Latest news with #clinching
Mint
6 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Tough road ahead for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in 2027 World Cup journey; what former Indian cricketer warns?
Indian cricketing stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma recently announced their exit from Test cricket, sending shockwaves across the world. The duo who retired in T2OIs following their 2024 ICC T20 World Cup win, will now focus solely on ODIs. They will be gearing up for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa after clinching the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, according to former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan, Virat and Rohit are expected to face challenges on their path to World Cup glory. He expressed concerns like limited ODI matches, and fitness issues due to age, among others. Team India will play only 27 ODIs until December 2026. According to Wassan, maintaining form and fitness will act as a hurdle for these two legendary players and it can be a significant concern. Moreover, the Indian Premier League (IPL) provides some competitive exposure, but it's just for two months a year, which is not enough for the demands of ODI cricket. 'I think it's going to be extremely tough for Virat and Rohit to sustain their fitness levels just by playing IPL, which happens for only two months a year,' Wassan said on the Bails and Banter Show on the OTTPlay app. According to him, their tendency to skip ODIs against small teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe further reduces their game time, making consistent performance challenging. After IPL 2025, Kohli and Rohit's next international challenge is a three-match ODI series against Australia in October. This extended break raises questions about how they will maintain their form. Will they turn to domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy to stay match-ready? The scarcity of ODI matches, combined with their advancing age, could impact their readiness for high-stakes matches. Virat and Rohit may need to apply new strategies to solve the upcoming challenges. Additionally, they will have to be consistent with their fitness regimens and match practice. Rohit Sharma has played 273 ODIs, scoring 11168 runs at an average of 48.76. He has registered 32 centuries and 55 half-centuries. The 2023 final loss to Australia will fuel his determination for the 2027 World Cup. Virat Kohli, with 302 ODIs and 14181 runs at an average of 57.88 maintains his domination in the format. He has smashed 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries, so far. His accolades include the 2011 ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy titles in 2013 and 2025, positioning him to add another feather to his cap in 2027.
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Preview: Ahly, Pyramids FC set for tense finale in Egyptian Premier League - Egyptian Football
The Egyptian Premier League title race will go down to the wire on Wednesday, with leaders Ahly and second-placed Pyramids FC both in action on the final matchday of the season. The two heavyweights are separated by just a couple of points after seven games in the playoffs. For Ahly, who top the table with 55 points, the mission is set to be simple: their destiny is in their own hands when they take on Pharco FC. The defending champions leapfrogged Pyramids FC in the final stretch of the competition, benefiting from Pyramids' back-to-back defeats against Pharco and NBE Club. If Ahly secure a home victory over seventh-placed Pharco, they will be crowned Egyptian champions for the second consecutive season—and the 45th time in the club's history. However, a loss could open the door for Pyramids FC, who face a tough task against Ceramica Cleopatra. The rising powerhouse of Egyptian football has no option but to beat Ceramica and hope that Ahly lose, in order to have a chance of clinching their first domestic crown. Wednesday's match poses a real dilemma for Pyramids FC. While it's crucial for their league hopes, the club also faces a vital appointment on Sunday 1st June, in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final against South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns. After securing a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Pretoria, the club requested a postponement of Wednesday's game from the Egyptian Pro League, but their request was rejected. Reports suggest that coach Krunoslav Jurčić may field a second-string side against Ceramica, though no official confirmation has been made. Ceramica, for their part, are a tough opponent and are expected to fight fiercely as they bid for fourth place, which would earn them a spot in next season's CAF Confederation Cup. Elsewhere on the final day, fourth-placed Masry (39 points) take on bottom side Haras El-Hodoud, while sixth-placed NBE Club (37 points) face Petrojet. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
How Much Will Berkane Earn After Winning Confederation Cup?
RS Berkane are expected to pocket a considerable sum of money after clinching their third CAF Confederation Cup title with a 3–1 aggregate victory over Tanzania's Simba SC. A 1–1 draw in Sunday's second leg in Zanzibar was enough for Berkane to secure the crown, having already built a two-goal advantage in the first leg. According to CAF, Berkane will receive $2 million in prize money. Simba, who opened the scoring through Joshua Mutale, will earn $1 million as runners-up. CAF pays tribute to Berkane The Confederation of African Football (CAF) praised Berkane's growing reputation on the continent following the victory. 'Five finals in six years. Three titles – 2020, 2022, and 2025,' CAF said in a statement. 'RS Berkane are firmly establishing themselves in the African football landscape.' The club has already secured the Moroccan Botola Pro league title this season and could complete a quadruple if they win the Cup of the Throne and the African Super Cup. Simba's early goal not enough Simba made a bright start in front of a home crowd in Zanzibar, taking the lead after 17 minutes. However, their momentum was disrupted early in the second half when Yusuf Kagoma was sent off following a second yellow card. Berkane continued to sit deep and hit Simba on the counter-attack. Simba's Steven Mukwala managed to put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Super Cup awaits The victory confirms Berkane as one of Africa's most consistent clubs in recent years, with three Confederation Cup titles in five seasons and five final appearances since 2019. They will now prepare for the CAF Super Cup, where they will face the winner of the CAF Champions League final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, who drew 1–1 in the first leg. Tags: CAFConfederation CupRS BerkaneSimba Tanzania
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Braves Receive Major Ronald Acuna News on Thursday
The Atlanta Braves kicked off the 2025 campaign looking to rebound from a somewhat underwhelming 2024 season. After six consecutive National League East titles from 2018 through 2023, the Braves saw their division streak come to an end, ultimately finishing 89-73 and in second place behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Advertisement Despite clinching a Wild Card spot, they were swept in two games by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series, marking an abrupt end to what had been, by their standards, a disappointing year. Injuries played a significant role in Atlanta's 2024 woes. Most notably, star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a complete tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament on May 26, 2024, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of that season. However, on Thursday, the Braves announced on X that Acuña, "is expected to be activated from the injured list tomorrow," noting how "his return will be 362 days following the ACL injury he sustained last season." In 2024, prior to the injury, Acuña had appeared in just 49 games, posting a .250 batting average with four home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 16 stolen bases. Advertisement A native of La Guaira, Venezuela, Acuña signed with Atlanta as an international free agent in 2014, and in 2018, he made his major league debut, becoming the youngest active MLB player (20 years old). He captured the National League Rookie of the Year Award by season's end. He followed this up with four All-Star selections (2019, 2021-2023), three Silver Slugger awards (2019, 2020, 2023) and two National League stolen base titles (2019, 2023). Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images In 2023, Acuña won the NL MVP following a historic 40-70 season (41 home runs, 73 stolen bases) that made him the first player in MLB history to join the 40-70 club and set a modern-era franchise stolen base record. Advertisement Through the end of the 2024 season, Acuña's career line stood at a .289 batting average, 165 homers, 417 RBIs, and 196 stolen bases over 815 hits. Related: MLB Reveals Exciting Chipper Jones News on Monday Related: Alex Bregman Makes Major Personal Announcement Amid MLB Season Braves Receive Major Ronald Acuna News on Thursday first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 23, 2025
News18
21-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
ISSF Junior World Cup: Kanak Claims 10m Air Pistol Gold
Last Updated: The 17-year-old Indian scored 239.0 in the 24-shot eight-women final to upstage Anna Dulce of Moldova by 1.7 points. Budding Haryana shooter Kanak opened India's gold-medal account at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Germany, clinching the yellow metal in women's 10m air pistol on Wednesday. The 17-year-old, a junior World Championship silver medallist in Lima last year, scored 239.0 in the 24-shot eight-women final to upstage Anna Dulce of Moldova, a two-time Olympian and reigning European champion by 1.7 points. Chinese Taipei's Chen Yen-Ching won the bronze medal in the event taking place in Suhl. Earlier, two Indian shooters qualified for the final with Prachi securing a spot behind Kanak in fifth place as they shot scores of 571 and 572 respectively. Kanak then showed her experience at this level, bringing out the big 10s when it mattered most towards the closing stages of the final to win with ease. 'I was a little bit nervous in the beginning but I am happy that I was able to close out well," she said after the match. In fact, it was Prachi who remained in the top three from the start of the final and looked in contention for a medal. Prachi shot a poor 8.6 while Kanak took the lead with a soaring 10.5. As Prachi faded away, Kanak then shot three high 10s, a slim 10.1 and three high 9s (9.7, 9.8, 9.9) in her next nine shots to pull away from the field. She closed the contest with a 9.4, which will not please her coaches, but by then the gold was in her bag. On Tuesday, India's Adriyan Karmakar had won the silver medal in the 50m rifle prone event. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published: May 21, 2025, 22:16 IST
