Fans laud Maradona's arrival in Mexico
culiacan: Diego Maradona arrived to a hero's welcome in Mexico on Saturday as the new technical director of second division Dorados landed in the relative footballing outpost of Culiacan. "Welcome Golden God! Thank you God, thank you Maradona!" read one of the placards held by fans greeting him at the Culiacan airport. Dressed all in black but wearing a gold, white and black Dorados scarf, Maradona didn't speak to any of the dozens of fans welcoming him. Accompanied by club officials and his lawyer, Maradona wasted little time negotiating the sea of fans and journalists and being whisked off to meet his new players. The 57-year-old may have been one of the greatest ever players to lace up a pair of boots, leading Argentina to World Cup success in Mexico in 1986, but his new and humble surroundings are more in keeping with an inglorious record as a coach.
‘CT win changed pak’s outlook’
karachi: Former cricketer Aamir Sohail reckons the Pakistan team led by Sarfraz Ahmed will come up with a clinical show in the upcoming Asia Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 15. Sohail, who will work as an expert with tournament broadcaster Star Sports, has said that the men in green will make a difference in the prestigious tournament, backed by the confidence gained after winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. "I think winning ICC Champions Trophy changed the outlook of the Pakistan Cricket team. It gave them a lot of confidence and at the same time, they are assured of their places now," the former Pakistan cricketer expressed. "The team is responding well to the captain, coach and sports staff. The boys are playing positive cricket and you get to see the difference," Sohail, who featured in 156 ODIs for Pakistan, opined.
Hong Kong matches to have ODI status
new delhi: The ICC has decided to accord One-Day International status to India and Pakistan's group league matches against Hong Kong in the upcoming Asia Cup, starting September 15, according to a BCCI official. Hong Kong, an ICC associate member, is yet to get ODI status but have beaten UAE, who recently earned the ODI status, to qualify for the Asia Cup. When a country doesn't have an ODI status, the matches aren't counted as official One-dayers.The BCCI along with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) had placed a request with the ICC board, the two matches involving Hong Kong should be considered as official ODIs. Hong Kong have been clubbed with India and Pakistan in one group while other group comprises of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
VERMA winS Open badminton title
Hyderabad : India's Sameer Verma and the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lived up to the top billing by clinching the men's singles and doubles titles respectively at the Hyderabad Open badminton tournament here on Sunday. Top seed Verma defeated Malaysia's Soong Joo Ven 21-15, 21-18 in the men's singles summit clash. Rankireddy and Shetty also came out victorious, beating third seeded Indonesian pair of AB Cahyono and MR Pahlevi Isfahani 21-16, 21-14 to lift the men's doubles crown. However, a hat-trick of titles eluded India as another top seeded local pair of PR Chopra and N Sikki Reddy came out second best in the mixed doubles final.Chopra and Reddy toiled for 55 minutes before losing 15-21, 21-19, 25-23 .