NAGPUR: New Zealand’s spinners became unlikely heroes on Tuesday, leading their side to a stunning 47-run victory over favourites India in the World Twenty20 opening group match in Nagpur. The Kiwis stumbled to 126 for seven after electing to bat first, but their slow bowlers bamboozled India who could manage just 79 runs in 18.1 overs — their lowest ever ...

Maria Sharapova’s failed drugs test was “reckless beyond description”, according to former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound. Sharapova, 28, revealed on Monday that she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium in January. A number of sponsors have already distanced themselves from the Russian. Pound cannot understand how Sharapova found herself in this situation, given the high stakes involved, ...

The Afghanistan national cricket team secured their first victory in ICC World Twenty20 match by defeating Scotland by 14 runs, in a challenging opening match as the Afghan bowlers struggled to restrict the aggressive Scottish batsmen. Afghanistan set a target of 171 runs after winning the toss and electing to bat first with Mohammad Shahzad scoring 61 runs from 39 ...

NEW YORK: US sportswear maker Nike said Monday it was halting its relationship with Maria Sharapova, after the tennis star announced she had tested positive for a banned substance. “We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova,” Nike said in a statement. “We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues?” Meanwhile, Swiss ...

The Afghan-born Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Siyar Bahadurzada returned to UFC with a victory over American UFC fighter Brandon Thatch during UFC 196. Held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Bahadurzada submitted the Elevation Fight Team standout with a third-round arm-triangle choke. Bahadurzada ended the fight in his favour during the last seconds of the third ...

AFGHANISTAN: The 5-year-old kid from Afghanistan, Murtaza Ahmadi, has received signed shirts from football star Lionel Messi, almost a month after charming the internet with a shirt prepared from plastic. According to UNICEF in Afghanistan, the football star helped make the dream of the kid come true. The picture of Murtaza went viral last month shortly after it was uploaded ...

A group of the Italian MPs have nominated the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team for the 2016 Nobel Peace prize, it has been reported. The team led by Zahra Hussaini has been nominated for their dedication and hard-work to promote cycling in Afghanistan despite suffering from accusations of immorality and threats of violence for riding a bike. At least 118 ...

KABUL: Afghan athletes have bagged six gold medals in the finals of the taekwondo event at the 12th South Asian Games in India on Monday. As India finished second, the Afghans clinched six gold, one silver and one bronze medals in the event. The hosts won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Afghanistan’s Ahmad Ali Bakshi trounced Nepal’s ...

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2-ranked Andy Murray 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(3) for a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title on Sunday. Only Emerson (12), who also won six Australian crowns in the 1960s, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal (14) and Roger Federer (17) are now ahead of the Serbian in the all-time Grand Slam singles championship list. Djokovic is ...

MELBOURNE: Angelique Kerber became the first German to win a grand slam title since her childhood idol Steffi Graf in 1999 when she upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open on Saturday. The 34-year-old American had been seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title and 22nd overall, which would have moved her into a ...