Leeds, June 24 (IANS) Former India coach Ravi Shastri has called for patience, smart bowling…

Seattle, June 24 (IANS) Paris Saint Germain (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique has criticised the state of pitches at the ongoing FIFA World Cup being hosted in the United States of America saying the ball is ‘bouncing like a rabbit’.PSG cruised to a 2-0 victory past home side Seattle Sounders FC to book their place in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Despite the win, the Spaniard criticised the state of the pitch at the Lumen Field.”I wouldn’t imagine a NBA court full of holes. What I really care about is the state of the field of play, and I say this on the day we’ve won. The ball bounces almost like if it were jumping around like a rabbit,” Enrique was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.Goals in each half from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi secured maximum points for the European champions, who have progressed as Group B winners ahead of second-placed Botafogo.”I’m pleased, of course. It’s not easy to play this type of match. The condition of the pitch isn’t the same as what we are used to in Europe. We have to know how to manage that and the pace, but I think we were better than them and deserved to win this game. This is a competition where you have to be ready to go to Atlanta, Philadelphia or even elsewhere. We plan to go as far as possible and I believe the players are ready. The real competition starts now, and it will be very tough. After each match, we have to see if we qualify or not. We’re motivated,” added Enrique.The United States is also the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Canada and Mexico, and will need to certainly level up the state and quality of the pitches ahead of the ultimate tournament in international football.Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who won the Player of the Match award in the 3-1 win over Pachuca, also criticised the pitches and hopes they will work on them ahead of the World Cup.“The pitches aren’t great, honestly mate, I won’t say really that it’s hell for one (team). It’s the same for everyone. I’m only saying because you asked me but the pitches aren’t great at all.”“It holds up the ball, the way the body balances, it’s tough on knees as well. Hopefully, they’ll look into that going into the World Cup next year. It’s important we protect the players and give those fans watching a spectacle and giving them great games as well,” said Bellingham to Sky Sports.–IANSaaa/ab

Colombo, June 24 (IANS) Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons expressed confidence ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, stating that the team’s strong showing in the series opener has boosted morale, something not often seen in their recent Test history.Bangladesh had previously drawn a two-match Test series in the West Indies in November 2024 after losing the first Test and managed a similar result at home against Zimbabwe in April 2025, also bouncing back after an opening defeat.”There’s a lot of confidence from the way we played. Often, we’re a bit slow to start in the first Test of a series, but this time, we hit the ground running. That gives us a lot of belief going into the second Test,” Simmons told reporters ahead of the second Test in Colombo.”The morale has been excellent from the start. The guys did their work in Dhaka so that we could hit the ground running here. The draw in Galle was a solid result, and we’ve recovered well in the three days since. Spirits are high.”It looks like a good wicket so far. I haven’t seen it today, but from what we saw yesterday, it looked decent. Tomorrow, we’ll come in and look to play as hard as we did in Galle. There are a few little things we want to improve on, and it’s important that we either maintain or elevate the level we showed in the first Test.”The players are doing well. Playing good cricket lifts the mood, and we’ve had a decent break between Tests. They’re mentally strong and physically ready. We’re up for the challenge,” he added.Simmons mentioned that Bangladesh is yet to decide whether they will field three spinners or three seamers for the second Test in Colombo. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is expected to return to the playing XI after missing the first Test due to a fever. If the team chooses to go with just two spinners, Nayeem Hasan, who took a five-wicket haul in the opening Test, may have to make way for the more experienced Mehidy, who also adds value with the bat.”That decision will be made later today, depending on what we see in the pitch. We’ve just arrived at the ground, so we need to assess the conditions first before deciding on team balance, whether we go with three seamers or three spinners,” said Simmons.”That’s the hard part. Nayeem had a wonderful game in Galle, so leaving him out would be tough. But everyone understands that selection depends on conditions and what’s best for the team. We always try to ensure everyone’s on the same page when these decisions are made,” he added.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva expects a high-scoring encounter in Colombo and has called on his batters to take greater responsibility. He emphasised that the team can only put pressure on the opposition if they post a strong first-innings total.”We always talk about big first-innings runs. If we can post a strong total, the pressure shifts to the opposition, and then it’s about taking 20 wickets to win the match,” said Dhananjaya.”It’s going to be a batting wicket. Normally, these kinds of wickets tend to turn in the last couple of days. There might be a little bit of spin towards the end of the Test.”–IANSab/bsk/

Leeds (UK), June 24 (IANS) England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley batted through the entire first session on the final day of the first Test of Anderson-Tendulkar trophy at Headingley, ensuring their team stayed firmly in the hunt for a record chase of 371.At lunch, the hosts are well-placed at 117 for no loss, needing 254 more runs in 66 overs with all wickets intact. With conditions overcast and the pitch offering assistance, it was a session of hard graft for India, but they emerged wicketless despite probing spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.Duckett (64*) and Crawley (42*) not only registered their fourth century stand together but also became the first English opening pair since Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to score over 2,000 runs as a duo.The pair showed early caution, especially against the new ball under floodlights, but began to find fluency once Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur came on. Duckett upped the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries, bringing up his fifty off just 66 deliveries with a mix of elegant strokes — mainly through cuts and pulls — even as a few adventurous scoops which didn’t come off.India’s best chance came late in the session when Bumrah induced a leading edge from Crawley, only to put down a sharp one-handed return catch while diving to his left. Earlier, Crawley survived an lbw review from Siraj, with ball-tracking showing the ball would have bounced over leg stump. Though the bowlers maintained pressure, especially Bumrah, the lack of support from the field and missed opportunities kept England in control.Despite rain being forecast, the first session was uninterrupted, though grey skies and full-beam floodlights made conditions ideal for bowling. However, it was the English openers who made the most of it, setting up a tantalising second and third session where all four results remain possible in what is building up to be a classic finish.Brief Scores: India 471 and 364 in 96 overs (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Josh Tongue 3-72, Brydon Carse 3-80) lead England 465 and 117/0 in 30 overs (Zak Crawley 42 not out, Ben Duckett 64 not out) by 254 runs–IANShs/

Johannesburg, June 24 (IANS) All the big names and rising stars set to headline Season 4 of SA20 will be confirmed at the fourth annual player auction, which will take place in Johannesburg on September 9.The event promises to bring a few changes amongst the squads, and high-stakes bidding with a minimum of 72 player slots available for auction. The squad composition of the teams remains the same, with the league continuing to prioritise opportunities for local talent on a global platform. Of the 18 players in the regular squad, teams can secure a maximum of seven overseas players and a minimum of 11 South African players.Season 4 will again see teams being able to sign one Wildcard player to each squad. The Wildcard player can be a South African or overseas player, and their league fee falls outside of the salary cap.Before the auction, the franchises are permitted no more than six retentions or pre-signed players, comprising a maximum of three overseas players and three South African players. This year features the largest salary cap in the history of the competition, a sizeable R41 million in the purse for each of the six franchises to make up their squads. The salary cap has steadily increased over the years from R34 million in Season 1, making it the highest franchise T20 league salary cap outside of India.In a SA20 first, a significant strategic innovation has been added to the Season 4 auction with the introduction of the Right to Match (RTM) Cards. A Right-to-Match Card allows a franchise the opportunity to match a winning auction bid on a player who played for that team in Season 3 and retain his services for Season 4.Each team will have a limited number of RTM cards to use, depending on the number of South African pre-auction player retentions they use.Stephan Cook, Head of Cricket Operations, SA20, said, “The SA20 Season 4 player auction is setting up to be the most exciting yet, with about 60% of player slots available for franchises to fill. Mechanisms such as RTM cards, Wildcard players, and an increased salary cap are sure to create interesting situations for teams and will allow them to strategically select their squads. We have seen some life-changing transactions already in the past few years, and the upcoming auction should see plenty more.”The league’s commitment to the development of young talent in South Africa remains steadfast. There will no longer be a Rookie Draft; instead, teams must sign a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-player squads.The ever-popular Richard Madley, who has fast become synonymous with the SA20 auction, will once again wield his gavel to control proceedings. The auction will be broadcast live on SuperSport and the SA20 YouTube Channel with rolling coverage across all of the League’s social media platforms.The auction marks the first major milestone ahead of the anticipated fourth season, which, this year, will be played in a ‘festive season’ slot starting on December 26.–IANSab/bsk/

Middlesbrough, June 24 (IANS) England’s Middlesbrough Football Club have announced the appointment of Rob Edwards…

London, June 24 (IANS) Cecily Wellesley-Smith has signed her first professional contract with Arsenal. An 18-year-old defender and England youth international, Cecily joined Arsenal at the age of 17 in August 2024, having progressed through the youth system at Oxford United.During her time at Arsenal, Cecily helped the Gunners under-21s win the 2024/25 PGA League Under-21 Division One title and has trained regularly with the women’s first team in recent months.“I’m so proud to sign my first professional contract with Arsenal,” said Cecily.“During my time here so far, I’ve loved learning from some of the best players and staff in the game and gaining an understanding of what it means to represent this great club. I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard to keep progressing and building as I begin my journey in the professional game.”Cecily spent last season on a dual-registration agreement with Oxford United in the FA Women’s National League South, making a total of 16 appearances.Head of Player Development James Honeyman added, “Cecily has been at Arsenal for just over a year and has shown determination and passion for both the club and for football. We’re all proud of Cecily’s journey, especially the steps she has taken to begin her transition to the senior environment. We’re all looking forward to supporting Cecily as she continues her development in red and white.”Cecily is an experienced England youth international, having represented her country at the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship in Sweden in May 2024 and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic in October 2024.Director of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said, “Everyone at the club is thrilled to see another young player sign professional terms with us. Cecily has a fantastic work ethic and attitude, and we have no doubt these will stand her in good stead as she continues to grow and develop here at Arsenal.”–IANSaaa/bsk/

New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Inter Miami CF’s progress to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 knockout stages has come with a bittersweet aftertaste.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) team were just 10 minutes away from securing an emphatic 2-0 victory against SE Palmeiras to secure a date in the Round of 16 with Botafogo. Instead, they gave away two late goals to slip to second in Group A, meaning they will now face the mighty Paris Saint-Germain, setting up a reunion for Lionel Messi with his former club.Inter Miami are, though understandably, delighted about becoming MLS’s first and only representative to reach the last 16 of the global showpiece. And they did it in some style, going unbeaten in the group stages with a stirring comeback victory against Porto FC coupled with draws against Al Ahly FC and Palmeiras.What is all the more remarkable about their efforts is MLS compatriots Seattle Sounders FC were eliminated after losing all three of their group games, while LAFC are also out after losing their opening two fixtures.But Inter Miami have distinctly mixed feelings over their 2-2 draw with Palmeiras at the Hard Rock Stadium as they set up a tussle with the treble-winning PSG, which will take place in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.”We are disappointed because we had the game in our hands. We couldn’t close the game. But it was going to be difficult because (we were facing) a team that plays very well with a lot of quality and is one of the best teams in South America. So now we are thinking about the next step,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano told FIFA.Mascherano knows just how tough the challenge will be of facing a PSG team who are coming off the back of winning their first UEFA Champions League title and who did well to recover from defeat against Botafogo to qualify for the second round.”We know that we are going to face maybe the best team in Europe. It will be difficult but we will try to do our best. We are going to try to show our quality and to try to prove our worth,” Mascherano added.The Argentinian made a point of noting the importance of Inter Miami’s progress to the Round of 16. “It is historic for MLS to have a team through to the last 16. We are one of the best 16 teams in the world, so we will look to continue,” he said.–IANSaaa/bc

Leeds (UK), June 24 (IANS) Day 5 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, as players and officials from both sides wore black armbands to pay tribute to former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi, who passed away in London at the age of 77 due to heart-related complications.The match commenced with a two-minute silence followed by a moment’s applause — honouring the life and legacy of one of India’s most refined left-arm spinners.He is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan Doshi — a former Surrey and Saurashtra cricketer — and daughter Vishakha.”Both teams are wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi, who passed away on Monday. The teams also observed a minute’s silence before the start of Day 5,” BCCI posted on X.Dilip Doshi, born in Rajkot on December 22, 1947, carved a unique path in Indian cricket. Despite making his Test debut at the relatively late age of 32 in 1979 against Australia, he went on to make a significant impact in a short span. Between 1979 and 1983, Doshi played 33 Tests and 15 ODIs, taking 114 Test wickets at an average of 30.71, including six five-wicket hauls, and 22 wickets in ODIs.He was equally prolific in the domestic circuit, capturing an incredible 898 first-class wickets from 238 matches.The focus turned back to the on-field action as Day 5 resumed with the match delicately poised and all three results still possible. England, resuming at 21/0, need 350 more runs to chase down a target of 371, while India require 10 wickets to take a 1–0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. With rain forecasted, time may become a crucial factor in what has already shaped into a potential classic.India’s second-innings total of 364 was built around two standout performances — KL Rahul’s elegant 137 and Rishabh Pant’s electric 118, the duo adding a mammoth 195-run stand for the fourth wicket. Rahul batted with control and poise, becoming the only Indian opener to score three Test centuries in England, while Pant mixed grit with flair, reaching his second century of the match, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper to do so in a Test, and equalling the record for most Test hundreds by a visiting keeper in England (4).However, what looked like a dominant position for India turned dramatically after Pant’s dismissal. From 333/4, India crumbled to 364 all out, losing their final six wickets for just 31 runs in 71 balls. England’s resurgence was led by Josh Tongue, who tore through the tail with a devastating over that saw him claim three wickets in four balls, finishing with 3/72. Ravindra Jadeja was left unbeaten on 25, watching from the other end as the innings collapsed around him.England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett saw off the final six overs of Day 4 confidently, reaching 21 without loss, and now have a massive task ahead — to script one of the most memorable chases in Test history. They’ll be aware that only once have India lost a Test defending more than 350 — and that too came against this very England team during the 2022 Edgbaston Test, where they chased down 378 under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.–IANShs/

Leeds (UK), June 24 (IANS) Day 5 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, as players and officials from both sides wore black armbands to pay tribute to former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi, who passed away in London at the age of 77 due to heart-related complications.The match commenced with a two-minute silence followed by a moment’s applause — honouring the life and legacy of one of India’s most refined left-arm spinners.He is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan Doshi — a former Surrey and Saurashtra cricketer — and daughter Vishakha.”Both teams are wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi, who passed away on Monday. The teams also observed a minute’s silence before the start of Day 5,” BCCI posted on X.Dilip Doshi, born in Rajkot on December 22, 1947, carved a unique path in Indian cricket. Despite making his Test debut at the relatively late age of 32 in 1979 against Australia, he went on to make a significant impact in a short span. Between 1979 and 1983, Doshi played 33 Tests and 15 ODIs, taking 114 Test wickets at an average of 30.71, including six five-wicket hauls, and 22 wickets in ODIs.He was equally prolific in the domestic circuit, capturing an incredible 898 first-class wickets from 238 matches.The focus turned back to the on-field action as Day 5 resumed with the match delicately poised and all three results still possible. England, resuming at 21/0, need 350 more runs to chase down a target of 371, while India require 10 wickets to take a 1–0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. With rain forecasted, time may become a crucial factor in what has already shaped into a potential classic.India’s second-innings total of 364 was built around two standout performances — KL Rahul’s elegant 137 and Rishabh Pant’s electric 118, the duo adding a mammoth 195-run stand for the fourth wicket. Rahul batted with control and poise, becoming the only Indian opener to score three Test centuries in England, while Pant mixed grit with flair, reaching his second century of the match, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper to do so in a Test, and equalling the record for most Test hundreds by a visiting keeper in England (4).However, what looked like a dominant position for India turned dramatically after Pant’s dismissal. From 333/4, India crumbled to 364 all out, losing their final six wickets for just 31 runs in 71 balls. England’s resurgence was led by Josh Tongue, who tore through the tail with a devastating over that saw him claim three wickets in four balls, finishing with 3/72. Ravindra Jadeja was left unbeaten on 25, watching from the other end as the innings collapsed around him.England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett saw off the final six overs of Day 4 confidently, reaching 21 without loss, and now have a massive task ahead — to script one of the most memorable chases in Test history. They’ll be aware that only once have India lost a Test defending more than 350 — and that too came against this very England team during the 2022 Edgbaston Test, where they chased down 378 under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.–IANShs/