WORLD SPORTS at 1330 GMT

TOP STORY:

CRI--FIXING-PAKISTAN

LONDON — The head of the International Cricket Council has called the fixing allegations against three suspended Pakistan players the most serious case of corruption to hit the sport since South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life 10 years ago. Moved. By Stuart Condie.

With:

— TAUNTON, England — BC-CRI--FIXING-PAKISTAN-SAEED. Moved.

— ISLAMABAD — BC-CRI--FIXING-CHARGES. Moved. By Rizwan Ali.

NEW/DEVELOPING:

SOC--THE FREE KICK

PARIS — Thirteen years after Roberto Carlos stunned onlookers with his amazing "banana" free kick that seemed to defy the law of physics, scientists have finally worked out just how he did it. Moved. By Samuel Petrequin.

COM--DELHI-ONE MONTH OUT

NEW DELHI, India — With just 30 days to go before the official opening of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, organizers continue to struggle with basic preparations like safety certificates for structures and the wherewithal to fight a potential epidemic. Moved. By C. Rajshekhar Rao.

SOC--EUROPEAN ROUNDUP

LONDON — Qualifying for the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine begins in earnest, with defending champion and World Cup winner Spain opening its Group I campaign at Liechtenstein and France, Italy and England beginning the rebuilding process after disappointing tournaments in South Africa this summer. Expected by 2100 GMT. By Stuart Condie. With separates.

TEN--US OPEN

NEW YORK — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal faces Denis Istomin in the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday, with Andy Murray, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters among other players in action. First copy expected by 1600 GMT. By Eddie Pells.

CYC--SPANISH VUELTA

ORIHUELA, Spain — Sprinters will rejoice for Friday seventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta, a relatively flat 187.1-kilometer (116.3-mile) ride from Murcia to Orihuela. Philippe Gilbert of Belgium maintains a 10-second overall lead. By 1700 GMT.

GLF--EUROPEAN MASTERS

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland — Edoardo Molinari has taken the early second round lead at the European Masters after shooting a 6-under 65 Friday. Will be updated at end of round. By Graham Otway.

COLUMN:

ATH--JOHN LEICESTER

PARIS — Somewhere at the top, alongside or near Usain Bolt, add David Rudisha to the growing list of athletes we can rightfully hope will send shivers down our spines at the London Olympics in — it is getting close now — the summer after next. The parallel between the two world record holders is no accident. By 1500 GMT. By Sports Columnist John Leicester.

FOOTBALL:

SOC--FRANCE-BENZEMA

PARIS — Striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of France's 2012 European Championship qualifier against Belarus after failing to recover from an ankle injury. Moved.

SOC--GHANA-ESSIEN

LONDON — Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac says Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is putting his international career on hold to regain the form he enjoyed before sustaining the injuries that ruled him out of the World Cup. Moved.

ALSO:

— SOFIA, Bulgaria — BC-SOC--LITEX-PENEV. Moved

FORMULA ONE:

CAR--F1-HRT-YAMAMOTO

MADRID — Spanish Formula One team HRT is sticking with driver Sakon Yamamoto over Karun Chandhok, for the time being. Moved.

BASKETBALL:

BKO--WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ISTANBUL — With the field down to 16 teams, the knockout stage of the basketball world championship begins Saturday with two highly anticipated matchups. Balkan rivals Serbia and Croatia play the opening game at the Sinan Erdem Dome. That's followed by Spain vs. Greece, two of the pre-tournament favorites. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney.

TENNIS:

TEN--US OPEN

NEW YORK — Roger Federer fired 15 aces on his way to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over 104th-ranked Andreas Beck of Germany at the U.S. Open on Thursday. The temperature climbed into the 90s F (mid-30s C) yet again at Flushing Meadows. Moved. By Howard Fendrich.

ALSO:

— NEW YORK — BC-TEN--US OPEN-FIGHT IN STANDS. Moved.

RUGBY UNION:

RGU--SOUTH AFRICA-SMIT

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — South Africa captain John Smit says the world champions will find it difficult to manage their overworked players ahead of a rare end-of-year Grand Slam tour to Europe. Moved.

CYCLING:

CYC--WORLDS-CONTADOR

MURCIA, Spain — Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will not race for Spain at the upcoming world championships. Spain coach Jose Luis de Santos says the three-time Tour champion will not be at the worlds in Australia since "Alberto told me he prefers not to stretch out the season any more and will rest ahead of next season." Moved.

ATHLETICS:

ATH--DOPING-HABORAK

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovak shot putter Milan Haborak has been banned for life after a second doping offense.

Haborak tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol in an out-of-competition control in June. Moved.

ATH--US-LUKEZIC-DOPING

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has suspended retired distance runner Chris Lukezic for two years for refusing to take an out-of-competition doping test. Moved.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES:

COM--ENGLAND-FARAH OUT

LONDON — European long-distance double champion Mo Farah has withdrawn from England's track and field team for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Moved.

COM--INDIA-DOPING

NEW DELHI — India's medal chances suffered a setback with one month to go for the Commonwealth Games as five members of their contingent tested positive in dope tests. Moved. By C Rajshekhar Rao.

ALSO:

— NEW YORK — BC-BBA--AL ROUNDUP. Moved.

— ATLANTA — BC-BBN--NL CAPSULES. Moved.

— SEATTLE — BC-BKL--WNBA ROUNDUP. Moved.

— TOKYO — BC-SWM--ASIAN GAMES-JAPAN

YOUR QUERIES: Questions and story requests are welcome. Contact your local AP bureau or the AP International Sports Desk in London by telephone at 44 207 427 4105, fax 44 207 427 4118.