Sports

RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has exempted 29 British and South African citizens — the international cricket players and support staff — from the requirement of getting tested for coronavirus before travelling to Pakistan while other conditions will be fulfilled here after their arrival. The CAA approved the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s request in this regard for facilitating the …

CHENNAI: India warned England on Friday to expect a spin onslaught in the second Test as they bid to hit back after a crushing first Test defeat. The hosts are looking to bounce back on Saturday after their 227-run loss in the opening match, a rare Test match win for England on Indian soil. Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium remains …

MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic admitted his Australian Open might be over after an injury-hit win here on Friday as fans were kicked out ahead of a state-wide coronavirus lockdown. In extraordinary scenes, the eight-time winner’s night match against Taylor Fritz was suspended at 11:30pm (1230 GMT) to clear Rod Laver Arena before Victoria state’s six million residents were locked …

LAHORE: After recording a thrilling three-run victory against South Africa in the first Twenty20 International here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, Pakistan seek to claim the series in the second game at the same venue on Saturday. Though Pakistan were termed favourites to clinch the series opener under lights, a largely inexperienced but pumped up South African line-up fully …

India’s Rohit Sharma neared a century but England hit back with crucial blows including Virat Kohli for a duck on day one of the second Test on Saturday. India reached 106 for three at lunch with Sharma on 80 and Ajinkya Rahane on five after India, who trail the four-Test series 1-0, elected to bat in Chennai. Moeen Ali bowled …

LONDON: England fast bowler Jofra Archer will miss the second Test against India that begins on Saturday in Chennai due to an elbow injury, the country’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Thursday. Archer, 25, experienced discomfort during the first Test, also in Chennai, and bowled only nine overs in the second innings. The ECB said he had an injection in …

DHAKA: Nkrumah Bonner was making up for lost time with his second successive half-century as West Indies ground out 223-5 against Bangladesh on day one of the second Test here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday. Bonner was 74 not out and wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva was with him on 22 after an even first day. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite …

KARACHI: The World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) President Syed Sultan Shah said on Thursday that the blind cricket activities will soon be fully restored in the country after the coronavirus pandemic forced all sports activities to get suspended. “Coronavirus forced major sporting events to get suspended and also severely affected the activities of blind cricket which saw T20 Blind World …

NEW DELHI: England’s Jos Buttler will return for the five Twenty20 Internationals in India after being rested for three Tests, as the squad was announced on Thursday by the country’s cricket board. Buttler ended his Test tour after England won the opening match of the four-Test series in Chennai on Tuesday as part of the team’s rest-and-rotate policy amid the …

THE anthem that sets the Pakistan Super League (PSL) extravaganza in motion annually has this year left the nation divided, with some criticising the concept behind the song as uninspiring and others coming out in support of local musical talent. Titled Groove Mera, the PSL VI anthem elicited a wide range of reactions from social media users when it was …