Sports

India’s cricket board said on Tuesday it has secured government clearance to host Pakistan for a short tour later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has invited Pakistan to play three One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches in December-January, the first bilateral contests between the arch-rivals in five years. “We have discussed all security aspects [and] the tour is on

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar says England's "final frontier" could prove to be just a small hurdle as they bid for a first Test series win against "vulnerable" India in almost three decades. Gavaskar said the home side were going into the four-Test series against the world's number two team with a "wobbly" batting line-up and a weak-looking pace attack, with spin being the lone encouraging factor

London, October 30: West Indian batting legend Vivian Richards reckons Kevin Pietersen is cricket's answer to Muhammad Ali, and believes the English batsman has got the "X-factor" to respond to his critics in the upcoming four-Test series in India. Richards, who won seven Tests in India with the great West Indies teams of the 1970s and 80s, finds a similarity between Pietersen and the world's

Cricket is a strong connect between India and Australia, firmed up over a period of time by tours between the two nations and dressing room camaraderie during the Indian Premier League featuring Indian and Australian players. Adam Gilchrist launched the annual scholarship scheme in honour of Sir Donald Bradman, for an Indian student to study at the University of Wollongong (UOW). The Bradman

Four years after he announced his retirement from International cricket, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has called it quits from all levels of the game, deciding not to play in the IPL as well. The former India opener had continued playing first-class cricket for Bengal so as to keep in shape for his franchise Pune Warriors but after last year's debacle, Ganguly has at last decided against

New Delhi, October 29: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition against India's veteran cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha, pending in various High Courts. The Supreme Court questioned the bona fide of the petitioner Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia and told him, "What is your interest? you want to bring everything under the jurisdiction of this court?" Petitions challenging

Leeds, October 29: Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani proved his class once again as he notched up his seventh World Billiards Championship title after comprehensively beating defending champion and seasoned Englishman Mike Russell in the final here. The celebrated cueist stamped his dominance with 1895-1216 win over the local favourite. Fresh from his resounding 881-281 victory over compatriot Dhruv

The Sydney Sixers made light work of the Highveld Lions as the Australian side cantered to a 10-wicket win in the Champions League Twenty20 final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday. Chasing the Lions’ 121 all out, Sydney raced to 124 without loss with Michael Lumb smashing his way to a thrilling 82 not out off just 42 balls with eight fours and five sixes. Sydney, who went through the

Greater Noida, October 29: Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel cruised to his fourth consecutive win and extended his lead in this year's title race to 13 points when he steered his Red Bull car to victory in Sunday's Indian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old German led from pole to the chequered flag to come home ahead of nearest championship rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Vettel's Red Bull

Leg-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been included among the top grade contract players while out of favour Harbhajan Singh has been demoted to the second bracket in the new list announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here on Friday. The BCCI granted central contracts to 37 players -- nine in Grade A (Rs.1 crore/$186,000), eight in Grade B (Rs.50 lakh/$93,000) and 20 in Grade