Sports

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was about as perfect as can be in his semi-final at Rod Laver Arena. Didn’t miss much. Almost couldn’t, really. It was a performance so flawless, so fantastic, that it was easy to feel as if only one man on the planet might have a chance of preventing Djokovic from claiming a record seventh Australian Open title: …

CENTURION: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed played in the third One-day International against South Africa on Friday despite coming under scrutiny for an allegedly racist comment in the second game. Sarfraz apologised for his outburst while South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo was batting in the home team’s victory in Durban on Tuesday. Speaking in Urdu, Sarfraz was caught on a stump microphone saying …

  Fast bowler Mohammad Amir was recalled to the T20I roster on Saturday as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming 20-over series against South Africa. Amir’s inclusion in place of Waqas Maqsood was the only change to a dominant T20I side that whitewashed both Australia and New Zealand 3-0 late last year. Meanwhile, Asif …

BRISBANE: Australia bundled out Sri Lanka for 144 in just over two sessions before their new-look batting order reached 72 for two to put the hosts in a commanding position on day one of the series opening day-night Test at the Gabba on Thursday. Mitchell Starc also claimed his 200th Test wicket to add to a satisfying day for the …

LONDON: The active search for the plane carrying Argentine football player Emiliano Sala was called off on Thursday with authorities saying the chances of survival are “extremely remote” three days after it disappeared from radar over the English Channel. A three-day air-and-sea operation, covering 1,700 square miles near the Channel Islands, has failed to locate the aircraft or the two …

BRIDGETOWN: James Anderson claimed an England record-equalling 27th Test five-wicket haul on Thursday as the tourists bowled out the West Indies for 289 in the first Test in Barbados. England, in reply, lost Keaton Jennings before going for lunch at 3-1. The West Indies resumed on the second morning at the Kensington Oval on 264-8 after Anderson’s burst with the …

LAHORE: Multan Sultans replaced injured former Australian captain Steve Smith with West Indies all-rounder Andre Russel in the replacement draft of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held on Thursday. The Sultans also scooped England batsman James Vince to replace his fellow countryman Joe Denly, who will be on national duty in the West Indies. Russel’s compatriots Dwayne Smith and Andre …

Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday announced that the International Cricket Council’s international panel umpire Michael Gough will travel to Lahore to umpire matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019. Gough, 39, will umpire in the matches to be held on March 9 and 10, set to take place between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars and Multan …

Luck shined upon Pakistan Captain Sarfraz Ahmed on Friday when he won the toss and decided that his team would bat first in the third one day international (ODI) against South Africa being played in Centurion. Pakistan is sporting two changes in the squad with Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir’s return. For SA Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock are …

All-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to join India’s touring squad in New Zealand after his suspension over sexist comments on a TV show was lifted by the country’s cricket board. Pandya talked about his encounters with multiple women in a chat show earlier this month as teammate K.L. Rahul sat next to him, prompting uproar on social media that led to the duo being …