Sport Briefs Hleb set to miss Newcastle trip

LONDON – Belarus winger Alexander Hleb is set to miss Arsenal’s Premiership match at Newcastle tonight because an Achilles injury.

Manager Arsene Wenger must also wait on news from midfielder Cesc Fabregas who missed the 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Saturday with a hamstring problem and remains a doubt, along with Abou Diaby (back). Striker Robin van Persie continues to work on his match fitness following a knee problem.England chasing 350 in first Test KANDY – England, set a target of 350 runs to win the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka, were 9-1 at stumps on the fourth day at the Asgiriya stadium here on Tuesday.Captain Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on one and nightwatchman James Anderson was on four.Alastair Cook was dismissed for four.Brief scores: Sri Lanka 188 and 442-8 decl; England 281 and 9-1 Gutsy Younis saves Pakistan KOLKATA – Stand-in captain Younis Khan staved off a spin threat with a responsible century to help Pakistan draw the second Test against India yesterday.Younis scored an unbeaten 107 under pressure as Pakistan recovered from 78-4 to finish at 214-4 in their second innings chasing a stiff 345-run target off 81 overs on the fifth and final day.Pakistan, trailing 1-0, now have a chance to square the three-Test series when they clash with India in the third match at Bangalore starting Sunday.Hold-up in naming India’s new coach NEW DELHI – The appointment of former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten as the new India coach has been delayed, with the cricket board citing minor last-minute glitches yesterday.The board, however, denied reports that Kirsten had delayed accepting the job because of resentment among senior players.”We have received an e-mail from Kirsten.There are some minor issues relating to working arrangements, which will be sorted out in a couple of days,” the cricket board’s vice-president Rajiv Shukla told AFP.Kirsten, 40, was to sign a contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday after impressing a selection panel in an interview last week.Nampa-ReutersStriker Robin van Persie continues to work on his match fitness following a knee problem.England chasing 350 in first Test KANDY – England, set a target of 350 runs to win the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka, were 9-1 at stumps on the fourth day at the Asgiriya stadium here on Tuesday.Captain Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on one and nightwatchman James Anderson was on four.Alastair Cook was dismissed for four.Brief scores: Sri Lanka 188 and 442-8 decl; England 281 and 9-1 Gutsy Younis saves Pakistan KOLKATA – Stand-in captain Younis Khan staved off a spin threat with a responsible century to help Pakistan draw the second Test against India yesterday.Younis scored an unbeaten 107 under pressure as Pakistan recovered from 78-4 to finish at 214-4 in their second innings chasing a stiff 345-run target off 81 overs on the fifth and final day.Pakistan, trailing 1-0, now have a chance to square the three-Test series when they clash with India in the third match at Bangalore starting Sunday.Hold-up in naming India’s new coach NEW DELHI – The appointment of former South Africa batsman Gary Kirsten as the new India coach has been delayed, with the cricket board citing minor last-minute glitches yesterday.The board, however, denied reports that Kirsten had delayed accepting the job because of resentment among senior players.”We have received an e-mail from Kirsten.There are some minor issues relating to working arrangements, which will be sorted out in a couple of days,” the cricket board’s vice-president Rajiv Shukla told AFP.Kirsten, 40, was to sign a contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday after impressing a selection panel in an interview last week.Nampa-Reuters