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India too far behind in football to think of World Cup: Chhetri

June 10, 2014

New Delhi, Jun 10: Conceding that India has been left far behind in world football, national team captain Sunil Chhetri today said that the country should not think of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in the near future, and instead should aim to be in the top 10 in Asia.

With the FIFA World Cup just a few days away, Chhetri was asked when would India qualify for that showpiece football event and he was at pains to explain that the country was nowhere near that level.chetri

"It's unfair to compare India with the top football countries in the world. We are far behind in world football," Chhetri said at the launch of an e-magazine at the German Embassy here.

"Our focus should not be in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup but to be among the top 10 rankings in Asia in the near future. We have to take small steps and first think of rising up to be among the second rung Asian countries," he said.

Elaborating further, Chhetri said India's aim should be to rise up to the level of the likes of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

"We are a dominant country in South Asia. But our standard of football should move ahead of winning SAFF Championships. Our first aim should be to be able to compete with Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

"Then in the next level, we can think of competing the top Asian countries likes Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia who are representing Asia in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this time," said Chhetri, who will be commentating during the World Cup.

The 29-year-old striker said he was open to playing in the high-profile Indian Super League, scheduled to be held later this year, if he is allowed to take part in the tournament by his club Bengaluru FC.

"As of now, I don't know whether I will play in the ISL or not. Of course, I want to play in the tournament. But it all depends on my club. I have a contract with Bangaluru FC and I can play in the ISL only if my club permits me," he said.

"I have not discussed the issue with the club (authorities), whatever the club wants I will do. But I wish the ISL all the success. It will be a huge tournament," Chhetri said.

Chhetri's club Bengaluru FC won the I-League in its first season and he attributed the success to attending to basic things properly under one command - that of the coach.

"It's because of doing small basic things in a proper and strict way. If we have to sleep at a particular time, all the players will have to follow it strictly. Even while not playing, we have to follow some guidelines, which I cannot divulge.

"Even now, I am to follow the rules and keep myself fit. In short, we follow what the European clubs do and I feel that was the reason for our success," said Chhetri, who had stints at the Sporting Clube de Portugal reserve side and MLS club Kansas City Wizards.

"There was no two command in the club. (Coach) Ashley Westwood is the boss and all of us whatever he says. He decides everything. That makes the club a united team, with everybody in sync with one goal."

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Agencies
May 22,2020

India's cricket board will not push for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia to be postponed but would consider staging the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the October/November slot if it becomes available, a senior BCCI official has told Reuters.

This year's IPL, which is worth almost $530 million to the BCCI, has been indefinitely postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic while the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 18, is also in jeopardy.

Reports in Australian media have suggested India's influential board may look to push for the World Cup to be postponed to open up a window for the IPL.

World Cup contingency plans are on the agenda at next week's International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting but BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said India would not be recommending it be pushed back.

"Why should the BCCI suggest postponing the Twenty20 World Cup?" Dhumal told Reuters by telephone.

"We'll discuss it in the meeting and whatever is appropriate, (the ICC) will take a call.

"If the Australia government announces that the tournament will happen and Cricket Australia is confident they can handle it, it will be their call. BCCI would not suggest anything."

While Australia has seen new infections of the novel coronavirus slow to a trickle and is gradually easing travel curbs and social distancing restrictions, hosting a 16-team World Cup would be a Herculean task for Cricket Australia.

Dhumal questioned whether the tournament should go ahead if it had to be played without spectators and said the Australian government would play a key role in any decision.

"It all depends on what the Australian government says on this - whether they'd allow so may teams to come and play the tournament," he added.

"Will it make sense to play games without spectators? Will it make sense for CA to stage such a tournament like that? It's their call."

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts was guarded about the prospects of staging the tournament as scheduled on Friday.

"We don't have clarity on that one, yet. But as the situation continues to improve, you never know what might be possible," he said.

"It's ultimately a decision for the ICC."

The ICC has said it was unlikely to make a final call on the fate of the World Cup until August but some boards are in the process of making contingency plans in the event of a postponement.

While the BCCI recognised an open October-November window would suit the IPL, Dhumal said there was no point in making plans until there was some certainty about the World Cup.

"If we have the window available, and depending on what all can be organised, we'll decide accordingly," he added. "We can't presume that it's not happening and go on planning."

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Agencies
April 25,2020

London, Apr 25: Former Australian cricketer Graeme Watson who was fighting cancer, has died at the age of 75.

Primarily a middle-order batsman and a medium-pace bowler, he featured in five Tests from 1967 to 1972 and two ODIs in 1972, ESPNcricinfo reported.

The all-rounder earned the national call during the 1966-67 tour of Rhodesia and South Africa. Watson slammed a half-century in the first innings of the second Test of the series.

However, the medium-pace bowler was ruled of the next test after suffering an ankle injury. He returned for the fourth Test in Johannesburg where scalped his career-best 2 for 67 but failed to leave a mark with the bat as Kangaroos lost the series.

In 1971-72 he moved to Western Australia and played a major role in their Sheffield-Shield win in 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1974-75 seasons.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Hampshire, Jul 31: David Willey's maiden five-wicket haul guided England to a six-wicket victory over Ireland in the first ODI here on Friday.

With this win, the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Chasing a small target of 173 runs, England got off to a bad start as opener Jonny Bairstow was given LBW in the third over, bowled by Andy McBrine. Jason Roy was then joined by James Vince and the duo added 22 runs on the board before the former was dismissed.

Craig Young then got hold of Vince, who was caught behind after scoring 25 runs. Sam Billings and Tom Banton then took the charge of the chase but the latter too was caught behind which ended his 11-run innings.

Banton's dismissal brought skipper Eoin Morgan on the field. Billings and Morgan played stunning innings and kept scoring boundaries. Morgan struck a scintillating six on the last bowl of the 28th over to take England over the line. Morgan scored 36 runs while Billings played a knock of 67 runs.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Ireland witnessed a poor start as Paul Stirling was dismissed in the very first over of the innings, bowled by Willey. Andy Balbirnie then joined Gareth Delany but Willey struck again in his next over, removing Balbirnie.

Delany then played furiously and smashed three consecutive boundaries to Saqib Mahmood in the fourth over. However, the fall of wickets did not stop as England took three wickets in quick succession. Mahmood bowled Harry Tector while Delany and Lorcan Tucker were sent back to the pavilion by Willey.

Kevin O'Brien and Curtis Campher then took the charge and played cautiously, taking their struggling side over the 50-run mark. Adil Rashid got hold of O'Brien (22) in the 22nd over before Simranjit Singh was run out in the same over.

Andy McBrine was the next batsman and he played brilliantly along with Campher, who went on to complete his half-century. Both formed a 66-run partnership before McBrine (40) was dismissed by Tom Curran.

Campher remained unbeaten on 59 but failed to find a partner as England bundled out Ireland on 172 runs.

The second ODI between both teams will be played on Saturday.

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