Cristiano Ronaldo's woes deepened today when the star striker who reportedly wants to quit Real Madrid was summoned to appear before a judge investigating tax fraud.
     Ronaldo, 32, said to have vowed that he would never play for Real Madrid again, was ordered to appear in a Madrid court on July 31 to answer four counts of tax evasion of 14.7 million euro ($16.5m).
     Spain's Budget Minister
     Urged media to respect the presumption of innocence regarding the four-time world player of the year.
     "What is very important for me is to insist that no one is a criminal if he is not convicted," Montoro told a press conference.
     "That is why we must apply the principle of presumption of innocence in all areas."
     Unhappy Ronaldo has left his future at the Spanish giants in doubt after angrily announcing last week that his "conscience is clear."
     Spanish tax authorities are also targeting Jose Mourinho, the Manchester United manager who was on Tuesday accused of evading ..

Troubled Ronaldo gets Madrid court date

PTI Automatic

Eight teams, two each from Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and Nagpur, will be participating in the WIFA Women's Football Championship, being organised here as part of the FIFA-AIFF State Development Project.
	The tournament will be played at the Cooperage ground in the city from June 23. The finals are scheduled to be played on July 8, a statement said.
	Mumbai will be represented by former MDFA champions Bodyline SC and Aadhar Pratishtan, while the teams from Pune include Pune City FC and United Pooja SA. KSA Women's FC and Poddar International are the teams participating from Kolhapur, while Tulip FC and Pirpude FC are representing Nagpur in this competition, it said.
	The teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each and will initially play on a round-robin league basis. The two top teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be played on July 7.
	WIFA will also conduct the FIFA 'Live Your Goals' women's grassroots leaders' course from July 6-8.
	The groupings - .

Mumbai to host WIFA women's football tournament from June 23

Former Australia stumper Adam Gilchrist today said that Pakistan played a perfect game of cricket when they decimated India in last Sunday's Champions Trophy final, but urged the country's fans not to over-react to the defeat against the arch-rivals.
	"Before the game, I would have backed India, but (when) two horses race anyone can beat anyone in the short version cricket. I wouldn't say there has been an over-reaction, I am just encouraging (fans) not to over react (on India's loss). Pakistan just played a perfect game of cricket," Gilchrist, who is currently Australia-India Education Ambassador, told reporters on the sidelines of an education-related event here.
	Pakistan spanked defending champions India by 180 runs to lift their maiden ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval in London.
	Gilchrist, swashbuckling batsman of yesteryears whose century in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka helped his country retain the title, also felt that most nations would now start to focus on ...

Indian fans should not over-react on loss to Pak: Gilchrist

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal take on Confederation Cup hosts and Group A leaders Russia tomorrow with the tax storm scandal clouding Ronaldo's Real Madrid future.
     Having opened their Confed Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over New Zealand, Russia face a step up against Euro 2016 winners Portugal and their troubled superstar captain.
     Spanish authorities accuse Ronaldo of evading 14.7 million euro ($16.5m) in tax and he has been summoned to appear in court next month in Madrid.
     The four-time world player of the year has protested his innocence and has threatened to leave Real over the matter.
     President Florentino Perez has said Champions League winners Real have so far received no offers for Ronaldo, the world's highest paid athlete according to Forbes magazine.
     Despite the off-field disruption, Ronaldo picked up the man-of-the-match award in Portugal's opening 2-2 draw with Mexico on Sunday.
     Having rattled the crossbar, Ronaldo's deft pass in the area found ...

Hosts Russia tackle embattled Ronaldo's Portugal

The celebrations which had followed Pakistan's 1992 World Cup win were relived today as Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was given a rapturous welcome here on his return from London with the Champions Trophy.
     From the moment he came out of the Karachi International Airport in the wee hours of today, hundreds of fans surrounded him and flooded him with flower bouquets as he was taken home in official protocol provided by the Sindh government.
     Hundreds of fans stayed up late and lined the streets and followed his car from the airport to his residence where the entire streets were lined up with people eager to get a glimpse of the trophy and Sarfraz.
     The scenes were similar to those witnessed when Pakistani players returned home after winning the 1992 World Cup.
      But whereas 25 years ago the entire Pakistan team had returned home together, Sarfraz and pacer Rumaan Raees landed in Karachi while some of the other players reached their home destination.
     Some of the ...

Pakistan team returns home to rapturous welcome

Grandmaster B Adhiban put aside his loss in the previous round and came back roaring to beat Vladislav Kovalev to ensure a 2.5-1.5 victory for India over Belarus in the third round of world teams chess championship here.
     It turned out to be Indian men's first victory following two losses against Poland and China but the way it came promises more for the Indian men. After Vidit Gujrathi showed his excellent temperament on the top board, Adhiban has now struck form.
     The other three games ended in draws with Vidit Gujarthi not able to press too hard against Sergei Zhigalko, Krishnan Sasikiran signing peace with Kirill Stupak and Parimarjan Negi coming up with the same result against Alexei Fedorov.
     The Russian men bounced back after a lackluster draw with Turkey in the previous round to beat Ukraine 2.5-1.5. For Russia, Ian Nepomniachtchi came good against Anton Korobov while the other three games ended in draws.
     The Chinese men were held to a surprising 2-2 draw by ..

Adhiban stars in first win for Indian men

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was today accused of evading 3.3 million euro (USD 3.7 million) in tax at Real Madrid, the public prosecutor's office in Madrid announced.
	The 54-year-old Portuguese, who coached Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, was accused of "two offences against the public treasury," the office said in a statement.
	The announcement comes a week after Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of evading 14.7 million euros in tax through offshore companies.
	Ronaldo, 32, has denied the charges and is threatening to leave Spain after running into problems with tax authorities.

Football: Mourinho accused of 3.3mn euro tax fraud in Spain

Robin Uthappa has ended his 15- year association with Karnataka cricket after the state body KSCA granted him a NOC to play elsewhere.
     KSCA secretary Sudhakar Rao said the two parties could not reach an agreement and therefore there was no option but to let him go.
     "It is sad but we wish him all the best. He played for Karnataka from U-14 to the highest level. He served the state in the best possible way. He wanted to go and we couldn't say no to him," Rao told PTI.
     Rao informed that NOC was given to Uthappa last week.
     The 31-year-old veteran of 130 First Class games could not be reached as he is currently in the United States. Uthappa has also played 46 ODIs for India besides 13 T20 Internationals.
     When asked whether efforts were made to make Uthappa stay, Rao said: "We know we are losing out an experienced guy. We had two-three meetings with Robin and I was a part of them. He was pretty keen to leave so we sent him the NOC last week. He said that he has ...

Uthappa ends 15-year association with KSCA

India will face Canada in the Davis Cup World Group Play-Off tie on an indoor hard court in Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton in September later this year.
     This will be the first meeting between the two countries, and Canada -- a seeded team ranked higher than India -- got the right to host the match through draw of lots.
     "The Davis Cup Play-Off tie between India and Canada will be held on an indoor court at the Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 15th to 17th September 2017," an statement from the All India Tennis Association said.
     "The winning team will be promoted to World Group in 2018."
     India had defeated Uzbekistan 4-1 in Bangalore earlier this year to reach the playoffs round for the fourth successive year.
     India would be happy to have avoided higher-ranked countries such as Argentina, Germany and Czech Republic in the draw, which was conducted in London.
     Last year in the playoffs, India had lost 0-5 to Spain, who went on to reach the ..

Edmonton to hosts India-Canada Davis Cup tie

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels the blame for India's embarrassing loss to arch- rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final lies with the team's bowlers, who "disappointed when it mattered".
     Harbhajan said the runs leaked in the middle overs and the spinners' inability to take wickets made a huge impact in the match as Pakistan piled on a big total of 338 for 4 after being put into bat.
     India were then bowled out for 158 in just 30.3 overs as Pakistan notched up a 180-run win in a lop-sided summit clash.
     "Our bowlers disappointed when it mattered the most. We didn't start too well to begin with. The spinners did not help by giving away too many runs, plus they didn't take any wickets. This cost us immensely," Harbhajan wrote in his column for the ICC.
     "Our fielding was not up to the mark as seen in previous matches. It was such kind of performance where we were hoping for a breakthrough rather than making things happen. The runs given in the middle ...

Our bowlers disappointed in CT final vs Pakistan: Harbhajan

The Himachal Pradesh Olympics Association (HPOA), under the leadership of Anurag Thakur, is all set to orgainse the first-ever Himachal Pradesh State Olympics Games starting June 22.
     Gracing the occasion will be the international WWE wrestling star Dalip Singh Rana, 'The Great Khali', and the governor of Himachal Pradesh Acharya Devvrat.
     The inauguration will be held right after the five-day Olympic Torch Run reaches Hamirpur which is taking place across Himachal Pradesh.
     A number of Bollywood celebrities are also expected to be present at the high profile opening ceremony which is being called the 'biggest initiative for India's Olympic dreams since independence'.
     The event will be held across 11 disciplines, namely hockey, athletics, boxing, basketball, judo, kabaddi, volleyball, wrestling, kho-kho, weight-lifting and shooting from June 22 to 25.
     The Games are expected to engage about 50,000 sports enthusiasts from across the state.
     The HPOA is ...

The Great Khali to inaugurate the HP State Olympic Games

Time has come for India to take decisions with focus on the 2019 World Cup and that includes a call on the role of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh in the current team, feels former captain Rahul Dravid.
     "It is a call that is got to be taken by the selectors and the management," Dravid told 'ESPNCricinfo' when asked about future of Yuvraj and Dhoni, who were the team's number four and five in the Champions Trophy.
     "And what they see as the road map for Indian cricket, and where they see the role of both these cricketers going ahead for the next couple of years. Is there a place for both of them? Is there a place for only one of them?
    "Do you want to reassess it in a year's time, six months' time? Do you want to look at the available talent and see what they have to offer before going back to these two players," he elaborated further.
    India will play the limited overs series in the West Indies beginning Friday with a full strength squad. However, Dravid hopes the youngsters .

Dravid urges decisive call on Dhoni, Yuvraj's role in team

Hundreds of fans gave Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed a hero's welcome as he arrived home carrying the Champions Trophy early on Tuesday.
	   Men, women and children packed Karachi airport as Sarfraz returned from England, where Pakistan thrashed arch- rivals India to be crowned surprise winners.
	   Sarfraz held up the trophy to loud cheers and chants of "Long live Sarfraz!" as a police band played patriotic songs nearby.
	   "(We won) thanks to Allah and the prayers of the whole nation," Ahmed said in brief comments as he jostled his way through the crowd of well-wishers.
	   Pakistan's victory by 180 runs on Sunday has sparked widespread celebrations in the country, where cricket is the number one sport.
	   The win has been a long overdue boost after a several years of poor results, particularly in the limited-overs formats.
	   Sarfraz was showered with bouquets and given a traditional skull cap and an 'ajrak' shawl, which is usually presented as a mark of honour.
	   Senior local 

Pakistan captain gets hero's welcome

"Papa, I've been shot," were the last words of a 15-year-old boy who died after being struck by a stray bullet from aerial firing as frenzied celebrations rang across Pakistan over its cricket team's Champions Trophy triumph.
	As the nation celebrated Pakistan's victory over arch- rivals India in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2017, on Sunday, Syed Hussain Raza Zaidi fought for his life in an operation theatre at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here.
	The country-wide jubilation turned into a day of mourning for Syed Qazim Raza Zaidi's family, who lost their eldest son, Hussain, due to the aerial firing in the name of celebrations for Pakistan's victory, The Express Tribune reported.
	It was not an isolated incident as several people were reported to have been injured in celebratory aerial firing.
	Nearly a dozen people were injured in Karachi itself as residents resorted to indiscriminate aerial firing following Pakistan cricket team's triumph. Several were reported to be ...

Pak boy, 15, killed in celebratory gunfire after team's CT win

Mumbai girl Ahana Shah has won a bronze medal with a score of 4 points out of 5 in the Under-7 category of the 2017 Kenilworth Junior Open Rapid Chess Tournament in the United Kingdom.
	Ahana, a second grade student of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, managed to finish in third position in the tournament last weekend, according to information available here.
	The seven-year-old Mumbai girl was the only unrated participant competing with other boys and girls having an ECF rating as high as 36 and 42, which is equivalent to FIDE 1200 ELO.
	Despite this handicap, at the end of the fifth round, the Indian girl had accumulated a total of 4 points and was tied with two other players, Muthuvelu Rithvik and Dicen Elis, both from England, and had to settle for bronze on the basis of the progressive scores.
	Rithvik, of Hallfield, and Dicen, of St. Patrick's Club, emerged winners and runner-up respectively.
	Ahana was the silver medalist in the Under-6 category of the ...

Mumbai girl Ahana wins bronze at junior chess meet in UK

Promising Indian singles player Karman Kaur Thandi was today knocked out of the USD 25000 ITF women's event after losing a tight first round match against Russia's Elena Rybakina, here.
     Seventh seed Karman lost the match 6-1 6-7 (1) 4-6 after fighting hard for two hours and 17 minutes.
     The Indian, who turned 19 last week, put herself in a great position by taking the first set for the loss of just one game but the Russian (ranked 533) turned it around to shock the higher-ranked player (450).
     Karman made a flying start, breaking her rival twice to race to a 4-0 lead but dropped serve in the fifth. It allowed the Russian to get on board but Karman immediately broke back for a comfortable 5-1 lead.
     The Indian had no problem in serving out the opener on her second set point.
     Elena put up a much better resistance in the second set as she pushed Karman in the fourth game, looking for a break to seize early initiative but the Indian managed to hold after two deuce ...

Karman squanders super start to bow out of Fergana ITF event

Aiming to qualify for next year's AFC Under-23 Championships, the Indian team will travel to USA for an exposure trip after undergoing a preparatory camp here.
     Thirty four players have been summoned for the camp, which will continue till July 1 before the team departs for the USA.
     Besides players playing in the Hero I-League, national Stephen Constantine has also called two players from the U-22 trials, players for which were scouted by the AIFF scouting network led by Executive Committee member Abhishek Yadav.
     Yadav and his team had selected players from inter- university championships, inter-college tournaments, Santosh Trophy, Second Division League, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) as well as the overseas scouting programme.
     India are slated to face Syria, Turkmenistan and Qatar in Group C of 2018 AFC U-18 Championship Qualifiers which are scheduled from July 19, 2017 to July 23, 2017 in Doha, Qatar.
     "Our aim is to qualify for the 2018 AFC U-23 ...

AFC Qualifiers: India U-23 to head to US after camp in Delhi

The next Champions Trophy scheduled in India could be scrapped to accommodate two World Twenty20 Championships in a four-year cycle, the International Cricket Council's CEO David Richardson has revealed.
     India, who hold the hosting rights for the next Champions Trophy in 2021, lost the title to Pakistan by 180 runs in the finals at The Oval on Sunday.
     Despite the question-marks over its relevance, the event received huge response from global audience as millions tuned in to catch the action on television.
     However, Richardson said there is no guarantee that there will be another Champions Trophy after 2021 and the issue will be discussed during the ongoing ICC annual conference at The Oval.
     "What we want to do is differentiate our global events from each other so that they can be standalone and create maximum interest every time the event happens," Richardson told reporters.
     "At this stage, the next Champions Trophy is still scheduled for India in 2021. Whether 

Champions Trophy 2021 in doubt, ICC mulls 2 WT20s in 4 years

In a new twist to his speculated rift with captain Virat Kohli, chief coach Anil Kumble has not accompanied the Indian team to the West Indies for a limited- overs series starting June 23, citing his commitment to an ICC meeting here.
     The official reason being given is that Kumble is required to stay back for the ICC 'Annual Conference' as he is the chairman of the Cricket Committee in-charge of taking a call on laws and regulations of the game.
     The ICC Annual Conference started yesterday and will continue till June 23.
     Kumble's Cricket Committee meeting will be held on June 22.
     "Yes, chief coach Anil Kumble is staying back for the ICC Meeting. The team is flying off to Barbados today," a team source confirmed the development without commenting whether he will join the team at all.
     It is being widely perceived in the BCCI that in the meeting between Kohli and Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising -- Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman -- the ...

Anil Kumble 'stays back' for ICC meeting

Faf du Plessis is optimistic the creation of a new Twenty20 Global League in South Africa will help prevent the country's top cricketers leaving in search of greater financial opportunities.
     The combination of a relatively weak economy and the lure of the English county game has seen a number of Proteas cricketers all call time on their international careers.
	South Africa has a trade agreement with the European Union which means players in England are regarded as 'home' selections under the Kolpak rule.
	The likes of Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw, Dane Vilas, David Wiese, Simon Harmer, Hardus Viljoen and Stiaan van Zyl have all opted to play county cricket rather than continue to represent South Africa, sparking fears of a mass exodus.
	While financial security has been the often cited reason, there have been concerns transformation targets designed to correct the legacy of apartheid, when non-white players were effectively barred from representing South Africa, could have played a 

Faf hopes Global League can halt South Africa talent exodus

Kevin Pietersen has insisted he was happy to have paved the way for current England stars to play in Twenty20 franchise cricket even if it helped curtail his own international career and saw him labelled the 'bad guy'.
     Pietersen, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, has not played for England since being frozen out following the team's return from a 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia in 2014.
     Having once held out some hope of a return to England duty, Pietersen has spent most of the intervening period playing in the growing number of Twenty20 franchises around the world, having been a early overseas star in the Indian Premier League.
     Monday saw Pietersen announced as one of eight international marquee players for South Africa's T20 Global League that is due to start later this year.
     The England and Wales Cricket Board once had little time for events such as the IPL but has recently softened its stance, with the likes of all-rounder Ben Stokes named ...

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