Indian hockey team lose opener 0 2 to New Zealand

October 7, 2015

Nelson, Oct 7: The experience gained by winning two practice matches against New Zealand A did not help the Indian hockey team as the visitors lost the opener of the four-match bilateral Test series 0-2 to the Black Sticks here on Tuesday.

hockeyIndia had beaten New Zealand A 3-1 and 2-1 in the two practice games in Auckland on October 2 and 3 but that did not help the Asian team as the Sardar Singh-led side tamely went down to the hosts.

The game started with good pace as spectators witnessed both teams getting into their business side of the field whenever they got the opportunities. But it was New Zealand’s early goal which helped them take the edge in the contest.

The Black Sticks went ahead in the fifth minute when they were awarded a penalty corner. Nick Haig was bang on target, flicking the ball past India’s custodian P.R. Sreejesh in the top right corner of the goal.

India intensified the attack when Nikkin Thimmaih, from the right flank, pushed the ball inside the opponent’s D but a vigilant New Zealand defence denied the visitors any chance of scoring.

India held possession at the start of the second quarter and kept attacking the New Zealand semi-circle from the right flank. Akashdeep Singh pushed the ball to Ramandeep Singh who failed to capitalise on the pass.

New Zealand counter-attacked in the 27th minute when Jared Panchia scored through a field effort, taking the score to 2-0 going into halftime.

The third and fourth quarters saw both teams trying to add to the scorecard but the defences of both proved stronger in thwarting the attempts.

In the third quarter forward Thimmaiah had a great chance inside the D but the Kiwis held him back and India were yet again denied a goal.

This was immediately followed by Birendra Lakra trying to cash in on another opportunity but was denied once again.

The next match between the two sides will be played here on Wednesday.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 1: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are aiming to set up their preparatory camp for the 13th edition of the tournament from early August.

This year's IPL was slated to commence from March 29 but the tournament was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently, the IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel had confirmed that the 13th edition of the mega event will commence on September 19 in the UAE.

As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, CSK players have been asked to report to Chennai first, following which they will leave for Dubai via a charter flight only after approval from the Indian government.

The IPL Governing Council will meet on August 2 to finalise the schedule and other key arrangements for the tournament. Also, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) around securing eight teams for 51 days across three venues will be formally established in that meeting.

CSK, who has the oldest squad in the IPL, are looking for a month's preparation before ahead of the tournament.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the side was the first team to start their training camp in March. Senior players like Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu had begun training their training in December 2019.

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News Network
May 8,2020

New Delhi, May 8: India skipper Virat Kohli believes cricket in empty stadiums is a real possibility in post COVID-19 world and though it is unlikely to have a bearing on the intensity of players, he feels the magic would certainly go missing.

Cricket Boards across the globe are exploring the option of resuming the sport in empty stadiums. There is speculation that fans could be kept away from stadiums in a bid to salvage the T20 World Cup in Australia, which is currently under threat due to the global health crisis.

"It's quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don't know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans," Kohli said in Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected'.

"I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate," he added.

Kohli said the many moments which are created because of the passion brought in by fans, would be missing.

"Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created.

"We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by," he said.

Cricketers such as Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Pat Cummins have backed the idea of playing behind closed doors.

However, legendary Australian Allan Border has said it would defy belief to host a World Cup without spectators.

Another Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and some other cricketers have also expressed similar sentiments.

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News Network
July 16,2020

Kolkata, Jul 16: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday went into home quarantine after his elder brother and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) joint secretary Snehasish Ganguly tested positive for Covid-19.

Snehasish, a former Bengal first-class player, has been admitted to the Belle Vue hospital in Kolkata after his COVID report came positive.

"He was suffering from fever for the last few days and his test report came positive today. He's been admitted to Belle Vue Hospital," a CAB official said.

"The reports arrived late in the evening. As per health protocols, even Sourav will have to be in home quarantine for a stipulated period," a source close to the BCCI President added.

Snehasish had shifted to their ancestral house, where Sourav is based, in Behala after his wife and in-laws at his Mominpur residence tested positive for the dreaded virus.

The former India captain was, however, unavailable for a comment on the development.

Recently, during an interview to India Today, Sourav had spoken about how life around him has changed, making people more vulnerable.

"My brother visits our factories everyday and he is more at risk," the former batting star had said

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