Casillas returns to training six months after heart attack

LISBON: Former Spanish captain Iker Casillas has returned to training with his club Porto for the first time since suffering a heart attack in May. The 38-yearold goalkeeper, who led Spain to the World Cup title in 2010, shared an image of his boots along with the caption “six months and three days you have been in the locker.” Casillas had to be rushed to hospital after he suffered a heart attack during training. News reports said that he underwent a cardiac catheterisation and Porto released a statement reassuring fans that he was okay.

Casillas made 725 appearances for Real Madrid in 16 years before leaving for Portuguese giants Porto in 2015. He trained individually for the first time on Monday. He is still far from being fully fit but has been included in Porto’s official squad for the 2019-20 Primeira Liga season.

CASILLA CHARGED LONDON: Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has been charged with racially abusing Charlton forward Jonathan Leko during a Championship fixture. The Spaniard, 33, is alleged to have made discriminatory comments towards Leko during the match on September 28.

An FA statement said Casilla has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3. It is alleged that his words “made reference to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin”.

ASHWIN SET TO JOIN DELHI CAPITALS

NEWDELHI: Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to join Delhi Capitals in a trade off with Kings XI Punjab for the Indian Premier League 2020 season. Ashwin, who had captained KXIP for two seasons without much success, was supposed to join Delhi Capitals earlier but once Anil Kumble came on board, it was learnt that KXIP weren’t ready to release their senior bowler.

“Yes, Ashwin is joining Delhi Capitals. The deal had earlier fell through as KXIP didn’t get the two DC players that they wanted in a trade-off with Ashwin. Now they are getting those two players and it’s 99 per cent done,” a senior BCCI official, privy to IPL tradeoffs, said on conditions of anonymity.