Sports

Umar Akmal has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for ignoring both on-field umpires while going for a change in gloves during Pakistan's semi-final against Sri Lanka in Colombo. There was no hearing as Akmal pleaded guilty and accepted the sanction to the charge laid by umpires Simon Taufel and Rod Tucker. Jeff Crowe, the match referee, said: "In this incident, Umar showed blatant disregard

Sri Lankan cricket authorities have complained to organisers about cheerleaders at the World Twenty20 tournament after media criticism describing them as a "disgraceful eyesore". Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, told AFP that fans had also provided "negative feedback" after lacklustre displays by the local performers, who lead celebrations when wickets are taken and boundaries

The Aussies take on the Caribbean army in the second semi-finals of the ICC World T20 2012. While the West Indies came into the tournament with the tag of favourites, Australia were uncharacteristically placed in the second half of the T20 international rankings. On paper, it promises to be a thriller with both sides boasting of some power players who can win games single-handedly. Australia have

New Delhi, October 4: Discipline Sri Lankan bowlers powered the hosts to the final of the 2012 World Twenty20 as they beat 2009 champions Pakistan by 16 runs in a low-scoring thriller at Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Thursday. Sri Lanka will meet the winner of secondsemifinal between Australia and West Indies in the summit clash on Sunday. Rangana Herath derailed Pakistan's chase as he dismissed

Colombo, October 4: It will be a battle of attrition between the two sides who had met in the final of the 2009 edition of the tournament in England where Pakistan emerged victorious. The scene is entirely different this time around as Mohammed Hafeez and his boys will be facing a formidable Sri Lankan outfit in their own backyard. What will be the most interesting thing to see is battle between

Colombo, October 4: A determined Australian outfit will be aiming to eliminate the 'Chris Gayle factor' when they meet a rejuvenated West Indies in the semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 here tomorrow. For Australia, it will be a chance to get into the final for the second time in succession after the 2010 edition and once again stamp their class as world's premier cricketing outfit. For West

Colombo, October 4: It has become a familiar tune since India won the World Cup at home last year. After that stupendous victory, captain MS Dhoni has been left defending his team, which has failed to live up to the expectations. Following two dismal tours of England and Australia, where India lost eight Test matches on the trot, the men in blue crashed out of the World T20 in Sri Lanka on Tuesday

As a nation, we tend to censure our cricketing heroes as earnestly as we celebrate them. A talented player often goes from icon to villain and back on a weekly basis, depending on the opponent and venue. When it comes to cricket, public sentiment is as fickle as Twenty20. Remarkably, there is one player who has seemed immune to the ebbs and flows of public perception. It's not Sachin Tendulkar but

Role of a few seniors comes under scanner after the painful stumble in Colombo. Never in the last three years have India made an exit from World T20 with such a heavy heart. Disappointing as the last two editions were having failed to win even a single tie in six Super Eight outings in England and the West Indies, their latest elimination was a touch cruel on them. It must have been hard for India

After failing to make it to the semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20 for the third time in a row, some serious introspection is required by the BCCI as far as identifying right players for the shortest format of the game is concerned. With the team failing to make an impact again, the new selection committee under the chairmanship of Sandeep Patil will have to think seriously whether they want a