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Lionel Messi helps Argentina secure 1-0 win over Ecuador in WC Qualifier

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Argentina skipper Lionel Messi scored the winning free kick during his 176th appearance for the national side, helping them secure a 1-0 win over Ecuador

Published Date – 02:20 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


Lionel Messi helps Argentina secure 1-0 win over Ecuador in WC Qualifier

ANI Photo

Buenos Aires: Argentina skipper Lionel Messi scored the winning free kick during his 176th appearance for the national side, helping them secure a 1-0 win over Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on Friday. Both teams tried to look for scoring opportunities but struggled. The first half was a goalless affair.

It was in the 78th minute that Messi stood in front of the ball, knocked it over the wall and slammed it into the top-left area of the net and Ecuador’s goalkeeper Hernan Galindez could not do anything about it.

In the next match, Argentina’s skipper will take the pitch once again on Tuesday, facing Bolivia away from home. Messi has been in a brilliant run of form since his arrival to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami. The USA side has not lost a single match since his arrival. He has scored 12 goals for both country and club since his arrival to Inter Miami. It captured its first title, the 2023 Leagues Cup and reached the final of the US Open Cup. Messi has scored 11 goals and eight assists in his 11 games for the club.

Meanwhile, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said that the plan is to play Messi if he does not have issues with playing. Messi’s last international competition was the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where he finally lifted the trophy and won his side their first trophy in 36 years and their third. “I see him well (talking about his state of mind with Inter Miami),” Scaloni on Messi’s availability on Thursday as quoted by Goal.com.

“He is available to play, and we are happy to have him, as I always say. The plan is for him to play. If he has nothing, he will play as much as he can. We have no other intention. For us, that he is on the field is important. There is no reason to save him if he has no problems,” he added.

Sports

Asia Cup: ACC adds reserve day exclusively for Indo-Pak clash on Sep 10

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ACC on Friday decided to add an exclusive reserve day for the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan, which is scheduled for September 10, here on Sunday

Published Date – 02:30 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


Asia Cup: ACC adds reserve day exclusively for Indo-Pak clash on Sep 10



Colombo: In view of the prevailing weather conditions, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Friday decided to add an exclusive reserve day for the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan, which is scheduled for September 10, here on Sunday.

However, there will not be a reserve day for any of the other Super 4 matches in Sri Lanka.

It means that if the rain plays spoilsport during marquee clash on September 10, the match can be resumed from the point it was halted on the very next day.
“A reserve day has been incorporated for the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4’s match between Pakistan and India scheduled to take place on 10th September 2023 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo,” the ACC said in a statement.

“If adverse weather suspends play during the Pakistan vs India game, the match will continue on 11th September 2023 from the point it was suspended,” the statement added.

The Asia Cup final, to be played on September 17, already has been provided with a reserve day considering the heavy rains in the Lankan capital.
In such an eventuality, the ACC said spectators can hold on to their match tickets which will remain valid on the reserve day.

Recently, the PCB management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf had written to ACC chairman Jay Shah, demanding compensation for allegedly losing out considerable money on gate receipts due to poor crowd response for matches in the island nation.

The group league match between the arch-rivals had to be called off after a steady downpour after the end of Indian innings in which they scored 266.
While there is not even remotest of chance of ACC giving any compensation to PCB, the reserve day is the most amicable settlement that could have been reached amidst rising tension between continental body and the tournament hosts.

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Telangana basketball player Aryan named in national U-16 team

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Telangana basketball player Aryan Sharma has been selected to represent India at the FIBA Asia Cup under-16 Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar

Published Date – 09:18 PM, Tue – 12 September 23


Telangana basketball player Aryan named in national U-16 team

Aryan Sharma

Hyderabad: Telangana basketball player Aryan Sharma has been selected to represent India at the FIBA Asia Cup under-16 Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar starting from September 17.

The State hoopster was part of the Indian squad that played the South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) qualifiers in Sri Lanka for the FIBA Asia Cup in August this year. India qualified for the continental event in Doha after winning the qualifiers.

Aryan, who studies in Delhi Public School, Hyderabad trains at Keystone Basketball Academy under Indian coach P S Santosh. The Championship will serve as a qualification for the FIBA under-17 Basketball World Cup scheduled to be held at Turkey in July 2024.

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HPS records comfortable 20-6 win over All Saints in SGF Inter-School basketball tournament

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Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet recorded a comfortable 20-6 win over All Saints in the under-14 girls category of the basketball event at the 67th SGF Inter-School tournament

Published Date – 09:08 PM, Tue – 12 September 23


HPS records comfortable 20-6 win over All Saints in SGF Inter-School basketball tournament

Participants of MGM school (green) and Boys Town School (red) in the action during the basketball game on Tuesday.


Hyderabad: Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet recorded a comfortable 20-6 win over All Saints in the under-14 girls category of the basketball event at the 67th SGF Inter-School tournament in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

In the other matches, DPS Secunderabad downed St Peter’s, Bowenpally 14-2. St Francis School defeated St Anthony’s School 12-4.

MGM School won 10-6 against Boys Town School, while Holy Family School registered a 12-4 win over St Pious, Ramnagar 12-4.

Results: Basketball: U-14 Girls: HPS Begumpet 20 bt All Saints 6; DPS Secbad 14 bt St Peter’s, Bowenpally 2; St Francis School 12 beat St Anthony’s School 4; MGM School 10 bt Boys Town School 6; Holy Family School 12 beat St Pious, Ramnagar 4;
Volleyball: Quarterfinals: TSRS Boraband bt GBHS BR Bollarum 15-12,15-05; Army Public School bt Slate-The School 15-6, 15-9; St Anthony bt St Pious 15-04, 15-03; Pallavi Model School bt Holy Mary 15-11,15-11;
U-14: Girls: TMRIES Asif Nagar bt BVB Jubilee Hills 10-15, 15-14,15-13; St Pious High School bt Holy Mary 15-11, 15-12,15-13; St Anthony’s bt GBHS Tirulagery 15-13,15-6; St Francies bt Little Flower 15-3,15-5.

Sports

Absence of Arshdeep from World Cup squad surprises former bowling coach Bharat Arun

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Bharat Arun, who was a part of the masterplan to make a left-arm net bowler T. Natarajan play for India in the absence of mainstay bowlers in the 2020-21 Australian tour, also said that it was Ravi Shastri who should be credited.

Updated On – 06:19 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


Absence of Arshdeep from World Cup squad surprises former bowling coach Bharat Arun



New Delhi: Not having a single left-arm seamer in the current lineup for the 2023 World Cup at home has surprised former bowler of the Indian team Bharat Arun.

“We tried bringing in left-arm fast bowlers during our time. We always wanted one. Arshdeep was promised a lot and I don’t know why he isn’t there in the squad. To me, he looked very, very impressive. He is capable of bowling yorkers and the late half can move the ball. He is an exciting fast bowler and I wonder where he is now,” Bharat Arun told a YouTube channel Cricket Basu.

Bharat Arun, who was a part of the masterplan to make a left-arm net bowler T. Natarajan play for India in the absence of mainstay bowlers in the 2020-21 Australian tour, also said that it was Ravi Shastri who should be credited.

“These bowlers were supposed to come back to India during Covid time and it was Ravi who stopped the move. It gave us the option to make them play.” But former Indian pace bowler Bharat Arun didn’t underestimate the current pace attack under Jasprit Bumrah. In fact, he heaped praises on each and every one of them without getting into the comparisons between this World Cup bowling attack to the previous one.

“There was a mix of right and left-arm fast bowlers in India from past to present. But we were lucky that we have five or six bowlers who could bowl over 140 km/hr with a fair amount of experience. The rise and rise of Bumrah is made possible because of his ability to attack the stumps. I have known him from Under-19 days. He always wanted to play Test cricket and I got this to Ravi’s attention. Then, Ravi spoke to Virat and he also had a word with the selectors. A lot of people thought that he was a limited-overs bowler but he proved his worth in Test cricket because of his pace, deceptiveness and swing. He gave up junk food to bowl faster. Attention to detail is second to none. His success is because of his ability to hit the stumps. Bumrah wants to do it all the time,” Bharat Arun said.

Probably, that is the reason why the Indian team management advocated five bowlers in Test matches.

“It would be unfair to say that it was Virat Kohli’s idea to bring in five bowlers in Test matches. It was the team’s idea more so coming from Virat who was very aggressive. Virat and Ravi felt that if five batters and a good keeper can’t do it, the rest of them can’t do it. As much as you give it to batting, you have to give it to bowling as well. To get a team out twice in a Test match needs a lot of effort. Just asking four bowlers to do that is not fair. You may do that in one or two matches but to be able to do that over five Test matches consistently, you need five bowlers,” Arun said.

He went on to say: “It was Virat and Ravi’s dream to make India a top team in the world. You need to excel on whatever pitch you play and for that to happen we need an extremely strong fast bowling unit. We need fast bowlers who need to be extremely consistent and lasting over a period of time. Fast bowling is a strenuous activity so we need to rotate the bowlers. We were also blessed with top spinners in R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. All these factors coming together made India’s attack fearsome. I am confident that this could be continued in future years as well.”

And to remain a top team in the world, Bharat Arun emphasised on fitness, nurturing good fast bowling talent and rotating them well. And not to forget, the India team needs bowlers who can also bat!

Sports

BCCI secretary Jay Shah presents golden ticket to Sachin Tendulkar

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The cricketing extravaganza will be played from October to November 19 in India.

Updated On – 06:47 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


BCCI secretary Jay Shah presents golden ticket to Sachin Tendulkar

Source: Twitter/BCCI

Hyderabad: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah on Friday handed over a ‘Golden’ Ticket’ to ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar .

“As part of our “Golden Ticket for India Icons” programme, BCCI Honorary Secretary @JayShah presented the golden ticket to Bharat Ratna Shri @sachin_rt . A symbol of cricketing excellence and national pride, Sachin Tendulkar’s journey has inspired generations. Now, he’ll be part of the @ICC @cricketworldcup 2023, witnessing the action LIVE,” BCCI took to X, former Twitter, to share the news.

Earlier, BCCI gave its first ticket to Amitabh Bachchan.

We all know that the Men’s 2023 world cup is scheduled to be held in India. The cricketing extravaganza will be played from October to November 19.

In order to promote the event, the BCCI came up with ‘Golden Ticket for India Icons’ programme, where prominent people from various fields in India will be handed special tickets, also called VIP passes.

The ‘Golden Ticket’ allows ticket holders to watch all matches of the World Cup.

Sports

US Open: Serena Williams is the GOAT, can’t compare myself to her, says Coco Gauf

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American tennis sensation Coco Gauff holds back on comparison with the American legend of the game and says ‘Serena is Serena’, She’s the GOAT.

Published Date – 06:51 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


US Open: Serena Williams is the GOAT, can’t compare myself to her, says Coco Gauf



New York: American tennis sensation Coco Gauff holds back on comparison with the American legend of the game and says ‘Serena is Serena’, She’s the GOAT.

Talking to ESPN Gauff stated, that Serena is the greatest of all time and, the only regret she’ll have in her life, is not playing against Serena Williams.

“I don’t think I’m carrying American tennis. I don’t think I will. We have so many compatriots who are doing well. Serena is Serena. She’s the GOAT. I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not gonna compare myself to her. She’s someone I look up to. Being in the same stat line as her means a lot to me. She’s my idol. The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her.. there were so many tournaments where if we won an extra round & didn’t lose, I would’ve played her. I’m still happy to just be a product of her legacy,” she added.

Gauff will be looking to win her maiden Grand Slam when she faces newly-crowned World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final at Ashe Stadium.

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Daniel Ricciardo pushes on with recovery from broken hand, shares update

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After undergoing surgery to stabilise the bone with a titanium plate and a few screws, Red Bull junior Liam Lawson was brought in to fill his spot in the meantime.

Published Date – 07:51 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


Daniel Ricciardo pushes on with recovery from broken hand, shares update



Perth: After missing the last two races in the Netherlands and Italy, Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo on Friday took to social media to share the latest on his recovery from the broken hand.

Ricciardo, who replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri midway through the season, shattered his metacarpal after a practice crash at Zandvoort, rendering him ineligible for the remainder of the race.

After undergoing surgery to stabilise the bone with a titanium plate and a few screws, Red Bull junior Liam Lawson was brought in to fill his spot in the meantime.

On Friday, Ricciardo posted a photo of his hand post-operation with the caption ‘relatively unchanged’, along with a clip of him singing his way through training as he attempts to get back to full fitness.

Earlier, as Daniel Ricciardo recovers from his fractured hand, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner does not believe there is “any chance” that the star driver will compete in the Singapore Grand Prix with doubts also cast over his fitness for a comeback at the following round in Japan.

AlphaTauri have already confirmed that Lawson will continue in Ricciardo’s place until the Australian has sufficiently recovered.

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Stokes, Buttler help England post 291/6 against New Zealand in first ODI

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New Zealand was on top after removing Joe Root for 6 to leave England 101-3 in the 21st over but Stokes and Buttler, who was the top scorer with 72 off 68 balls on his 33rd birthday, steadied the innings with a partnership of 88.

Published Date – 09:25 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


Stokes, Buttler help England post 291/6 against New Zealand in first ODI



Cardiff: Ben Stokes marked his return to one-day internationals with a half-century before captain Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone put on a rapid stand of 77 late in the innings to help push England to 291-6 against New Zealand in the first match of the Cricket World Cup warmup series on Friday.

Stokes (52) opted to come out of ODI retirement ahead of England’s World Cup title defense in India starting next month and was one of four batters to post fifties on a tough track at Sophia Gardens.

Another was Dawid Malan (54), who was part of an emergency opening partnership with Harry Brook (25) because of injuries to Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. Brook has been controversially left out of England’s World Cup squad and is staking a claim for a late call-up.

New Zealand was on top after removing Joe Root for 6 to leave England 101-3 in the 21st over but Stokes and Buttler, who was the top scorer with 72 off 68 balls on his 33rd birthday, steadied the innings with a partnership of 88.

Big-hitting Liam Livingstone weighed in with a lively 52 off 40, including three sixes, alongside Buttler before both fell to Tim Southee in the same over late on.

David Willey’s unbeaten 21 included a six down the ground off the last ball.

Allrounder Rachin Ravindra had 3-48 off his 10 overs of spin.

It was the rivals’ first meeting since their epic Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2019.

Roy had a back spasm hours before the game that ruled him out while Bairstow was rested after hurting his right shoulder in the fourth Twenty20 against New Zealand on Tuesday. That series ended 2-2 and the ODI series also contains four matches.

England will play New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on Oct. 5.

 

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“Jaddu bhai, I were confident we would win”: CSK’s Shivam Dube on IPL 2023 final

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The battle lasted late into the night, ending about 1:35 am IST, and it was technically the third day of the summit clash.

Published Date – 09:46 PM, Fri – 8 September 23


“Jaddu bhai, I were confident we would win”: CSK’s Shivam Dube on IPL 2023 final



New Delhi: Reflecting on his experience of batting in the last over of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final for Chennai Super Kings against Gujarat Titans, CSK player Shivam Dube stated that he and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were assured of winning the summit clash.

In the final, which was stretched to a reserved day in Ahmedabad owing to rain, Jadeja crushed Mohit Sharma for a six and a four off the final two deliveries in a rain-curtailed run chase, making Chennai the champions for the fifth time and stealing the trophy away from Gujarat Titans.

Indian cricketer Shivam Dube spoke about the final over of IPL final 2023 between CSK and GT.

“In the last over, we needed 13 runs, and both of us were power hitters at the crease – me and Jaddu bhai. We were confident we would win; that belief drove us. We didn’t worry about who’d hit the winning runs. Mohit bhai bowled a brilliant yorker as the first ball, and though I planned a big shot to put pressure on him, he bowled the next four balls well, and we got 3 runs. Now, 10 runs were required,” Dube said during a conversation on JioCinema’s daily show hosted by Aakash Chopra.

Due to heavy rain on the initial date of May 28, no play was possible; however, there was a reserve day and the weather was clear enough for the match to begin. Rain arrived shortly after the start of CSK’s chase, forcing the players off the pitch, and it finally stopped minutes before midnight, when a fresh goal was set for MS Dhoni‘s men.

The battle lasted late into the night, ending about 1:35 am IST, and it was technically the third day of the summit clash.

“But still both of us had a positive intent and the belief we could do it. On the fifth ball, Jaddu hit a six, changing the game completely. I knew that in the IPL, you don’t see players running 3 or 4 runs, especially on such a big ground it might go through a gap, and I might have to run fast. 3 runs could lead to a super over. So, I kept myself ready, and as soon as the bat connected, I ran as fast as I could without realising that the ball had already gone for a boundary!” he added.

All-rounder Dube was the hard-hitter in the IPL 2023 season for Chennai Super Kings. He hit 418 runs in 16 matches with three fifties and impressed with his power-hitting in a title-winning campaign.