Nepal qualify for World T20
Abu Dhabi: Nepal made history on Wednesday by qualifying for their maiden major ICC event by progressing to next year’s World Twenty20 after their five-wicket victory over Hong Kong in the Qualifiers here. Chasing 144 runs for victory, Nepal survived a last-over scare to score the required 13 runs, with 10 runs coming from the first two deliveries and a last-ball misfield producing the winning runs. Also joining Nepal in the event proper are the United Arab Emirates, who successfully defended a modest score of 118 runs to upset the Netherlands by 10 runs. This will be the first time since the 1996 World Cup that the UAE will make an appearance on the global stage. The results from Wednesday’s matches mean four sides have now sealed their places in the World Twenty20 after Afghanistan and Ireland booked their seats on Monday. In the other matches of the day, Papua New Guinea beat Namibia by 25 runs and Scotland beat Italy by seven wickets. These two winners, as well as Hong Kong and the Netherlands, will now have a second chance to qualify for the World Twenty20 when they clash in cross-over matches on Thursday. (PTI)
Johnson vows more misery for England
PERTH: In form Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson has promised to exploit Adelaide’s uneven bounce and heap more misery on England. Johnson, 32, took nine wickets in the Ashes series opener in Brisbane, rattling England with his pace and bounce to bowl Australia to a comprehensive 381-run victory with a day to spare. He will not get the same bounce from an Adelaide pitch that has traditionally favoured batsmen but Johnson said he would stick to his brand of bowling short and fast in the second Test starting on December 5. “I’ll still come in with the short ball because it is up and down in Adelaide, so it makes it even harder I think,” the left-arm paceman told reporters in Perth on Wednesday. “At the Gabba, you know it’s true bounce. But Adelaide is not true bounce. So I think that makes it a lot more difficult to play the short ball, and obviously reverse swing comes in to it as well. I don’t like facing bouncers. No one does. When the ball’s coming past your nose on a fast wicket, it’s never nice,” said Johnson. “I’m not sure if it’s fear (in the minds of the English batsmen) but I’ll definitely continue to use it, because it definitely worked.” Johnson also said that he was shocked to hear of Jonathan Trott’s stress-related illness, sympathising after dealing with his own mental demons. (Reuters)
Junior WC hockey squad announced
New Delhi: Manpreet Singh, who was appointed the captain of the Indian team on Wednesday for the upcoming FIH junior hockey World Cup, said they are putting all their energy and focus on tackling a tough Holland side in their opening match. Hockey India announced an 18-member squad for the prestigious tournament, scheduled to be held from December 6-15 here. All the players who have been picked played in the Asian Champions Trophy in Japan, where they finished fifth. The only change is, defender Amit Rohidas has replaced Kotahjit Singh as the vice captain of the team. Squad: Goalkeepers: Sushant Tirkey, Harjot Singh. Defenders: Gurjinder Singh, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Sukhmanjit Singh, Pardeep Mor, Amit Rohidas. Midfielders: Harjeet Singh, Satbir Singh, Prabhdeep Singh, Imran Khan. Forwards: Manpreet Singh (C), Mandeep Singh, Malak Singh, Talwinder Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh. Standbys: Jagdeep Dayal, Gagandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Jarmanpreet Singh, Affan Yousuf, Amon Mirash Tirkey and Gurmail Singh. (PTI)
Accident at Brazil WC stadium kills 3
SAO PAULO: A crane collapsed on Wednesday at the construction site of a future World Cup football stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing at least three people and apparently causing damage to the structure. The stadium, which was scheduled to be finished in the next month or so, is to be the site of the opening game and five other matches when Brazil hosts the 2014 FIFA World Cup in June and July. (AP)