Page 127 - Sports
I am not surprised with my bowling: Shankar
Vijay Shankar made his presence felt on his World Cup debut with two crucial Pakistani wickets and the Tamil Nadu all-rounder is backing himself to play an important role in India's campaign. If someone had told him six months back that his bowling would become crucial to India's plans at the quadrennial event, it would not have been a surprise for him. His 'three dimensional' ability was put to test against Pakistan and he responded with wickets of opener Imam ul Haq and rival captain Sarfaraz Ahmed. "I knew that I was batting well but my handy bowling makes me useful," Shankar told reporters during a mixed zone interaction. He got a wicket with his very first World Cup delivery after Bhuvneshwar Kumar hobbled off the field due to a hamstring injury. "I need to keep on improving on all aspects of game and that's how I look at things, so that when situation comes I am ready to face it. I was always focused on my preparation," Shankar said after returning impressive figures of 2/22 in .
Defeat to India due to feud among players and unhappiness with captain Sarfaraz: Pak media
Pakistan's humiliating defeat to India in a World Cup game in England was due to feud among players and their unhappiness with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, local media reported Monday. A defeat to arch-rivals India is always difficult to digest for the passionate Pakistani cricket community anywhere in the world and particularly when it is in a World Cup. A day after the defeat in Manchester on Sunday, the media here ran stories about groupings in the team and how some players wanted to topple the captain. The 'Samaa' news channel reported that soon after he got out, Sarfaraz allegedly lost his cool in the dressing room and accused some players including Imad Wasim and Imam-ul-Haq, of forming a group against him and not supporting him. The 'Duniya' news channel did a similar report about how there were different groups in the team -- one led by Muhammad Aamir and another led by Imad -- which were letting Sarfaraz down. After the defeat to Australia, a well-known actor and cricket fan had ..
Winless Afghanistan to face confident England (Preview)
Hosts England will aim to carry on its winning streak with a hat-trick when they meet minnows Afghanistan in World Cup 2019 group affair at the Old Trafford here on Tuesday. It will also be for the first time when the two teams face-off in the 50-over format.
I can help: Boxing star Amir Khan's offer to Pak cricket team
Pakistan's beleaguered cricket team has been offered help by British boxing star Amir Khan, who says he can assist the team in improving its fitness and focus. The Pakistani-origin boxer's offer comes in the wake of the 89-run drubbing that the country endured in a World Cup match against arch-rivals India here on Sunday. "Would love to help Pakistan cricket team with some advise on how to stay fit and strong. How to be disciplined on food, diet and training. The team has talent but need to improve on Strength & conditioning and focus...," he tweeted. Khan, who was born and raised in Manchester and won an Olympic silver medal for Britain, is a former world champion in the professional circuit. He continues to have close ties in Pakistan and often visits the country to promote boxing. Pakistan were outplayed by India on Sunday, going down for a seventh successive time to the arch-rivals in the World Cup. Khan, whose next pro fight is against an Indian in Neeraj Goyat, said that he .
Former cricketers slam Pakistan for 'going down without fight' against India
Former skipper Wasim Akram led Pakistan's cricket community in lambasting the team for "going down without a fight" against arch-rivals India in the ongoing World Cup in England. Pakistan suffered their seventh defeat to India in the World Cup, losing this time by 89 runs in a rain-hit match at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed's decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired as Pakistan allowed India to post a massive 336 for five. The 1992 champions were then restricted to 212 for six in 40 overs when rain stopped play, paving the way for India's comprehensive 89-run win via D/L method. "The team selection to me is not right and I don't see any planning going into this World Cup," Wasim said. "Win or lose is part of the game but not this way we just went down without a fight." Under-fire Sarfaraz, however, defended his decision to bowl first but many former stalwarts said it was a poor decision and reading of the pitch. "Virat Kohli basically ...
New Zealand are one of favourites, not dark horse: Chris Morris
South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris eulogised his upcoming opponent New Zealand in the World Cup, saying that the team does not deserve the 'dark horse' tag but are 'one of the favourites' in the tournament."In my opinion, I think they are one of the favourites. I don't want to call them dark horses, because I think they deserve more than that. They are a world class team. So our discipline is going to have to be even tighter against them. They're that good," Sport24.co.za quoted Morris, as saying.New Zealand have displayed a scintillating performance in the World Cup and have not faced even a single defeat in the tournament so far.New Zealand registered a massive 10-wicket victory in their opening match against Sri Lanka followed by a two-wicket victory and a seven-wicket win against Bangladesh and Afghanistan respectively. However, their fourth match against India got abandoned due to rain.Morris is impressed with New Zealand's both bowling and batting line-up."They've got a ...
Jason Roy to miss next two games with hamstring tear
England will miss the services of Jason Roy in the next two matches as the opener has suffered a hamstring tear.
Injured Roy to miss England's next two World Cup games
England opener Jason Roy will miss the hosts' next two World Cup matches with a torn left hamstring, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Monday. Roy, who suffered the injury while fielding during England's win over the West Indies on Friday, has been ruled out of Tuesday's group fixture against Afghanistan at Old Trafford and Friday's match against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Meanwhile, England captain Eoin Morgan, who suffered a back spasm in the field against the West Indies, and like Roy did not bat in that match, will be assessed ahead of the Afghanistan clash and could yet play against the tournament minnows. "England batsman Jason Roy, who left the field during West Indies' innings in the ICC Cricket World Cup fixture on Friday due to left hamstring tightness, underwent an MRI scan on Saturday in London," an ECB statement read. "The MRI confirmed that Roy has suffered a hamstring tear. As a result of the injury, he will be reassessed on an ongoing basis this week. "He is ...
Lovely gesture by Virat, says Smith
Steve Smith has appreciated Virat Kohli's "lovely gesture" after the Indian skipper asked fans to stop jeering the former Australian skipper during their World Cup encounter on June 9. Back after serving a one-year suspension for the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Smith, despite a string of impressive performances, has been getting hostile reception at every English ground at the marquee event. During the clash with India, which Australia lost by 36 runs, the Indian fans booed Smith and chanted "cheater, cheater" when the defending champions were fielding. Kohli, who was batting at the time, urged them to calm down and instead cheer his batting. "It was a lovely gesture by Virat," Smith told reporters after Australia's victory to Sri Lanka. Smith said the frequent booing and heckling by the English crowd doesn't affect him but appreciated Kohli's gesture nonetheless. "It doesn't really bother me what the crowds do to be perfectly honest. I am just blocking it all ...
Parents happy with Hardik's performance in World Cup
All-rounder Hardik Pandya's parents have expressed happiness over his performance in India's match against Pakistan on Sunday in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup. Pandya scored 26 runs and took two crucial wickets to help India win the rain-curtailed match at Manchester in England by 86 runs via Duckworth Lewis method. Prior to it, Hardik had smashed a quick-fire 48 off 27 balls against Australia last week which was also won by India. His Vadodara-based parents along with 15 other family members watched the India-Pakistan match on TV at their residence here on Sunday and they all erupted in joy after the country's win. "We are happy that our son played with controlled aggression to help India win the match. I always knew he had the potential to be a good cricketer and he proved it. I feel he has a great role to play in future for the Indian team," the cricketer's father, Himanshu Pandya, told PTI on phone. He said the runs scored and the wickets taken by his 25-year-old
Bengaluru FC sign midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh
Bengaluru FC have completed the signing of former player Eugeneson Lyngdoh on a one-year deal, the club announced on Monday. The 32-year-old midfielder once again joins the Indian Super League champions after a two-year stint with Kolkata-side ATK, who had signed the Shillong-born playmaker during the ISL draft in 2017.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik 'Abhinandan' team India
Famous sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has complimented the Team India for their decisive win over Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.His beautiful sand art-work on the beach of Puri reads -- Abhinandan Team India.Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee, and internationally recognised sand artist, created 20 feet long bat using sand on which is inscribed -- 'Abhinandan Team India.'"#AbhinandanTeamIndia for winning against Pakistan in @ICC World Cup #CWC19 . My SandArt of 20ft long cricket bat at Puri beach in Odisha. #INDvPAK," Pattnaik wrote on his Twitter.Pattnaik's sand art-work comes after Pakistani TV channel's 'shameful' cricket World Cup advertisement using IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a prop, which was widely slammed by the Twitterverse.Wing Commander Varthaman, flying MiG -21 Bison fighter plane, was chasing Pakistani jets which had crossed over to PoK where his aircraft was shot down in aerial dogfight. He ejected safely and was taken to the custody by ...
GM Amonatov emerges champion in Mayor Club chess tournament
GM Farrukh Amonatov (Elo 2624) from Tajikistan emerged champion in A category of the 12th Mumbai Mayor Club International Chess tournament that concluded here late Sunday night. Amonatov pipped the overnight leader, GM Manuel Petrosian (Elo 2573) from Armenia, at the post, to clinch the title. Both GMs ended up with the same aggregate (8.0 points) but GM Amonatov was declared the champion on the basis of a better tie-break score. In his final round game, GM Amonatov, playing on the second board, defeated GM Vasquez Rodrigo (Elo 2476) from Chile in 49 moves. On the first board, GM Petrosian, who had a slender half-point lead over his compatriots, was held to a draw by GM Paichadze Luka (Elo 2557) of Georgia in 59 moves. Only one Indian player, GM R R Laxman (Elo 2437) of Tamil Nadu, managed to figure in the top 10. The champion went home richer by Rs 3.30 lakh. Meanwhile, in a fairly strong field comprising players from 20 foreign federations, including 55 rated players ...
Conversion rate needs to improve: Marijne
Tackling a lower-ranked Fiji should not be problem for the Indian hockey team at the FIH Women's Series Finals but chief coach Sjoerd Marijne says the job will get easier if his side could improve its "conversion rate". At number nine, India is top ranked side in the tournament and has conceded just one goal in two matches played so far. It beat Uruguay 4-1 before blanking Poland 5-0. A victory against World No. 44 Fiji in their last Pool A match will ensure a semifinal place for the Rani Rampal-led Indian side on Tuesday. "There is no doubt that the team has played well in the first couple of matches, but we want to be performing at the highest level possible, and I believe that there is still room for improvement. Our conversion rate can definitely be higher and if that happens, it will be easier for us to win the matches," said Marijne. "What has impressed me in the first two matches has been the fact that we have created good field opportunities, and have also been able to earn ...
Joshna Chinappa wins record 17th national squash title
Joshna Chinappa won a record 17th national squash title after outplaying Tamil Nadu's Sunayna Kuruvilla in the final. The top seeded Chinappa won the match 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 and thus broke a 27-year-old record set by Bhuvneshwari Kumari, who had won 16 titles.
Bangladesh elect to field against Windies (Toss)
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and elected to bowl against the West Indies in their World Cup tie at the Cooper Association County Ground on Monday.
Bangladesh win toss, opt to field against West Indies
Bangladesh skipper Mushrafe Mortaza won the toss and elected to bowl against West Indies in their World Cup fixture here Monday. Bangladesh made one change, bringing in Liton Das in place of Mohammad Mithun. For West Indies, Carlos Brthwaite made way for Darren Bravo in the playing XI. Teams: West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder(captain), Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza(captain), Mustafizur Rahman.
CWC'19: Players to watch out for in West Indies-Bangladesh match
Both West Indies and Bangladesh will search for their second win as they lock horns on Monday in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup at Taunton.Windies have played four matches so far and were only able to win one match, against Pakistan. The team holds the sixth position in tournament's standing with three-points as one of their matches was called off due to rain.The team have the ability to disappoint any opponent on their day. Men in Maroon scored the mammoth total of 421 against New Zealand in their warm-up game and defeated them by 91 runs.On the other hand, Bangladesh started well in the World Cup as they defeated higher rank South Africa in their first match. After that, the team lost two consecutive games and their last game was abandoned due to rain. Bangla Tigers have an experienced side with a couple of match-winning players. Key players to watch out for in the West Indies-Bangladesh clash:Chris GayleThe 39-year-old big hitter is playing his last World Cup. Gayle is a ..
Nihari to IMF loan, Pakistani users poke fun at players on Twitter
As various social media platforms went berserk after India's historic win over arch rival Pakistan in the World Cup, the unanimous winner was twitterati from the other side of the border that created jokes, memes, GIFs and one-liners on the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led team.
Messi hits the gym after loss to Colombia in Copa opener
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi worked out at the gym alongside the rest of the players who started in their 2-0 loss to Colombia during their 2019 Copa America opener.