Amir wants Mayweather fight
Las Vegas: Britain’s former two-time light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan has said he wants to be the next opponent for Floyd Mayweather after watching ringside as the American outpointed Manny Pacquiao in the Las Vegas superfight on Saturday. . Mayweather said after the fight that he would only get in the ring once more – in September – and Khan, 10 years younger at 28, believes he is ideally placed to be the American’s final opponent. “I think the fight is there,” Khan told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme. “I spoke to Len Ellerbe, his manager, I saw him in the media room and he came over to say ‘hi…he’s ready when you are’. “I think Mayweather’s team are wanting the fight. But then – on the other hand – I’ve even spoken to Manny’s team and they said the same thing. (They said), ‘Look Amir, I think it’d be good to have the fight between you and Manny next’. “So, I’m in a position where I could fight either guy but I think Mayweather’s the one I want, because I really believe I have his number.” The Bolton boxer, with 30 wins and three losses to date in his career, is in action later this month in New York taking on Chris Algieri, but he hopes to get in the ring with Mayweather later this year or early in 2016. “I think it would be an amazing fight, one that boxing fans all around are talking about because I really believe size is a big factor between me and him and the speed and the power as well. I really believe I have his number.” (AFP)
Mumbai Indians will look to keep momentum going: Parthiv
Mohali: Keeping their play-off hopes alive after registering their third consecutive win of the IPL season, Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel said that the team will look to keep the momentum going in the upcoming T20 cricket matches. The Rohit Sharma-led side outplayed last-placed Kings XI Punjab by 23 runs to record their fourth win in 9 games to be seventh on the table. When asked how crucial it was for the team to have got the momentum back, Parthiv said, “Obviously it is important in this tournament. That’s how it has gone over the years. The team which is on the roll has to make sure that they keep winning a lot of games. This tournament is all about momentum. I am happy that we have had a break of five days and gone back and won two games.” Asked what has the team done differently after losing first few games, Parthiv said, “I don’t think we have done anything different, we were just focusing on the process, I know results were not in our favour in first five games. We were focusing on positives, we needed just one win to get the ball rolling.” (PTI)
ICC fines Bangladesh, Pak players
Dhaka: Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistani paceman Wahab Riaz were fined Sunday for a heated on pitch argument during the final day of the drawn first Test between the sides. Hasan and Riaz had 30 percent of their match wages docked for breaching the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct during the Test in Khulna, the ICC said in a press release on its website. The ICC didn’t say how much that percentage represented but it is thought to be around $1,000 each. “Posturing and finger pointing in each other’s face is not what we expect from two senior international players and has no place in cricket,” the ICC quoted match-referee Jeff Crowe as saying. “International cricketers should always remember that they are being watched and followed by millions and, therefore, need to always control their emotions and demonstrate respect,” he added. The incident happened in the 118th over of Bangladesh’s second innings on Saturday when the two players “unnecessarily halted play by arguing and pointing fingers at each other,” the release said. It added that both players had admitted their guilt and that no formal hearing was needed. (AFP)
‘Rusty’ India play 1-1 draw with Japan in first hockey Test
Bhubaneswar: Displaying rusty defence, Indian men’s hockey team played out a 1-1 draw against Japan to begin its four-match Test series on a disappointing note, here on Sunday. For India drag-flicker V R Raghunath converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to get even with their opponents after Japan drew first blood in the second quarter. After a couple of unsuccessful penalty corner attempts by both the teams, Japan struck in the 19th minute. Japanese midfielder put a hard slap inside the D and striker Kurogawa Daichi quickly tucked it inside the bar as the visitors took lead. Attacks and counter-attacks continued in the second and the third quarter as India finally broke even in the third quarter. Gurbaj earned India penalty corner and Raghunath clinically converted it into a goal. Sardar Singh pushed the ball in hard and Raghunath dragged it on the left of the Japanese goalkeeper and the ball ticked a defender’s stick en route to the net. Paul Van Ass-coached side got another corner in the 52nd minute but Raghunath failed to get lucky this time around and the scoreline stayed static in the remaining minutes of play. (PTI)
