New Zealand need new ideas to stop tourists

Match Facts

February 29, Napier 

Start time 1400 (0100 GMT)

Big Picture

A win in Napier will see South Africa add the ODI trophy to their victory in the Twenty20s in New Zealand. Gary Kirsten, head coach, has made plain that South Africa's goals are to win every series they play, whether at home or away, and a triumph on his first visit abroad with the team will serve as a strong indication of what the team can offer in future.So far, almost everything South Africa have tried has worked. They should not experiment too much in their quest to close out the series with a match to spare, but will likely continue to leave the No. 4 position flexible and use the part-time spinners to keep the opposition batsmen guessing.What has been most impressive about South Africa's performances in New Zealand has been the apparent progress they have made in the mental side of the game. JP Duminy alluded to it after the first ODI when he spoke about how he, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis negotiated the tough period after the loss of three early wickets. South Africa have embraced pressure on the tour so far and will want to do so again, as proof of their ability to deal with it.After starting the tour brightly, with victory in the first T20, New Zealand have let South Africa have the better of them. Always a shrewd side, New Zealand will have to think harder than normal to come up with ways to beat a South African side who seem to have an answer for everything.New Zealand have had recent success at McLean Park. They beat Zimbabwe by 202 runs in an ODI at the venue two and a half weeks ago. In addition to the magnitude of the win, the massive 373 for 8 New Zealand piled on in that game with buoy them, after a below-par batting performance in the Wellington ODI. They cannot hope to maul South Africa's exponentially more dangerous attack the same way they did Zimbabwe's but they can hope to make better use of home conditions in an attempt to take the series to a decider.

Form Guide

(most recent first)

New Zealand LWWWL

South Africa WLLWW

Europe's top clubs reach agreement with UEFA

The move will give them a bigger share of European Championship profits and insure salaries for players injured on international duty. The European Club Association said on Tuesday that the renewed accord runs through May 2018 expiring days before the World Cup kicks off in Russia but "unsatisfactory" talks with FIFA were locked in stalemate. ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge announced the "major breakthrough" with UEFA at a meeting of the 200-club group in Warsaw, Poland. "The negotiations have not always proved easy, but were always conducted in a fair and respectful manner," Rummenigge said in a statement, praising UEFA President Michel Platini. "Unfortunately, discussions with the FIFA president have failed to lead to a satisfactory outcome which takes account of the clubs  demands." Rummenigge later said there was time to work on extending the ECA s deal with FIFA. It expires after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. "We can be relaxed and patient. I am not a pessimist," the former West Germany great said. FIFA said it was "surprised" at the European clubs  negotiating stance. "FIFA remains, as always, willing to discuss with ECA on these topics, as it does with all other stakeholders in the world football community," the governing body said in a statement. The ECA was created in 2008 to give clubs a more democratic voice in talks with UEFA and FIFA after years of hostile relations when elite clubs were represented by the G-14 group which threatened to form a breakaway European league. However, talks to renew the ECA s initial working agreements have exposed problems between Rummenigge and FIFA President Sepp Blatter over insurance policies and the number of fixtures on the FIFA-approved international calendar, when clubs are obliged to release their players to national teams. The ECA has focused more on relations with UEFA and Platini, who is the favorite to succeed Blatter at FIFA in 2015. European clubs will share a "substantially increased" sum on the €55 million ($74 million) previously agreed from Euro 2012 profits, which is distributed on a daily rate for as long as players are involved in the tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. "This amount will be substantially increased in time for this year s Euro with a further increase for the UEFA Euro 2016 in France," the clubs said. The exact increase will be announced at the UEFA Congress held on March 22 in Istanbul. Before Euro 2012, UEFA will fund "insurance covering the injury risk of players" who European clubs release to play for any national team. "This insurance is valid for all players registered with a European club, irrespective of their nationality, and for all matches mentioned in the international calendar, including both official and friendly matches," the ECA said. The issue of insurance was highlighted after Rummenigge s club Bayern Munich lost Netherlands winger Arjen Robben for six months when he returned injured from the 2010 World Cup. FIFA shared $40 million (€30 million) among clubs whose players were selected to go to South Africa, and has allocated $70 million (€52 million) for the 2014 tournament. Under the new accord, UEFA agreed that "no decision relating to club football will be taken without the consent of the clubs," the ECA said. This point helps remove the threat of clubs refusing to play in UEFA s marquee Champions League, or set up a rival competition. "This is once more a proof that, in the European football family, solutions can be found in a cooperative and fair way," Rummenigge said. Rummenigge and ECA general secretary Michele Centenaro have refused FIFA s invitations to attend international calendar talks in Zurich next Monday. Still, the clubs have had input through UEFA to the debate involving all six of FIFA s continental confederations. European football would accept nine doubleheader international match dates in each two-year tournament qualifying cycle, and wants friendly dates in February and August abolished. The ECA said on Tuesday it wants to restrict players to one international tournament each year, which could limit call-ups to the London Olympics. Europe also wants the Copa America to finish in mid-July, and the African Cup of Nations to start earlier in January so that players return sooner to their clubs. FIFA said its calendar working group could present a proposal for international match dates running from 2015 through 2018 or 2022 to Blatter s executive committee which meets on March 29-30 in Zurich.

Poor form of team surprises Mohsin

Chief Coach of Pakistan Cricket Team Mohsin Khan was surprised over poor form of players in 4-match One-day Internationals and in T20 International series. “I was disappointed for the drop of form of Pakistan team after they white wash England in 3-Test match series,” he told reporters at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport on his return from United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday evening. He said team really played well in the Test series but he was surprised with drop of morale and form in One-dayers and T20 Internationals. Mohsin Khan, who is likely to be replaced with Dav Whatmore, however said criticism on the team after their loss in the one-day and T20 series was not justified because since everyone was praising the team after their triumphs in the Test series. Pakistan thrashed England 3-0 in the Test series to create history, but suffered 4-0 whitewash in ODI series and 2-1 loss in the 3-match T20 International series. Karachi based batsman Asad Shafiq also returned with coach Khan.

Davis Cup, Pakistan tries to convince ITF

After having been denied a chance to host their Davis Cup tie at home once, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is trying to get a nod from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) once again. Pakistan was scheduled to host its Davis Cup tie against Lebanon at home, earlier this month but was forced to play the matches away, after the ITF moved the tie on security grounds. Having won the tie (3-2) in Lebanon, Pakistan moved into the second round of the Asia-Oceania Group II and will now face Philippines in April. Once again, Pakistan is expected to host the tie, pending a clearance from the ITF. PTF officials say they are “taking all necessary measures” to host the tie at Lahore’s Defence Club from April 6 to 8. The national tennis body has submitted a “comprehensive security plan” to the ITF and has promised “fool-proof security arrangements for the visiting team.” A senior PTF official met with the ITF president and the Davis Cup committee in London, assuring them of best possible arrangements. The PTF has also, reportedly, proposed that the ties be held in either India (Chandigarh) or the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). The final decision, on whether the tie will be hosted in Pakistan or elsewhere, lies with the ITF.

Inaugural BPL trophy up for grabs

Shahid Afridi would have played two Twenty20s for Dhaka Gladiators less than 48 hours after Pakistan's series with England ended

Match facts

February 29, Mirpur
Start time 1800 local (1200 GMT)

Big Picture

With so much of the spotlight on controversies, a proper cricketing final would be a solace for the inaugural edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. Thankfully, two very entertaining Twenty20 teams, Barisal Burners and Dhaka Gladiators, will go head-on in the final in front of what is expected to be a sellout crowd.

Barisal have gone through a lot to finally arrive in the final, an ascent that some predicted with Chris Gayle in the line-up initially. But even though they have missed Gayle and his power-hitting since the end of the tournament's first week, they have progressed to the title clash. One of their main strengths is the captaincy of Brad Hodge, who has stood out as a leader who can influence the proceedings with his clever tactics.Dhaka, on the other hand, rely on all-out aggression. Imran Nazir, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Ashraful, Shahid Afridi, and Saeed Ajmal are all attacking players who can single-handedly change the course of the final.It promises to be a game that can go either way, even if a team does score really big in the first innings. If they don't, expect a scrappy chase.

In the spotlight

Barisal's Ahmed Shehzad is the highest scorer in the competition after his murderous 113 off 49 deliveries in the semifinal against Duronto Rajshahi. His previous six innings in the tournament include a hundred, two half-centuries and two forties.Dhaka's left-arm spinner Elias Sunny currently shares top spot on the wicket-takers' list with Mohammad Sami. A double-strike in his first over in the semi-final, removing both Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Smith, put Khulna Royal Bengals' chase under tremendous pressure.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Barisal -- WWLWW
Dhaka -- WLWLW

Head to head

Dhaka won both games against Barisal in the league phase - the first by 21 runs, despite a blistering Gayle century, and then by five wickets, a game Kieron Pollard finished off in style with a 17-ball 35.

Messi, Ronaldo genius secures wins for Barca, Real

Sharp thinking and brilliant execution by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lifted Barcelona and Real Madrid to wins at Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano respectively on Sunday that mantained Real’s 10-point lead over their great rivals at the top of La Liga. Messi caught the Atletico defence napping to score with a breathtaking 81st-minute free kick and secure a 2-1 success for Barca, while an audacious Ronaldo backheel gave Real a 1-0 victory against Madrid neighbours Rayo. It was a 28th league goal of the campaign for Messi, who succeeded Ronaldo as World Player of the Year and has won the award three times on the trot, leaving him one behind the former Manchester United forward at the top of the La Liga scoring chart. With 24 of 38 matches played, Jose Mourinho’s Real have 64 points, with Pep Guardiola’s Barca on 54 in second and Valencia, who lost 2-1 at home to Sevilla on Sunday, 14 points further back in third. Levante, the lowly Valencia-based club who are this season’s surprise package, climbed to fourth on 35 points thanks to their 2-1 win at Espanyol on Saturday, although only eight points separate them from Villarreal in 17th. Messi’s genius settled an intense battle at the Calderon after Atletico’s Radamel Falcao had cancelled out Daniel Alves’s opening goal. As the home defence lined up to defend a free kick wide on the left, Messi noticed Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois out of position and curled a stunning strike over the Belgian’s head into the far top corner. The goal gave Barca only their fifth win in 12 games on the road, a poor run of away form that has effectively scuppered their bid for a fourth straight title and put Real within touching distance of a first La Liga title since 2008.

Liverpool beat Cardiff 3-2 to win league cup

Liverpool beat Cardiff City 3-2 on penalties to win the English League Cup for the eighth time in a thrilling game which ended 2-2 after extra time at Wembley. Cardiff s Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool s Steven, fired the final spot kick wide as the Championship (second division) side s hopes of becoming the first Welsh club to win the trophy ended in heartache. Dirk Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson converted their spot kicks for Liverpool, while Cardiff missed three of theirs. Substitute Kuyt appeared to have sealed victory for Liverpool when he put his side 2-1 ahead at the start of the second half of extra time after a nailbiting final had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. The Dutchman then turned saviour as he headed a Cardiff effort off the line, but from the resulting corner Ben Turner prodded in a dramatic equaliser to take the game to penalties. Cardiff, the first Welsh side to reach the League Cup final in the competition s 52-year existence, stunned Liverpool when they took the lead after 19 minutes through Joe Mason s smartly taken shot and Kenny Miller almost snatched victory near the end of full time after defender Martin Skrtel had equalised for Liverpool on the hour.

Melzer defeats Raonic in Memphis Championships

Jurgen Melzer defeated Milos Raonic in straight sets Sunday (February 26) afternoon to win the ATP Memphis Championships. Austrian Melzer battled to a 75 76(4) win over Canadian fourth seed Raonic to claim his fourth career title and first since Vienna in 2010. The unseeded Melzer took a difficult path to the title, defeating top seed John Isner in a quarterfinal match and then third seed Radek Stepanek in the semifinal. For Raonic the loss was his second in a row in the Memphis final after falling last year to Andy Roddick. Raonic had been in excellent form lately, winning 19 straight sets and losing his serve just once in his last 41 games before meeting Melzer.