Pakistan to take on India in U16 football tournament in Nepal

KHATMANDO: Arch-rivals Pakistan and Pakistan will clash in the final of the inaugural SAFF Under-16 Championship final later this Wednesday afternoon in Khatmandu, Nepal.
Green shirts seem resolved to rout India in the final. They will turn up the ground with psychological superiority, as Pakistan got better of strong Bangladesh in semi-final with two goals.
Meantime, India cruised into the final by defeating hosts Nepal.
Green shirts displayed excellent performance by overpowering India, Maldives and Bangladesh. It should be mentioned here that Pakistan scored nine goals in the event.
Head Coach Sajjad Mehmood is satisfied with the performance given by national players thus far, saying Pakistan and India had tough competition as ever.
He added team came up with full preparations.

Mendis records best figures in T20 internationals

KANDY: Spinner Ajantha Mendis produced the best figures in Twenty20 internationals on Monday to bowl Sri Lanka to an eight-run win over Australia at the Pallakele Stadium and a 2-0 series win.
Mendis bemused the Australian batsman to finish with six for 16 off four overs, including a maiden. He is the first bowler to take six wickets in the shortest form of the game.
Australia did well to contain Sri Lanka to a total of 157-9 but were restricted themselves to 149-9 after Shane Watson had got them off to a flying start with 57 off 24 balls including five sixes and six fours.
Watson and David Warner (16) put on 71 for the first wicket before an inspired piece of fielding by Angelo Mathews on the boundary line to dismiss Warner started a sensational Australian collapse.
Mathews took the catch and, before stepping over the boundary, threw the ball to Mahela Jayawardene 30 metres away to give Mendis the first of his six wickets.
Australia slid to 113-6 but skipper Cameron White kept their hopes alive with 39 off 33 balls before he fell in the final over with Australia needing 14 for victory.
Sri Lanka's innings was held together by a superb knock of 86 off 64 balls with one six and 12 fours by Mahela Jayawardene.
John Hastings put a brake on the Sri Lankan run rate by grabbing three wickets for 14 runs as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 36 runs in the last six overs.
Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said Mathews' moment of brilliance had turned the match.
"We knew one or two wickets and we could put pressure on them. We were hanging in, and waiting for a breakthrough," he said.
Mathews said his reaction had been "pure instinct".
"I just saw Mahela and went for it. I wasn't looking at the boundary, I just wanted to take the catch and relay it to Mahela after I saw it," he said.

Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh on Test return

HARARE: Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by 130 runs in a one-off Test at Harare Sports club on Monday to claim their first victory since making their return to cricket after a six-year absence.
Zimbabwe had set Bangladesh a victory target of 375 runs in their second innings having declared at 291-5 at tea on Sunday.However, the tourists were bowled out for 244.Despite a steady start to their second innings the tourists were restricted to 228 at lunch, 147 runs short of their target with only two wickets remaining.
Robiul Islam and Rubel Hossain were left to continue Bangladesh's unlikely bid, which was ended by Kyle Jarvis when he had Islam, on 12 runs, out for lbw.
Although Zimbabwe have recently played in other formats it is their first victory in the most respected Test format since self-imposed exile in January 2005, inspired by the fact they had become the whipping boys of Test cricket with little prospect of improvement.
In recent years administrators have introduced a franchised five-province first class league that has provided players with a competitive edge.
ZimCricket managing director Ozias Bvute and chairman Peter Chingoka had also pushed for a return to Test cricket for at least 15 months since Sri Lanka and India played an ODI triangular in the country.

Injured Zaheer's England tour comes to an end

LONDON: India paceman Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the remainder of his side's tour of England after being told he requires ankle surgery, it was reported on Sunday.
Zaheer, who is also suffering from a hamstring strain, is expected to undergo surgery that could keep him out until November.
A statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India read: "Zaheer Khan is suffering from a recurrent right hamstring strain and a right ankle impingement.
"He will require a surgery for his ankle, followed by intensive rehabilitation for both the ankle and hamstring. He will need at least 14-16 weeks to recover completely.
"He will therefore not be able to participate in the ongoing Test series and subsequent T20 International and ODI series against England."
The 32-year-old Zaheer, a crucial part of the Indian Test team which is 2-0 down in the four-match series against England, picked up the injury in the first game at Lord's and missed the second in Trent Bridge.
He was able to bowl just three overs against Northamptonshire before leaving the field for treatment Saturday, prompting India team manager Anirudh Chaudhry to place doubt on his availability for the third Test at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday.
India have called up fellow left-armer RP Singh for the remainder of the tour.
The 25-year-old Singh last played a Test match in April 2008 and an ODI in September 2009.