Category: SPORTS

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said the close win over Afghanistan was a “full team effort,” after his side side pulled off a dramatic three-wicket victory here to stay alive in the World Cup.There were contributions from Babar Azam (45) and Imam-ul Haq (36) at the top order while chasing a modest 228 on Saturday, but it required a special innings from Imad Wasim, who took Pakistan to the finishing line with an unbeaten 49-run knock under pressure.”It is a great win for us. Not an easy pitch to bat on,…

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West Indies pace great Curtly Ambrose is livid with Chris Gayle’s decision to end his international career by playing a Test match, calling it a retrograde step that will send a wrong message to youngsters in the island nations.After a 125-run defeat to India knocked West Indies out of the World Cup, Ambrose, who is in England doing radio commentary, also seemed unhappy with the “lack of application and clarity of thought” in their youngsters.Asked about Gayle going back on his retirement plans and instead playing one last Test against…

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Babar Azam says Pakistan have the belief they can win their remaining games to complete a dramatic turnaround and reach the World Cup semi-finals following victory against a strong New Zealand side on Wednesday.The 24-year-old hit a match-winning unbeaten 101 to anchor Pakistan’s reply to New Zealand’s score of 237 for six at Edgbaston. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hit the winning runs in the final over as they finished on 241-4 to win by six wickets.Pakistan had a disastrous start to their World Cup campaign, losing three of their first five…

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Top wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Yogeshwar Dutt Wednesday slammed the Haryana government for “cut in prize money” due to them for winning international medals, an allegation denied by the state sports minister.The Haryana government was already facing flak for scrapping an award function which was to be held on Monday at Panchkula to give away cash prizes worth Rs 90 crore to about 3,000 sportspersons who have won medals in national and international competitions.Instead of rewarding the sportspersons in public, the state government decided to transfer the cash…

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Rafael Nadal has complained about Wimbledon’s seeding system after the Spaniard was placed at number three, behind Roger Federer, for next week’s grand slam in London.The other three major tournaments all match their seeding to the official world rankings but Wimbledon uses its own formula to dictate the order, combining ranking points with form in grass-court competitions.It means Nadal will be seeded three and Federer two at the All England Club this year, despite their positions being the reverse in the rankings list.”Wimbledon is the only tournament of the year…

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Describing the loss against Pakistan as “borderline embarrassing”, a furious South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis said his team’s performance in the World Cup has been “mediocre”.South Africa were knocked out of the World Cup with a 49-run loss to Pakistan here on Sunday.”The results we are dishing out at the moment, it’s tough. The way we played today is borderline embarrassing,” Du Plessis said after the match.Du Plessis was left red-faced as South Africa struggled to 259 for 9, chasing 309 against Pakistan. He blasted both his bowlers and…

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India skipper Virat Kohli said the hard-fought win over Afghanistan in the Word Cup was much-needed as it helped the two-time champions to show their character and clinch a victory from the jaws of defeat.Mohammed Shami’s last-over hattrick Saturday saved India from a mighty scare after they managed to pip Afghanistan by 11 runs to inch closer towards World Cup semi-finals.Shami (9.5-1-40-4), playing his first match, not only successfully defended 16 runs off the last over but also dismissed the dangerous Mohammed Nabi (52 off 55 balls), Aftab Alam (0)…

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India showed “too much respect” to Afghanistan spinners and should have batted more freely, said former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who hailed the “outstanding leadership” of skipper Virat Kohli during the team’s 11-run win here. India’s famed batting-order failed to counter the Afghanistan spinners on a slow wicket as the Gulbadin Naib-led side restricted the two-time champions to a below-par 224 for eight. With 16 runs to get in the last over, Mohammad Nabi (52 off 55) came excruciatingly close to leading his side to their maiden victory in the tournament…

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Clive Lloyd says the West Indies should learn the art of adaptability from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson as they fight to avoid World Cup elimination.Jason Holder’s side have managed only one win from five matches ahead of Friday’s game against New Zealand in Manchester.The Black Caps, unbeaten in the round-robin competition so far, are fresh from their four-wicket win over South Africa on Wednesday when Williamson made an unbeaten 106 to anchor a tense chase at Edgbaston.With their hopes of reaching the semi-finals fading fast, Lloyd, the captain of…

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Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has come to the defense of Sania Mirza, saying the Indian tennis star is unlucky to find herself in the firing line of fans every time arch-rivals India and Pakistan play an international match.Sania is married to former skipper Shoaib Malik, who is currently a part of Pakistan’s cricket team which is competing in the ongoing World Cup in England.”She is so unlucky that whatever she does she gets unnecessary criticism from either Pakistan or India and that too for no rhyme or reason. If Pakistan…

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