Islamabad: Shahid Afridi has blamed Pakistan's one-day cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq for his exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad, and has vowed to return to the national team. "It's the captain's decision to drop me," Afridi told the local newspaper Daily Jang on Wednesday. "It's no big deal for me if a captain doesn't want a certain player in the team." In announcing the squad earlier this week, selectors said Afridi,...
01:00 PM, May 01, 2013
New Delhi: India will begin their campaign in the the last edition of the ICC Champions Trophy with their Group B match against South Africa at Cardiff on June 6. The biennial tournament is being wound up as the ICC is unable to slot it in the crowded cricketing calendar. India play their second group game against the West Indies at the Oval on June 11 before running into neighbours...
12:28 PM, May 01, 2013
It's the hits, the heaves and the "Yes maximums" that makes any T20 match an exciting and entertaining one. So if IPL 6 is high ...
12:18 PM, May 01, 2013
Australia recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to the squad for their Champions Trophy defence and named George Bailey as vice captain on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Marsh, who played his only one-day international in 2011 against South Africa, was rewarded with a place in the 15-member squad for his strong domestic limited over performance for Western Australia. "Mitchell's domestic season was interrupted by (hamstring) injury but there's no doubt he has the...
11:10 AM, May 01, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho dropped another hint he was considering his future by saying he might not be with the Spanish giants next season after they lost in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday. Following Real's 4-3 aggregate defeat by Borussia Dortmund, the former Chelsea manager was asked if he would remain in Madrid next term and said: "Maybe not. I don't know but I want to be...
09:16 AM, May 01, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho lashed out at English referee Howard Webb after they were denied a place in the Champions League final on Tuesday and dropped another hint he was considering his future at the club. Real came within a whisker of pulling off a remarkable comeback after losing their semi-final first leg 4-1 away to Borussia Dortmund last week, but came up just short with a 2-0...
09:02 AM, May 01, 2013
Madrid: Borussia Dortmund relish their status as underdogs for the Champions League final and are determined to prove they belong among Europe's elite, coach Jurgen Klopp said after they knocked out Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Germans successfully protected their 4-1 first leg lead until the 83rd minute on Tuesday, after which Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos scored in a frantic finale to get Real within a goal of reaching...
08:50 AM, May 01, 2013
Madrid: Borussia Dortmund survived a stirring Real Madrid fightback to book their place in the Champions League final on Tuesday when they conceded two late goals to lose 2-0 at the Bernabeu but went through 4-3 on aggregate. Real looked down and out before substitute Karim Benzema scored from close range in the 83rd minute and Sergio Ramos struck five minutes later but with the home fans going wild in...
02:11 AM, May 01, 2013
Barcelona: Barcelona were dealt a blow as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Bayern Munich when midfielder Sergio Busquets and defender Eric Abidal were ruled out through injury. "Sergio Busquets and Eric Abidal will not feature in tomorrow's match," Barca said in a statement on their website on Tuesday. "The midfielder has not recovered from the (groin) injury that kept him from playing ......
12:24 AM, May 01, 2013
Barcelona: Last week's thumping Champions League wins for German teams at home to Spanish opponents prompted talk of a power shift in the European game but Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Mueller believes it is too early to draw such a conclusion. Mueller struck twice in Bayern's 4-0 victory against Barcelona last Tuesday, a day before Robert Lewandowski netted all four of Borussia Dortmund's goals in their 4-1 humbling of Real...
11:37 PM, Apr 30, 2013
Barcelona: If Barcelona require extra inspiration as they prepare their bid to overturn a 4-0 Champions League semi-final deficit at home to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, they need look no further than La Liga rivals Deportivo La Coruna. Depor pulled off one of the most sensational comebacks in Europe's elite club competition back in the 2003-04 season when they thrashed AC Milan 4-0 in their quarter-final second leg in La...
01:11 PM, Apr 30, 2013
Berlin: Franz Beckenbauer has sought to clarify comments in which he suggested Barcelona would try "every trick in the book" to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday. The honorary Bayern president, a former player and coach of Germany's most successful club, said that Barca would "try everything to throw Bayern off balance". "They will deploy all methods, anything that's...
10:56 AM, Apr 30, 2013
London: Essex were glad to have England captain Alastair Cook on board for a rare County Championship appearance as 15 wickets fell on a dramatic first day against Hampshire at Chelmsford on Monday. The opening batsman finished the opening day of this four-day Second Division clash unbeaten on 25 in an Essex total of 5 for 72 after the hosts had dismissed Hampshire for a seemingly meagre 197 featuring 60...
10:00 AM, Apr 30, 2013
New Delhi: The 2012 EPL champions may be relegated to the third tier of the Champions League after their dismal campaign in 2013, 'The Telegraph' reported. Manchester City are likely to be relegated to the third tier of Champions League seeds next season following their failure to qualify from the group stages of this year's competition, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday. City's woeful run this season has forced them to...
09:59 AM, Apr 30, 2013
Lahore: Pakistan on Monday appointed Australian coach Trent Woodhill to help solve their perennial batting problems during June's Champions Trophy in England. The 42-year-old was involved with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia and is part of the Delhi Daredevils' support staff in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He was also New Zealand cricket team's assistant until last year. Pakistan Cricket Board's director of international...
09:33 AM, Apr 30, 2013
Madrid: There is no danger Borussia Dortmund will suffer from stage fright in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Spanish giants Real Madrid, coach Juergen Klopp said on Monday. The Bundesliga side have a healthy 4-1 lead for the clash at Real's Bernabeu arena following their stunning victory in last week's first leg in Germany, when striker Robert Lewandowski scored all of Dortmund's goals. Klopp said his team's performance...
11:29 PM, Apr 29, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho expects to take the blame instead of his players if they fail to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Tuesday. Mourinho was hired from Inter Milan three years ago to help Real win the 10th European crown that has eluded them since 2002 but the La Liga side are on the brink of a third...
07:08 PM, Apr 29, 2013
Madrid: Needing at least three goals to reach the final for the 13th time, Real Madrid are ready to go after the "impossible." The nine-time European Cup winners are out to overturn last week's 4-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday. A tall task, but one that Madrid have done in the past. "This is our last chance to put things...
06:41 PM, Apr 29, 2013
Madrid: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Borussia Dortmund, after missing their La Liga win over Atletico Madrid through injury, coach Jose Mourinho said. The Portugal international, top scorer in the latest edition of Europe's elite club competition with 12 goals, returned to training with his team mates on Monday after sitting out Saturday's 2-1 La Liga victory. He...
06:26 PM, Apr 29, 2013
