PTI, Kolkata: Hailing the return of Harbhajan Singh to team India after a two-year hiatus, cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan has said the way forward for the Indian side in the one-off Test against Bangladesh is to play two off spinners. The biggest surprise in the Bangladesh-bound squad for the only…

AFP, LEEDS (UK): England have been told to improve their cricket basics if they are to acquire the ruthless edge that will see them regain the Ashes. Caretaker coach Paul Farbrace believes this is something England must do if they are to topple Australia following their 5-0 Ashes thrashing ‘Down…

AFP, PARIS: Novak Djokovic crushed nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to move into the French Open semi-finals Wednesday, condemning the great Spaniard to just his second defeat in 72 matches at Roland Garros. It was world number one and top seed Djokovic’s first win over defending…

AFP, PRETORIA: South Africa World Cup skipper AB de Villiers was called a “batting genius” Wednesday after winning five of the nine major awards at a Cricket South Africa (CSA) function. “He is a true batting genius, who holds the world records for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in one-day…

Bangladesh premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan urged his teammates to do well in the next year’s World Twenty20 in India to make an entry into the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Shakib who made him regular member in IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the first Bangladesh…

AFP, WELLINGTON: Big guns Brazil and Germany advanced at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand on Thursday, as minnows Fiji notched their first-ever win at a FIFA tournament. Five-time champions Brazil struggled to overcome a 10-man Hungary 2-1 while Germany dispatched Uzbekistan 3-0, with both teams…

AP, SANT JOAN DESPI (SPAIN): Xavi Hernandez can put the perfect finish on his Barcelona career by winning the Champions League for a fourth time in his last game after 17 seasons. Hernandez has won a club-record 24 titles and can make it 25 if Barcelona beats Juventus in Saturday’s final in Berlin.…

AFP, ROME: Controversial American Justin Gatlin has fired a warning to rivals that he will be the man to beat at this summer’s world athletics championships in Beijing. Gatlin lines up at the Rome leg of the Diamond League on Thursday as the man of the moment in the men’s 100 metres having…

AFP, LONDON: Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has tipped Juventus to pull off an upset by beating favourites Barcelona in Saturday’s Champions League final in Berlin. Both teams are seeking to complete a treble of league, cup and Champions League crowns, but although…

AFP, PARIS: Belgium moved above Argentina into second in the latest FIFA world rankings published on Thursday, a record high for the European country. World Cup winners Germany held onto their number one spot with Argentina dropping a place to third ahead of a pair of South Americans rounding out the…