India favourites against Pakistan: Kapil Dev

New Delhi: World Cup winning India captain Kapil Dev has said that he sees Virat Kohli and boys as favourites in their upcoming clash against Pakistan. "We have started very well by winning the first two matches comfortably," said Kapil. “Hopefully, the team continues playing in this manner and the weather doesn't cause any problems. When I played the game, Pakistan used to be the favourites but now India are a much better side than them, and therefore, favourites to beat them on Sunday,” he added. Kapil wants Hardik Pandya to be a better all-rounder than him but said the flamboyant cricketer needs to improve his bowling to become a complete all-rounder.

Taunton:
Shakib recovering well: Bangladesh coach

Bangladesh are optimistic that all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (in pic) will recover from a thigh injury in time for Monday’s World Cup match against West Indies in Taunton, their coach Steve Rhodes has said. Shakib strained a muscle in his left thigh while batting against England in Cardiff last week, but fought past the pain to make 121 runs as Bangladesh lost by 106 runs. The 32-year old, who has scored 260 runs at the tournament so far, was a doubt for Tuesday’s match against Sri Lanka, which was subsequently abandoned, and Rhodes is confident the extra week’s rest will do him good. Rhodes said, “We’re very, very optimistic that with the treatment he will get this week he can recover well and play in that next game against West Indies.” 

LONDON
Buttler fit for West Indies game

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (in pic) will be fit for Friday’s World Cup match against West Indies, head coach Trevor Bayliss said. The 28-year-old sustained heavy bruising on his right hip while batting for the tournament favourites against Bangladesh in Cardiff on Saturday and he did not keep wicket. “He’s fine,” Bayliss said. “He’ll be taking part in today’s practice fully. It was all a bit precautionary the other day. He could have kept, but it wasn’t sure whether he would have been able to sprint after a high catch. But he’ll be fine,” he added. —Agencies

Stuttgart (Germany)
Bopanna and Shapovalov stun Bryan Brothers

Rohan Bopanna and Canada’s  Denis Shapovalov upset the legendary Bryan Brothers — Mike and Bob — 6-4 3-6 10-6 to move into the quarterfinals of the Mercedes Cup here today.

Baranovichi (Belarus)
Indian girls lose to Belarus

Mumtaz Khan scored India's solitary goal as the junior women's hockey team went down 1-4 to the Belarus senior team here today.

Montreuil (France)
Semenya wins 2,000m

Caster Semenya, who is battling the sport’s governing IAAF over rules that prevent her from running her preferred distance races unless she takes testosterone-suppressant medication, won the 2,000m at the Montreuil meet. The Swiss Federal Tribunal ruled last week that she can run in her favoured 800m event until her appeal has been ruled on. Semenya said she would be defending her 800m title at the World Championships in September.  Agencies