London, Jan. 12 : England and Wales Cricket Board Managing Director Hugh Morris and ECB vice-chairman Dennis Amiss have said that when former skipper Kevin Pietersen declared in an e-mail he could not work with coach Peter Moores, Morris took the e-mail to be KP's resignation, but suggested that he take some time off to think about it.

Several people could probably have saved KP - including Morris, Flintoff and other team-mates if they had been more supportive - but ultimately the strongest drive for his removal came from ECB chairman Giles Clarke.

Lahore, Jan 12: Suspended Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been barred from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after being deported from Dubai last year for possession of an opium substance weighing 0.24 grams.

Asif, 26, was detained at the Dubai International Airport for nearly three weeks in June 2008, for possession of a banned substance before public prosecutors determined that the amount of the drugs was insignificant and deported him.

Sydney - Dinara Safina carried momentum from last week's Hopman Cup final into her start at the Medibank International on Monday with a 6-2, 6-1 opening defeat of Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

Safina, who lost the teams final in Perth alongside her brother Marat Safin to Slovakia, dropped the first game against 18-year-old Cirstea but then opened up her firepower to sweep to victory.

"When I'm playing my best I know I can beat everybody," said the winner, who next takes on compatriot Vera Dushevina, who crushed Aussie wild card Emelyn Starr 6-0, 6-1.

Islamabad, Jan 12: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi has said that he would take legal action against the present management of the board for levelling baseless allegations against him and "maligning his name."

The PCB on Friday issued a press statement saying that the ongoing renovation work at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore had been halted after "discovery of massive irregularities" in the construction of the Far End Pavilion.

Melbourne, Jan. 12: New South Wales batsman David Warner remarkable debut knock of 89 of 43 balls in Sunday night''s Twenty20 win over South Africa at the MCG, suggests that the country's selectors will find it hard to resist picking him for the Australian one-day or Test squads in the near future, believes skipper Ricky Ponting.

Bad Mitterndorf, Austria  - Gregor Schlierenzauer soared past all rivals again on Sunday to get his second ski-flying triumph within 24 hours in front of a delighted Austrian home crowd.

Schlierenzauer, who turned 19 on Wednesday, did not match his hill record 215.5 metres from Saturday, but led each round with 203.5m and 202m for victory with 393.6 points.

It was his fourth season win, the fifth in a row on a flying hill for the ski-flying world champion and his 15th overall.

Harri Olli was the only other jumper beyond 200m on the day, the Finn placing second with 390.4 points from jumps of 201.5m and 200.5m. World Cup leader Simon Ammann of Switzerland was third with 197.5m and 198.5m for 382.2 points.