The prevailing air pollution in the national capital region has become a cause of concern ahead of the T20 International between India and Bangladesh at the Feroz Shah Kotla on November 3.
Back in December 2017, the Sri Lankan cricket team was left gasping for breath during a Test match at the Kotla, forcing most of their players to wear protective masks even as some fell ill.
However, the rotation policy followed by the BCCI and the travel route for the visiting team forced the BCCI to schedule the first match of the tour in Delhi, and they are now hoping that the city's poor air quality doesn't become an issue during the night encounter.
Just a couple of days before the Diwali, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was rated as "very poor".
As per AQI standards, 0-50 is considered good', 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor while 301-400 is very poor. Anything above 400 is considered to be severe, which can cause serious health issues.
According to the available ...

Delhi's toxic post-Diwali air pollution cause of concern ahead of Indo-Bangla 1st T20

PTI Automatic

Former champions Punjab FC will be a force to reckon with in the latest edition of I-League and one of the players to watch out will be Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, who is making waves at 16 years of age.
He was a part of the India U-16 team that reached the quarterfinals of the AFC U16 Championships last year in Malaysia and the side that lifted the SAFF U18 Championship 2019 in September.
At the domestic level, he made his professional debut with Punjab FC in the Hero I-League 2018/19 against the Indian Arrows at only 15 years 11 months old and went on to make seven league appearances in the season.
"Playing in the I-League was a phenomenal experience," he told www.i-league.org, adding, "I learned a lot from it and it has made me a better player for sure."
He spoke about how travelling around the country and sharing the dressing room with highly experienced players has helped him improve in multiple spheres.
"I have learned a lot  how to behave in situations, how to be disciplined in ..

Playing in I-League, a phenomenal experience, says Thoiba Singh

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will mark the start of a new era of national and club team competitions by further investing in the AFC Women's Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League.
At the second AFC Executive Committee meeting of the 2019-2023 cycle, chaired by longest-serving AFC vice-president and FIFA Council member, Saoud Al Mohannadi, in the absence of president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, it was decided to grow the two competitions.
From the 2021 season, the AFC Champions League will be expanded to 40 clubs with an extra group of four being added in both the East and West zones and further growing the reputation of one of the richest Continental club competitions in the world.
This expansion will take place without any change to the existing slots for the top six Member Associations.
In 2022, there will be four more teams in the AFC Women's Asian Cup  going from eight in the last edition in Jordan to 12 in the next tournament. At present, the AFC have ...

AFC to invest in new era of national team and club competitions

Indian Super League action returns to the southern metropolis for the first time this season as Chennaiyin FC take on Mumbai City FC in their opening home game of the season here on Sunday.
The fans of Hero ISL season 4 champions would hope for a better performance from their team after a terrible campaign last time which saw them finish rock-bottom.
"First game in front of the fans and obviously our players want to make an impression. I don't care how we win, we need to get three points. I'd be delighted if we can take maximum points from the next two games," said Chennaiyin head coach John Gregory.
Chennaiyin have not had the best of starts, however. They started with a 0-3 away defeat to FC Goa where their defence looked all at sea against a brilliant attack.
Centre-backs Lucian Goian and Eli Sabia didn't have the best of outings and could not keep Ferran Corominas and co. at bay. But the Romanian centre-back should be pumped to face his former side with whom he spent two ...

Chennaiyin seek much-required first win against Mumbai City

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble has supported Virat Kohli's view of having five centres for Test matches in order to bring the spectators back to the stadium.
Kumble, in fact, wants the BCCI to go back to the old tradition of the 80s and 90s where Test matches at specific centres were held during festivities.
During the 80s and 90s the BCCI calender used to have Tests on New Year in Kolkata and in Chennai at the time of Pongal.
"I think that has certainly been one of the ways of promoting Test cricket. By restricting it to few centres and not just that it is also important to choose the time of the Test match," Kumble was quoted as saying by CricketNext.
"We all remember that in the festival time, during the festival of Pongal, the Test match used to happen in Chennai. And the start of the season used to be in Delhi, Bangalore would have a Test match, Mumbai would have a Test match, Kolkata of course," he added.
Earlier this week, the final Test between India and South ...

Kumble backs Kohli's suggestion to have permanent Test centres

Cricket Australia has echoed BCCI's concerns about ICC's proposed one flagship tournament every year during next eight-year FTP cycle (2023-2031), as they are not ready to compromise on conducting bilateral Test series.
During the ICC meeting in Dubai earlier this month, it was announced that a working group of member nations had agreed in principle to the chief executive Manu Sawhney's idea of selling eight ICC men's events in eight years (2023-2031) as part of the next broadcast rights package.
BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has already expressed his concern and ICC has been apprised that world's richest cricket board is not on same page.
Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts' apprehension about the global body's plans will be music to BCCI's ears.
"The ICC schedule of tournaments is certainly something that is absolutely up for discussion at the moment and will continue in the months ahead," Roberts recently told SEN Radio.
"There's a sense that fans really value World Cups and ...

After BCCI, CA expresses its concern about ICC's proposed new FTP calender

Participating in international competitions frequently has helped the players keep themselves in shape all year round, believes Indian women's football team head coach Maymol Rocky.
India is set to play two FIFA International friendlies against Vietnam next month. Ahead of the matches against Vietnam, the Indian team has assembled in the capital for a training camp.
Speaking to the media on the first day of the camp, Maymol Rocky was all praises about the growing exposure that her team is getting.
"We are playing tournaments or international matches at frequent intervals," she said.
"We now have camps almost every month now, and that is something that helps the players keep up their fitness."
The women's team has had a busy schedule this year, having played the Hero Gold Cup, the SAFF Championship, AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 in Myanmar, followed by an exposure tour to Turkey, the COTIF Cup in Spain, and two international friendlies against Uzbekistan.
Speaking about the upcoming ..

Frequent camps and international matches help players stay fit: Maymol Rocky

India captain Virat Kohli on  Saturday said his career path became simple due to decisions  taken by his father, whom he termed as his "super hero" in  real life.
"My father till the time he was in this world he has  been always been my superhero," Kohli said here when asked who  was his 'super her' in real life.
"Many people can inspire or motivate you, but when  someone sets an example in front of you, the impact is  different. The examples he (my father) set in front of me..  like when I was playing cricket when I was young...the  decisions he took with regard to my career. He could have told  me different dimension. Due to his personality and decisions,  my focusalways remained that I will go ahead on the basis of  hard work and not by any other way," Kohli, one of the most a  successful batsman of the modern era, recollected.
He was speaking after launching an animated series
'Super V' based on Kohli himself, which will be aired on Star  Sports Network, Star Plus and Disney from .

For Virat, his dad is his real life super hero

British heavyweight boxing star Tyson Fury believes International Olympic Committee's decision to ban world body (AIBA) will have a massive impact on amateur and professional boxing, saying it can potentially take away champions of the future from the sport.
"It will have a massive impact because it is potentially stopping stars of the future from getting a break," Fury said during an international conference call ahead of his WWE in-ring debut against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel in Riyadh next week.
"It is very important that amateur boxing continues so we can have professional champions of the future.
"If there is no amateur boxing, there is no professionals. I don't know many people who have turned professionals without being amateurs. It could have a big impact on the professional sport for sure. It could be taking away champions of the future."
Fury will join the likes of Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali when he takes on Braun Strowman at the WWE 

AIBA ban can take away champions of future: Tyson Fury

Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu failed to stop her recent-run of early exits after the reigning world champion crashed out in the quarterfinals of the French Open after a three-game defeat to top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei here.
The fifth seeded Indian went down 16-21 26-24 17-21 to the world number one shuttler in a hard-fought match that lasted one hour 15 minutes on Friday night.
This the 10th time Sindhu had lost to Tzu Ying, who now enjoys a dominant 10-5 record over the Indian.
Sindhu had last defeated the Asian Games gold medallist on the way to her maiden World Championship title in August. The 24-year-old Indian had also got the better of Tzu Ying during 2016 Olympics before knocking out the number one women's singles player in the World Tour Finals last year.
This was also world number six, Sindhu's fourth successive early exit from a tournament since claiming the World Championship at Basel, Switzerland in August. The Indian has struggled to find form since ...

Sindhu crashes out of French Open

Senior opener Tamim Iqbal has opted out of Bangladesh's upcoming tour of India as his wife is due with the couple's second child.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named another left-hander, Imrul Kayes, as Iqbal's replacement for the three T20 Internationals, starting November 3 in Delhi. Bangladesh will also play two Test matches in Indore (November 14-18) and Kolkata (November 22-26).
According to a report in ESPN Cricinfo: "Tamim, who is also nursing a rib injury, was named in the T20I side, but had informed the BCB that he might have to skip the second Test, in Kolkata from November 22, to be with his wife. He has since decided to be with his wife for the weeks heading up to the delivery date too."
"Tamim had informed us earlier that he would miss the second Test in Kolkata but now he will be with his wife for the coming weeks," chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.
Tamim, who has had a horrid run with the bat in recent times, missed Bangladesh's home Test against Afghanistan 

Tamim Iqbal pulls out of India tour, Imrul Kayes named replacement for T20s

Bengaluru FC academy striker Sridarth Nongmeikapam has travelled to Slovenia for a training stint-cum-trial with ND Ilirija 1911.
Ilirija, the oldest football club in the country, is based in Ljubljana and serves as a feeder club to N K Olimpija Ljubljana, one of the nation's most successful teams.
Sridarth who had been training in Bengaluru for the last three weeks, reached the Central European nation on Friday.
During his ten-day stay in Ljubljana, Sridarth will be training with Ilirija's U15 side which plays in the country's top division in their youth structure.
In fact, the youngster will also have additional training sessions with the club's coaching staff which will further help his development.
The Pukhao-born Manipuri lad had begun playing football as a youngster and after representing his school at the state level, his impressive performances in the Subroto Cup were followed by a move to the AIFF Elite Academy setup.
Two years on, Sridarth has been one of the key members of .

BFC academy's Sridarth Nongmeikapam earns Slovenian trial

Qualifying for the Australian MotoGP was cancelled Saturday as fierce winds caused havoc at the beachside circuit, with riders deciding it was too dangerous after Tech3 Racing's Miguel Oliveira was "blown off" the track.
Phillip Island, known for its fast corners and long straights, is a favourite among the sport's stars, but is also renowned for notoriously unpredictable weather.
After wet and then dry sessions on Friday, the riders had to contend Saturday with not only more rain but blustery and cold conditions, making it hard to push the pace.
The winds whipping the circuit were such that 10 of the 22-strong field didn't even set a lap-time in Saturday's third practice session.
Fourth practice was then red-flagged when pit board numbers blew onto the track, just minutes after Oliveira lost control and came off his bike in a big crash on the approach to turn one.
MotoGP officials said he was "blown off the track", with the Portuguese rider stretchered away.
"From the morning to the .

Strong winds force cancellation of Australia MotoGP qualifying

Tiger Woods shot a second successive sumptuous six-under par 64 Saturday and will go into Sunday's rain-delayed third round at the Zozo Championship in Japan leading Gary Woodland by two shots.
The 15-time major winner lit up the back nine in five-under 31 to take control on an empty Narashino Country Club course, closed to spectators for safety reasons after soaking up more than six inches (150mm) of rain during Friday's washout.
Woods bounced back from bogeying his opening three holes to shoot a mesmerising 64 in Thursday's first round, but he started steadily on Saturday and was one-under at the turn before switching on the afterburners.
Three birdies in four holes from the 10th took him alongside clubhouse leader Woodland at 10-under.
Woods kept his foot down. The US Masters champion smoked a massive drive down the long par-four 17th and his pinpoint approach from 154 yards left him a simple two-footer to take the solo lead.
He saw a 20-foot eagle putt slip by at the par-five 18th 

Imperious Tiger shoots second 64, leads by two in rain-hit Japan

Captain Aaron Finch was Saturday cleared to play in Australia's opening Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, but the team was dealt a blow with fast bowler Andrew Tye ruled out of the series.
There were fears that Finch might not recover from a side strain he has been nursing for a fortnight, but the batsman was given the all-clear to open the innings with David Warner.
"I was a bit worried about throwing yesterday," Finch told reporters in Adelaide after a training session ahead of the first game in the city on Sunday.
"It didn't progress all that quickly but... the last three days it has been really good. I have got full movement ... I feel confident to go."
But short-form specialist Tye, who is usually deployed in the final overs, will take no part in the three-match campaign after injuring his right elbow fielding on Friday.  Finch said Tye picked up the injury throwing the ball.
"I think it was one of the first drills he did. He was a bit off balance and felt a bit of a pop in there," the 

Finch fit for Sri Lanka but Tye out of T20 series

Bangladesh's domestic cricketers might be reaping benefits from the players' protest but their national captain Shkib al Hasan has been caught off-guard, with the board mulling legal action for violation of central contract.
With Bangladesh set to leave for the all-important India series in the next few days, the BCB's strong stance could certainly affect the morale of the team.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, Shakib has signed a deal with noted telecom company 'Grameenphone', which is in violation of the central contract clause.
"BCB president Nazmul Hasan said that they will take strict action if he is unable to provide a satisfactory reply. Grameenphone, the local telecom giants, announced on October 22 that the country's leading all-rounder joined them as their brand ambassador," Cricbuzz reported.
"He cannot make this agreement [with a telecom company] and why he cannot make this agreement is clearly stated in our contract paper," BCB president Nazmul Hasan was quoted as ...

Bangla Crisis: BCB may take legal action against Shakib ahead of India tour

Two-time ISL champion Chennaiyin FC will aim to bounce back strongly with a win after a losing start in ISL-6 when it takes on Mumbai City FC in its first home game here on Sunday.
The CFC head coach John Gregory will be aware of the need to get going quickly as the team's fortunes went downhill after a few early defeats in the 2018-19 season. He would want the players to find form after a lacklustre performance in the loss to FC Goa.
The new-look CFC will look up to local star Dhanpal Ganesh to provide the spark in the midfield and drive the team forward in the absence of an injured Jeje Lalpekhlua.
The defence which included Eli Sabia and Lucia Goian was found wanting in the 0-3 loss to Goa and will need to tighten up in the matches ahead. Gregory said as much after the team lost the opener and would want the defence up and running.
Also, the onus will be on the mid-fielders to press forward and feed the forwardline. How the promising Lallianzuala Chhangte, one of CFC's new signings 

Chennaiyin aim to bounce back against Mumbai City

Manchester United travel to Norwich on Sunday hoping the promising performance to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekend proves to be a turning point in their season rather than another false dawn.
A 1-1 draw against the European champions still left United just two points above the relegation zone in 14th place after their worst start to a league season in 33 years.
Back then Ron Atkinson was sacked to pave the way for Alex Ferguson's arrival at Old Trafford, but United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been emphatic in his belief that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man to turn things around.
Solskjaer managed to avoid matching another unwanted club record of 12 away games without a win with a 1-0 victory at Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday, his first on the road since being appointed on a permanent basis in March.
The Norwegian was credited for his tactical shift to a 3-5-2 that restricted Liverpool to precious few chances.
But ahead of a trip to ..

Pressure builds on Solskjaer to provide creative solutions

Arsenal fans would be forgiven for having flashbacks as the Gunners needed two late Nicolas Pepe free-kicks to see off Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on Thursday.
Empty seats at the Emirates, grumbles from those who were there and calls for the manager to go, it was very reminiscent of the final years of Arsene Wenger's tenure before the Frenchman finally stepped aside in 2018.
Unai Emery was the man chosen to succeed Wenger as the first new Arsenal manager since 1996, but the club could be looking at another appointment soon with the Spaniard showing little sign of having improved the club's fortunes over the past 17 months.
Emery's first season ended in disappointment. Arsenal blew two chances for a return to the Champions League, winning just one of their last five games to finish fifth in the Premier League and then losing the Europa League final 4-1 to Chelsea.
Often derided by fans for a lack of investment, the club's American owner Stan Kroenke backed Emery with a ...

Time running out for Emery to show progress at Arsenal

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City will not buy a player in the January transfer window despite admitting he is concerned about his team's growing list of injuries in defence.
The Premier League champions look destined to be without Oleksandr Zinchenko and Rodri until December after the pair reported fitness problems this week.
With Aymeric Laporte on the sidelines until well into the new year, Guardiola will be heavily reliant on John Stones and Benjamin Mendy, two defenders whose City careers have been severely hampered by injuries.
But while the City manager has expressed his concern, Guardiola insists cash-rich City do not intend spending when the transfer window re-opens at the end of 2019.
"I'm a little bit concerned because in a few positions we don't have enough players," said Guardiola.
"January window I think we are not going to buy. The club didn't introduce me to the players they thought could help us so without that it's not going to happen. Our need is not just for ...

Guardiola not planning to patch up City defence in January window

Prolific striker Wissam Ben Yedder grabbed his ninth goal of the season as Monaco handed Nantes their first home Ligue 1 defeat of the campaign on Friday.
Ben Yedder struck in the first half and had two more efforts ruled out for offside as Leonardo Jardim's rejuvenated Monaco clinched a fourth win in their last five league outings.
They move into eighth place in the table while Nantes stay second, five points behind leaders Paris Saint Germain who take on bitter rivals Marseille on Sunday.
Nantes' defeat ended their perfect record at home this season which had seen four successive 1-0 wins over Montpellier, Reims, Rennes and Nice.
"It's important to win away from home for the first time this season," said Jardim after Ben Yedder became the first Monaco player in 50 years to score nine goals in his first nine games in a season.
"Ben Yedder was always very effective at Toulouse and Sevilla. He is also in a better physical condition than at the beginning of the season."
Ben Yedder ...

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