Page 414 - Sports
Royal backdrop for Cricket World Cup launch party
The launch for this year's cricket World Cup in England will take place on The Mall in central London, organisers hoping for a 4,000 sell-out crowd said on Tuesday. The Mall -- which links Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square -- will host the party on May 29, the eve of the opening game between England and South Africa, featuring "music, dance and some of the biggest names in sport", according to the organisers. "The opening party will capture the very essence of what makes this tournament so special and will be hugely exciting for the fans that are lucky enough to attend," said World Cup managing director Steve Elworthy. "The Mall, with Buckingham Palace in the background, is synonymous with some of the biggest events held in the UK and is instantly recognisable to everyone around the globe. "It will be a fitting celebration of a World Cup, cricket and sport with diversity at its core," added the 54-year-old former South Africa bowler. Tickets for the launch party for the tournament
50 million cricket fans log on to UC Browser for IPL 2019
Over 50 million people have logged on to UC Browser so far to get cricket updates since the beginning of IPL 2019.UC Browser, world's No.1 third-party mobile browser and a content platform from Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, is offering a slew of in-app activities this cricket season.UC Cricket, UC Browser's in-app channel for cricket content aggregation, offers all-in-one live cricket content, including live scores, news, videos, photos, live commentaries and more.UC has also roped in legendary cricketers Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan in a bid to meet rising demand for cricket content on the platform. The two UC Cricket Captains have been indulging their fans with exclusive commentary, short-videos, GIFs and memes, all the while cheering and supporting their respective teams in the IPL.So far, four million users have taken part in the Play and Win Game to win prizes worth 800,000. Cricket news feed consumption is up 34 per cent on UC Browser versus same IPL period .
Pakistan bans IPL broadcast, says India 'harming' cricket in the country
Pakistan on Tuesday banned the telecast of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches in the country, alleging that India has made an "organised effort to harm" the game in Pakistan. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told a press conference that the decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former captain of Pakistani cricket team. He said the move was taken by the Cabinet because India left no opportunity to harm Pakistan's cricket. "India made an organised effort to harm cricket in Pakistan and it doesn't make sense for us to allow an Indian domestic tournament to be promoted here," he said, pointing out that the official Indian broadcaster pulled out of the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the middle of the tournament after the Pulwama attack "to harm the league and cricket" in Pakistan. In February, DSport -- the official broadcasters of the PSL in India -- stopped the coverage of the tournament in protest of the Pulwama
Hockey Series Finals on schedule, not to be hit by IOC diktat: IOA official
In a big relief for India, the Hockey Series Finals, the country's only route to next year's Olympics, will be held as scheduled in Bhubaneswar in June, despite the International Olympic Committee's ban on hosting global events. In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in February, India refused to issue visas to a three-member shooting contingent from Pakistan for the World Cup in New Delhi, leading to the IOC asking all the international federations not to award global events to the country. But a top Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official Tuesday said that the Hockey Series Finals, from June 6-16, will go ahead as scheduled. "We (IOA and IOC) have reached an understanding on this issue and I can say it is almost confirmed that Hockey Series Finals will be held in June in Bhubaneswar," the official told PTI on condition of anonymity. India had pulled out of the Hockey Pro League and it will have to compete in the Hockey Series Finals to qualify for the Olympics. The world over, ..
Dealing with WC hopefuls: Fleming wants "freedom" for Rayudu, Ponting wants Pant to just score
Coaching in the Indian Premier League is more about man management but in a World Cup year where a young mind can get cluttered with selection thoughts, the role that the teams' coaches play becomes even more important. Ask Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming and Delhi Capitals' Ricky Ponting, who have two such India players in their ranks, who are in the scheme of things as far as ODI World Cup is concerned. While the players maintain that the World Cup is not on their minds but those like Rayudu or Pant, who are still not certainties, it becomes a bigger battle where they know that their IPL performances are being watched more keenly than a certainty like Kedar Jadhav. "He (Rayudu) can get it out of his mind and that's the part of the coaching aspect that we would like to apply to some of the players, just to free them up," CSK coach Fleming admitted during a recent interaction that it is indeed an aspect the coaches need to deal with. While Fleming wants to deal with the ...
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul summoned by BCCI Ombudsman
Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been given notices by the BCCI Ombudsman Justice DK Jain asking them to be present for the hearings in the controversy related to their comments on the chat show "Koffee with Karan"."I have sent them the notice. It is for them to appear or not. It is part of natural justice. You cannot hold someone guilty without having given them the opportunity to present their case," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Justice DK Jain as saying.The hearings will take place in Mumbai, with Pandya's hearing scheduled for April 9 and Rahul's the next day.This is the first issue on which Justice Jain, the Ombudsman for BCCI, will adjudicate on.Both Pandya and Rahul had been suspended by the BCCI's Committee of Administrators in January this year over their offensive remarks on "Koffee with Karan". The players who were in Australia at that time were called back home and suspended two days later.Their suspension was provisionally lifted on January 24.Pandya and Rahul ...
DRS can't be used to save umpires: Star official
The fury over S. Ravi's failure to spot the no-ball in the game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians game on Thursday hasn't even died down and Anil Chaudhary made another glaring mistake on Monday. Even as a ball from Kings XI Punjab bowler Hardus Viljoen pitched a foot outside the leg-stump, the umpire gave Delhi Capitals batsman Colin Ingram out. Ingram reviewed the decision and the on-field umpire's call was immediately overturned.
Britannia, ICC tie up to restart World Cup contest
Britannia Industries Ltd. on Tuesday partnered with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to bring back their World Cup lucky draw contest whereby the winners can watch the showpiece cricket event live.
I-League clubs could face sanctions for skipping Super Cup matches
The All India Football Federation is likely to impose sanctions on all the aggrieved I-League clubs for skipping the Super Cup. Well-placed AIFF sources said a "strong case is being built up" against the seven I-League clubs -- Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, Aizawl FC, Minerva FC, Gokulam FC and NEROCA FC -- for withdrawing from the Super Cup. The AIFF has incurred financial losses due to the pullouts of the clubs, who had cited unfair treatment by the apex body. "A strong case is being built up and it will be put at the League and Disciplinary Committee meeting on April 13. The federation will go by the regulations and guidelines," a reliable source told PTI. The clubs had pulled out barely three days before the start of the Super Cup qualifications. As per rule 10.4 of the Super Cup regulations, the clubs could be facing heavy penalty. According to the rule, the participating clubs that withdraw from the competition after its commencement shall: "be required to pay ...
These are the five worst batting collapses in IPL history
Delhi Capitals were 144 for three while chasing a target of 167 against Kings XI Punjab on Monday, but the team suffered from a shocking collapse, losing seven wickets for eight runs in 17 balls.Sam Curran was the hero for Punjab as he took a hat-trick for Punjab, enabling his team's win by 14 runs and restricting Delhi Capitals to the worst ever collapse for a team in IPL history.Given below are five more instances when a team suffered a staggering collapse.
Jason Roy hopes to play Test matches for England
England's limited-overs batsman Jason Roy said he is hopeful of making his Test match debut in the upcoming series against Australia."It is the great unknown, really, I do not know. I think my technique's shown to be pretty good against fast bowling early on. It is got a lot better, I have progressed quite a lot in the last two years. Who knows? It is so difficult to say because I have never been a part of the Test team, even the squad, training or whatever. But if given the opportunity, let's hope I can," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Roy as saying."I have had conversations [with the England management] over the last couple of years. It is just a case of being patient and waiting for my turn. It is all talk, I have kind of got used to that side of things. Until I am actually there, putting my cap on, then I will be excited. But I am taking each day as it comes," he added.Alex Stewart, England's former opener in Test and ODI cricket, is of the view that Roy can successfully be the opening ...
Want to cultivate our own style of football: Chennai City FC owner Rohit Ramesh
Chennai City FC outdid their own expectation by lifting the I-league title earlier this year and now entering the quarter-finals of the Super Cup. Their CEO and owner Rohit Ramesh on Tuesday said that the club wants to make up a team around local players and reduce dependence on foreign players."Our long-term philosophy is to cultivate our own style of football - the Chennai City FC style -- throughout the ranks. We want our junior teams to play the same way as the senior team is now playing. That would improve the ecosystem immensely," he said."For the past few years, we have had a good set of local players as well. You look at the likes of Pandiyan, Edwin Vanspaul, Pravitto Raju, Romario Jesuraj, and Regin -- they have all played successfully at the top level. Our ultimate goal remains to reach a stage where we will be able to build a successful team around the local players, and not foreign recruits," the All India Football Federation quoted Ramesh as saying.The owner of the team ..
Indian women battle-ready for 'mental litmus test' against Indonesia
India women's team is gearing up to take on Indonesia in its opening match of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 here and head coach Maymol Rocky described the clash as "mental litmus test for her team with incredibly high stakes". "It will be a litmus test for us mentally. We need to be mentally strong, and aggressive. Every team will want to start the Olympic qualifiers Round 2 with a win, and so do we. A win in the first match will put us in a good position for qualification, which we are aiming for," the coach said at the official pre-tournament press conference. Indian women have played 14 international matches before coming to Myanmar, including two friendly matches against Indonesia, winning 3-0 and 2-0 in Jakarta in January. "We had played two friendly matches against Indonesia in January, and they (Indonesia) showed that they can be tough opponents. "The fact that we had won the two matches makes it harder for us mentally. We cannot underestimate them, and take it for granted
BCCI wants Pandya-Rahul chapter to end with WC on mind
With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ombudsman D.K. Jain sending out notices to India all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opening batsman K.L. Rahul to depose before him in a pending enquiry following their inappropriate comments in a TV chat show, the board is looking forward to end the row keeping the World Cup in mind.
Ultimate Kho-Kho League to get Rs 10 crore investment in first year
Consumer goods company Dabur India Limited's vice-chairman Amit Burman is investing a whopping Rs 10 crore in the first year of the newly-launched Ultimate Kho-Kho league, the country's first such initiative. Ultimate Kho-Kho, a franchised based professional league, was launched on Tuesday by the Kho-Kho Federation of India (KKFI) in collaboration with Burman, who is associated in his personal capacity. The 21-day IPL-style league will see eight franchise teams playing a total of 60 matches in a double round-robin format. The league will be held either in September or October this year. "In the first year, I will be investing approximately Rs 10 crores. This is the franchise fee which I have to pay to the KKFI," Burman told PTI at the sidelines of the launch event. Elaborating more on the investment he is pumping in the league, Burman said the eight teams will be picked through a tender. "I own the league and I will have to pay the franchise money to KKFI. The team owners will be ...
Prasanna refuses to tweak life, enjoys as it is
Erapalli A. S. Prasanna, one of the greatest Indian spin bolwers, is remembered for giving some of the legendary West Indies and Australian batsmen hard time with ball. He picked up 189 wickets in 49 Tests.
Patel becoming FIFA Council member will greatly benefit India but no clue about AFC support: Dutta
The likely election of All India Football Federation chief Praful Patel as a FIFA Council member will open the country further to the outside world, the national body's senior vice-president Subrata Dutta said Tuesday. Patel is set to become the first FIFA Council member from India for a four-year term (2019 to 2023) when the Asian Football Confederation holds its elections in Kuala Lumpur on April 6. Eight candidates are in the fray to elect five members of FIFA council -- the highest decision making body -- from the AFC. "If Patel becomes a FIFA Council member, the country can benefit in many ways. We will get more technical and financial support in the setting up of the Centre of Excellence near Kolkata. We will get support in the development of qualified coaches and in producing better referees of our own," Dutta told PTI. "India has hosted FIFA U-17 World Cup (for men) in 2017 and we are hosting FIFA U-17 World Cup for women in 2020. If Patel becomes a FIFA Council member, we ...
I-League clubs to face heat for skipping Super Cup
Seven I-League clubs who refused to participate in the ongoing Super Cup in Bhubaneswar are likely to face heavy sanctions when the league committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) meets on April 13.
SRFI not to hire full-time foreign coach for India players, opts for 'event-based' coaching
The national squash federation, which has not been able to find a foreign coach in almost a year, has decided against a full-time appointment and will hire names like former world number one David Palmer in a shift to 'event-based' coaching. The Indian players have been training without a full-time foreign coach ever since Egyptian Achraf Karargui left on a bitter note ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in April. However, the squad comprising veterans Joshna Chinappa, Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal still returned with two silver medals. On their own, even at the Asian Games in August-September, the Indian contingent bagged five medals including a women's team silver. "Instead of hiring full-time coaches, we have decided to hire experts on short-term basis. For example, the players will get to train with David Palmer for a month ahead of the men's World Championship in Washington in December," national coach Cyrus Poncha told PTI on Tuesday. "We believe the event-based hiring of ..
Pune, Bengaluru to be part of 8-city kho kho league
The Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) is set to take the game to every household in the country with the Ultimate Kho Kho league. The 8-team league in the inaugural edition will have Pune and Bengaluru, as six more get finalised soon. The players will be drafted into the teams as owners will not be familiar with their specialities.