Sports

Sydney, Jan 8: Rookie batsman Lokesh Rahul struck his maiden half century as India fought hard to reach 122 for two at lunch on the third day of their fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today. At the break, opener Rahul (50 batting off 164 balls) and skipper Virat Kohli (16 batting) were at the crease as the visitors still trail by 450 runs in their first innings. Australia had

Karachi, Jan 7: Senior players Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal were ignored while fast bowler Sohail Khan made a comeback after nearly three years in wilderness in Pakistan's 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starting on February 14. The six member selection committee, after intense deliberations with captain Misbah-ul-Haq and head coach Waqar Younis in Karachi

Sydney, Jan 7: Striking his fourth century of the series, captain Steven Smith helped Australia reach 420 for four at lunch on the second day of the final Test against India at the SCG. Resuming the day on 348 for two, the hosts found it tough to get runs against a disciplined Indian attack but overnight batsmen Smith (117) and Shane Watson (81) stitched together a 196—run third—wicket partnership

New Delhi, Jan 6: With Saina Nehwal getting the Sports Ministry’s recommendation for the Padma Bhushan after a furore over her nomination being rejected, Indian boxer Vijender Singh also threw his hat in the ring for the civilian honour but insisted he won’t be “hurt” in case of a rejection. Vijender said he preferably wants two-time Olympic medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar to get the honour

Mumbai , Jan 6: An injured Ravindra Jadeja and young left-arm spinner Axar Patel were today named in India's 15-member squad for the cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, beginning next month. Allrounder Stuart Binny and batsman Ambati Rayudu were also included in the squad announced by BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel after a meeting of the selection committee here. The selectors, however

Sydney, Jan 6: Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner struck fluent fifties to help Australia get off to a rollicking start as the hosts reached 123 for no loss at lunch on day one of the fourth and final cricket Test against India at the SCG, in Sydney on Tuesday. Electing to bat on a good pitch in hot conditions, Rogers (52 not out) and Warner (63 not out) set the tone right from the very start

New Delhi, Jan 5: The Sports Ministry today decided to recommend ace shuttler Saina Nehwal for the Padma Bhushan award but insisted that it did not receive her nomination from the Badminton Association of India (BAI) within the stipulated deadline. "In view of the achievements of Ms. Saina Nehwal, the Department of Sports has decided to recommend her case for Padma Bhushan to the Ministry of Home

New Delhi, Jan 5: Team Director Ravi Shastri said Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s "selfless act" of retiring from Test cricket format at the right time should be given its due respect. Shastri said that there was nothing wrong with Virat Kohli’s aggression but it should be used to help build a young team into a dangerous outfit in the near future. He said Kohli was a young captain and will gradually mature

Sydney, Jan 5: If K L Rahul was looking for an assurance after essaying perhaps three of the worst shots by a debutant Test batsman, he would have found them in the words of the now-retired Test captain MS Dhoni shortly after the drawn Melbourne Test. “We are not deciding on him depending on just this one match, we will have to give him more matches and he is definitely someone who looks good,” he

New Delhi, Jan 3: Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal has been left disappointed after the Sports Ministry decided to reject her application for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award this year, citing norms. Badminton Association of India (BAI) had recommended Saina's name for the award to the Sports Ministry in August last year but the ministry picked two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil