Australia defeat brave Afghanistan by 66 runs

Former world champions Australia defeated a battling Afghanistan team by 66 runs in the first-ever limited overs international between the two sides on Saturday.

Australia did well to reach 272-8 in their 50 overs despite some hiccups in the middle overs before overcoming a tough mid-innings resistance by Afghanistan who in the end were bowled out for 206 in 43.5 overs.

Michael Clarke hit a 94-ball 75 while Matthew Wade also made 75 off 108 balls to take Australia to a fighting total on a dry Sharjah Stadium pitch in sultry 35-plus degree heat.

The match, which started at 6pm local time to avoid the heat and ended early Sunday, was Afghanistan’s second against a full Test-playing side after they met Pakistan in February this year.

Strapping new-ball bowlers Mitchell Starc (4-47) and James Pattinson (3-46) then rattled Afghanistan’s top order with some vicious short and full length deliveries, dismissing the first four batsmen for 49 runs.

Opener Karim Sadiq hit the innings’ first delivery for a boundary, but Starc then clattered Sadiq on the helmet to fell the batsman before bowling him with a delivery that nipped back sharply.

Starc earlier had Javed Ahmedi (nought) in his first over, while at the other end Pattinson dismissed Mohammad Shehzad (11) and skipper Nawroz Mangal (nought) in his sixth over to leave Afghanistan reeling at 49-4.

But Asghar Stanikzai, with a 106-ball 66, and Mohammad Nabi, with an aggressive 60-ball 46, put on an impressive 86-run stand for the fifth wicket to push Australia onto the back foot.

Nabi hit four towering sixes and three boundaries while Stanikzai sent six balls to the ropes.

But Afghanistan’s resistance waned once both fell in the space of five overs.

Nabi became one of Mitchell Johnson’s two wickets while Clarke pulled off a sensational catch at mid-wicket off Pattinson to end Stanikzai’s knock.

Clarke praised his fast bowling trio.

“They did well to get us wickets but I must give credit to the batsmen as well for getting us to 272,” said Clarke. “It was nice to have a good start to the tour, obviously with the heat and dry pitch.”

Mangal said he was satisfied with his team’s performance.

“Our top order didn’t put on runs but on the whole I am satisfied with the performance as the margin of defeat isn’t big,” said Mangal.

Earlier Australia, who lost opener David Warner (24) to seamer Shapoor Zadran in the seventh over, were coasting along with Clarke and Wade adding an invluable 131 runs for the second wicket.

But Australia lost four wickets in the space of 42 runs as off-spinner Nabi (2-50) broke the stand by catching Wade off a return drive from his own bowling.

Wade, opening the innings in the absence of Shane Watson who is not on the tour because of injury, hit two fours and a towering six.

In his next over, Nabi had debutant Glenn Maxwell caught at long-on for two to leave Australia at 172-3.

Clarke, who hit three boundaries and a six, was stumped off spinner Samiullah Shinwari as he jumped out of the crease but missed the ball.

Michael Hussey (49) and George Bailey (23) added a rapid 53 for the sixth wicket in just five overs to ensure Australia put up a fighting total.

Hussey’s 37-ball knock had three sixes and two fours.

Sadiq took wickets in the last over to finish with 2-22.

Australia will now play three one-day matches, followed by as many Twenty20 internationals, against Pakistan, with the first encounter in Sharjah on Tuesday.

India beat Australia to win U-19 World Cup

India won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup for the third time, beating Australia by six wickets behind captain Unumkt Chand’s 111 not out on Sunday.

Australia made 225-8 after being sent in to bat, with captain William Bosisto scoring 87 not out. India started strongly, then collapsed to 97-4 before Chand guided the winners to 227-4 in the 48th over.

Chand, who hit seven fours and six sixes, shared in a 130-run partnership with Smit Patel (62 not out), who hit the winning runs with eight balls remaining. Australia, who also have three under-19 World Cup titles, had never lost a final in the tournament.

India 227-4 in 47.4 overs (Unumkt Chand 111 not out, Smit Patel 62 not out; Joel Paris 1-33), def. Australia 225-8 (William Bosisto 87 not out; Sandeep Sharma 4-54) by six wickets.

Lance Armstrong stripped of Tour titles

 The US anti-doping agency banned Lance Armstrong for life on Friday and stripped him of the record seven Tour de France titles that helped him become an inspirational icon of US sports.

USADA branded Armstrong a dope cheat a day after the 40-year-old Texan said he wouldn’t pursue a bid to clear himself of charges that he used performance enhancing drugs to win cycling’s most prestigious race from 1999 to 2005.

The agency laid out five rule violations for which Armstrong has been sanctioned, saying the cancer survivor who became a hero to millions took part in a systematic doping conspiracy with his then US Postal Service team.

It said that, as Armstrong has dropped out of an arbitration process, he “has received a lifetime period of ineligibility and disqualification of all competitive results from August 1, 1998 through the present”.

Along with his celebrated haul of Tour titles Armstrong stands to lose the Olympic bronze medal he won in 2000 along with other race titles, prize money and other awards.

Armstrong, the only cyclist to win the Tour de France more than five times, had long vehemently denied doping accusations.

But on Thursday he said had grown weary of the fight and the strain it had put on his personal and professional life.

“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say ‘enough is enough.’ For me, that time is now,” he said in a statement.

The International Cycling Union, the sport’s governing body based in Aigle, Switzerland, had been fighting USADA for jurisdiction of Armstrong’s case and could launch an appeal or fail to recognize the move.

However, USADA’s statement made it clear they believe the UCI is bound by the World Anti-Doping Code to follow through on the sanctions.

“Because Mr. Armstrong could have had a hearing before neutral arbitrators to contest USADA’s evidence and sanction and he voluntarily chose not to do so, USADA’s sanction is final,” the agency’s statement said.

Armstrong, who has branded the USADA investigation “an unconstitutional witch hunt,” had gone to court in a bid to block the agency’s proceedings.

But on Monday a federal judge in his hometown of Austin dismissed his lawsuit, leaving Armstrong until midnight on Thursday to tell USADA whether or not he would seek arbitration.

“I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999,” Armstrong said Thursday night.

“The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today — finished with this nonsense.”

USADA maintains that Armstrong used banned substances — including the blood-booster EPO, steroids and blood transfusions — dating back to 1996, and said 10 of his former team-mates were ready to testify against him.

If the UCI confirms the move, it faces a potential headache of choosing new winners for the seven disputed tours, as a number of cyclists who finished behind the American have also been implicated in doping scandals.

Indeed, Armstrong has argued that at least some of the witnesses who have implicated him can’t be trusted as they are themselves admitted dope cheats.

Former teammate Floyd Landis, who finally admitted doping years after he was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title, accused Armstrong of systematic doping, helping trigger a federal government probe of Armstrong and others.

That investigation ended in February with no criminal charges brought, but it apparently provided further impetus to USADA’s probe of the cyclist.

USADA said it also had blood tests taken from 2009-2010, when Armstrong briefly came out of retirement to compete internationally again, that were “fully consistent” with blood doping.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, said he passed hundreds of drug tests during his career and adhered to the rules in place at the time of his Tour de France wins.

“I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair,” he said, alleging that from the start the probe had been “about punishing me at all costs.”

Leaders of the anti-smoking and anti-cancer causes that Armstrong champions through his foundation rallied to his side, as did longtime sponsor Nike.

“Lance has stated his innocence and has been unwavering on this position. Nike plans to continue to support Lance and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a foundation that Lance created to serve cancer survivors,” the firm said.

“Reducing suffering and death from cancer is a moral imperative, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s contribution is sorely needed,” said John Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society.

However, World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey said Armstrong’s decision not to fight the charges could only be seen as an admission of guilt.

“There can be no other interpretation,” he said.

India enforce follow-on before rain stops play

Ravichandran Ashwin spun a web around New Zealand’s batsmen to capture six wickets as India enforced the follow-on before rain halted their charge to victory on day three of the opening test on Saturday.

Off-spinner Ashwin took six for 31, his best test innings haul, while Pragyan Ojha picked up three wickets to skittle New Zealand all out for 159 in their first innings on the stroke of lunch, giving India a first-innings lead of 279 runs.

Left-arm spinner Ojha, who opened the bowling in the second innings, picked up opener Martin Guptill (16) after India decided to enforce the follow-on with the threat of rain disruptions during the remaining two days.

The visitors were 41 for one in their second innings, still trailing India by 238 runs, before heavy rain forced play to be called off for the rest of the day.

Brendon McCullum (16) and Kane Williamson (three) were at the crease for the visitors.
Only 37.3 overs could be bowled on Saturday after play started an hour late due to morning showers leaving the outfield damp.

New Zealand, resuming on 106 for five, lost a wicket in the second over of the day when Umesh Yadav picked up the only wicket by a paceman in the innings by dismissing Kruger van Wyk for a duck.

Ojha added the wicket of Doug Bracewell (17) to his overnight tally of two before Ashwin was brought into the attack by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Ashwin, who took three wickets on Friday, wasted no time and took a low return catch to dismiss Jeetan Patel in his first over of the day for his fourth wicket in the innings.

He then struck twice in successive deliveries to send back Trent Boult (four) and Chris Martin (nought) to end New Zealand’s first innings.

Only left-hander James Franklin (43 not out) offered some resistance with only two New Zealand batsmen facing more than 27 deliveries.

Pak win trination women cricket tournament

Pakistan women cricket team beat Bangladesh rivals by four wickets to winthe tri-nation cricket tournament in Dublin, Ireland.

Batting first, Bangladesh women cricket squad scored 161 runs in the designated overs at the loss of eight wickets. Aisha Rahman scored 37 runs.

Pakistan's Nida Rashid and Qanta Jalil bagged two wickets each.

In reply, Pakistan scored the desired runs a the loss of six wickets to win the tri-nation women tournament. Sana Mir scored 29 runs, Bismah Maroof scored 28 runs while Jaweria Wadood scored 24 runs.

In its first match Pakistan beat host Ireland by 42 runs.

Bruised Zulqarnain uploads his video

Former wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider has uploaded a video on facebook which shows him battered and bruised.

Zulqarnain had criticized the selection committee and Kamran Akmal a few days back and the board issued a show cause notice to him in this regard.

In 2010, Zulqarnain had made allegations of match fixing against some national players but could not provide any evidence.

Ashwin, Ojha put New Zealand in spin

Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed three quick wickets as India gained the upper hand on the second day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Friday.

Off-spinner Ashwin took 3-30 and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha bagged two wickets as New Zealand struggled to reach 106-5 in their first innings at stumps in reply to India’s 438.

The tourists now need 133 more runs to avoid a follow-on with five wickets in hand. James Franklin was unbeaten on 31 at stumps with Kruger van Wyk who had yet to open his account.

Cheteshwar Pujara earlier cracked a solid 159 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 73 as India added 131 runs to their overnight total of 307-5 before being bowled out at the stroke of tea.

“I thought we guys bowled well and we should be eyeing a follow-on. If you put 440 on the board, you expect to be in a dominant position at the end of the day,” said Ashwin.

“I think the new ball was a little bit hard and the seam was a little more upright when we spinners started bowling. That helped us get a bit of bounce and get a few wickets up front. We have to be patient to get wickets tomorrow.”

Ashwin and Ojha got a wicket in their opening overs, removing Brendon McCullum (22) and Martin Guptill (two). McCullum hit three fours in his 27-ball knock.

Dhoni pressed Ojha into the attack after only seven overs of pace and the spinner struck with his third delivery when he had McCullum caught by Virat Kohli in the covers.

Ashwin got a wicket with his first delivery when he had Guptill caught by Kohli at backward short-leg before removing captain Ross Taylor (two) in his next over, caught by the same fielder.

New Zealand’s batting woes against spin continued in the last session when the floodlights were on as Daniel Flynn (16) was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep Ashwin.

The Indian off-spinner’s three wickets came in his opening five overs for just six runs.
Ojha got his second wicket when he had Kane Williamson (32) caught by Virender Sehwag in the slips.

Dhoni and Pujara earlier consolidated India’s position with a 127-run stand for the sixth wicket, while Ashwin contributed 37 runs with five boundaries.

Pujara, who replaced retired Rahul Dravid at number three, and Dhoni fell to off-spinner Jeetan Patel in the afternoon session, but not before strengthening their team’s position.
“They bowled some good balls and we nicked them,” said Patel, who finished with 4-100.

“It (the wicket) is starting to take turn, probably a little bit earlier than we expected. Obviously getting four-for is nice, but I will have to get more than that to get us over the line.”

The 24-year-old Pujara, playing only his fourth Test, stepped out to attempt a big shot but miscued it and Franklin took a well-judged catch running back from mid-on. He smashed one six and 19 fours in his 306-ball knock.

The Indian captain also fell playing an attacking shot, caught by Doug Bracewell at mid-off after hitting one six and six fours in his 25th Test half-century.

New Zealand took the last five Indian wickets in the afternoon, with Patel and left-arm paceman Trent Boult being the successful bowlers. Boult finished with 3-93.

Dhoni, who was 29 not out on Thursday, completed his half-century when he turned Bracewell to mid-wicket for three runs.

Pujara, 119 overnight, continued to gather runs comfortably against the New Zealand attack and played some handsome shots as he hit two fours in an over from Boult and then pulled Bracewell for a boundary to reach 150.

Australia Series: Six Pakistani cricketers leave for Dubai

Six members of Pakistan cricket team left for Dubai from Lahore on Saturday for the cricket series against Australia in UAE. 

Pakistan cricket team will play the opening match of the series against Australia on August 28. The first one dayer will be played at Sharjah. 

Six members of the cricket team Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Imran Farhat and Aizaz Cheema accompanied by Coach Dave Whatmore and others left Lahore to Dubai this morning amid strict security arrangements. 

Troops called in for Olympics after security firm blunder

Troops called in for Olympics after security firm blunder

The head of British security firm G4S apologised on Saturday for recruitment blunders that have forced the government to deploy extra troops to guard the London Olympics at the last minute.

G4S chief executive Nick Buckles said he was “very sorry” that 3,500 troops have had to be drafted in just two weeks before the Games, after the company admitted it could not provide the total 10,000 guards it said it would.

Speaking publicly for the first time since details of the fiasco emerged Wednesday, Buckles confirmed that G4S, one of the world’s largest security firms, faces losses of up to #50 million ($78 million, 64 million euros) over the blunder.

“We accept that we underestimated the task of supplying staff for the Olympics. We deeply regret that,” he told BBC radio.

He admitted that he had only realised “eight or nine days ago” that there would be a shortfall.

“It’s only when you get closer and closer to the Games that you realise that the number isn’t as high as you expect,” he said.

He revealed that G4S, which employs more than 650,000 people worldwide, now faces a penalty charge in the range of #10 to #20 million for failing to meet the terms of its #284 million contract with Games organisers.

In addition, the firm will have to pay the defence ministry for the cost of providing the additional troops to guard the Games, which begin on July 27.

Buckles apologised directly to the troops involved, some of whom were due to go on leave after tours in Afghanistan.

“We’re very sorry that you’ve had to get involved at this late stage but we’re very grateful,” he said on BBC television.

Buckles told Channel 4 News his total pay was #1.2 million and insisted he was worth it “99 percent of the time”.

Asked if he would receive a bonus this year, he replied: “It doesn’t look like it, does it?”

G4S was originally contracted to provide the Games with 2,000 personnel for #86 million, but this was increased in December to 10,400 while the value of the contract more than trebled.

On Thursday, the defence ministry announced that G4S had been unable to recruit enough guards and that 3,500 soldiers would step in to fill the shortfall, bringing the total number of troops involved in the Games to 17,000.

Britain is deploying a total force of 40,000 troops, police, guards and volunteers for the Games, in its biggest ever peacetime security operation.