Twenty20 World Cup scheduled

11:10 PM Cricket No Comments

Sep-2012 Tue 18 14:30 GMT, 19:30 local 1st Match, Group C - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota Wed 19 10:00 GMT, 15:30 local 2nd Match, Group B - Australia v Ireland R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Wed 19 14:00 GMT, 19:30 local 3rd Match, Group A - India v Afghanistan R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Thu 20 14:00 GMT, 19:30 local 4th Match, Group C - South Africa v Zimbabwe Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium,...

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England seek parity and progress

8:06 AM Cricket No Comments

It is dangerous to read too much into one match, but there did appear to be a significant gulf between England and South Africa during the first Twenty20. In reality though, not a huge amount new was learned: England struggle against spin, lack experience in the batting but have some good quick bowlers while South Africa, after their blip in the London ODIs, look overall a slick machine. The way that Johan Botha and Robin Peterson tied down the batsmen on a slow turner - remember, this was...

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England batting dismantled by confident South Africa

4:09 AM Cricket No Comments

This was a flaccid England batting display which will fill them with misgivings ahead of World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Ravi Bopara's batting, at least, suggests that he remains scarred by his recent emotional upheavals and the ability of younger batsmen to succeed on turning pitches will be further doubted after the way they were dismantled by a confident South Africa. South Africa's pursuit of 119 on northern England's version of a slow turner was a stroll in the park and, even though England's...

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Rain wipes out first Twenty20

9:20 AM Cricket No Comments

The thousands who thronged the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam to watch its first ever Twenty20, and Yuvraj Singh's long-awaited comeback from cancer, had to go home disappointed as rain had the final say. Persistent rain in the evening meant that the toss was itself a non-starter. The match was called off without a ball bowled nearly an hour and 30 minutes after the scheduled 7pm start. There was some consolation for the crowd, though, as Yuvraj made an appearance to loud cheers when...

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Pakistan could boycott ICC awards over Ajmal omission

1:54 AM Cricket No Comments

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has reopened the debate surrounding Saeed Ajmal's exclusion from the ICC awards shortlists by hinting that Pakistan's players could boycott the awards function, to be held in Colombo on September 15, as a "robust protest". The ICC, responding to the PCB's protest on Monday, had ruled out a rethink and the matter seemed to have ended there. However, Ashraf's comments, made during an interview to ESPNcricinfo, suggest the issue is still alive for Pakistan. "We are facing...

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Nani demands scuppered Zenit move

12:06 AM Football No Comments

Zenit were not shy in splashing the cash this summer as they swooped to sign Hulk from Porto and Axel Witsel from Benfica. The Russian champions admitted that Hulk and Witsel were their top priorities, but they were still keen on Nani. The 25-year-old currently has two years remaining on his deal at Old Trafford, but talks are reported to have stalled over an extension. Zenit director-general Maxim Mitrofanov has now admitted that if Nani had agreed terms, he could have made the move to...

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Rooney regrets transfer request

4:14 AM Football No Comments

Rooney issued a statement in September 2010 in which he questioned the Red Devils' ability to attract top players and indicated he wanted to leave because the club could not match his ambitions. Two days later, though, the England international performed a dramatic U-turn and signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford. He looks back on the whole affair now with a sense of regret. In his latest autobiography, which is being serialised by the Daily Mirror, he recalls: "In September...

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Australia make changes for must-win T20

4:01 AM No Comments

The first game was dominated by Pakistan's outstanding bowlers, especially the spin of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and the debutant Raza Hasan, although the fast men Sohail Tanvir and Umar Gul were also very effective. They bowled Australia out for 89, their second lowest T20 total of all time, and the chase was a doddle. Again, Pakistan's bowlers will be a handful for Australia's long batting line-up. The big boundaries at Dubai won't help, and Australia will need far more than the three...

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Pakistan could boycott ICC awards over Ajmal omission

3:18 AM Cricket No Comments

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has reopened the debate surrounding Saeed Ajmal's exclusion from the ICC awards shortlists by hinting that Pakistan's players could boycott the awards function, to be held in Colombo on September 15, as a "robust protest". The ICC, responding to the PCB's protest on Monday, had ruled out a rethink and the matter seemed to have ended there. However, Ashraf's comments, made during an interview to ESPNcricinfo, suggest the issue is still alive for Pakistan. "We are facing...

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