Page 363 - Sports
Archer selection would be morally unfair: Woakes
Jofra Archer may be an exciting prospect, but fast-tracking him into England's provisional World Cup squad on Wednesday would not "be fair morally", said fellow paceman Chris Woakes. Barbados-born Archer -- described by England all-rounder Ben Stokes as the most "naturally-gifted" bowler he has seen -- became eligible for England earlier this year. The 24-year-old Sussex bowler -- whose father is English -- was the only high-level player to benefit when the England and Wales Cricket Board decided in November to alter residency rules. Previously, players who entered the UK after turning 18 needed to live in the country for seven years to be eligible for England, but the ECB reduced that to three years. Archer arrived in 2015. Woakes told BBC Sport that England, the top-ranked one-day-international team, have become close under captain Eoin Morgan as they prepared for the World Cup which gets underway in England at the end of May. "It probably wouldn't be fair, morally, but at the same .
Rahul's 52 guides KXIP to 182-6 against RR in IPL
Opener KL Rahul cracked a patient fifty before a terrific cameo by skipper Ravichandran Ashwin powered Kings XI Punjab to a challenging 182 for six against Rajasthan Royals in a second leg IPL clash here Tuesday. Rahul, who was named in the World Cup squad on Monday, recovered after a slow start to post a 47-ball 52 studded with three fours and two sixes. He was ably supported by David Miller (40 off 27) as the duo shared a 85-run stand to lay the foundation. Ashwin then blasted a four-ball 17 in the last over as KXIP posted a good total on board. Pacer Jofra Archer (3/15) returned with an exceptional three-wicket haul to emerge as the best bowler for the Royals. Invited to bat, opener Gayle (30) smashed Jaydev Unadkat for a couple of sixes in the second over, before blasting Dhawal Kulkarni for a four and a six in the fifth over. Archer then had him caught behind by Sanju Samson in the sixth over as KXIP were 39 for one in the first powerplay overs. Playing his first IPL game this ...
KXIP post 182-6 against RR in IPL
Invited to bat, Kings XI Punjab posted 182 for six against Rajasthan Royals in a second leg clash of the Indian Premier League here Tuesday. KL Rahul (52) and David Miller (40) shared 85 runs to lay the foundation, before a four-ball 17 by skipper R Ashwin took KXIP to a challenging score. Brief score: Kings XI Punjab: 182 for 6 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 52; J Archer 3/15).
Guardiola says he's a 'failure' in Champions League
Winning the Champions League twice as a coach puts Pep Guardiola in a fairly elite company. After all, only three managers have won it more times. Yet, to some, Guardiola's record in soccer's grandest club competition is increasingly becoming a stain on his otherwise stacked resume, and the Manchester City manager is 90 minutes away from delivering another underwhelming Champions League campaign. City trails Tottenham 1-0 after the first leg of the quarterfinals and needs a big performance in the return match at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to reach the last four for only the second time in the club's history. After winning the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011 with teams containing the great Lionel Messi, Guardiola never reached the final of the competition in three seasons at Bayern Munich. In his first two seasons at City, his team has been eliminated in the last 16 and then the quarterfinals. "I'm a failure in this competition," Guardiola said maybe ...
Porto hopeful of famous comeback against 'best in world' Liverpool
FC Porto coach Sergio Conceicao reckons Liverpool are "the best team in the world" on their day as the Portuguese side face up to the daunting prospect of overturning a two-goal deficit in their Champions League quarter-final. The teams meet at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday in the second leg of their last-eight tie, with Porto needing a historic comeback to go through after losing 2-0 at Anfield last week with Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino scoring. While Porto have won all four home games in the Champions League this season, Liverpool travel to northern Portugal on top of the Premier League and unbeaten in 16 games. "They are everything I like about football. I like the way they play, the way they are with the ball and without it," Conceicao said at an eve-of-game press conference on Tuesday. "In my opinion, a lot of the time just now they are the best team in the world." Porto lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool a year ago when the clubs met in the last 16. Despite that, Conceicao, ..
PSG looks to win French league title with depleted squad
After running away at the top of the standings all season, Paris Saint-Germain has found it hard to wrap up its eighth French league title. The defending champions needed a draw at second-place Lille on Sunday, but lost 5-1 the team's biggest defeat since Qatari investors QSI took charge in 2011. In the previous match, PSG needed a home win against Strasbourg but twice fell behind in a 2-2 draw. The next match, with a squad depleted by injuries and suspensions, will be at Nantes on Wednesday. "We didn't win against Strasbourg or Lille but we remain very confident," PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said Tuesday. Tuchel has six players injured, including forwards Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria, and defender Thiago Silva. Left back Juan Bernat, who was sent off against Lille, and center half Marco Verratti are both suspended. PSG holds a 17-point lead in the standings, but second-place Lille can still mathematically rise to the top. Even if PSG loses to Nantes, however, it could win ..
Goalkeeper showed ignorance of fascism, says FA panel
Cleared by a disciplinary panel of performing a Nazi salute, a Premier League soccer player was still criticised for his lack of knowledge about fascism and Adolf Hitler. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was described by a Football Association commission as having displayed "a very considerable one might even say lamentable degree of ignorance about anything to do with" the Nazi regime. The 32-year-old Hennessey, who is from Wales, had denied giving a Nazi salute because, the commission said, "he said he did not even know what one was." "Improbable as that may seem to those of us of an older generation, we do not reject that assertion as untrue," it said. "All we would say (at the risk of sounding patronizing) is that Mr. Hennessey would be well advised to familiarize himself with events which continue to have great significance to those who live in a free country." A photograph posted on Instagram by Hennessey's teammate at Palace, German midfielder Max Meyer, showed ...
Former United star Scholes charged with betting offences
Former Manchester United great Paul Scholes has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for allegedly breaking their betting rules, English football's governing body announced on Tuesday. The charge levelled at the 44-year-old -- whose first foray into management with Oldham lasted just 31 days earlier this season -- relates to bets allegedly placed between August 17, 2015, and January 12, 2019. The period covers when Scholes was a part-owner of non-league side Salford City, but before his appointment as Oldham manager in February 2019. "Paul Scholes has been charged with misconduct in relation to The FA's Betting Rules," the FA statement read. "It is alleged he placed 140 bets on football matches, contrary to FA Rule E8, between 17 August 2015 and 12 January 2019. "He has until 26 April 2019 to respond to the charge." Scholes' spell in charge of Oldham started brightly with a win, but he failed to pick up another victory in his next six games and left with the side languishing .
Rayudu reacts to World Cup snub in social media
Despite getting Virat Kohli's backing as India's No. 4 batsman months earlier, Ambati Rayudu was not picked for the World Cup, a move that did not go down well with the batsman.
Srikanth slips to 8th, Dani jumps 22 spots to 89th in BWF ranking
Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth slipped one place to be at the eighth spot but young Harsheel Dani jumped 22 places to reach the 89th position in the latest BWF ranking released Tuesday. Dani's ranking was boosted by his title win at the Dutch International. Sameer Verma, who had reached the quarterfinals at Singapore Open last week, improved a place to reach the 15th spot, while former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap also improved three places to reach the 39th position. Lakshya Sen, who had recently had a final finish at the Polish Open, too, surged two places to be at 71st spot. B Sai Prraneeth and H S Prannoy held on to their 20th and 21st spot respectively, while there was no change in the ranking of P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, and they were static at the sixth and ninth spot.
Henriques suffers ankle injury just before game
Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques' debut for Kings XI Punjab was delayed after a last-minute ankle injury ruled him out of the IPL game against Rajasthan Royals here Tuesday. Henriques, who has played for five of the eight IPL teams, was handed the cap but he rolled his ankle during while warming up. He was seen lying on the boundary and looked in serious pain. He later limped out of the field, helped by fellow KXIP teammates. The 32-year-old, who has played for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, was replaced by South Africa's David Miller in the playing XI.
Amit and Sonia to lead Indian challenge at Asian Championships
World Championship silver medallist Sonia Chahal and Asian Games gold winner Amit Panghal will spearhead a 20-member Indian boxing team at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok, starting 17. Former World Championship medallists Sarita Devi and Shiva Thapa will also be part of the event that concludes on April 26. Panghal will be making his competitive debut in the 52kg category while Shiva (60kg) will eye a record-breaking fourth successive medal. The former world championship bronze-medallist from Assam has won medals in three previous editions - gold in 2013, bronze in 2015 and silver in 2017. Former world junior champion and gold medallist at the Strandja Memorial Cup, Nikhat Zareen (51Kg) is also there while two-time youth world championships gold medallist, Nitu, is a bright prospect in 48kg. The 54kg challenge will be led by her state mate and World Championship quarterfinalist, Manisha. India's hopes in 64kg will rest on Punjab's Simranjit Kaur and Assam's Lovlina ...
Fatima Sana replaces injured Diana Baig for the upcoming South Africa tour
Fatima Sana, the 17-year-old pace bowler has replaced the injured Diana Baig in the Pakistan women's team, for the upcoming tour of South Africa.Baig underwent surgery on her injured left thumb in Karachi on Tuesday and she has been advised eight to ten weeks rest. Diana got injured during a training session in Karachi on Monday, where the squad is preparing for the tour.The 23-year-old Baig will now undergo a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of National Cricket Academy's medical panel."It was unfortunate that Diana fractured her left thumb during practice yesterday. Thankfully the surgery was a success and I wish her a speedy recovery. Diana has been replaced by Fatima Sana, a young promising fast bowler and I wish her all the best," Urooj Mumtaz, the chief selector of Pakistan women's team said in an official statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Fatima recently took seven wickets in as many games in the second inter-departmental T20 Women's Cricket ...
Ambati Rayudu posts a witty tweet after World Cup snub
Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu, who was ignored from the 15-member World Cup squad, posted a witty tweet on Tuesday."Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup," Rayudu wrote on his Twitter handle.The 33-year-old batsman was pipped by all-rounder Vijay Shankar in the final Indian squad of fifteen players for the upcoming World Cup in England.Rayudu was a regular member of the Indian squad for the past one year and averaged 47.05 in the ODI format.Rayudu was the team's number four batsman since the Asia Cup last year. He has scored one century and four half-centuries since then.Rayudu even scored 113-ball 90 in New Zealand earlier this year paving the way for India's victory. But he fell off the wagon of late as he was not able to replicate his good performances in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia."We did give a few more chances to Rayudu but Vijay Shankar gives three dimensions. He can bat, if the conditions are overcast, he can bowl, plus he is a ...
World Cup team balanced, but Pant should have made it: Ghavri
Former pacer Karsan Ghavri feels that a "good and balanced" Indian team has been picked for the ICC World Cup, but in the same vein opined that Rishabh Pant should also have made it to the squad. Playing the Devil's Advocate, the 68-year-old Ghavri said that Pant might have lost out his spot as the second wicket-keeper in the squad to Dinesh Karthik due to the latter's superior 'keeping abilities'. "According to me it's a very good and well-balanced team, but I think Rishabh Pant should have found a place. "The selectors, and a lot of people, think in his wicket-keeping abilities he is no match to Dinesh Karthik. Wicket-keeping is (also) important," Ghavri told PTI Tuesday. "But he could have been a great advantage because Rishabh Pant, according to me, is a much better batsman. "He is a match-winner and he can win you a match on his own. But whatever the selectors and the captain have thought, I (still) think they have picked the best team," said the former left-arm ...
It's time for Karthik to lift IPL: Katich
A World Cup spot sealed, it is time for Dinesh Karthik to achieve his "goal" of lifting the IPL title, Kolkata Knight Riders batting coach Simon Katich said Tuesday. KKR captain Karthik, who was ignored for the five-match ODI home series against Australia, was picked in India's World Cup squad ahead of young Rishabh Pant. "He (Karthik) is always full of energy. Now it's about going out there and lift the trophy and achieve his the ultimate goal," the 43-year-old Karthik told PTI in an interview. "You never believe you are a great leader, until actually you have success in lifting a trophy. That's when you finally believe you have done a great job. He too has got that in him and hopefully he achieves that goal. He is on the journey." The former Australia opener also backed Karthik to bat at No. 4 in the World Cup beginning May 30. "He's very consistent. There's no doubt he has done the job of a finisher when he got an opportunity. He can potentially bat higher. There's a lot of talk ...
Rajasthan Royals win toss, ask Punjab to bat
Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to field against Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, here on Tuesday.
Smith dropped, Rajasthan Royals elect to field against KXIP
Former Australia skipper Steve Smith was left out of the playing XI as Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bowl against Kings XI Punjab in an IPL game here Tuesday. Smith, who has managed to score only 186 runs in seven matches for Rajasthan, was replaced by fellow Australian Ashton Turner, who will make his IPL debut. Rajasthan made two more changes, bringing in Stuart Binny and Ish Sodhi. Kings XI also made a couple of changes to their playing XI, replacing Sam Curran with David Miller and picking Arshdeep Singh instead of Sarfaraz Khan. Teams: Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Murugan Ashwin, Andrew Tye, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh. Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi, Ashton Turner, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ish Sodhi.
Kahn to take on role at Bayern in 2020 - Hoeness
Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is expected to take on a boardroom role at Bayern Munich as early as January 2020, club president Uli Hoeness confirmed on Tuesday. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, whose contract expires in 2021, confirmed last week that former club captain Kahn is in line to be his successor. Hoeness said that Kahn would return to Bayern at the beginning of next year, in order to ease him into the job ahead of Rummenigge's departure. "We are in very concrete discussions with Oliver, and the current plan is that he will get going on January 1 2020," Hoeness said in an interview with German agency DPA. "We are not under any time pressure because Karl-Heinz's contract runs until the end of 2021." Hoeness said that Kahn, who won a joint record eight Bundesliga titles and made 632 appearances for Bayern before retiring in 2008, would be well-suited to the role of CEO. "I like the way Oliver has developed since his playing career. He has become a fantastic TV pundit,
It's crunch time for City, admits Guardiola
Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City's bid for an unprecedented quadruple will be defined by Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Tottenham and their following two Premier League games. Guardiola's side are in contention to win all four major trophies after lifting the League Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and staying in touch with Premier League leaders Liverpool. City's next obstacle on the road to football immortality comes in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Tottenham as they bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit at the Etihad Stadium. Even if they beat Tottenham to make the semi-finals, there will be no time for City to rest on their laurels as they face Spurs again in the Premier League on Saturday before heading to Manchester United the following Wednesday. With Liverpool two points clear of City, who have a game in hand, Guardiola acknowledged the next seven days will decide whether his team take their quadruple chase into the final days of the ...