Sports

MELBOURNE: Aust­ralia’s international schedule will stretch into late-March for the first time in 41 years in 2020 after the country’s cricket board was unable to cut a deal with India to move a one-day tour. Cricket Australia had hoped to host New Zealand in an ODI series in January but Aaron Finch’s team will instead travel to the subcontinent after …

LONDON: The last time Pakistan played a One-day International at The Oval, they defeated India to seal a memorable title-victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy. That day they didn’t just beat India, they thrashed them to the tune of 180 runs. It was a remarkable turnaround for a team who earlier in the tournament had been humbled themselves when India …

LAHORE: While outlining a stage-wise plan to bring crisis-laden Pakistan hockey back on track, newly appointed secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa on Monday plainly told the game’s followers not to expect any “miracles” from the green-shirts at next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Interestingly, the main target of PHF president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar — when he …

MADRID: Naomi Osaka eased concerns about her form and fitness by coming through a tricky first round against Dominika Cibulkova on Sunday at the Madrid Open, declaring she’s “more comfortable” on clay courts than in the past. Osaka has struggled since splitting with her coach Sascha Bajin in February while an abdominal injury forced her to withdraw in Stuttgart eight …

DUBLIN: West Indies brushed aside Ireland by 196 runs in the opening fixture of the Tri-Nation series here on Sunday after their openers John Campbell and Shai Hope shattered the record for the highest first-wicket partnership in a One-day International (partly reported in Monday’s edition). West Indies eventually reached 381 for three in their 50 overs after Campbell and Hope …

OXFORD: Eliud Kipchoge has funding from Britain’s richest man for a bid to break the two-hour marathon barrier later this year. The fastest marathon runner of all time announced plans for the record attempt during a visit to the track in Oxford where Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile 65 years ago on Monday. “I want to unlock that …

MUMBAI: India batting great Sunil Gavaskar believes England are a transformed One-day International side since their shock exit from the 2015 World Cup and rates them as favourites to win their maiden crown on home soil in July. Eoin Morgan’s side, whose quest for a first 50-overs title begins against South Africa at The Oval on May 30, top the …

LONDON: England´s Judd Trump defeated John Higgins 18-9 to win snooker´s World Championship final at Sheffield´s Crucible Theatre on Monday. Victory gave Trump, beaten in the 2011 final by Scotland´s Higgins, his maiden world title and saw him join the list of snooker players to have completed a career Grand Slam following previous successes in the UK Championship and Masters …

SYDNEY: Pakistan cricket team will tour Australia for two Tests and three-T20I  in November later this year,  a schedule released Tuesday.  As per details,  one of the two Tests to be played in the series in Adelaide will be a day-night affair featuring the pink ball, and it will be a part of the ICC World Test championship. There will …

CARDIFF: England captain Eoin Morgan led his side to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in a lone Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday with an unbeaten innings of 57. Test skipper Joe Root made 47 and James Vince 36 as England overhauled Pakistan´s total of 173 for six with four balls to spare at Sophia Gardens. This was England´s second …