India drawn in easier group in Asian Cup qualifiers

Abu Dhabi

Moscow

Kremlin to host World Cup finals draw

The draw for the 2018 World Cup finals hosted by Russia will take place in the Kremlin in Moscow on December 1, the country’s Football Union chief Vitaly Mutko said. Mutko, Russia’s deputy prime minister, said that FIFA had approved the plan though the world body had yet to comment. Russia will host the 2018 World Cup between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums in 11 cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi. The four cities are also the hosts of the 2017 Confederations Cup that kicks off in Kazan on June 17 and will end with a final in St. Petersburg on July 2.

Madrid

Barcelona, Sevilla maintain pressure on Madrid

Lionel Messi (in pic), Luis Suarez and Neymar were all on target as Barcelona shrugged off the loss of the injured Sergio Busquets to remain just two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 4-0 win at Eibar. Sevilla separate the giants of Spanish football in second, just a point behind Real Madrid, after twice coming from behind to edge out Osasuna 4-3. 

LONDON

Double Olympics champion Adams turns professional

Double Olympics boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams turned professional on Monday, announcing a debut bout in Manchester on April 8 before a “Leeds homecoming” on May 13. “I think this was the time for me,” the 34-year-old, who has signed with promoter Frank Warren, said. — Agencies

Mumbai

India rest spinners Ashwin, Jadeja for T20I series

India have rested leading spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the three-match T20I series against England. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra and off-break bowler Parvez Rasool have replaced the duo in the 15-man squad for the series, starting at Kanpur on Thursday. Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Lokesh Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Amit Mishra, Parvez Rasool, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra 

Johannesburg

Sandakan stars on debut as Lanka level T20 series

Debutant left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan took four wickets in Sri Lanka’s three-wicket win over new-look South Africa in a T20I on Sunday. The three-match series is now levelled at 1-1. Brief scores: South Africa 113 (Sandakan 4/23, Udara 3/13); Sri Lanka 119/7 (Mathews 54*, Ngidi 4/16) 

Sydney

Warner wins Allan Border medal again

Australia opening batsman David Warner won the Allan Border Medal on Monday for the second year in row, becoming only the fourth player to achieve that feat. He joined Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke as the only players to win Australian cricket's greatest individual honour in successive years. Thanks to my team mates and Steve Smith - without you all I wouldn't be here as it's a team game,” Warner said in a Cricket Australia statement. — Agencies