Pakistan's chief selector Haroon Rasheed has had a pep talk with the national team members and is confident that they can still qualify for the final in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is impressed by Hardik Pandya's cameo in India's convincing win in the Asia Cup T20 opener against Bangladesh and called the young all-rounder an "overall package" who could be promoted in the batting order in the coming days.
The AC Milan striker won the 2005 Golden Flop award.
The emergence of young Jasprit Bumrah as a potent death overs bowler has come as a huge relief for Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who complimented the Gujarat lad for being equally effective with the new ball.
A dominant yet wasteful Real ravaged their rivals in the first half while spurning a string of clear chances at the Santiago Bernabeu.
All-rounder Staurt Binny is likely to replace injured bowler Mohammed Shami for India's next World Cup match against the UAE.
La Liga leaders Barcelona earned a narrow 1-0 win over Real Valladolid to move seven points clear at the top, while Real Madrid lost 2-1 at home against Girona to fall to third behind Atletico Madrid.
With Virat Kohli getting out after scoring just one run against Australia in Thursday's World Cup semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Twitter community erupted with jokes and jibes against his girlfriend, Anushka Sharma.
Here are five talking points from the weekend in La Liga:
Chris Gayle continued to dominate the build-up to the World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and West Indies when captain Jason Holder said a decision on his fitness would be delayed until Saturday.
England striker Michael Owen notched his first goal since joining Real Madrid to give his side an edgy 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev.
Virat Kohli is delighted that a skillful fast bowler like Mohammed Shami is back in the team as he has the ability to hit the "perfect Test match length", which would be necessary for the upcoming tour of West Indies. Shami had been out of international cricket for more than 15 months post 2015 ICC World Cup, where he bowled with an injured knee. He later underwent knee surgery and was out of action for a long time.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian cricket team for their four-wicket win over the West Indies in their World Cup match on Friday.
Pace bowler Mohammed Shami complained of soreness in his knee after the third Test.
Dropped from a difficult chance by Yasir Shah off Shahid Afridi on seven and again by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal on 76, Kohli otherwise played within himself and gave few chances in his 126-ball innings.
Here are five talking points from the weekend's action in La Liga.
International Cricket Council President Zaheer Abbas has said that he would ask the BCCI top brass to consider having Pakistani players back in the Indian Premier League when he comes to India to watch the summit clash of the lucrative league in Bangalore on Sunday.
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that talented Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane is one player who has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times and is ready to don any hat for the team's cause.
Long-serving England women's captain Charlotte Edwards announced her retirement after a sparkling and pioneering 20-year career. The 36-year-old led her country to glory in the Ashes, World Cup and ICC World Twenty20, winning a world-record 309 caps and scoring over 10,000 runs across the formats. "Everyone who knows me -- and how much I love playing for England -- will appreciate what a difficult decision it has been for me to retire from international cricket," she said in a statement. "It's a decision I've reached after much thought and detailed discussion with (England coach) Mark Robinson and (director of England women's cricket) Clare Connor about what is best for the team going forward. "I have given 20 years to playing for England and I leave very proud of the standing in which the women's game is held and of my contribution as a player and captain." Edwards led England on 220 occasions, with the highlights of her captaincy including three Ashes triumphs against Australia -- in 2008, 2013 and 2014 -- and a World Cup/World Twenty20 double in 2009.
IMAGES from La Liga matches played on Sunday
A 5-1 victory enabled them retain the top spot in the Primera Liga.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan revealed on Friday that the members of the national team were given the option of pulling out of the tour of India for the World Twenty20 if they had security concerns.
La Liga leaders Barcelona moved 10 points clear with a 4-1 win at Real Betis on Sunday after second place Atletico Madrid slipped up at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in a 2-0 defeat.
Saqlain Mushtaq says the cricket authorities must seek help of former greats to find solutions for the batting woes, afflicting the national team.
Pakistan crashed out of the final of the Asia Cup cricket tournament after losing by five wickets to hosts Bangladesh here and skipper Shahid Afridi conceded that his side committed "too many mistakes" which cost them dearly.
Pakistan cricket chief on Tuesday gave a clean chit to chief selector Moin Khan over his visit to a Christchurch Casino a day before the team's defeat at the hands of the West Indies at the ongoing World Cup.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup Pool B match between India and United Arab Emirates.
La Liga leaders Barcelona won a tight and tense 'Clasico' 1-0 at Real Madrid on Saturday, beating their great rivals at their Bernabeu home for the second time in four days and moving a staggering 12 points clear of them in the standings.
Indian opener Rohit Sharma said that the team will not only be thinking of Pakistan's ace pacer Muhammed Amir, who has made a successful comeback after being suspended owing to match-fixing, but the team has a plan to counter all bowlers from the arch-rivals. "I have played him before but also other bowlers. We are preparing for each individual and not just about one. We have to be well prepared and we are up for the challenge. We are not thinking too far ahead and doing everything possible we can to win games," Rohit said on the eve of India's Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan. Rohit also praised the selectors and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for giving him the confidence when he had a string of low scores at the start of his international career. "If any individual knows that he has the backing of the team, that's when he opens up and expresses himself better -- gets the performance going," Rohit told mediapersons in Fatullah on Friday. "For us also, we have been playing with the squad for a while which shows that we have a good bunch, which is ready to take up the challenge at any given point of time. That's a good sign and we are very proud of that.
Real Madrid needed a last-gasp equaliser from Santiago Solari and an extra-time goal from Raul to clinch a 4-3 victory away to second division Leganes.
Ajax, four-times European Cup winners who are in the knockout stages for the first time in 13 years, have enhanced their reputation as a talent factory due to the rise of homegrown Dutch players Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
The Hindustan Times, whose reporter was the target a foul-mouthed tirade by Virat Kohli in Perth on Tuesday, has filed complaints with the International Cricket Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India.
"I am concerned but I don't think wickets itself are a reflection of performance. Take for example, India pacer (Mohammed) Shami's case in England. He bowled well but couldn't get wickets. I have spoken to him (Aamir) and told him that he is our strike bowler and has to pick wickets too. Hope he does that tomorrow," Sarfraz told reporters.
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