Wednesday 18 March 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Federer advances at Indian Wells

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - Four-time winner Roger Federer defeated American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA and ATP Indian Wells tournament on Wednesday.The first set was really good tennis, Federer said. I played well throughout and was able to serve better than Jack today.Federer blasted eight aces, had no double faults and broke Sock three times in the 69-minute match.He clinched the victory when Sock slammed a backhand into the net on match point.The Swiss star next faces Czech ninth seed Tomas Berdych.The opponents are getting tougher as you get into the back end of the tournament, Federer said.Federer and Berdych have met 18 times with the Swiss holding a 12-6 lead. They met last year in the Dubai final where Federer won in three sets.

Iran downplays chances of nuclear deal this week

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LAUSANNE (AFP) - Marathon talks to draw up the outlines of a landmark Iran nuclear deal by March 31 looked set Wednesday to go down to the wire as Tehrans foreign minister played down chances of finishing the job this week.Mohammad Javad Zarif, in talks in Switzerland with US Secretary of State John Kerry since Monday, said other foreign ministers from world powers involved in the negotiations were unlikely to join them for now. The arrival of the foreign ministers of Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in Lausanne -- joining their political directors -- could indicate that a long-elusive deal might be at hand.I dont think their presence will be needed in this round, Zarif told Iranian state media from the Swiss lakeside city.When the solutions are found and we approach a deal, then all the foreign ministers of the negotiating parties should come, he said.As a result the negotiations will likely have to continue into next week or resume then after a break.Iran and the six powers have been seeking in months of talks to transform an interim deal struck in November 2013 into a lasting accord that they hope will convince the world that Iran is not about to develop nuclear weapons.Such an agreement would involve Iran scaling down its nuclear activities to within strict limits in exchange for relief from painful sanctions after 12 years of rising tensions over its atomic programme.Two earlier target dates last July and then again in November were missed, but experts say that the new deadline -- March 31 for a framework deal, July 1 for the full deal -- has to be met.It is however far from certain that they will manage to get a deal, with both sides warning of disagreements on key issues, principally the future size of Irans programme and the timing of easing sanctions.On Tuesday the White House said the chances of such a deal are 50/50 at best with some of the most difficult issues... yet to be resolved.Zarif said Wednesday that there are differences and we are trying to reduce them.On Tuesday, Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi, also in Lausanne along with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, had said 90 percent of the technical issues have been agreed.Technical aspects are however only part of what would be a highly complex Rubiks Cube agreement and Washington has consistently driven home that all the interlocking parts have to fit together.Salehi said Wednesday that progress had been made and that he was optimistic. It was unclear whether negotiators would have to return next week, he said.We dont know yet, we still have two days to go, he told reporters as he strolled by Lake Geneva.He also said that the framework being targeted by March 31 would cover general issues.Critics in the United States and Israel, whose hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected on Tuesday, fear that the mooted deal will not go far enough.They say that leaving some of Irans nuclear infrastructure in place -- which would likely happen -- does not completely cut off Irans ability to build a nuclear weapon.Iran, whose relations with the West have thawed slightly since the 2013 election of President Hassan Rouhani, says its nuclear drive is entirely for peaceful purposes.In recent weeks US President Barack Obama has had to deal with opposition Republicans inviting Netanyahu to speak in Congress and penning a letter to Irans leaders.His administration is also fighting to stop the Republicans bringing new legislation that would force him to submit any deal to a hostile Congress for approval.The sooner Obama can bring back an agreement that meets US policy goals, the better, Arms Control Association analyst Kelsey Davenport told AFP.Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East but has an official policy of neither confirming or denying it has such an arsenal.Weve been long familiar with the views of the prime minister (Netanyahu) on Iran. We dont think that his win has impacted the Iran negotiations, or will, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday.

Egypt sentences 22 Morsi supporters to death

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CAIRO (AFP) - An Egyptian court Wednesday sentenced 22 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to death for an attack on a police station in which one officer was killed.The attack in the town of Kerdasa on the outskirts of Cairo on July 3, 2013 came on the same day that army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi -- who is now president -- announced the dismissal of Morsi.Since his ouster, the authorities have cracked down hard on Morsis Muslim Brotherhood movement with at least 1,400 of his supporters killed.Hundreds more have been condemned to death and thousands have been jailed, often in speedy mass trials criticised by rights groups.Death sentences in Egypt are subject to approval by the mufti, the countrys highest Muslim religious authority. The latest verdict is to be confirmed or commuted on April 20 and the defendants may appeal.In February an Egyptian court upheld death sentences for 183 men convicted of killing 13 policemen in a mob attack in Kerdasa in August 2013.That attack took place on the same day that security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators in clashes as they dismantled two massive protest camps in Cairo supporting Morsi.

US drone kills Somali militant linked to Kenya mall attack

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A drone strike in Somalia last week killed a senior al-Shebab figure linked to the notorious 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi, the US military said Wednesday.The US drone raid on March 12 struck a vehicle carrying Adan Garar, who was a key operative responsible for coordinating al-Shebabs external operations and was connected to the Westgate massacre, the Pentagon said in a statement.The strike was carried out in the vicinity of Diinsoor in Somalia and resulted in the death of Garar.Kenyan officials had told media shortly after the strike that Garar had been taken out, but the Pentagon was not ready to publicly confirm his death until now. Garar was overseeing operations that target US persons and other Western interests in order to further Al-Qaedas goals and objectives and posed a major threat to the region and the international community, the Pentagon said. His death has dealt another significant blow to the Shebab terrorist organization in Somalia.The militant group has suffered a string of setbacks, losing territory in battles with regional forces and top leaders to drone missile strikes.The United States took out another Shebab figure in a drone strike on January 31. A Hellfire missile fired by an unmanned aircraft killed Yusuf Dheeq, who the Pentagon said was chief of intelligence and external operations for the Al-Qaeda-linked group.But the Shebab rebels continue to stage frequent attacks as part of their fight to overthrow Somalias government, which is backed by forces from Kenya and other regional states.

6.3-magnitude quake shakes southern Chile

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SANTIAGO (AFP) - A 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook the southern Chilean city of Concepcion on Wednesday, five years after a quake and subsequent tsunami hit the same area killing more than 500 people.Chiles National Seismological Center said the latest quake struck at 3:27 pm (1827 GMT), with its epicenter in the town of Cobquecura, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of the capital Santiago.The National Emergency Office said in an initial report that there were no casualties or major damage and the quake did not create a tsunami risk.Chilean TV showed people evacuated from buildings in Concepcion and reported some problems with phone lines.The February 27, 2010 earthquake struck just off the coast of Chiles Maule region. It measured 8.8 magnitude, making it one of the largest ever recorded.It killed more than 500 people and inflicted an estimated $30 billion in damages.

Tennis: Murray advances, Nishikori's run ends at Indian Wells

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - Fourth seeded Andy Murray, trying to rebound from a subpar 2014, defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Wednesday.The 27-year-old Scots game is gathering steam as he cruised into the quarter-finals of the joint WTA and ATP hardcourt event with a 90-minute victory.I thought I played well. It was a tricky match, Murray said. Hes played well this year, had a few good tournaments.Hes a tough guy to play against. Very unorthodox style. He has a very, very good backhand cross court. Hits it very low over the net, very flat. He can rush you, take your time away.Murray moves on to face Spains Feliciano Lopez who upset fifth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) on centre court.Murray ended his historic 2013, where he became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, when he had back surgery. The rehab took time and he was not the same player in 2014.But Murray began to get back into form at the end of last year and is eager to win his first Indian Wells title this week. His best finish is runner-up in 2009, when he lost to Rfael Nadal in the final.He was runner up at Januarys Australian Open and lost in the quarter-finals this year in Dubai and Rotterdam.He attributed his success this week to being able to keep his opponents guessing.I made it difficult for my opponents in all of my matches, Murray said. You know, thats important. I havent given up too many free points. I have made a lot of returns in play.Nishikoris defeat marked the first time this year that the 2014 US Open runner-up failed to reach at least the quarter-finals of an ATP tournament.Lopez blasted 12 aces, won 82 percent of his first serve points and broke Nishikori twice in the one hour, 35 minute match.Nishikori was playing his second straight Spaniard after a hard fought 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-4 win over Fernando Verdasco in the previous round.Nishikori said the turning-point was late in the second set.I really had one bad game at 5-4. Thats all that matters in todays match, Nishikori said.Until then I was playing better. I was, you know, dominating the strokes.He was hitting good serves, but I had all the chances.Lopez leveled his head-to-head record with Nishikori at three matches apiece. The Spaniard said he played some of his best tennis of the tournament.The match was very close and finally I found a way to play better than him, said Lopez.I was mixing it up. I was playing great from the baseline and I was hitting great for the first time in Indian Wells. I am pleased to be in the quarters.In other matches Wednesday, ninth seed Tomas Berdych beat Czech compatriot Lukas Rosol 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face either second-seeded Roger Federer or American Jack Sock.World number one and top seed Novak Djokovic was to battle American John Isner.World number one Serena Williams headlined womens quarter-final action, taking on Switzerlands Timea Bacsinszky. The winner of that match will face world number three Simona Halep of Romania, who rallied to defeat Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Football: Barcelona ease past City despite Hart heroics

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BARCELONA (AFP) - An incredible performance from Joe Hart wasnt enough to prevent Barcelona cruising into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the eighth consecutive season with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory.Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal of the night after half an hour as he lofted home from a majestic Lionel Messi pass.The English champions had their chances in the second half, but any hopes of an historic comeback were ended when Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced a stunning penalty save from Sergio Aguero 12 minutes from time.However, it was his opposite number who was the star of the show as Hart time and again prevented Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez from piling on more agony for City.Barca will now join La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Fridays draw for the last eight.A lot of them just hit me tonight - I just tried to stay big. It was busy. I just tried to smother them as much as I could, said Hart, who had also saved a Messi penalty in the first leg.I wanted that first leg penalty save to count and unfortunately it hasnt.Weve gone out to a magnificent side but thats the second time in two years and thats disappointing. Theyve got fantastic players but weve had a big chance and unfortunately we didnt take it.Barcelona face Real Madrid in a potentially decisive clash in the Spanish title race on Sunday, but Luis Enriques men showed their minds were on the job in hand from the off and should have been ahead after just six minutes.Dani Alves robbed a sleeping Vincent Kompany on the edge of his own box and fed Neymar, who had started to wheel away in celebration before his shot come back off the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.Hart then produced the first in a string of fine saves to turn behind a fierce drive from Messi, but there was some encouragement for City in the opening quarter, too, as Alves did just enough to deny James Milner a clear run on goal from Yaya Toures dangerous low cross.Barca did finally make the breakthrough on the half hour as Messi mesmerised a series of City defenders before lifting a cross into the path of Rakitic, who controlled the ball on his chest before lofting past Hart to register his first Champions League goal.Suarez was then inches away from putting the tie beyond all doubt as he latched on to Neymars through ball and saw his flick past Hart trickle on to the base of the post a minute before the break.Barca continued to press early in the second period as Hart was forced into saves from Jordi Alba and Messi.However, the visitors were nearly handed a lifeline by Ter Stegen as he lost possession when trying to dribble past Aguero and was grateful to the posse of Barca defenders that got back to cover his open goal.As City pushed to get back into the tie, the chances continued to flow at the other end as Suarez blasted into the side-netting, whilst Hart spread himself well twice to deny Messi.Ter Stegen redeemed himself for his earlier error with his most significant save since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach by flying to his right to parry Agueros spot-kick after Javier Mascherano had been harshly adjudged to have upended his Argentine international team-mate.However, it was Hart who shone once more in the dying minutes as Englands number one somehow blocked Messis thunderous strike from point-blank range to prevent the four-time World Player of the Year once again moving in front of Cristiano Ronaldo in the fight to be the top scorer in Champions League history.

Football: Tevez brace fires Juventus into last eight

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DORTMUND (AFP) - Goals by Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata fired Juventus into the Champions Leagues quarter-finals and sealed their emphatic 3-0 win at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.Juves victory sealed a 5-1 win on aggregate in the last 16 tie as Tevez and Morata, who had each scored in the 2-1 first-leg win, again did the damage in Dortmund.Tevez weighed in goals either side of Moratas second-half effort.Just as he had done in Turin, the 31-year-old Tevez gave his side an early lead with a breath-taking strike to catch out the Dortmund defence.The Argentinian then beat Dortmunds off-side trap with 20 minutes left to give Morata a simple tap-in to put the Old Lady in the last eight.Tevez added his second and Juves third nine minutes later when he took Arturo Vidals pass and fired home to break Borussia hearts.The team played really well, I just do my job and the team deserved the win, said Tevez.We showed our experience and I think were on the right path.Massimiliano Allegris Juventus simply had too much experience for a Dortmund side struggling with confidence issues after a dire start to their Bundesliga season which had left them bottom of the table in February.We are all very disappointed. We had planned more, but did not get going, said Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.Juventus also maintained their impressive record at Dortmund with their fourth straight win at Borussias Westfalenstadion to go into Fridays draw.Dortmund, the 2013 finalists, join Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen in exiting the Champions League at the last 16 phase leaving Bayern Munich as Germanys sole representative in the quarter-finals.Dortmunds task became that much harder with just three minutes gone when Tevez launched a fierce strike off his right foot unmarked from 30 metres out.It powered past Weidenfeller and left Dortmund needing to score at least twice.With 15 minutes gone, defender Stephan Lichtsteiner forced Weidenfeller into another save as the Italian league leaders kept up the early pressure.Allegri was forced into an early change on 27 minutes when defensive midfielder Paul Pogba came off clutching his hamstring made way for Italys Andrea Barzagli.Dortmund chased the game and dominated possession, but Juve stood deep frustrating the hosts constant attacks as it remained 1-0 at the break.Borussia boss Jurgen Klopp brought on Oliver Kirch for injured left-back Marcel Schmelzer at the start of the second half.Only a good save from Weidenfeller on 50 minutes stopped Juve going 2-0 up when Tevez charged through the Dortmund defence, but the Borussia goalkeeper blocked Moratas shot.Just six minutes later Weidenfeller denied Morata again as the Spanish forward threatened to add to his first-leg winning goal.It finally came on 70 minutes when Tevez sprinted onto a ball over the Dortmund defence, drew Weidenfeller and unselfishly squared for Morata.Tevez put the result beyond doubt when he added his sixth Champions League goal of the campaign 11 minutes from time with another strike which gave Weidenfeller no chance.

Tennis: Odesnik career over as he receives 15-year ban

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - Journeyman American player Wayne Odesnik received one of the longest bans in tennis history Wednesday, a 15-year suspension for a second doping offence in five years.The ban ends the ATP Tour career of the 29-year-old Odesnik, who is ranked 267th in the world.He tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs after he was given an out-of-competition test in December. The International Tennis Federation sent urine samples to several labs where they tested positive for anabolic steroids.Those samples were sent to WADA-accredited laboratories in Salt Lake City, USA and Montreal, Canada for analysis, and were found to contain one or more of: metabolites of methenolone; metabolites of androst, the ITF said in a joint news release with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.The South African-born Odesnik was also suspended in 2010 for two years for possession of human growth hormone. That was later reduced to one year after he co-operated with the ITFs anti-doping programme.Odesnik released a statement on Wednesday, announcing his retirement. He said he didnt realize that an over-the-counter supplement he took included a banned substance.Upon learning of my positive test results I was immediately heartbroken as words could not describe my shock and disappointment, he added.Being the most tested American tennis player on tour, I would never knowingly have taken any chance of consuming a banned substance, he said.Besides the suspension, Odesnik will have to forfeit any prize money from three tournaments, comprising the Australian Open and two lower level Challenger series events.Mr Odesniks commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the Programme was confirmed, which was his second such violation, having been sanctioned in 2010 for the possession of human growth hormone, the news release said.It was, therefore, determined that he is suspended from participation for a period of 15 years .... so ending at midnight on 29 January 2030.World number four Andy Murray said Wednesday that as a repeat offender, Odesnik got what he deserved.Bye bye Wayne... Good riddance, Murray wrote on Twitter when the suspension was announced.Murray said after his 6-3, 6-3 win Wednesday over Adrian Mannarino in the Indian Wells tournament, that he doesnt believe Odesniks version of the events. So he clearly was taking something and trying to get an advantage, Murray told reporters.After what happened the last time, you know, whatever story you believe, the one that was given, I dont believe at all.I think its good for tennis to get him off the tour and away from the tour, because we dont want that being part of the tour.It looks bad on everyone else.Murray said he has been subjected to numerous random tests over the past year.Im getting tested a lot more than what I was, many out of competition blood tests from the ITF and also the UK anti-doping, as well.Its an inconvenience getting woken up at 6:30 in the morning, but if it gets people that are cheating out of the sport, then Im all for that.Odesnik was born in Johannesburg but moved to the United States when he was three. He began playing tennis aged seven and turned pro in 2004.He was won over $1 million in his career but never won an ATP Tour singles title.

Athletics: Montsho to appeal two-year doping ban

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GABORONE (AFP) - Former world 400 metres womens champion Amantle Montsho plans to appeal a two-year ban after failing a 2014 Commonwealth Games doping test in Scotland.Gaborone media reports said the 31-year-old, accused of using the banned substance methylhexaneamine during the Glasgow Games, will appeal the decision ahead of a March 26 deadline.Botswana Athletics Association president Moses Bantsi confirmed the suspension.Montsho was the athletics queen of Botswana, a thinly-populated, diamond-rich southern Africa country that rarely creates international sporting headlines.She won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India and at the world championships in South Korea a year later.The Botswanan missed out on more world championship gold in 2013 when pipped by Briton Christine Ohuruogu in a photo-finish in Moscow.

Dovish Fed sinks dollar, gives euro big boost

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The Federal Reserve sent the dollar tumbling Wednesday with a surprisingly dovish forecast for growth and interest rates, even as it took a solid step toward a midyear rate hike.After having tempted talk of parity with the euro just three days ago, the dollar whiplashed from $1.059 per euro to as low as $1.101 when the Fed indicated that rates would rise much more slowly over the next two years than they had forecast in December.The dollar dropped from 121.34 yen to as low as 119.57 yen, before rebounding slightly.The Federal Open Market Committee projected a federal funds rate of just 0.5-0.75 percent for the end of 2015, compared with 1.0 percent previously, and 1.75-2.5 percent at the end of 2016 instead of 2.5 percent. It also cut its US economic growth rates, even as it readied for a possible rate rise as early as June, and showed clear concern about how the strong dollar was hurting exports.The Fed did not have to say it. The forecasts tell the story. The FOMC cares about the dollar, said Jens Nordvig at Nomura.However, Nordvig asked, is that enough to change the trend of the dollars rise?Nick Bennenbroek of Wells Fargo Securities said it will likely only be a blip in the strengthening of the greenback.Our view remains consistent with US dollar strength over the medium term. The economic backdrop is still marked by relatively solid US growth compared to relatively sluggish global growth, and is still marked by expected Federal Reserve tightening compared to actual global monetary easing, he said.Those divergences still exist, even if that contrast is not as stark as it was previously.

Buoyant Pakistan look to stop Aussie juggernaut

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ADELAIDE (AFP) - History favours Australia, but Pakistans astonishing ability to conjure magical wins promises enthralling cricket during their World Cup quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.Misbah-ul-Haqs men are determined to replicate the success of their predecessors under Imran Khan who won the tournament Down Under in 1992 -- and their paths bear an uncanny similarity.Imrans team won just one of their first five matches but bounced back to win the next five, including the final against England by 22 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.This time, Pakistan lost their opening two games against arch-rivals India and the West Indies before resurrecting their campaign with four straight wins to make the knock-out rounds.On the way, they triumphed over mighty South Africa at Auckland, bowling AB de Villiers side for 202 after being dismissed for 222.As Pakistan prepared to face their biggest challenge in the tournament -- playing Australia on their own turf -- Misbah hoped the momentum gained over the past two weeks will see Pakistan through.We are bowling well and the batting too is coming good, he said. We need to keep the momentum going. Just need to play well on the day.Pakistan have lost nine of their last 10 one-dayers to Australia on Australian grounds, including the last seven in a row.But Misbah will be heartened by Pakistans gutsy display against the Aussies in World Cup matches, where both sides have won four matches each in eight encounters.In the last World Cup in 2011, Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets in Colombo, making veteran all-rounder Shane Watson wary of what awaited his team on Friday.We know this is a danger game for us because they (Pakistan) can come on and just turn it on like they have throughout the times Ive played them in the past, said Watson.Pakistan, already without key players Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan, suffered a major blow on Tuesday when giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a stress fracture in the hip.Irfan, at seven-feet one inch the tallest man to play international cricket, took eight wickets in five matches to back up fellow fast bowlers Wahab Riazs tally of 14 and Sohail Khans 11.Meanwhile, four-time champions Australia have recovered well from a mixed start to live up to their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites.Having thrashed old foes England by 111 runs at the MCG in their opening match, Australia were forced to share points with Bangladesh in a Brisbane wash-out, before a spectacular batting collapse saw them lose to New Zealand in Auckland.In good batting conditions, Australia were shot out for 151 and only a six-wicket haul from Mitchell Starc helped them stretch New Zealand in the one-wicket win.In their other game against a major side, Australia rode on a Glenn Maxwell century to pile up 376 for nine against Sri Lanka in Sydney before quashing a spirited reply to win by 64 runs.Coach Darren Lehmann said the time to build on the progress so far had come.There will be no excuses for us from here, Lehmann wrote on Cricket Australias official cricket.com.au website.We just need to keep playing the brand of cricket we have been for most of this tournament and, to be fair, for most of this summer as well.Its really just about keeping the players sharp and on the ball and thats something they have shown they are fantastic at.They are a great bunch of learners and listeners who are always trying to improve their game.

Pumped-up India braced for Tigers challenge

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Defending champions India look to tighten their iron grip both on the World Cup and on Bangladesh when the two neighbours meet in Melbourne for a semi-final spot Thursday.India have reached the quarter-finals with six wins in six pool games, bowling out the opposition every time.They are heavily-favoured to become the second team in the last four after South Africa qualified on Wednesday.History is on their side.They have defeated Bangladesh 24 times since their first meeting in 1998 and have lost just three -- although one of those came in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean which led to Indias early exit.Suresh Raina, whose unbeaten 110 helped India chase down Zimbabwes 288-run target for a hard-fought six-wicket win in their concluding pool game in Auckland last weekend, says the Indians are ready to express themselves.Its been a marathon buildup for India in defence of their World Cup crown, starting last November for their win-less Test and one-day matches in Australia.But they have been transformed at the World Cup and a win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday will set-up a semi-final against either Australia or Pakistan.Weve spent a lot of time in Australia for the last four and a half months so were used to the conditions more than other teams, said Raina.People are really pumped up for the quarter-finals. We have done really well in the last six games.Its the quarter-final stage now, you dont have much room for error. You just need to do everything right, whether youre bowling, batting or fielding. The main World Cup is going to start Thursday.Indian batsmen Shikhar Dhawan (337 at 56.16) and Virat Kohli (301 at 75.25) are among the leading run-getters in the tournament while Bangladeshs bowlers have only dismissed two sides -- Afghanistan and England.It will be a high-scoring match on a flat pitch. We have to bowl well definitely, said Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.It is the biggest challenge to bowl to India batsmen and the Indian bowlers have been pretty good.I think we have to bat as well as we did against New Zealand or England or any other side.Thursdays game will bring cricket-mad Bangladesh to a virtual standstill, with many fans planning to watch on giant screens and millions attending match-day parties.The teams progress to a first ever quarter-final has also helped lift the gloom caused by the countrys current violent political strife.Back home all people were expecting that we could beat some bigger sides and go through. That was the most pressure I think, Mortaza said.Friday sees four-time champions Australia face 1992 winners Pakistan who suffered a major setback when giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a stress fracture of the pelvis.The winner of that Adelaide match will face either India or Bangladesh for a place in the final.The West Indies are sweating on the fitness of star opener Chris Gayle who has been laid low by a back injury ahead of their quarter-final against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.Former captain Darren Sammy turned to boxing to illustrate his belief that the West Indies can shock the co-hosts who, like India, made the last-eight on the back of six wins in six pool games.I remember some guy called Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson and its a case of that on Saturday, said Sammy.

Trott gets England recall for Windies tour

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LONDON (AFP) - Jonathan Trott was on Wednesday named in the England Test squad for the first time since having to withdraw from the 2013-14 Ashes series with a stress-related condition.The South Africa-born batsman, 34, was recalled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as part of a 16-man party for a three-Test tour of the West Indies starting next month.Jonathan Trott produced some outstanding performances for Warwickshire last summer, scoring five centuries, and also made an unbeaten double-hundred during the recent successful England Lions tour, said national selector James Whitaker in a statement.He is a player of proven international pedigree, and we are delighted to welcome him back into the squad.All-rounder Ben Stokes was also included, along with the uncapped trio of Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid and Yorkshire opening batsman Adam Lyth.Captain Alastair Cook returns as well, having been left out of the 50-over squad for the ongoing Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where England crashed out in the first round.Lyth is likely to compete with Trott for the right to open the batting alongside Cook after Sam Robson was dropped.Trott flew home from Brisbane 16 months ago and had to abort an attempted return to first-class cricket last year before flourishing with Warwickshire in the second half of the 2014 season.It earned him a call-up for the second-string England Lions tour of South Africa and he impressed as captain on his return to his native country, scoring an unbeaten double-century against South Africa A in Paarl.Eight of the players from the World Cup squad retained their places, but injured pair Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes were not included as they recover from respective side and foot problems.This series marks the start of a busy period of Test Match cricket for the England team, and I am sure that Alastair and the players will all be keen to build on the success they enjoyed last summer against India, Whitaker added.Adam, Adil and Mark are all players who have performed impressively over the last 12 months -- and they will now have an opportunity to push for a regular place in the Test sides starting line-up.Lancashire paceman James Anderson stands to win his 100th Test cap in the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, which starts on April 13.England, knocked out of the World Cup by Bangladesh last week, play host to New Zealand in May and June before resuming hostilities with Australia in a home Ashes series.Meanwhile, Whitaker played down the likelihood of Kevin Pietersen making an England comeback after he expressed a willingness to resume playing county cricket with a view to making a return to the international fold.Thats very much Kevins decision and, of course, we respect that, Whitaker told Sky Sports News.But over the last 12 months, I think we have been successfully rebuilding our Test team and over the last few days, he wasnt party to any discussion. Hes not part of our plans.Cook also played down the chances of Pietersen making a comeback, telling the Daily Telegraph it was very unlikely.Pietersen, 34, was axed by the ECB a year ago and subsequently released an autobiography in which he alleged that a bullying culture had taken hold in the England changing room.England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Mark Wood.

Pietersen's England hopes dashed by selector, captain

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LONDON (AP) - The prospects of an England recall for Kevin Pietersen look bleak after the maverick batsman was told he still doesnt figure in the national teams plans and comments in his explosive autobiography may have caused irreparable damage.Pietersen, Englands all-time leading run-scorer in all formats, was ditched after last years Ashes tour to Australia because of his perceived negative influence in the dressing room.The South African-born batsman was given hope of a potential return in recent comments by the incoming chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, but national selector James Whitaker appeared to rule out the chance of another Pietersen comeback.Over the last 12 months, we have been successfully rebuilding our test team, Whitaker said on Wednesday at Englands squad announcement for the upcoming tour of West Indies. And over the last few days, he wasnt party to any discussion.Hes not part of our plans.England captain Alastair Cook didnt give his former teammate much encouragement, either.Pietersen gave a withering critique of a number of Englands players and coaching staff past and present in an autobiography released in October, and Cook said that hadnt been forgotten.Theres been a hell of a lot of stuff happened, with his book and all that kind of stuff, Cook told British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. Its a long way back from that.Of Pietersens chances of England recall, Cook added: Its very unlikely.Pietersen appears willing to turn his back on a lucrative Indian Premier League contract to ensure his availability for English county cricket ahead of test series against New Zealand and Australia. That is on the back of comments from new ECB chairman Colin Graves, who said last month that players would be picked on performance and not personality when he takes over the role in May.Graves suggested impressive first-class performances with a county could provide Pietersen with a pathway back to the England team.Surrey is widely regarded as the favourite to re-sign Pietersen, should he secure a release from his arrangement to play in the IPL. And Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who will play for Surrey this year, let it slip on Wednesday that the county had tied up a deal for Pietersen.Im looking forward to playing at Surrey and working with (coach) Graham Ford and KPs coming back, I hear, so thatll be very exciting in the dressing room, Sangakkara said.Hell be fantastic anywhere he plays - hes just a magnificent player. Hes been through some tough times (and) Im sure that will shape the way he is as a person and have him thinking things through. Im sure hes looking forward to knocking on that (England) door, and hopefully getting in.Pietersen told the BBC he was still exploring his options.If I can do anything that can help me get back into it for England, then its something I want to do, Pietersen said. I love playing for England.
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