19 killed in stampede

Abidjan: Fans stampeded in an Abidjan Stadium during a World Cup qualifier featuring top European-based stars on Sunday killing at least 19 people and injuring 132, a minister said. Hundreds of fans with tickets tried to force their way into the Houphouet-Boigny Stadium as the match against Malawi started. The stadium has an official capacity of 35,000 but was packed with fans eager to see Ivory Coast’s European-based stars such as Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue play in the World Cup qualifying match. — AFP

Ecuador hold Brazil

Montevideo: Brazil have work to do after the five-time world champions could only draw 1-1 in Ecuador in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier. Julio Baptista drew first blood for the auriverde with 17 minutes remaining but Noboa’s equaliser a minute from time for the hosts left the Brazilians fourth in the continental group. Paraguay lost 0-2 loss to Uruguay. Chile moved into third spot after a 3-1 win in Peru, while Colombia beat Bolivia 2-0. In Johannesburg, Mozambique had two goals disallowed when held 0-0 by Nigeria in a 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifier. In other matches, Ivory Coast hammered Malawi 5-0; Ghana beat Benin 1-0 and Egypt played a 1-1 draw with Zambia. — AFP

Miandad reinstated

LAHORE: Former cricket great Javed Miandad was reinstated as director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), barely a month after resigning in an argument about lack of powers. Miandad, 51, met PCB chairman Ijaz Butt before agreeing to take back the senior position. “I can confirm that Miandad will be re-appointed director general of the PCB from April 1 after meeting the PCB chairman. All his terms and conditions have been settled,” PCB director human resources Wasim Bari said. — AFP