England’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace will step up as the coach for the one-off T20 match against Australia at Edgbaston on June 27 and the three T20s against India from July 3-8.

Head coach Trevor Bayliss will spend the period watching the England Lions, some County Championship cricket and the One-Day Cup final on June 30, according to a report by the BBC website.

He will then return to his role for the One-day Internationals (ODI) against India.

In February, Bayliss said that international teams should not play Twenty20 cricket except for in the lead-up to World T20 events, just allowing domestic teams and franchises to play the format.

He is to step down as coach in 2019, with Farbrace one of the main candidates to replace him.

 Riding high on a superb win against arch-rivals Pakistan 36-20 in the inaugural match of Kabaddi Masters Championship in Dubai, a buoyed Indian team will next play Kenya today (Saturday, June 23).

On Friday, the Indian team dominated the court and players gave a superb all-round performance, much to the delight of the crowd.

Indigenous sports Kabaddi has got all the ingredients to become an Olympic sport. It is commendable that Kabaddi has gained international recognition and now more than 30 countries are playing this sport, said Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Union Sports Minister who witnessed the match along with Ambassador Navdeep Suri.

India is trying to bring about systemic changes in the field of sports to produce world class sportsperson in every field. Efforts are being made to involve private sectors in the maintenance of the sporting arenas through public-private partnership, Rathore added.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

 In the FIFA World Cup in Russia, three matches are lined up for today (Saturday, June 23).

In group G, Belgium will face Tunisia at Spartak Stadium in Moscow, at 5.30 pm.

While in Group F, South Korea will take on Mexico at 8.30 pm at Rostov Arena And Germany will play against Sweden at 11.30 pm at Fisht Stadium in Sochi.

On Friday, in the Group E match at Kaliningrad, Switzerland defeated Serbia 2-1. Switzerland now have four points from two matches, while Serbia has three points from two games.

In another Group E fixture at Saint Petersburg, Brazil sealed a 2-0 win over Costa Rica.

In the Group D encounter played at Volgograd, two brilliant strikes by Ahmed Musa propelled Nigeria to a 2-0 win over Iceland. Both the goals came in the second half. Nigeria has three points from two matches.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 at Breda, Netherlands

The Indian Team will begin their campaign at the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday (June 23).

The 2018 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy will be the 37th and last edition of the Hockey Champions Trophy for men. It will be held from 23 June to 1 July 2018 in Breda, Netherlands.

After the 18-member national squad for Indian Men’s Hockey Team was announced recently, the Indian team under Chief Coach Harendra Singh has upped the ante knowing well that the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018, with world’s top teams including Olympic Champions Argentina, defending World Champions Australia, World No.3 Belgium, hosts Netherlands and Pakistan in fray for the title, offers the right platform to test themselves ahead of the prestigious Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.

“The team has moved on from the poor performance at the Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. At the camp at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru Campus, one of the main focus was on team’s on-field communication and re-instilling the team’s belief that we have it in us to Go for Gold. Our psychology sessions have been critical in making us believe in the team goal and Chief Coach has prepared a 20-point agenda which we read every day ahead of training sessions to remind ourselves of our aim ahead of the tournament,” expressed Indian Team’s Vice-Captain Chinglensana Singh Kangujam.

The Indian team’s inefficiency in converting field goals despite improved circle penetrations have been a concern. Goalkeeper and Captain PR Sreejesh stated that the team has paid special attention in this area over the past two weeks in the National Camp.

“We have paid a lot of attention to the positioning of forwards in the striking circle. Chief Coach has not just drawn out the position chart for the strikers and explained in theory, but has also walked them through the positioning to ensure they don’t repeat the mistakes made at 2018 CWG because of which we missed out on scoring critical goals. Front-line defence is also one of the key areas we have paid extra attention to,” Sreejesh stated.

Sreejesh believes that the team has the calibre to finish on the top at the Rabobank Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018.

“We have a good team balance with experience and youth. Our preparations have been earnest and the team certainly has the calibre to finish on top provided we play our A-game and not make silly mistakes and lose out on scoring opportunities. This is the best chance to see where we stand against top teams in the world before the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 in November-December and we need to make this opportunity count,” the Captain concluded.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

India coach Srinivas Reddy on Thursday took a dig at Iran for not sending their top players in the six-nation inaugural Kabaddi Masters tournament, starting here from Friday.

Iran sprung a few surprises by not including Fazel Atrachali and Abozar Mighani, who were bagged by Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) franchises U Mumba and Telegu Titans for Rs 1 crore and Rs 76 lakh respectively, in the auctions held in Mumbai.

Besides the duo, Iran also omitted Meraj Sheiykh from their squad.

While the Kabaddi Masters tournament is pipped to provide an excellent opportunity for the Asian countries like India, Pakistan, South Korea and Iran to fine tune their skills before the Asian Games in Jakarta in August, Reddy smelt a conspiracy of Iran not willing to reveal their strength before the Asiad.

“Iran sent their second string team to get some exposure. The thing is they don’t want to share their strength before Asian Games. This is their strategy. But for us, we want out players to give their best shot,” Reddy told reporters here on Thursday.

“For example, if you appear in an exam then only you can know your capacity. But if you have fear of exam or hide from it then how will you achieve your result? Based on the outcome, you do your homework and correct your mistakes which ultimately will help in reaping good results.

“We came here with our best team and we will use all our players,” he added.

The coach who is also a former India player termed this nine-day tournament as their pre-final for the Asian Games.

“It’s a pre-final for the Asian Games. Since 1990 we are the champions in the Asian Games, so this time also we will going to rock the prestigious meet in Jakarta,” he said.

India are clubbed along side Pakistan and Kenya in Group A while Group B consists of Iran, South Korea and Argentina.

The teams in each group play two matches against every other team in their respective group, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

Star raider Ajay Thakur, under whom India start as favourites for Friday’s tournament opener against arch rivals Pakistan, cautioned his team of the opposition’s defence.

“Pakistan’s main strength is their defence but we have both strong defence as well as offence,” he said.

“We have already played Pakistan many times. But yes there will be some pressure because you never dare to take these matches lightly as you are representing you country at the end,” he added.

Besides Thakur, India will pin their hopes on their brilliant raiders in Rahul Chaudhari, Pardeep Narwal, Rohit Kumar, Rishank Devadiga and Monu Goyat.

In Deepak Hooda, Manjeet Chhillar, Surender Nada and Girish Ernak, India also boast of top-class all-rounders and defenders to lend a perfect balance to the side.

A far superior Croatia stunned heavyweights Argentina 3-0 to qualify for the knockout stages and leave their opponents’ fate hanging by a thread in a crunch Group D encounter here.

Second half goals during the match on Thursday from Ante Rebic (53rd), Luka Modric (80th) and Ivan Rakitic (90+1) ensured Croatia stretched their winning run to two games after they breezed past Nigeria 2-0 in their opener.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who drew with minnows Iceland in their first game of the competition, will now have to depend on favours from other teams in their group after winning against Nigeria in their last engagement to harbour any hopes of advancing to the next stage.

The 2014 World Cup finalists have one point from two games while Croatia have six from two outings.

The game started with Croatia’s Ivan Perisic forcing Argentina goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero’s into a low save for a corner in the 5th minute.

Messi nearly got on the end of a sumptuous lobbed ball into the box two minutes later, but his outstretched toe could not reach it with Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic caught in no-man’s land.

Real Madrid midfield mainstay Luka Modric and FC Barcelona counterpart Ivan Rakitic combined well in midfield as the European outfit looked the better team in the opening exchanges.

For Argentina, Maximiliano Meza was found free in the middle of the box but his low shot was well-blocked by Dejan Lovren.

At the other end, Argentina’s relatively untested back three found their going difficult and on a couple of occasions almost paid the price for lack of communication.

Croatian defenders led by Liverpool’s Lovren too looked out of sorts on one occasion and it was due to their incoherence that the ball fell to Enzo Perez who had an empty net in front of him but hammered a shot into the side netting just before the half hour mark.

Mario Mandzukic had the best chance of the half when Sime Vrsaljko’s cross found the Juventus striker but 32-year old headed inches wide of target.

In first half stoppage time, Rebic also spurned a good chance from a super Modric through ball as both teams went into the break locked level.

Moments after the break, Gabriel Mercado received a yellow card for a tackle to stop Rebic from breaking through the midfield.

Sergio Aguero forced a save in the 53rd minute with a quick turn and shot from the left of the box.

Seconds later, Croatia were celebrating their opener after a Caballero blunder handed Rebic a golden chance.

The Chelsea keeper tried a chipped pass over Rebic but the ball fell to the winger, who volleyed over Caballero to give his side the lead.

Rebic came off with an injury soon after and Argentina fans whistled their disapproval when Aguero made way for Gonzalo Higuain in the 64th.

Meza’s shot at the near post was well-saved by Subasic as Argentina looked to equalise.

All their hopes, though, were dashed in the 80th minute when Real Madrid man Modric curled home a remarkable effort from outside the box.

Rakitic then completed the rout in second-half-stoppage time — the FC Barcelona midfielder passing past Caballero after the Argentine defence gave up on the play in their own box.

Kylian Mbappe became France’s youngest goal-scorer in FIFA World Cup history as they beat Peru 1-0 in a Group C match here on Thursday to enter the pre-quarterfinals.

Mbappe’s 34th-minute strike from close range was the lone goal scored in the match at the Ekaterinburg Arena as Peru’s hopes to reach the second round after suffering second consecutive loss. Peru are with zero points, while Denmark are second with four points.

France, who were criticised for their style of play during their 2-1 win over Australia, top the table with six points and will meet Denmark in their third and final group stage game.

Against Peru, France did well not to leave their qualification to the game against Denmark, who were held 1-1 by Australia earlier in the day.

Didier Deschamps-coached France, who switched to a 4-2-3-1 with the inclusion of striker Olivier Giroud and midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who played in an offensive role, saw the midfield coordinating well with the attack, which aided their fluid game.

Left-back Lucas Hernandez moved up and down to give an extra member in their attacking build-up as the team began to question Peru’s defence from the beginning.

Midfielder Paul Pogba launched a long-range effort from 30 yards out which forced goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to dive to his right to ensure that the ball goes wide of the left post in the 12th minute.

Two minutes later, Raphael Varane’s header off a corner missed the target by a slight margin, going wide of the right post.

Gallese then blocked a right-footed drive from Antoine Griezmann after Giroud brought down an aerial ball from the deep in the 17th minute.

Peru took time to get some good touches in the game. Veteran centre-forward Paolo Guerrero, who returned to the starting line-up after missing the Denmark game in place of Jefferson Farfan, had a left-footed shot on goal from around 12 yards out in thr 29th minute but France keeper Hugo Lloris was alert.

However, the pace and quick passing of France meant they they could turn it on at any moment. And they did with lethal impact, five minutes later. Following a through ball from Pogba, Giroud’s left-footed drive from the left side of the box deflected past defender Christian Ramos, beating Gallese, who moved towards the right post. Mbappe raced to tap it in to give France a crucial lead.

After the break, Peru made their intention clear by substituting midfielder Yoshimar Yotun with forward Farfan, while full-back Alberto Rodrigues was replaced by central defender Anderson Santamaria in order to provide more pace and width.

Peru almost got their equaliser when a 30-yard piledriver from Pedro Aquino flew inches away from the left post.

Peru employed further pressure on the French team but the latter showed its resolve and composure, especially in its own box.

Long-range drives from Andre Carrillo and Luis Advincula went over the cross-bar as a desperate Peru continue to hunt for their equaliser.

Another good movement from Peru saw Carrillo crossing from the right to left for Farfan, but his header could only hit the side-netting.

France managed to hold to their slim advantage as Peru lacked quality in finishing.

WWE fights may be flashy, hard and violent at times but the first Indian woman to get into that ring at the international level has beaten bigger odds at home to reach there.

Kavita Devi, who is better known in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) international circles as “Hard KD”, is currently training and wrestling in Orlando, Florida, in the United States as part of her three-year contract with the WWE.

Kavita, the first Indian woman to reach the international level in WWE, is no ordinary sportswoman.

Even while being a professional WWE wrestler, Kavita is making sure that she dresses traditionally, the Indian way. When she fights in the ring, she is always dressed in a salwar-kameez, a popular dress for Indian women.

“I am proud that I enter the ring wearing a salwar suit. It is part of our Indian culture. I am the only one at the international level (in WWE) to be doing so. Many girls in India avoid getting into WWE wrestling seeing the clothes that most women in this sport wear inside the ring. I have broken that image and more girls in my country are getting inspired,” Kavita told IANS in an interview, pointing out that wearing the salwar-suit was no impediment in her performance in the ring.

Being married in a conventional family in 2009 and mother of a six-year-old son, Kavita has tackled several odds, including coming from a humble farming background, growing up among five siblings and facing difficult times economically.

Hailing from Malvi village in Haryana’s Jind district, this determined Haryanvi Jat girl is out to prove her mettle in WWE circles.

She is full of praise for her mentors — “The Great Khali” (Dalip Singh Rana) and Jinder Mahal, both former WWE champions.

“Khali sir got me to the (WWE) ring. He has a big contribution in shaping my career. Jinder Mahal is a big star in WWE. He has earned a big name for India at the international level,” said Kavita, who has trained in Khali’s wrestling academy in Jalandhar.

Kavita, 34, who had been wrestling for over 15 years before switching to WWE (in 2016), won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games for India.

Weighing 75-kgs and standing 5-feet 9-inches tall, Kavita has been part of the Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE) and participated in the Mae Young Classic WWE championship event in Florida in June 2017 — the first Indian woman in this professional circuit.

Even though she is fully focused on her training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and her upcoming fights, Kavita misses her son whom she had to leave behind in India.

“I had never thought of entering WWE. I was only interested in wrestling. But I wanted to do something different. This is a very good field that I have found. Here, I can do a lot for our country. I have reached this level after going through very hard times and tough training and testing,” Kavita said.

Asked if the WWE is a real fight or just an entertainment show, Kavita said: “WWE has the word entertainment in it but let me tell you that the fight is real. The athletes make big jumps, hit each other and get hurt. All of this is real.”

Confident about where she has reached and what she is doing, Kavita is modest when she says: “I feel proud that I am able to motivate girls to get into this field where Indian women have not ventured at all. It is heartening to see that girls are getting inspired by me.”

Neymar and Brazil will need to step up their game when they take on Costa Rica in a must-win Group E FIFA World Cup clash here on Friday.

Brazil drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their opener last weekend, and Neymar was much criticised for his underwhelming performance.

He was hunted down mercilessly by the Swiss, drawing 10 of Brazil’s 19 fouls, as many as some entire teams.

Neymar also lacked the zip which made him the world’s most expensive footballer when French heavyweights Paris St Germain signed him from Spanish giants FC Barcelona last August.

There was an injury scare after he limped out of Tuesday’s training session with a sore ankle but to his team’s relief the forward is expected to be fit for what could be Brazil’s fourth World Cup match without a win.

Costa Rica, on their part, are desperate for points after they lost their opener to Serbia.

Quarter-finalists in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Costa Rica have lost seven of their last nine matches and scored only five goals in the process.

“It is going to be a difficult game as are all games in the World Cup,” Brazil attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho was quoted as saying.

“They are a good team. We saw the game against Serbia, and it was only decided through a dead ball situation.”

“This is another opportunity for us. We need to do it, we are all focused. We are mentally strong to play a great game.”