World Sports in brief

Bangalore can reach last four

Anil Kumble remains confident that the Royal Challengers Bangalore can reach the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 despite suffering a second successive loss in the group stage.

The Mumbai Indians beat Bangalore by two runs in a dramatic match at Kingsmead on Sunday night.

No choice but to play on, says England skipper

England captain Andrew Strauss said his side had no choice but to complete the one-day series against Pakistan despite fresh “spot-fixing” claims involving the scandal-tainted tourists. Cricket was facing a new scandal Saturday after the (ICC) confirmed it was investigating possible irregularities in Pakistan’s victory.

Swann shortlisted for ICC award

England spin bowler Graeme Swann has made the shortlist for the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year award.

The off-spinner was not originally nominated but he is now in the running for the honour, along with Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Hashim Amla.

Rain halts Davis Cup play-off

Australia and Belgium’s Davis Cup World Group play-off was abandoned due to rain on Sunday with the score poised at 2-1 to the home team.

Australia’s Peter Luczak and Olivier Rochus were 4-4 in the first set of Sunday’s reverse singles with only 51 minutes of play possible due to downpours.