Sports

VISAKHAPATNAM: Glenn Maxwell hit a crucial half-century as Australia edged out India by three wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish to the first Twenty20 International here on Sunday. Pat Cummins hit a four and took two runs to complete a nervous 127-run chase after his fellow paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile restricted India to 126-7. Maxwell, who made 56, put together 84 …

DEHRADUN: Leg-spinner Rashid Khan bagged a hat-trick as Afghanistan swept Ireland 3-0 with a 32-run victory in the third and final Twenty20 International here on Sunday. Mohammad Nabi’s 81 off 36 balls propelled Afghanistan to 210-7 after Ireland captain Paul Stirling won the toss and chose to field. Rashid’s 5-27 included the wickets of George Dockrell, Shane Getkate and Simi …

The Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) has cancelled the Indian leg of the Asian Tour 10 Reds Snooker tournament due to concerns over the possible refusal of visas to Pakistani and Pakistan-origin participants in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. Last week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had instructed all sporting federations to “neither award nor hold” sports events in …

A controversial Australian newspaper cartoon of Serena Williams which was blasted as racist and sexist did not breach media standards, the country’s press watchdog ruled Monday. Melbourne Herald-Sun illustrator Mark Knight’s caricature in September showed a butch and fat-lipped Williams throwing a temper tantrum at last year’s US Open after losing to Naomi Osaka. It sparked widespread condemnation across the world, including from Harry Potter …

It very rarely happens that a Pakistani batsman scores nearly a half-century — at better than run-a-ball pace — in Australia and that becomes the last time he plays for the national team. From a Pakistani viewpoint, every run scored Down Under is worth at least two in real terms because, let’s face it, it’s Australia. Knocks there are not …

Lahore Qalandars’ fast bowler Haris Rauf has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for violating the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Code of Conduct during Friday’s match against Multan Sultans in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The transgression had occurred when Rauf, after running out Multan’s Dan Christian in the final over, appeared …

Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis propelled Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket win over South Africa on the third day of the second Test at St George’s Park on Saturday, clinching a historic 2-0 series triumph. The unheralded Sri Lankans became the first team from Asia to win a Test series in South Africa. Unlike their dramatic, unexpected one-wicket win in the first …

Pakistan’s World Cup 2019 clash with India is not under threat and is expected to go ahead as planned, according to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) General Manager Strategic Communications, Claire Furlong. The blockbuster June 16 fixture between the two neighbours had faced uncertainty in the aftermath of last week’s Pulwama incident as reports emerged that the Board of Control for Cricket …

A last-ball sixer by skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed gave Quetta Gladiators a three-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars and stretched their winning streak to four matches. The Quetta captain, in a difficult run-chase, faced the final ball of the innings, with his side needing 2 to win. Instead of playing it safe, Sarfaraz smashed David Wiese’s low full-toss over wide long-on for …

Luke Ronchi’s explosive 67 runs off 35 balls led Islamabad United to a seven-wicket win in their Pakistan Super League clash against Karachi Kings at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Saturday Karachi Kings innings The Kings set a 144-run target for United to chase, which was on the lower end of the targets we have seen in the series so …