The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has dropped plans to felicitate India captain Virat Kohli along with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the wake of Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.
The DDCA had decided to felicitate the three 'Delhi legends' before the start of the final ODI between India and Australia on Wednesday.
The decision was taken by DDCA after BCCI decided to not only call off the IPL opening ceremony but also donate entire budget of the event for the welfare of the families of the martyrs.
"We had plans of felicitating Sehwag, Gambhir and Kohli but we decided against it since BCCI is also not having an opening ceremony of the IPL," DDCA President Rajat Sharma told PTI on Monday.
"We have also decided to donate Rs 10 lakh to Delhi Police's Martyrs Fund. As of now, 90 percent of the tickets that was put on public sale has been sold out," Sharma said.
The DDCA for the first time is giving couple of VIP passes to all the former ...

DDCA cancels Kohli felicitation ceremony in wake of Pulwama attack

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Real Kashmir boss Sandeep Chattoo Monday allayed Minerva Punjab's security concerns, saying the visitors will be provided armoured vehicles for travelling purpose during their I-League rematch.
While a date for the rematch is yet to be finalised, Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj said it would be prudent to organise the re-match as soon as possible to avoid confusion, given that the Super Cup Qualifiers are starting from March 15.
"When get the clearance from the authorities there should not be any problem. The team will be taken care of well and provided armoured vehicles to travel from the hotel to stadium and back. That's how it has always been here. We are absolutely ready to host them," Chattoo told PTI.
He added, "If we get the go ahead in a day or two, we presume the match could be held around March 20."
The February 18 game did not take place after Punjab refused to travel to Srinagar, insisting that their foreign players had been advised against it by their respective ...

Minerva Punjab will be provided full-proof security including armoured vehicles in Srinagar

Backed by excellent performances on all boards, the Indian men outclassed Kazakhstan 3.5-0.5 to remain in joint second spot with nine points after the end of the sixth round of the World Teams Chess Championship, here.
B Adhiban was held to a draw on the top board by Rinat Jumabayev but the trio of Krishnan Sasikiran, Surya Ganguly and S P Sethuraman delivered the goods on the last three boards for another handsome victory that is bound to help the confidence of a team eyeing a medal-finish.
Sasikiran got the better of Anuar Ismagambetov, Ganguly proved too good for Murtas Kazhgaleyev while S P Sethuraman remained unstoppable on the last board as he made is look easy against Denis Makhnev.
Meanwhile the Russian men were held to a draw by Azerbaijan with Arkadij Naiditsch defeating top Russian Sergey Karjakin. The Russians drew level on the second board where Ian Nepomniachtchi won against Rauf Mamedov while the other two games ended in draws.
Russia remained in sole lead on 10 points .

Indian men outclass Kazakhstan to stay in second spot

Pakistan's Shahid Afridi Monday criticised the national selectors for resting six senior players, including skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, saying a good outing would have boosted their confidence ahead of the World Cup.
In a surprising move, the selectors picked young speedster Mohammad Hasnain in the one-day squad although he has appeared in just two first-class games, played for the Pakistan juniors and did well in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.
"I don't know but we must first give chances to the established bowlers like Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz etc. First look and give proper chance to the established players because after all we are playing in the World Cup," Afridi said.
The all-rounder was also critical of the decision to rest Sarfaraz and other key players for the 'home' series, slated to be held in the UAE.
"Look if we had been playing against a weak side than it made sense to try new players but this is a series against a big team ...

Afridi feels resting established players for Australia ODIs was wrong move

: Reigning champion Marc Marquez of  Repsol Honda Team took second place in the season opening  Qatar MotoGP in Doha on Sunday, finishing behind Italy's  Andrea Doviziso.
Marquez held his own in the opening laps, keeping out of  trouble and moving ahead of the chasing pack with Dovizioso.
The Spaniard was soon joined in his hunt for victory by  seven other riders, vying for the top position over the next  20 laps.
LCR Hondas Cal Crutchlow finished third.
Just 0.023 seconds split Marquez from Andrea Dovizioso as  they crossed the line, Marquez opening his 2019 season with 20  points, a press release said.
Jorge Lorenzo's Repsol Honda Team debut saw him being  heavily restricted by lingering pain in his back and shoulder.
He, however, finished a battling 13th to earn three  points.
"It was exactly the same as last year! I tried to push  hard but here when you overtake you just run wide and you  cant keep the line.
I tried to be there, to push a little and just be there  until the end," .

Marquez finishes 2nd behind Doviziso in season opening MotoGP

Karnataka's Ujwal Naidu pipped seasoned Ashish Kumar in the Floor event to grab a berth in the Indian men's team while Yogeshwar Singh of SSCB emerged on top in Vault during the selection trials for the artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha.
Five gymnasts appeared for the trials, conducted by the Sports Authority of today at the IG Stadium. The trials were for only two apparatus: Floor and Vault.
"Ujwal Naidu of Karnataka emerged as the top gymnast on Floor while Yogeshwar Singh of SSCB emerged as top gymnast on Vault," Riyaz Bhati, Vice President, Gymnastic Federation of India, said.
Interestingly, the Gymnastic Federation of India (GFI) had sent the entries of Ashish Kumar and Yogeshwar Singh for their respective event after they showed interest in competing but later SAI decide to hold trials for the two slots.
"Ashish Kumar who had initially requested for participation in the World Cup appeared for Trials only on Floor but had major errors including two falls and could not finish .

Ujwal, Yogeshwar clear trials for Doha gymnastics World Cup

Kolkata's seasoned cueist Shakeel  Ahmed recorded a hard-fought 3-2 win against Mumbai's Vishal  Gehani in a second round match of the CCI All India Open  Snooker Championship on Monday.
Shakeel, from Eastern Railway, easily pocketed the  opening two frames before the local cueist fought back to win  the next two and level the scores.
In the deciding fifth, Shakeel kept his cool and  grabbed every opportunity, even as Vishal missed easy pots,  and went on to complete a 88-20, 61-22, 19-64, 61-70, 48-16  victory to progress to the third round.
However, Shakeel's city-mate Shoaib Khan fell by the  wayside as he suffered a stunning 1-3 defeat to Delhi's  Harpreet Singh.
The Delhi cueist potted steadily and romped to a  convincing 66-27, 31-67, 78-25, 57-10 win to advance to the  third round.
Two other Railway cueists, E Panduranga and K Srinu,  steamrolled their respective opponents to seal their berths in  the round of 64.
In a third round match, Panduranga overcame Hanish  Sharma of ...

CCI Snooker: Shakeel advances, Shoaib loses

Mumbai City FC are hoping for a miracle to overturn a four-goal deficit as they take on FC Goa in their second leg semifinal of the Indian Super League here Tuesday.
Mumbai were hammered 5-1 at home in the first leg semi-final. Now, as they prepare for the second leg at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, coach Jorge Costa is left hoping for an unlikely miracle.
No team has ever overcome such a deficit in Indian football and Costa knows his chances of creating a massive upset is almost impossible.
"In football and in life, we can never say never but the reality is that it is very difficult to change this result. I have seen things in football that no one would believe, but normally it is very difficult to change the result from the first leg," said Costa.
Mumbai were in the game till the first half an hour when they took the lead. Even at 1-2 down in the first half, they seemed to have a chance until Goa turned on the magic in the second half.
When Mumbai visited Fatorda during the league ..

Mumbai pray for miracle in Goa

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday said India was granted permission to wear camouflage military caps in the third ODI against Australia as a tribute to the country's armed forces, a gesture which Pakistan has objected to.
In the third ODI in Ranchi on March 8, the Indian team sported military caps as a mark of respect to the CRPF personnel who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack and donated its match fee to the National Defence Fund.
"The BCCI sought permission from the ICC to wear the caps as part of a fundraising drive and in memory of fallen soldiers who have died, which was granted," ICC's General Manager Strategic Communications Claire Furlong said in a statement.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had sent a strongly-worded letter to the ICC, calling for action against India for wearing the caps.
"They took permission from ICC for some other purpose and used it to do something else, which is not acceptable," PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said on Sunday in Karachi.
Last ...

India was granted permission to wear caps in memory of fallen soldiers: ICC

The Indian senior national team will be gunning for its fifth consecutive title when the fifth edition of the SAFF Women's Championship kicks off on Tuesday.
This edition will witness a total of six teams taking part, with India scheduled to face Maldives and Sri Lanka in the group stage on March 13 and 17 respectively.
At the pre-tournament press conference, coach Maymol Rocky expressed confidence in her side.
"The SAFF Championship has been a successful one for us over the years. This time we will go all out to retain the trophy again," she uttered.
When asked about the young players in the squad, the head coach stated that she has full faith in the abilities of her players.
"These youngsters can work magic on the field. They have been together for a long time now and have made a lot of progress in the last few months. With the Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 next month, our objective is to reach our peak at the correct time," she added.
Defender Ashalata Devi, who will captain the team .

We will go all out to retain the trophy: Maymol Rocky

Domestic giants Mumbai defeated  Vidarbha by six wickets in their Super League Group B match of  the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament here Monday.
Opting to field at the Holkar Stadium, Mumbai bowlers,  led by medium pacer Tushar Deshpande (3-28), put in a spirited  show to restrict Vidarbha to 137/8 in their alloted 20 overs.
Deshpande was ably supported by another pacer Shardul  Thakur (2-21), while Shams Mulani (1-22), Shivam Dube (1-28)  and Siddhesh Lad (1-9), too, played their part, picking up a  wicket each.
Deshpande gave early breakthrough to Mumbai when he  accounted for Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide (4).
Jitesh Sharma (20), captain Ganesh Satish (24) and  Rushabh Rathod (26) got starts, but failed to convert them  into big scores as Mumbai bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Vidarbha were reeling at 95-6, but pacer Umesh Yadav  chipped in with a blazing 26 off 12 balls, which included  three fours and two sixes, to ensure his side crossed the 130-  run mark.
Young prodigy ..

Mushtaq Ali T20: Mumbai maul Vidarbha; Gujarat derail Railways

Tamil Nadu and Chennai Super  Kings wicketkeeper-batsman N Jagadeesan is in awe of Mahendra  Singh Dhoni's fitness and said the legendary stumper was  supremely fit and so calm.
"He is supremely fit. You really can't say he is 37  because of the way he moves, he is so swift around the field.  And he is just so calm. He rarely speaks, but those few words  lift the team," Jagadeesan was quoted as saying on the CSK  website.
The flamboyant batsman, who is yet to make his IPL  debut, said he got to watch Dhoni closely, adding that he got  inputs from the talismanic captain.
"You don't see Dhoni keep at the nets, he is someone  who keeps directly in the games. But he is always there to  guide you. I will be doing my drills and, at times when Mahi  bhai sees me, he takes the time out to come and give me  inputs. If I have doubts in my wicketkeeping or batting I go  to him," Jagadeesan said.
The 23-year old cricketer said he had learnt by  sharing the dressing room with some of the game's ...

CSK keeper batsman Jagadeesan in awe of Dhoni's fitness

India under-19 'B' outclassed India under-19 'A' by 72 runs in the final to win the quadrangular ODI tournament here Monday.
Electing to bat, India 'B' made 232 for 9 in 50 overs and dismissed the 'A' team for 160 in 38.3 overs to emerge deserving winners.
Skipper Rahul Chandrol (70, 74 balls, 4X4, 2X6), Sameer Rizvi (67, 88 balls, 4X1) and left-arm medium-pacer Sushant Mishra, who took a four-wicket haul, shone for India 'B'.
Arya Sethi went for a duck in the third over, nicking one to 'keeper Dhruv Chand Jurel off Akash Singh, leaving India 'B' at 5 for 1.
Varun Lavande (7) fell in the 10th over before opener Tilak Varma (38, 54 balls, 3X4) and Chandrol began the repair work.
Lavande fell to Kartik Tyagi (3 for 33) after adding 43 runs with the captain.
Chandrol and Rizvi were involved in a 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket as India 'B' worked its way back into the match.
The dismissals of Chandrol (at 170) and Rizvi (at 199) enabled India 'A' fight back.
India 'B' was ...

India 'B' win U-19 Quadrangular title

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull were the three most successful teams in the Formula One world championship in 2018, spending more money that the other seven teams combined.
According to journalist Dieter Rencken, who each year collates the financial figures for Racefans.net, the cost of keeping two cars on track in the championship is around 100 million euros.
Worried by spiralling costs, F1 will impose a budget ceiling of $150 million from 2021.
Team budgets in 2018:
1. Ferrari (2nd in constructors championship) -- $410 million (361 million euros) total 950 employees + 480 in engine department
Receives the largest part of the sport's commercial revenues redistributed by F1 on account of the team's historic status in the sport. Backed also by cigarette manufacturers Philip Morris via their "Mission Winnow" project.
2. Mercedes (1st)
-- $400 million (352 million euros) total 950 employees + 500 in engine department
Daimler-Benz's F1 activities are split into two -- Mercedes GP for race .

The cost of success: Big three F1 giants are also biggest spenders

The IAAF said on Monday that it will maintain its ban on Russian athletes over doping that it imposed in 2015, following a council meeting of top officials in Qatar.
Rune Andersen, head of the doping task force for athletics' world body, said two outstanding issues remained -- the examination of data received from the Moscow anti-doping lab and the issue of costs being sought by Russia because of the scandal.
"There are two outstanding issues," said Andersen. "These need to be resolved.

IAAF upholds Russia ban over doping

Aiden Markram was handed a likely lifeline to the Cricket World Cup on Monday when he was named in South Africa's squad for the final two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
Markram, a fixture as an opening batsman in South Africa's Test team, has not played in a one-day international since November 2018.
A modest one-day international record has counted against Markram but successive innings of 169, 139 and 85 for the Titans domestic franchise this month earned him a recall for South Africa's last two one-day matches before the World Cup, starting in May.
Also back is the experienced JP Duminy, who returned to domestic action with two half-centuries this month after being out of action since October following shoulder surgery. Duminy adds balance to the squad as a left-handed batsman and capable off-spin bowler.
Another experienced returning player is batsman Hashim Amla.
A squad of 15 players was named - the same number as will go to the World Cup.  Batsman Reeza Hendricks and 

Markram gets World Cup lifeline with ODI

Vincent Kompany has hailed Manchester City teammate Raheem Sterling as one of the best players in the world after his 13-minute hat-trick in the 3-1 win against Watford.
The victory at the Etihad on Saturday took the defending champions four points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table but Jurgen Klopp's men closed the gap to a single point on Sunday.
There was an offside debate over Sterling's first goal and his second was a tap-in but his third highlighted his skill as he weaved into the area, cut back and fired past Ben Foster.
"It's incredible because his first year at City was tough, and then from the moment Pep (Guardiola) came in he just kicked on and went from strength to strength," said City captain Kompany.
"For me, he is one of the best wingers in the world. He's so important for us. To have the ability to unlock defences when they defend with so many bodies is the sign of a top, top, top player."
Sterling's strikes shifted what had been a frustrating ...

Raheem Sterling hailed as one of world's best by Kompany

Ross Taylor whispered a prayer and an apology to the late Martin Crowe Monday as he overtook his mentor's century tally during an exceptional innings of 200 that put New Zealand in a strong position in the second Test against Bangladesh.
Taylor's 18th Test century, one more than Crowe laid the foundation for New Zealand's 432 for six declared in the first innings of the rain-disrupted Test in Wellington.
At stumps, Bangladesh were 80 for three in their second innings, needing another 141 runs on the final day to make New Zealand bat again.  The number four's sterling effort was his third Test double hundred and achieved his long-held ambition to fulfil Crowe's prophecy that Taylor would one day overtake the late great batsman's mark.
"I told Hogan (Crowe) 'my apologies' for taking so long to get there," said Taylor who scored his 17th century in 2017, nearly two years after Crowe died from cancer.
"Seventeen was such a big number when I just started playing cricket. Once I got there ..

Taylor prays in quiet apology after passing Crowe's century mark

A "Shane Warne like drift" makes Kuldeep Yadav a more difficult bowler to face compared to Yuzvendra Chahal, feels former Australia opener  Matthew Hayden, who says wrist spinners like the two Indians are becoming more relevant because of finger spinners' lack of "courage".
Kuldeep and Chahal, the two Indian wrist spinners, have troubled the world's best batsmen in the shorter formats.
So what makes them special?
"Leg spinners provide option and variety. In particular, if you look at Kuldeep, his strength is not how far he turns the ball but his strength is how the ball just like Shane Warne's deliveries arrives at the batsman. It has a distinct curve in the air," Hayden told PTI during an interview.
Chahal can, however, be negotiated, feels Hayden, who was hugely successful against Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble at their peak.
"Chahal is a different bowler. He is a very stump-to-stump. He bowls much flatter and straighter. He doesn't get the drift. If I was a player, I would prefer .

Warne like drift makes Kuldeep more difficult than Chahal: Hayden

A double ton from Ross Taylor and three quick Bangladesh wickets put New Zealand in a prime position to pull off an exceptional victory in the rain-shortened second Test in Wellington on Monday.
At stumps on day four at Basin Reserve, where the first two days were washed out, Bangladesh were 80 for three, still 141 from making New Zealand bat again.  Taylor, dropped twice on 20, proceeded to punish the Bangladesh attack with a rollicking 200 from 212 balls before New Zealand declared at 432 for six.
With 23 overs left in the day, Bangladesh had a disastrous start to their second innings when Tamim Iqbal was bowled in the first over.
After innings of 126 and 74 twice so far in the series, Bangladesh's leading run-scorer was out for four.
Mominul Haque followed for 10 and Shadman Islam for 29 leaving Mohammad Mithun on 25 with Soumya Sarkar not out 12.
New Zealand resumed the day at 38 for two and piled on 394 runs in 73 overs before sending Bangladesh back in.
Taylor, after surviving ..

Taylor's double ton raises New Zealand victory hopes in rain-hit Test

World number two Rafael Nadal raced into the third round of the ATP Indian Wells Masters as Roger Federer made a less speedy but still successful start to his quest for a sixth title.
Nadal, a three-time Indian Wells winner, needed just 72 minutes to get past overmatched Jared Donaldson 6-1 6-1 on Sunday.
Federer, who is seeking to break out of a tie with top seed Novak Djokovic for most titles in the California desert, looked set for a similarly easy time of it, but had to turn back a second-set challenge from German Peter Gojowczyk in a 6-1 7-5 win.
Fourth-seeded Federer said he was relieved not to go to a second-set tiebreaker after falling behind 3-1 to the free-swinging German who is ranked 85th in the world.
The Swiss regained the break and, after saving four break points to make it 4-4, he broke Gojowczyk for a 6-5 lead, the German double-faulting on break point to give Federer a chance to serve it out.
"I struggled a little bit with my serving in that second set and that gave .

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