Costa didn’t bite me, says Everton’s Barry LONDON—Everton midfielder Gareth Barry stated on Sunday that Chelsea striker Diego Costa did not bite him during the Merseyside club’s 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory on Saturd a y . “Seen a lot of t a l k about the incident involving me and Diego Costa in t h e game last night,” Barry wrote on the Fanzai app. “For the record Diego did not bite me.” Costa was shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute of the game at Goodison Park after reacting to a foul from Barry by leaning his head into the Everton midfielder’s face. He then lowered his mouth to Barry’s neck and made as if to bite him, only to apparently change his mind. The pair ended up embracing. In a statement released late on Saturday, Chelsea said that Costa had “expressed regret” over the incident, but was adamant that he had not bitten Barry.—AFP
Kyrgios involved in swearing row at Indian Wells LOS ANGELES—Australian Nick Kyrgios was involved in a fresh dispute after being accused o f swearing at t h e B N P Paribas Open in California on S a t u rday. At 2-2 in the second set of his secondround defeat by Spaniard Albert Ramos, the umpire said Kyrgios had used foul language and docked the player a point. “You used the F word,” explained French official Damien Dumusois. Kyrgios protested and, after briefly taking a seat in the crowd, he approached the umpire. “I didn’t say anything,” he said. Dumusois replied: “Nick. You know we are strict on the F word...I have a report from an official. I trust him”. Ramos went on to win the match 7-6 (4) 7-5 on an outside court at Indian Wells. In Canada last August, Kyrgios incurred the wrath of the ATP after a courtside microphone picked up a comment directed at opponent Stan Wawrinka.—AP
Furious Neville lambasts ‘unacceptable’ Valencia MADRID—Valencia coach Gary Neville labelled his side’s performance as “indefensible” and questioned his players commitment after a 10 defeat to local rivals Levante on Sunday. “I’m not defending that. I’ve got to look at myself first and foremost, said Neville. “I take responsibility for the defeat, but that was an indefensible performance, unaccepta b l e and not good enough. “I apologise to the fans of Valencia because the very basic premise of a football match is that you run, fight and tackle as hard as the opposition.” Neville has now won just three of 15 La Liga games in charge to leave Valencia rooted in mid-table in 12th with nine games remaining. Valencia’s last hope of glory this season hinges upon overturning a 1-0 firstleg deficit at home to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday.—AFP
World T20: Afridi, Malik play down focus on security K OLKATA —Pakistan’s T20 captain am in the last stage of my career and I can guage. I don’t really see any difference. I say that the love I have got in India is something that I will always remember. We have not got this much love even from Pakistan. “There are cricket-loving people here, much like in Pakistan. Overall, I’ve enjoyed a lot playing in India in my cricketing career.” Malik, who is married to Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, said he had never faced security issues on his previous visits to India. “Firstly I would like to thank the Indian Government. The security is very good,” Malik said. “My wife is from India and I come to India a lot. I have never faced any security issue. “I don’t really see any difference between Pakistani people and the Indians. We eat the same food, we speak the same lan-
am very happy to be in India. I have always got a lot of love from people and from media.” Malik went on to state that Pakistan could benefit from the underdog tag they carry going into the World T20. He said the team could draw inspiration from the 1992 World Cup and the 2009 World T20, which Pakistan won despite low expectations from the public. “It’s good that we’re underdogs and that gives you a lot of confidence. At the same time, we are here to do well,” Malik said. “Let’s talk about 1992 World Cup first. People were not expecting us to do well and win it but we won that. Same thing happened in 2007 World T20 when we did well before losing to India in the final. In 2009, we were not that big as a team but still we won. The same is the case going into this edition.” Pakistan, who are ranked No. 7 in the T20 rankings, have had a poor run of form in the format recently, with series losses against England and New Zealand. They lost crucial matches against Bangladesh and India in the recent Asia Cup and failed to make the final. Five of the side’s nine T20I victories in the past 12 months have come against Zimbabwe and UAE. Moreover, the World T20 squad was also in flux. Pakistan were forced to make changes following injuries to Babar Azam and Rumman Raees, while Khurram Manzoor made way for Ahmed Shehzad after a disappointing run in the Asia Cup. Khalid Latif replaced Iftikhar Ahmed in the World T20 squad. “We could not deliver as per the expectations in the Asia Cup,” Malik said. “It’s part of life, we are professionals. Whatever happened has happened. We are here to give our best. It is a new tournament. We will try to help each other out Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis talk as Mohammad Amir, relaxes on ground during and will try what is best for us.”—Agencies a training session at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. Shahid Afridi has played down the focus on the team’s security in India, saying he cherishes the support and appreciation of Indian fans. Team-mate Shoaib Malik also backed Afridi’s statement, saying the security in India is “very good”. The players spoke to the media after arriving in Kolkata on Saturday, where they will play India on March 19. The game was scheduled to take place in Dharamsala, but was moved to Kolkata due to concerns over the security of the Pakistan team. A three-member delegation from the PCB visited Dharamsala and formally said ‘security is not assured’ at the venue. The controversy also delayed the departure of the men’s and women’s teams to India. “I’ve not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I have in India,” Afridi said. “I
Pakistan could pull off upset in final, predicts Indian astrologer KOLKATA—The rub of the green might just RH283 — apparently an important star astrogo against MS Dhoni’s boys if it comes to a final showdown between Pakistan and India, says an Indian “scientific astrologer”. Having based their hopes on current form, the home-advantage factor and head-to-head World Cup history involving India and Pakistan, Indian fans might like to believe otherwise. But astrologer Greenstone Lobo, who says his analysis is research-based and scientific and who calls himself a “scientific astrologer”, predicts India will not win the World T20 this time. The reason: Dhoni’s stars are not favourable. In a signed column on Friday in Ananda Bazar Patrika, a leading Bengali daily from Kolkata, Lobo in fact mentions Pakistan as the likely Cup winners — should they manage to reach the final. He does not analyse Shahid Afridi’s stars, and a note in the bottom of the article says prospects of the other teams and captains will follow in the coming days. But of this Lobo is sure — Dhoni’s cosmic luck has run out as far as “big events” are concerned. Lobo says the Planet X, or asteroid 2007
Commentator Idrees gets visa for Delhi, Mumbai! LAHORE —Prominent cricket commentator face Australia and New Zealand in Mohali.
Mohammad Idrees is puzzled after receiving the Indian visa for Delhi and Mumbai where no Pakistan matches in the World T20 are scheduled. According to Idrees, he is set to leave for India to cover the World T20 matches as a radio commentator but the Indian High Commission in Islamabad issued him the visa of only Delhi and Mumbai, the cities where no match involving Pakistan will be held. Pakistan are scheduled to play their firstround matches in Kolkata and Mohali. Shahid Afridi-led side open their World T20 campaign with the match against a qualifier on March 16 Ireland initially stayed up with the run- and then face arch-rivals India, both games to rate, but the loss of Kevin O’Brien (0) and be staged in Kolkata. The green-shirts will then Paul Stirling (15) in consecutive balls to Paul van Meekeren (4-11) in the third over slowed them down. From there, Ireland fell apart as Roelof van der Merwe (2-3) claiming a couple of wickets, before Van Meekeren accounted for Max Sorensen (9) and Dockrell (0) in the final over as Ireland posted 47-7 in reply.—AFP KOLKATA—Fast-bowler Mohammad Sami was hit on the toe by a local bowler during the Pakistan’s first World T20 practice session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. The right-armer suffered a minor injury after the impact and the team doctor expects Sami to recover soon. “Mohammad Sami was hit by a delivery of a net-bowler while batting late in the training session,” Pakistan’s media manager Agha turned to the crowd and threw his arms wide Akbar told Dawn. “According to the assessment by team physopen. “When I came back (after two long periods away from the game) I tried to prove iotherapist Dr. Sohail Saleem, he is expected to fully recover from it in a couple of days,” he added. Sami was included in the Pakistan squad after impressive performances during the inaugural season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) taking 12 wickets in seven matches to become the fourth highest wicket-taker of the league. The Karachi-born pacer also featured for Pakistan during the recently concluded Asia Cup T20 in which he bagged three wickets in as many outings. Pakistan kick off their World T20 campaign against a qualifying side on March 16 at Kolkata
Dutch beat Ireland in six-over shoot-out D HARAMSALA —Paul van Meekeren day, the weather was again a factor in the claimed four wickets as Netherlands left the World Twenty20 with some pride by beating Ireland in a shortened contest. Netherlands bowed out of the World Twenty20 with a 12-run win over Ireland in a six-over shoot-out following a raindelayed start in Dharamsala on Sunday. After rain forced a no result between Bangladesh and Ireland and the abandonment of Netherlands versus Oman on Fri-
Group A dead rubber. It is credit to the ground staff that a match was held at all as the heavens opened and caused a delay of over three hours. When the action did begin, Netherlands were put into bat and Stephan Myburgh smashed an 18-ball 27 to help his side to 59-5, Ireland spinner George Dockrell (3-7) doing his part to stifle their attack.
“The visa-issuing authorities have instructed me not to visit any other city except Mumbai and Delhi. Now in this very disturbing situation, I’m thinking whether or not I should go to India, simply because [naturally] my first priority will be Kolkata and Mohali,” Idrees stated. According to Idrees, the visa was issued on March 11, when Pakistan’s match (against India) had already been shifted from Dharamshala to Kolkata, but still visa for Kolkata/Mohali was not issued to him. As the time was running short, Idrees emphasised it would be very tough for him to manage the situation if the Indian High Commission did not assist him quickly.—AFP
Sami suffers toe injury during net session
Lin eyes gold in Rio after All-England badminton title By the second game his confidence in BIRMINGHAM (England)—Lin Dan regarded by many as the greatest badminton ultimate victory was evident, and twice he player of all time — made another entry produced moments of arrogant magic in into the record books with a dominant performance to capture his sixth All-England Open title on Sunday. Lin’s 21-9, 21-10 victory over his compatriot Tian Houwei was a thrilling rebuttal to critics who reckoned that, now aged 32 and with a mere handful of titles in the past three years, the Chinese legend is past his best. Instead Lin suggested a record third Olympic men’s singles gold medal could well be possible in Rio de Janeiro in five months’ time. “I wanted to show everyone that at 33 I will still be able to do it,” he said. It was four years since Lin last won the All-England, but his haul of titles at the event has only been surpassed by Rudy Hartono, the great Indonesian, who won eight. That though was more than 40 years ago and in the pre-professional era. Mischievously skilful and consistently fluent, Lin ensured the outcome was never in doubt. Within moments he was 71 up and was playing with an intensity of focus greater than anything previously this week. Tian tried to hustle him a BIRMINGHAM: Lin Dan of China with trophy little and got back to 7-11 but it Chamionship (men’s singles). was almost impossible to escape the web created by the patient accuracy of which he managed to make Tian turn and Lin’s clears, lifts and net shots. Lin also run. The younger man made his last serimade very few mistakes despite often play- ous push at 4-13 in the second game, ining to tight margins, before picking his mo- creasing the pace slightly and taking a few ments superbly to make a quick change of more risks in trying to force attacks through. He reduced the deficit to 10-15, but direction or a sudden attacking thrust. He used the smash or the fast drop only these were the last points he was able to rarely, but it was often enough to make a win. A rare but fantastic piece of retrieving constant attacking threat and infrequent by Lin was followed by a dramatic transforming kill and a piece of theatrics as he enough to remain a surprise.
logically — falls in Dhoni’s 10th house of the cosmic chart, which implies loss. According to him, a skipper may win a “few smaller events” when he enters a lean patch astrologically, but not the big ones. To buttress his theory, Lobo mentions a bagful of “smaller” wins for Dhoni after the World Cup 2011 — the 2013 Champions trophy, the 2013 Champions League for Chennai Super Kings, the historic 30 whitewash of the Australians in Australia in January and more recently, the 2016 Asia Cup. On the other hand, he argues, the three “big” trophies after this— the World T20 in 2012 and 2014, plus the 2015 ODI World Cup — eluded him. The astrologer says March 19 will be “favourable” for Dhoni, and India will overcome Pakistan in the league stage in the Eden encounter. But it will be Pakistan who will be the winners in the final, says Lobo, author of a book on astrology, ‘What Is Your True Zodiac Sign?’ The astrologer’s predictions ought to make Pakistani fans happy at a time when there has not been too much to enthuse them.
and will clash with arch-rivals India at the same venue on March 19.—AFP
South Africa won it without tossing the coin B IPIN D ANI O BSERVER CORRESPONDENT
of 2016 All-England Open Badminton to the world that I am still the best,” Lin said, appearing to imply that he now thought he was. “I am pleased with the fitness that I have.” Notably though he did not this week have to play his long-time rival Lee Chong Wei, the former world number one from Malaysia, or Chen Long, the top-seeded world number one who is likely to be his team-mate in Rio.—AFP
MUMBAI—Neither South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, nor Team India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni / Virat Kohli or any international captain for that matter, would consider to dump the toss ceremony at the higher level of the game. Interestingly, Dhoni and D du Plessis did avoid the toss in their first warm up game against each other on Saturday. The cricket-specific web site too suggests South Africa had won the toss at the Wankhede Stadium. However, this Reporter can authoritatively say that the coin was not tossed anytime before the game. “South Africa wanted to bat first and India wanted to bowl. (It was) nothing too tricky”, Ms. Lerato Malekutu, the media officer travelling with the team, speaking exclusively, confirmed. Australia’s Ricky Ponting and West Indies’ Michael Holding were the first to suggest to demolish the toss ceremony even at the high-
est level of the game. The idea, however, didn’t go well with the MCC, the Custodian of the Laws. “MCC feel that ‘the toss’ is an integral part of a game of cricket, and that, since the Laws of Cricket apply to every game at every level throughout the world, the Club is most unlikely to change the Law in dispensing with the toss,” Mark Williams, the Laws of Cricket Advisor had then said from Lord’s in London. It may however be noted here that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering to give options to the two captains to do away with the toss from this county season in UK. The visiting team will be given the choice if they wish to field first. On Saturday, the SA team wanted to bat first and their wish was granted by Dhoni, who too wanted to bowl first. “I don’t think a match can be played without toss. I don’t remember any such (other) instances”, the renowned cricket statisticians, Sudhir Vaidya and Bharath Seervi, (ESPNCricinfo), speaking exclusively, said.