Australia's Zampa hopes match-winners emerge to cover big-name losses
MELBOURNE : Adam Zampa wants new heroes to emerge from the Australian squad at the Champions Trophy to cover the "big loss" of the team's champion pace trio.
Australia Sport News
Smith back at three as England rejig batting order for Australia clash
Jamie Smith will return from injury to keep wicket and bat at number three in England's Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore on Saturday.
Carlos Alcaraz stunned by Jiri Lehecka in Qatar Open quarters - ESPN
DOHA, Qatar — Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz lost for only the second time this year on Thursday when 25th-ranked Jiri Lehecka beat him 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals
DOHA: Andrey Rublev saved one match point and needed eight of his own to subdue Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8) in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday. The tortuous journey to the win prompted Rublev to joke about de Minaur, “I wanna punch him.” The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed, who forced the tiebreak with remarkable scrambling. But after 2 1/2 hours, Rublev was through to his fourth semifinals in Doha, where he won the title in 2020. He’ll face Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired after losing the first set 6-3. “I felt he was playing normal,” Auger-Aliassime said on court. “And then I broke, I held my serve.
Bavuma urges bowler discipline on batter-friendly wickets
South Africa’s batters will relish the placid wickets at the Champions Trophy venues but need their bowlers to be more disciplined after two chastening defeats in their recent Tri-Series fixtures in Pakistan, according to captain Temba Bavuma.
Auger-Aliassime into his 3rd semifinal of year after ill Medvedev retires from match
Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime will face Andrey Rublev in the Qatar Open semifinals after he beat fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev when the latter retired after losing the first set 6-3 on Thursday in Doha.
Afghanistan Captain Defends Playing Conditions At Home, Says "Because Of Security Issues..."
Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy campaign opener against South Africa, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said that the team faces no pressure against Proteas and is here to win the title. Afghanistan will kickstart their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa at February 21 at Karachi, followed by matches against England (February 26 at Lahore), and Australia (February 28 at Lahore). Speaking ahead of the match as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Shahidi said that there is a lot of difference between Afghanistan from the year 2019 till now and they have defeated Proteas in an ODI series before the CT2025.
Ireland coach pours cold water on Wales speculation
DUBLIN : Ireland coach Simon Easterby said reports linking him with the vacant Wales job were only speculation but did not rule out the possibility of taking on the role in the future.