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Women's cricket will boost sport's future, says ICC CEO Geoff Allardice

Cricket is at its strongest position ever and the women’s game is going to be the driving force for future boost, feels International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chief executive Geoff Allardice. At the Economic Times-Global Business Summit here on Friday, Allardice spoke on a range of issues related to the sport. While speaking with cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, Allardice was gung-ho about the women’s game and the possibilities it offers. “Right now, women’s cricket is the best possible opportunity to grow the game,” Allardice said. “The numbers that the Women’s Premier League has thrown up are simply mind-boggling. The transformation has been massive. The amount that the franchises have been bought at or the media and television rights or the players auction – all those numbers are huge and shows us that women’s cricket will be enormous in the future.”

Women's T20 World Cup: India hope to crack English code

India will face their firstreal test when they take on Group 2 toppers England in the third Group match of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Gqeberha on Saturday. The last clash between these sides — the third ODI at Lord’s in September last year — was marred by off-spinning allrounder Deepti Sharma running out England’s last batter Charlie Dean at the non-striker’s end (for backing up too far) to help her team win the game by 16 runs. The incident sparked a furious debate, with former England cricketers criticising Deepti’s action. The Indians, though, vehemently defended Deepti. However, the fact that they blanked England 3-0 to record their first ODI series win in that country in 23 years, and pipped them by four runs in the semifinals of the T20 competition of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, should give India plenty of confidence.

ISL: Odisha FC beat NorthEast United FC 3-1 to move closer to playoffs

Nandhakumar Sekar, Victor Rodriguez and Diego Mauricio scored to pick up three vital points for the Juggernauts, who are now one point away from sealing their first ever playoffs qualification.Odisha FC kicked off with Pedro Martin and Diego Mauricio up front. The attacking intent was evident, but it was NorthEast United FC who made the better start and ventured forward in the first ten minutes. The first attempt came from Jithin MS as the winger tried to bend one into the far post from the left flank but ended up firing it wide.At the other end of the pitch, Odisha FC finally started challenging the NorthEast United FC backline. Opportunities fell to the Spanish duo of Martin and Saul Crespo but neither one of them could get their attempts on target.

IPL 2023: Full league stage schedule for Mumbai Indians, matches timings, venues and full squad

Mumbai Indians will look for a fresh start after a couple of below-par seasons when they begin their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore starting April 2 in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. After claiming their fifth title in 2020, Mumbai had a fifth placed finish in 2021. But what followed the next season came as a big surprise for many as Rohit Sharma and co. ended last on the table in 2022. Plagued with injuries and weak bowling attack and an un-set playing XI Mumbai had a torrid last season. But with the deadly combination of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer likely to be available for the entire tournament and a wide array of dynamic batters, an exciting roster awaits the Mumbai-based franchise. Mumbai find themselves in Group A alongside Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants. The team will play the other five teams in Group B twice and the remaining four teams in their group once, making it a total of 14 league games.

FIFA Foundation to provide $1 million aid to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

FIFA Foundation on Friday provided $1 million in emergency humanitarian aid to people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, soccer's world governing body said.The combined death toll in Turkey and Syria has climbed over 43,000, and left many more without shelter in freezing temperatures.Millions are in need of humanitarian aid after being left homeless and without basic amenities.FIFA said it had consulted with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and the Syrian Football Association (SFA), as well as "international and local non-governmental organisations".

Dimitrov edges De Minaur to reach Rotterdam semis

ROTTERDAM (Netherlands): Grigor Dimitrov saved two match points before edging past Alex De Minaur 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam.The former world number three, now ranked at 28, will meet either defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime or Daniil Medvedev in Saturday's semi-final.De Minaur, ranked three places higher than the Bulgarian, had won the last two of their three previous meetings but he was on the back foot in the opening exchanges and gave up the first set.The Australian came back strongly, though, to take the second and push the game into a decisive third.

Sumit Nagal enters semis of Chennai Open Challenger

The world no.506 won the quarterfinal in an hour and 22 minutes to set up a last four clash against American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran.Alboran, who ousted top seed Chun-Hsin Tseng in the second round, got the better of Japan's Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 25 minutes.The Nagal-Clarke match saw the Indian dominate the first set completely.

Usman Khawaja comes out in support of out of form David Warner

David Warner has clearly looked out of touch but his opening partner Usman Khawaja believes that mere three innings is not big enough sample size to judge the Aussie veteran. India pacer Mohammed Shami has already dismissed Warner twice in the series with fuller length angled-in deliveries and questions over the 36-year-old's technique have been raised.Khawaja, who made an impressive 81 on the opening day of the second Test defended his opening partner saying that he is very confident of Warner's capabilities of bouncing back.“I have to kind of disagree with what you're saying. He hit two fours of Ashwin in the last game before he got out lbw so he was showing some aggression,” Khawaja said, when asked if Warner, whose stay looked painstaking during the 44 deliveries faced, needs to be pro-active.

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Timesofindia.indiatimes.com Sport News

Women's cricket will boost sport's future, says ICC CEO Geoff Allardice

Women's T20 World Cup: India hope to crack English code

ISL: Odisha FC beat NorthEast United FC 3-1 to move closer to playoffs

IPL 2023: Full league stage schedule for Mumbai Indians, matches timings, venues and full squad

FIFA Foundation to provide $1 million aid to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

Dimitrov edges De Minaur to reach Rotterdam semis

Sumit Nagal enters semis of Chennai Open Challenger

Usman Khawaja comes out in support of out of form David Warner