आईपीएल में बजता है इन खिलाड़ियों के नाम का डंका
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Saturday, November 30, 2019
पृथ्वी साव के बल्ले पर किसका ऑटोग्राफ? लोग कन्फ्यूज
नई दिल्लीमुंबई के युवा बल्लेबाज प्रतिभाशाली कहे जाते हैं। उनके बैट पर किसी दिग्गज बल्लेबाज के हस्ताक्षर हैं और यही सवाल भारतीय क्रिकेट कंट्रोल बोर्ड (बीसीसीआई) ने पूछा है। बीसीसीआई डॉमेस्टिक के आधिकारिक ट्विटर हैंडल से पृथ्वी के बल्ले का फोटो ट्वीट किया गया है। बीसीसीआई ने पूछा, पृथ्वी साव के बल्ले पर किसका ऑटोग्राफ है? इस युवा बल्लेबाज के बैट पर एक छोटा मेसेज लिखा है, डियर पृथ्वी, खेल का मजा लो, गुड लक। इसी संदेश के नीचे की तरफ ही ऑटोग्राफ है। इस पर बड़ी संख्या में लोगों ने जवाब दिए। किसी ने इसे टीम इंडिया के कप्तान का बताया तो वहीं, कुछ लोगों को यह ऑटोग्राफ का लगा। कुछ लोगों ने यह लिखा कि ऑटोग्राफ विराट के हैं, लेकिन विनोद कांबली से काफी मिलते जुलते हैं। मीना नाम के एक यूजर ने विराट कोहली के ऑटोग्राफ का फोटो भी इसके जवाब में पोस्ट किया। पृथ्वी ने डोपिंग के कारण आठ महीने का बैन झेला और इसके बाद शानदार अंदाज में वापसी की। पृथ्वी साव ने वापसी के बाद अपने पहले मैच में सैयद मुश्ताक अली ट्रोफी टी20 में पंजाब के खिलाफ 27 गेंदों पर 53 रन की पारी खेली और शानदार अर्धशतक जमाया।
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NZ vs ENG: दूसरा टेस्ट, बर्न्स और रूट के शतक
हैमिल्टनओपनर ने फील्डरों की गलतियों का फायदा उठाते हुए शतक जड़ा, जिससे इंग्लैंड ने न्यू जीलैंड के खिलाफ दूसरे क्रिकेट टेस्ट के तीसरे दिन चायकाल तक वापसी की। बर्न्स ने रन आउट होने से पहले 101 रन की पारी खेली, जिससे इंग्लैंड ने दिन का तीसरे दिन का खेल खत्म होने तक 5 विकेट पर 269 रन बनाए। कप्तान ने भी टेस्ट करियर का 17वां शतक पूरा किया। वह दिन का खेल खत्म होने तक 278 गेंदों पर 14 चौकों की मदद से 114 रन बना चुके थे। चायकाल के बाद बेन स्टोक्स (26) और जैक क्रोले (1) भी पविलियन लौट गए। बर्न्स ने जीवनदान का पूरा फायदा उठाया। न्यू जीलैंड के फील्डरों ने 10 और 19 रन के स्कोर पर उनके कैच टपकाए जबकि 87 रन के स्कोर पर उन्हें रन आउट करने का मौका गंवा दिया। बर्न्स ने नील वैगनर की गेंद को फाइन लेग पर एक रन के लिए खेलकर शतक पूरा किया। वह हालांकि दो गेंद बाद रन आउट हो गए। देखें, रूट के कहने पर बर्न्स दूसरे रन के लिए दौड़ पड़े लेकिन पहले रन के दौरान धीमी गति का खामियाजा उन्हें भुगतना पड़ा और जीत रावल के थ्रो पर बीजे वॉटलिंग ने उन्हें रन आउट कर दिया। सपाट पिच पर गेंदबाजों को सफलता हासिल करने के लिए जूझना पड़ा। पढ़ें, वैगनर ने बाउंसर ने बर्न्स को परेशान किया लेकिन बल्लेबाज को दबाव में नहीं डाल पाए। इंग्लैंड के कप्तान रूट की यह पारी काफी महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि वह पिछले कुछ समय से खराब फॉर्म से जूझ रहे थे जिससे यह सवाल उठने लगा था कि क्या कप्तानी के अतिरिक्त दबाव से उनकी फॉर्म प्रभावित हो रही है। फरवरी में वेस्ट इंडीज के खिलाफ शतक जड़ने के बाद से रूट कोई सेंचुरी नहीं लगा पाए थे।
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डेविस कप: पाक पर जीत को सुमित नागल ने किया भारतीय सेना को समर्पित
अनुभवी लिएंडर पेस और जीवन नेदुनचेझियन के युगल मुकाबला जीतने के साथ ही भारत ने पाकिस्तान को डेविस कप एशिया ओसनिया जोन ग्रुप एक के पहले राउंड के मुकाबले में 4-0 से पीटकर 2020 क्वालीफायर का टिकट हासिल...from Live Hindustan Rss feed https://ift.tt/35OgwJH
Serie A: Mario Pasalic's brace helps Atalanta win to stay in Champions League qualifying places; Torino defeat Genoa
Rome: Mario Balotelli showed flashes of form as he returned to Brescia’s lineup after sitting out a game due to disciplinary reasons. But it was another Mario who made the biggest impact in a regional Serie A derby with Atalanta on Saturday.
Mario Pašalic scored either side of halftime and Atalanta won 3-0 to stay in the Champions League qualifying places.
Balotelli hit the post early in the second half and had several other chances. Still, last-placed Brescia lost its sixth straight and 10th in 13 matches this season.
Brescia hasn’t scored, and has conceded 10 in Fabio Grosso’s three matches in charge since replacing Eugeno Corini.
“We played with fear and if the opponents smell timidity they take advantage of it,” said Grosso, who is coaching in Serie A for the first time. “I haven’t been here for very long. It’s going to take time and hard work to put something worthwhile together.”
Atalanta moved level on points with fourth-placed Cagliari and fifth-placed Roma — with the top four finishers qualifying for the Champions League.
Pašalic was left unmarked to head in Brescia’s opener and scored his second with a slick backheel flick from close range.
Josip Ilicic scored Atalanta’s third by finishing off a counterattack in added time.
Pašalic also hit the post, as did teammate Ruslan Malinovskyi.
Other results
Torino won at Genoa 1-0 with a second-half header from Gleison Bremer after the hosts hit the woodwork twice.
Lecce also won away over Fiorentina 1-0 with a diving header from Andrea La Mantia.
Fiorentina was without injured forward Federico Chiesa, and Franck Ribéry exited at halftime following a knock.
Fiorentina was whistled off the pitch following its third straight loss.
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New Zealand vs England Highlights, 2nd Test Day 3 at Hamilton: Joe Root slams ton, England trail by 106 runs before rain abandonment
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Day 2 Report: Daryl Mitchell made 73 in his first Test innings on Saturday to put New Zealand in a strong position after the second day of the second Test against England.
He shared a 124-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper BJ Watling which helped New Zealand reach 375 as they batted first after winning the toss.
At stumps, England was 39-2 after 18 overs. Dom Sibley (four) and Joe Denly (four) were dismissed inside the first 10 overs, leaving Rory Burns and out-of-form captain Joe Root to battle to stumps against an exacting New Zealand attack.
Burns was dropped twice, by Ross Taylor at slip off Matt Henry when he was 11 and by Jeet Raval at mid-wicket off Tim Southee when he was 20, but he survived at 24 not out to bat again on Sunday. Root is under pressure both for his own lack of form and England's and he toughed it out to stumps when he was on four.
The early part of the second day belonged to England who, after New Zealand resumed at 173-3, removed both overnight batsmen, Tom Latham for 105 and Henry Nicholls for nine, within nine overs.
That brought Mitchell out for his test debut beside his North Districts provincial teammate BJ Watling, who scored 205 in New Zealand's only innings of the first Test to lay the foundation for its win by an innings and 65 runs.
The pair assembled a partnership which occupied all but nine overs of the first session and all but one ball of the second. Watling was out for 55 to the last ball before tea after he and Mitchell had defied the England attack for 53 overs and lifted New Zealand from 191-5 to 315-6, a strong position after having been sent in.
New Zealand resumed at 173-3 after the shortened first day in which almost all of the final session was lost to rain.
Latham, 101 not out overnight, added four runs before being bowled by Stuart Broad. He likes to leave close to his off-stump but misjudged a ball angled in from around the wicket and was bowled without playing a shot.
Nicholls hooked a short ball from Sam Curran to Broad on the fine leg boundary.
The next wicket didn't fall for almost half a day as Watling and Mitchell built an impressive partnership.
Mitchell reached a half-century on debut from 122 balls in 194 minutes and with five fours and one six. He became one of six members of the New Zealand 11 for this match — Watling, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and Tim Southee are the others — to have scored a half-century or better on debut.
Watling followed him to a half-century from 180 balls in 239 minutes. He continued an extraordinary run which has seen him score 77, 105, 205 and 55 in his last four Test innings, batting for more than 21 hours.
England struggled to break the partnership, even with the second new ball, until it found the effectiveness of the short ball. Bouncers from Stuart Broad accounted for both Watling, caught at gully by Bruns, and Mitchell caught at fine leg by Jofra Archer. The New Zealand tail quickly followed.
Sibley was struck on the helmet by Tim Southee, disconcerted and was out shortly afterwards, lbw to the same bowler. Denly flashed at a ball from Matt Henry and was caught by Watling, leaving Burns and Root to guide England to stumps.
With inputs from AP
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Ligue 1: Clinical Lyon script comeback to end Strasbourg's unbeaten home run; Montpellier climb to fourth with win over Amiens`
Depleted by injuries and deprived of a clear game plan, Lyon showed character and clinical efficiency to come from behind and win at Strasbourg 2-1 in the French league on Saturday.
On a cold evening in Alsace, Lyon suffered throughout and converted its few chances. Midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide snatched the winner 15 minutes from time from Maxwel Cornet’s assist after the Lyon striker canceled Strasbourg’s opener.
The result, which ended a four-game winning run for Strasbourg at its home stadium, lifted Lyon to sixth place in the standings, 11 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain.
With a bunch of injuries already, Lyon coach Rudi Garcia lost another important player as defender Leo Dubois hobbled off the pitch in the 83rd minute with an apparent knee injury.
Forced to reshuffle his lineup, Garcia handed midfielder Maxence Caqueret his first start as a replacement for Thiago Mendes, one of three key players missing the game through injury alongside Memphis Depay and Houssem Aouar.
All three were absent for Lyon’s 2-0 loss at Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League midweek.
The 19-year-old Caqueret got off a terrible start and put his team in trouble in the sixth minute when he gave the ball away near the midfield line. Strasbourg launched a fast counterattack as Youssouf Fofana sped down the pitch and found forward Ludovic Ajorque, whose shot was well defended by Marcelo.
Playing with intensity and high pressing, the hosts won most of the duels and were dangerous on the counter. They found a cutting edge in the 22nd minute when Ajorque played a quick one-two on the left flank which destabilized the Lyon defense. Ajorque crossed the ball for Fofana, who beat ‘keeper Anthony Lopes from a tight angle with a strike at the far post.
Cornet leveled five minutes before the interval. He connected with a well-timed through ball from Caqueret inside the box, turned down a defender and fired a left-footed shot past Matz Sels.
Lyon weathered the hosts’ pressure in the second half and patiently waited for an opening that came in the 75th. Slowing down the pace from the edge of the box, Cornet made a precise cross at the far post for Reine-Adelaide to head in.
Game changer
Juan Ferney Otero’s second-half dismissal caused a collapse as Amiens lost 4-2 at Montpellier, who climbed to fourth in the table.
Amiens conceded three goals in the space of eight minutes after the Colombian striker was sent off for an ugly foul on Hilton. Montpellier produced its biggest win this season, and extended its unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions.
Osimhen on target
Victor Osimhen scored his eighth goal this season to help Lille recover from its Champions League loss to Ajax midweek.
Osimhen scored the winner from the penalty spot to guide Lille to a 1-0 win over Dijon.
Other results
Third-placed Angers, the surprise package, lost at Nice 3-1, Nimes was held by Metz to 1-1 and Bordeaux drew at Reims 1-1.
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I-League 2019-20: Chennai City FC start title defence at home against debutants TRAU FC
Coimbatore: A new-look Chennai City FC will begin their I-League title defence when they take on debutants TRAU FC of Manipur on Sunday.
Chennai City have lost some of their key players, owing to transfers in the form of Nestor Benitez, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul and Tarif Akhand who formed the core of the attack and defence last season.
It will not be an easy opening game for the Coimbatore based side as they look to put a new combination in place.
The defending champions will be looking forward to the experience of Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa who has joined the team this year after spending the last season with NEROCA FC.
At the same time, there will be high dependence on the Spanish quartet of star striker and golden boot winner Pedro Manzi, defender Roberto Eslava and midfielder Adolfo Miranda and Sandro to repeat the fortunes of last season for the team.
"We are looking forward to the league, working hard for a pre-season of almost four months. We know we are a new team with young and many players without experience in I-league," said captain Manzi, who looked all geared up for the first match.
"I believe this season is going to be even more difficult than the previous one. The teams have been reinforced and are stronger but we will work together to defend the title."
The Imphal-based TRAU, on the other hand, are the unpredictable force of I-League this season. To have qualified for the first time for the I-League only in their second year of existence speaks volumes about the ability of the team.
The visiting team is led by Nigerian forward Princewill Emeka Olariche, who was also the highest scorer in the 2nd Division league with 10 goals. He will be looking to replicate his form in the I-League.
In company with him are some key players which include the likes of 32-year-old Brazillian forward Marcel Sacramento, former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan midfielder Abhinash Ruidas and a direct transfer from Kerala Blasters, Loken Meitei who will have a point to prove in the I-League.
Speaking before the match TRAU FC captain Olriche stressed on the importance of a good pre-season.
"Preparation so far has gone so well. We had a few pre-season friendly matches from which we got mostly positive results and we are readily waiting for the I-League season to commence. We have so much in store," he said.
"We have made a lot of additions to the squad, mostly experienced players, both foreigners and Indians. We have a superb technical team and we are playing a fantastic brand of football. We are ready and we are anticipating a great season ahead."
Match starts at Nehru Stadium at 7pm.
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Newborn girl’s body found at abandoned plot in Punjab’s Ludhiana; police appoint probe team, remains sent for post-mortem
Ludhiana: A body of an infant girl was found in an abandoned plot in Punjab's Ludhiana, police said on Saturday.
The baby's body was spotted by locals who informed the police about the matter. Speaking to ANI, Sub Inspector Harbhajan Singh said that the newborn was one or two days old.
He said that the owner of the plot does not live here and the land is maintained by a caretaker. "We have sent a team to investigate the matter," he added.
A lady who called the police said that the body was first noticed by a child, who informed locals in the area. The body has been sent for postmortem.
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I-League 2019-20: Henry Kisekka, Marcus Joseph score as Gokulam Kerala begin campaign with victory over NEROCA FC
Kozhikode: Gokulam Kerala began their I-League campaign on a positive note by pulling off a 2-1 victory over Manipur's NEROCA FC on Saturday.
Henry Kisekka (43rd minute) and Marcus Joseph (49th) scored for Gokulam while Taryk Sampson (88th) pulled one back for the visitors late in the game.
Henry Kisekka celebrates scoring for Gokulam Kerala against NEROCA. @ILeagueOfficial
Both returning coaches fielded a line-up which indicated an attacking intent. The spearheading duo of Marcus Joseph and Henry Kisekka featured in the Gokulam starting XI. Trinidadian Andre Etienne started in defence with Nathaniel Garcia in the heart of midfield.
NEROCA FC opted for a less cautious approach, with coach Gift Raikhan fielding a 3-5-2 formation. New signing and skipper, Trinidadian veteran Marvin Devon Phillip started in goal with his young compatriot Taryk Sampson starting in defence while Malian forward Boubacar Diarra was the focal point of Neroca offence.
It was the home side that dictated the tempo of the game right from the kick-off whistle in front of a packed audience of 31,184 home fans.
Gokulam had a golden chance to take the lead in the 16th minute when a cross from the left flank found Kisekka, who had a free header, but his effort was off the mark. The Ugandan, along with Marcus Joseph, remained a constant threat throughout the game.
In the 35th minute, Marcus Joseph had a free-kick which he attempted to shoot under the wall, but it ricocheted off the defence and fell at his feet again. He attempted to volley it but his effort missed the mark by a whisker, sailing over the crossbar.
The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute, when Kisekka's left-footed effort from close range found the back of the net to send Gokulam in front, going into half-time.
The second half began the way the first half had ended. In the 49th minute, a cross from the right flank found Joseph inside the box and he made no mistake in scoring from the open header to double the home side's advantage.
Against the run of play, NEROCA pulled one back in the 88th minute. An acrobatic bicycle kick from Taryk Sampson off a set-piece gave the visitors a lifeline but it turned out to be nothing more than a consolation.
The Malabarians earned all three points to start their season on a positive note, following up from their Durand Cup-winning pre-season form.
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LaLiga: Real Madrid battle past Alaves to top league standings with hard-fought victory; Real Sociedad clinch thumping win
Madrid: Withstanding the rain and cold, Real Madrid pulled off a hard-fought victory against Alaves to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of the Spanish league on Saturday.
Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal scored second-half goals as Real Madrid beat its tough Basque Country opponent 2-1 to take the league lead from Barcelona, who visit fifth-placed Atlético Madrid on Sunday.
Real Madrid pulled off a hard-fought victory against Alaves to put pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga standings. Image: Twitter @realmadrid
“We overcame the rain, the cold, the hard fouls,” veteran Real Madrid left back Marcelo said. “It’s in these types of matches that you win the league.”
The result gave Madrid a three-point advantage over Barcelona. They both have a game in hand because their Clásico from October was postponed until 18 December because of a separatist rally in the Catalan capital.
It was the third straight league win for Madrid, who are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.
“It’s a very important victory, but we are not concerned with what will happen tomorrow between Barcelona and Atlético,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said.
Ramos scored with a header off a set-piece taken by Toni Kroos in the 52nd minute, then committed the foul leading to a penalty kick for Alavés, which was converted by Lucas Pérez in the 65th. Ramos was shown a yellow card for his foul, an elbow to the face of Alavés forward Joselu.
Pérez has eight goals in his last nine matches.
Carvajal netted the winner from close range five minutes later off the rebound of a header by Francisco “Isco” Alarcón. Alavés goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco made an initial save against Isco’s header before the ball went off the woodwork and ricocheted back toward Carvajal in front of the goal.
“They came pressuring after getting the equalizer, but we reacted well,” Marcelo said.
Zidane opted to start against Alavés without Thibaut Courtois, who made a mistake in the first PSG goal on Tuesday. He was replaced by Alphonse Areola, whose key second-half saves secured three points for Madrid under heavy rain at the Mendizorroza Stadium.
“(Areola) saved us, like Courtois has saved us before. He played extremely well,” Zidane said.
Madrid were also without Eden Hazard, who picked up a bruise in the match against PSG. Isco started in his place, alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema up front.
Bale, who was on the bench for most of the match against PSG, put in a low-key performance.
Odegaard in charge
Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard had another impressive performance to steer Real Sociedad to beaing Eibar 4-1 in San Sebastian.
Sociedad climbed past Atlético and into fourth place.
The 20-year-old Odegaard, who is on loan from Real Madrid, led Sociedad’s vibrant attack with his creative passing and capped the win with a fine left-footed curling strike in the 80th.
Robin Le Normand headed Sociedad in front before Mikel Oyarzabal and Willian José added goals. Pape Diop made it 1-1 for Eibar.
Other results
Valencia beat Villarreal 2-1 in a regional derby with goals from Spain striker Rodrigo Moreno and 19-year-old Ferran Torres.
Joaquín Sánchez scored a penalty and Nabil Fekir added another goal as Real Betis won 2-1 at Mallorca.
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गांगुली के चीफ बनने के बाद पहली AGM, इन मुद्दों पर चर्चा
मुंबईटीम इंडिया के पूर्व कप्तान की अध्यक्षता में भारतीय क्रिकेट कंट्रोल बोर्ड () आज (रविवार) अपनी पहली वार्षिक आम बैठक (एजीएम) का आयोजन करेगा। इस बैठक में कई अहम मुद्दों पर चर्चा होगी जिसमें इसमें द्वारा स्वीकृत कुछ सुधारवादी कदमों में ढिलाई बरतने, क्रिकेट सलाहकार समिति (सीएसी) जैसी क्रिकेट समितियों का गठन करना शामिल है। 33 महीने तक CoA ने चलायाबैठक में आईसीसी में बोर्ड का प्रतिनिधि नियुक्त करने पर भी चर्चा होने की संभावना है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट द्वारा नियुक्त प्रशासकों की समिति (सीओए) ने 33 महीने तक बोर्ड का संचालन किया जिसके बाद पिछले महीने गांगुली की अगुआई में नए पदाधिकारियों ने कामकाज संभाला। पढ़ें, बढ़ेगा गांगुली का कार्यकाल!बीसीसीआई यदि सुधारवादी कदमों में ढिलाई देता है तो गांगुली का नौ महीने का मौजूदा कार्यकाल बढ़ सकता है। रिटायर्ड जस्टिस लोढ़ा कमिटी के सुधारवादी कदमों को सुप्रीम कोर्ट से स्वीकृति मिली हुई है। मौजूदा संविधान के अनुसार अगर कोई पदाधिकारी बोर्ड और स्टेट असोसिएशन को मिलाकर कुल 6 वर्ष का कार्यकाल पूरा कर लेता है तो उसे तीन साल का अनिवार्य ब्रेक लेना होगा। मौजूदा पदाधिकारी चाहते हैं कि अनिवार्य ब्रेक का नियम तभी लागू हो जब किसी पदाधिकारी ने बोर्ड या फिर स्टेट असोसिएशन में 6 साल का कार्यकाल पूरा कर लिया हो। सचिन, लक्ष्मण की CAC में वापसीनई क्रिकेट सलाहकार समिति (सीएसी) का भी गठन किया जा सकता है जिसमें दिग्गज और वीवीएस लक्ष्मण की वापसी हो सकती है। पहले इस कमिटी में मौजूदा बोर्ड अध्यक्ष और पूर्व कप्तान सौरभ गांगुली भी थे। चूंकि अब वह बीसीसीआई चीफ बन चुके हैं इसलिए वह अब कमिटी का हिस्सा नहीं बन सकते। पढ़ें, आईसीसी में प्रतिनिधिपिछले तीन साल में प्रशासनिक संकट के कारण आईसीसी में बीसीसीआई का रुतबा काफी कम हुआ है और ऐसे में बोर्ड ने प्रस्ताव रखा है कि वैश्विक संस्था में अनुभवी व्यक्ति बीसीसीआई का प्रतिनिधित्व करे और इसके लिए 70 साल की आयु सीमा का नियम लागू नहीं हो। ऐसी स्थिति में पूर्व अध्यक्ष एन श्रीनिवासन के बीसीसीआई की ओर से आईसीसी बैठक में हिस्सा लेने का रास्ता साफ हो सकता है। श्रीनिवासन को 2013 में खेल को झकझोरने वाले स्पॉट फिक्सिंग प्रकरण के सामने आने के बाद पद छोड़ने के लिए बाध्य होना पड़ा था। जोहरी पर आरोप भी मुद्दाबीसीसीआई की एजीएम में 12 मुद्दों पर चर्चा होनी है और इनमें से एक मुद्दा बोर्ड के मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी (CEO) राहुल जोहरी पर लगे यौन शोषण आरोप का मुद्दा भी शामिल हो सकता है। सीईओ आए सचिव के अंतर्गतमौजूदा संविधान के अनुसार, 9 सदस्यीय शीर्ष परिषद का सूत्रधार सीईओ है लेकिन मौजूदा पदाधिकारी चाहते हैं कि यह भूमिका सचिव निभाए जिससे कि उसे अधिक अधिकार मिलें। शीर्ष पदाधिकारी साथ ही चाहते हैं कि सीईओ सचिव के अंतर्गत काम करें। (इनपुट एजेंसी से)
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Tennis: फेडरर-जोकोविक के सामने 'करियर गोल्डन स्लैम' पूरा करने की चुनौती
ओलंपिक में स्वर्ण जीतना हर खिलाड़ी का सपना होता है। खेल जगत के महानतम खिलाड़ियों के लिए ओलंपिक स्वर्ण का वही मायने होते हैं, जो पहली बार ओलंपिक में हिस्सा लेने वाले खिलाड़ियों के लिए होते हैं। ऐसे में...from Live Hindustan Rss feed https://ift.tt/2Dwzpor
प्राजक्ता सावंत ने SAG के लिए भारतीय बैडमिंटन टीम के चयन पर उठाए सवाल
युगल खिलाड़ी प्राजक्ता सावंत ने नेपाल में होने वाले दक्षिण एशियाई खेलों (सैग) की भारतीय बैडमिंटन टीम के चयन पर सवाल उठाते हुए कहा कि इस क्षेत्रीय बहु खेल प्रतियोगिता के लिए ऐसे खिलाड़ियों को चुना गया...from Live Hindustan Rss feed https://ift.tt/2DDJZtH
Australia vs Pakistan, LIVE Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 3 at Adelaide
Day 2 report: Pakistan were trailing by 493 runs in the day-night Test against Australia on day two at Adelaide Oval here on Saturday.
Pakistan lost two wickets cheaply as Imam-ul-Haq (2) and skipper Azhar Ali (9) were scalped by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins respectively.
Opener Shan Masood played a knock of 19 runs before being caught by Tim Paine behind the stumps off Josh Hazlewood, reducing the team to 38/3.
Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq built a stand of 31-run for the fourth wicket. Shafiq was picked by Starc after playing a knock of nine runs.
Iftikhar Ahmed (10) failed to score big runs and was sent back to the pavilion by Starc.
Mohammad Rizwan failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard and was too dismissed by Starc on a duck.
Azam and Yasir Shah are unbeaten on 43 and 4 runs respectively. Pakistan were at 96/6 at stumps on day two of the pink-ball Test.
For Australia, Starch bagged four wickets while Cummins and Hazlewood scalped one wicket each.
Earlier in the day, Australia declared their first innings on 589/6. David Warner (335) and Marnus Labuschagne (162) guided the team to a massive score.
Warner went past Mark Taylor and Don Bradman to register the second-highest individual score for Australia in the longest format of the game.
He has now become the only Australian to score two 250 plus scores in the longest format of the game. In the innings, the left-hander became the seventh Australian to score a triple-century.
Steve Smith, who played a knock of 36 runs, became the fastest batsman to score 7000 runs in the longest format of the game.
With inputs from ANI
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ICC टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप के टॉप-4 में आ सकते हैं: होल्डर
लखनऊवेस्ट इंडीज के कप्तान का मानना है कि उनकी टीम वर्ल्ड टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप का अंत शीर्ष चार टीमों के रूप में करने में सक्षम है। आईसीसी टेस्ट टीम रैंकिंग में फिलहाल आठवें स्थान पर काबिज वेस्ट इंडीज ने शुक्रवार को यहां एकमात्र टेस्ट में अफगानिस्तान को 9 विकेट से हराया और होल्डर ने कहा कि उनकी टीम के लिए विश्व टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप के शीर्ष पांच में रहना वास्तविक लक्ष्य है। ने होल्डर ने हवाले से कहा, ‘मुझे लगता है कि टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप के अंत में हमारे लिए दुनिया के चौथे या पांचवें नंबर पर आना असंभव नहीं है। दो साल के समय में यह बड़ी उपलब्धि होगी। हमें कुछ कड़ी सीरीज खेलनी हैं- इंग्लैंड के खिलाफ और फिर साउथ अफ्रीका की टीम आएगी। इसके बाद हमें न्यू जीलैंड जाना है। ये सभी अच्छी क्रिकेट टीमें हैं।’ पढ़ें, 28 वर्षीय होल्डर ने कहा, ‘मुझे नहीं लगता कि हम इन्हें हरा नहीं सकते। हमें बस सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि हम इसमें सुधार करते जाएं। ऐसा करने के बाद हम दुनिया की किसी भी टीम को चुनौती दे सकते हैं। दो साल में वास्तविक लक्ष्य दुनिया की तीसरे या चौथे नंबर की टीम बनना होगा।’ अफगानिस्तान के खिलाफ सीरीज विश्व टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप का हिस्सा नहीं थी लेकिन होल्डर का मानना है कि यह अनुभव उन्हें सुधार करने में मदद करेगा।
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Formula 1 2019: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton grabs pole position in season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi: World champion Lewis Hamilton stormed to the final pole position of the Formula One season with a dazzling display under the floodlights in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Briton, who wrapped up his sixth Formula One title two races ago at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, lapped the Yas Marina circuit in one minute 34.779 seconds, beating Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.194.
“Yes, guys, that’s what I’ve been looking for,” Hamilton said on the team radio on the cool down lap.
Lewis Hamilton gestures after securing the pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AP
Bottas will line up at the back due to a raft of engine-related penalties, meaning that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s race on the front row.
“I’m going to start last with my 40-place grid penalty or whatever,” said Bottas. “We’ll find the fighting spirit for tomorrow.”
Verstappen said his lap was the best he could do against a Mercedes team who looked dominant in the desert.
“I think there are still a lot of chances for tomorrow,” added the 22-year-old.
The pole was a record-extending 88th of Hamilton’s career and fifth of the season. It was also his fifth in Abu Dhabi but first since the German Grand Prix in July — a run of nine races out of the top slot.
“It’s been such a long slog trying to get this pole position,” explained the 34-year-old, who was fastest after the first flying lap and then improved on his time in the second.
“Yesterday was quite wobbly so I really had to re-compose myself last night and come back today focused. I managed to really dial in the car with great work from the engineers, mechanics,” he added.
“It’s been a special car and this is the last time I get to qualify with it so I’m glad I did it proud today.”
Hamilton has won four times previously at the Yas Marina circuit and is chasing his 11th victory of the season on Sunday to end the campaign just seven off Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91.
With five of the 10 races to date in Abu Dhabi having been won from pole, and Mercedes winners of the last five, the omens look good.
“We have had a clean record here in Abu Dhabi, it’s a track that suits us and suits him,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
MOST POLES
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who ends the season with the most poles (seven), will start in third place with team mate Sebastian Vettel fourth.
The pair collided in Brazil two weeks ago, ending their races and leading to a meeting at the Maranello factory to clear the air.
There was more frustration on Saturday, however, when Leclerc missed out on a final flying lap with Vettel slowing in front of him.
“We’re not going to make it, Seb is slowing down,” Leclerc said over the radio.
“It is life sometimes it happens, I don’t know if the situation was unlucky or we could’ve done something better,” the Monegasque, who is fighting Verstappen for third in the championship, said.
British-born Thai rookie Alexander Albon was sixth for Red Bull ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo.
Carlos Sainz was ninth for McLaren while Nico Hulkenberg, without a drive next season after losing his seat to Frenchman Esteban Ocon, rounded out the top 10 for Renault.
British rookies Norris and George Russell, with Williams, both end the season having out-qualified their teammates over the course of the campaign.
Norris has qualified ahead of Sainz in 11 of the 21 races while Russell has a 21-0 record against Poland’s Robert Kubica.
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हैदराबाद रेप: विराट समेत क्रिकेटरों ने जताया गुस्सा
नई दिल्लीहैदराबाद की एक महिला डॉक्टर से गैंगरेप और हत्या की घटना से पूरा देश स्तब्ध है। टीम इंडिया के कप्तान समेत खेल जगत ने भी घटना पर गहरा दुख जताया है। विराट ने लिखा, शनिवार को ट्वीट कर इस दिल दहला देने वाली घटना को शर्मनाक बताया। विराट ने लिखा, 'जो हैदराबाद में हुआ, वह पूरी बेहद शर्मनाक है। यह समय है कि जब हम एक समाज के तौर पर आगे आएं और इस तरह की अमानवीय हरकतों को खत्म करें।' इससे पहले दिग्गज क्रिकेटर वीवीएस लक्ष्मण और भारतीय ओपनर शिखर धवन ने भी इस घटना पर दुख जताया और दोषियों के खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई करने की बात कही। ऑफस्पिनर हरभजन सिंह ने भी इस घटना पर गहरा दुख जताया। वहीं, पूर्व क्रिकेटर इरफान पठान ने लिखा, इसके लिए शर्म ही एक शब्द हो सकता है। उन्होंने आगे लिखा, मुल्क चाहे जिसका भी हो, पर जब इंसानियत मरती है तो सारा जहां रोता है। बता दें कि महिला डॉक्टर की शमशाबाद में टोल प्लाजा पर दो ट्रक चालकों और दो क्लीनरों ने गैंगरेप कर उसकी हत्या कर दी थी। आरोपियों ने बाद में शव को शादनगर शहर के बाहरी इलाके में जला दिया था। पुलिस ने शुक्रवार रात चार आरोपियों की गिरफ्तार किया था जिन्होंने टोल प्लाजा के पास पार्क की हुई डॉक्टर की स्कूटी को पंक्चर कर इस घटना को अंजाम दिया था।
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New Zealand vs England, LIVE Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 3 at Hamilton
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Day 2 Report: Daryl Mitchell made 73 in his first Test innings on Saturday to put New Zealand in a strong position after the second day of the second Test against England.
He shared a 124-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper BJ Watling which helped New Zealand reach 375 as they batted first after winning the toss.
At stumps, England was 39-2 after 18 overs. Dom Sibley (four) and Joe Denly (four) were dismissed inside the first 10 overs, leaving Rory Burns and out-of-form captain Joe Root to battle to stumps against an exacting New Zealand attack.
Burns was dropped twice, by Ross Taylor at slip off Matt Henry when he was 11 and by Jeet Raval at mid-wicket off Tim Southee when he was 20, but he survived at 24 not out to bat again on Sunday. Root is under pressure both for his own lack of form and England's and he toughed it out to stumps when he was on four.
The early part of the second day belonged to England who, after New Zealand resumed at 173-3, removed both overnight batsmen, Tom Latham for 105 and Henry Nicholls for nine, within nine overs.
That brought Mitchell out for his test debut beside his North Districts provincial teammate BJ Watling, who scored 205 in New Zealand's only innings of the first Test to lay the foundation for its win by an innings and 65 runs.
The pair assembled a partnership which occupied all but nine overs of the first session and all but one ball of the second. Watling was out for 55 to the last ball before tea after he and Mitchell had defied the England attack for 53 overs and lifted New Zealand from 191-5 to 315-6, a strong position after having been sent in.
New Zealand resumed at 173-3 after the shortened first day in which almost all of the final session was lost to rain.
Latham, 101 not out overnight, added four runs before being bowled by Stuart Broad. He likes to leave close to his off-stump but misjudged a ball angled in from around the wicket and was bowled without playing a shot.
Nicholls hooked a short ball from Sam Curran to Broad on the fine leg boundary.
The next wicket didn't fall for almost half a day as Watling and Mitchell built an impressive partnership.
Mitchell reached a half-century on debut from 122 balls in 194 minutes and with five fours and one six. He became one of six members of the New Zealand 11 for this match — Watling, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and Tim Southee are the others — to have scored a half-century or better on debut.
Watling followed him to a half-century from 180 balls in 239 minutes. He continued an extraordinary run which has seen him score 77, 105, 205 and 55 in his last four Test innings, batting for more than 21 hours.
England struggled to break the partnership, even with the second new ball, until it found the effectiveness of the short ball. Bouncers from Stuart Broad accounted for both Watling, caught at gully by Bruns, and Mitchell caught at fine leg by Jofra Archer. The New Zealand tail quickly followed.
Sibley was struck on the helmet by Tim Southee, disconcerted and was out shortly afterwards, lbw to the same bowler. Denly flashed at a ball from Matt Henry and was caught by Watling, leaving Burns and Root to guide England to stumps.
With inputs from AP
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प्रीमियर लीग: न्यूकासल ने मैनचेस्टर सिटी को ड्रॉ पर रोका
न्यूकासल (इंग्लैंड)जोंजो शेल्वी के आखिरी मिनटों में किए गए गोल की मदद से इंग्लिश फुटबॉल क्लब न्यूकासल युनाइटेड ने इंग्लिश (ईपीएल) के मुकाबले में मैनचेस्टर सिटी को 2-2 से ड्रॉ पर रोक दिया। ईएसपीएन की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, शनिवार को यहां सेंट जेम्स पार्क में खेले गए इस मैच में रहीम स्टर्लिंग ने 22वें मिनट में गोल करके मेहमान मैनचेस्टर सिटी को 1-0 की बढ़त दिला दी। इसके तीन मिनट बाद ही जेट्रो विलेम्स ने गोल करके मेजबान न्यूकासल को 1-1 की बराबरी दिला दी। मैनचेस्टर सिटी ने इसके बाद 82वें मिनट में केविन डि ब्रुयन के गोल से 2-1 की बढ़त बना ली लेकिन मेजबान टीम ने निर्धारित समय से पहले बेहतरीन वापसी करते हुए जोंजो शेल्वी के गोल की मदद से मुकाबला 2-2 से बराबरी पर ला दिया। पढ़ें, इस ड्रॉ के बाद सिटी की टीम अंकतालिका में 29 अंकों के साथ दूसरे नंबर पर पहुंच गई है जबकि न्यूकासल 16 अंकों के साथ 12वें नंबर पर है।
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ISL: रॉय की मदद से एटीके ने मुंबई से ड्रॉ खेला
कोलकाताफिजी के खिलाड़ी ने शनिवार को यहां साल्ट लेक स्टेडियम में अंत में गोल कर दो बार की चैंपियन एटीके को इंडियन सुपर लीग मुकाबले में मुंबई सिटी एफसी से 2-2 से ड्रॉ कराने में मदद की। माइकल सुसाईराज ने घरेलू टीम को 39वें मिनट में बढ़त दिलाई जो हाफ टाइम तक बरकरार रही। हाफ टाइम के बाद मुंबई सिटी एफसी को प्रतीक चौधरी ने 62वें मिनट में बराबरी पर ला दिया। इसके बाद दोनों टीमों ने गोल करने के कई प्रयास किए लेकिन दोनों विफल रहीं और निर्धारित समय तक स्कोर 1-1 से बराबर रहा। इसके बाद छह मिनट का इंजरी टाइम जोड़ा गया जिससे बाद मुकाबला ड्रॉ ही लग रहा था। पढ़ें, स्थानापन्न खिलाड़ी सर्गे केविन ने (90 +3 मिनट) गोल कर मुंबई को 2-1 से आगे कर दिया। एटीके ने (90 + 6 मिनट) में कृष्णा के गोल की बदौलत बराबरी हासिल की।
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SAG: तूर और चित्रा भारतीय एथलेटिक्स टीम की अगुवाई
एशियाई खेलों के स्वर्ण पदकधारी गोला फेंक एथलीट तेजिंदरपाल सिंह तूर और दो बार की एशियाई 1500 मीटर चैम्पियन पीयू चित्रा एक से 10 दिसंबर तक नेपाल के काठमांडू में होने वाले दक्षिण एशियाई खेलों (सैग) में...from Live Hindustan Rss feed https://ift.tt/2Dzt9w6
सीनियर राष्ट्रीय कुश्ती: साक्षी-विनेश ने जीता गोल्ड, अनिता ने किया बड़ा उलटफेर
स्टार पहलवान विनेश फोगाट (55 किग्रा) और साक्षी मलिक (62 किग्रा) ने शनिवार को टाटा मोटर्स सीनियर कुश्ती राष्ट्रीय चैम्पियनशिप के फाइनल में शानदार जीत दर्ज करते हुए स्वर्ण पदक अपने नाम किए। हालांकि,...from Live Hindustan Rss feed https://ift.tt/2DvXSKB
Friday, November 29, 2019
Premier League: Unai Emery is second in long line of victims to toxic discourse fermented by Arsenal Fan TV
Unai Emery Etxegoien has been relieved of his duties as the manager of Arsenal on the day after Thanksgiving, 29 November 2019. The club statement read: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand.”
Where do we start with the dissection? Let’s start with the words of the manager of Arsenal’s North-London rivals, Tottenham.
“In football and in life when I hear about factories closing or people being made redundant, I’m never happy,” said a poignant Jose Mourinho at the pre-match press conference looking ahead to their fixture vs Bournemouth while looking back.
“It’s always sad news. When my dad was sacked as a manager I felt the pain as a kid. I felt the pain myself as a manager. There hasn’t been one sacking that I have been happy with. For me, it’s a feeling of deja vu. I’m sad about it even when I was waiting for a job. Even when I needed someone to get sacked for me to eventually be a possibility, it’s not something I enjoyed."
“Unai Emery wasn’t happy at Arsenal, obviously. But he’s a fantastic coach with a proven record. A little bit of a rest; you’ll get another big job, amigo. Keep going.”
Let us pause to consider the last paragraph from Mourinho's comments yesterday. That this decision, while expected, may have not been one-sided. It’s not hard to imagine that there is relief from the Spaniard’s side too.
Few have a problem with Emery’s pink slip. Premier League football is, after all, a multi-billion dollar results industry. What has left a bitter taste in the usually impeccable palate of reasonable, life-long Arsenal supporters is the hounding that their now-ex manager had to take from their fellow fans.
In fact, you don’t even have to be a level-headed Arsenal supporter to realise that Unai Emery looked like a broken man in his last post-match press conference as their manager, you just have to be a decent human being.
It is in that press conference that a Sky Sports reporter tauntingly greeted Senor Emery saying “good evening.’’ A salutation that as a Spanish-speaking man the manager had difficulty enunciating. This has been a long-standing gag ever since his arrival at the London club.
Veteran Arsenal FC writer, Jon Spurling had this to say about the issue on Twitter, two days before Emery’s departure: “He may not be at Arsenal much longer, but I'm getting bored with the 'Good evening' jibes at Emery — they're a bit classless towards a guy trying to improve his English — and from a fanbase which supposedly prides itself on being cosmopolitan. We're better than that. Aren't we?”
Evidently not. The 1 million-strong AFTV (Arsenal Fan TV) YouTube channel is the modern metaphor of the ancient Greek monster Ouroboros — the beast that feeds on itself for sustenance. The success of AFTV is inversely proportional to Arsenal’s success. Arsenal Football Club and their decision-makers have been at ill-ease with the AFTV undermining them on a weekly basis.
It has almost exclusively become the mouthpiece for knee-jerk reactions of (often inebriated) scarf-wrapped, match-going fans who demand their penny’s worth with little or no consideration for objectivity post-game. No time is afforded for introspection. Content fueled by hyperbole and shouting bloody murder has single-handedly raised its popularity among fans and schadenfreude-loving rivals alike and turned it into a modern football phenomenon.
It has been sewn into the fabric of Arsenal’s matchday experience. AFTV is mob mentality hidden in the sheep’s clothing of a public forum. Any fan trying to be a pacifist or pleading patience in the circle of this forum gets his voice drowned out, and gets called out for not being enough of a fan. Not very ancient Greek of them.
Rory Smith explored the length and the depth of this phenomenon in his recent NY Times feature, “Some come for the spectacle, the circus of it all. Others treat it as a sort of impromptu town hall meeting: They listen to the speakers, debate their points, cheer the claims they like and jeer those they do not. They start chants and shout cutting one-liners.”
The influence of AFTV, unlike a lot of other fan-generated content, is not contained by its definition. It has normalised an entire generation of football fans, local and international, to an all-time low standard of discourse and outright ridicule of their managers that have leeched into aspects of their lives that it should not touch. Mob culture relies on a sense of power trip that anonymity provides, with people getting away with things they normally wouldn’t in the workings of civil society. But at what cost?
Earlier this week UCFB, a football and sports education university, cancelled Unai Emery’s campus address due to “a number of negative comments at Mr Emery when the guest appearance was initially announced.” This drew a line under the #ManagerOut culture, its power, the lack of decency thereof. On social media, culpability for harassment is rarely established with fans hiding behind aliases.
The UCFB statement was also mindful to remind their transgressing students that, “the digital footprint you create could impact you throughout your career within the football and sports industry.”
For over two decades Arsenal didn’t have to bat an eyelid in terms of changing the man at the helm. Instead, they focussed their energies on players and staff and perfecting a process and developing a well-informed fan culture that came naturally as a by-product. Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery’s predecessor, erected Arsenal’s tenets that were held up by his principles.
The Frenchman’s moral compass pointed steadfastly towards uplifting the youth, state-of-the-art nutrition, revising coaching techniques, treating football as an art, and a self-sustaining transfer policy that held the Premier League and Arsenal’s hands and walked them into the new millennium. Most importantly, Wenger embodied grace, fairness, progress, patience, and the purity of the game. This was the man that many young fans thought Arsenal was named after, this author included.
AFTV, you should remember, had the leading voices in the #WengerOut campaign in his last two years as Arsenal manager, despite his 22-year legacy. The AFTV mob may not have been the hand that pushed the red button, but it certainly proved a catalyst in convincing Wenger that it was time to step aside.
Wenger’s exit should have been on his own terms and definitely more dignified. Poetically, Wenger since has been appointed FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, a dream job for a man of his skillset.
Presently, AFTV is the face of football’s new impatient, result-oriented fan culture. Granted Unai Emery and Arsenal weren’t the perfect fit. But history will remember him as a man who earnestly tried to fill the biggest shoes in club football since Sir Alex Ferguson.
He had to contend with Arsenal’s fans rejecting Granit Xhaka as the club captain, publicly booing the Swiss international at the Emirates. Emery’s incompatibility with Arsenal’s highest earner, Mesut Ozil, was another issue that alienated fans. The Europa League final loss vs Chelsea was an early blow, while the loss at home to Frankfurt was the final nail in the coffin.
Player departures rocked the boat too. Former captain Laurent Koscielny’s unpopular exit to Bordeaux (where the player took off his Arsenal shirt to reveal Bordeaux’s shirt underneath it), Aaron Ramsey’s move to Juventus compounded the misery.
Ultimately, Arsenal fans will remember him as the man under whom their club couldn’t win their 7 seven matches in all competitions. The last time this happened was in February 1992 under George Graham (8 games). This run meant Arsenal scrambled to sack their second manager under 22 months. However, Unai Emery may only be a symptom, hinting towards a larger malaise.
This, for the 8th-placed Arsenal, may just be the beginning of the slump that Manchester United faced after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Like David Moyes, Unai Emery could be remembered as Arsenal’s ceremonial sacrifice to appease the AFTV mob but to no avail. A first of many.
Spare a thought for former player and now interim Arsenal manager, Freddie Ljungberg. Imagine working in an environment where not only each and every one of your mistakes is broadcasted for the world to see, but then having your dignity drawn and quartered outside that workspace, by the people of whom you have the best interests at heart. This is what Ljungberg will have to look forward to.
Good luck, amigo, you’ll need it.
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Fantasy Premier League, Gameweek 14 tips: Gabriel Jesus could fill in for injured Sergio Aguero, Jamie Vardy looks good for captain
Tough times are ahead for Premier League clubs in the English top-flight. Festive fixtures leading up to Christmas and New Year are well and truly lined up. Teams are busy finishing up their group stage commitments in their respective European competitions, and yes, as always, there is a lot of drama - on and off the field.
Arsenal and Manchester United continued to struggle, with the former finally losing patience with manager Unai Emery, while Liverpool will learn their fate in the UEFA Champions League on the final group stage match day against Red Bull Salzburg in December.
On the positive front though, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham scripted a massive comeback against Olympiakos to seal round of 16 in the Champions League in dramatic fashion, while Manchester City, too, joined their top-flight rivals.
What to look forward to? Three back-to-back matchdays in the matter of just a week. So, if you are one of those last-minute transfer-makers in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, now would be the right time to do so. Get going with your thinking caps on, because here are a few matches from where you could potentially score points:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bournemouth
In most scenarios, when a new manager takes over a club, the team is bound to perform well. Jose Mourinho has definitely brought back life to Tottenham Hotspur after taking over as manager, and right now, FPL managers are in a situation where they cannot avoid any in-form Spurs player.
Harry Kane (£10.9) seems to have found back his form with three goals in two matches under Mourinho, while Hueng Min Son (£9.7) seems to be a comparatively cheaper choice and could potentially also be a captain’s choice for FPL bosses. The South Korean striker has amassed 21 points in his last two Premier League matches, and will play a crucial part leading up to fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea in December.
Serge Aurier ( £4.9) provides a massive boost to Spurs defence while Jan Vertonghen might be favoured over the out of form Danny Rose as a left-back.
Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele ( £5.8) will be in contention to face Bournemouth after missing out on the trip to West Ham with a groin injury. The French midfielder made his return in the Champions League against Olympiakos, playing seven minutes as a second half substitute.
For Bournemouth, Joshua King ( £6.2) is all but set to miss out on a second successive game after missing the team’s home loss to Wolves. King suffered a hamstring injury, and his return is still uncertain.
Simon Francis and Philip Billing, however, remain suspended.
The biggest boost for the Cherries is that Diminic Solanke has been given a green signal following a scan for a hamstring injury.
Leicester City vs Everton
Who else to keep an eye for apart from Jaime Vardy ( £9.8)? The England forward has scored in each of his last five Premier League games, and his last blank came back in October against Liverpool. Meanwhile, James Maddison ( £7.6) is priced reasonably in such a way that he can even be a suitable fit to your team if you are unable to go for the high-budget ones, like Sadio Mane (£12.2) and Kevin de Bruyne ( £10.2). Maddison has three goals and four assist, and as many as eight bonus points in this season already.
And for a defender like Soyuncu, potential clean sheets could be incoming, especially against a sloppy defence like Everton, who have conceded 20 goals and are even closer to the relegation zone.
On the other hand, Everton are set to endure a tougher run of fixtures, with four ‘Big six’ teams lined up for them following the Leicester game.
However, Richarlison still seems to be a risky option for the Toffees with fixtures against some of the 'Big Six teams lined up.
Morgan Schneiderlin, Fabian Delph and Theo Walcott remain sidelined with injuries.
Andre Gomes, who suffered a horrific injury against Spurs, also remains to be sidelined.
Top picks
Gabriel Jesus (£9.5): Sergio Aguero’s absence might be Gabriel Jesus’ gain, at least for FPL managers. Aguero picked up a thigh injury in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, and is most certainly out for weeks, which makes Jesus likely to be his direct replacement. He might have just played 462 minutes in the league this season, but has already registered three goals and two assists, and could be up for more in the coming games.
Son Hueng Min (£9.7) : Tottenham Hotspur have finally been resurrected to life and so has Hueng Min Son. The South Korea striker had quite a few decent displays under Pochettino and looks to relish more under Mourinho. With four goals and six assists, he could be the Spurs’ X-factor.
Risky business
Richarlison (£7.9): FPL managers, look away! Richarlison might have had a promising start to the season, but a tough run of fixtures may ask you to look elsewhere, at least for the festive period. After facing Leicester on Saturday, Everton face Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in three successive gameweeks leading to the end of December. Three goals and three assists might give a player some reputation in the season so far, but will it be worth taking the risk?
Nick Pope (£4.7): A price tag of just 4.7 might be tempting, but Nick Pope might be in for challenging affairs against Mancheser City and Tottenham In December. Speaking of which, Burnley don’t have a decent record against Manchester City in recent encounters, having lost quite terribly in their Premier League meetings last season.
Captain’s armband.
Oh Captain, My Captain!
Jaime Vardy: Who would be not tempted to not stick with Jaime Vardy as their FPL team captain? The Leicester forward has amassed 50 points in his last four PL matches, and looks set for more, with tasty fixtures against Aston Villa and Norwich City.
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60 के होने पर BCCI ने रिटायर किए स्कोरर
के. कुमारस्वामी, कोलकाताभारतीय क्रिकेट कंट्रोल बोर्ड () सबसे अमीर क्रिकेट गवर्निंग बॉडी हो सकती है, लेकिन इस खेल के कई पहलुओं में से एक अपने कर्मियों के प्रति इसके रवैये ने बहुत कुछ जानने को छोड़ा है। बीसीसीआई, जिसने पिछले चार वर्षों में मुकदमेबाजी पर 200 करोड़ रुपये से भी ज्यादा खर्च कर डाले, ने मौजूदा सीजन की शुरुआत में 17 स्कोररों (स्कोरबोर्ड मैनेज करने वाले) को रिटायर कर दिया जो 60 साल के हो गए। बोर्ड ने हालांकि ना तो औपचारिक रूप से इन स्कोररों को सूचित किया है और ना ही कोई आधिकारिक बयान जारी किया, लेकिन इस सीजन में उन्हें एक भी मैच नहीं दिया गया। कुछ मामलों में तो अंतिम समय में इन मैच स्कोररों को वापस बुला लिया गया। पढ़ें, बीसीसीआई के पैनल में शामिल स्कोररों ने बोर्ड अध्यक्ष को लिखा है। पत्र में लिखा गया है, 'ऐसी घोषणा 'आगामी सीजन आपका अंतिम सीजन होगा' करने से इन स्कोररों को स्वीकार करना सही रहेगा। इसके बावजूद यह चौंकाने वाली खबर है।' गांगुली ने हालांकि इस मामले पर कुछ भी कहने से इनकार कर दिया। मैच रेफरी से बराबरी कैसेऐसा माना जा रहा है कि बीसीसीआई ने 60 साल की उम्र को मानते हुए अंपायरों और मैच रेफरी के साथ स्कोररों की बराबरी कर ली है। एक स्कोरर ने गोपनीयता की शर्त पर टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया से कहा, 'हम बीसीसीआई के साथ नौकरी नहीं कर रहे हैं, तो हम कैसे रिटायर हो सकते हैं? फिर, अंपायर और मैच रेफरी बहुत ज्यादा मैच फीस और पेंशन हासिल करते हैं, जबकि हमारे पास ऐसा कोई लाभ नहीं है।' पढ़ें, '50 रुपये प्रतिदिन से शुरू किया'एक स्कोरर ने कहा, 'हम जुनून से इस काम को करते थे। हमने प्रतिदिन 50 रुपये से शुरू किया था। हालांकि हमारे पास रोजगार था लेकिन इसके लिए हमें काफी कुछ छोड़ना पड़ा। कई स्कोरर ने अपनी नौकरियों में पदोन्नति छोड़ी, क्योंकि वे अपने केंद्रों में स्कोरिंग जारी रखना चाहते थे।' फिट हैं तो काम कर सकते हैंएक और अहम बात यह है कि किसी भी अन्य क्रिकेट देश में स्कोरर के लिए ऊपरी आयु सीमा नहीं है। इस साल इंग्लैंड में विश्व कप फाइनल के दौरान स्कोरर में से एक ने कहा, 'वास्तव में, कई जगहों पर लोग अपने सक्रिय पेशेवर करियर से रिटायर होने के बाद एक गंभीर पेशे के रूप में स्कोरिंग करते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि जब तक हमारी आंखें ठीक हैं और हम फिट हैं, तब तक कोई दिक्कत नहीं होनी चाहिए।'
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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Pacer Hasan Ali ruled out of Test series due to rib fracture, will need six weeks to heal
Islamabad: Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka next month because of broken ribs.
Scans revealed cortical rib fractures that required up to six weeks to heal, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Friday.
File image of Hasan Ali. AP
Hasan was cleared last week of a back injury that took seven weeks to heal, and played in the last two rounds of Pakistan’s premier four-day tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
But just before the start of the match last Friday, Hasan complained about pain in his left side. Scans revealed fractures of the “ninth rib on the right side and eighth and ninth ribs on the left side.”
Hasan last played an international in June against arch-rival India during the Cricket World Cup in England.
Pakistan is due to host Sri Lanka for a two-Test series from 11 December. Rawalpindi stages the first Test from 11 December followed by the second Test at Karachi from 19 December.
Sri Lanka will be the first team to play Test matches in Pakistan in more than a decade since the team suffered a deadly ambush by gunmen in Lahore in 2009.
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Formula 1 2019: From Verstappen, Leclerc's fight to Alfa Romeo's challenge for Racing Point, contests to look forward to at Abu Dhabi GP
This weekend brings with it the grand finale of the 2019 Formula 1 season at Abu Dhabi — signalling the end of a hectic 21-race calendar. While Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have already claimed both world championships a few races ago, there are several other important and exciting championship battles waiting to be decided. Interestingly, the unpredictable results from the last race in Brazil is the reason why we have these exciting face-offs to watch in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen vs Leclerc — fight for 3rd
In recent years, Formula 1 drivers have expressed disinterest in finishing third in the drivers' championship. This is primarily because of the extra travel required in the off-season to attend the FIA prize-giving ceremony. That said, third place in the drivers' championship is incredibly prestigious, especially since Mercedes has locked out the top two places.
As things stand, the fight for the third place is between Red Bull Racing-Honda's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. By retiring from the last race in Brazil, Sebastian Vettel ruled himself out of this battle. Currently, Verstappen leads Leclerc by 11 points in the drivers' championship — a gap that should work in his favour by giving him some breathing space. However, Verstappen downplayed the importance of third place in the championship, saying, "I think it's always nicer than finishing fourth or fifth, but looking back in 20 years' time and seeing that you were third in the championship wouldn't really make me very happy. I think we are all here to win and we are all here to fight for the title. I think it would be nice after the weekend to be third, but in 20 years' time, I don't think it will do much." Despite Verstappen's stance, there is no doubt that Honda and Red Bull Racing (in that order) will celebrate finishing ahead of both Ferraris in their first year of partnership.
On the other hand, Leclerc will be looking to stamp his 'arrival' in the sport by grabbing third place for himself — especially against the highly rated Verstappen. Leclerc shared, "It is always nice to finish the season on the podium. I will give it all even though 11 points are quite a bit to recover in one race. But I will give it all and will be nice to finish my first season with Ferrari on the podium."
The fact is that Ferrari were favourites to win both titles in 2019 after the pre-season tests — a challenge that dissipated into a whimper as the season progressed. Third place for Leclerc will be a mild consolation prize for the team, in an otherwise dismal season.
The Ferraris struggled at Turn 19
First Sebastian Vettel ended his FP1 there, before Charles Leclerc also hit the barrier#AbuDhabiGP ???? #F1 pic.twitter.com/wMBRQZDuJw
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2019
Sainz vs Gasly vs Albon for sixth place
There is a three-way battle for sixth place in the championship — Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz Jr. are tied at 95 points while Albon is 11 points behind with a tally of 84 points. All three drivers have secured contracts for 2020 — so this battle is more about glory and earning the respect of the paddock.
Mclaren's Sainz has been the surprise of the season — scoring points in 12 out of 20 races, including a podium in the last race in Brazil. Unsurprisingly, he's fighting for finishing 6th in the drivers' championship against Red Bull Racing's Alexander Albon and Toro Rosso's Gasly. Yes, it is the mid-season swap at Red Bull (between Gasly-Albon) that's brought him in contention, but there's a lot of bragging rights for Sainz in beating one, if not two, drivers contracted by his former employer. Revealed Sainz, "I think we're as confident as we can be but at the same time you're obviously cautious, you can never know what's going to happen in the last race. I already consider it a bit of a success, to be fighting for P6."
Gasly has had a tumultuous season with a shock mid-season demotion. Securing sixth place in the championship would be a vindication of sorts - and let the Frenchman show the paddock that he has the drive and talent to succeed. He shared, "I think it makes it really exciting, coming into the last race of the season with something to play for in the championship. Carlos and McLaren have been fast all year long, consistent, so we expect it to be tough and it will be our job to execute the perfect weekend to hold on to that sixth place until the end." As for Albon, scoring 6th place would be impressive — he would have scored more championship points this season than Gasly and Sainz in just his 9 races at Red Bull Racing.
Carlos' first #F1 podium was the moment he knew his sacrifices and hard work to become a racing driver were worth it
But he couldn't have done it without the incredible support of his dad ??#AbuDhabiGP ???? #F1 pic.twitter.com/cYlHo4viu3
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2019
Renault vs Toro Rosso for 5th place
Mclaren have comfortably sealed the unofficial 'best of the rest' position (4th place) in the constructors' championship. However, there is a battle that is yet to be settled between Renault and Toro Rosso for 5th place. Gasly's unexpected second place finish for Toro Rosso in Brazil a fortnight ago has brought the Red Bull B-team to within 8 points of Renault. Can Toro Rosso, who will be renamed to Alpha Tauri in 2020, beat Renault to register their best-ever finish in Formula 1? Toro Rosso is the only mid-field team to have scored a podium with each driver in 2019 (Kvyat's 3rd place in Germany and Gasly's 2nd place in Brazil) while Renault are yet to score a podium in the hybrid-turbo era that commenced in 2014.
Racing Point vs Alfa Romeo
There is a fight brewing for 7th place between two teams that are technically in their first season in Formula 1 — Racing Point as Force India's new avatar and Alfa Romeo, who returned to the sport after their departure in 1985. Racing Point F1 Team is currently in 7th place in the constructors' championship with 67 points while Alfa Romeo is only 10 points adrift in 8th. While both teams haven't had a season to boast of, Alfa Romeo's 22 points haul in the race in Brazil has certainly brought them into contention in Abu Dhabi.
When it's race week... ??
...but it's the last one of 2019 ??
Chin up, let's get it ??#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/RSkfAeDVKI
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2019
The last season when Sauber finished in 7th place was back in 2013 — with the team finishing in lower positions in the seasons that followed. "It's a shame that we have fallen down as a team," summarised Alfa Romeo's veteran driver Kimi Raikkonen. As for Force India, the team finished in 4th place in the last two seasons (2017 & 2018). The last time they finished in 7th place in the championship, it was back in 2012. The constructors' championship is the main business for the Formula 1 teams — one where they earn money from. So expect them to fight tooth-nail for every position that can be gained.
All drivers scoring points
Williams' George Russell is the only driver among the 20 to have not scored a single point this season. There were concerns around his fitness in the days leading up to the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however, the young British driver did drive in both free practice sessions on Friday. Although an insurmountable task, if Russell were to score a point in the race on Sunday, 2019 will be only the second season after 2018 to see all competing drivers score at least one point through the season.
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New Zealand vs England, Highlights, 2nd Test Day 2 at Hamilton, full cricket score: England trail by 336 runs
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Day 1 Report: New Zealand’s Tom Latham managed to score his 11th Test century before heavy rain washed out the final session of the first day of the second Test against England at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Friday.
Jofra Archer bowled three deliveries of the 55th over with New Zealand unable to add to their tea score of 173-3 before rain swept across the area and ground staff rushed to cover the wicket block and parts of the outfield.
Latham was on 101, his fifth test century in his last 10 innings, while Henry Nicholls was on five when players left the field.
England had chosen a five-pronged pace attack for the match with Chris Woakes coming in for left-arm spinner Jack Leach, although Ben Stokes appeared to suffer discomfort in his left knee while bowling and only managed two overs. The team said it was unclear if he would bowl again in the innings.
Despite having first use of a pitch that often gives bowlers some assistance on the first day, England wasted their chance to hammer home the opportunity that Stuart Broad and Woakes created by dismissing Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson in the first hour.
Raval (five) and Williamson (four) were both snapped up by Root in the slips before Ross Taylor (53) and Latham combined for a 116-run partnership to drag their side back into the match.
Taylor was the only wicket to fall in the middle session when he was caught by Root on the ball after he brought up his 32nd Test half-century.
Latham’s 11th Test century was hardly chanceless but he rode his luck throughout the day.
England could have had a dream first session when Latham was given out lbw for 49 to Woakes in the final over before lunch only to have the decision overturned on review.
Latham continued to ride his luck after lunch when he was dropped at second slip by Stokes from an Archer delivery while on 66. He also had a nervous wait on 79 after England reviewed an lbw appeal from Woakes that was initially turned down. Ball-tracking technology showed the ball had pitched outside leg.
Latham reached his century in the final over before tea when he danced down the wicket to Root and punched him down through mid-on for his 15th boundary.
New Zealand won the first match of the two-Test series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui by an innings and 65 runs.
With inputs from Reuters
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स्मिथ ने तोड़ा 73 साल पुराना रेकॉर्ड, विराट काफी पीछे
एडिलेडऑस्ट्रेलिया के पूर्व कप्तान ने शनिवार को पाकिस्तान के खिलाफ यहां सीरीज के दूसरे टेस्ट मैच के दूसरे दिन एक उपलब्धि अपने नाम कर ली। 30 साल के स्मिथ टेस्ट क्रिकेट में सबसे कम पारियों में 7000 रन पूरे करने वाले बल्लेबाज बन गए। स्मिथ ने अपने 70वें टेस्ट मैच की 126वीं पारी में तेज गेंदबाज मोहम्मद मूसा की गेंद पर एक रन लेकर वॉली हेमंड का 73 साल पुराना रेकॉर्ड तोड़ा। इंग्लैंड के इस पूर्व बल्लेबाज ने भारत के खिलाफ ओवल में साल 1946 में यह कीर्तिमान हासिल किया था। हेमंड ने 131 टेस्ट पारियों में 7000 रन पूरे किए थे। देखें, भारत के धुरंधर ओपनर वीरेंदर सहवाग इस लिस्ट में तीसरे नंबर पर हैं। सहवाग ने 79 मैच और 134 पारियों में 7000 रन पूरे किए थे। गैरी सोबर्स, कुमार संगाकारा और टीम इंडिया के कप्तान विराट कोहली ने 138 पारियों में टेस्ट क्रिकेट में 7000 रन का आंकड़ा छुआ था। दो टेस्ट मैचों की सीरीज के पहले मैच में पारी और पांच रन से जीत हासिल करने वाली ऑस्ट्रेलियाई टीम ने दूसरे मैच में भी अपनी पकड़ मजबूत कर ली है। ओपनर डेविड वॉर्नर ने भी दूसरे दिन डबल सेंचुरी जड़ दी।
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ISL 2019-20: Chennaiyin FC part ways with head coach John Gregory after poor start to season
Chennai: Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC on Saturday announced parting ways with head coach John Gregory, who had led the side to title trophy in the 2017-18 season.
The 65-year old Englishman has seen the side endure a nightmarish run in the 2018-19 season when they finished at the bottom of the standings.
The team is having a lacklustre run in the ongoing season as well, managing just one win from six matches. They drew two and lost three games.
"The club would like to sincerely thank John for his services. He led us admirably well and delivered our second Indian Super League title. He thus also made us the first ISL club to qualify for the AFC Cup and oversaw our debut appearance in Asia while also reaching the 2019 Super Cup final. All of us at the club would like to wish John the very best in his future endeavours," the club said in a statement.
Gregory had hinted at quitting after the team lost 0-3 to Bengaluru FC on 10 November, saying it was time for somebody else to take over.
"This decision has been taken after a detailed discussion with John, and all parties involved believe this will be the right step for everyone associated with the club," the statement added.
In the lead-up to ISL-6, the Englishman had expressed hope that the team would be able to recover from the poor performances in the previous season and return to winning ways.
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India's first pink ball Test match, seemingly an experiment, holds many lessons for BCCI
Sourav Ganguly took over as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last month. An innovative leader and successful former skipper, he sought to make an immediate impact on Indian cricket by organising the first ever day/night Test on Indian soil at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The intention was good, the occasion was right. What wasn’t correct was the decision to play against Bangladesh — one of the weakest sides to tour India in many, many years.
The momentous Test match, with the pink ball, was supposed to be played from 22 to 26 November. It got over in two days, with only its last rites spilling over to the third morning. If ‘The Prince of Kolkata’ had planned to make this a memorable occasion, to be very honest, it didn’t turn out the way he intended it to. If cricket fans did not react to the way things panned out in the end, it was only because of the home team’s resounding innings win.
Ganguly had stated at various forums that Virat Kohli, the India skipper, had agreed to his proposal of playing the second Test against Bangladesh, in the day/night format, in just three seconds. I have often wondered, before and after the Test in Kolkata, if the India skipper would have approved a first pink ball Test if it was against Australia, England or New Zealand with the same alacrity. Let’s be honest, the Test match at Eden Gardens was an experiment and the hapless Bangladeshis were the guinea pigs.
Pink ball cricket needs to be nursed; it could be the future of Test cricket. Illustration courtesy Austin Coutinho
The new BCCI president also proudly announced that tickets for the day/night Test, for the first four days, were sold out a few days before the match began. If so, then many cricket fans may have bought the tickets to keep as souvenirs, because there were many vacant seats in the 65,000-capacity stadium. I am told that the maximum attendance — while Kohli was batting — was a little over 40,000.
The whole of Kolkata may have turned pink for the historic event, with the presence of Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi prime minister, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, former cricketers, Olympians and other celebs adding colour to the occasion. The enthusiasm however had waned by the time the tourists had started batting a second time on Day 2 of the Test.
The ‘Tigers’ from across the border just weren’t good enough; they played more like alley cats. Bangladesh missed the services of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed and a few others. If the diminutive Mushfiqur Rahim waged a lone battle, Mahmudullah Riyad who gave him company in the second knock walked off with a strained thigh. The latter’s attitude in the Test match was questionable. The talented Liton Das – like Nayeem Hasan, later – was hit on the helmet and had to be sent for a scan. Pacers Al Amin Hossain, Abu Jayed and Ebadot Hossain bowled their hearts out but were found wanting in pace, movement and experience. What was also appalling was the way the Bangladeshi tail-enders ran afraid of the Indian pacers; this, in modern cricket, is unacceptable at any level.
Team India were ruthless in their annihilation of this substandard Bangladeshi squad. They were expected to do so, weren’t they?
Kohli and Co. therefore can’t be blamed for messing up what was meant to be a celebration. What the BCCI and Team India should however be answerable for is the choice of opponents for an occasion so big — the first ever day/night Test match on Indian soil!
India has taken four years to join the day/night Test bandwagon. The first ever pink ball Test was played between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide in November-December 2015. Since then there have been 10 other matches played before the Kolkata Test last week. Till Ganguly ‘convinced’ Kohli to play that Test against Bangladesh, the BCCI had steadfastly refused to play the day/night version, especially on foreign soil. Like T20 cricket and the DRS, Indian cricket has always been a bit tardy in accepting innovations.
After India’s thumping win against the beleaguered Bangladeshis, Australian skipper Tim Paine has asked if Kohli would agree to play a day/night Test at Adelaide when the Indians go Down Under next. Will he or won’t he? Imagine a Jofra Archer or a Pat Cummins bowling to Indian batsmen on a track like the one at Eden Gardens and in those conditions at around twilight. Some of India’s top order batsmen have already spoken out about not sighting the ball at certain times in the day. Fielders have also have said that the pink ball travelled faster and often couldn’t be seen from the boundary lines.
Just because Kohli notched up a hundred and Mushfiqur scored a few handsome runs in the second innings, the BCCI shouldn’t be lulled into believing that all was well in the Kolkata day/night Test. It wasn’t. Both Kohli and Mushfiqur are classy and take the determination to succeed to another level; the sterner the test, the sterner their response.
Before the next day/night Test is played in India, the BCCI needs to do a rethink on various issues that will make the game a little less dangerous for the players and more enjoyable for the paying spectator. The match timings need to suit Indian conditions, to start with. In the eastern parts of India, where it gets dark by 4 pm, would an earlier start help? Would it be convenient to take a break, 15 minutes either side of sunset? How can the dew factor affecting bowling performance under lights be controlled?
The pink SG Test ball, in its present avatar, may not be acceptable to players, especially of the touring teams. The manufacturers need to work on the product and get it as close to the red SG Test ball as possible. Its quality needs to be studied vis-a-vis the Kookaburra and Dukes balls for easy acceptance by overseas teams.
As far as the media is concerned, day/night Tests will surely jack up their ratings and earnings, more because of the novelty factor rather than anything else right now. In the long run, better picture quality, better presentation, engagement with fans and innovative ideas will help the game grow. These Test matches will need to be competitive and last the five days to bring in bigger crowds and increase viewership substantially. The waning interest in five-day cricket can surely be arrested with introspection if Ganguly and his team accept change as the way ahead.
Pink ball cricket needs to be nursed; it could be the future of Test cricket. Right now, however, it isn’t in the pink of health, especially in India.
The author is a former fast bowler and a sportswriter. He is also a caricaturist of renown. He believes in calling a spade a spade.
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Manchester United officials visit East Bengal for likely exhibition match next year
Kolkata: If everything works out, East Bengal in its centenary year celebrations will play an exhibition match with English Premier League giants Manchester United at the Salt Lake Stadium next year.
A four-member delegation from Manchester United, led by Director of Football Allan Dawson, met the red-and-gold club officials and West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas on Friday.
They also visited the Salt Lake Stadium and expressed satisfaction at the facilities, East Bengal executive committee member Debabrata Sarkar said.
"This was a preliminary inspection and they will submit a report within 10 days based on which we will go forward. Then we will work out the financial logistics," Sarkar said.
It is learnt that the appearance fee for the Red Devils is a whopping Rs 24 crore, plus other extra expenses which will make it a Rs 30-crore affair.
If it works out, this match will be a part of the centenary celebrations of East Bengal and United's pre-season Asia tour in July 2020.
East Bengal began their centenary celebrations with aplomb on 31 July with a march from Kolkata's Kumartuli area to the club ground at Maidan. A galaxy of stars, including World Cup winning cricket captain Kapil Dev, were felicitated.
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I-League 2019-20: Former champions Aizawl FC, Mohun Bagan square off in opening match of league
Aizawl: Two former champions, Aizawl Football Club and Mohun Bagan will square off in the opening match of the 13th edition of the I-League, which has been reduced to a second tier domestic competition this season.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and some of the clubs were locked in a bitter face-off on which out of Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League will the top-tier competition in the country.
Aizawl's coach Stanley Rosario shakes hand with Mohun Bagan gaffer Kibu Vicuna ahead of their I-League encounter. AIFF Media
After a lot of acrimony, the issue was finally settled with the help of the Asian Football Confederation, with the ISL being made the top-tier league with a slot in the AFC Champions League play-off, while I-League champions would compete in the second tier AFC Cup.
As a concession to the clubs, starting with the 2022-23 season, the winner of I-League will stand a chance to be promoted to ISL. From the 2024-25 season onwards, performance-based promotion and relegation to and from ISL will be implemented.
A total of 110 games are scheduled to be played in over five-month long league in home-and-away basis among the 11 participating clubs. The AIFF has said that all the 110 matches will be telecast live on DSPORT.
Aizawl FC, champions of the 10th edition, will see their Kolkata visitors playing under a new coach and a new-look squad from the one which finished fifth last time around.
The green and maroons have roped in Spaniard Kibu Vicuna this season along with a fleet of his countrymen. The side under Vicuna has been together for about five months now and has played at least three competitive tournaments going into Saturday's opener.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Vicuna said, "We are working together for almost five months and we are 100 per cent ready to play the first game. We respect Aizawl because they are a good team. It is going to be a tough match but we want to start well in the competition and go back to Kolkata with three points."
The home side, on the other hand, had finished a disappointing seventh in the previous edition. They have appointed a new coach towards the end of last season and will be continuing with Stanley Rosario at the helm of affairs.
The Aizawl gaffer was wary of their fancied opponents. "This match against Mohun Bagan means a lot to my young Mizoram players and it is going to be a tough task at hand," he said.
"Mohun Bagan have full strength with six foreign players and we have only two foreigners with a lot of young players promoted from our academy. It is going to be a big challenge to play against strong Mohun Bagan."
On the importance of starting with a win, he said, "I want my players to believe in themselves and go with a positive mindset and try to get something out of it because everything is possible in football. A good and positive start will give us confidence going ahead."
As far as teams go, Aizawl have managed to retain the nucleus of the side which played in the 12th edition and have also made some new and potentially young exciting signings.
The likes of Liberian defensive wall Alfred Jaryan and his partner Richard Kasagga of Uganda are still around and so are midfielders like David, Isac, Lalremsanga, Rocharzela and they even have William Lalnunfella back after a brief flirtation with Bagan.
Ayush Dev Chetri and Techi Tatra are two young forwards who would be looking to make a mark.
For Mohun Bagan, they have a familiar Debjit back in goal, while Kim Kima and Arijit Bagui are a couple of familiar names which are likely to be seen in their defence line again.
However, they also have new foreign faces at the back in Trinidadian Daniel Cyrus and Spaniard Francisco Munoz. Fran Morante and Joseba Beitia are another couple of Spanish footballers who will be seen leading the Mohun Bagan attacks this season.
Aizawl lost their home game against Bagan last season while drawing their away game.
The match starts at 2pm.
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Australia vs Pakistan, LIVE Cricket Score, 2nd Test Day 2 at Adelaide
Day 1 report: David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne shone in the Adelaide Oval floodlights with back-to-back centuries and a record 294-run stand as Australia completely dominated Pakistan on day one of the second Test on Friday.
Opening batsman Warner was 166 not out and number three Labuschagne on 126, the duo having pushed Australia to an imperious 302 for one at stumps, only days after blasting big hundreds in the first Test in Brisbane.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali and his Australian counterpart Tim Paine pose for a photo ahead of the 1st Test between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba. Getty
Pakistan lost the toss but had started brightly in the teams’ first day-night match at the venue, removing Joe Burns cheaply in the first half-hour as the ball swung in overcast conditions.
But the tourists soon lost their way in a wretched day in the field as Warner and Labuschagne set a record for a second wicket partnership at the 138-year-old venue.
Already down 1-0 in the two-Test series after being thrashed by an innings and five runs in Brisbane, it will take something extraordinary for Pakistan to turn the match around.
“It’s a bit surreal at the moment, it’s just amazing to be out here with Davey and put on a really big partnership,” said the impressive Labuschagne, who scored 185 in the win at the Gabba, his maiden Test century.
The South Africa-born 25-year-old now boasts a career average of 54.62 from his 11 Tests, 13 months on from his underwhelming debut against the same opponents in Dubai.
He and Warner had shown superb control to guide Australia to 139 for one at the dinner break on a rain-hit afternoon, but they were ballistic in the final session, piling on 163 runs.
After smashing 154 in Brisbane, Warner led the way with 19 boundaries in his 228-ball knock but Labuschagne was scarcely less aggressive, hammering 17 of his own.
Pakistan dropped 16-year-old prodigy Naseem Shah and recalled the experienced Mohammad Abbas but the re-jigged pace attack fell flat and the largely meek field placements were picked off virtually at will.
Warner brought up his half-century with a touch of farce, earning six runs when a wild throw at the stumps split the covering fielders and raced to the boundary.
Paceman Shaheen Afridi also gave up four runs just after the dinner break when he bizarrely ran the wrong way at deep cover to give Warner a free boundary from a cut shot.
The seamer had Burns caught behind for four in the fourth over but it was to be the only highlight of an abject day for the bowlers, with debutant paceman Muhammad Musa conceding more than five runs an over.
Legspinner Yasir Shah also had a torrid evening, leaking 87 runs from his 14 overs.
Captain Azhar Ali even sent down one over of part-time spin and was duly hit for nine runs.
With plans ripped apart and seemingly bereft of ideas, Pakistan may look to the heavens for salvation. More rain showers are forecast in coming days.
With inputs from Reuters
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Serie A: All 20 clubs issue joint statement acknowledging that Italian league has a 'serious problem with racism'
Milan: All 20 Serie A clubs issued a joint statement on Friday “to publicly recognize that we have a serious problem with racism.”
The acknowledgment comes amid an Italian league marred by constant episodes of racist chants and discriminatory behavior.
Inter's Romelu Lukaku, left, celebrates after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A match between Torino FC and Inter Milan. AP
“It’s a problem that we have not done enough to combat over the years,” the clubs said. “Images of players being racially abused in Italian football have been viewed and discussed all around the world this season and that shames us all.”
Racist chants have recently been aimed at Romelu Lukaku, Franck Kessie, Dalbert Henrique, Miralem Pjanic, Ronaldo Vieira, Kalidou Koulibaly and Mario Balotelli. All the players targeted — except for Pjanic, who is Bosnian — are black.
England international Eniola Aluko, who will leave Juventus’ women’s squad following Saturday’s game against Fiorentina, said she experienced racism off the pitch in Italy.
“Sometimes Turin feels a couple of decades behind in terms of its general openness to different kinds of people,” Aluko wrote in a column for The Guardian.
“I have grown tired of walking into stores and feeling as if the owner expects me to rob the place. There is only so many times you can arrive at Turin airport and have the sniffer dogs treat you like you are Pablo Escobar.
“I have not experienced any racism from Juventus fans or within the women’s league, but there is an issue in Italy and in Italian football and it is the response to it that really worries me, from owners and fans in the men’s game who seem to see it as a part of fan culture.”
Aluko later added on Instagram, “I do not leave Juventus BECAUSE of racism, I leave because of many reasons which I have spoken about both positive and negative.”
The clubs’ statement said “no individual should ever be subjected to racist abuse – inside or outside of football – and we can no longer stay silent on this issue or wait for it to magically disappear.”
The teams added that “positive conversations” have been held in recent weeks with the Italian football federation and international experts “on how to tackle and eradicate this issue from the game.”
Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said the league is “ready to lead this campaign.”
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