Sports

Zurich (Switzerland), Sep 17 (IANS) Ecuador are set to retain their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after FIFA's appeals committee dismissed a claim of ineligibility against their player Byron Castillo.

Castillo played in eight World Cup qualifiers for Ecuador but the Chilean Football Association (FFCH) claimed the 23-year-old used a false birth certificate to register as Ecuadorian.

Chile complained to the game's global governing body over Castillo and argued that Ecuador should forfeit the World Cup qualifying matches he had played in.

The FIFA disciplinary committee closed the proceedings in June but the Chileans appealed, leading to a new hearing before the appeals committee. However, that too has now been dismissed as FIFA's appeals committee said that Castillo does qualify for Ecuador.

"Having analysed the submissions of all parties and after a hearing had been conducted, the Appeal Committee confirmed the decision of the Disciplinary Committee to close the proceedings initiated against the FEF. Amongst other considerations, it deemed that on the basis of the documents presented, the player was to be considered as holding permanent Ecuadorian nationality in accordance with art. 5 par. 1 of the FIFA Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes," FIFA said in a statement.

"The findings of the decision passed by the Appeal Committee were notified to the parties concerned today," it added.

The Chilean federation could now take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the FFCH confirmed it will appeal.

"I have never seen in my entire life as a lawyer an injustice like this one. There are a huge number of documents that, alone, prove without any reasonable doubt that the player was born in Colombia," FFCH lawyer Eduardo Carlezzo was quoted as saying by BBC.

"In addition to that, everyone heard his confession, given during an official investigation carried out by the Ecuadorian Federation. It's a sad day for football and for fair play. The message is clear: cheating is allowed," he added.

Ecuador claimed the fourth and final automatic World Cup place from the South American qualifiers, with Peru fifth and Chile seventh in the standings. They are due to play hosts Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup on November 20 and will also face the Netherlands and Senegal in Group A.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Sep 16 (IANS) Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad believes it is tough to pick a favourite in the Legends League Cricket as all the four sides in the fray are equally balanced.

The second season of the Legends League Cricket kick starts at the Eden Gardens Stadium here on Friday.

Prasad has been appointed as the coach of Gujarat Giants, which is owned by Adani Sportsline. The team is led by one of India's best opening batsmen of all time, Virender Sehwag and consists of top names from the world including six-hitter Chris Gayle, Richard Levi, Daniel Vettori, Kevin O'Brien and Ajantha Mendis.

Sehwag's Gujarat Giants will begin their campaign against Gautam Gambhir's India Capitals in the league opener in Kolkata on September 17. Manipal Tigers and Bhilwara Kings are the other two teams taking part in the league.

The second season of Legends League Cricket will feature cricket stars from 10 countries. The four-franchise league will be played in Kolkata, Lucknow, New Delhi, Cuttack and Jodhpur with the final scheduled on October 5.

Prasad added that he would love to see Gujarat Giants go all the way to the title in the inaugural league just like how India won the 2007 T20I World Cup.

"We do have a couple of players in our team like Sehwag and Joginder Sharma, who were part of the Indian team that lifted the T20I World Cup in 2007."

Prasad further said the League will provide an exciting opportunity for Indian fans to witness the cricketing greats in action.

"This league is taking cricket to different parts of the country like Jodhpur and Lucknow. People will get to see some legends playing. It will be great fun for the spectators as they might not have seen these greats of the game playing live before," Prasad said.

The 53-year-old cricketer felt the league also offers an excellent opportunity for cricketing stars to enjoy the game even after retiring from international cricket.

"It's a great opportunity for the players. Legends League Cricket is a good concept. Earlier retired cricketers only had the option of coaching or commentary but now with this league even after having stopped playing international cricket they can come back and play Legends League Cricket," he said.


--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 16 (IANS) Stylish wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson will lead India A team in the upcoming three-match one-day series against New Zealand A, scheduled to be played in Chennai between September 22 and 27.

The 16-member squad have a decent amount of international experience, with Kuldeep Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini, among others, also in the mix.

Young seam-bowling allrounder Raj Bawa, who was one of India's star performers in the U-19 World Cup, earlier this year, has also been picked in the squad. He was named Player of the Match for his 5 for 31 in the final against England.

The 19-year-old is just at the beginning of his senior-team career and has played two Ranji Trophy games for Chandigarh and two IPL matches for Punjab Kings.

Meanwhile, Samson last represented the senior India team during their ODI series in Zimbabwe in late August and has for company in the India A side five others from that touring party: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kuldeep, Shahbaz Ahmed, Thakur and Rahul Tripathi.

The squad also has the likes of Shaw, Rahul Chahar and Umran Malik, who have all played for their country in one or more formats.

India A squad: Prithvi Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Rajat Patidar, Sanju Samson (c), KS Bharat (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Shabhaz Ahmed, Rahul Chahar, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Sen, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Navdeep Saini, Raj Angad Bawa

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 16 (IANS) Badminton champion P.V. Sindhu talked about the legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar presenting her car after she won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics (Rio).

She recalled how Sachin called her and congratulated her on the victory: "He called and congratulated me. Last time I remember when I participated in Commonwealth Games, 2014 for the first time, he told me that if I get a medal in the Rio 2016 Olympics then he will come and give me a car again. So after getting the medal, he ensured he came and presented me with the car, and I am really thankful to him as this gesture really made me happy."

She further added praising Tendulkar for the support he gives to sports personalities.

"It's very kind of him because along with him many people contributed to it. He supported a lot of sports people and this kind of support needs to be there for sports personalities so that it's like a motivation for them to go much further and do well. These kinds of awards and rewards will give a lot more confidence to all sportspersons. I really like cars and I'm very thankful to him that he gave me a car."

In a conversation with Kapil Sharma, she told him about getting injured during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in which she won the gold medal in women's singles.

"Yes, during the quarter-finals there was a little pain. The pain was happening in between the match and I was like I have to complete this match. So after the match, my physio team and my trainer were also there so I told them I don't know what happened but it's a lot. My heart and mind were focused on winning the medal. So, during the semi-final and final, I was only thinking that I have to give my best and I gave my hundred per cent and won the gold," she concluded.

P.V. Sindhu, boxing Champion Nikhat Zareen, lawn bowl team - Rupa Rani Tirkey, Lovely Choubey, Pinki Singh, and Nayanmoni Saikia are appearing on 'The Kapil Sharma Show' this weekend.

The show airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

--IANS
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London, Sep 16 (IANS) England's limited-overs skipper Jos Buttler could miss the entire seven-match away T20I series against Pakistan beginning on September 20 due to a calf injury, with reports suggesting he could at best be considered for the last two games.

The series is crucial for England with the ICC T20 World Cup commencing in Australia next month and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants to give as much time as possible to ensure the captain's fitness ahead of the mega event.

A report in Daily Mail said the charismatic batter had been advised by his medical team to take things slowly, which means all-rounder Moeen Ali will lead the side for four T20 matches in Karachi, following which the action will shift to Lahore.

The 32-year-old Buttler revealed on Thursday he could at best play the final two fixtures following the medical advice. He added the reason he was on the historic tour of the sub-continent was because he wanted to develop his relationship with new England white-ball coach Matthew Mott, the report said.

"Speaking to the physios, it is an injury that is not bad, but one that has a risk of recurrence. You don't want to push it too soon, especially with what we have ahead," Buttler was quoted as saying.

"We have warm-up games in Australia (ahead of the T20 World Cup) so there is no desperate need to get as fit as possible. We've just got to take it as it comes. If I was available for the last couple (of games), that would be the best-case scenario at the minute. It might come earlier than that, it might not at all, but the picture will become clearer in a week or so," added Buttler.

"As captain, coming back to Pakistan after a long time, I felt like it was important, whether I played the games or not."

This is England's first tour of Pakistan since 2005.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sep 16 (IANS) The most successful team in IPL, Mumbai Indians have appointed former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher as their head coach for the 2023 season.

Boucher had recently decided to leave his role as head coach of South Africa men's team after the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia next month.

Mumbai Indians, the winners of five IPL trophies, said in a statement on Friday that, "Mark Boucher has had a long and illustrious career as a wicket-keeper, batsman and holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. Post-retirement he took over as coach for Titans, a top-level cricket franchise in South Africa, and led them to five domestic titles. In 2019, Cricket South Africa appointed Mark Boucher as the head coach where he crafted 11 Test wins, 12 in ODIs and 23 T20I victories."

"It's a pleasure to welcome Mark Boucher to Mumbai Indians. With his proven expertise on the field and off it as a coach guiding his team to numerous victories, Mark will add immense value to MI and take forward its legacy," said Akash. M. Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Jio Infocomm.

"It is an honour and privilege to be appointed as Head Coach of MI. Their history and achievements as a franchise clearly put them up there as one of the most successful sporting franchises in all of world sport. I look forward to the challenge and respect the need for results. It's a strong unit with great leadership and players. I look forward to adding value to this dynamic unit," said Boucher.

Under Boucher, the Proteas are currently No. 2 on the ICC World Test Championship table. His last series at the helm will be a white-ball tour of India from September 28 to October 11 before heading to the T20 World Cup in Australia, where South Africa are grouped alongside Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The tournament will run from October 16 to November 13.

Recently, Mumbai Indians had announced that head coach Mahela Jayawardene and director of cricket operations Zaheer Khan were being elevated to new roles as part of the franchise's central team for its growing global cricket footprint.

Jayawardene, the former Sri Lanka skipper who became the head coach of the franchise in 2017 and under whom MI won three IPL titles, has been appointed as the Global Head of Performance. Zaheer, ex-India left-arm pacer, who joined the side as Director of Cricket Operations in 2018, has been appointed as Global Head of Cricket Development.

--IANS

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New York, Sep 15 (IANS) Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep announced on Thursday she will miss the rest of the season after undergoing nose surgery.

Halep said that she was unclear how long recovery would take, but won't participate in any more events in 2022.

"My 2022 season is over. 2022, you have been an interesting year full of everything! See you on court, 2023. I feel I still have a lot to do on a tennis court and still have the same goals," she wrote on social media.

In the same post, Halep, 30, also conceded she was "very close" to calling it a career back in February. Two months later, she announced Patrick Mouratoglou as her full time head coach after spending some time in his academy.

"Thanks to Patrick, I slowly started to believe that I still can play a good level of tennis. … I gave myself one year to get back into the Top 10."

In August, Halep won the National Bank Open, a WTA 1000-level event in Toronto, and returned to the Top 10 for the first time in more than a year, thus achieving that goal in only two months.

However, a first-round loss at the US Open to qualifier Daria Snigur followed, and Halep realized she needed a break.

"When I lost at the US Open, I realized that I'm completely exhausted mentally. Having problems with the breathing for many years already and becoming worse with the time, I decided to follow the advice of my doctors and do the needed surgery."

Halep has won two titles this season, taking her career total to 24.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) Former Indian captain Bala Devi has backed the host Indian football team to do well in the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 and urged her fellow country persons to attend and support the event.

The 32-year old feels that the upcoming tournament, set to begin on October 11, is the ideal platform for the younger generations to showcase their talent and carve out a niche for themselves.

"The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup will feature our U-17 girls, and I want to take this opportunity to invite our friends, parents, and fellow citizens to come to stadiums to watch the World Cup and support our players," Bala Devi said in an AIFF release.

"Yes, of course, India hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup is fantastic news for all of us. Furthermore, Indian players playing alongside some of the best young talents during the World Cup is significant because this event can serve as a springboard for their careers," she added.

The charismatic striker showed her confidence in the team, saying that one day these youngsters will become icons for many.

"I am confident that these girls will make us proud.This is a journey, when I was playing, I had players I looked up to; these players have their own favourites, and one day these U-17 players will be role models for the next generation," said Bala Devi.

The Indian women's team has been drawn in Group A, alongside Morocco, Brazil, and the United States of America (USA). The U-17 Women's World Cup India is scheduled to be held across three venues - Navi Mumbai, Bhubaneswar and Goa. However, the Indian team will play all their group games at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.


--IANS
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Lausanne, Sep 15 (IANS) The Spanish city in the Alicante region, La Nucía will host IBA Youth Men's and Women's World Boxing Championships 2022 at the Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano arena.

The dates are set for November 14-26.

"Many of the fans have witnessed our youth boxers at the various continental tournaments, and it's time they shined on the international stage. Some of the boxers might well become superstars of our sport, and this is a unique moment to see their first steps towards elite boxing. This is a great opportunity to discover new talents and show passion for our sport," IBA president Umar Kremlev said in a statement.

"Spain has many talented young boxers, and this IBA Youth World Boxing Championships will give an impetus to the boxing development in the country. I want to thank Spanish Boxing Federation for their hard work towards making this tournament a success," he added.

Spanish Boxing Federation turns 100 years in 2022, and this championships will become their first-ever world-class event. Before, Spain hosted only continental-level events.
President of the Spanish Boxing Federation Felipe Martinez awaits to welcome athletes from around the world to his home country.

"We are excited about the challenge of hosting such an important competition that has never been held in Spain before. We know that these are going to be intense months, but both my team and I are willing to put the best of ourselves to achieve success as hosts. It should become a great finishing touch for the 100 years of the life of our Federation," Martinez said.


--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 15 (IANS) The high-octane marquee clash between India and Pakistan on September 4 in 'Super 4' stage of Asia Cup 2022 has become the most watched T20I ever, outside of World Cups.

The official broadcaster of the tournament, Star Sports, had recently announced the India-Pakistan group stage match as the most watched T20I match, outside the World Cup. The record has been surpassed this week as the 'Super 4' stage match played on September 4, 2022, registered 57.4 million AMA- making it the most watched T20I, outside the World Cup.

It truly was one of the most competitive continental tournaments that kept cricket fans across the country engaged as 243 million viewers tuned in to watch the DP World Asia Cup 2022 (excluding the finals). The high-octane tournament clocked a total of 58.8 billion minutes (excluding the finals).

The overall exhilaration for cricket is back in the country, ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, as even the non-India matches through the tournament (excluding the finals) witnessed a massive viewership of 113 million.

With the preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup underway, India now faces the challenge of a 3-T20I series against defending ICC T20 World Cup champions Australia, which gets underway on September 20, LIVE on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.

--IANS
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