WILLIAMSON FIT FOR FIRST TEST AGAINST PAKISTAN

ABU DHABI: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has declared himself fit for the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Williamson had missed the final ODI in Dubai with a minor groin strain. Pakistan crushed New Zealand 3-0 in Twenty20s while their one-day series was shared 1-1 after the third match ended in a no result due to rain in Dubai. Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed is confident leg-spinner Yasir Shah and medium pacer Mohammad Abbas can combine to tame a ‘tough’ New Zealand. The fast-rising Abbas took 17 wickets in a two-match Test series, including a ten-wicket haul at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as Pakistan beat Australia 1-0 last month.

Put nation over IPL: Cricket Australia tells players

SYDNEY: Players picked in Australia’s World Cup squad won’t be allowed to take part in the final few weeks of IPL, cricket bosses said on Thursday in a bid to ensure country comes first. The lucrative T20 tournament usually runs from late March till mid May with the World Cup in England and Wales starting on May 30. After a miserable run of form this year, Cricket Australia are determined the players’ key focus is on defending their one-day title ahead of an Ashes series against England.

Carlsen holds Caruana in fifth game, it’s 2.52.5

NEW DELHI: The fifth game of the World Chess Championship between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana ended in the draw after 33 moves. The scores are now level at 2.5-2.5 in the 12-game match. For the third time in five games the players opened with the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence with Caruana playing white. Caruana played b4 in the sixth as a surprise, but nothing much came off it. Carlsen, who posted his pictures playing football in a Mo Salah shirt on the rest day on Wednesday, coolly exchanged and threatened to take a key pawn but Caruana recovered well.