NAGPUR, India: India’s captain and star batsman Virat Kohli will be rested for the one-day matches against Sri Lanka after the ongoing Test series ends, selectors said Monday.
Kohli has stepped up calls in recent weeks for a break from cricket because of the workload. India, the world’s top Test nation, start a demanding tour of South Africa in January.
“I’m not a robot, you can slice my skin and check if I still bleed,” Kohli said before the Sri Lanka series started.
He has played more international cricket in 2017 than any other Indian player — nine Tests, 26 one-day internationals and 10 T20s.
India will go into the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in New Delhi on Saturday with Kohli leading the squad that hammered the visitors in the second Test.
The return of batsman Shikhar Dhawan, who opted out of the second Test due to personal reasons, is the only change.
The squad for the South Africa tour is to be named before the game starts.
Kohli will be replaced as captain by batsman Rohit Sharma for the three-match one day series after the Tests.
Sharma, who hit 102 not out in the Nagpur Test, is expected to remain captain for the T20 games too, as Kohli rests and prepares for the South Africa tour.
Allrounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who pulled out of the second and third Sri Lanka Test to get married, return to the 15-man squad.
Uncapped fast bowler Siddarth Kaul and young batsmen Shreyas Iyer, who has represented India in three T20 games, are also part of the one-day team.
Senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja continue to stay out of India’s limited-overs plans despite their superb run in the five-day format.
Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal remain the team’s three spinners in the 50-over matches against Sri Lanka.
The first of the three ODIs will be played in Dharamsala on December 10.
India squad for third Test against Sri Lanka:
Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar
India squad for one day series against Sri Lanka:
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul.
India to rest star Kohli before South Africa tour
India to rest star Kohli before South Africa tour
De Bruyne stays tight-lipped on Belgium fan fury
“We need these fans, we need them against France,” said De Bruyne
STUTTGART, Germany: Kevin De Bruyne refused to comment on the angry reaction of Belgium fans after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Ukraine at Euro 2024, insisting that “we need them” ahead of a last-16 match with France.
Belgium missed the chance to finish top of Group E after having to settle for a point in Stuttgart, with De Bruyne seemingly instructing his team-mates not to head over to applaud the supporters after the game.
The Manchester City playmaker was making his way toward the Belgium fans behind the goal before appearing to change his mind as the whistling and booing intensified.
“We need these fans, we need them against France,” said De Bruyne.
“We just need them. I don’t know what else to say.
“We gave it our all during the three matches, everybody wanted to win the matches. We tried to do this but we didn’t manage to do so,” he added.
Knowing a point was enough to send them through, albeit as runners-up behind Romania, Belgium adopted a safety-first approach in the closing minutes, fearful of a Ukraine goal that would have knocked them out.
“I think until the 90th minute we tried to find solutions... afterwards I think Ukraine had a good chance, maybe two,” said De Bruyne.
“When it’s one minute from the end of the match you can’t take a risk. I understand people want us to win, but if I take the corner and they go down the other end and score people are going to kill me.”
Romania and Slovakia reach last 16 at Euro 2024 after tense draw
- Ondrej Duda put Slovakia ahead in the first half but Romania’s Razvan Marin equalized with a penalty before the interval
- It was a memorable moment for Romania, who are into the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time in 24 years
FRANKFURT, Germany: Romania and Slovakia both qualified for the last 16 at Euro 2024 after a tense 1-1 draw in their last Group E game on Wednesday.
Ondrej Duda put Slovakia ahead in the first half but Romania’s Razvan Marin equalized with a penalty before the interval.
With all four teams in the group earning four points from their three games, Romania finished top having scored more goals than second-placed Belgium.
Slovakia went through in third place thanks to a superior goal difference to fourth-placed Ukraine.
It was a memorable moment for Romania, who are into the knockout stages of the Euros for the first time in 24 years.
Romania had only qualified once for the last 16 in their five Euro appearances, but Edward Iordanescu’s tenacious side have ended that long drought
“It’s incredible. I want to congratulate my players, we found a spirit. We came back once again, we never give up,” Iordanescu said.
“These are things you experience once in a lifetime. We have written history.”
Slovakia are into the knockout stages of a major tournament for the third time.
They reached the last 16 in the 2010 World Cup and made it to the same stage at Euro 2016.
“It was a great performance,” Slovakia boss Francesco Calzona said. “It means a lot. We were 55th in the FIFA rankings when I started, so to get here makes me very proud.
“We have world-class opponents ahead but it will be a celebration for us.”
Knowing a draw would send both teams through, cynics had suggested they would play out a mutually beneficial stalemate.
But there was no sign of Romania settling for a point as they made a fast start.
They threatened an early goal when Andrei Ratiu’s stinging strike was pushed away by Martin Dubravka, with the rebound lashed wildly over by Ianis Hagi.
Slovakia were inches away from snatching the lead as Lukas Haraslin’s free-kick went through a crowd of players and almost crept in at the far post.
It was a warning Romania failed to heed and Slovakia went in front in the 24th minute.
Juraj Kucka whipped in a deep cross that caught the Romania defense standing statuesque, leaving the unmarked Duda free to power his header past Florin Nita from eight yards.
Romania’s response was emphatic as they drew level in the 37th minute thanks to an incisive raid from the son of former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Gheorghe Hagi.
David Hancko’s foul on Hagi was adjudged a penalty by VAR after referee Daniel Siebert initially ruled the offense had taken place just outside the area.
Marin stepped up to drill the spot-kick high into the roof of the net to the deafening delight of the hordes of Romania fans who turned the arena into a frenzied mosh-pit.
The searing Frankfurt heat gave way to a heavy storm in the second half as thunder, lightning and rain swirled around the stadium.
It was a suitably dramatic backdrop to a tense clash that was close to swinging Romania’s way when Marin forced a good save from Dubravka before Denis Dragus skimmed the roof of the net.
Haraslin’s curler flashed past the far post as the storm abated, but, while there was no winner, both sides ended up celebrating their progress to the knockout stage.
Joshua V Dubois tops Riyadh Season card at Wembley Stadium
- Former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will take on IBF interim heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in what is expected to be an intriguing contest
- Frank Warren: ‘British fight fans and fans tuning in across the world will be treated to a British version of the quality of shows that are now a hallmark of Riyadh’
LONDON: Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh has confirmed that Joshua V Dubois will top the Riyadh Season card at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, September 21.
As Riyadh Season comes to London, former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will take on IBF interim heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in what is expected to be an intriguing contest.
Alalshikh said: “We are pleased to bring two of the world’s current best heavyweight fighters together in their home city of London and at Wembley Stadium, a historic venue for boxing.
“We know it will be another exciting contest, complemented by a great undercard of fights, and we look forward to giving British fans and visitors to London the opportunity to experience a Riyadh Season event just a matter of weeks before we officially launch the 2024 Season in Riyadh in October.”
The headline attraction is one of six all-British fights confirmed to take place at the iconic Wembley Stadium, which will feature a special guest music act that has yet to be announced.
Among the matchups, two-time world featherweight champion Josh Warrington returns to world title action by going up against the current super featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace. Hamzah Sheeraz, who recently secured a knockout victory against Austin Williams during the hugely successful 5 v 5 fight night in Riyadh, will take on European middleweight champion Tyler Denny.
Former British Olympian Josh Kelly will face former WBO super welterweight champion Liam Smith while the undefeated 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and British light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi will go into battle for the WBO Interim world championship by taking on Willy Hutchinson, who impressed at Kingdom Arena after claiming an impressive points victory over Craig Richards on the 5 v 5 card.
WBA Intercontinental champion Mark Chamberlain is also set to feature on the card against undefeated fellow British lightweight Josh Padley.
Frank Warren, Chairman of Queensberry Promotions, said: “Riyadh Season lands in London with the most spectacular and gripping event ever to be witnessed in this country. On September 21, British fight fans and fans tuning in across the world will be treated to a British version of the quality of shows that are now a hallmark of Riyadh, headlined by what promises to be a breathtaking clash of the big hitters between the new IBF interim world champion Daniel Dubois and the former unified champion Anthony Joshua.
“The undercard is simply unprecedented, with Willy Hutchinson being rewarded for his magnificent display on the 5 v 5 with a shot at the WBO Interim light heavyweight title against fellow British contender Joshua Buatsi in what is a huge opportunity for both fighters. Hamzah Sheeraz going up against European title holder Tyler Denny following Hamzah’s exploits in Riyadh last time out is another fight I can’t wait to watch.
“Anthony Cacace defending his super featherweight world titles against former featherweight world champion Josh Warrington promises to be all-out warfare.
“Liam Smith taking on Josh Kelly will be a classic confrontation at super welterweight and a clash between the old guard and the new.”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Boxing, said: “AJ is back at the National Stadium on what will be a blockbuster event. Riyadh Season comes to London and we are confident this will be a historic night full of opportunity for the fighters and drama for fans around the world.”
This London fight night represents the second Riyadh Season Card to be staged outside of Saudi Arabia, with the first taking place overseas in Los Angeles on August 3 as Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov compete for the WBA and WBO Interim World Super Welterweight title.
Tickets go on general sale at noon on Friday 28 June from TicketMaster.co.uk
Phil Foden leaves England’s Euro 2024 camp for ‘pressing family matter’
- English soccer’s governing body did not elaborate further on the reason for Foden’s departure
DUESSELDORF, Germany: Phil Foden has temporarily left England’s Euro 2024 base and returned to Britain for a “pressing family matter,” the Football Association said Wednesday.
English soccer’s governing body did not elaborate further on the reason for Foden’s departure.
The Manchester City forward played in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
England have advanced to the round of 16 and play their next match on Sunday. It is not known how long Foden will be away from the team’s base in Blankenhain, or if he will be available to play in that match.
The English Footballer of the Year started all three of the games in the group stage of the Euros and was expected to be in the starting lineup for the round of 16.
Esports World Cup ticket holders offered electronic visas
- Organizers work with Kingdom’s authorities to ease access for foreign visitors
- Riyadh to host $60m, eight-week event for first time
RIYADH: Ticket holders for the Esports World Cup, which opens next week at Boulevard Riyadh City, will be able to apply for electronic visas to enter the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The Esports World Cup Foundation said it had been working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism to help streamline access to the event, which is being held in the Kingdom for the first time.
The eight-week competition will see more than 1,500 players from 500 clubs around the world competing in 22 tournaments for a total prize pot of more than $60 million — the highest ever in the history of esports.
Hosting the event aligns with the Kingdom’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The EWC aims to bolster the nation’s global standing as a premier gaming and esports destination.
As well as watching the action, visitors to the tournament will be able to take part in a range of activities that combine sports, entertainment, education, culture and creativity.
World Cup ticket holders can apply for a 90-day, single entry visa at ksavisa.sa/visa/tourism/esport/apply.
More information about the competition is available from the EWC’s website at esportsworldcup.com.
