Brisbane, Jan. 30: Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds failed to score in his pivotal first-class comeback, making just five for Queensland against Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba here today.

Symonds lasted just seven balls against Western Australia as he was dismissed edging a shortish Brett Dorey delivery to Adam Voges at first slip, Fox Sports reported.

Lahore, Jan 30 : The Pakistan Cricket Board will seek a clarification on the status of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) during the International Cricket Council''s (ICC) executive board meeting in Perth on Saturday.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt will inform the ICC board members of the intense pressure his board is facing to lift the ban on ICL players from playing for Pakistan.

"So far, the PCB is claiming that it has banned the ICL players as per the ICC policy regarding unauthorized leagues," The Nation quoted a board official, as saying.

Karachi, Jan 30 : Pakistan''s chief selector Abdul Qadir has hinted that some of the under-performing senior players could be rested for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka that begins in Karachi next month.

Qadir said Pakistani cricketers showed a lack of spirit and commitment in their shocking 234-run defeat in the in the last match of the one-day series against Sri Lanka in Lahore last week.

Melbourne, Jan. 30: Swiss tennis great Roger Federer swept to the brink of grand slam immortality by outclassing American Andy Roddick on Thursday night in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Federer, 27, is within three winning sets of landing his 14th major and his fourth Melbourne Park crown after whipping Roddick 6-2 7-5
7-5.

London, Jan. 30: Italian football club A C MILAN has again stated their desire to sign England football star David Beckham on a permanent basis.

The Sun quoted club boss Carlo Ancelotti as saying: "It''s up to him to decide if he wants to stay. He knows how much we appreciate him here. We would be happy if he remains, but he must resolve the problem with his club (L. A. Galaxy). We all like him but it's difficult to talk about his future now."

Team-mate Andrea Pirlo also lavished praise on the Englishman''s impact.

London, Jan 30: Want to be good at golf? Just don't think too much, that's the conclusion of a new study.

According to the research, the secret to a good putt is to stop worrying about stance, distances and the lie of the green and simply hit the ball.

In a bid to reach the conclusion, psychologists from St Andrews University quizzed 80 skilled and novice golfers to putt using a particular technique until they had mastered it.