Tag: Cup

DUBLIN - The Irish government promised full backing to their cricketers Friday in efforts to overturn their removal from the next World Cup, slamming the decision as flying in the face of sportsmanship.
On Tuesday the International Cricket Council confirmed a decision to slash the 2015 and 2019 World Cups to just 10 teams in a move that was described by Cricket Ireland's chief executive Warren Deutrom as "frankly outrageous". Sports Minister Leo Varadkar, at a special reception

LAHORE - Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan, Sara Mansoor, and Ushna Sohail have reached the finals of the 2nd Atlas Honda Cup Tennis Championship here at the K-21 Club on Friday. Aqeel Khan, the top seed of the tournament, beat his younger brother and third seed Yasir Khan 6-2, 6-1 in the semi-final.
Aqeel broke Yasir's serves on several occasions. Yasir could not reply to the fast and furious serves by Aqeel. In the second semi-final, the second seed Yasir Khan remained totally focused in

ROME - Flavia Pennetta has been ruled out of Italy's Fed Cup semi-final in Russia on April 16 and 17 because of a shoulder problem, adding to the holders' woes after Francesca Schiavone also pulled out. The duo have been the mainstays of Italy's three Fed Cup triumphs in the last five years but Schiavone is skipping the tie to concentrate on preparing for her French Open title defence and world number 20 Pennetta says she is not fit.
An Italian tennis federation statement on

LAHORE - PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat has directed the current FIFA Referees of Pakistan to supervise the 21st National Bank Football Cup, to be played from April 14 to 27 at PMC Ground, Faisalabad.
All the referees of various categories have been asked to report to Match Commissioner/Referee Assessor for a Physical Fitness Test on April 13.
The 19 referees selected for the upcoming National Bank Football Cup are:
FIFA Referees: Khurram Shahzad (Kohat), Rana Naseer

LAHORE - All the top four seeded players moved into the next round of the Atlas Honda Cup in men's singles here on Thursday. They eased past their rivals in their quarter-final matches to reach the semi-finals.
In first match, Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan beat Abid Mushtaque 6-1, 6-2. The second seeded Jalil Khan beat Imran shoukat 6-4, 6-3, while third seed Yasir Khan beat Waqas Malik 6-3 ,7-6(4). Shehzad Khan beat Heera Ashiq 6-3,7-6 (3) in the last quarter-final.
Meanwhile,

MOSCOW - World number three Vera Zvonareva spearheads Russia's squad to play Italy in the Fed Cup semi-final here on April 16-17, Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev announced Wednesday.
Zvonareva, 26, a double Fed Cup winner, is playing for her country for the first time since appearing in the title-winning team of 2008.
Tarpishchev also named Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is currently 14th in the world, in his squad.
The 25-year-old Kuznetsova, who won three Fed Cups as

LAHORE - The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Wednesday announced the competition system for the National Bank Football Cup to be played from April 14-27 at Faisalabad. According to the PFF, the competition will consist of two stages: Group Stage (league system) and knock-out stage (quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals) The 16 teams in the group stage will be divided into four groups of four teams each.

MUMBAI - The International Cricket Council has confirmed a controversial decision to slash the 2015 and 2019 World Cups to just 10 teams, despite widespread objections.
The world governing body endorsed the move at an executive board meeting in Mumbai, following Saturday's thrilling World Cup final when India lifted the trophy after a tournament featuring 14 teams.
"The executive board confirmed their decision made in October 2010 that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in

NEW DELHI - India's victorious, record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar said on Tuesday he started dreaming of the World Cup after a humiliating first-round exit in the last edition in the Caribbean.
"That (winning the World Cup) was my dream after we lost in 2007. I took up that challenge," said Tendulkar.
"When we got to know that the next (World Cup) is in India and the final would be held in Mumbai, that is when I felt that this is the place where we have to lift the

LAHORE - Although Pakistan cricket team failed to play in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a Pakistani umpire did play a crucial role in the final showdown in India's financial hub.
Aleem Dar, who has won the ICC Umpire of the Year award for two times, was as cool as a cucumber during the tournament and his umpiring intellect earned him a huge respect among the participating cricketers. With the new Decision Review System (DRW) taking its

LAHORE - Pakistan Football Federation President Faisal Saleh Hayat has approved the Local Organisation Committee (LOC) for the 21st NBP National Football Challenge Cup (NFCC) at Faisalabad. Sixteen teams have been invited to prove their mettle in the event.
Tier One team PMC Athletico Club Faisalabad earned the hosting rights and will run the event from April 14 to 27. The 16 participants for the NFCC 2011 will be titlist Khan Research Laboratories, national champions WAPDA,

LAHORE - Pakistan cricket team has become richer by more than one million dollars due to their good show in the World Cup where they lost the semi-final to India. The World Cup also provided a financial boost to the Pakistan Cricket Board which lost the hosting rights in 2009, shortly after militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
According to reports, the Pakistani team scooped up net prize money of USD one million and fifty thousand. The prize money includes

MUMBAI - Pakistan captain Shahid Khan Afridi and India's Sachin Tendulkar along with Sri Lanka's star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan have been named in the International Cricket Council's team of the World Cup announced on Sunday. The World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka contributed four players while champions India just three to the ICC's team of the tournament.
India defeated fellow tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, with captain Mahendra

Aamir Sohail
"India became the worthy winners of the 2011 World Cup and Dhoni utilised his charges with great skills. At no stage in the last three crucial matches of India did he commit any major mistake and more often than not he managed to answer and responded in the best for his time. The coup de grace was laid down by Dhoni, his decision to promote himself up the order was a master stroke. Two left-handers could have allowed Sri Lanka to control the game."
Moin Khan