The development gives India a significant representation in the AFC. (Source: PTI)

All India Football Federation President Praful Patel was on Thursday elected unopposed as Asian Football Confederation’s vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain.

The development gives India a significant representation in the AFC and Patel thanked all Member Associations for finding him “competent enough”.

“First of all I need to thank all for finding me competent enough. Indian football is undergoing a transition and it feels nice that our development progress has rung bells all over the continent. I take this as a complement for Indian football,” he said.

“This is a huge responsibility. I would not only be representing my own Country but the entire SAFF Region. I stay confident of receiving support from all stakeholders for rapid progress of football in the region,” he added.

Under Patel’s leadership, AIFF was awarded with AFC’s President Recognition Award for Grassroots at the AFC Annual Awards 2014 in Manila.

Furthermore, in 2013, AIFF had finished a close second to Japan Football Association in the AFC Grassroots MA of the Year. Apart from that the AIFF had also signed an agreement under Australian Sports Outreach Programme (ASOP) with Football Federation of Australia to support Grassroots Programme.

Also, India have successfully bid for hosting the FIFA 2017 U-17 World Cup and the Indian Club Licensing system has drawn lavish praise from all quarters and dubbed as one of the “best in Asia”.

Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF congratulated Patel on the achievement.

“We at AIFF are extremely proud of him. This is a major development for India’s football fraternity,” he stated.

April 30 (Reuters) - International cricket will return to Pakistan next month after Zimbabwe agreed to tour the country for a short limited-overs series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.

KXIP captain Bailey took a blow on his shoulder while practicing on Thursday ahead of the clash against Delhi Daredevils. (Source: PTI)

Already grappling with poor form of their big players, Kings XI Punjab are now facing injury scare to skipper George Bailey and Shaun Marsh, coach of the struggling IPL side informed on Thursday.

Coach Sanjay Bangar told media that Marsh was hit on his toe while Bailey took a blow on his shoulder while practicing on Thursday ahead of the clash against Delhi Daredevils.

“We have some injury issues, so team combination can be decided only tomorrow( on Friday),” Bangar told mediapersons.

If the two injured players are unable to take field against DD, it will certainly raise hopes for Glenn Maxwell and Virender Sehwag to make the final cut.

Maxwell has not played in the last two matches while Sehwag was dropped from the team in the previous game.

Asked how difficult it was to have a player like Sehwag left out from the playing XI, Bangar said the batsman has taken the decision well in his stride without any fuss.

“The format is such that many times big players do not get to play. I don’t have to tell you the names but some big
players (in other teams) have missed out. I think players understand, it’s a fact in Twenty20 cricket,” he said.

Punjab ended up runners-up in last edition but this time at the half-way stage they are at the bottom of the heap with just two wins from seven matches.

Bangar though was optimistic of making their way up the ladder.

“One win can propel the team. The momentum plays a part. It’s a very tight table, the competition is even and all eight teams still have a chance to make the play-offs,” he said.

Bangar had a very successful stint with Punjab in the last edition and then worked as assistant coach with the Indian cricket team on the Australian tour.

Asked about the changes in his approach as a coach, Bangar said, there was not much.

“Results dictate how a coach is seen. We are trying to do better. The communication, the strategy however has not drifted much. It’s just that the team is going through a bad phase.”

The Punjab coach said it was a big setback to the team that the batsmen have not performed to their true potential.

“If you don’t get start, it becomes difficult. When your best players do not contribute it impacts the team.”

Bangar said the conditions would play a big role in the outcome of the match and hinted that the untested spinners may come into play on Friday.

“We have good spinners. Axar (Patel) has done well. In Pune and in Mohali, there was a lot of grass and other players (pacers) got the opportunity to play. We have a good combo,” he said.

Bracewell, who coached New Zealand to the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup and recently finished a second stint with English county Gloucester, has signed a contract until 2017. (Source: Reuters)

Former New Zealand cricketer John Bracewell has replaced Phil Simmons as coach of Ireland and will be tasked with helping the associate team become a Test-playing nation by 2019, Cricket Ireland said.

Bracewell, who coached New Zealand to the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup and recently finished a second stint with English county Gloucester, has signed a contract until 2017.

“He has agreed a deal with us, subject to work permit approval, until the end of 2017, which we both feel is the right time to review our position following the completion of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which is now the pathway event to the new Test Challenge,” Cricket Ireland performance director Richard Holdsworth said in a statement.

“We feel John’s knowledge gained over a 25-year period in the first-class game will help further develop our current players, but also ensure succession planning for our future squad who aim to be playing Test cricket by 2019.”

The 57-year-old Bracewell, whose nephew Doug is an active Test bowler for New Zealand, played 41 Tests and 53 ODIs for the Black Caps as an off-spinner and capable batsman throughout the 1980s.

He takes over a team that failed to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but won admirers by upsetting West Indies and Zimbabwe.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than fighting for a cause, and in cricket terms there is none better than obtaining Test status,” Bracewell said.

“Already Ireland have achieved tremendous international results given its financial resources and has gained respect at international tournaments, to the point where they are no longer regarded as a banana skin match but true qualifying contenders.”

Ireland will hope to gain further credibility with victory over England in a ODI match at home on May 8.

The series will be in preparation of the all-important FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final scheduled in June this year. (Source: Hockey India)

India on Thursday announced a 24-strong team for the men’s hockey series against Japan in Bhubaneswar from May 3 to 9.

The Preparatory Camp for the series, which started on April 22 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, ended
on Tuesaday.

The team will leave for Bhubaneswar May 1. The series will be in preparation of the all-important FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final scheduled in June this year.

After finishing third in the recent Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the team will be looking for a series win against Japan in the upcoming tournament.

Speaking on the team, Head Coach Paul van Ass said, “The team looks confident ahead of the upcoming tournament. They are on a high post their third place finish at the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the team will aim for a series win.”

“The team has worked on the various aspects including starting the game with speed and putting the initial pressure and to keep the attack going in the final minutes of the game.”

The Indian team:

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Harjot Singh.

Defenders: Gurbaj Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, VR Raghunath, Jasjit Singh, Gurmail Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, Harmanpreet Singh.

Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Sardar Singh, SK Uthappa, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Pardeep Mor.

Forwards: SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Satbir Singh, Lalit Upadhyay.

April 30 (Infostrada Sports) - Scoreboard at lunch on the third day in the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan on Thursday in Khulna, Bangladesh Bangladesh 1st innings 332 (M. Haque 80, I. Kayes 51) Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 227-1) M. Hafeez not out 190 S. Aslam c Rahim b T. Islam 20 Az. Ali b Hom 83 Y. Khan not out 31 Extras

James Rodriguez’s stunning dipping volley a minute before the break lit up an otherwise drab first 45 minute. (Source: AP)

Real Madrid warmed up for a big week by moving back to within two points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Almeria on Wednesday.

James Rodriguez’s stunning dipping volley a minute before the break lit up an otherwise drab first 45 minute.

Mauro Dos Santos’s own goal doubled Madrid’s advantage early in the second-half before Alvaro Arbeloa added a late third.

Madrid travel to Champions League-chasing Sevilla on Saturday before facing Juventus away in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

“We are in a very important part of the season and every game is the most important,” said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

“I will play the strongest team against Sevilla despite the fact we then play against Juventus.”

“We are not convinced that Barca will drop two points, but we are that we are going to win the four remaining games.”

The pressure was on Ancelotti’s men after Barcelona had mauled Getafe 6-0 on Tuesday, but they made a slow start against the relegation-threatened Andalusians.

Rodriguez headed just wide from Arbeloa’s cross early on before Ruben Martinez stood up well to turn a fierce drive from Cristiano Ronaldo behind.

The World Player of the Year also sent a dipping free-kick onto the roof of the net, but the home fans were becoming frustrated before Rodriguez sparked the game into life just before the break.

In a similar style to the Colombian’s stunning volley against Uruguay at last year’s World Cup, he slammed the ball over the helpless Martinez from just outside the area.

It was 2-0 three minutes into the second-half as Jese fed Toni Kroos down the right and his low cross was turned into his own net by Dos Santos with Ronaldo waiting to pounce.

Rodriguez was then withdrawn for Isco in preparation for the week ahead.

However, the hosts still dominated the final half hour and should have added to their lead when Raphael Varane headed just wide before Javier Hernandez failed to continue his scoring streak when he turned Ronaldo’s low cross wide at the near post.

Hernandez did have a hand in the third goal though as his cross was slotted home by Arbeloa.

Atletico Madrid remain on course to finish third after Fernando Torres came off the bench to claim all three points in a 1-0 win at Villarreal.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Torres took advantage of a slip from Eric Bailly to run clear on goal and kept his side to slot home just his second league goal since returning to his boyhood club in January.

Sevilla remain six points behind Atletico, but did move up to fourth with a 3-1 win away at struggling Eibar to move up to fourth.

Carlos Bacca struck twice inside the first 15 minutes to give the visitors a commanding advantage and Jose Antonio Reyes rounded off the scoring after Federico Piovaccari had pulled a goal back for the Basques.

Celta Vigo maintained their push for a Europa League place as Nolito’s late winner handed them a 1-0 win over Malaga.

At the bottom Elche took a huge step towards securing survival as they moved six points clear of the relegation zone thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna.