Page 621 - Sports
I-League: Real Kashmir eye pole position; take on Churchill
Giant-slayers Real Kashmir FC are in with a chance to go top of the points table if they secure a win over second-placed Churchill Brothers in their I-League clash here Thursday. Both teams shared the spoils in the first-leg match at the TRC stadium in Srinagar, with the game ending in a 0-0 stalemate. Churchill and Kashmir are tied on 28 points after 14 matches but the home team is ahead on the back of a better goal difference. Debutants Real Kashmir have proven to be quite dogged defensively and have not tasted defeat in the last couple of months owing to clever strategic switches in the team brought about by their Scottish coach David Robertson. They will, however, miss the services of Ivorian Gnohere Krizo, who scored the winner in the last game against table-toppers Chennai and has been an important influence in their attack. On being asked about Krizo, Robertson said, "Krizo has been suspended so it can affect the game." "In our last match, we overpowered Chennai but tomorrow's .
Grass court makes Davis Cup tie tougher for us: Barazzutti
Italy's Davis Cup captain Corrado Barazzutti on Wednesday acknowledged that playing on the 'unfamiliar' grass court will be their biggest challenge in the Qualifier against hosts India. The higher-ranked Italians should be favourites to win the tie but India opting to play on grass has opened up the contest. "That is the court and we have nothing to complain," Barazzutti, who was a member of their only Davis Cup winning team of 1976, said. "India decided to play here as they think grass is more difficult for us. Italian team has not played a lot on grass but it is okay. We know we have to play very well. We play this match with a lot of respect for these players." No one in the Italy squad has played a Davis Cup tie on grass and same is the case with India's top-ranked player Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Divij Sharan, who is set to partner Rohan Bopanna in the doubles. Prajnesh however had played upset now world number 25 Denis Shapovalov on grass at the Stuttgart Open last year. Ramkumar
Ankit Bawne to lead India A in first 4-day game against England Lions
Ankit Bawne, one of India's emerging players from the domestic circuit, is set to lead India A in the first 4-day game to be played against England Lions in Wayanad, beginning February 7.The middle-order batsman, who started his List A career for Maharashtra in 2009, made news in 2012-13 when he blazed five consecutive half-centuries. Bawne has continued to impress the selectors and attracted praise from India A coach and former cricketer Rahul Dravid.Bawne is nearing 6000 first-class runs and sits with the highest score of 258 (not out).Wicket-keeper opening batsman KL Rahul has been selected for the squad following the lift of suspension which was imposed in the wake of his and all-rounder Hardik Pandya's misogynistic remarks at a celebrity chat show Koffee with Karan.The All-India Senior Selection Committee picked the following for India A squad:Ankit Bawne (C), KL Rahul, AR Easwaran, Priyank Panchal, Ricky Bhui, Siddhesh Lad, K S Bharat (WK), Jalaj Saxena, S Nadeem, Mayank ...
India won't miss Leander Paes: Bhupathi
Captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Wednesday made it clear that India won't miss veteran Leander Paes during their upcoming Davis Cup Qualifier against fancied Italy at Calcutta South Club on Friday-Saturday. Paes, who is the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup with a record of 43 wins overall, has been sidelined since India's 3-2 win in China at the Asia/Oceania second round in April last year. Asked if India would be at a disadvantageous position minus Paes on familiar surface at the South Club, Bhupathi was dismissive in his reply. "No, it's not." However Bhupathi is happy that India have both right-handed (Ramkumar Ramanathan) and a left-handed (Prajnesh Gunneswaran) singles player. Bhupathi pointed out that in number one singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who is ranked 102 and is a left-hander, he's got a "dream" combination. "Prajnesh has got big serve, big forehand, and he's a left-hander. I think it's the captain's dream to have that kind of variation in your .
Santner hopes New Zealand batsmen step up in dead rubber
On the eve of the dead rubber against India here on Thursday, New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner said the failure of the Kiwi top order has helped the Indian spin twins of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal to dominate in the three One-day Internationals so far.
Playing Test cricket against Australia in Australia more than a dream: Rashid Khan
Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is all pumped up ahead of their first Test fixture against Australia which is scheduled for next year. The bowler admitted that being the newest Test-playing nation, it is "more than a dream" for Afghanistan to play Test cricket against Australia in Australia.The 20-year-old said that they have played a lot of T20 cricket here but playing Test matches on "big bouncy wickets" would be an entirely different experience."From Afghanistan, playing Test cricket against Australia in Australia it's more than a dream. Afghanistan got the full membership and last we played against India in India and now we're playing against Ireland in India and then Australia here," Cricket.com.au quoted Rashid, as saying."Being a player, it means a lot. Against Australia, playing Test matches is a huge achievement and me and the players are really looking forward (to it). We played here (in T20 games) a lot but … Test cricket is very different. Pretty excited to face the ...
Neymar to miss Man Utd tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks
Neymar will miss both legs of Paris Saint-Germain's upcoming Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United after the French club confirmed on Tuesday that the world's most expensive player would be out for 10 weeks with a metatarsal injury. However, Neymar will not undergo an operation, with PSG saying the Brazilian had instead agreed on "a conservative treatment" that could see him return in time for the Champions League quarter-finals in April should they qualify. "After detailed analysis by specialists, a consensus was reached of a conservative treatment of Neymar's injury to the fifth right metatarsal," the French champions said. "Informed of this recommendation, Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian international striker agreed with this protocol. As a result, Neymar is expected to return to the field within 10 weeks." Neymar suffered the injury in PSG's French Cup win against Strasbourg last week, and his coach Thomas Tuchel had already all but ruled the 222-million-euro ...
Soothsayer Xavi has last laugh with Asian Cup predictions
The 2010 World Cup had Paul the Octopus, the NFL has play-call predictor extraordinaire Tony Romo, and this year's Asian Cup has Barcelona great, and now soothsayer, Xavi Hernandez. The Spanish World Cup winner has proved remarkably skilled off the pitch as well as on it, with a series of stunning predictions about what would happen in the tournament. He has an almost 100 percent record, including picking Qatar and Japan as surprise finalists. Before that he correctly predicted seven of the last eight quarter-finalists and three of the four semi-finalists. The only predictions he has got wrong so far is tipping Syria to get to the last eight -- Vietnam did instead -- and Australia to make the semi-finals, but they lost to the United Arab Emirates. But apart from that, Xavi has proved remarkably prescient. He was ridiculed online after he went on Doha-based TV station Al Kass in December and publicly announced his predictions for the tournament. Many accused the Doha-based star of home
Sri Lanka suffer more setbacks ahead of Australia Test
Sri Lanka's preparations for the final Test against Australia suffered further setbacks Wednesday when coach Chandika Hathurusingha was stripped of his team selection responsibilities and their batting coach returned home for personal reasons. Hathurusingha was officially removed from the on-tour selection panel, governing body Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said, although it is understood he still has a say on player decisions. "The majority decision of the manager, captain and members of the selection committee shall prevail on any selection made," SLC said in a statement, without giving details about why the change was made. It added that batting coach Jon Lewis was "on leave to attend a family matter", with Avishka Gunawardena flying to Australia to replace him. The news came as injured bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera returned home after picking up injuries in the first Test in Brisbane. Uncapped right arm fast bowler Chamika Karunaratne was picked to replace Kumara. Sri ..
Long-awaited title Liverpool's to lose after latest Man City slip
Pep Guardiola insists it is far too early to write off Manchester City's chances of defending their Premier League title, but the champions' fourth defeat in nine league games has emboldened Liverpool's hopes of ending a 29-year wait to win the title. Win at home to Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday and Jurgen Klopp's men will have a seven-point lead over City with just 14 games left to negotiate. Moreover, there is every chance that lead could be extended in the coming week as City host Arsenal and Chelsea either side of a trip to the other side of Liverpool to face Everton in a testing eight-day stretch starting on Sunday. "Next week will be tough with Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea," said Guardiola after a shock 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Tuesday. "If we want to go up as a club we have to accept that challenge. There are a lot of titles and points to play for." Unlike Liverpool, who bowed out at the first hurdle of both domestic cups with Klopp fielding weakened teams, Guardiola ...
India not missing Paes: Bhupathi
India's non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi on Wednesday said the absence of his longstanding doubles partner Leander Paes won't be felt in the latter's own backyard when India take on Italy in a Davis Cup World Group qualifiers tie at the Calcutta South Club here on Saturday.
Lokesh Rahul named in India A squad for first four-day game
After decent performances in the unofficial one-dayers, opener Lokesh Rahul was on Wednesday picked in the India A team for the first of the two four-day games against England Lions, starting here on February 7.
Need to give game time to our reserves, says fielding coach Sridhar
India's fielding coach R. Sridhar on Wednesday said that with only a few games to go before the ICC cricket World Cup, the team management would like to utilise the last two games against New Zealand by including bench players in the playing XI.
Rahul included in India A squad for Lions 'Test', speedster Aaron back from wilderness
Opener KL Rahul will be playing for India A in their first unofficial Test against England Lions to be held in Wayanad from February 7-10. The 14-member squad led by Maharashtra's Ankit Bawne also features Jharkhand fast bowler Varun Aaron, who last wore national colours way back in 2015 in a rain-marred Test match against South Africa in Bengaluru. Statistically, Aaron with 25 wickets from seven Ranji Trophy matches, hasn't had an exceptional season but as per sources close to selection committee, the once injury-prone Jharkhand speedster will be monitored in order to broaden the fast bowling pool. That's the reason that two tearaway quicks in veteran Aaron and young Avesh Khan have found berth along with Shardul Thakur, who is coming back from a long lay-off and current A team regular Navdeep Saini. The team doesn't have too many surprises as most of the domestic performers have found their place in the squad. All-rounder Jalaj Saxena, after another good season is now back in the A .
Our execution has been off, need to take wickets in middle overs: Santner
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner feels his team's inability to take wickets in the middle overs has proved costly in the ongoing ODI series against India and the hosts will be aiming to reverse the trend in the fourth game here on Thursday. Thoroughly outplayed in the first three ODIs, New Zealand will play for pride in the remaining two matches. "?I think the plans have been pretty solid maybe the execution's been off at times. If we can get two wickets in the top 10 (overs), or even the first five," said Santner said on the eve of the fourth ODI. "... Every game they've got off to good starts, we haven't seen much of their back end. The key for us is to keep taking wickets through the middle, keep being aggressive," he said. New Zealand batting also looked clueless against India's quality bowling attack, managing to post a 200 plus score only once. "With the bat, it's trying to build those partnerships throughout. We saw a good one between Ross (Taylor) and Tom (Latham) last ..
'Adapt and overcome'- Windies mantra for Pakistan tour
West Indies women's cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-match T20I series. On arrival, the Carribean stand-in skipper Merissa Aguilleira made it clear that their motto is going to be "adapt and overcome" during their stay in the country.Merissa admitted that playing conditions in Karachi, where all the matches are scheduled to be held, are going to be different but assured that as professional cricketers, they will adapt quickly."We have a motto, two words our coach has given us: adapt and overcome. That is what we are trying to do. It is really difficult adapting in such a quick time, but we are professional cricketers and we are willing and raring to go. We are excited for this tour," Merissa said in a Twitter video posted by Windies Cricket.West Indies and Pakistan are placed in the same group for the ICC Women's World Cup 2020 so the skipper urged her team to stay focused during the series."It's important to take [all] information we can away from Pakistan ...
Dominant India inch closer to whitewashing New Zealand (Preview)
A confident India will aim to maintain their winning streak when they take on hosts New Zealand in the fourth contest of the five-match rubber at the Seddon Park here on Thursday.
Top Indian players to vie for top honours at National Hockey Championship A division
Top hockey stars including Ramandeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh and SV Sunil will turn up for their respective home teams at the Senior National Hockey Championship A division starting here Thursday. The 11-day star-studded domestic hockey extravaganza will see India striker Ramandeep, who suffered an injury during the FIH Champions Trophy last year, return to action after nearly six-month layoff. He will be seen in Hockey Punjab jersey alongside Rupinder Pal, Akashdeep among other players in their campaign to defend the title. Experienced forward Sunil, who missed the men's World Cup last year due to knee injury, will be seen in the captain's role for Hockey Karnataka, while Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) features players such as Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Hardik Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Birendra Lakra. Railway Sports Promotion Board's Nilakanta Sharma, Chinglensana Singh (Captain) and Dilpreet Singh will also be in the fray. Noted Odisha ..
Davis Cup: We have no room for excuses now, feels Bhupathi
Playing on grass which is what they wanted, India do not have any excuses now going into their Davis Cup World Group qualifiers tie against higher-ranked Italy at the Calcutta South Club, feels non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi.
Sri Lanka recruit Gunawardene as interim batting coach
Ahead of the second Test against Australia, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday named 'A' team coach Avishka Gunawardene as the national team's batting coach, until the return of Jon Lewis, who is on leave to attend to a family matter.