Sports Briefs

WICB hails

Zaheer Abbas

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has congratulated Pakistan legend Zaheer Abbas on his new role as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The decision was taken at the ICC annual conference currently being held in Barbados.

WICB President Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron noted that Abbas was one of cricket's great players and remains a highly respected and admired figure in the game.

"On behalf of the WICB and cricket lovers of the West Indies, I want to congratulate Zaheer on his elevation to the post of president of the ICC. He is one of the true greats of the game. He played his part on the field with some masterful performances and now we believe he will fit in perfectly as one of the key leadership positions in world cricket," Cameron said.

Farah staying with Salazar

LONDON (AP):

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah will continue working with Alberto Salazar, saying yesterday he was satisfied with the response given by the American long-distance running coach to accusations of doping.

"As someone I've worked with for many years, I feel I have to believe in Alberto and the evidence he has provided," Farah said on his Facebook page.

Salazar issued a 12,000-word rebuttal of claims against himself and his other star runner, Olympic silver medallist Galen Rupp, in an open letter on the website of the Nike Oregon Project on Wednesday.

Salazar, one of the world's top track coaches, has been accused by American investigative website ProPublica and the BBC of using doping practices for his athletes in Oregon.

Farah, the world and Olympic 5,000 and 10,000-metre champion, added that he now wants to "focus on what I do best - training hard to win medals for my country".

Radwanska, Bencic in Eastbourne final

EASTBOURNE, England (AP):

Caroline Wozniacki retired with a back injury three games into her semi-final at the grass-court Nottingham Open yesterday, handing 18-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic a place in the final against former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska.

The second-seeded Wozniacki was 3-0 down when she called for her trainer and stretched her leg muscles before deciding she could not continue.

The fifth-ranked Wozniacki said she expects to be fit for Wimbledon, with her first-round match against Saisai Zheng on Tuesday.

Bencic is bidding for her first title.

Radwanska beat Sloane Stephens of the United States 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2 yesterday.

Querrey, Istomin in Nottingham final

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP):

Sam Querrey came from a set down to beat Alexandr Dolgopolov yesterday and reach the final of the Nottingham Open, where the American will play Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

The 12th-seeded Querrey won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the Wimbledon warm-up tournament and is in contention to end a three-year wait for an ATP title. His last came in Los Angeles in 2012.

Istomin advanced to his first final when defending champion Marcos Baghdatis retired early in their semi-final match with a left calf injury.

Baghdatis, who was on a nine-match winning streak at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament, was leading 2-1 with a break in the first set when he pulled up after making a serve. He received treatment and retired.