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India enters second round of FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier

March 19, 2015

Kathmandu, Mar 19: The Indian football team has managed to find a place in the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football qualifiers by holding off the dominant Nepal team with a draw. The aggregate score is 2-0 in India’s favour.

India is now one of the 40 teams in the continent who will battle in the second round of the world cup qualifiers. According to the format, the 40 teams will be drawn into eight groups of five teams each and will compete in a double round-robin format.

FIFA World Cup

The round two qualifiers are to last for nearly 10 months between June 11 and March 29 next year. Out of the 40 teams, as total of 12 teams (group winners and four best runners-up) will be selected for the round 3 of the qualifiers as well as the 2019 Asian Cup finals.

The overall performance of both the teams wasn’t jawdropping, but it did have a few thrilling moments as a disallowed goal for the visitors and an off-the-post strike from Nepal kept the spectators on the edge of their seats at the Dashrath Rangasala Stadium.

India wasn’t able to convert a few chances as striker Sunil Chhetri’s long ranger was off target and then Robin Singh’s shot fizzed over the bar five minutes into the game.

Nepal pushed on the offensive soon after the match started with forward Shantosh Sahukala creating a chance in the 18th minute as he headed the ball inside the box. But the ball was collected by India custodian Subrata Paul before it could find its way to a red Nepali shirt.

Bikram Lama and Shahukhala stitched together some superb balls for striker Bimal Gharti Magar but the Indian rear-guard stood strong as defender Arnab Mondal lunged in for a few strong challenges.

Magar came close to a breakthrough a minute before half-time but could not beat Paul from close range.

After the half time, both sides went on the offensive with Indians planting in crosses from the flanks and into the opponent’s defensive third while Shahukhala continued to torment the visiting defenders.

In the 64th minute, Robin put the ball into the net but the referee disallowed the goal, leaving India dumbstruck. Chhetri next tried a right-footer after dribbling past a maze of defenders but his shot was wide off-target.

At the other end of the pitch, Paul was left stranded as Sandip Rai chipped his free-kick over the wall to Bharat Khawas who only managed to find the post, much to the Indians’ relief.

Eight minutes from time, Paul had to pull off a brilliant save to thwart Rai’s attempt, thus ensuring a passage to the Asian and World Cup qualifiers.

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Agencies
March 14,2020

Sydney, Mar 14: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been placed under 24-hour isolation amid the fears of coronavirus after he reported a sore throat following the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which the hosts won by 71 runs.

"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," said New Zealand Cricket in a statement.

"Once the test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," it added.

The first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series was played in front of empty stands as the spectators were not allowed to be at SCG as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson was also tested for the coronavirus, after suffering from a sore throat on Thursday. That saw him left out of the squad for Friday's game but the test was negative.

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News Network
February 18,2020

Feb 18: Spinner Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets as India geared up for the ICC women's T20 World Cup with a thrilling two-run win over the West Indies in a low-scoring warm-up match in Brisbane on Tuesday. Electing to bat, India posted a lowly 107/8 in their stipulated 20 overs before returning to restrict the West Indies to 105/7. Chasing 108 to win, West Indies were comfortably placed at 57 for one in 13 overs when Deepti Sharma struck, cleaning up opener Lee-Ann Kirby (42) to trigger a collapse. Soon skipper Stafanie Taylor (16), Chedean Nation (0) and Deandra Dottin (1) were back in the hut as West Indies slipped to 67 for five in the 17th over.

Hayley Matthews (25) and Chinelle Henry (17) blasted three fours and a six in the 19th over to leave them with 11 to get off the last six balls.

Henry blasted Poonam for a four but the Indian dismissed Matthews in the fourth ball.

West Indies needed three runs off the last ball but Henry was caught by Veda Krishnamurthy.

Earlier, India's top-three failed to fire as they were reduced to 17 for three in 3.1 overs.

Opener Smriti Mandhana (4) lasted just six balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues (0) failed to open her account.

Young Shafali Verma blasted a couple of fours before being caught by Britney Cooper off Shamilia Connell (2/20).

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (11), too, didn't stay long, while Krishnamurthy was cleaned up by Afy Fletcher (1/26), as India slumped to 52 for five in 11.2 overs.

Deepti Sharma made a 32-ball 21 before becoming a victim of Anisa Mohammed (2/16), while Pooja Vastrakar (13) was removed by Aaliyah Alleyne (1/9).

Stafanie taylor then got rid of Taniya Bhatia for 10. Shikha Pandey finally smashed a 16-ball 24 to give some respectability to the total.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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