Aug 23(ABC):With the T20 Asia Cup right around the corner, the Indian cricket team’s preparation took a hit Tuesday after their coach Rahul Dravid tested positive for COVID-19 — leaving his participation in the international tournament in doubt. Indian media reported that the former skipper’s test came out positive before the Men In Blue’s departure to the United Arab Emirates …

Aug 23(ABC):Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who was named in the 20-man Asia Cup squad, will miss the tournament as he has picked up a left leg injury during training. In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket said the selection committee added Nuwan Thusharawa — who bowls in a similar fashion to Lasith Malinga — as an additional player to the …

MUNICH, Aug 20(ABC): Spain’s Alvaro Martin retained the 20km race walk title at the European Athletics Championships in Munich on Saturday. Martin, who previously won the Euro title in Berlin in 2018 but finished fourth at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, timed a personal best of 1hr 19min 11sec around the streets of the Bavarian capital in cool, rainy conditions. Sweden’s …

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20(ABC): Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised four to six weeks rest by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists, following his latest scans and reports. Shaheen had been ruled out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) T20 Asia Cup and home series against England, but was expected to return to competitive …

LAHORE, August 19(ABC): Retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar retained the post of president after the elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) held in Karachi today with no observer from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) due to the ongoing tussle between the two sports organisations. The 56th session of the Congress of Pakistan Hockey Federation was held in a local …

DOHA, August 19(ABC): A total of 2.45 million tickets have been sold for this year s World Cup in Qatar after over half a million were snapped up in the latest sales period, organisers announced on Thursday. World football s governing body FIFA said that 520,532 were sold in the period between July 5 and August 16, with Qatar, the United …

LORDS, August 19(ABC): South Africa completed a crushing innings win over England at Lord’s, dismantling the home batting line-up for the second time in three days to go 1-0 up in the series. Anrich Nortje ripped the heart out of innings with a three-wicket salvo after lunch, while Kagiso Rabada finished with match figures of 7 for 79, as England …

DUBAI, August 19(ABC): Azam Khan has become the first Pakistan player to sign up with the UAE’s International League T20. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is among the overseas players recruited by Desert Vipers, the franchise owned by Lancer Capital. Azam will be joined by Sri Lanka legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, England wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings and West Indies left-arm quick Sheldon Cottrell. Azam has played 74 T20s so …

LAHORE, August 19(ABC): Fast bowler Hassan Ali will participate in National T20 Cup after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rejected his NOC request for Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022. While rejecting Ali’s NOC, the cricket board planned a training programme for the pacer. According to the cricket board, Ali was advised to undergo a special training camp at the National …

Cincinnati, Aug 19(ABC): Top-ranked Daniil Medvedev advanced to the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals on Thursday while women’s world number one Iga Swiatek was upset by American Madison Keys. Top seed Medvedvev kept Denis Shapovalov winless against world number ones with a 7-5, 7-5 victory while Poland’s Swiatek lost 6-3, 6-4 to 2019 Cincinnati champion Keys, who needed five …