India have retained their top position in the ICC ODI team rankings table while Virat Kohli remained the highest-ranked Indian batsman at the fourth spot in the latest list issued today.
     India, who have been in the number one position since February 2013 when they beat England 3-2 at home to regain the top place, have 123 rating points to their credit, ahead of Australia (114) and England (112).
     While Kohli managed to maintain his position in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI Batsmen, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also retained his seventh spot in the top-10 list, which still has South Africa's Hashim Amla sitting at the top.
     Meanwhile, the bowlers' chart is still headed by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja with 733 points.
     Jadeja will have the first shot at an outright lead at the top of the tree when he's expected to take the field against Australia in Pune on October 13.
     West Indies' Sunil Narine continues to lead the bowlers' table, followed by Saeed Ajmal of ...

India remain at top in ODI rankings

PTI Automatic

Indian men's team's fine run in Sepaktakraw World Super Series came to an end today as they lost to Malaysia in the semifinals here.
     The home side were beaten 15-13, 8-15, 6-15, 3-15 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex but still will walk away with a maiden bronze. Under ISTAF (international federation) rules, both the semifinalists will get a bronze each.
     Backed by a cheering home crowd, the fourth seed Indians began confidently winning the first set despite star striker Akash Singh looking a little subdued compared to his Malaysian counterpart Norshahruddin Mad Ghani.
     In the second set, India matched Malaysia point for point early on, but fell back after 4-4 to allow their second seed opponents to win the set.
     Malaysia led all the way in the third set, at one point scoring seven straight points. In the fourth set, it was all over for the home side as their opponents raced to an 11-2 lead and wrap up the match in quick time.
     "This is the first time in Indian .

India wins maiden bronze in Sepaktakraw Super Series

Indian men's team's fine run in Sepaktakraw World Super Series came to an end today as they lost to Malaysia in the semifinals here.
     The home side were beaten 15-13, 8-15, 6-15, 3-15 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex but still will walk away with a bronze. Under ISTAF (international federation) rules, both the semifinalists will get a bronze each.
     Backed by a cheering home crowd, the fourth seed Indians began confidently winning the first set despite star striker Akash Singh looking a little subdued compared to his Malaysian counterpart Norshahruddin Mad Ghani.
     In the second set, India matched Malaysia point for point early on, but fell back after 4-4 to allow their second seed opponents to win the set.
     Malaysia led all the way in the third set, at one point scoring seven straight points. In the fourth set, it was all over for the home side as their opponents raced to an 11-2 lead and wrap up the match in quick time.
     "This is the first time in Indian ...

Indian team ends fine run in semis in Sepaktakraw Super Series

Sachin Tendulkar is all set to play his 200th Test match on home soil with the BCCI trying to squeeze in a series against the West Indies ahead of the year-end tour of South Africa.
     The decision to invite West Indies for two Tests and five one-dayers was taken at the working committee meeting here today.
     "We have sent a proposal to the West Indies Cricket Board in this regard. We are hopeful of working out the modalities for the series," a top BCCI official said.
     The series against West Indies will provide Tendulkar a chance to complete the historic milestone of playing 200 Tests in front of home fans.
     Mumbai and Kolkata are the likely venues for the much-anticipated matches and the final decision will be taken by the BCCI's tours and fixtures committee.
     This has also raised speculation that Tendulkar may call it quits from the game after this series.
     The champion batsman has so far played 198 Tests, scoring 15,837 runs at an average of 53.86. The top ...

Tendulkar to play 200th Test at home

Fearing legal repercussions, N Srinivasan today refrained from staging a comeback as BCCI President but attended the Board's working committee meeting which decided to have its crucial Annual General Meeting on September 29 in Chennai.
     There was intense speculation ahead of the meeting on whether Srinivasan, who had stepped aside in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, will regain control of the Board as he aims for a second term at the helm.
     Srinivasan was in attendance as President of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, while interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya chaired the working committee meeting which also ratified the audited accounts of the Board.
     Though Dalmiya chaired the meeting, Srinivasan presided when matters concerning the accounts were taken up.
     The working committee decided that Dalmiya will continue to oversee the Board's day-to-day functioning till the AGM in Chennai.
     The AGM assumes great significance as Srinivasan is keen to seek a second ...

Srinivasan stays in exile, BCCI AGM on Sep 29

India have managed to retain their third spot among T20 teams while Virat Kohli has held on to his sixth spot in the ICC rankings for Twenty20 batsmen issued here today.
     India are placed at third with 121 rating points in the ICC T20 Championship table, which is headed by Sri Lanka and followed by Pakistan.
     The Indian batsmen figuring in top-20 list also managed to cling on to their respective positions with star batsman Kohli at sixth place with 731 points while Suresh Raina remained at eighth position with 719 points.
     Other Indians in the list includes Yuvraj Singh and opener Gautam Gambhir at 16th and 19th positions, respectively.
     The T20 batsmen's list is headed by England opener Alex Hales, who climbed to the number one position after a stellar performance (61-ball 94) in the second match against Australia in Chester-le-Street that helped England level the two-match series 1-1.
     Hales has been rewarded with 65 ratings points, which enabled him leapfrog New 

India retain No. 3 position in T20 rankings

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the national team's Australian coach Dav Whatmore, saying that he has failed to deliver the results that were expected of him.
     "Honestly speaking when Dav came they were lot of expectations from him and I don't think he has delivered to those expectations," Inzamam said in an interview.
     "The main thing is when the board hired a foreign coach the emphasis was that he would bring about visible improvements in our team and that has not happened from what we have seen since he took over," Inzamam said.
     Whatmore was brought in to replace former Test player Mohsin Khan as Pakistan's head coach in March, 2012 and since than has faced plenty of criticism over his performance with the team.
     Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 one-dayers in an illustrious career and also worked as captain for four years with another foreign coach Bob Woolmer, said he expected a lot from Whatmore.
     "Perhaps I spoke because of my ...

Whatmore has failed to deliver: Inzamam

Indian tennis players enjoyed an all-win day at the US Open as three of them reached the men's doubles third round with their respective partners, while Sania Mirza entered the women's doubles prequarters here.
     Sania and her Chinese partner Jie Zheng, who are seeded 10th, defeated the unseeded Hungarian-American combination of Katalin Marosi and Megan Moulton-Levy 6-3 7-5.
     They will now be up against sixth seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic.
     In the men's doubles competition, it turned out to be an excellent day for all the Indians in fray.
     First up was Divij Sharan with his Chinese-Taipei partner Yen-Hsun Lu. The duo defeated the Israeli team of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 6-4 5-7 7-6 (2) in a hard-fought contest.
     They have a tough match on hand as next up for them is Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and the Netherlands Jean-Julien Rojer, a combination that is seeded fifth in the season's final Grand Slam.
     Fourth 

Indians round off all-win day at US Open

Putting to rest days of speculation, BCCI President N Srinivasan, who was forced to step aside in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, today arrived to attend the Board's Working Committee meeting here.
     Srinivasan, who is based in Chennai, was originally scheduled to arrive here last evening but came this morning and went straight to the hotel where the meeting will take place this afternoon.
     At the airport, he was received by Cricket Association of Bengal's Treasurer Biswarup Dey, who escorted him to the venue of the meeting.
     Srinivasan was dealt a major setback when the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on his petition, challenging the Bombay High Court's order which declared the BCCI probe panel to investigate the spot-fixing scandal as "illegal and unconstitutional".
     The hearing will now be conducted on September 11 and notices have been sent to Srinivasan and the BCCI on the matter.
     Another setback for Srinivasan and the Board was the apex court's ...

Srinivasan arrives to attend BCCI WC meeting

Elated after an unbeaten run that helped Hyderabad Hotshots lift the inaugural Indian Badminton League trophy, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal said she expects the USD one million event to become as big as cricket's IPL in the coming years.
     "Nobody expected it would be so successful because everyone was comparing it with the IPL, which is actually not right at this point of time...And we are trying to make it big but first time of course it is not so easy. I am sure in the coming years, it will catch up with IPL," she said.
     The Hyderabad Hotshots, led by Saina, clinched the trophy last night by defeating Awadhe Warriors 3-1.
     The London Olympic Games bronze-medallist, who was slated to play in the mixed doubles, said she was nervous against the Indonesian sibling pair of Markis Kido and Pia Bernadeth if the tie had come down to the last match.
     "I am a singles player. Frankly speaking, I was a little scared also because Kido and Pia are world number 9. They are champions. .

I am sure IBL will catch up with IPL in coming years: Saina

The disappointment of finishing as runners-up notwithstanding, Awadhe Warriors' shuttler K Srikanth said he goes home a richer player from the inaugural Indian Badminton League after getting some valuable lessons of the game from seasoned international stars.
     "IBL is a great thing to happen. Badminton has been on the rise. You learn a lot when you have senior players in your team. My team I have (Mathias) Boe and (Markis) Kido, so there is lot to learn from them. The way to start and end, the way to behave yourself on court, mental strength," Srikanth told reporters last night.
     The Warriors finished as the runners-up in the inaugural edition of the IBL and Srikanth, who had provided his team with 1-0 lead, said Lucknow was banking on the men's doubles game and the second men's single match, which didn't work out to their plan.
     "Actually we thought we could get the doubles, so that was the first drawback for us. Then Guru's match with Ajay, those two matches were crucial 

IBL is a great thing to happen: Srikanth

Whatmore as failed to deliver: Inzamam

Rare and historically significant memorabilia related to Indian cricket, including photographs of the country's first Test team, will go under the hammer in Mumbai on September 13.
	Billed as the first professional sports auction of India's cricketing heritage, the sale will take place at the restructured auction house of Osian's group.
	Other items up for auction include unique bats, wickets, gloves, ties, badges, sweaters, books pertaining to the icons of Indian cricket.
	The 1932 photograph of the first Test team led by C K Nayudu has an estimate of Rs 50,000-80,000.
	The organisers said a preview will be held on September 6 at the C K Nayudu Hall at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai.
	The event will include the launch of the catalogue-publication -- India's Glorious Cricketing Heritage -- edited by Osian's Group chairman Neville Tuli, with contributions from the likes of Kapil Dev, Ajit Wadekar, Anshuman Gaekwad, E A S Prasanna and cricket historian Boria Majumdar among ...

Osian's to hold auction of India's cricketing heritage

Carlos Tevez scored his second Serie A goal in as many weeks as champions Juventus thumped Lazio 4-1 to sit second in the early standings behind Napoli, 4-2 winners earlier at Chievo.
     Juventus put four unanswered goals past Lazio on their way to winning the Italian Super Cup two weeks ago, when Tevez scored his maiden goal for the Bianconeri yesterday.
     Having secured all three points for Antonio Conte's side in a 1-0 win over Sampdoria last week, the Argentine capped a dominant display by the hosts - marked notably by a brace from Chilean Arturo Vidal - with a fine individual effort in the 80th minute.
     Juve coach Antonio Conte said: "Putting four goals past Lazio again is a sign that our form is getting better, both on a collective and individual level.
     "We were spectacular in the first 25 minutes in terms of intensity and execution of our gameplan. We were unlucky to concede the goal when we were leading 2-0."
     Lazio started in positive fashion, Hernanes ...

Tevez on target as Juve rout Lazio again

Rafael Nadal breezed into the fourth round of the US Open, moving nearer a potential showdown with Roger Federer, while second seed Victoria Azarenka battled her way into the last 16.
     Nadal, a 12-time Grand Slam champion who has won nine titles since returning in February from a seven-month injury layoff, stretched a career-best hardcourt win streak to 18 matches by beating Croatian Ivan Dodig, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 yesterday.
     "I started the match with the right intensity," Nadal said. "I think I played my best match of the week so far."
     Second-seeded Spaniard Nadal, who completed a career Grand Slam with his 2010 US Open crown, and Swiss star Roger Federer, in his lowest Grand Slam seeding since 2002 at seventh, have never played at the US Open but could meet in the quarter-finals.
     Federer, seeking his 17th Grand Slam title and sixth US Open crown, will face French left-hander Adrian Mannarino, who has never beaten a top-10 foe, in a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
   

Nadal cruises, Azarenka battles through at US Open

Saina Nehwal-led Hyderabad Hotshots crowned themselves as the champions of the inaugural Indian Badminton League when they downed Awadhe Warriors 3-1 in the finals at the NSCI Stadium here today.
	Indian shuttle queen Saina brought the Hotshots on level terms by trouncing her young challenger P V Sindhu in straight games (21-15, 21-7) in 35 minutes after K Srikanth gave the Warriors an unexpected 1-0 lead by stunning top-20 rival S Tanongsak in straight games, 21-12, 21-20.
	Hotshots surged ahead again after Saina's thumping win when their top Malaysian men's doubles team of Goh V Shem and Wah Lim Khim got the better of the scratch Danish-Indonesian pair of Mathias Boe and Markis Kido in three games 21-14 13-21 11-4.
	Later Ajay Jayaram did the star turn for the Hotshots with a wonderful turnaround when he got past R M V Gurusaidutt after dropping the first game.
	Jayaram, ranked 24th in the world, beat 20th ranked Guru 10-21, 21-17, 11-7 in 52 minutes to help the Hotshots win the top 

Hyderabad Hotshots clinch inaugural IBL crown

Alex Hales's 94 provided the platform for England's 27--run win against Australia in the second Twenty20 international today as the two-match series ended all square at 1-1.
     Australia, set 196 for victory, finished on 168 for nine at Chester-le-Street with opener Aaron Finch -- who made a T20 international record 156 in the tourists' 39-run win at Southampton on Thursday -- out for just five.
     David Warner top-scored for Australia with 53 but they were rarely up with the rate as seamer Jade Dernbach took three wickets for 23 runs in his maximum permitted four overs.
     Earlier, opening batsman Hales just failed again to become the first England batsman to score a Twenty20 international hundred as he took the hosts to 195 for five.
     Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, wicketless on debut at Southampton, took his first international wickets to finish with three for 25.
     Hales, who made 99 in a T20 international against the West Indies last year, shared an opening ..

Hales stars as England level Australia T20 series

Mohun Bagan today demanded conferment of Padma Vibhushan posthumously to former India football captain and Olympian Sailen Manna who died last year.
     Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said, "The exploits of Manna is known to one and all and it would be most befitting if he were to be honoured for his achievements."
     Manna is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1971.

Posthumous Padma Vibhushan demanded for Sailen Manna

Star shuttler Saina Nehwal brought Hyderabad Hotshots on level terms by trouncing her young challenger P V Sindhu in the much-anticipated contest after K Srikanth gave Awadh Warriors an unexpected 1-0 lead in the Indian Badminton League final here today.
     Srikanth shocked his Thai rival S Tanongsak, ranked 19 placed above him in the world, 21-12, 21-20 in 38 minutes to put the Warriors 1-0 ahead in the summit contest of the USD one million prize money tournament at the NSCI's Stadium.
     However, any hopes of Sindhu making it a commanding 2-0 lead for the Lucknow-based Warriors vanished into thin air when she was overpowered by her more experienced rival Saina in the eagerly awaited battle between India's top two women shuttlers.
     Saina, who had beaten the taller Sindhu when the two met earlier on August 15 in the league stage, smashed and dropped her way with impunity to win the one-sided contest 21-15, 21-17 in just 35 minutes and helped the Hotshots square the contest ...

Saina dismantles Sindhu in much anticipated IBL contest

Pakistan Cricket Board has projected an estimated earnings of 2.8 billion rupees in the fiscal year of 2013/14 but may still end up with a budget deficit of 557 million rupees due to international teams not touring Pakistan.
     According to details provided by a PCB official, the deficit will be there even though the earnings of the Board will be boosted this fiscal year.
     "The reason for deficit budget is that no international teams are touring Pakistan since 2009 and that is affecting out overall earnings. When we organize our 'home' series we are losing estimated earnings," the official said.
     He said that the Board expected to earn around 2.8 billion mainly from home and international tours as well as popular domestic events like the T20 tournaments.
     "But we bear heavy costs on salaries, subsidizing domestic cricket, development projects as well on players payments," he said.
     The official said the total expenses were estimated at Rs 3.18 billion in the coming ..

PCB may incur budget deficit: official

Alex Hales fell just short again of becoming the first England batsman to score a Twenty20 international century as he made 94 in the second Twenty20 against Australia today.
     The opening batsman's innings was the centrepiece of England's 195 for five at Chester-le-Street as they looked to level the two-match series at 1-1 after a 39-run loss at Southampton on Thursday.
     Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, wicketless on debut at Southampton, took his first international wickets, including two in the last over, to finish with three for 25.
     Hales, who made 99 in a T20 international against the West Indies at his Nottinghamshire home ground of Trent Bridge last year, shared an opening stand of 111 with Michael Lumb (43).
     That partnership equalled England's best for any wicket against Australia in a T20 international, with Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen having put on 111 for the second wicket in England's 2010 World Twenty20 final win over their arch-rivals in ..

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