How to Teach Kids to Play Tennis

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When teaching kids tennis, start by letting them hit balls with a racquet so they learn the feel.

© 2009 Jupiterimages Corporation

Teaching children is often easier when they have a desire to learn. But for kids to want to learn, the process needs to be fun. Whether you are a tennis coach or just want to pass your love of the game along to your children, it's important you don't begin by bombarding young children with the rules. Instead, start by simply bouncing some balls around.
Take your kids out to the backyard, driveway or park and toss a few tennis balls for them to hit with a racquet. And make sure their racquets are the right size -- a full-size racquet may be too large to handle, especially for young children. Smaller models usually will help children feel comfortable using the racquet. First, demonstrate hitting the ball, and encourage children to play and experiment with tennis equipment on their own 

Children can bounce balls off a wall or the pavement, hit balls back and forth with you or even send them across the lawn for the dog to fetch. Ask children to see how many times they can hit the ball without letting it fall or how many times they can bounce a ball with a racquet without letting it get away from them. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as children have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the equipment and develop an interest in the game.
Once kids are excited about tennis, they will be ready to learn basic tennis techniques. This is the time to teach them the difference between forehand and backhand shots, as well as how to serve the ball. You can also begin to dabble in the rules of the game.

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Novak Djokovic is the master of Masters

Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of adding convincing proof to the growing argument that he ranks second to no man, now or ever, as a tennis player. With his win at the ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells, he equaled Rafael Nadal's leading haul of 27 Masters titles.
Djokovic will now be working on a three-peat that he's already accomplished three times at the Miami Open, which started Wednesday. You probably have just enough time to run out to restock on refreshments before this guy becomes the all-time Masters event champion, at age 28.
Nadal never got enough credit for being master of Masters, and Djokovic is unlikely to break that pattern. In a way it's their own fault. As they and other Grand Slam champs of either gender keep telling us, they play for the Grand Slam titles.
Yet here was Djokovic on Sunday, effusively praising the tournament in his victory speech: "I truly believe that this tournament deserves to be a level higher ... between 1000 and Grand Slam there is nothing." It was less a complaint about the structure of the tour than praise for the overall quality of Indian Wells.
The other Masters might not be in quite the same league as Indian Wells when it comes to some amenities, but they are its equal in the most important way: the caliber of the competition. The Masters concept has become a vital part of the game's foundation.
The quality of the competition at these elite, sub-major events is evidenced by the fact that 49 of the past 53 Masters events have been won by one of tennis' Big Four. Over that same six-year span, 22 of the 25 Grand Slam events went to one of the elite quartet.
One of Djokovic's great attributes is his versatility. He's won every Masters title multiple times except for Cincinnati, where he has yet to win the title. It's ironic, because hard court is his best surface. After he was upset by resurgent Roger Federer in last year's Cincinnati final, Djokovic told the media, "This year I got to the finals, step closer. I'm going to keep going, keep fighting to make the history. It's a great incentive."
After easily dismissing Milos Raonic in Indian Wells on Sunday, Djokovic also put his finger on an important aspect of the Masters Series when he said, "I'm just glad to be able to raise the level of my game as the tournament progresses, and that's something that I have been doing in the last two years, particularly on the big events."

While Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are tied for Masters titles, Nadal hasn't beaten Djokovic since 2014. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Some of the Masters events are tuneups for majors (Madrid, Cincinnati). Others, like these late-winter U.S. hard-court Masters, are bridge events that enable players to stay sharp between majors. That 49 of 53 stat demonstrates that the players don't exactly look at these events as spring training or glorified, between-the-majors exhibitions.
Besides, 1000 ranking points are a real trove. They accounted for 6,000 of Djokovic's current 16,540 ranking points.
All this is a testament to that least sexy but most valuable quality: consistency. Djokovic is winning like no one since Federer in his heyday. Djokovic hasn't surpassed Federer in the Grand Slam singles title hunt, and he's not close. Federer has 17, Djokovic 11. But Djokovic is building an unprecedented record for versatility and consistency married to spectacular achievement

• As competitive and exciting as Indian Wells was for 10 days, Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka far exceeded expectations in Sunday's finals.

To put this into baseball terms, with the major league season just around the corner, Djokovic might not end up the home run champ, but he might become the batting average and RBI king. A player with several seasons like that would have a pretty good shot at being called the greatest ballplayer of all time, no?
Federer currently trails Djokovic and Nadal by three Masters titles. He could bag a few more. Nadal, who's been struggling since he was upset at Wimbledon in 2014, hasn't won a Masters 1000 since he took Rome in happier times that same year. Andy Murray, the junior partner in the Big Four, won two Masters last year to boost his total to 11, same as Pete Sampras.

The list of players with anemic Masters records also is telling.
Lleyton Hewitt? A paltry two Masters for his entire career. Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, and David Ferrer have one each. Marin Cilic, a US Open champion, hasn't won a Masters event. Neither has No. 6 Kei Nishikori, nor No. 10 Richard Gasquet.
Djokovic will try to move into sole possession of first place on the roll of Masters champions over the coming days in Miami. Nadal will be there, trying to stop him. So will Murray. Federer pushed up his return date in order to compete in Key Biscayne.
Who needs Grand Slams?

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ITF president David Haggerty maintains 'tennis is a clean sport'

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LONDON -- In his first six months as president of the International Tennis Federation, David Haggerty has had anything but a quiet time settling into his new job. Not with allegations of match-fixing and corruption, Maria Sharapova's doping case and disputes over prize money buffeting the sport.
"Yes, there were some things that did come up that kind of took me away from the general mission," Haggerty said. "But when there is controversy, there is opportunity."
Haggerty, a former president of the U.S. Tennis Association, was elected in September to succeed Italy's Francesco Ricci Bitti as leader of the sport's world governing body. The only American head of an international Olympic sports federation, Haggerty has remained largely behind the scenes amid the high-profile controversies.

ITF president David Haggerty, after a bumpy first six months on the job, says he is determined to protect the integrity of tennis. Julian Finney/Getty Images

In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Haggerty said he was determined to protect the integrity of tennis. He hopes to enhance systems for preventing and investigating match-fixing, strengthen the drug-testing program and take action against any players caught using meldonium, the newly banned substance that produced Sharapova's positive test.
"We want to make sure that every single consumer and spectator believes that tennis is a clean sport, because it is," Haggerty said.
Corruption came to the forefront during the Australian Open in January when the BBC and BuzzFeed alleged that tennis authorities suppressed evidence of match-fixing and failed to thoroughly investigate possible fixing involving 16 players ranked in the top 50 over the past decade. That led tennis' governing bodies to launch an independent review of the sport's anti-corruption group, the Tennis Integrity Unit, a process expected to take at least a year.
"When match-fixing raises its ugly head, we feel as though it's a chance to be able to talk about things that we are doing and have done," Haggerty said. "I can assure you that we have a Tennis Integrity Unit that investigates every single suspicious alert that happens until we have evidence to prosecute or find out that there really isn't an issue with what was found.'
"We have to put it all in perspective. You're looking at 246 reports of unusual betting patterns last year out of 120,000 tennis matches. The percentage is small. That being said, we have zero tolerance. One is too many. But those unusual patterns don't mean anything happened. We don't have the evidence."
Haggerty said the ITF was working to improve education among junior players about the dangers of match-fixing. The Tennis Integrity Unit has added extra staff, including an analyst and investigator. And the ITF itself has created its own independent integrity department.
"There's always things you can do better," Haggerty said.

"We want to make sure that every single consumer and spectator believes that tennis is a clean sport, because it is."
David Haggerty, ITF president

Sharapova announced this month that she tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open. The drug, developed in Latvia for treatment of heart conditions, was put on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list on Jan. 1. Sharapova admitted she failed to notice that the drug became prohibited. The Russian said she took the drug over a 10-year period for various medical issues, not for enhancing performance.
Sharapova is provisionally suspended, pending a hearing by an independent tribunal. She could face a long ban.
"We think it shows that tennis holds no player above the cleanliness of the sport," Haggerty said. "If any player has this in their system, it will come out, and we will take the appropriate action."
Haggerty said he does not consider meldonium to be "overly prevalent" in tennis. He criticized former WADA president Dick Pound for saying tennis authorities knew the drug was being used in the sport and brought it to WADA's attention.
"Frankly, it's a bit frustrating when so-called experts are out there talking about things that are not factually correct," Haggerty said of Pound. "In this case, you have a former president of WADA talking about something that actually had no merit and was inaccurate."
Tennis has often been criticized for the extent of its anti-doping program. Some top players, notably Roger Federer, have complained they are not being tested enough.
"It goes from top to bottom, so they may not be tested all the time, but there is a rigorous process that does happen, in top players down to low-ranked players, in competition and out of competition," Haggerty said.
The ITF is in the final year of a four-year anti-doping program in which "we're pretty much doubling" the number of tests, with the ratio of urine to blood checks now at 60-40, he said. ITF statistics show a total of 4,433 samples were tested in 2015, including 1,658 out-of-competition blood controls.
"It's not necessarily quantity; it's the quality of what you do," Haggerty said.

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The ITF leader reiterated support for equal prize money, following the comments last week by Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore that women's tennis "rides on the coattails" of the men and that female players should "get down on [their] knees" and thank the top male stars. Moore later apologized and resigned. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic suggested men deserved higher prize money, though he has since backtracked.
Noting that the US Open was the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money more than 30 years ago, Haggerty said: "We believe in gender equality. It's very important. The women bring great entertainment, great quality, and the men do, too. They're both fairly compensated for what they do."
Haggerty voiced concern about delays to the tennis venue in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics in August. Lights have yet to be installed (the tournament has day and night sessions), and the hard courts still need to be resurfaced. The construction contract for the venue -- in the heart of the Olympic Park -- was rescinded in January, and a new company was put in charge.
"There are some things that are a little bit behind schedule," Haggerty said. "I'm going to Rio in five weeks, not that I have any magic formula, but I'd like to see for myself and to support the team."

With the Rio Games in August, the tennis venue, shown here in February, still is yet to be completed as the courts still need to be resurfaced and lights need to be installed. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

One of Haggerty's priorities is reshaping the Davis Cup and Fed Cup. The ITF board last week decided to look into the possibility of having neutral venues for the finals or a final-four format for the semifinals and finals. Increasing the World Group from eight to 16 teams in Fed Cup is also under consideration.
Proposals will be put to the next ITF general assembly in September 2017, with any changes coming into effect at the earliest in 2018 and more likely in 2019.
Meanwhile, Haggerty continues to get his feet wet in Olympic circles. His predecessor, Ricci Bitti, was a big player as head of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
"Being the rookie and the new kid on the block, I have many, many things to learn," Haggerty said.

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Timea Bacsinszky's lucky charm this week in Miami? Skiing champ Lara Gut, of course

Timea Bacsinszky talks about her three-set win over Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the quarterfinals at the Miami Open.

It's been a pretty good week for Timea Bacsinszky thus far. On Monday, she defeated world No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska and just 24 hours later she topped No. 5 Simona Halep to advance to the semifinals at the Miami Open.
And through both victories, she had a good luck charm sitting in the stands. No, it wasn't a lucky penny or stuffed animal or anything like that. It was Lara Gut -- the top-ranked Alpine skier in the world and the winner of this year's season-long super-G title. After nabbing the crystal globe, the Swiss star headed to Miami for some downtime and contacted her fellow countrywoman to see if she could attend one of her matches.
According to WTA Insider, Bacsinszky said Gut reached out last week. "She wrote me on Friday like, 'Hey, it would be fun if I could come watch you in Miami,' so I knew she was coming to Miami anyway. It was actually a big thing in Switzerland; no one knew where she was, and I was reading Swiss news headlines that were asking, 'Where Has Lara Gone For Holidays?'"
Gut was initially planning on attending just one session, but as Bacsinszky was playing so well, she decided to keep coming. She was supposed to fly home on Monday but delayed her travels in order to attend Tuesday's quarterfinal match. While she can't be at Thursday's match against Svetlana Kuznetsova with a trip to the finals on the line, she'll obviously be cheering from afar -- and hoping her good luck vibes can cross an ocean

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Novak Djokovic Withstands Back Spasms to Reach Miami Open Semifinals

Miami: Defending champion Novak Djokovic withstood back spasms throughout the second set on Wednesday to defeat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3 and reach the Miami Open semifinals.
Djokovic, trying to match Andre Agassi's record of six Miami titles with his third in a row, will play Belgian 15th seed David Goffin on Friday for a berth in Sunday's final.
The 28-year-old Serbian won his 14th consecutive match at the hardcourt event and his 28th out of 29, but needed a gritty performance after back pain began early in the second set, prompting him to have massage therapy before serving in the sixth game.
"Due to windy conditions on the court, it was hard to find a good rhythm to serve," Djokovic said. "I had a little bit of a spasm in the back but (the trainer) did a great job and I was able to finish the match."
Asked if he had any worries the spasms might become a long-term issue, Djokovic said: "No concerns. None at all."
Azarenka, Kerber cruise
On the women's side, reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, the second seed from Germany, and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus advanced to a Thursday semi-final showdown.
Both have finals wins over top-ranked Serena Williams this year, Kerber at the Australian Open and Azarenka at Indian Wells.
Former world number one Azarenka defeated British 24th seed Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 while Kerber cruised into the semi-finals, downing US 22nd seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-2.
The German second seed, the last of the top 12 remaining, is 1-6 lifetime against Azarenka, but won their most recent meeting in the Australian Open quarter-finals on the way to the title.
Eighth-ranked Azarenka, who won the 2009 and 2011 Miami titles, will jump to fifth in the world next week.
Azarenka could become only the third woman to win back-to-back in Miami humidity and Indian Wells desert heat after Steffi Graf in 1994 and 1996 and Kim Clijsters in 2005

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Sharapova admits failing dope test, loses plum sponsors

The 28-year-old revealed on Tuesday that she failed a drug test at the Open. The Russian star explained that the drug, Meldonium, which had been prescribed for a pre-existing condition for up to a decade, was added to a banned substance list only on this January 1, and she had "not known".

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned the drug effective January 1. Sharapova, the World No.7, said she didn't notice that the drug was banned by the WADA.

"For 10 years this medicine was not on the banned list, and I had been legally taking it," Sharapova said in Los Angeles.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Tuesday she would be provisionally banned from March 12. The usual ban for first-time offenders is two years.

The failed drug test came on January 26 -- after Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the quarter-finals -- and she was charged with an anti-doping violation on March 2, the governing body added.

Sportswear giants Nike terminated its long-running sponsorship of Sharapova, and said it was "saddened and surprised" by the news. It had an eight-year USD70 million with Sharapova. The association began when Sharapova was 11 years old.

"We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova," Kejuan Wilkins, a spokesman for Nike, said.

"We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation."

Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer joined Nike in cutting its 12-year ties with Sharapova, while car manufacturers Porsche also suspended promotions with her on Tuesday. She is the world's highest-paid female athlete for the 11th year running.

Tennis Australia on Tuesday expressed "surprise" that 2008 Australian Open champion and five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova failed a drug test during the 2016 Australian Open.

Australia's highest tennis body acknowledged the drug test was failed at its tournament, and said Sharapova was "ready" to face any consequences for her actions.

"We are surprised by today's news that Maria Sharapova tested positive to a banned substance during the Australian Open," a statement read.

"Throughout her career Maria has always impressed with her professionalism as a leader and role model in our sport. In her press conference Maria said she is prepared to face the consequences of what she describes as a 'huge mistake'."

Tennis commentator Renae Stubbs tweeted that she was "shocked" by the news, while current Australian men's player Matthew Ebden was sceptical of Sharapova's reasoning.

"Doesn't look that innocent for Sharapova or whoever else took it, this Meldonium stuff but who knows?" he told social media website Twitter.

Former Grand Slam champion Jennifer Capriati took a similar stance. In a series of tweets that didn't mention Sharapova by name, Capriati said she was "disappointed."

"I had to lose my career and never opted to cheat no matter what," Capriati tweeted.

"I had to throw in the towel and suffer. Im extremely angry and disappointed. I had to lose my career and never opted to cheat no matter what.i had to throw in the towel and suffer."

"I didn't have the high priced team of (doctors) that found a way for me to cheat and get around the system and wait for science to catch up," she added.

The failed drug test could cause the five-time Grand Slam winner a spot at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the USD298,000 she won in January at the Australian Open.

However, not all is willing to vilify Sharapova with the Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev calling the drug test scandal "nonsense" and said he thinks she will still play at this year's Olympics.

Jo Durie, former No.5, said she doesn't believe Sharapova is a drug cheat.

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World Football Mourns Death of Dutch Master Johan Cruyff

Supporters are embraced in front of a picture of Johan Cruyff during a memorial at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.

Amsterdam: The death of Johan Cruyff, whose creative genius on the pitch and inventive brilliance as a coach changed the modern game, prompted an outpouring of tributes to a figure hailed as doing more than anyone to "to make the beautiful game beautiful". (Dutch Football Legend Johan Cruyff Dies of Cancer)
In his heyday in the early 1970s, Cruyff, slender, quick-witted and outrageously gifted, helped a generation of football fans across the world see the game in a different light.
Unquestionably the best player in the world in that period, he was voted three times winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or so that he is now often mentioned alongside the pair widely considered the finest to have played the game, Pele and Diego Maradona.
Tributes from legends
Brazilian Pele said on Thursday: "Johan Cruyff was a great player and coach. He leaves a very important legacy for our family of football. We have lost a great man." (Romario Hails Johan Cruyff as 'Best Coach' Ever)
Maradona said: "We will never forget you, mate" while another Argentine Lionel Messi, the world's best current player, added: "Another legend has left us today."
Cruyff, who had announced last October that he was suffering from lung cancer, had said only last month that he was "2-0 up in the first half" of his battle against the disease. (Neymar Says Johan Cruyff's Death a 'Great Loss')
Poignantly, that turned out to be one of the last public statements made by the sage whose observations on the modern game were eagerly courted in global football, with his weekly column for De Telegraaf newspaper a must-read until the end.
Cruyff died surrounded by his friends and family at his home in Barcelona, according to his official website.
The news prompted eulogies from his home country with Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, saying: "The whole world knew him and, through him, the world knew the Netherlands."
The Netherlands' international against France on Friday in Amsterdam will be halted for a minute-long silence after 14 minutes in tribute to Cruyff, who wore the number 14 in his playing days.

A black ribbon is seen in the grandstands of Camp Nou stadium during the Johan Cruyff memorial in Barcelona on March 26.

© Reuters

In his adopted home of Barcelona, though, the loss was just as keenly felt with Cruyff having become an iconic figure in the Catalan city, where their current world-beating team, featuring Messi, still bears the hallmarks of his attacking invention.
As Pep Guardiola, one of his successful and influential successors as Barcelona coach, said: "He painted the chapel and Barcelona coaches since have merely restored or improved it."
Total Football
As a player with Ajax Amsterdam, Cruyff was the dazzling poster boy for the philosophy of "total football", embodied in coach Rinus Michels' magnificent Dutch team that he captained in his pomp to the 1974 World Cup final.
"Total football" centred on the idea of players being accomplished and comfortable enough on the ball to play anywhere -- and Cruyff, endlessly skilful and lightning fast in thought, was seen as the 'total footballer'.
It was during that World Cup in Germany that he treated a global audience for the first time to a magical piece of skill, dragging the ball behind his standing leg with the inside of his foot to bamboozle a Swedish defender. Thus was his monument, the "Cruyff turn", born.
Great players often do not make great coaches but Cruyff was a glorious exception, creating the Barcelona 'Dream Team' that won four straight Spanish titles and their first European Cup between 1991 and 1994.
Born Hendrik Johannes Cruyff, he joined Ajax as a long-haired teenager and inspired them to three successive European Cups between 1971-73 before joining Barcelona for a then world record transfer fee of $2.0 million and guiding them to the 1974 Spanish title.
He was the best player playing for the best team in the 1974 World Cup and, beyond Germany, there was huge disappointment worldwide that his brilliant Netherlands side were beaten 2-1 in the final by the hosts after Johan Neeskens scored an early penalty awarded when Cruyff was brought down in the area.
The Dutch also got to the World Cup final in 1978 but lost again, this time without Cruyff who had quit the national side, saying years later he walked away after an armed kidnap attempt.
The possession-based playing style Cruyff promoted as Barcelona coach, with an emphasis on relentless attack, has been widely copied and is credited with underpinning Barca's subsequent successes, as well as those of the Spanish national team.
During his reign, Cruyff, who had been a heavy smoker, underwent double heart bypass surgery and subsequently gave up smoking, replacing his cigarettes for lollipops.
Former England captain Gary Lineker, who played under Cruyff during that period at Barcelona, summed up the Dutchman's towering contribution by saying on Twitter: "Football has lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history."

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Lionel Messi Provokes Outrage in Egypt by Donating Boots

A charitable gesture by Lionel Messi has provoked outrage in Egypt, where a lawmaker and football official took offense at the donation.

Cairo: Lionel Messi had donated his boots to a private satellite channel during an auction the channel to auction them off for charity.
A charitable gesture by Argentinian football star Lionel Messi has provoked outrage in Egypt, where a lawmaker and football official took umbrage at the donation: his football boots.
Messi, in an interview with the private satellite channel MBC Misr, had donated his boots to the channel to auction them off for charity.
"Messi, I really thank you," said the interviewer as she sat across from the Barcelona player, dangling his boots, in the segment aired on Saturday.
While no one would consider being hit with a shoe or boot, or being labelled a shoe a compliment, it is especially insulting in Middle East cultures.
Donating boots, it emerged, was equally insulting to Egyptian member of parliament Said Hasasein, who attacked Messi on his television show.
"This is my shoe," he said, holding up a beaten loafer. "I donate it to Argentina.
"This is an insult to Egyptian people," he elaborated, thumping his fist on his desk.
Egyptian Football Federation spokesman Azmi Mogahed phoned in to the show to express his outrage.
"Even in our religion..." he began to say, when Hasasein interrupted: "His religion is Jewish!"
Mogahed agreed. "I know he's Jewish, he donates to Israel and visited the Wailing Wall and whatever ... we don't need his shoe and Egypt's poor don't need help from someone with Jewish or Zionist citizenship."
"People in Argentina sleep in parks!" Hasasein added.
Messi was born into a Catholic family, and has made the sign of the cross after scoring goals.
Some Egyptians criticised Messi, and his interviewer, on Twitter, using the hashtag "Messi's boot for the Egyptian people."
"It's not your fault, Messi you dog. It's the fault of that son-of-a-shoe channel, and that daughter-of-a-shoe interviewer," wrote one.
Others, including former Egyptian football star Mido, defended Messi.
"The most precious thing a writer has is his pen, and the most precious thing a football player has is his boots," he wrote on Twitter.  source sports.ndtv

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Brazil's Sports Minister Resigns, Says President's Office

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff departure is unlikely to have much of an effect on preparations for the August 5-21 Olympics.

© AFP

Rio de Janerio: Brazil's sports minister is resigning four month before the country hosts the Olympics, the office of embattled President Dilma Rousseff says, amid continuing uncertainty over the fate of six other Cabinet ministers. (Read More in Football)
Rousseff's office announced on late Wednesday that George Hilton had asked to leave the position and would be temporarily replaced by a top ministry official.
Hilton's departure is unlikely to have much of an effect on preparations for the August 5-21 Olympics as his role in the project was marginal. He had been sports minister for slightly over a year.
The Wednesday's announcement capped weeks of confusion about whether Hilton would stay on as minister. He left his party after it pulled out of Rousseff's fragile governing coalition this month, in an apparent bid to hold onto his job. But a top Rousseff aide said last week that Hilton would resign, although his ministry declined to confirm it at the time.
A similar back-and-forth also affects six other Cabinet positions held by members of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, known by the Portuguese initials PMDB, which decamped from Rousseff's coalition on Tuesday. Party leaders said all their Cabinet ministers, as well as hundreds of other federal government employees, would have to resign immediately.
But Agriculture Minister Katia Abreu said on Twitter late Wednesday that she didn't plan on leaving either the government or the party. Her tweet suggested the other five PMDB Cabinet ministers held the same stand.
Abreu is a close confident of Rousseff.
It wasn't immediately clear how the PMDB - Brazil's largest party - would respond to the minister's defiance.
Brazilian news media have suggested Rousseff planned to offer the vacated ministries to the six smaller parties that remain in her coalition in a bid to help her secure their support in an upcoming Congressional vote on impeachment proceedings against her. Rousseff faces impeachment on charges she violated fiscal rules and needs 172 out of 513 votes in the lower house to bury the proceedings.
But the defection of the PMDB, which has been a key part of the governing coalitions since Brazil emerged from military dictatorship in 1985, appears to have made it more difficult for her to avoid impeachment.
Rousseff's approval rating has plummeted amid the worst recession in decades, rising unemployment and an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to a spike in cases of a rare birth defect.  source:sports.ndtv

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India vs West Indies, World T20: Two No-Balls That Cost Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Men A Final Berth

West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons plays a shot during the World T20 semifinal match against India at Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai.

© AFP

Mumbai: India seemed to be doing almost everything right versus West Indies in the World T20 semifinal, till two small errors happened. They were two no-balls by Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya. It cost Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men the chance to win the tournament for the second time. India lost by seven wickets. (India vs West Indies semifinal Highlights | Scorecard)
After Virat Kohli's stellar 89* took India to a challenging total of 192/2, Indian bowlers gave the hosts a great start to reduce West Indies to 19/2.
However, Lendl Simmons and Johnson Charles had some other ideas. The duo hit Indian bowlers for cleaners as Wankhede Stadium gasped.
However, on the fifth ball of the seventh over Simmons, batting at 18, thick-edged Ashwin's delivery to Jasprit Bumrah at short third-man, who took a stunner. Wankhede erupted in joy, but got silenced a minute later as it was adjudged that Ashwi had over-stepped.
Simmons then went on to complete his half-century in 35 balls as West Indies galloped towards the target.
Another opportunity came on the final ball of the 15th over by Pandya, as Simmons was caught by Ashwin at cover. But again, a no ball came in between as Pandya was adjudged to have over-stepped.
Simmons went on to make 82 not out (off 51 balls) and take West Indies into the final with a stunning win.

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India vs West Indies World T20 Semis: Bad Toss to Lose, Spinners Ineffective, Laments Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni watches as Lendl Simmons hits a shot during their World T20 clash.

© AFP

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a disappointed man. World No. 1 and tournament favourites India were knocked out by West Indies in a thrilling World T20 semifinal match in Mumbai on Thursday night. West Indies play England in the final in Kolkata on April 3. (Heartbreak for India as West Indies win thriller)Dhoni said: "It was a bad toss to lose (because of the dew). When we started bowling, the spinners did not have much on offer." (India vs West Indies, World T20: Two No-Balls That Cost Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Men A Final Berth)
India's main spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja failed to deliver as Lendl Simmons smashed an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls to take the Caribbeans into the final. West Indies, chasing India's 192 for 2, won with two balls to spare.
Simmons rode his luck in his first match of the tournament. He was out twice, but alas both deliveries (by Ashwin and Hardik Pandya) were no-balls.
"We have a history of problems when the spinners bowl with a wet ball ... the only thing I am really disappointed are with the two no-balls," said Dhoni in a post-match chat.
"There was not much on offer, we wanted our fast bowlers to make a game out of it at the time, the conditions were very tough," Dhoni said.

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Chris Gayle is The Best But West Indies Have 15 Match-Winners: Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy celebrates with West Indies team after it entered the World T20.
was a double whammy for the West Indies on Thursday. After their women's team entered the final, Darren Sammy men booked a berth in the title round with a stunning seven-wicket win against tournament favourites India in Mumbai.

The match was billed as a contest between Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle but the script unfolded very differently. While Kohli smashed a brilliant 89 off 47 balls, Gayle was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for 5 to give India an early advantage.
But Lendl Simmons pummeled the Indian attack and rode two chances to score a 51-ball 82 to knock India out. Simmons and Andre Russell (43 off 20 balls) took the game away with a 80-run stand that left India gasping for breath.
Sammy was all praise for his batsmen who handled the pressure very well in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium rooting for the home team.
Massive step for West Indies: Sammy
"We knew it was going to be a massive step, against a very good India team, I must commend the whole team, we knew halfway they were 10 runs short. Even when we lost Gayle, Simmons, Charles and Russell took the responsibility," said Sammy.
"I was just praying we win the toss, I surprised myself winning five out of five. We came here on a mission, we were inspired by the U-19 boys earlier this year, the ladies won earlier today, now we have two West Indies team in the final.
"We feel this is this West Indies team against everyone else. Everyone said Chris is under pressure but I said it, we have 15 match winners," said Sammy.
One of my better innings: Lendl Simmons
Man of the Match Simmons was cool about his knock and the stunning win. He came in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Andre Fletcher and delivered in his first match.
"I slept the whole flight, I had got a call after the Afghanistan game and they asked if I was fit to play, I said yeah ... I played for Mumbai, I enjoy this pitch. I think it was one of my better innings ... I got the opportunity to prove myself to my fans
"Playing on this pitch I know 180-190 was a par score. The guys said they were 10 runs short, I believed that ... I got three chances, two no-balls and a six went my way and I cashed in." source:.ndtv.

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ICC World Twenty20: Factors that could hurt Team India’s dream of clinching second title

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The International Cricket Council’s flagship event World Twenty20 is all set to start, and considering the fact that the marquee event is taking place in India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co certainly have a slight edge over the others. However, that’s not the only reason India are the favourites going into the tournament, where 10 teams will be fighting for the coveted trophy.
India have been in exceptional form in the shortest format since the start of the year. They have played eight matches thus far, losing just once and winning the rest by considerable margins after blanking Australia 3-0 Down Under and beating Sri Lanka 2-1 at home. Men in Blue proved their mettle in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2016 as well, where they defeated hosts Bangladesh to clinch their sixth title, in a tournament which was played for the first time in T20 format.
Many cricket pundits and most importantly the bookies too have rated India as the top contender to liftthe trophy for the second time under skipper Dhoni, eight years after he led them to their maiden World T20 title.

Most of the boxes got ticked for India ahead of the major event.
Even though everything is falling in place for Dhoni, the ‘Colonel’ and his troops still have to keep few things in mind to accomplish the mission.
Here are some factors which could hurt Team India and its World T20 campaign.
Vulnerability against pacers, moving ball: Even though India have been in exceptional form in the shortest format of late, we have witnessed how their batting collapsed against Sri Lanka on a green top in Pune. Their power-packed batting line up fell like ninepins and India got bundled out for a paltry 101. After few matches, once again Indian top-order was all at sea against Pakistan in Asia Cup, when Mohammad Amir was calling the shots. At one stage, India were reduced to 8 for 3, while chasing a small total of 83. It shows the vulnerability of Indian batsmen against quality fast bowlers and seamer-friendly wickets.
Highly unpredictable format: T20 cricket is also known as slam bang cricket. And it’s so unpredictable, that even minnows could upset the title contenders in a four-hour duel. Situations change swiftly in this format and one bad over can turn the entire complexion of the game, or for that matter, decide the winner. Reputation, past laurels or recent form don’t really matter much in this format. A team has to win seven matches at a stretch to win the tourney. It means, one loss at a crucial juncture could shatter the dreams. Even after having the favourites tag, India have to show impeccable consistency to lift the trophy as there is no room for complacency as one poor outing can prove to be costly.
Other title contenders: India are certainly the hot favourites to win the title, but other teams like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand too, are the likely contenders to raise the honour. Keeping the format in mind, one can’t even underestimate the West Indies, who boast of certain players that are masters of this format. And if they play to their true potential, Pakistan could also emerge as a threat, as the tournament is taking place in sub-continent.
Injury concerns: Team India’s playing XI is almost decided and Dhoni has made it pretty clear by playing the same set of people, ahead of World T20. But injuries could put India in spot of bother and might mar their chances of lifting the coveted trophy. Indian skipper suffered muscle spasm in the Asia Cup, which is certainly not a good sign for the team. Premier bowler Mohammed Shami is also making a comeback after a prolonged injury. A niggle forced opener Shikhar Dhwan to sit out in a high-profile clash against Pakistan in Asia Cup. Ageing Ashish Nehra is one of the most fragile and injury-prone bowlers in the world. Considering all this, team management and staff have to make sure all players remain in good shape throughout India’s World T20 campaign.   source:.india.com

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India lose 1-2 to Turkmenistan, finish last at football Word Cup qualifiers

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Kochi: India ended their 2018 World Cup football qualifying campaign on a disappointing note as they lost to Turkmenistan 1-2 in their last group match to finish at the bottom of the heap here on Tuesday.

The Indians led 1-0 at the breather with a dominating show in the first session in hot and humid conditions courtesy a Sandesh Jhingan strike, but conceded two goals in the second half to lose the Group D match at the Nehru Stadium.
Jhingan's 27th minute header raised hopes for the Indians to end their disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign on a winning note, but they allowed Turkmenistan to come back strongly in the second half with a sloppy performance.
The visiting side, which struggled to cope with the heat and humidity in the first half, regrouped themselves in the second and pumped in two goals through Amanov Arslan (49th) and Serdaraly Atayew (70th) to collect full three points.
Turkmenistan also wasted a penalty early into the match with Arslan shooting the ball wide off the target in the 21st minute.
India ended their campaign at the bottom of the five-team Group D with just three points with a lone win over Guam in their home leg match last year.
Turkmenistan, who were also already out of reckoning in the World Cup qualifying campaign, ended at third position with 13 points. The tiny Pacific nation of Guam ended above India at fourth with seven points.
Today's match did not have much significance for India as far as their World Cup qualification was concerned as they were already assured of a bottom finish irrespective of the result. A win, though, could have some impact on India's chances for qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup.
India were to feature in a play-off round of even to feature in the qualifiers of the Asian Cup irrespective of today's result. But a win today would have ensured a lesser team for them in the play-off round of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
The Indians were to be blamed themselves for today's defeat as they squandered a 1-0 lead with a dominating display in the first 45 minutes as they controlled the match till the end of that period.
Turkmenistan, however, could have taken the lead in the 21st minute as they earned a penalty after Pritam Kotal brought down Arslan Amanov inside the area. Arslan himself took the spot kick but shot wide even as Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dived at the right direction.
India punished the visiting side for wasting the penalty as central defender Jhingan came up to head home from a set piece.
He outjumped his Turkmenistan rivals to connect a Narayan Das free-kick which India earned after a foul on captain Jeje Lalpekhlua who led the home side as an injured Sunil Chhetri did not take the field.
Turkmenistan, who had beaten Oman and drawn with mighty Iran in their campaign, showed in the second half why they are ranked 113th in the FIFA charts, 47 places above India as they brushed aside the tough playing condition here to score twice in the second half.
Turkmenistan's equaliser though was due to a goalkeeping mistake by normally reliable Gurpreet as he found himself out of position as the cross from Didar Durdiyev sailed over him for an unmarked captain Arslan to head the ball home into the empty net.
Second half substitute Atayev then scored the what turned out to be the winning goal in the 70th minute as he got the better of every Indian inside the box
to slot the ball home.
He side-stepped an advancing Gurpreet and then fired a low shot into the net with all other Indian defenders trying to reach to the ball in vain. source:ndia.com

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ICC World Twenty20: England vs New Zealand, 1st semi-final, Delhi - Preview

New Delhi: A supremely confident New Zealand will rely on spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, who have wreaked havoc in the tournament so far, when they clash against England in what promises to be a thrilling first semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20, here on Wednesday.

On paper, New Zealand are favourites against 2010 champions, who have not exactly been consistent en route their entry into the last four.
ICC World Twenty20: FULL COVERAGE
Yet to win a global tournament, a New Zealand victory would also be a fitting tribute to late Martin Crowe from some of the cricketers in this current squad like Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott, all of whom shared a close bond with the former national skipper.
In Kane Williamson, New Zealand have found an astute skipper, ready to adapt to the conditions and change according to the demands of the situation. That has been the hallmark of New Zealand's performance in this tournament and their all-win record in the group league stage is a testimony to that.
For England, the binding factor has been Joe Root's inspirational innings of 83 that helped them chase down a mammoth 230-run target against South Africa. Not to forget Jos Buttler's whirlwind half-century against Sri Lanka and brilliant death bowling by Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes.
The unlikely heroes in New Zealand's campaign has been unheralded left-arm spinner Santner and leg-break bowler Sodhi, who have been the architects of 'Beige Brigade's' success in the tournament so far.
While Santner has snared nine wickets in 15 completed overs giving away only 86 runs, Sodhi has been close on heels with eight scalps in 15.4 overs conceding 78 runs.
ICC World Twenty20: SCHEDULE
The leg-spinner has a shade better economy rate of 4.97 compared to left-arm spinner's 5.73.
All-rounder Grant Elliott and left-arm fast bowler Mitchell McLenaghan with three and four wickets, respectively have played the role of supporting cast to perfection as the Black Caps have bowled out the opposition in three out of the four matches.
What has been more praiseworthy for New Zealand is the fact that their wins have come at four different venues.
A rank turner at Nagpur, where they beat India by 47 runs, an eight-run win against Australia on another sluggish Dharamsala pitch followed by a 22-run victory over Pakistan on even-paced wicket at Mohali before rounding off with a resounding 75-run win against Bangladesh at Kolkata.
Call it intriguing or interesting but Williamson and coach Mike Hesson have used 13 players out of their 15-man squad in the four matches so far. And the ones who have been warming the benches are none other than their two premier fast bowlers -- Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
This is where Williamson has shown flexibility in his leadership while not trying to tread the beaten path.
TEAM PROFILE: New Zealand
As his team plays at another new venue -- their fifth in five matches in the tournament -- one would like to see as to what tricks are up Williamson's sleeve in the upcoming match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground, which is known to help slow bowlers.
Senior off-spinner Nathan McCullum has played two out of the four matches. He has fared decently with three wickets at an average of 4.20.
England have three capable left-handers in their line-up in Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali, which may prompt Williamson to think about playing McCullum.
The only aspect that could bother New Zealand is their not so impressive batting so far having crossed 150-run mark in only one occasion -- that too against an out-of-sorts Pakistan side. Guptill is the only batsman, who has totalled over 100 runs (125) in the tournament till now.
For a young England team, the tournament has gone off well so far now that they have been able to survive till the business end of the mega-event. The advantage for them is familiarity with the conditions, having already played two matches at Kotla.
The primary concern for the team has been their inconsistency, an area identified by team's best batsman Root during a media interaction a few days back.
Their batting clicked in first two matches against the West Indies and South Africa while it nearly fell apart against Afghanistan and were good in patches against Sri Lanka. It was because of Buttler's individual brilliance that saw them post a competitive total on a tricky pitch.
The pace attack of David Willey, Chris Jordan and Stokes were taken apart by Chris Gayle in the first game and then by Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock in the next encounter.
Against Afghans, spinners Adil Rasheed and Moeen did the job while Jordan and Stokes were brilliant at the death against the Lankans.
TEAM PROFILE:
The batting will largely depend on Root, but on their day, Alex Hales, Stokes, Buttler and skipper Morgan with his oodles of experience in franchise cricket, can prove to be a handful.
"They are the form team -- haven't lost a game yet. We played in a warm-up game and beat them, so we will take confidence from that, and obviously we beat them in our English summer. We know if we can play to our capabilities like we did against Sri Lanka, then no matter who we face -- albeit New Zealand in the semi-final -- we will give any team a good run," said English all-rounder Stokes.
Squad:
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell McLenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne

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Everything you want to know about the World T20 venues

The world's biggest T20 spectacle is being played in India for the first time. As the country hosts the ICC's cricket carnival, here's a look at the eight grounds that will host the 58 matches over 27 days, from March 8 to April 3.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Considered one of the best cricket stadiums in the world, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is the second largest stadium after the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a capacity in excess of 65,000.
It was allotted the marquee India-Pakistan match on March 19 after the ICC decided against staging it at Dharmasala following security concerns.
For opposition teams the venue can be a very intimidating place to play in, what with a packed stadium acting as a 12th man supporting the home team. 
- Schedule: ICC World T20 2016
Home of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, it witnessed fireworks in the very first match of IPL history, with Brendon McCullum smashing a quickfire 158 to set the tournament rolling.
However, the stadium is better-known for V V S Laxman's 281 and his partnership with Rahul Dravid against Australia, which scripted one of the greatest come-from-behind victories in Test cricket.
More recently, Rohit Sharma marked the 150th anniversary of the ground with a 173-ball 264, the highest ODI score.
The Eden Gardens will host five games of the ICC World T20 2016, including Pakistan v Group A topper (March 16), Sri Lanka v Group B topper (March 17), India v Pakistan (March 19), Group A topper v New Zealand (March 26) and the final on April 3.
It will also host the ICC women's World T20 final on April 3.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

With a capacity of 40,000 spectators, the stadium, located in Bangalore, Karnataka, is one of India's premier grounds.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium made history by becoming the world's first solar powered cricket venue in 2015.
Home to batting-heavy IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the stadium recently enthralled cricket fans with thrilling sixes by Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli.
It was the venue for the debut of West Indies greats Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge, as well as Sunil Gavaskar's last innings.
The cricket pitch at the stadium rarely follows the 'turning track' axiom that is followed by other venues in India.
The stadium will play host to the inaugural ICC women's World T20 2016 fixture between India and Bangladesh on March 15.
It will also host the England Women v Bangladesh Women (March 17), South Africa Women v New Zealand Women (March 26) and South Africa Women v Sri Lanka Women (March 30). Four warm-up games will also be held.
Featured men's matches include Sri Lanka v West Indies (March 20), and Australia and India against the topper from Group A (March 21 and 23 respectively).
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

While it doesn’t share the history or romance that older cricket grounds like the Eden Gardens, Feroz Shah Kotla or Chepauk Stadium do, the Wankhede stadium entered into folklore with the splendid straight six hit by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, which sealed India's victory that crowned them World champions in 2011.
Born out of a dispute between the Bombay Cricket Association (now renamed Mumbai Cricket Association) and the Brabourne Stadium’s caretakers - the Cricket Club of India, the Wankhede Stadium was built in 1975.
It has stands named after famous Indian cricketers, like Vijay Merchant, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
The stadium also witnessed Tendulkar's emotional farewell.
The Wankhede will host West Indies v England (March 16), South Africa v England (March 18), South Africa v Group B topper (March 20), as well as the second semi-final on March 31.
It will also host the women's semi-final ahead of the men's.
PCA Stadium, Mohali

Two of the most memorable World Cup semi-finals were played on this ground, with Australia edging out the West Indies in 1996 in a nail-biting encounter, while the more recent India's semi-final victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in 2011 was attended by leaders of both countries.
With a capacity of 28,000 spectators, the ground boasts of unconventional lights compared to other cricket stadiums. The light pillars have been erected comparatively lower in height to avoid aircraft from the nearby airport colliding with it.
Pakistan will play two matches at the venue, against New Zealand (March 22) and Australia (March 25). Australia will also play India here (March 27).
Among the ICC women's World T20 2016 matches, Ireland Women will play New Zealand Women (March 18) and Sri Lanka Women (March 20), while West Indies Women take on India Women (March 27).
HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

The stadium was in the news ever since the all-important India-Pakistan encounter in the upcoming World T20 was allotted to it.
However, after recent statements by Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who opposed the March 19 match against India's arch-rivals, there were concerns about security at the venue and the International Cricket Council decided to move it to the iconic Eden Gardens, in Kolkata.
Unarguably the most scenic cricket ground in India, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, set against the backdrop of the dramatic snow clad mountains, is perched on the high slopes 1317m above sea level.
Dharamsala has become synonymous to the Tibetan government in exile and the home town of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama along with the cricket stadium.
The first ODI played at the venue in January 2013 saw England beat India and Ian Bell scoring a hundred.
Dharamsala will host all Group A fixtures featuring Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Ireland and Oman. It will also host the Australia v New Zealand (March 18) match.
England women will play two matches here, against India Women (March 22) and West Indies Women (March 24).
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Mired in controversies for the past six months, the Feroz Shah Kotla got a last minute nod to host World T20 matches.
This Delhi stadium most recently lost out on an international match (T20I against Sri Lanka) to Ranchi owing to failure of the local board -- Delhi and District Cricket Association -- to procure the necessary clearance from the government.
Preparations are now in full swing for the marquee T20 event with the DDCA's reputation at stake.
The Kotla has seen many a cricketing feat, but none more famous than Anil Kumble's ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999.
The stadium has been allotted four men's and six women's matches, including one semi-final for both.
Before that, England plays Group B topper (March 23) and Sri Lanka (March 26), while South Africa takes on Sri Lanka (March 28).
ICC women's World T20 2016 games include New Zealand Women v Sri Lanka Women (March 15), India Women v Pakistan Women (March 19), Australia Women v Sri Lanka Women (March 24), Pakistan Women v Bangladesh Women (March 24) and Australia Women v Ireland Women (March 26), apart from the semi-final on March 30.
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Regarded as the fortress of ousted BCCI chief Narayanswami Srinivasan and suspended IPL team Chennai Super Kings, the stadium in Chennai hasn't been allotted any men's matches in the high-profile tournament.
The M A Chidambaram Stadium has problems, with three stands being locked down due to issues with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, but even with the loss of 12,000 seats, it can still host 24,000 people. 
Indeed, Chennai appears to be worst-hit by the winds of change within the BCCI. 
The stadium will host five women's WT20 2016 warm-up matches, before West Indies Women v Pakistan Women (March 16), West Indies Women v Bangladesh Women (March 20), South Africa Women v Ireland Women (March 23) and England Women v Pakistan Women (March 27).
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur

It was more recently in the news during India's third Test against South Africa when the ICC termed the pitch in Nagpur as poor.
The new Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha, Nagpur, opened in 2008 and replaced the old one.
Spread across 33 acres, the new stadium claims world-class practice facilities and modern infrastructure. The only T20I played at the venue had Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara scoring 78 off 37 balls and leading his team to a 29-run victory over India in December 2009.
The stadium has a busy schedule for the ICC World T20 2016. It will host nine men's fixtures, including all six Group B matches between Scotland, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. India v New Zealand (March 15) and the West Indies v South Africa (March 25) and West Indies v Group B topper (March 27) are the other games.
Australia women's matches against South Africa (March 18) and New Zealand (March 21) will also be at this venue.

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World T20: Confident India to begin title bid against New Zealand

IMAGE: India's Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni during a practice session. Photograph: Solaris Images.

The superb build-up run has made India the clear favourites for an unprecedented second World Twenty20 title but the in-form hosts will have to guard against complacency when they take on a spirited New Zealand in their campaign-opener in Nagpur on Tuesday.

• ICC World T20: The Complete Coverage

No host country has won the T20 world title in the last five editions and none has repeated a title triumph, but India's settled combination, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and familiarity with the conditions make them the odds-on favourites to script history.
The 2007 Champions, India go into the Super 10 Group 2 clash against New Zealand with their tails up as the number one ranked team in the world.
India have been on a roll in the shortest form of the game, winning their last seven outings which included a 3-0 whitewash of World 50-over champions Australia in the latter's backyard.

IMAGE: Indian cricketers Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja at Nagpur airport. Photograph: PTI.

They then went on to win the Asia Cup on a canter after beating Sri Lanka at home 2-1.
The five consecutive wins in Dhaka, including in the summit clash against Bangladesh that led to their continental supremacy in the T20 game, has given the team a huge morale boost.
However, Dhoni's men will be wary of the fact that they have never beaten New Zealand in T20s in four outings in the past including once during their stunning title run in the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa.
But in home conditions, India would be a big threat to the rest of the competitors, including New Zealand. The minor hiccup in India's build-up to this competition was their loss to South Africa by four runs in a practice match and this was perhaps a wake-up call for the team to avoid being complacent.
India do have the wherewithal and the personnel to script history and a win in Tuesday's opening game at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha would give them the ideal momentum to take on the challenges ahead head-on.

IMAGE: India's Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Ajinkya Rahane during a practice session. Photograph: Solaris Images.

Virat Kohli has been in terrific form, in the last two months. On top of his game, the Test skipper has made four half-centuries in seven innings, and two other scores in the 40s, besides leading four successful run-chases.
With an average of over 50 after 38 matches, he remains one of the players who will be feared by the opposition along with the equally talented Rohit Sharma who is set to play in his sixth WT20 championship.
Shikhar Dhawan's form has been patchy at best but the knock of 73 he made in the warm-up game against South Africa should have given him as well as the team a considerably boost going into the tournament.
With the likes of Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni himself to follow apart from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, India can bat deep down the order.

IMAGE: Indian players Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja at training session. Photograph: PTI.

The unearthing of Jasprit Bumrah to bowl effectively at the early stages as well as in the death has given the team the much-needed go-to-man when things don't go as per plans.
With the vastly experienced Ashish Nehra, who has played in just one WT20 event earlier, and the timely return to fitness of Mohammed Shami, India have the pacers to do the job effectively. To add variety to medium-pace, there's Pandya.
It's in the spin department that they have an embarrassment of riches, barring a leg spinner.
The duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja should be the front-runners to take up two spots and the team has the choice of adding either Harbhajan Singh or Pawan Negi to the combination.

IMAGE: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson with teammate Tim Southee after a press conference. Photograph: PTI.

New Zealand too have the players to trouble India although they would be missing the fire-power and attacking captaincy of Brendon McCullum who has retired recently.
Led by Kane Williamson, a classically elegant batsman who ups his gears when opening in T20Is, the Kiwis are well-served with a set of explosive batsmen in Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson.
They have a very good pace battery, including left-right combinations, and a varied spin attack to fall upon in the middle overs, for containment as well as taking wickets.
The Kiwis had also won four out of their last five T20 Internationals -- against Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- but showed little hints of vulnerability to spin by England who checked in their stunning progress in the warm-up game in Mumbai. source:rediff

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Miami Open: Djokovic moves into quarters with win over Thiem; Halep ousted

Photos from the matches played at the Miami Open on Tuesday

IMAGE: Novak Djokovic hits a backhand against Dominic Thiem (not pictured) during their fourth round match at the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Florida on Tuesday. Photograph: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/via Reuters

Top-seeded world number one Novak Djokovic beat powerful Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round at the Miami Open in Florida on Tuesday.
In a contest closer than the score might indicate, Djokovic needed four match points before finally prevailing against the world number 14.
Thiem, 22, the youngest player ranked in the top 20, regularly unleashed thunderous forehands that often had Djokovic on the back foot.
But Thiem could not capitalise on his chances. He converted only one of 15 break points, and in the end Djokovic's superior consistency proved the difference and he advanced after one hour 50 minutes.

IMAGE: Tomas Berdych plays a forehand during his match against Richard Gasquet. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Next up for the Serb is a quarter-final against Czech Tomas Berdych, who beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in an endurance contest that stretched nearly two hours 30 minutes under the scorching midday sun.
Another quarter-final will pit two big servers as Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic takes on Australian 24th seed Nick Kyrgios.
Raonic, who lost the Indian Wells final to Djokovic nine days ago, demolished Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia 6-0, 6-3 in less than an hour.
The often-volatile Kyrgios, meanwhile, kept his emotions in check as he edged Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 7-6(3), 6-3.
Another seed drops as number five Halep falls

IMAGE: Timea Bacsinszky plays a backhand against Simona Halep. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Another high seed fell as number five Simona Halep was sent packing by Timea Bacsinszky 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a Miami Open quarter-final in Florida on Tuesday.
Romanian Halep appeared well-placed for victory when she took the first set.
It was only the second set Bacsinszky had dropped during the tournament, and the 19th-seeded Swiss made sure it would be her last of the day as she prevailed in a match that stretched nearly two hours 30 minutes.
Bacsinszky carved out some good moves of her own, and ended the match in style with a cross-court backhand winner.
"I came back from a long road," 26-year-old Bacsinszky, who has battled injury, said in a courtside interview.
"For the past year she (Halep) has been an inspiration for me because I believe in hard work and I know she's one of the players which work really hard. To be able to play that well against her and catch the win is really amazing."
Halep's exit left the event with only one of the top 12 women's seeds -- number two Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion from Germany.
Bacsinszky has taken some big scalps en route to the semi-final, disposing of third seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 16th seed Ana Ivanovic in previous rounds.
Her Miami form follows on from a stellar 2015 campaign during which she cracked the world top 10 for the first time and won two tournaments before a knee injury prematurely halted her campaign in October.  source :redif

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Asia Cup MVP: India triumph but Bangladesh come of age

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah finished as the MVP in the recently-concluded Asia Cup T20 tournament ahead of compatriot Sabbir Rahman, who was named man of the series.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present the latest edition of the MVP rankings.

IMAGE: Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah plays a shot during the Asia Cup final against India. Photograph: Solaris Images.

Although India won the recently-concluded Asia Cup T20 easily, the tournament will be best remembered as the moment when Bangladesh came of age in limited-overs' cricket.
It will be interesting to see how they fare in the ICC World Twenty20, which begins on Tuesday, March 15.

The Asia Cup featured a large number of low-scoring matches; a score of 120 in 20 overs was par, instead of 160 that we are more used to.

In a close fight for the top place in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) ranking, Mahmudullah edged out his compatriot Sabbir Rahman (who was picked as the Man of the Series).

Mahmudullah made it to the top chiefly because of his incredibly high strike rate (165.8) and because he also picked up four wickets at a fair economy rate.

The index to compute the MVP rewards batsmen who score a lot of runs quickly, bowlers who take wickets at low economy rates and fielders who field the best (take a lot of catches, and participate in run-outs).

This analysis does not include the scores in the qualifying games -- in which the UAE duo of Amjad Javed and Shaiman Anwar performed amazingly well.
The table below lists the top 50 players in the MVP list:

Rank	Player	Team	Runs	6s	4s	Str Rate	W	Eco	M	MVPI
1	Mahmudullah	BAN	121	6	8	165.8	4	4.7	5	237
2	Sabbir Rahman	BAN	176	5	14	123.9	0	-	5	226
3	Virat Kohli	IND	153	0	20	110.9	0	-	5	200
4	Rohit Sharma	IND	138	4	17	132.7	0	-	5	188
5	Dinesh Chandimal	SL	149	2	19	109.6	0	-	4	184
6	Tillakaratne Dilshan	SL	132	1	18	121.1	1	3.5	4	172
7	Shoaib Malik	PAK	121	4	13	112	2	6.3	4	157
8	Sarfraz Ahmed	PAK	121	2	14	130.1	0	-	4	157
9	Hardik Pandya	IND	33	1	4	137.5	7	5.9	5	140
10	MS Dhoni	IND	42	4	2	280	0	-	5	139
11	Yuvraj Singh	IND	89	4	10	111.3	2	4.8	5	132
12	Shakib Al Hasan	BAN	77	0	7	91.7	5	6.5	5	130
13	Soumya Sarkar	BAN	94	2	11	106.8	0	-	5	124
14	Umar Akmal	PAK	105	5	6	107.1	0	-	4	112
15	Nuwan Kulasekara	SL	20	0	3	117.6	7	6.3	4	110
16	Amjad Javed	UAE	43	2	3	91.5	8	8.1	4	110
17	Shaiman Anwar	UAE	103	3	10	94.5	0	-	4	101
18	Al-Amin Hossain	BAN	0	0	0	-	11	8	5	99
19	Mohammad Naveed	UAE	33	1	4	113.8	4	5.6	4	95
20	Mohammad Amir	PAK	1	0	0	12.5	7	5.1	4	93
21	Jasprit Bumrah	IND	0	0	0	-	6	5.2	5	90
22	Shikhar Dhawan	IND	79	1	12	111.3	0	-	4	87
23	Angelo Mathews	SL	38	0	3	79.2	1	5	3	84
24	Sharjeel Khan	PAK	52	2	8	130	0	-	4	72
25	Chamara Kapugedera	SL	54	1	3	101.9	0	-	4	71
26	Mohammad Irfan	PAK	0	0	0	-	5	5.4	4	69
27	Mashrafe Mortaza	BAN	14	0	2	100	5	7.1	5	68
28	Muhammad Usman	UAE	66	3	6	97.1	0	-	4	68
29	Taskin Ahmed	BAN	16	1	1	94.1	3	5.8	5	59
30	Ravichandran Ashwin	IND	0	0	0	-	4	6	4	58
31	Ashish Nehra	IND	0	0	0	-	6	7.1	4	57
32	Shehan Jayasuriya	SL	43	2	3	110.3	1	8.5	4	57
33	Lasith Malinga	SL	0	0	0	-	4	6.5	1	50
34	Mohammad Mithun	BAN	48	2	4	104.3	0	-	4	50
35	Mustafizur Rahman	BAN	0	0	0	-	3	6	3	44
36	Bhuvneshwar Kumar	IND	0	0	0	-	2	2	1	44
37	Suresh Raina	IND	39	0	4	90.7	0	9	5	44
38	Swapnil Patil	UAE	38	2	3	82.6	0	-	4	42
39	Ravindra Jadeja	IND	0	0	0	-	3	6.7	4	38
40	Rohan Mustafa	UAE	30	1	4	66.7	2	6.6	4	38
41	Mohammad Sami	PAK	8	0	1	50	3	6.2	3	34
42	Mushfiqur Rahim	BAN	40	0	2	74.1	0	-	5	34
43	Milinda Siriwardana	SL	35	1	1	109.4	1	10.3	4	33
44	Shahid Afridi	PAK	2	0	0	50	2	5.7	4	32
45	Mohammad Shahzad	UAE	18	1	2	85.7	3	8.1	4	30
46	Harbhajan Singh	IND	0	0	0	-	1	2.8	1	29
47	Rangana Herath	SL	0	0	0	-	3	6.5	4	28
48	Pawan Negi	IND	0	0	0	-	1	5.3	1	28
49	Mohammad Hafeez	PAK	31	0	6	81.6	0	-	4	28
50	Ahmed Raza	UAE	14	0	0	60.9	0	4.6	4	24

- ICC World T20: Complete Coverage   source:rediff.com

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