Rubio ends stint with Bengaluru FC
Mumbai: Spanish midfielder Alvaro Rubio has ended his short stint with Bengaluru FC after his contract with the club expired on Wednesday. Brought in by coach Albert Roca in July to add experience to Bengaluru's AFC Cup campaign, 37-year-old Alvaro was a vital factor in the club reaching the final in Doha and create history. "I had a stupendous experience at BFC. Personally, it was a positive development for me and I am very grateful to the players, management, fans and everyone associated with the club. I wasn't from the country but they always made me feel home," said the Spaniard, who has played more than 300 la liga games.
Indian Oil thrash Army XI in hockey
Mumbai: Former international Prabhjot Singh notched up three field goals as Indian Oil, Mumbai drubbed Army XI, Bengaluru, 7-1 in a Pool B encounter to knock the services outfit out of the 51st Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here on Wednesday. Prabhjot scored his team's second, sixth and seventh goals - the latter two in the last ten minutes of the one-sided game between two former champions, while Gagandeep Singh scored the first and third goals from the field. Gurjinder Singh struck a rebound home off a long corner from the left for Indian Oil's fifth goal before captain and ex-international Deepak Thakur rounded off the tally at the fag end of the match with a close-range effort.
India out of quarterfinal contention
Paris: India went down 1-2 against New Zealand despite a commendable effort from Dipika Pallikal to be out of race for a quarterfinal spot in the World Women's Team Squash Championship here on Wednesday. Dipika had given the Indian camp moments a great start when she blasted out Megan Craig in straight games in the opening match. But the joy was shortlived as Joshna Chinappa could not reproduce the magic that had helped her beat Joelle King when the last the two met in a tournament in Malaysia last year. Joelle never allowed the Indian to settle and in quick time reeled away two games. The tie on 1-1, the deciding match was on the young shoulder of Sunayna Kuruvilla against a tough and experienced Amanda landers Murphy. Inexperience was a big hurdle for Sunayna, and even though she played her hearts out the win proved elusive as New Zealand sealed off the tie.
ICC clears Hafeez's bowling action
Karachi: Experienced all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez could be a late addition to Pakistan's Test squad for Australia tour after the ICC today cleared his bowling action following remedial work. "It is great news for me and a big moment because I have always wanted to contribute to the team as a bowler and batsman," Hafeez said in an interview. Hafeez underwent a reassessment test of his bowling action at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on November 17 where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his off-spin deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions. The ICC in its release also made it clear that the umpires are still at liberty to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment.