All-rounder Irfan Pathan was today ruled out of the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, starting later this month, due to an injury.
     Irfan  has been replaced by Kerala medium-pacer Sandeep Warrier in the India Red squad to be led by his brother Yusuf Pathan.
     "Irfan Pathan has been ruled out of the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, due to injury," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.
     "The All-India Senior Selection Committee has replaced him with Sandeep Warrier in the India Red squad," he added.
     Irfan, who has been regularly troubled by injuries since playing a crucial role in India's ODI series win in Sri Lanka last year, was earlier ruled out the India A squad for the ongoing unofficial limited-overs series against West Indies A due to injury.
     A hamstring injury had earlier curtailed Irfan's Ranji season, before another injury ruled him out of the tri-series in the West Indies in July.
     The Challenger Trophy played between three teams -- India Blue, ...

Injury rules Irfan out of Challengers Trophy

PTI Automatic

Ravindra Jadeja continued to jointly top the bowlers' list, while Virat Kohli was the highest-ranked Indian batsman at fourth in the latest ICC ODI rankings issued today.
     Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was unchanged at seventh in the batsmen's list followed by Suresh Raina at a distant joint 16th.
     In the bowling chart, R Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar held on to their 18th and joint 20th position respectively. Jointly heading the list with West Indian Sunil Narine, Jadeja, however, slipped a rung to fourth in the all-rounder's list.
     Elsewhere, Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is back in the top-10 of the Rankings for ODI Bowlers after he jumped six places to eighth in the latest update.
     The latest rankings were released after Australia beat England by 49 runs in the fifth and final ODI at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, last night to claim the series 2-1.
     Johnson picked up five wickets in the series against England and returned to the top 10 for the first 

Jadeja leads bowling list, Kohli 4th in ICC batting rankings

Injury rule Irfan out of Challengers Trophy

Indian bowlers found the going tough after a good start as Jonathan Carter smashed his way to a remarkable century, taking West Indies A to 279 for six in the second unofficial ODI at Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.
     The 25-year-old Carter dominated the West Indies innings by smashing the Indian attack to all corners of the ground, scoring an impressive 133 off 132 balls.
     He took his time in establishing control on a pitch that offered good bounce for the bowlers but was productive for batsmen who were willing to be patient.
     Carter plundered 18 fours and two sixes in a fine display. His hundred came after he had been dropped on six Yusuf Pathan.
     During the course of the knock, he shared a couple of fruitful partnerships -- 79 for the third wicket with Kirk Edwards (36) and 131 runs for the fifth wicket with Leon Johnson (39).
     Carter attacked the Indian bowlers relentlessly and the West Indies reached their 200 in 43rd over. Medium pacer Jaydev Unadkat finally ..

Carter smashes century, helps WI A post fighting 279/6

Vijay Zol will lead a 15-member Indian under-19 cricket team in a quadrangular one-day series against Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe starting September 23 in Visakhapatnam.
     The series will features 14 matches, including the final, and will conclude on October 5.
     It will be conducted at two venues in Visakhapatnam -- Dr YSR CA-VDCA Stadium and the Port Stadium.
     India will take on Zimbabwe on September 23, followed by South Africa on September 25, a BCCI release stated.
     Zol's men will face Australia on September 27. All teams will play each other twice before the final.
     The summit clash and the third-place match are scheduled for October 5. The final will be played at the YSR CA-VDCA Stadium.
     The Indian squad:
     Vijay Zol (Captain), Akhil Herwadkar, Ricky Bhui, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Shubham Khajuria, Ankush Bains, Atul Singh, CV Milind, Ateet Seth, Abhimanyu Lamba, Kuldeep Yadav, Aamir Gani, Jagdish Jope.

Zol to captain India U-19 in quadrangular series

India's only Scirocco R-Cup driver this season Sandeep Kumar had yet another challenging weekend of racing in Oschersleben, Germany, where he finished 19th and 13th respectively in races 7 and 8.
     In Race 7, Sandeep had a rather tough qualifying session, starting 21st on the grid and managed to finish 19th. Race 8 saw him come back and finished at a considerable 13th.
     Kasper H. Jensen had a wonderful weekend, starting with his first ever pole position, his first win (Race 7) and 3rd position in Race 8. Denise Trebing of USA clinched his first victory of the season in Race 8, starting 6th on the grid.
     Sandeep had a difficult start to the weekend with a qualifying position on 21st. He started off Race 7 with a lot of promise, reaching 12th position in the first lap itself but in doing so, he lost the crucial and limited push-to-pass feature.
     Late in the race, he was forced to drop down places as other racers used their push-to-pass feature and Sandeep ended up ...

Sandeep endures tough weekend in Scirocco Cup

Pakistan's former captain Salim Malik, who is serving a life ban for match-fixing, has come out of hibernation to lambast the current national team by comparing it to the Indian side of the '90s which, according to him, "didn't play as a unit".
     Malik, who has rarely made any media appearances or statements since the Justice Qayyum inquiry commission recommended a life ban on him in 2000, said he was very disappointed with the national team's performance in Zimbabwe.
     "The sad part is that today our players are playing the same way that the Indian players played against us in the 80s and 90s," Malik said on 'Geo Super' channel.
     "I recall that in the '80s when we were winning against India we always felt that most of their players didn't play as a unit and were just interested in scoring 30 to 40 runs and securing their places for the next match. That is why they struggled against us," Malik claimed.
     "Unfortunately today we are facing a similar position in Pakistan ...

Pakistan playing like India of '90s: Salim Malik

Australia captain Michael Clarke was in no doubt his side "deserved" their 2-1 one-day international series win over England after a 49-run success in their tour finale at Southampton.
     Shane Watson's 143 and the all-rounder's fourth-wicket partnership of 163 with Clarke (75) took Australia to 298 on Monday, a total that might have been even greater but for 22-year-old England all-rounder Ben Stokes's ODI best five for 61 and debutant seamer Chris Jordan's three for 51 yesterday.
     However, Australia had more than enough runs to play with as England managed just 249 in reply before being bowled out under the Ageas Bowl floodlights.
     After England's preceding 3-0 Ashes series success, the main event of an Australia tour that started with their early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in Britain and saw them replace sacked coach Mickey Arthur with former Test batsman Darren Lehmann, this series seemed an after-thought
     That was especially so after the ..

Australia 'deserved' ODI series win - Clarke

Shane Watson's century saw Australia to a 49-run win over England in the fifth one-day international at Southampton as their lengthy tour ended with a 2-1 series victory.
     Watson, involved throughout in a trip that saw Australia arrive in Britain in May before their early Champions Trophy exit was followed by a 3-0 Ashes series loss, made 143 in a total of 298 all out yesterday.
     Together with Australia captain Michael Clarke (75), he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 163, on a ground where they'd both played for Hampshire, after their side had slumped to 48 for three in this day/night clash.
     Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes led England's attack with an ODI best five wickets for 61 runs, the 22-year-old all-rounder starring as Australia fell just short of 300.
     England debutant Chris Jordan, in for fast bowler Steven Finn (side strain), took three for 47 after his first ball in international cricket was hit for four by Finch, whose last match on the ground saw him ...

Watson leads Australia to series win over England

Shane Watson's century saw Australia to a 49-run win over England in the fifth one-day international at Southampton as their lengthy tour ended with a 2-1 series victory.
	Watson, involved throughout in a trip that saw Australia arrive in Britain in May before their early Champions Trophy exit was followed by a 3-0 Ashes series loss, made 143 yesterday in a total of 298 all out.
	Together with Australia captain Michael Clarke (75), he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 163 on a ground where they'd both played for Hampshire after their side had slumped to 48 for three in this day/night clash.
	However, no other batsman made more than opener Aaron Finch's 26 as Australia fell short of a total in excess of 300 that seemed well within their grasp.
	Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes led England's attack with five wickets for 61 runs -- the 22-year-old paceman's maiden five-wicket haul in 10 ODI matches.
	England debutant Chris Jordan, in for injured fast bowler Steven Finn, took three for ..

Cricket: Watson leads Australia to series win over England

Final scoreboard in the fifth one-day international between England and Australia at Southampton yesterday:
	   Australia
	   P. Hughes c Carberry b Jordan 2
	   A. Finch c Morgan b Stokes 26
	   S. Watson c Buttler b Stokes 143
	   M. Wade c Buttler b Stokes 0
	   M. Clarke c Pietersen b Jordan 75
	   G. Bailey st Buttler b Root 4
	   A. Voges c Buttler b Stokes 8
	   J. Faulkner c Buttler b Jordan 10
	   M. Johnson c and b Stokes 2
	   C. McKay c Root b Rankin 5
	   F. Ahmed not out 4
	   Extras (lb10, w9) 19
	   Total (all out, 49.1 overs) 298
	   Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Hughes), 2-48 (Finch), 3-48 (Wade), 4-211 (Clarke), 5-221 (Bailey), 6-244 (Voges), 7-282 (Watson), 8-284 (Johnson), 9-294 (Faulkner), 10-298 (McKay)
	   Bowling: Rankin 9.

Cricket: England v Australia 5th ODI scoreboard

Australia has beaten England by 49 runs to win the day/night fifth one-day international at Southampton to win the five-match series 2-1.
	Yesterday, England set 299 to win, saw Kevin Pietersen run out for nought and, despite Ravi Bopara's 62, were never in the hunt before being bowled out for 249 with two overs to spare after left-arm seamer James Faulkner took three wickets for 38 runs.
	Earlier, Australia made 298 all out after winning the toss, with Shane Watson top-scoring on 143 and sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 163 with captain Michael Clarke (75).
	Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes led England's attack with an ODI best five for 61, while debutant seamer Chris Jordan took three for 51.
	Australia won the second ODI at Old Trafford by 88 runs before England levelled at 1-1 with a three-wicket victory in Cardiff on Saturday after the first and fourth matches ended in rain-affected no results.
	Brief scores
	Australia 298, 49.

Cricket: Australia win 5th ODI and series against England

Asian Champion Amit Kumar settled for silver after going down narrowly in the final of the 55kg category on the opening day of World Wrestling Championships here today.
	Amit lost to Hassan Farman Rahimi of Iran 1-2 to win finish with a silver medal at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena here.
	India's last medal, in men's section, came in 2010 when Sushil had grabbed the gold.
	After London Olympics silver medallist Sushil Kumar failed to take the mat due to fitness issues, Amit brought cheers to the Indian camp when he got the better off Sezar Akgul of Turkey in the semifinals of the marquee event.
	Among other Indians, Arun Kumar (66kg) and Satyawart Kadian (96kg) failed to go the distance and crashed out of the tournament. While Sushil's replacement in the 66kg category, Arun failed to impress and exited in the first round, world junior bronze medallist Satyawart Kadian (96kg) also could not cross the second hurdle.
	World No 7 Amit, however, howed no mercy on his Turkish opponent as he .

Amit wins silver at world wrestling championship

Former champions Army XI and Indian Overseas Bank recorded easy wins in their respective matches in Group A in the 88th MCC-Murugappa Hockey tournament here today.
     In the first match, Army, playing their third match in the group, beat South Central Railway 4-1, while IOB outclassed Comptroller and Audit General Office 6-1.
     The Bankmen completed their quota of four matches with three wins while Army have a match to go against title contenders Indian Oil Corporation, Mumbai.
     Ignace Tirkey (17th and 50th), C V Bopana (57th) and Euazer Lakra (18th) scored for Army XI while Mayank James (40th) netted for the Railways.
     In the match between IOB and CAG, Adam Sinclair scored in the first minute followed by Vinod Rayer (15th and 64th), D Muthuselvan (49th, 67th) and V Shanmugam while Navneet Savarkar (65th) scored the consolation goal for CAG.

Army XI and IOB win in Murugappa Hockey

Asian Champion Amit Kumar assured India of at least a silver by storming into the finals of the 55kg category on the opening day of World Wrestling Championships here today.
     After London Olympics silver medallist Sushil Kumar failed to take the mat due to fitness issues, Amit brought cheers to the Indian camp when he got the better off Sezar Akgul of Turkey in the semifinals of the marquee event.
     The freestyle grappler will now take on Hassan Farman Rahimi of Iran in the final.
     India last medal, in men's section, came in 2010 when Sushil had grabbed the gold.
     Among other Indians, Arun Kumar (66kg) and Satyawart Kadian (96kg) failed to go the distance and crashed out of the tournament.
     While Sushil's replacement in the 66kg category, Arun Kumar failed to impress and exited in the first round, world junior bronze medallist Satyawart Kadian (96kg) also could not cross the second hurdle at Papp Laszlo Sports Arena here.
     World No 7 Amit, however, showed no ...

Amit secures first medal for India at World Wrestling C'ship

The local police today requested the family of Mahendra Singh Dhoni to inform them about India captain's early morning bike rides purely for security reason.
     Dhoni's love for mean machine is well known and in the last few days, he has been seen driving early morning to the local stadium to watch the training of young archers and footballers.
	"He can ride a bike, but we have informed them (family) to tell us before he goes out anywhere (so that) escort parties could go," Senior Superintendent of Police Saket Kumar Singh told PTI.
	Ahead of the September 22 CLT20 match against Titans at the JSCA Stadium, the captain of the Chennai Super Kings today went to train riding a bike but he had a securuty cover deployed for his to and fro journey from residence to stadium.
	The police will have to be on their toes till September 28 when the last CLT20 match in Ranchi concludes.

Dhoni's penchant for bikes puts police on toes

The Sports Authority of India today distributed branded kit worth Rs four lakh to the sub-junior Indian boxing contingent, which will participate in the first Sub-Junior Women World Boxing Championship to be held at Bulgaria from September 20 to 29.
     The team consists of eight boxers and three coaches.
     The branded kit consisted of track suit, two t-shirts, two shorts, two pair of socks, two sets of playing kit, a kit bag and one pair of warm-up shoes.
     A sum of 15 lakh has been spent for the preparation of the team for the championship which included food and supplements, sports kit, fitness and training, TA/DA, rehabilitation and other logistic expenditure.
     L S Ranawat, Executive Director, NIS Patiala, distributed the kit to the boxers in presence of Roque Dias, Regional Director, SAI Central Regional Centre Bhopal and Sanjay Saraswat, Director, SAI, HQ New Delhi at a function here today.
     "The most advanced scientific training was provided to the sub-junior ...

Sub-junior boxing team gets sports kit worth Rs four lakh

The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel today met Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat today on the sidelines of the ICC Chief Executives' Meet.
     Monday was the first of the two-day meet where the member nations discussed on a host of issues ranging from the use of controversial Decision Review System (DRS) to two new white balls in One Day Internationals.
     "Yes, Patel and Lorgat did speak to each other for a few minutes but it is difficult to comment about what transpired during those few minutes. They were certainly cordial with each other," a source told PTI today.
     "It's an internal matter between the two boards and unless they are interested to divulge any information, it is difficult to make a comment on the issue," the source added.
     BCCI and CSA have been at loggerheads over the fixture of India's tour of South Africa. The CSA had initially planned a tour that comprised of three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 Internationals apart from two three-day warm-up games ...

Lorgat meets Patel at the ICC Chief Executives' Meet

'The police have mentally and physically harassed me and obtained signed statements'

My confession to police was under duress: Sreesanth

Press Trust of India

A day before they begin their Champions League Twenty20 campaign, a relieved Faisalabad Wolves team finally checked-in at a city hotel in Chandigarh, from where they were asked to move to Mohali due to visa issues.
     The Pakistan domestic champions had to spend last night at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium's clubhouse in Mohali as initially they were issued visa for only this Punjab town.
     The team had a practice session at the PCA stadium and after getting clearance they left for the hotel in Chandigarh, a Union Territory, which is a common capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
     "The team has been given visas for Chandigarh, meaning that they can now stay at the hotel and are free to travel within Chandigarh, where three other teams are putting up," PCA Joint Secretary, G S Walia said.
     "The BCCI immediately took up the matter with Ministry of Home Affairs to rectify and added Chandigarh on the visa list. Yesterday being Sunday the action could be initiated late ..

Wolves check-in at Chandigarh hotel

East Bengal chief coach Marcos Falopa today expressed concern on the lack match practice by his side on the eve of their home leg AFC Cup quarterfinal clash against Semen Padang of Indonesia here tomorrow.
	"It's a big match. But the team did not have the kind of match practice needed for a mega match like this," the Brazilian said.
     East Bengal have played just two local league matches to start their season. Their season opener against Kalighat Milan Sangha was abandoned after they led 4-1, while they beat Police AC 4-0 in the local league.
     "We wanted to organise practice matches in countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar... I, myself, spoke to authorities in Myanmar but it could not be materialised."
     Falopa, however, said the boys were confident of a positive result against the Indonesian outfit.
     "They are all fit and are in shape. Few of our players are fresh from their campaign for the national team (in SAFF Championship), so we are confident of putting up a good .

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