Page 1701 - Sports

Arsenal's Elneny to miss Atletico Madrid clash due to injury

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny will miss the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinal against Atletico Madrid because of an ankle ligament injury, the club announced on Monday.

What PCB has is letter of intent not binding contract: Choudhary

Acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary once again stated Indian cricket board's long-standing position that BCCI "never signed any contract" with PCB with regards to bilateral series. Pakistani cricket authorities claim that their Indian counterparts have violated a 2014 memorandum of understanding under which the two were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. The PCB is seeking USD 70 million in compensation as a dispute resolution panel of the ICC will hear the claim in October. "It's a statement of intent and not a contract. I don't blame them for sticking to the letter. But it is not a contract," Choudhary told reporters on the sidelines of the ICC quarterly meeting here today. "They have their own pressure at home which I understand," he said indicating to a letter dated April 9, 2014 written by the erstwhile secretary Sanjay Patel to PCB chairman Najam Sethi. According to the letter, BCCI and PCB agree that the senior men's cricket teams of India and Pakistan will play

Bhuvi not playing tomorrow's game: Williamson

Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson informed that pacer Bhuvaneshwar Kumar all set to miss IPL encounter against Mumbai Indians, tomorrow. According to team sources, the pace spearhead is suffering from a niggling back injury and has been advised rest. "Bhuvi did not travel with the team and is not playing the next match. Shikhar we are hoping will be fine for tomorrow," Williamson told a select group of reporters here. Dhawan had suffered a hit in the elbow during Sunrisers' match against Kings XI Punjab and missed the CSK game. Sunrisers Hyderabad are fourth on the table having won three of their five games and lost the remaining two. Williamson also said that Yusuf Pathan is likely to get fit having suffered from cramps during the CSK game. "I am not 100 per cent sure on how Yusuf is. I know he did have some cramps but hopefully he will be ok and come tomorrow night," added Williamson. The SRH and New Zealand skipper also expressed confidence that Afghanistan leg spinner ...

Kohli has been a fantastic captain: de Villiers

South Africa's batting great AB de Villiers today said Virat Kohli has been fantastic as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, proving his mettle time and again under difficult circumstances. "The true judge of a good captain is when you don't perform well and still do a good job while leading a side. He has come through with flying colours when it comes to that. He has been a fantastic captain for us," de Villiers told media at an event here. De Villiers said Kohli is putting a lot of effort and energy to keep the side in good stead in the training sessions and hopes he scores a lot many runs in the remainder of the IPL. Asked whether he and Kohli feels the pressure when other batsmen fails to score runs, de Villiers said: "It is normal to feel pressure because we are international players. However, I don't feel extra pressure, I don't think Virat feels it either. We have a team of match-winners and it is up to us to share the load." The South African run machine said won't be ...

Mohamed Salah celebrates being chosen Player of the Year by fellow athletes

Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah celebrated on Monday after being chosen Player of the Year for 2017-18 by the United Kingdom's Professional Footballers' Association, an award cherished by athletes because it is decided by fellow players.

Under-pressure Australia should rebuild quickly: Clarke

With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft serving bans varying from one year to nine months imposed by Cricket Australia, former Australia skipper Micheal Clarke feels the need for the team to rebuild quickly for the tough series against India later this year. The trio of cricketers who toured South Africa with Smith the leader were banned in the aftermath of the ball tampering saga in the third Test against the hosts. "Australia is under pressure at the moment with everything that has happened. They need to try and work out what their team is going to be. They need to find a way and start to rebuild really quickly because it is a massive series considering we have never lost to India in Australia," said Smith at a book launch here today. "So the current team needs to figure out how they are going to build on that success and beat a really good Indian team," he said. India are slated to tour Australia this year-end. Without Smith and Warner to bolster the hosts

Political intervention in India-Pakistan cricket ties a tragedy: Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi on Monday termed India and Pakistan not playing bilateral series due to political tensions as a "tragedy" for the fans, adding that the ball is now in the BCCI's court in terms of resumption of the ties.

MI can turn things around like in the past, says Rohit Sharma

Defending champions Mumbai Indians have lost four games out of the first give they have played, but captain Rohit Sharma today expressed optimism that things could be turned around as has been the case in the past. So far whatever is happening with MI, it is not going the way we want to. But I think we will turn things around like we have done it in the past. Hopefully, we can turn it around this time, the Rohit said today at a book release function. He was referring to the 2015 season when MI lost five out of their first six matches before making a stunning late charge to their second IPL title. MI started off their campaign this season too in a dismal manner by losing the opening three games before arresting the slide with a victory over RCB. However a three-wicket loss in their fifth and previous game has made things a bit more difficult for the three-time winners in their quest to make it to the play-offs.

Kirsten to be on talent hunt from April 23

Former Indian cricket team chief coach Gary Kirsten will be looking for exceptional young cricketers in India between April 23 and May 18.

IPL: Delhi opt to field vs Punjab

Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and opted to field against Kings XI Punjab at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Monday.

Sarnobat finishes fourth in women's 25m pistol event at Changwon Shooting WC

Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out on a podium spot after she finished fourth in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Stage 2 here today. Sarnobat, however, recorded the best Indian finish on day two of the competition, scoring 588 out of 600 in the qualification round but finished just outside of the medals in the eight-woman final. Sarnobat recorded 26 hits out of the first 40 shots in the 50-shot final to finish one behind eventual bronze medalist Yushi Yao of China. Australia's Elena Galiabovitch won gold beating silver medalist Yuemei Lin of China in a shoot-off by 3-2 margin after both had tied with 34 hits a piece after the 10 series of five-shots each. India's Heena Sidhu finished 37th out of 92 shooters with a qualifying round score of 575 while Annu Raj Singh ended in the 41st spot with a score of 573. India reached their third final of the competition when the 10m air rifle mixed team pairing of Ravi Kumar and Apurvi Chandela also made it to the finals to ...

Why didn't BCCI put 'Govt permission' clause in contract, questions PCB chief Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi today questioned BCCI's decision of not incorporating the "permission from central government" clause in the alleged contract to play bilateral series that was inked between the two neighbours. While BCCI brass has always termed the one-page letter signed by both boards as merely an 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) to play five series in eight years between 2015 to 2023, Pakistan refers to it as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The PCB has sought USD 70 million in compensation claim against India for refusing to play a bilateral series, violating a 2014 memorandum of understanding under which the two were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. A three-member ICC panel will hear the claim in October. Right now, the two countries only play in multi-team events like 50-over World Cup, Champions Trophy, World T20 or Asia Cup. "If India comes to Pakistan, they want security and vice-versa because of the political situation. ..

Lawson expresses dismay at bowlers' lot in IPL

Former Australia fast bowler Geoff Lawson today expressed anguish at the hapless lot of the bowlers in T20 cricket around the world, especially in the Indian Premier League, and said it was imperative to get them back into the game to render it more balanced. "Bowlers have been excluded from the game, it's ridiculous. It's not a contest any more. That's why IPL has gone for a six. We need to get the bowlers back in the game. We need to have a contest," said Lawson here after delivering the '2nd Rajsingh Dungarpur Spirit of Cricket' lecture at the Cricket Club of India. Explaining further the 60-year-old former national coach of Pakistan said, "The new bats are this big (indicating with hand) on the edges. We need to make the wide zones wider." Lawson, who grabbed 180 wickets in 46 Tests in the 1980s, felt that the Australian T20 league, Big Bash, gave a little more scope to the bowlers to succeed. "In Big bash the bowlers have a bit more chance because of bouncier ...

Diaz, Castillo put Pumas in striking distance of Mexican tourney playoffs

Goals by Chileans Marcelo Diaz and Nicolas Castillo helped the UNAM Pumas beat Santos Laguna 2-1 over the weekend and stay within striking distance of making the Mexican league Clausura tournament playoffs.

Elneny will not recover in time to play against Atletico, confirms manager

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who sustained a serious ankle injury in a league game against West Ham United (4-1), will not play in the first-leg match of the UEFA Europa League semi-finals against Atletico Madrid on Thursday, team manager Arsene Wenger has said.

England's Football Association apologises for tweet mocking Harry Kane

England's Football Association on Monday apologised for mocking Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane in a post on its official Twitter account over the weekend.

Real's Ceballos says team ready for 3rd straight Champions League title

Real Madrid central midfielder Dani Ceballos on Monday highlighted his team's winning mindset on the road to a possible third consecutive UEFA Champions League title.

Rahi narrowly misses World Cup bronze in women's 25m Pistol

Shooter Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after finishing fourth in the women's 25 metre Pistol event at the second ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun stage here on Monday.

Playing ODIs first will help team settle down in England:

Playing white ball cricket before plunging into the five-Test rubber against hosts England gives the Indian cricketers sufficient time to get used to the conditions in Old Blighty, said head coach Ravi Shastri today. India is to tour England, from late June, for a full tour comprising T20s, ODIs and then Tests. "(Former Australia captain) Michael (Clarke) and I had a chat earlier (today) that we (Indian team) will be there (in England) almost a month before the first Test match. We play some one-day cricket before the first Test match starts. You kick off the one-day games around 1st of July and the first Test starts August 1. That gives us that much more time (to prepare for Tests)," Shastri said at a book release function today. India are to start with a T20I in England on July 3. Shastri, India team member Rohit Sharma, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and Clarke were present at the release of the book "Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of

Malhotra writes to Rathore on omission of shooting from 2022 CWG

All India Council of Sports (AICS) President Vijay Kumar Malhotra on Monday requested Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra to take up strongly at all forums the issue of dropping the shooting discipline from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.