Page 451 - Sports
Fanmojo shines a light on Shaw talent
Keeping an eye on the rising popularity of fantasy sports in India, Fanmojo (www.fanmojo.in), a part of U2opia Global, announced their association with the young prodigy of Indian cricket - Prithvi Shaw. Known for his immense talent, Prithvi is the former captain of Under-19 cricket team and seen as a role model for young talented cricketers with big aspirations.The right-handed batsman who hails from Mumbai has often garnered significant comparisons with the legend of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. "Around ten years ago, one of my friends asked me to take a look at the young Prithvi. He asked me to analyse his game and give him some advice. I had a session with him and gave a couple of pointers on how to improve his game", said Tendulkar."Are you watching? That's a future India player", stated Tendulkar reminiscing watching Shaw, who barely reached the stumps. With this association, FanMojo aims to strengthen its outreach to the legions of Indian cricket fans in the country.Echoing the ..
Messi to miss Argentina-Morocco friendly with injury
Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's friendly against Morocco because of a groin injury, the country's football federation has said.
Lasith Malinga to retire after T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka limited-overs captain Lasith Malinga is hopeful to play in the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia before retiring from international cricket."After the World Cup, my cricketing career is ending. I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career," ICC quoted Malinga, as saying.The right-arm fast bowler has picked up 97 wickets in 72 T20Is and 322 wickets from 218 ODIs, including four in four balls against South Africa during the 2007 World Cup.Despite no confirmation whether the selectors will name him to lead Sri Lanka in the 2019 World Cup following the team's 0-5 defeat against South Africa, Malinga is keen to sign off his cricketing career on a high as he is currently focusing on the 50-over tournament in England and Wales.Malinga is set to play for Mumbai Indians in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he is the all-time highest wicket-taker. However, he will miss six matches to play Sri Lanka's domestic Super Provincial One Day ...
All eyes on Warner as Sunrisers eye winning start against KKR
Comeback man David Warner would be the cynosure of all eyes when last year's finalist Sunrisers Hyderabad open their campaign against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the 12th Indian Premier League here Sunday. Under Warner's captaincy Sunrisers won their maiden IPL title in 2016 and in 2017 he was the leading rungetter for his team. But the Australian opener missed the last IPL because of last year's infamous ball tampering episode in Capetown, and is set make his IPL comeback along side Steve Smith. Warner will be the most scrutinised player for Sunrisers this season after he was banned for a year over his role in the ball-tampering scandal. While Warner and Smith were banned for a year, young Cameron Bancroft was left out for nine months for his role. And come this year, both Warner and Smith would be hoping to make an impact for their respective IPL sides. Even as his international ban will end on March 28, the left-handed opener is eligible to play in the franchise ...
France thrash minnows Moldova 4-1 in Euro qualifier
World Cup winner France kicked off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by winning 4-1 away to minnows Moldova in Group H.
Sterling's hat-trick helps England crush Czechs 5-0
Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as England thrashed Czech Republic 5-0 in their opening match of the 2020 European championship qualifying campaign at Wembley here.
IPL: KKR have task cut out against SRH (Preview)
Eyeing a third title which has eluded them for quite some time, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will have their task cut out when they take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Albania lose to Turkey 2-0 in Euro 2020 qualifier
Albania lost to Turkey 2-0 in the opening match of the Euro 2020 qualifiers in Loro Borici Stadium in Shkodra, northwest Albania.
Brazilian teenager Reinier on Real Madrid radar
Spanish giants Real Madrid are preparing an offer to sign highly rated Flamengo teenager Reinier, according to Brazilian media reports.
Workload management of Pandya, Bumrah in focus as Mumbai take on Delhi
Workload management of pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be the main focus when Mumbai Indians take on a rechristened Delhi Capitals in their first match of the 12th Indian Premier League here Sunday. Pandya has had two breakdowns in the last six months. A recurring back-injury first ruled him out of the Asia Cup in last September before missing the home series against Australia. Even former India pacer Zaheer Khan, who is Mumbai Indians' Director of Cricket, felt Pandya's workload should be monitored since he has had recurring lower back injuries. "He (Hardik) has to be monitored. He's in consultation with the team of support staff. Everything is under control," Zaheer had said earlier this week. Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma too feels that with the World Cup round the corner, the onus is on individuals to manage their workload in the IPL. "We have been on the road for last three or four years. We have played a lot of back-to-back cricket. It depends on ...
Mourinho eyes management comeback and third Champions League
Jose Mourinho is gunning for a return to top level management and a third Champions League title, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager revealed on Friday in an interview with AFP. Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by United in December and said he would like to be appointed as a boss at a club where he can add to his European triumphs with Porto in 2003 and Inter Milan seven years later, and draw level with Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley. "If I can win a third Champions League, great," the 56-year-old told AFP. "I would like to play in the best level, which is the Champions League. "I want to be (in the race to win the Champions League next year). Sometimes, you are not in the race, but you have to win other races." Mourinho, who has coached in his native Portugal as well as in England, Italy and Spain left the door open to returning to those leagues or taking over at a club elsewhere. "I can go back to a country I've been before and to
Sterling downs Czechs as France sweep past Moldova
Raheem Sterling showed that he is coming of age on the international stage as his hat-trick saw England start their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by hammering the Czech Republic 5-0, while Antoine Griezmann inspired France to a battering of Moldova. Manchester City attacker Sterling had scored just two goals in his first 45 caps, but he now has five in his last three international appearances following Friday's treble, which helped England storm to the top of Group A ahead of Monday's trip to Montenegro, who drew 1-1 at Bulgaria. Sterling opened the scoring in the 24th minute when he tapped home Jadon Sancho's cross, and struck twice more in the second half to put the result beyond doubt after Harry Kane fired home his 21st England goal from the penalty spot. "It was a beautiful team performance and I was happy to help the team get the win," Sterling said. Sterling has 24 goals for club and country this term and his impressive form is a fry cry from the dark days when he was vilified .
Messi to miss Morocco friendly after injury on international return
Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's friendly against Morocco next week after picking up a groin injury in the shock 3-1 defeat to Venezuela on Friday as he made his first international appearance since the 2018 World Cup. Barcelona star Messi started the fixture following a self-imposed eight-month exile in which he missed six friendlies since the tournament in Russia, which they exited in the last 16 at the hands of eventual champions France. The Argentine Football Federation tweeted the injury update following the loss at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium. Gonzalo Martinez has also been ruled out of the fixture in Tangier with a thigh problem. Salomon Rondon and Jhon Murillo gave Venezuela a two-goal advantage at the break. Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez halved the deficit before Josef Martinez scored from the spot to claim the spoils in the friendly. Messi's 129th cap started poorly as Newcastle forward Rondon controlled a long ball before hammering home a ...
Sri Lanka's Malinga to retire after Twenty20 World Cup
Sri Lankan limited overs captain Lasith Malinga will retire from international cricket after next year's Twenty20 World Cup, he has revealed. Malinga said that he would quit one-day internationals after the World Cup in England and Wales this summer before calling time on his career following the Twenty20 tournament, being played in Australia over October-November 2020. "After the World Cup, my cricketing career is ending," the 35-year-old said on Friday after his his side were beaten by 16 runs by South Africa in the second Twenty20 international at SuperSport Park. "I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career." Malinga dismissed South African top-scorer Reeza Hendricks for 65 on Friday, his 97th T20 international wicket. He is one short of the world record of 98 held by Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.
Djokovic, Osaka win Miami openers as Thiem tumbles
Novak Djokovic put his Indian Wells disappointment behind him on Friday at the ATP and WTA Miami Open with a ruthless 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 destruction of Australian Bernard Tomic to move into the third round. The Serbian world number one endured a meek exit at the hands of German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the California desert but arrived desperate to land what would be a record seventh title in South Florida. Tomic, the current world No. 81, gave the 31-year-old a few problems yet the Australian struggles to consistently challenge the best players and this was evident once again as Djokovic eased through the gears at Hard Rock Stadium with just one hour and 13 minutes on the clock. "In Indian Wells I wasn't feeling my best," conceded Djokovic who won 81 per cent of points on his first serve and hit 11 aces. "Everyone has nerves coming onto center court regardless of how much experience you have and what your ranking is. You care about it and if you are nervous that means you care. "I ...
Sri Lanka women squad announced for England T20 series
Sri Lanka have announced a 15-member squad for three-match T20I series against England, slated to begin on March 24.Hansima Karunaratne, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando have been recalled into the team, while uncapped Madushika Meththananda has also been included in the team which will be led by Chamari Atapattu.Karunaratne, Kumari, and Fernando, who were not part of the squad that toured South Africa earlier this year, have all been added for the home T20Is.Sri Lanka have not been in good form recently, especially in the shortest format. The team has only managed to win four out of the 17 games they had played since the start of 2018.The team was whitewashed in the three-match T20I series against South Africa in February, England swept the recently concluded ODI series 3-0, resulting in Sri Lanka's failure to qualify directly to the next 50-over World Cup.Sri Lanka would be hoping to change their fortunes and put up an impressive show in the T20I series.
Don't care whether I'm judged on not winning IPL: Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli has said he does not get affected by the criticism he faces when RCB does not perform well in the tournament.Speaking to media here ahead of the team's maiden game in this year's IPL, Kohli said: "Obviously, you want to win the IPL, I am doing what I am supposed to do. I don't care whether I am going to be judged on this [not winning IPL] or not. There is no real, sort of, parameters you set. I try to perform wherever I can. I try to win all the possible titles, but sometimes it just does not happen. We have to be practical about why we have not won one. That boils down to bad decision-making in pressure situations.""If I think like people from outside, I cannot even sustain five games. I would be sitting at home. I know people talk about it a lot and they like to grab opportunities to talk about these things. But I have a responsibility here and given a chance, as a captain, I would love to win the IPL for my team. We all are ...
Delhi Capitals have the potential to be an IPL 'powerhouse', says Kagiso Rabada
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada is a key component of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. The bowler has said that he is looking forward to playing this upcoming season of the league and is hopeful that the team would put up a better show this year."I think we have put together a great squad this time around. It is a fairly young squad and I feel there's a good mixture of overseas players along with the Indian players. We have some very exciting spinners as well along with good batsmen. Of course, the pace bowling is going to be one of our strengths and I am really looking forward to playing a part in my team's success this season," Rabada said during a media interaction."We know that the name of the franchise has changed and we will be playing in new colours. We have a new slate with new goals on it and I am excited to see how Delhi Capitals is growing to progress this season. What is essential is that it is a fairly young team that has kind of stuck together through a ...
Hendricks hits smart 65 to revive World Cup hopes
Opening batsman Reeza Hendricks hit a high-quality 65 as South Africa scored 180 for three in the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park on Friday. Hendricks started the season as one of the favourites to make South Africa's squad for the Cricket World Cup later this year but a run of poor form, together with the resurgence of Aiden Markram, put his chances in doubt. Markram opened the batting with Hendricks on Friday but was out for three in the second over. Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen (64) then took charge in a second wicket stand of 116 off 78 balls. While Van der Dussen's innings was marked by power hitting, which brought him four fours and three sixes, Hendricks oozed class as he struck nine fours in a 46-ball innings marked by fluent off-side drives. Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga, who sent South Africa in to bat, ended the stand when Hendricks hit a slower ball to mid-off. Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya bowled Van der Dussen two overs later .
Finch's century helps fire Australia to eight-wicket win over Pakistan
Aaron Finch's fine century drove Australia to a convincing eight-wicket win over a new-look Pakistan in the first one-day international on Friday. The Austraian skipper scored 116 off 135 balls for his 12th one-day international century that helped his team overhaul the 281-run target in 49 overs on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch. The win gives Australia the lead in the five-match series and has come on the back of their 3-2 series win in India earlier this month. Finch's match-winning knock overshadowed Haris Sohail's maiden one-day hundred (101 not out) which helped Pakistan to 280-5 in their 50 overs. The 32-year-old smashed Shoaib Malik for a huge six towards deep mid-wicket to complete his century -- his first since June last year against England at Chester-Le-Street -- off 120 balls. Finch, who knocked four sixes and eight boundaries, added an innings-building 172 runs for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh who scored an unbeaten 91 off 102 balls with four boundaries and two ...