I was nervous about playing for Barca: Suarez BARCELONA—Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has admitted he was nervous at the prospect of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar when he joined the club. The Uruguayan, who arrived under a cloud following his ban for biting at last year ’s World Cup, has made a rapid adjustment to life at the Catalan club and has scored vital goals to help put them on course for a treble. Barca face Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday looking to book a place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 lead from the first leg in which Suarez struck twice. Suarez has scored 19 goals in all competitions but most importantly he has found the net in key games. He got the winner in the El Clasico against Real Madrid last month and struck twice in the first leg against Manchester City in the Champions League last 16. Despite scoring 31 goals for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, the prospect of proving himself in Barca’s vaunted attack was intimidating. “When I arrived I was timid with Messi and Neymar but they just said to me to play as I had done at Liverpool. Now I feel fine off and on the pitch and we have a good time together,” Suarez told a news conference on Monday. Suarez said he has concentrated on being levelheaded and that his team mates have helped him fit in at the club. “I always have gone out to try and do well and I didn’t listen when it was said that I was the best in the world or the worst. I am very self-critical and I carry myself the same,” Suarez said. “When things were not going well for me I was grateful for the support of people close to me. The players always were behind me and so was the coach. “At the moment I feel that I am helping the team with goals and assists but as long as the team is doing well then I am happy as well. It is not important who scores as long as the team progresses.”—APP
Lancashire batsman smashes 350 off 138 balls in one-day match L ONDON —Young Lancashire batsman Liam Livingstone has smashed a world record 350 in just 138 balls during a one-day match. The 21-year-old allrounder bludgeoned 34 fours and 27 sixes for Nantwich in a Royal London National Club Championship game against Caldy. The England and Wales Cricket Board said on its website that his innings was the highest recorded in any form of one-day match, beating the previous record of 334 not out by Nikhilesh Surendran in an Indian club fixture in Hyderabad. Nantwich, a club based in the north-west of England, amassed 579 for seven in 45 overs and ended up winning by a remarkable margin of 500 runs. Caldy’s poor bowlers were hit to all parts. One registered figures of nought for 123 from nine overs and another finished with two for 124 in eight overs. Caldy were then bowled out for 79 and Livingstone completed a memorable day by taking three catches. “It was just one of those days when everything I did came off,” said Livingstone, who was used as a substitute fielder by England in last year’s third Test win over India in Manchester after Stuart Broad was struck in the face while batting. “The ball was moving about a bit early on and the third ball I faced nipped back through the gate and just missed the off stump. After that I thought I’d try whacking a few.—AFP
Djokovic beats Berdych in Monte Carlo to set ATP record
20-year-old Indian cricketer dies after fielding collision
M ONTE C ARLO (Monaco)—Novak back after the rain break and close it later as the Czech’s service return Djokovic set another career record with his second Monte Carlo title, as the Serb became the first man to win the opening three Masters 1000 events in a season through a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Tomas Berdych. The top seed, who lives just a few hundred metres away from the centre court, had to survive a comeback from his Czech rival as well as a 70-minute rain interruption which came as he led by a set and 3-2 on serve in the second. Djokovic’s victory was his 17th straight win of the season and also marked a fourth straight Masters 1000 title after also winning at Paris Bercy last November. “I won this match with my heart and with battle,” said Djokovic. “I don’t think I played on the level that I wish to play and that I have played throughout the whole week. “But credit to Tomas because he has played very aggressively, staying close to the line, pushing me back. So I had to defend a lot of times. “It was a battle,” said the 2013 Monte Carlo winner, who was frustrated as he committed 38 unforced errors and lost his first set of the week while converting on only five of 14 break points. Djokovic now owns 52 career titles and 23 at the elite Masters level. He stands 19-2 over Berdych and 302 this season. Berdych missed a chance to move up to a career-best number four in the world. “By the result, I’m very disappointed. But by feeling, it’s quite good. I’m fit. There is no issues with that,” said Berdych. “I’m on the right track, I still need to keep working on it and keep improving myself. “We are three or four months into the new things that I’ve been working on. It’s very clear on the results on the matches that they are there, they are the right things. “I just need to keep doing that and keep pushing myself, being better and better.” Djokovic won the opening set comfortably but was unable to come
out in straight sets. Instead, Berdych got the early momentum upon the return and levelled at a set each. In the third, Djokovic again seized the initiative, going up two breaks
sailed just long over the baseline. “I came on the court today hoping and wanting, of course, to play as well as I played throughout the whole week,” said Djokovic. “I played my best match and best tennis in the
M UMBAI —Tragedy struck Indian cricket on Monday when a 20-year-old player died as a result of a freakish on-field collision with a team mate during a club match in the eastern city of Kolkata. F o u r months after Australia cricketer Phillip Hughes died after being hit by a bouncer, Ankit Keshri, a former captain for his state’s under-19 team, battled for three days before passing away at a Kolkata hospital. “It’s so unfortunate. He was such a promising cricketer and for him to pass away in such a manner is difficult to swallow,” Subir Ganguly, the joint secretary of the state’s cricket association, said. Keshri, a right-handed batsman and leg-spinner, came on as a substitute fielder for his club and collided with a team mate as both players went for a high catch. He briefly lost consciousness but was resuscitated by a team mate, following which, he was rushed to hospital. According to doctors, Keshri’s condition was stable but he suffered a cardiac arrest around midnight on Sunday and died early on Monday morning, officials of the state association said. In November, Hughes passed away at the age of 25, two days after he was struck in the neck by a bouncer with the incident sparking a massive outpouring of grief across the world.—AFP
Real Madrid confirm Bale calf injury MONTE CARLO: Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses his trophy after beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their final match at the MonteCarlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament. only to lose one of them. Berdych saved a match point, holding for 3-5 with an overhead winner. But Djokovic prevailed a game
week against Nadal yesterday. Maybe I was a little bit also mentally exhausted coming into this match.”—AFP
Pakistan cricket is in trouble: Waqar
Misbah defends Pak team show against BD
KARACHI—Former skipper DHAKA—As Bangladesh clinched a historic and it will take us time to get free from this Misbah-ul-Haq has deseries win over Pakistan on Sunday, head coach Waqar Younis had to give in to the criticism from all quarters. He admitted that the team was in ‘trouble’.
“I accept what the critics’ say, Pakistan cricket is facing problems,” Waqar said in an interview to the local media. “Pakistan need to change the way it plays cricket. Our cricketing style is very defensive
mindset,” he added. The defensive playing style is not the only worry for Pakistan though. The national team is currently facing a ‘fitness crisis’ of sorts which has meant the coach has not been able to pick the best side. Pacemen Sohail Khan, Ehsan Adil, legspinner Yasir Shah and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood were ruled out due to injuries for the series against Bangladesh. Right before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan’s camp had been affected by fitness issues, resulting in the nonavailability of seasoned players such as Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Hafeez.“Our team’s biggest problem is fitness and we will not compromise in ensuring that each and every player is match fit,” he said. Waqar rejected the idea of looking back at the ‘tried and tested’ lot following the historic series defeat against Bangladesh. “There is no need to look back,” he said, adding: “We have to move forward with younger players.” Pakistan is scheduled to play the third and the final One-Day International against Bangladesh on Wednesday, April 22, at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka. The one-day series will be followed by a Twenty20 International and two Tests.—APP
Iniesta cleared to face PSG
fended the poor performance of Pakistan cricketers in the opening two One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh. “This is young team and needed more time to improve under a new captain Azhar Ali,” he said on Monday. Pakistan lost the first ODI by 79-run and suffered seven wicket loss in the second one-dayer as Bangladesh registered their first series win over their rivals in two decades. Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal hit back to back hundreds in the series with disappointing bowling from Pakistan bowlers. Misbah, who retired from ODI cricket after leading Pakistan to the quarterfinals in the World Cup, believed that team needed some time to settle down. He said Azhar just took the rein of captaincy and it was not easy to turnaround the things overnight. Misbah said team is now undergoing rebuilding process and it take some months to develop the team.—APP
M ADRID —Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale looks set to miss the European champions decisive Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday after scans confirmed a muscle injury in his left calf. Bale limped off after less than five minutes of Madrid’s 3-1 win over Malaga on Saturday. “After the tests carried out on Gareth Bale by the Real Madrid medical team, a muscle injury in his left calf has been diagnosed,” the club said in a statement on Monday. The club refused to add how long Bale will be sidelined for, but it seems highly unlikely he will be fit for the eighth Madrid derby of the season that will decide who progresses to the semi-finals with the score locked at 0-0 after the first-leg at the Vicente Calderon last week. Madrid have been unable to beat Atletico in any of those seven previous meetings and face mounting problems due to injuries and suspensions.—AFP
Bolt wins 100m in Rio R IO D E J ANEIRO —Usain Bolt cruised to victory in a sprint challenge on Sunday but the Jamaican world record holder declared himself unhappy with his performance in his first 100 metres of the season. Bolt pulled away from Ryan Bailey over the last 30 metres to finish in 10.12 seconds, 0.12 seconds clear of the American Olympian. Brazilian Jose Carlos Moreira was third in 10.51 and Churandy Martina of the Netherlands was fourth in 10.53. “I think it was poor execution overall,” Bolt said. “I am sure my coach isn’t going to be too happy. The good thing is that I won.” The race, at Rio de Janeiro’s horseracing track in specially assembled lanes, was literally a walk in the park for the six-time Olympic gold medal winner. With the iconic statute of Christ the Redeemer behind him, Bolt clowned around on the starting line but was more serious in his post-race assessment.—APP
B A R C E L O N A —Barcelona
NEW YORK: Ruslan Provodnikov lands a jab against Lucas Matthysse at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. Matthysee won the 12-round bout by scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-113.
midfielder Andres Iniesta has been given the all clear to face French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday. The Spanish international suffered heavy bruising on his back during Barca’s 3-1 first-leg win in Paris last week and missed the Catalans 2-0 victory over Valencia on Saturday as a result. “Andres Iniesta has received the medical all clear,” Barcelona said in a statement on Monday. “The Barca number eight is available to Luis Enrique now that he has recovered from the heavy bruising on the sacroiliac joint he suffered away at PSG.”—AFP
Afghan Cricket Board not happy with captain’s resignation Bipin Dani OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI—Mohammad Nabi’s decision to resign as captain has not gone well with its board. Nasim Danish, the president of the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board), speaking exclusveily from Kabul, said, “we are not happy with his decision. He was contemplating and talks were going on for quite some time and we were trying to persuade to change his decision”. He further added, “Nabi is resigning from the captaincy but wishes to continue to play for the country. To focus more on his career and performance, he has decided to relinquish the captain role”.
“Now he has decided to focus on his performance. He believes that the captaincy was affecting his performance in the match and we have no option but to accept his resignation”. “The selectors will meet soon to chose the new captain”. Ashghar Stanikzai, Javed Ahmedi and Mirwais Ashraf are the front runners for the job. The Afghanistan cricket team is likely organise a 30-day camp in India before moving to play matches in Scotland. “We are in negotiations with the Indian cricket board and planning to arrange a camp in Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), where the climatic conditions are similar to Scotland”.