Melbourne, Sep 9 (ANI): Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has contacted a leading sports psychologist as he wrestles with the issue of making a return to international cricket.

The Daily Telegraph reported that during his exile the troubled Queenslander has approached Brisbane psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey.

Jauncey, who has at times travelled with the Australian cricket side, is a consultant to the Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Lions.

He has also worked extensively with the Queensland Bulls where he has in the past had several group and one-on-one sessions with Symonds.

Friends have urged Symonds to see a psychologist and although no formal sessions have been organised with Jauncey, it is a positive step.

Symonds has no chance of making Australia's four-Test tour of India next month and Queensland Cricket staff are yet to hear whether he will make himself available for the Bulls' opening games of the 2008-09 season. (ANI)

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London, Sept 9 (ANI): Serena Williams, the American fourth seed, who did not drop a set in the 2008 US Open Women's singles, hopes to win again and achieve double digits in trophy acquisition.

Williams is the third woman in the Open Era to collect nine grand slams after winning the US Open title in two sets (6-4, 7-5) against Serbian Jelena Jankovic on Sunday. After defeating second-seed Jankovic, the Daily Star quoted Williams as saying: "I'm knocking at the door of double-digits. I have the game to do it."

Williams had won the US Open titles in 1999 and 2002. (ANI)

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Karachi, Sep 9 (ANI): Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson will come under the scanner as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to discuss their role in the team at the upcoming governing body meeting on September 13.

The meeting has gained significance as by that time a new president would have been elected and in his capacity as chief patron of cricket, he will have the authority to appoint a new chairman and set-up.

Sources said in the changed scenario following the resignation of Dr Nasim Ashraf as chairman, there are number of members in the governing body who do not favour having Malik as captain or a foreign coach.

"In the past at such meetings these members were very vocal but the chairman used to get around them as he was adamant that the captain and coach should be given a long run," one member said on condition of anonymity.

"But now these members believe with a new set up expected in the board it is the right time to also go for a new team management as Malik does not have the confidence of senior players and Lawson has shown he needs more time to deliver results," the member said.

However, Malik made it clear that he is not bothered about this debate on his captaincy, the Dawn reported.

"Look I never asked for the captaincy it was given to me. I took it as a challenge and whether we are playing cricket or not, the betterment of Pakistan cricket is always my first priority," Malik said.

Although the governing body meeting has been convened to primarily give approval to a planned series in South Africa by Pakistan if it materialises, but sources say a lot of other cricket issues are expected to be discussed in depth.

To complicate the captaincy issue, senior batsman Younis Khan has also now conveyed his interest in captaincy if it is offered to him again.

Younis had refused the captaincy after last year's World Cup debacle prompting the board to ignore seniors like Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf and instead repose faith in the young Malik (ANI)

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Melbourne, Sep 9 (ANI): Mystery surrounds the future of Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson after he left the strife-torn country to return to Australia.

The Pakistan Cricket Board was quick to hose down speculation Lawson was on the outer with the new-look board.

Last month, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf resigned, just hours after the organisation's patron President Pervez Musharraf stepped down as Pakistan leader.

Not even former teammate and Cricket NSW supremo David Gilbert was aware of Lawson's sudden departure, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Some sources said they were surprised Lawson even returned to Pakistan after he arrived Down Under as part of the International Cricket Council panel trying to sell the Champions Trophy.

PCB spokesman Mansoor Suhail told local media: "Geoff will be back later this month." But sources told local news agencies the former NSW and Australian paceman was weighing up his future. (ANI)

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