Pak-India Champions Trophy match tickets sold out

DUBAI  - The first allocation of tickets to see two of cricket's biggest rivals - India and Pakistan – clash at Edgbaston in the ICC Champions Trophy sold out in just three hours after going on general sale.

It is the first of the 15 matches in the tournament to have sold out its initial allocation of tickets. Additional tickets for this match may be released to the public via official outlets nearer the event, a release from the international governing body stated on Tuesday. The tickets were set on sale from Monday morning.

The sub-continental rivals will meet at Edgbaston on June 15 next year. Warwickshire's home ground will host five games in total, as will the other two venues -- The Oval and Cardiff Wales Stadium. Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: "The ICC Champions Trophy is one of the biggest tournaments in world cricket, and with India and Pakistan meeting in the group stage at Edgbaston, we've seen a huge demand for tickets in the first day of sales.

"Any additional tickets that become available for this fixture will be sold via www.icc-cricket.com, so be sure to visit this site regularly for further information," he said. Fans are strongly urged not to purchase tickets through secondary resale websites. Tickets appearing on these sites have broken the terms and conditions, and action is being taken against the perpetrators, the release warned.

Tickets for the remaining matches of the ICC Champions Trophy, including the final, can still be purchased at www.icc-cricket.com or via the ICC Champions Trophy Ticket Hotline -- 0844 249 2013, it added. Adult tickets for the ICC Champions Trophy range from 20 pounds to 60 pounds, while tickets for under-16s (providing they are accompanied by an adult) are priced at five pounds for the entire event.

A new pricing structure has also seen the introduction of tickets for under-21s, which can be bought for between 10-25 pounds.

United, Barca eye Knockout stage

ARIS - Manchester United can avenge the embarrassment of last year's Champions League group stage exit with a victory in Braga on Wednesday, while Barcelona can also secure their passage to the knockout stage by beating Celtic.

The fourth round of matches holds great significance for several teams in this year's competition as defending champions Chelsea face a crunch encounter against runaway Ukrainian league leaders Shakhtar Donetsk, with beaten finalists Bayern Munich vying to keep pace in Group F when they host Lille.

United recovered from an early two-goal deficit to beat Braga 3-2 at Old Trafford a fortnight ago to record their third win in as many matches in Europe's top club competition, having yet to reach top gear. Successive league wins over Chelsea and Arsenal has seen United climb to the top of the Premier League table and defensive stalwart Rio Ferdinand believes there is more to come from the Group H leaders.

"I don't think we have hit a real purple patch yet, which we are really searching for," he was quoted as saying on the club's website. Despite a solid defensive display in Saturday's 2-1 triumph over the Gunners, United's profligacy in front of goal prevented a more convincing scoreline and Ferdinand stressed the importance of "getting it all in one package and doing it all in ninety minutes at the right times".

"We're still aiming for that and it will come soon, don't worry," added the 33-year-old in an ominous warning to upcoming opponents. Spanish giants Barcelona also have maximum points after three rounds and may welcome back long-term absentee Gerard Pique after the defender was included in the squad for Wednesday's tie in Glasgow. A 3-1 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend propelled Barca to their best start to a league season and the Catalans own the distinction of being the only side to have defeated Celtic at Parkhead in the tournament's modern era.

Jordi Alba's stoppage-time winner broke Celtic hearts at the Nou Camp two weeks ago and another triumph for Tito Vilanova's side would secure their progression to the last 16, leaving Celtic with plenty of work to do after a promising start to Group G.

Chelsea will be out for revenge at Stamford Bridge against Shakhtar after their first taste of Ukrainian opposition ended in a 2-0 defeat on matchday three. Group E leaders Shakhtar are searching for a first victory on English soil, while second-place Chelsea know they cannot afford to cede any more ground if they are to repeat last year's improbable success.

The Blues are just a point ahead of Juventus, who are in action against Danish minnows Nordsjaelland, and must still travel to Turin later in the month. Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata billed Wednesday's clash "like a final", underlining the importance of collecting three points "if (Chelsea) want to finish first in (their) group".

Meanwhile last season's runners-up Bayern Munich find themselves level with Valencia and BATE Borisov, who meet at the Mestalla in midweek, on six points in Group F. The German heavyweights will be aiming to regain control of the group when they host strugglers Lille at the Allianz Arena, while Rudi Garcia's French charges must avoid defeat to prevent an early elimination.

Romanian outfit CFR Cluj can tighten their grip on the second qualification spot alongside United in Group H as they welcome bottom side Galatasaray to Transylvania. Elsewhere Benfica are out to stop the rot against visiting Group G rivals Spartak Moscow in Portugal.

Spartak's 2-1 win in Moscow earned Unai Emery's side their first points of the campaign, while Benfica -- who have lost two consecutive European home fixtures -- are bottom with just a point to their name.

  Week 9: Redskins vs. Panthers

Welcome to the Week 9 Redskins live blog as we break down this afternoon’s game against the Carolina Panthers (1-6). Following a 27-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, the Redskins (3-5) are seeking to end a two-game slide before their bye week as they try to climb out of last place in the NFC East. Safety Brandon Meriweather and wide receiver Pierre Garcon have been ruled out, and cornerback DeAngelo Hall remains eligible to play following an incident last weekend involving an official. Some more reading before today’s 1 p.m. kickoff:

PCB yet to receive BCCI confirmation

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet received formal information from BCCI regarding the schedule of the much-awaited Pakistan-India series to be played there commencing from December 25, it has been learnt.

A source in the PCB confirmed that the board had not received any formal confirmation from the BCCI regarding the schedule of the series or any other information yet.

"We are still waiting for the confirmation from the BCCI as we have come to know through the media regarding the clearance for the series from the Indian Home Minister, but still not received any formal information from our counterpart as yet," the source said.

It may take a couple of days as soon as the Cricket Board will receive the confirmation from BCCI the PCB will start preparations for the tour, the source added. Indian tour has much importance for Pakistan and for revival of cricketing relations between the two neighbouring countries. Pakistan will announce its squad for the India tour after the conclusion of Grade-I President's Trophy after watching the players' performance in the domestic event underway at the various venues across the country.

The national players are busy in the President's Cup and there will be no need for camp for the team but they will gather at the National Cricket Academy for make light preparations for the series as the either sides cricket-crazy fans watch to see their heroes in action eagerly.

The Indian tour will prove make and break for some of the players either they will excel or their career will be end on a sad note while some stars will end their career on a high. It will be the duty of national selectors to choose best available players of the country on merit keeping in mind country's pride then inclusion of non-deserving players to keep Pakistan flag high.

The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were freeze since 2008 after the terrorists attack in Mumbai. India last hosted Pakistan in 2007-08. The Indian government has given the go-ahead for a home cricket series against Pakistan in December and January, in what will be Pakistani cricketers' first tour of the country in five years.

The December tour will feature three One-Day International matches and two Twenty20s. The series was first agreed upon in July but still required the green light from India's Home Ministry, which came Monday, according to reports. Officials from the ministry weren't available to confirm the development.

India and Pakistan have played each other in the semi-final of ODI World Cup in 2011 in Mohali. The Pakistan team is due to arrive in India on Dec. 22, according to reports. The tour comes in the middle of India's series with England, but the English team will be taking a break over Christmas and New Year.

Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup final

UANGZHOU: 

Pakistan managed to make a total of 63 runs while chasing India’s score of 81 runs before being bowled out with five balls remaining in the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup final, Express News reported on Wednesday.

India won the final by 19 runa.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to field, with India ending the innings at 81 runs.

Earlier, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the second semi final of the Asia Cup, earning this spot in the final.

India was earlier declared the winner when rain disrupted the first semi-final.

Sports

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi dreams of retiring at Barcelona, the club who trained him as a teenager and where he began his professional career in 2004, the Argentine World Player of the Year said on Monday.
Collecting his Golden Boot award for scoring a Europe-leading 50 league goals last season, Messi spoke of his gratitude to Barca for giving him the chance to realise his dream when they took him on at their youth academy as a scrawny 13-year-old in 2000.
Now 25, Messi has four years left on his contract and a buyout clause worth 250 million euros ($322.63 million) and club officials have said an extended and improved deal may be imminent.
“My dream is to finish my career at the club,” Rosario-born Messi, who is poised to become a father for the first time, said at the ceremony in the Catalan capital.
“The most important thing is that I continue developing here and I would like to do that until the end,” he added.
In line for an unprecedented fourth straight World Player award when the 2012 winner is announced in January, Messi took his senior career goals tally to 301 on Saturday when he scored twice in Barcelona’s 5-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano.
He has netted 270 goals for his club and 31 for Argentina.

Sports

PALLEKELE (Sri Lanka), Oct 29: New Zealand will be determined to erase bitter memories of the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium when they clash with Sri Lanka in a one-off Twenty20 International here on Tuesday. The Black Caps’ campaign in the recent World Twenty20 ended at the same venue when they lost all their three Super Eights matches, including two in the tie-break ‘super over’.
Ross Taylor’s team tied their games against eventual winners the West Indies and runners-up Sri Lanka before suffering defeats in the one-over eliminator.
New Zealand, who will also play five One-day Internationals and two Tests on their month-long tour, return to the Pallekele stadium without key players Daniel Vettori and Martin Guptill.
Experienced left-arm spinner Vettori is missing the tour due to an injury while opener Guptill has been rested for the limited-overs contests and will figure only in the Tests.
But New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram said the tourists had the resources to do well. “If we play well we are confident that we can win,” he said ahead of the match. “We do appreciate that Sri Lanka is a very good side in their home conditions and more than a match for us at times, but we have enough talent. We’ve got to make sure the talent comes out at the right time.”
Sri Lanka also made a few changes as all-rounder Angelo Mathews was named the new Twenty20 captain in place of Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down after his team’s defeat against the West Indies in the World Twenty20 final in Colombo earlier this month.
Jayawardene has been rested for the Twenty20 game along with paceman Lasith Malinga, but will return to lead the side in the one-dayers.
“The selectors wanted to give these two cricketers a rest. Their absence from the team is a big loss but with the squad I have been given, I am confident we can win,” said Mathews.
Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, the most successful bowler of the World Twenty20 with 15 wickets in six matches, will also miss Tuesday’s match and the first three one-dayers due to an injury.
The tour is former paceman Shane Bond’s first as New Zealand bowling coach.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand have so far played 10 Twenty20 Internationals, with each side winning five.
Teams (from):SRI LANKA: Angelo Mathews (captain), Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilshan Munaweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Akila Dananjaya, Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga.
NEW ZEALAND: Ross Taylor (captain), Trent Boult, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Ronnie Hira, Rob Nicol, Tom Latham, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Bradley-John Watling, Kane Williamson.—AFP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afridi is so bad now, it’s embarrassing

Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has joined the critics bashing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, terming his recent dip in performance ‘embarrassing’.

“His batting is so bad now, it’s embarrassing. He can’t think, he can’t judge the length, and he’s just a swiper of the ball. It’s appalling to watch him bat.

“He bats like a tail-ender. It must be frustrating as hell, exasperating, annoying, to all his supporters, his friends, his captain,” he said while talking to ESPNCricinfo.

Despite that, Boycott believes the all-rounder is a threat to the opposition with the ball but is wasted as a batsman.

“Whatever his faults, he still has some talent as a bowler. And I still love him. But it is totally exasperating and somebody needs to get hold of him,” Boycott added.

“Whether it’s too late, I don’t know. But he’s wasted an enormous talent at batting.”

Afridi’s abysmal performance at the World Twenty20 during which he scored just 30 runs in five innings and took only four wickets in six matches attracted much criticism from former players and fans.