Sports

Karachi, Apr 30: Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi and batsman Umar Akmal were the prominent names to be axed from the 15-member Pakistan cricket squad announced for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy in England. Chief selector Iqbal Qasim announced the squad yesterday in Lahore after lengthy deliberations although the selectors had finalised it last week and submitted it to the board

Jaipur, Apr 30: Royal Challengers Bangalore came close to breaking their away-match jinx of this season at the Sawai Man Singh stadium. But Rajasthan Royals, riding on an excellent fifty by Sanju Samson, won the battle of nerves in the last over to clinch the thrilling encounter by four wickets on Monday. Needing seven runs from the last over while chasing a competitive 172 to win, Royals were in

Chennai, Apr 29: Manvinder Bisla lost the battle to Mike Hussey in the end, and revenge was served at Chepauk on Sunday, but only just. Bisla matched the Aussie veteran stroke for stroke, as Ko l k at a Knight Riders, chasing a mammoth 201 for victory, raised visions of the miracle of 2012. But with 22 to get off 10, Hussey hit the stumps direct from mid-off to get Bisla out and that was it. KKR

Mumbai, Apr 28: Booed by a section of a crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, Royal Challengers skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday retorted by saying the fans "forgot" that he represents the Indian cricket team also. "The IPL is not the end of the world, they are forgetting I play for India as well," Kohli said following his side's heavy defeat to hosts Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). A

Jaipur, Apr 27: For former Australia captain Mark Taylor, the IPL is a major worry for Australian cricket, a distraction even. But according to Shane Watson, the Indian franchise-based league is a unique offering for the game's current crop of cricketers, who can use this platform to rub shoulders with the legends of the game. "The game of cricket has evolved and the environment has changed now

Kolkata, Apr 27: Those who say Twenty20 is a young man's game should learn a thing or two from Jacques Kallis. The 37-year-old South African all-rounder, who twisted his knee in the last match against Mumbai Indians and was uncertain for Friday's game, not only recovered in time but also made significant contributions in all aspects of the match to bring Kolkata Knight Riders back to winning ways

Chennai, Apr 26: It was that man MS Dhoni again for Chennai Super Kings. The CSK skipper played yet another blinder on an innings (67, 37 balls, 7x4, 4x6) to take his team home against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Thursday night. In what another tight finish, CSK needed 28 from the last two overs and 15 from the final one bowled by Ashish Reddy. Dhoni was equal to the task and took CSK past the

Kolkata, Apr 25: Mumbai Indians held their nerves during the death overs as they beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in a thrilling contest in the Indian Premier League here on?Wednesday. It couldn’t have been a better 40th birthday gift for Sachin Tendulkar as MI chased down a 160-run target with a ball to spare as they got back to winning ways after back-to-back

Kolkata, April 24: Sachin Tendulkar turned 40 today with cricket administrators and his fans lining up a series of events to celebrate the senior Indian batsman, who will also appear in an IPL match here. The Mumbai Indians batsman, who happens to here for his IPL team's clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, will begin the day with a customary cake-cutting ceremony at the team hotel. Earlier, the

Bangalore, April 23: Chris Gayle on Tuesday smashed the most breathtaking knock in the history of Twenty20 cricket, blasting an incredible 175 off a mere 66 balls, as Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed a hapless Pune Warriors by a record 130 runs in the Pepsi Indian Premier League here. Gayle hit the fastest century, off just 30 balls, and the highest-ever individual score in a T20 game