques Kallis in second place for all-time most Test centuries, behind only India's Sachin Tendulkar (51).

Amazingly, it was Ponting's fourth century in as many Tests against India at Adelaide - all coming in the first innings - and sixth overall at this ground.

Clarke has enjoyed a similar success rate, his magnificent ton his second in as many stints at the Adelaide crease against India.

Four overs after Ponting was saluted, Clarke caressed Umesh Yadav to the third-man boundary to register his 19th Test century.

It was Clarke's fifth century in 12 Tests since taking over as skipper and fifth overall against India.

The 30-year-old's momentum-shifting century came off just 133 balls, with 14 fours and a six.

The six came off just the second ball after tea when Clarke charged India's acting skipper Virender Sehwag and thumped him over the straight boundary.

Ponting and the imperious Clarke were rarely troubled in perfect batting conditions under a hot, sunny sky against a listless Indian outfit.

The pitch, which was a belter and further flattened throughout the day, did not assist the tourists' cause, but they didn't help themselves either with a general lack of energy and intensity, inattentive fielding, defensive field placings and some pedestrian bowling.

Ishant Sharma (none for 50) bowled better than his figures suggested. He was unlucky at times and asked plenty of probing questions of the in-form pair, bowling some of his best spells of the summer.

The paceman almost achieved the belated breakthrough in the 86th over when, with the second new ball, he captured Clarke's outside edge which flew past VVS Laxman.

The next over Clarke tentatively edged Zaheer just short of a diving Wriddhiman Saha as his concentration wavered, albeit fleetingly.

The only other time the visitors really perked up was the final over before tea.

Sehwag introduced Virat Kohli for a one-off over to bowl some gentle medium-pacers in a hope to break the damaging partnership.

Drama unfolded on the penultimate ball of the middle session. Clarke turned Kohli to the on-side for a sharp single when Zaheer had a shy at the non-striker's end from square leg.

The ball ricocheted off the Aussie skipper's sliding bat and he further infuriated the Indians by running two more as a result of the deflection.

India appealed for Clarke to be given out obstructing the field, arguing he had deliberately deviated in an attempt to divert Zaheer's throw but after umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Aleem Dar conferred with third umpire Paul Reiffel, Clarke was allowed to bat on.

Earlier, Australia lost two wickets inside the first 10 overs before losing another one shortly before lunch to momentarily give India the upper hand after Clarke had won the toss and elected to bat in hot, dry conditions.

David Warner (eight) and Shaun Marsh (three) were sent packing early as Sehwag surprised by introducing off-spinner Ashwin in the fourth over of the innings.

Ed Cowan made 30 before falling to an excellent catch from Laxman at cover which created some murmurs in the home camp as Ashwin picked up two wickets before lunch, but Ponting and Clarke destroyed the wilting Indians and will look to continue the carnage on Day 2.

Dalglish: We must be at our best to beat City

Kenny Dalglish has warned Liverpool to forget about Wembley unless they improve on their weekend effort on Wednesday night.

The Reds take a 1-0 lead into the home leg of their Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester City, but the dismal nature of Saturday's defeat at Bolton remains fresh in the manager's mind.

Dalglish was uncharacteristically harsh on his players at the Reebok Stadium, and ahead of the Sky Live City showdown he said: "It's a difficult thing to do but I think it was an honest thing to do as well.

"I don't think anybody can hide behind a performance like we had on Saturday and I don't think anyone would try to do that.

"We have a slight advantage against City, we just need to go into the game and compete. It's not going to be a game that's going to be anything other than really difficult for us.

"The punters will be turning up, but we need to do something that's going to get the supporters on our side. We can't always leave it for them to lift us, sometimes we need to lift them."

I am unemployed – Shahid Kapoor

BollywoodWorld.com, While most actors have chock-a-block shooting schedules in 2012, Shahid Kapoor has no qualms in admitting that he has no work on hand as of now.

The actor recently wrapped up shooting for Kunal Kohli’s tentatively titled “Teri Meri Kahaani”, in which he features with Priyanka Chopra. But after that, he is still waiting to lock something.

“I don’t like to comment on any of my films till the producers make an official announcement. All I can say is I don’t have any films right now. So right now I am unemployed,” Shahid told reporters at an event organised here Monday by electronics company Pioneer India.

However, his fans don’t need to be disappointed, as he said: “In the second half of the year I have many films.”

Will his “unemployed” status come in the way of his plans of settling down?

“I am available. It takes a certain amount of time to establish yourself. It’s better if your partner is with you to share your journey in life,” commented the actor, whose father’s directorial “Mausam” failed to mint moolah at the box office.

Meanwhile, talking about working with his rumoured ex-girlfriend Priyanka, he hints that the duo will recreate their “Kaminey” chemistry in Kohli’s project.

“It’s premature to talk about the film. It’s a film which is shot over three different time periodS. It’s a romantic comedy. Priyanka is a fun co-star and we share a good chemistry,” he said.

Shahid wrapped up shooting on the project Jan 8. It is scheduled to release June 22.

Not trying to outdo anyone – Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt’s look as the evil Kancha Cheena in the new “Agneepath” has garnered appreciation for the actor from all spheres, even more than the all-white look of lead actor Hrithik Roshan himself, but Sanjay says he is not trying to outdo anyone.

“We are not here to overshadow anybody, we have been very comfortable during the film. This film has been made without egos and it is not about competition. Hrithik is fantastic in the film,” Sanjay told reporters here Monday.

He was here with Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan to promote “Agneepath”, which is set to hit the screens Jan 26.

Even Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik admits that he is, in no way, trying to compete with a “talent” as “great” as Sanjay.

“First of all you have to give credit to the talent (Sanjay), I think it is a very rare thing that in one role he projects epitome of goodness in ‘Munnabhai’, then does something extremely negative like Kancha Cheena and still blows your mind away,” said Hrithik.

“As an actor my job is not to compete against talent that great, but my only duty is to be honest to my character. There is competition between our characters Vijay and Kancha Cheena and not us as actors,” he added.

I am not a good actor – Hrithik Roshan

He is one of the most sought after male leads in Bollywood but Hrithik Roshan still doesn’t consider himself as a good actor.

“I am not a good actor, in the sense that I can’t just stand up and act. I take my time to get into the mindset of the character and say my lines. I really have to be the person that I am playing,” Hrithik told reporters here Monday.

The actor was here along with Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra at PVR cinemas, in Ambience Mall for the promotion of their forthcoming film “Agneepath”, a remake of the 1990 film starring Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. The megastar had got the national award for it.

Hrithik revealed he was initially wary of taking up the role.

“My first reaction was why should I do it? This is an iconic role played by Amitabh Bachchan. But when I heard the subject, screenplay and basic story, it drove through all my pre-conceived notions as an audience, as an actor and it touched my heart completely,” he said.

“It was so refreshing that I forgot about the old ‘Agneepath’. Moreover it was a character that I was identifying with. I felt there is no reason for not to do this film,” he added.

The film, produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, is set to hit the silver screen Jan 26