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General Sports News

KP voices safety concerns

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 08/03/2009

England ace Kevin Pietersen has admitted that security fears could see him give this season's Indian Premier League campaign a miss.

Pietersen is due for a short stint with the tournament's betting favourites Bangalore Royal Challengers in the near future, but is waiting to make a final decision following the terrorist attacks in both India and Pakistan in recent times.

He told The News of the World: "I will be consulting as many people as I can, but if I don't think it is right, then I will not be going.

"Hopefully the security will come right for India, but if everybody pulls out of the IPL then it would be a disaster and world cricket would really be on a down."

Meanwhile, rookie Australia opener Phillip Hughes has become the youngest player in the history of Test cricket to make two centuries in a match.

The 20-year-old left-hander reached the landmark with another superb display in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa in Durban, beating the previous mark set by former West Indies great George Headley.

In football, David Beckham has voiced his delight at a deal being concluded to allow him to remain on loan at AC Milan until the end of the Italian season.

The 33-year-old England ace was due to return to the USA to rejoin LA Galaxy this week, but is now able to stay with the Rossoneri until the summer.

Across town Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho has spoken of his wish to be considered for the Manchester United job when Sir Alex Ferguson finally decides to retire.

With typical modesty the former Chelsea boss said: "When Sir Alex retires they will look at the best managers in the world and I certainly fall into that category."

Meanwhile, back at Chelsea, Dutch coach Guus Hiddink believes that Didier Drogba is back to his best, after the striker scored for the third time in four games in the 2-0 FA Cup sixth round win at Coventry City.

In rugby union, Wales shocked the world by being crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens champions, beating Argentina 19-12 in a tense final in Dubai.

The Welsh had previously knocked out favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals, before they saw off Samoa 19-12 in the last four.

Meanwhile, Harlequins' director of rugby Dean Richards has slammed Saracens' plans to bring in a host of South African players for next season.

The former England great fumed: "How can you have a South African side in the English league? It's disgraceful."

In golf, South Korea's Jiyai Shin mounted a final-day charge to secure a two-shot victory in the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore.

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