Cowell hasn't spoken to Cheryl since sacking

London, Aug 7 (IANS) Music mogul Simon Cowell, who sacked singer Cheryl Cole from the US 'X Factor', says both of them have not spoken to each other since then.

'No, I haven't spoken with Cheryl, we have texted. I am sorry the way it worked out as we were incredibly close,' dailymail.co.uk quoted him as saying.

'Trying to get her to understand what I did, it was never meant to be negative. It was a decision I thought was the right one and I think she is more comfortable in England than I saw her here (in US),' he said.

Cole, who had judged the British version of the show, filmed four episodes of the US version of 'X Factor' before she was sacked.

Cowell also admitted his decision to replace Cheryl with Nicole Scherzinger might have been rash.

'Maybe I didn't give her enough time, and you have to be in the moment. I offered her the show, and initially she accepted it. Then it went public that she didn't and had the chance to still come back, but for whatever reason I couldn't get her (on the phone). Unless I spoke to her, there was no way I would have her back,' he said.

Stars & pole dancing injuries

Dravid announces retirement from ODI and T20 cricket

Less than 12 hours after earning a shock recall to India’s ODI squad, Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from one-day and T20 cricket at the end of the England tour.

Dravid made the announcement after India’s practice game against Northamptonshire.

“I am honoured and privileged to be selected for the one-day team,” Dravid said.

“Since I had not been picked for one-day cricket for the last two years, I was obviously a little surprised and to be honest, because I had not been picked, I had not informed the selectors or the board of my desire to solely focus on Test cricket.”

“At the end of this one-day series, I would like to announce my retirement from one-day and Twenty20 cricket and concentrate only on Test cricket. I am committed, as always to give my best to India in this one-day series and obviously the Test series that follows.”

"In the short term I am committed because now I have been picked for the series, but in the long term I think it is best for me and Indian cricket that I focus on Test cricket."

Extra spending on CWG not without reason: Dikshit

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) A day after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicted her for irregularities in the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Saturday said 'things might have gone haywire' but maintained that 'extra spending' was not without reason.

'The extra money spent (on the Games) is not without any reason. Since the preparation of Games, the media had always doubted whether the CWG could be conducted in Delhi, but we did it and made the nation proud,' said Dikshit.

'In the process, things might have gone haywire and wrong, but we assure you that we will take proper action,' Dikshit told reporters here.

The chief minister also said that officials and the departments of the Delhi government will fully cooperate with the Public Accounts Committee which will discuss the CAG report in parliament.

'I will reiterate that this is a report of auditor general which is placed in the parliament and discussed by PAC. Whichever officials and departments in the government are called by the PAC for questioning, they will give their answers. If their answers are found unsatisfactory, necessary action will be taken against them,' added Dikshit.