Wednesday, 29 February 2012

SG NEXUS PLUS

SG NEXUS PLUS

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  • Comes with a full length plain bat cover with adjustable strap

Virat Kohli to be vice-captain, Tendulkar in Asia Cup squad

Virat Kohli to be vice-captain, Tendulkar in Asia Cup squad

 

Senior players Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan were on Wednesday ‘rested’ on fitness grounds while Yusuf Pathan and Ashok Dinda were named in India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup cricket tournament beginning in Mirpur, Bangladesh, from March 11.
The national selectors, however, refrained from making wholesale changes in the squad that performed miserably in the ongoing triangular series and Test series in Australia by retaining many of the players, like Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who struggled throughout the tour.
Sachin Tendulkar has also been retained in the squad which will have young Virat Kohli as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s deputy.
29-year-old Baroda all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and Bengal paceman Ashok Dinda, 27, were recalled in the team announced by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale after a meeting of the selection committee.
Pacer Umesh Yadav has also been left out of the team because of injury concerns.
“Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav have been rested on fitness grounds,” Mr. Jagdale said in a release.
Yusuf, who scored a century against Saurashtra with the help of 10 sixes and six fours in a Vizay Hazare match, and Dinda, who had an impressive performance in the domestic circuit, were rewarded with a place in the squad.
However, the selectors opted to retain Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja despite being failures in the tour of Australia.
Apart from India, arch rivals Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh will take part in the Asia Cup to be held in Mirpur from March 11 to 22.
The Team:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virat Kohli (v-capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan and Ashok Dinda.

 

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Tendulkar to be rested for Asia Cup?

Tendulkar to be rested for Asia Cup?

 

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag might be 'rested' for the Asia Cup to begin from March 11.

By totalsportsindia.in


The world champions are in the midst of a disastrous tour of Australia and the selectors, it is learnt, could be under pressure to leave out the experienced openers after a run of poor form.
While Tendulkar is still hunting for his elusive 100th international hundred, Sehwag, who slammed only the second double ton in ODI's against the West Indies in December, has been struggling Down Under.
Though, both Sehwag and Tendulkar made decent contributions in India's successful run chase against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Tuesday, they could be left out, given their poor run of form.
Tendulkar has managed scores of 7, 24, 28, 2, 48, 15, 3, 22, 14 and 39 in his last 10 overseas ODI's, Sehwag only garnered 10, 20, 0, 5 and 30 after his record-shattering 219.
Senior pacer Zaheer Khan could also be left out, paving the way for Ashok Dinda. Amongst the batsmen, Manoj Tiwary might well retain his place despite not being played in Australia. Tiwary had scored a hundred, also against the West Indies in the last ODI he played.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

KP leads England to series whitewash

KP leads England to series whitewash

 

Kevin Pietersen's second successive one-day international hundred carried England to a four-wicket victory, and 4-0 series whitewash of Pakistan.


Pietersen (130), without an ODI century for more than three years before his unbeaten 111 three days ago, repeated the dose for a career-best in another run chase under lights.
The outcome was in doubt for much longer this time, after a rare failure from Alastair Cook immediately put England's pursuit of 237 all out on the back foot.
But Pietersen appeared in control throughout in a 153-ball innings, which contained 12 fours and two sixes, as England got the job done with four balls to spare at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
He established a scoring rate that kept England ahead of the game, even from a precarious 68 for four after 16 overs, to the extent that Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter's fifth-wicket stand of 109 did not have to feature undue risks against Pakistan's spinners.
The whitewash, England's first against Pakistan for 25 years, was compensation of sorts for the 3-0 Test series drubbing these opponents inflicted on them here this winter.
It will not be enough for a rankings rise from fifth in the International Cricket Council table.
But there was still reason for satisfaction, as Pietersen and Kieswetter kept England on track after Jade Dernbach's four for 45 had helped to restrict Pakistan.
England lost captain Cook to the second ball of the innings, lbw to Junaid Khan after DRS overturned an initial not-out verdict to a quick and full ball.
Cook, on the back of two hundreds and an 80 in his last three attempts, began with a square-cut for four first ball.
But with him gone, Pietersen soon lost Jonathan Trott too, to an attempted paddle-pull at Abdur Rehman which looped into the leg side for a simple catch.
Eoin Morgan was lbw sweeping at Saeed Ajmal (three for 62), and debutant Jos Buttler fell to the off-spinner for a second-ball duck - caught at short-leg off the shoulder of a defensive bat.
Pietersen and Kieswetter kept their nerve, though, and demonstrated plenty of skill too against a spin-dominated attack on a used pitch.
Pietersen's one significant scrape came when he had to resort to DRS to disprove another lbw verdict, this time on the basis that - albeit playing a hapless and uncomfortable sweep at Rehman - he had achieved the basic prerequisite of positioning his front pad outside the line of off-stump on impact.
Little went right, in fact, for Pakistan as their fielding let them down again - and England's two South Africa-born batsmen swept and drove them to shreds.
After Kieswetter was run out, scampering back in vain from a faulty attempt at a single, Pietersen muscled some crucial pulls too in a stand of 59 with Samit Patel until he was last out - chipping Ajmal to point with only two runs needed.
Asad Shafiq (65) and Azhar Ali (58) had earlier ensured Pakistan recovered from their own early setback, the dismissal of opener Mohammad Hafeez with just one run on the board after Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss.
Dernbach struck with only his second delivery, finding the edge to see off Hafeez caught behind, and took two tail-end wickets in his last three balls as England bowled Pakistan out for the fourth successive time.
Yet Shafiq and Azhar soon found boundaries, and strike rotation, easy in a partnership of 111.
The second-wicket pair shared 11 fours in a passage of play interrupted only when Shafiq chopped on, trying to cut Tim Bresnan.
That was the fit-again Yorkshire seamer's first international wicket of 2012, and debutant Danny Briggs had the first of his career when Umar Akmal mistimed straight to long-off.
Dernbach was the catcher, and was soon back in the last column too - with a good delivery which held its line off the pitch and saw Azhar squirt a thick edge to the diving Morgan at point.
Pakistan had to rebuild again, and in new batsmen Misbah and Shoaib Malik they had the wise heads to do just that.
When Misbah clipped Patel past midwicket, it was for Pakistan's first four in 50 balls. But he and Shoaib still gathered a run-a-ball momentum, and Misbah went up the wicket to hoist Patel over long-on for six to bring up the 200 in the 43rd over.
Briggs proved the merit of his tight lines and full length when he had Shoaib lbw sweeping, to end a stand of 58, and England had the best of the last 10 overs - which included six wickets and just 58 runs.

Monday, 13 February 2012

Zambia crowned champions of Africa

Zambia crowned champions of Africa

 

Zambia clinched their first African Nations Cup crown with a poignant penalty shoot-out win over Ivory Coast.


Nineteen years after a plane crash which killed 18 members of their squad in Libreville, the Chipolopolo returned to the Gabon capital to record the most famous victory in the country's history.
A dramatic shoot-out at the end of 120 minutes of largely underwhelming football went the way of Zambia when Gervinho shot wide and Stophira Sunzu stepped up to slot home.
The final proved a tale of penalty woe for Ivory Coast, chasing their first continental crown for 20 years, with Didier Drogba also failing from the spot during the 90 minutes.
But the win was ultimately no more than Zambia deserved for a plucky display against the odds.
The underdogs started brightly and almost claimed a second-minute lead, Nathan Sinkala's low drive superbly saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry low to his right.
Zambia boss Herve Renard was forced into a reshuffle after 11 minutes when defender Joseph Musonda was forced from the field in tears after catching his knee in the turf when making a challenge.
Nyambe Mulenga came on but the change did not disrupt the Zambians' flow, with Chisamba Lungu looping a header narrowly over two minutes later.
It took Ivory Coast's star-studded line-up 30 minutes to create a noteworthy chance, a clever backheel from Drogba picking out Yaya Toure but the Manchester City midfielder failing to find the target from eight yards.
The match degenerated into a scrappy affair after half-time with neither side able to put together a period of sustained pressure.
But in a rare moment of quality, Gervinho provided Drogba with the chance to redeem himself for his penalty shoot-out miss in the 2006 final defeat to Egypt.
The Arsenal forward burst into the area and was felled by a combination of Isaac Chansa and Mulenga, but Drogba sidefooted his spot-kick horribly over the bar.
The Elephants had another chance to win it in normal time but substitute Max Gradel, having turned his man inside the area, shot inches wide of the far post.
Zambia also had a late chance with a wonderful tackle from Kolo Toure preventing Emmanuel Mayuka from getting a shot on goal when he was well placed.
Zambia had the only chance in the first period of extra-time and it almost resulted in the opening goal.
Felix Katongo beat his marker down the right and crossed for brother Christopher, whose close-range shot would have sneaked in at the near post but for a vital touch from Barry's boot.
Ivory Coast had two chances to win it after the break but Didier Ya Konan curled an effort just wide while, after 117 minutes, Gradel took an airshot when well placed.
The shoot-out was locked at 7-7 after 14 nerveless penalties before Kolo Toure saw his effort saved by Kennedy Mweene.
Rainford Kalaba fluffed his big moment by shooting over the bar but there was no second reprieve when Gervinho missed and Sunzu slotted in.


Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Capello resigns as England manager

Capello resigns as England manager

 

Fabio Capello's shock resignation threw England's Euro 2012 preparations into turmoil after one of the most dramatic days in English football history.

 


Capello quit as England manager after a showdown with the Football Association chairman David Bernstein over their decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
At almost exactly the same time as the Wembley meeting, Harry Redknapp was being cleared of charges of tax evasion at Southwark Crown Court - and opening the way for the him to take over as England manager.
Capello was due to leave his £6million-a-year job after the European Championships but now his successor - and the FA will have to deal with Tottenham first if they do want Redknapp - will have only four months or less to prepare for the finals of a major tournament.
The dispute had been brewing since Friday when the FA board decided Terry, who is standing trial in July where he will deny a charge of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand, could not be England captain until after the case.
Capello, who was not consulted, blew a fuse and told Italian TV station Rai on Sunday that he "absolutely" disagreed with the decision.
That led to Wednesday's meeting and though the FA were not anticipating Capello quitting, both sides were determined to stick to their guns and after an hour of talks that led to the Italian resigning - and the FA accepting.
An FA statement read: "The Football Association can confirm that Fabio Capello has today [Wednesday] resigned as England manager. This follows a meeting involving FA chairman David Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne and Fabio Capello at Wembley Stadium.
"The discussions focused on the FA board's decision to remove the England team captaincy from John Terry, and Fabio Capello's response through an Italian broadcast interview.
"In a meeting for over an hour, Fabio's resignation was accepted and he will leave the post of England manager with immediate effect."




Bernstein said the resignation was the right course of action.
The FA chairman said: "I would like to stress that during today's [Wednesday's] meeting and throughout his time as England manager, Fabio has conducted himself in an extremely professional manner.
"We have accepted Fabio's resignation, agreeing this is the right decision. We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future."
Bernstein had consulted with the 14-strong FA board ahead of the Terry decision but had not done so before the meeting on Wednesday - an indication that he was not intending to sack Capello for his remarks.
The resignation however gave the FA a way out of a situation that was likely to become increasingly controversial in the build-up to the Euros.
The new manager will now have to address the issue of whether Terry should be part of the England squad given the racism allegations and the fact that his presence could be divisive - especially if Anton Ferdinand's brother Rio is part of the squad.
The resignation brought an end to Capello's four years in charge of England - expensive years for the FA and ones which will be remembered as disappointing for the national team when it really mattered, especially at the 2010 World Cup finals.
The FA will need to move quickly to appoint a replacement but Stuart Pearce, the England under-21 head coach and coach of the Great Britain Olympic team, is expected to be put in charge for the Holland friendly at Wembley on Wednesday February 29.
After that, the new manager will have just two friendlies to work with ahead of the European Championships, against Norway on May 26 and Belgium on June 2. The first competitive match will be against France, in Donetsk, on June 11.
Pearce will be on the list of possible successors but he himself has said this summer would be too soon, and FA head of elite development Gareth Southgate on Wednesday night confirmed that Redknapp is one of the "leading candidates".
Southgate told ITV: "Stuart Pearce is in the building and with the under-21s.
"But you have to think for the summer - can you get the person you want for the longer term? Because the leading candidates are with clubs at the minute.
"Harry Redknapp is one of leading candidates but Tottenham will have something to say about that and [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy is not going to want Harry to leave without a fight, so there's an awful lot to work out in the next few weeks."

Monday, 6 February 2012

Djokovic, Barcelona win at 2012 Laureus awards


Tennis Player Novak Djokovic poses with his Laureus World Sportsman of the Year trophy in the press room at the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on February 6, 2012 in London, England.

The dominant forces in tennis and football were honored Monday, with Novak Djokovic winning the top individual prize and Barcelona capturing the team trophy at the 2012 Laureus Sports Awards.
The top-ranked Djokovic won sportsman of the year at the ceremony in London, one week after the Serbian triumphed at the Australian Open to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slam titles in a row.
He's already targeting a fourth at the French Open in Paris in June.
"I have to stay optimistic, believe in what I can do, believe in my abilities and believe that I can win on all surfaces," Djokovic said. "I have proven on numerous occasions that I can really be one of the candidates to win every Grand Slam on every surface. I need to keep that up. Roland Garros is the one to win this year."
Barcelona was recognized as the best team after a stellar 2011 in which Pep Guardiola's players won the Spanish league and Champions League.
But Barcelona trails Real Madrid by seven points in the domestic title race and coach Pep Guardiola is yet to sign a new contract to keep him at the club beyond the end of the season.
"It is not affecting the team," Barca president Sandro Rosell said. "We are used to this way of renewing his contact. He likes to do it year by year. We 100 percent respect what he think he wants.
"The reason he is doing that is something easy to understand: he wants to be motivate himself and (ensure) the players are motivated. We think both are happening. We hope that in the coming weeks he will renew - but one day it will not happen."
Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the world championships last year, took the sportswoman's award.
Darren Clarke was honored with the comeback of the year award. The 43-year-old Northern Irishman won his first golf major by capturing the British Open at Royal St. George's last year.
Compatriot Rory McIlroy won the breakthrough of the year award for the 22-year-old's eight-shot win at the U.S. Open at Congressional, becoming the second-youngest player to win a major since 1934.
"It was a great year to win my first major and to get into the top three in the world rankings," McIlroy said. "I think 2012 is going to be a really exciting year. I'd love to back up my U.S. Open win with another major this year, and hopefully try and get to No. 1."
Bobby Charlton was supposed to attend to receive the lifetime achievement award 54 years to the day after surviving the Munich air disaster that killed eight members of his Manchester United team.
But the 74-year-old Charlton, who won the 1966 World Cup with England and the European Cup two years later with United, fell ill on Sunday and returned to Manchester on Monday for unspecified minor surgery, Laureus said.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson accepted the award on Charlton's behalf.
"Sir Bobby is fine, but it was felt he should go back to Manchester - he is very annoyed not to be here to receive this award," Ferguson said.
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius won the disability award. The South African 400-meter specialist won a silver medal in the relay at the able-bodied world championships last year in Daegu, South Korea.
The winners were chosen by 47 sports stars who make up the Laureus sports academy.

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United: Wayne Rooney & Chicharito lead astonishing comeback as visitors recover from three goals down

Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United: Wayne Rooney & Chicharito lead astonishing comeback as visitors recover from three goals down.

                   
Chelsea FC
Chelsea FC 3  
vs  
Manchester United 3
Manchester United
 
Played
February 5, 2012 9:30 PM IST
Stamford Bridge — London
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎
Attendance:‬ 41668‎
 
36′ (OG) Jonny Evans
Wayne Rooney 58′ (PG)
46′ Juan Mata
Wayne Rooney 69′ (PG)
50′ David Luiz
Chicharito 84′

 

The Red Devils come from 3-0 down to rescue a point at the Bridge after an Evans own goal, Juan Mata and David Luiz gave AVB's men the lead in a thrilling Premier League clash.

 

Two penalties from Wayne Rooney brought Manchester United back from the dead to draw 3-3 with Chelsea in a pulsating game at Stamford Bridge.The hosts were riding high on a three-goal lead shortly before the hour mark, with an own goals from Jonny Evans and a David Luiz header either side of a Juan Mata stunner giving the Blues the advantage.But United unleashed a second-half onslaught to rescue a point at the Bridge, with Rooney and Javier Hernandez the heroes for the Red Devils.United went into the game having failed to win in their last nine visits to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, and looked to the returning duo of Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young to spearhead the attack along with Danny Welbeck.Chelsea, meanwhile, handed a first start to new signing Gary Cahill, with skipper John Terry ruled out through injury.The game had the feel of a usual heavyweight bout in the opening twenty minutes, with each side attempting to edge their way in to the game without leaving themselves exposed to the counter attack.United had the lions’ share of possession in the opening exchanges, and looked the more likely to break the deadlock as Rooney and Welbeck began to combine well up top. The visitors were left to feel aggrieved with referee Howard Webb as they had two strong penalty appeals turned down within the space of ten minutes: first Young went over under a nudge from Jose Bosingwa, then Welbeck was felled by Cahill as he ran through on goal, but neither decision went the way of the Red Devils.The game remained fairly balanced towards the end of the half, but then out of the blue, the Blues struck the first blow.Juan Mata and Fernando Torres worked the space to the left of United’s penalty area, and Daniel Sturridge wove his way in behind Patrice Evra before running at the near post. His cut-back took a nick of David De Gea’s outstretched leg before strikingJonny Evans in the chest at nestling in the back of the net.The goal brought the game to life, as Sturridge then tested De Gea from distance before a United onslaught closed out the first half, with Petr Cech denying Rooney on two occasions and Welbeck from close range.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked the most likely to grab the next goal, but just forty seconds after the restart, Chelsea doubled their lead in emphatic style.Torres got the ball in space on the right flank, and picked out Mata with a pin-point cross before the former Valencia man rifled home a sumptuous volley from inside the area.And just five minutes later, Villas-Boas’ side had a third, after Mata’s free-kick was flicked on by David Luiz and turned home by Rio Ferdinand’s shoulder.It was further insult to the England international, as he suffered a torrent of abuse from the home fans throughout due to the on-going race row between his brother Anton and John Terry.Desperate for a way back in to the game, Ferguson threw on Javier Hernandez to bolster the attack, and shortly before the hour mark, United grabbed a lifeline.Sturridge brought down Evra inside the Chelsea box, and it was third time lucky for the visitors as referee Webb pointed to the spot. Rooney crashed home the ensuing penalty in to the top right-hand corner to keep his side in the game.With such an open game, chances were coming thick and fast. De Gea had to get down low to save from Malouda, whilst Cech denied Rooney from the edge of the area after good link-up play between the England man and Hernandez.But it was the Champions who struck next, again from a Rooney penalty, after Welbeck was caught by the outstretched leg of Ivanovic following good work from Hernandez.The Bridge had gone from rocking to rocky, and it almost got worse for the hosts when substitute Oriol Romeu gave the ball away in his own half, but Hernandez could only fire wide across goal after being played in by Giggs.Torres was then gifted a golden opportunity as a simple ball bounced over Evans’ head, but the Spaniard dallied on the ball after driving goalwards and was eventually robbed by Valencia.And with less than ten minutes to go, Torres – and Chelsea – were left to rue that miss, as United's famous comeback was completed.Valencia and Welbeck combined well down the right. The former’s cross was gathered in by Rooney, whose shot was parried by Cech to Giggs before the Welsh veteran picked outHernandez with a cross to and the Mexican headed home the equaliser.Chelsea could have stolen the three points at the death when Mata's free-kick seemed destined for the top corner, but De Gea did brilliantly to turn the ball behind.In the end, the sides had to settle for a point apiece from a match which will rightly go down in the annals of Premier League classics.










 

Thursday, 2 February 2012

At least 73 football fans killed in Egypt after league match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly

At least 73 football fans killed in Egypt after league match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly

 

Tragedy has struck Egyptian football yet again, with several dozen deaths reported after the crunch league encounter in Port Said between two of the country's top clubs.

 

At least 73 people have died during rioting after Al-Masry's 3-1 home victory against Al-Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League, according to the country's health ministry.
The reported death toll has risen throughout the evening as more casualties appear and the severity of the disaster becomes apparent.
Thousands of Masry fans flooded the field just seconds after the match. While some celebrated, others attacked fans and players of the Egyptian champions. Police presence appeared to be light around the far end of the stadium where the Ahly players had gathered.
It is reported that the home fans cornered Al-Ahly's supporters on the pitch and around the stadium, throwing stones and bottles at them.
The two clubs have had a fractious relationship for some time, with several clashes ocurring between fans over the years.
Ahly stars Mohamed Bakarat and Emad Meteb have vowed that their club "will not play football again" after the violence.
Midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika added, "The security forces left us. They did not protect us. A fan just died in the dressing room in front of me."
Meanwhile, Egyptian FA chairman Samir Zaher has admitted that the Premier League may be put on hold as a result of Wednesday's incident.
The aftershocks of the 2011 revolution continue to be felt as Egyptian society remains divided.

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

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