Sports

PARIS: Sweden said Wednesday it believed its team could be at a disadvantage after FIFA confirmed that Russia would be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup playoffs over the invasion of Ukraine. FIFA said on Tuesday that Poland, who Russia were due to face in the playoff semi-final this month, would be given a bye into one of the …

MELBOURNE: Home to many of famed Australian spin bowler Shane Warne’s greatest sports moments, the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host his public farewell on March 30. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday confirmed the MCG as the venue for a state memorial service to honor Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack last week in Thailand. He was …

MELBOURNE: Australia would be open to hosting Asian arch-rivals Pakistan and India in a series to revive a contest world cricket wants to see, board chief Nick Hockley said. Pakistan and India’s rivalry has been confined to events sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asia Cup for the best part of a decade due to the strained …

KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf will miss the second Test against Australia after testing positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Wednesday. The 28-year-old all-rounder missed the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi due to a hamstring injury. “Faheem has tested positive for Covid-19 in his on-arrival test at the Karachi team hotel,” the PCB said in a statement. “He …

LAHORE: A dour draw on a lifeless pitch in Rawalpindi in many ways doused the enthusiasm of Pakistan’s cricket fans seeing Australia play in their own backyard for the first time since 1998. Only 14 wickets fell over five days in the opening Test of the three-game series which concluded on Tuesday with batters overwhelmingly dominant over the bowlers. Criticism …

Unpreceded restrictions were placed on Chelsea’s ability to operate by the British government on Thursday after owner Roman Abramovich was targeted in sanctions. Abramovich was among seven wealthy Russians who had their assets frozen by the government. It freezes his ability to sell Chelsea which was announced last week after Russia invaded Ukraine. The government has issued what it calls …

Australia opener David Warner said he hopes for an improved pitch for the second Test in Karachi after the visitors could claim only four Pakistan wickets in the series-opening draw on Rawalpindi’s docile wicket. “I just want a game where you can actually create 20 chances,” Warner said Thursday. “It’s something that’s going to be exciting and entertaining for the crowd.” Pakistan …

Using Android apps on Windows 11 is now clicks away after the latter has partnered with Amazon to help users in opening the applications from Microsoft Store. However, before downloading the apps, the users should first have to ensure that their Windows 11 is compatible with the purpose. Here’s is the list of things you’ll need for compatibility: 8GB of …

JOHANNESBURG: Eight South African cricketers with Indian Premier League contracts will play in a one-day home series against Bangladesh before leaving for India. Cricket South Africa on Tuesday named a 16-man squad for the three-match series, which is part of the World Cup Super League. The series will be played between March 18 and 23. The IPL starts on March …

LAUSANNE: The Foot­ball Union of Russia appealed on Tuesday to have its FIFA and UEFA bans frozen and other punishments overturned, sport’s top court said Tuesday. Russian teams were expelled from competition on Feb 28 until further notice following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. FIFA and UEFA did not specify their legal reasons. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said …