Cricketers to go to Pak

KATHMANDU: The Nepali cricket team on Saturday is leaving towards Pakistan to play three practice matches in Karachi, before flying to Malaysia to take part in the ACC Trophy to be held from August 12-26. The tournament is important as Nepal can open its way for the 2011 World Cup through this event. SQUAD: Binod Das (captain), Shakti Prasad Gauchan (vice captain), Paresh Prasad Lohani, Dhirendra Bahadur Chand, Mahesh Chhetry, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Paras Khadka, Basanta Regmi, Akash Gupta, Thakur Pratap Thapa (manager), Asha Gurung (assistant manager), Roy Luke Dias (coach), Jung Bahadur Thapa (assistant coach). — HNS

Jean King honoured

NEW YORK: Honoring Billie Jean King, the US Tennis Association will rename the USTA National Tennis Centre the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre during an opening-night ceremony at the US Open. “I still am in shock,” King said. “As a product of the public parks, I am so honoured.” King, the only woman to win US singles titles on all four surfaces — grass, clay, carpet and hard — won a record 20 Wimbledon titles and four US Open titles. — AP

Clijsters advances

CARLSBAD: Top-seeded Kim Clijsters battled past Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Acura Classic. Martina Hingis beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; Maria Sharapova ground out a 6-4, 6-4 win over Vera Zvonareva in the all-Russian match; defending champion Mary Pierce of France registered a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Emma Laine of Finland; and Elena Dementieva overcame 10 double faults to beat Sania Mirza of India 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. — AP