‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

ST LUCIA, April 29: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday warned his team-mates against taking unheralded Afghanistan lightly in their Twenty20 World Cup opening match on Saturday, saying any slip-up against them can put his side out of contention for super eights.

“If you ask me, I would not consider our opening match against Afghanistan as a practice game. I don’t take my opponents lightly. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play,” said Dhoni, ruling out complacency in the Indian camp.

Modi entitled to a fair trial: I S Bindra

MOHALI, April 29: PCA chief I S Bindra on Thursday threw his weight behind embattled Lalit Modi, saying the suspended IPL Commissioner should be given a fair trial.

Modi is facing corruption charges and was served a show-cause notice by the Indian Cricket Board on April 25, the day season-III of the IPL came to an end.

Bindra, who is also ICC Principal advisor, said IPL owes its success to the marketing skills of Modi.

“It was due to the marketing genius of a maverick - Lalit Modi - that Indian cricket finally emerged as a colossus in the international firmament in terms of reach and financial clout. Indian cricket became the epicenter of world cricket and the envy of the cricketing fraternity during this key phase,” Bindra said in a statement.

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

ROME, April 29: World number two Novak Djokovic had few problems in disposing of Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Rome Masters 1000 on Thursday.

It was not always plain sailing for Djokovic as he was broken twice during the match but in the end he was never really under pressure as his opponent made twice as many unforced errors as him.

The 22-year-old Serbian has a good record here at the Foro Italico having won the tournament two years ago and reached the final last time out.

He was made to work considerably harder than his first round when he breezed through 6-1, 6-1 against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in less than an hour. Bellucci, also 22, is at a career high 28 in the world and is the highest ranking Brazilian since former French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten was operating on the tour at his peak.