Major step for Indian football: Stage set for Santosh Trophy knockouts in Riyadh

runner-up teams qualified for the final round along with Railways, Services and the host of the round (Odisha).

a gimmick if it gets sponsors and broadcasters interested, it would give Indian football a bit more mileage and attention.

Indore, Feb 28 (IANS) Australia batter Steven Smith has admitted he was furious with himself after being dismissed while attempting a sweep shot during the second Test in Delhi. He also said the Australian batters will aim to slow things down at the crease when they take on India in the third Test, starting on Wednesday here at Holkar Stadium.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Feb 27 (IANS) Indian football will take a major and unique step in the 85 years of existence of All India Football Federation (AIFF) with the semifinals and final of the 76th edition of the National Football Championship for Hero Santosh Trophy set to be played at the King Fahad International Stadium, here on Wednesday (March 1).

Former champions Punjab will take on first-timers Meghalaya in the first semifinal while Services will meet Karnataka in the second semifinal at the same stadium on Wednesday. The third-place match and final will be played on March 4, thus bringing the curtains down on a major chapter in the history of Indian football.

Punjab had topped Group A in the final round with three wins and two draws while Karnataka were second, finishing with two wins and three draws. Punjab scored 12 goals in three matches, conceding eight goals, while Karnataka scored 10 and allowed seven goals.

Services topped Group B in the final round with four wins and a draw from five matches.

Meghalaya took the second spot with three wins, one draw and one defeat in the six-team group.

In all the event started with 36 teams representing the states and Union territories of India with the teams drawn into six groups. The six group winners and three best

Thus, Punjab, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Goa, Kerala and Delhi qualified as group toppers while Karnataka, Manipur and Maharashtra made it as the three best runner-up teams.

Though the preliminary group stage matches were held at various venues across the country, the final round was held in Bhubaneswar.

Now, the stage is set for the knockout rounds, which will be held in Riyadh as per a memorandum of understanding signed between AIFF and the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) in October 2022.

The four teams have reached Riyadh in the last two days and are getting ready for this maiden venture abroad for Santosh Trophy. Meghalaya and Karnataka reached Riyadh on Sunday while Punjab and Services made it on Monday. Meghalaya and Karnataka had their first training session at the King Fahad Stadium on Monday. The teams will be having their final training session on Tuesday before the all-important semifinals on Wednesday.

The Saudi Arabia Football Federation has made available the top two stadiums in Riyadh -- the King Fahad International Stadium and Prince Sultan Football Stadium to AIFF for Santosh Trophy. While King Fahad stadium will host the four knock-out matches, Prince Sultan Stadium will be used for training purposes.

Though a lot of people will consider this short trip to Riyadh

It would not have been a unique experience for top players of the country to play abroad. But nowadays with Indian club teams participating in various Continental competitions conducted by the Asian Football Federation (AFC), it may not be such a novel experience for players representing various clubs in Indian Super League (ISL) or I-League.

ISL clubs had conducted camps in the Gulf region before last season and some of them also have deals with foreign clubs for sending their players for training. The national team too gets a lot of chances to play friendlies and official AFC and FIFA level competitions.

However, with top ISL and I-League players not involved in the Santosh Trophy, it will be a learning experience for the players, who may otherwise not get many chances to play on foreign soil.

The matches pose another challenge for the players as they have to make a quick air dash to Saudi Arabia, have a couple of training sessions and play important matches.

With weather conditions currently in Riyadh similar to many cities back in India, acclimatisation may not prove a big problem for the teams. The day temperature in Riyadh is in the 30s while it is cooler at night, with the temperature hovering between 17 degrees celsius and 20 degrees.

The 33-year-old fell victim to Indian ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for 9 while attempting his first sweep shot of the series on day three of the second Test in Delhi.

"I've played, what, 95 Test matches (94) and I don't think there's been too many times I've walked off the field and I've gone, 'what the hell am I doing?'" Smith was quoted by cricket.com.au.

"I was pretty angry. There haven't been too many times in my career where I've actually come off and

"We probably just rushed things a little bit and it's something we'll talk about... when we've got them on the ropes, we can slow things down. We don't have to play at such a high tempo and risky tempo."

Smith, who will be leading Australia for the third Test in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, hopes the leadership role can help him recapture his best form with the bat in Indian conditions.

"It normally brings the best out of me," he said of the captaincy. "I'm excited about leading this week in Pat's absence.

"I know these conditions well. It's kind of like my second home playing over here, I've played a lot in India, I understand the intricacies of the game and what the wickets are likely to do. I'm looking forward to it."

The stand-in captain also said the visitors are yet to decide on a starting XI for the Indore Test, where Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc will likely be major additions.

India already reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with back-to back wins Nagpur and Delhi and India strive for a series sweep to book their place at this year's ICC World Test Championship final in June.

Eight teams confirmed as automatic qualifiers for 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the teams to earn direct qualification as the top three teams of Group 1 in the league stage while England, India and the West Indies similarly make it from Group 2.

Dubai, Feb 28 (IANS) The International Cricket Council on Tuesday confirmed eight teams have been identified as automatic qualifiers for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in Bangladesh, after the end of the eighth edition of the tournament that saw Australia win their sixth title.

As per the qualification process, the top three teams from each group earn direct qualification along with the hosts and the highest-ranked team outside of the six direct qualifiers from the 10-team tournament.

Bangladesh qualified as hosts of the ninth edition of the tournament while Pakistan made it by virtue of being the next highest-ranked team in the ICC Women's T20I Team Rankings as of February 27, 2023.

The remaining two spots will be identified through a Global Qualifier to be held early next year.

From the teams who played in this year's tournament, Sri Lanka and Ireland are the teams failing to get direct qualification. Sri Lanka are currently ranked eighth in the rankings while Ireland are 10th.

IND v AUS: Opener David Warner ruled out of last two Tests due to elbow fracture

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS)

Australias player availability for the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series has taken another blow with left-handed opener David Warner ruled out of last two Tests due to elbow fracture.

Warner was initially ruled out of the second Test in New Delhi due to a concussion caused by a blow on his helmet off India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj in the tenth over, after having taken a blow to his elbow. He was then replaced by lefthanded batter Matthew Renshaw as a concussion substitute in New Delhi, and with x-rays confirming Warner has also sustained a hairline fracture in the elbow, he has now been ruled out of the last two Tests in Indore and Ahmedabad and will now return home to Sydney with his family. Warner had made only 26 runs from his three innings in the first two Tests against India.

Cricket Australia (CA) said in an official statement on Tuesday that Warner is now expected to be available for three ODIs in India, starting from March 17 in Mumbai.

"David Warner has been ruled out of the Qantas Test tour of India and will return home. Warner was struck on the elbow in the second

Test in Delhi and sustained a hairline fracture."

"After further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will preclude any further involvement in the remainder of the Test series. It is currently anticipated that he will return to India for the three One-Day Internationals which follow the Test Series," they said.

Australia have already lost fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for the tour due to his left Achilles issue.

Leg spinner Mitchell Swepson is due to re-join the Test squad after flying home post the first Test in Nagpur due to the birth of his first child.

Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc are expected to be fit to play in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, starting from March 1.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: I never like vicecaptain in home conditions, says Ravi Shastri

perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I'm being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home conditions. Overseas, it's different."

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Former Australia Test captain Ian for the first Test in Nagpur. Following his shocking exclusion in Nagpur, Head was recalled for the second Test in New Delhi, making 12 and 43.

"You just don't drop some guy who has been one of your top scorers in Australia. You find out if he can play in India."

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri stated that one doesn't require having a vice-captain in home conditions, adding that he liked this idea in the first place. His comments come ahead of the third Test of the BorderGavaskar Trophy between India and Australia in Indore starting from March 1, where there is no designated vice-captain for the Indian team.

Opener K.L Rahul, who was the vice-captain, is averaging 12.67 from three innings in the first two matches. With Shubman Gill waiting in the wings, Rahul is under immense pressure to hold on to the opening spot.

"If the vice-captain doesn't

"The team management will decide (the vice-captain). They know his (Rahul's) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Shubman Gill."

"I, for one, always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with my best XI, and if the captain has to leave the field, you'd zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don't need to create complications," Shastri said on the ICC Review Podcast show.

Gill has been in scintillating form in recent times, slamming 208 against New Zealand in the Hyderabad ODI earlier in the year. He would go on to register his first T20I century against the same opposition in the series decider in Ahmedabad. Also, Gill scored his maiden Test match hundred at Chattogram against Bangladesh in December last year.

"Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Shubman Gill, who's red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he's not the vice-captain, it has to be team management's decision," added Shastri.

Talking about Rahul, Shastri pointed towards many being in the waiting line to get into the Test eleven for other positions. "They will have to see the form, his state of mind. He's a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent. There's so much talent in India who is knocking on the door. It's not just KL Rahul, there are many in the middle-order and bowling lineup as well."

Chappell said he is not surprised to see Australia struggle in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, adding that the current team think-tank have made some "head-scratching" decisions on the tour. After losing the first Test by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur inside three days, Australia lost the second match by six wickets in New Delhi, which meant their chances of winning the Test series came to an end as India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Now 2-0 behind, Australia will face India in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, starting from March 1. "The mess they have got themselves in isn't surprising, although some of the selections have been head-scratching, to say the least," Chappell was quoted as saying by ABC.

Chappell further said he could not understand why left-handed batter Travis Head was dropped

He was then left baffled by the decision to make Matthew Kuhnemann play in the second Test in New Delhi. Kuhnemann, who was flown following the return of Mitchell Swepson due to the birth of his child, was given a Test debut ahead of Ashton Agar and returned with figures of 2/72 and 0/38.

"He's not bowling to the best batsmen in Australia. So, if his Shield record is quite good, you've got to remember he is not bowling to the best players. So, how do you decide that Kuhnemann is ready for India because he is bowling really well (in Sheffield Shield)?

"Now, a good selector -- and I'm not sure we have got any of those at the moment -- can see some things that tell him, 'I think this guy is ready' and you might take a punt. But in general, it's not a good system for either the players or the selectors to decide who is ready for Test cricket."

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Former Australia cricketer Greg Chappell stated that fans back home are extremely disappointed over the visitors losing the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy inside three days and has urged the side to showcase their usual grit and tenacity in the last two matches.

Indore, Feb 27 (IANS) Ahead of third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India, Australia's left-arm fast-bowler Mitchell Starc stated that he is feeling that he will be bowling at full tilt despite experiencing some levels of discomfort as his left finger is still not fully healed yet from a tendon injury. Starc had injured his middle finger while trying to take a catch in the deep during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at the MCG last year. The injured finger was in a splint for six weeks. Though Starc bowled with decent rhythm in the buildup to the second Test in New

Delhi, he wasn't picked. Now with Pat Cummins back home due to personal reasons, Starc is ready to go through pain to lead Australia's bowling attack in Indore from March 1. "It's good enough. There's going to be a level of discomfort... I don't think it is going to be 100% for a little while, but the ball is coming out quite nicely and I feel like I'm pretty much at full tilt." "It's more the discomfort of the joint being restricted having been in a splint for six weeks and still having to be in a splint for another couple of weeks yet. That's probably the only part - dealing with the discomfort of it, getting the mobility back into it."

"That'll come over the next couple of weeks and it's progressed again, it's a progression each day I bowl. It's not a concern for me, the comfort levels - it's doing what I need it to do to be available to play." "It wouldn't be the first Test match I've played in some sort of discomfort. If I only played when I was at 100%, I would have only played five or ten Tests. I'm happy with where it's at and I've built up enough of a pain threshold to deal with that stuff over the last 10 or 12 years," said Starc to reporters on Monday.

After losing the first Test by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur inside three days, Australia lost the second Test to India by six wickets in New Delhi, which meant their chances of winning the Test series came to an end as India retained the BorderGavaskar Trophy.

"What can Australia do from here? Firstly, pick their best team and then play with the passion, tenacity and grit which is our hallmark. Australian fans know that it is tough in India."

"They can accept getting beaten by a better side, but they won't cop seeing an Australian team playing recklessly and bowled out in a session or two and turning its toes up inside three days. There is red-hot anger, bewilderment and embarrassment in our fans," wrote Chappell in his column for 'The Sydney Morning Herald' on Saturday.

Australia will now play the remaining two Test matches in Indore and Ahmedabad from March 1-5 and March 9-13 respectively. "The Australian public are rightly incensed that our team has shown so little fight in the series so far."

"Sights of a batsman being dismissed playing the reverse sweep first ball, and playing as though this series is not critical to the future, rankle. Australian cricket must realise that playing against India is not a sideshow, but the big show on par with or bigger than The Ashes," added Chappell, who coached India in the past.

He also thinks that Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc should play in the Indore Test after missing the first two matches due to recovering from their respective finger injuries. "Starc and Green must be underdone but they must play. Starc is a match-winner on his day so he must be used in short, destructive bursts when a new batter comes to the crease. Green and Boland will have to pick up the slack if the rhythm eludes him."

What do your shoes share about your attitude?

dive in!

Sneakers

Dress well but lace up even better!

By IANSlife

February 16, 2023 (IANSlife) Shoes contribute a lot to your style, not only do they elevate your look but they also say a lot about your personality. Most people are judged by the shoes they wear. There's an old English proverb that points towards the same and holds to date.

It is also said that shoes affect your mood. The shoes you wear can reflect your style, mood, personality, attitude, and much more. If you want to leave a strong impression, a versatile shoe collection can do the job, they add a lot of depth to your personality. You can unknowingly create a negative impression of yourself with your shoes. Hence, it is recommended to never laze around the shoe matter. Take things into your own hands and start building a fantastic shoe collection today. If you are extremely unaware of shoes, Kuldeep Singh, Founder and CEO of San Frissco outlines a collection of shoes you should own and what they convey. Let's

Sneakers are the most frequently worn shoes these days. They usually represent a happy, sporty, and comfortable attitude. They are best paired with casual outfits. If you want to look professional, it is better to avoid these. Sneakers are comfortable, cozy, and stylish. They convey an extremely relaxed vibe. From your friend's birthday party to your workouts, you can wear them everywhere. You need to invest in a sneaker to complement all your styles.

Chappals and Sandals

Leather Sandals or Chappals elicit an extremely comfortable, chilled, and relaxed attitude. They are perfect for beach vacations. Additionally, they are the most suitable for your feet during summer. Apart from a beach vacation, you can also wear them for daily activities. They are street-friendly, and even celebrities and influencers are opting for them.

Boots

One of the best additions to your shoe collection, boots are a sight to behold. They work well in both personal and professional settings. They convey a strong, professional, chic, and charismatic attitude. You can style it with denim, pants, or even dresses. You can wear a pair to

Hardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic Pandya releases grand Indian wedding photos the office and even parties. They convey extreme confidence as well.

Loafers

Loafers never go out of style. They can easily convey a casual and light-hearted attitude. They are perfect for get-togethers and parties that involve your near and dear ones. They are minimalist yet stylish. They can give a confident and chic vibe with chinos, denim, and even a well-fitted suit. They are extremely comfortable and you'll feel confident in your skin.

Heels

Heels have been a status symbol since time immemorial. Kings and Queens wore heels to denote their high status. It was also used during dances. Even today, heels represent confidence, boldness, and even a high status. Women who wear heels are deemed more attractive as well. Thus, wearing heels can convey a strong, attractive, and powerful attitude. You can pair them easily with dresses, jumpsuits, and even denim.

Shoes can convey more than you know. You should always keep a good check on your shoes and wear the most suitable pair. You need to dress up according to the situation, surroundings, and people. Only when you can do that, you can create the desired impression with your shoes.